smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878




Every one knows the story of the little
girl who, wishing to ask something OF
heaven, wrote letter to God, which she
put in the hands of the Virgins statue
in the parish church. A circumstance
nearly analogous has Just taken place
near Marchinnes, in Belgium. A girl
named Blanche was in the service Of NJ.
and Madame c., who We're much at
tached to her on account of her fidelity
and piety. Some days ago Madame c.
fell ill and died very suddenly. The
day after her death, Blanche, profitting,
for moment when the corpse, all ready
for the grave, was alone, made her way to
the chamber Of death, lifted the shroud,
and then retired precipitately. Those
who saw her suspected that she might
have been trying to pilfer the jewelry OF
the corpse. Search was made and moth
ing was found missing, but there was q
letter in the dead womsn's hand. This
being opened, was discovered to be let
ter from Blanche to her mother, dead a
long time before. 1t was as follows


My Dear and Good Mother: This is
to let you know that Mr.. r. has asked me
to marry him; as you are no longer here,
! beg you will let me know, in dream,
if ought to marry him. and to give
your consent. In order to communicate
with you. l profit by the occasion Of
Madame c., who Is going to heaven.


This letter, which bore the superseriP.
ton, "To my mother Josephine, who is
heaven" is truly a poem Of ingenious
piety.
Year: 1878

A writer in Nature says: was coming
by one of the lake steamers from Como
to Mennaggio, in September, 1876, and
saw Il humming- bird hawk moth, Macrog-
loSsa stellatarum, fly to some bright
colored flowers on lady's hat on deck,
and hang poised over them for a short
time, and then fly away. During the
process it made one of those short familiar
darts of, Tor a moment, and then re-
turned, after the manner of the moth
when disturbed, and it remained long
enough to convince me that it had tested
the flowers and found them wanting.
Another incident comes across my mind
while writing this, which, though it does
not exactly bear upon the point, yet is
of somewhat kindred spirit. I was
crossing from Harwich to Antwerp in
August of the same year, and as the
weather was fine and the boat wa.
crowded remained on deck all night.
About four o'clock in the morning saw
what appeared to be bird or bat fly.
ing rapidly about the rigging. As was
watching it the funnel Of the steamer
poured forth a thick column of black
smoke, owing to the fresh coaliDg it had
just received. Offwent the creature AZ
soon as it perceived the change, or, at all
events, as soon as the change took place,
and flew for some time inand about the
smoke, now darting through it, close to
the funnel mouth, and then letting itself
be borne along with it, for some distance,
as if in sport, looking very strange and
weirdlike in the process. After while
as the full daylight broke, it left the
smoky region above and came down TO-
ward the deck, and / then discovered il
to be neither bird nor bat, but a speci
men of the death's-head moth, Sphinx
Atropos, whose fight l then witnessed
for the first time. After running the
gauntlet of several of the passengers
who tried to catch it with their hats, il
settled somewhere on the spars or wood
work of the boat and escaped, perhap.
to renew it's fight in similar manner the
following day.
Year: 1878

who started at break of day, and then
trust to the jolting of the ambulence
for his mods of repose On the narrow
roads-to repeat the operation if he could
secure any news or smelt chance for
another letter.
Year: 1878

1T is said that the fighting of the
future is to be mainly performed rather
by artillery than by infantry and cav
airy, which would be in favor of such
countries as are not in a position to
maintain great standing armies. Al
ready in Belgium there is very large
preponderance of artillery. At the last
review King Leopold saw on the field
200 field pieces, which is great deal for
an army consisting of 10000 men of all
arms on the war footing, and of only
1900 in time of peace.
Year: 1878




special Dispatch 10 the Register.


WASHINGTON, November IL.


The proposition OF the New York
banks to only receive silver on deposit
under contract that it shall be withdrawn
in kind, has been the subject Of general
discussion and equally general adverse
criticism. 1t was heralded abroad
through the press that when the dele
CATION of New York bankers interviewed
Sherman he coincided with their plans,
this among them. But now the noble
Roman comes to the front and denies
this, and says the banks are making a
blunder in so doing. The TACT Of the
matter is, he thinks it may arouse dis
cussioh in the Democratic Congress
which will be of disadvantage to him,
and il is rumOred that in his report he
will recommend an increase in the
weight of the silver dollar to elevate to
the standard of gold. He greatly fears
conflict of the banks with the Treasury
Department., but says that the remone
tization OF silver will be material aid
to resumption. The banks will prob
ably remain fixed in their determine
ton to either receive silver in the man.
ner proposed or to reject it altogether.
The vane of the Secretary's actions al
ways turns to favorable wind.
Year: 1878

WASHINGTON, November l5.-In his
annual message to Congress the Presi-
pent will define his position very clearly
upon the Southern question. He will
reiterate his promise as Chiof Magistrate
to execute the law impartlally and
firmly, to protect every citizen in the
full enjoyment OF his Constitutional
right to life, liberty and property, and
squarely make known his purpose to
enforce the law rigidly against all Offend
ers in whatever section OF the Union,
unless prevented by obstruction ena-
Mating to Congress.
Year: 1878

= We suppose the United States Government
is good for all the debts it contracts, but we
fail to, see any fairness in beating the printer:
down to the very lowest notch, and then keep
him waiting from six. to eight months fora
paltry two or three dollars. It is probably
one Of the results of Democratic ECONOMY. -
6herburne County Star. .....'..


We remember very distinctly that
printers had to wait from six to eight
months for their pay when the control
of fthe government was entirely in the
hands Of the Republicans. II is true
chat the government did not then s'beat
the printer down to the very lowest
NOTCH" nor did il; beat anybody down
who was supposed to have influence
with the voters. But the Democratic


House determined that expenses must
be cut down regardless Of political in>
aucnce, and persons who print for the
government must stand their share of
the reduction. That is: right, too.
Year: 1878

From the Philadelphia Ledger.


Popular names for distinguished persons
originate usually in accident. The Duke
of Wellington is styled the Iron Duke, and
the natural presumption is that the term
describes his characteristics. But it is said
that when iron steamboats, were novelty
an iron boat was built and called the Duke
of Wellington. Tom Rowline shortened
the name to the Iron Duke, and from the
ship the name was transferred to the man.
The vessel for which he was sponsor be-
came sponsor for him. In the canvass
which preceded the election of General Har-
rison, Washington correspondent of the
newspapers, writing letter discussing the
probabilities, after mentioning the other
aspirants came to Harrison. "Giye him."
he said, ga log cabin and barrel Of hard
cider and he will be content" Instantly
the managers took their cue, and the log
cabin campaign seated the old General in
the Presidential chair to die at his post in
month. The correspondent referred to
used to relate that after he had mailed his
letter, as lie walked home Che was opposed
to Harrlson) he felt he had done mischief.
He went to reclaim the letter, but was too
late. An amusing book might be made of
such curious things, the origin of which
the world soon forgets.
Year: 1878

PERHAPS the most severe measure in
tended to drive the Chinese out of Cali
fornia is law passed at the last session OF
the California Legislature restricting the
exhumation and removal Of the dead. The
act provides that bodies shall not be ex-
humed without permit from the proper
authorities, on the certificate of the cor
oner or of the physician who last attended
the dead person, as to the cause Of death.
For each permit the sum of $40 must be
paid, and the body must be inclosed in 2
metallic casket. A similar permit is made
necessary for the transportation Of a disin-
tered body through streets and highways.
Violation Of the law is punishable BY
fine Of from $50 to $500, or imprisonment
from thirty days to six months, or by both
such ffne and imprisonment.
Year: 1878

New York Times.


Mrs. Grant. the mother of OryilIe and
the ex'President, was found ut the elegant
residence of the Corbins, and spoke very
frankly of her sons monomania. She is a
gentle-mannered lady, with an abundance
OF silver-gray hair, and face as kind and
motherly as it is delicate and finely cut.
Mrs. Grant said that her son Cryille had
been a trouble to the family for some time.
If he could have been persuaded to remain
quietly at home no restraint would have
been put upon his actions, for he was
kind husband and father, and there was M
apprehension that his mania would take
violent turn. His insanity consisted in a
monomania for immense transactions with
out any capital, and if he could not obtain
the money any other way he would borrow
1t. besides, his mind was so unsteady that
they did not like to trust him alone. Last
fall he went to California to attend to what
he called large milling interests of his. and
to push the fortunes of an invention for
cleaning wheat, from which he expe2ted
great things. He returned in June, and
since then his mania has been worse than
ever. Of course he did not bring back the
anticipated fortune On the contrary, he
had spent or invested in unremunerative
enterprises nearly or quite all the $4,000
ne had made in the timber business. and
she did not think there would be ANYTHING
LETT for the maintenance of the family.
About three weeks ago he went to Boston
and entered into contracts for pianos and
other manufactured articles to the extent
of more than 100000. His friends went
to Boston, cancelled his contracts, paid
his hotel bill and brought hlm home. It
appeared upon inquiry at DR.. Morton's
that Mr.. Grants monomania is one of long
standing, and that the President at one
time consulted distinguished alienist with
view to have him ascertain and report
upon his brothers. mental condition, It
was not thought necessary at that time,
however, to place him under restraint, and
the quiet surveillance of friends was re-
sorted to instead. Mr.. Morton said that
the patients mind had been for some time
affected, but the family had hesitated to
send him to the asylum, and tried every
means to keep him at home. Strangely
enough, he had gained in flesh rapidly
since his monomania took decided form,
He appeared to be man of very robust
temperament, and the only physical synp-
tom observable was that he got tired very
easily and would complain of extreme
WEAKNESS. At such times the malady
showed itself in the most pronounced form,
and he wonld walk the floor for hours at
night, talking to himself about his won
derful projects for making a fortune. 1t
is useless to give the particulars as to the
rawlings of monomaniac. At one time it
was one thing; at another time it was some
thing else equally marvellous. Sometimes
he had received forty kilograms, and so on.
DR.. Morton describes the disease as a mon
omania for commercial operations, but
ventures no opinion as to Ills ultimate re-
covery.
Year: 1878

PATRONS OF HUsBANDRY.-This order has
now reached point Of great usefulness to
its members in this State, and each year
shows in greater degree the wisdom and
foresight Of its founders.


There are belonging to the order in this
jurisdiction over 700 oranges now in active
operation, with membership OF more than
10000. u


The annual meeting Of the State Grange
takes place In Lynchburg on the 18th proxi-
mo, the Tuesday after the second Monday
in February, that being the time fixed in
the constitution. Each county sends one
representative, and he has power to cast as
many votes as there are subordinate oranges
in his county. Any grange, however, has
authority to send its acting master as its
special representative.


These representatives or delegates are
chosen on the first Monday in February OF
each year, when the masters and past
masters OF each subordinate grange. with
their wives who are matrons, meet at the
courthouse Of their respective counties to
elect them, unless some other place be
chosen by the oranges In such county.
Year: 1878

MEETING OF THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE
JAMES RIVER AND KANAWHA CoMpANY-
REPORT OF THE ENGINEER AS TO THE
COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE


VALLEY RAILRoAD-A RESOLUTION TO
RESTORE THE CANAL TO BUCHANAN. &c.
Year: 1878

has beer successful in the advocacy OF
his bill to allow women to protect the
paper of their male friends by allowing
them to hold the office Of notary public,
60 far as It's passage by the House is con-
cerned and tair prospect Of the same
treatment by the Senate, which will add
one more lever to the destiny stamping
of women. The bill OF
Year: 1878

Yesterday afternoon a boy about
twelve years of age called at the post
Office and desired to secure a letter which
his mother had posted an hour before,
He described the envelope and direc-
ton, but it had already been sent away
in the bag. The lad seemed so anxious
about the missive that the clerk finally
asked him if it was matter of life or
death.


"That's exactly what it is" replied
the boy as he turned a shade paler /;
"y you see, ma writ TO her sister and for
got to put down p. S.-We are all
we'll and so my aunt won't know but
what half the family are dead and the
other half DYING"


"I can write that ON a postal and
send it along after the letter, " suggested
the clerk.


81 guess you'd BETTER" replied the
boy as he rendered penny, "'cause
as long as we amt dead there's no use
in worrying my aunt about it. Write
just like ma does, if you can, and don't
get it s. p. instead of p. S."-Fret
Press.
Year: 1878

1t is our duty to confer all the happi-
ness we can on those about us. Where
fore, il is incumbent upon every father TO
give his boy a three-dOllar pair of boots,
twenty cent knife and fitty-oent
circus ticket.
Year: 1878

A LADGENTATToN FROM THE PLAGUE.sTRGCKE


SOUTH.
All days so dark with deaths eclipse
Woe are we woe are we
And the nights are ages long,
From breaking hearts, thro' pallid lips,
Oh, my God woe are we
Trembleth the mourners' song
blight is falling on the fair,
And hope is dying in despair,
And terror walketh everywhere.
All the hours are full Of tears,
Oh, my God woe are we
Grief keeps watch in brightest eyes
Every heart is strung with fears,
Woe are we ! woo are we
Ali the light hath left the skies, %.
And the living awe-struck crowds
See above them only clouds,
And around them only shrouds.
All the terrible farewells
Woe are they woe are they
When last words sink into means
While life's trembling vesper-bells-
Oh, my God woe arc We =
Ring the awful undertones!


Not sun in any day


In the nighttime not ray
And the dying pass away
Dark so dark above, below
Oh, my God woe are we
Cowereth every human life
Wild the waling--to and fro
Woe are we woe are We
Dsath is victor in the strife


In the hut aud in the hall


lie is writing on the wall


Dooms for many-fears for all.
Thro' the cities burns breath,
Woe are they woe are they
Hot with dread and deadly wrath
Life and love lock arms in death,
Woe are they woe IRE all
Victims srew the spectre's path
Shy-eyed children softly creep
Where their mothers wall and weep
In the grave their fathers sleep.
Mothers watt their prayers on high
Oh, my God woe are we
With their dead child on their breast,
And the affairs ask the sky
Oh, my Christ ! woe are we!
Give the dead, oh, Father rest
Spare thy people mercy spare y
Answer will not come to prayer
Horror moyeth everywhere.
AMI the temples miss the priest
Oh my God woe are we
Aud The cradle mourns the child.
Husband ! at your bridal feast
Woe sre you woe are you
Think how those poor dead eyes smiled |;
They will never smile again
Every tie is cut in twain,


ALI the strength Of love is vain.
Weep but tears are weak as foam
Woe are vel woe are we
They but break upon the shore
Winding between here and home
Woe are ye woe are We


Wailing never-nevermore!


All, the dead they are so lone,
Just a grave and just stone,


Aud the memory Of a moan.
Pray yes, pray for God is sweet
Oh, my God woe are we
Tears will trickle into prayers
When we kneel down at His feet
Woe are we woe are we
With our crosses and our cares


He will calm the tortured breast,
He will give the troubled rest
And the dead He watcheth best.


Mobile Register.
Year: 1878

TWENTY OF THE NUMBER KILLED AT THE TIME OF


THE ACCIDENT-AN OPEN SWITCH THE CAUSE


OF THE TROUBLE.


The cause of the great railway accident,
seven miles from Boston, on Tuesday, was
not the collision which took place with a
freight-car, but an open switch beyond the
spot where the freiGht-car was struck. The
list of the dead has been revised, and will be
found below The names of the principal
people who were wounded are also given.
Year: 1878

Quiet girls are generally over
estimated-th is, as regards their
virtues; granted they are excellent
tacticians, and shrewd 10 a fault,
particularly where their own inter
ests are concerned. The quiet girl,
in her quiet way, generally man
ages to carry her point III every
thing. She has more privileges
than her noisy sisters, too. She
can flirt, on occasion, in way no
frivolous girl dares to attempt, but
she never writes a compromising
letter, and has o most convenient
want of memory. She retires grace
fully in favor Of the other girls, as
if willing to let them shine, and
gets her reward in the appreciation
Of the old people of the party.
Quiet men find her agreeable, and
wonder why she is said to be silent,
but this is chiefly because she does
not bore them by insisting on an
swers to her questions. They i'm,
agine her to be sympathetic, and
begin by telling her of other loves,
and often end by loving her them
selves. When she develops into a
wife, for she always marries at least
once, she gets her way in everything.
Her husband probably chose her
because he thought she would turn
out differently, and finds when too
late that he could not possibly have
made o more complete mistake


Children are always fond Of her
sons respect, if they do not greatly


love, quiet mothers, for they have


never heard them talk nonsense.


Servants never give them short
answers, as their words are kind


and decisive, and the poor people


think them dignified and mines o.


hidden wisdom, In fact, they &C


through the world under a kind o
false pretense; they get credit fO
great depth OF feeling, and it is 70
some reason thought worth while t,


win their love. Only the expert
enced man estimates them at theii


right value, and admires the meiT.


little sister with the sharp tongue
the pleasant smile, and, as he know
we'll a warmer heart and truer char
: acter than undorlie the staid de
T meaner of the quiet girl. For it
the great drawback of quietnes
that 50 much duplicity is mixed u


with it.
Year: 1878

may be placed? But you viii in
quire how is this to be made matter
Of Instruction; must it not be the
result, and the result only, Of a
young lady'sintercourse Of polished
and intelligent society? l think
not. / would allow to such inter-
course all the efficacy which it de-
serves, and doubtless this efficacy
is great. But l would go deeper
than this; | would 90 further back,
even to that period Of life when
females are not yet considered old
enough to mingle in promiscnous
society, and especially to bear their
part in the conversation of others
much their superior in age and in
telligence. Iwopld have the moth
er, to the extent Of her power, and
the instructress as a part of her
course of instruction, devote them
selves to this great object. This is
the very way, too, in which all the
knowledge that a young lady is ac-
quiring at school may be made OF
practical use; for it may all be in


troduced into conversation, either


for the entertainment or instruction


Of others"
Year: 1878

who arc at present residents Of the
city, We hope it will not be passed
by and forgotten, but acted upon
as soon as the thirty thousand
refugees return to their homes. If
they had all remained here not
half or one third Of them would
have been alive and but few of
them buried to-day. And yet
much of this horrible state Of affairs
is owing to our own apathy and
indifference. Memphis, naturally,
is one of the healthiest places in
the Mississippi valley, but has been
made one of the filthiest, aud we
have suffered accordingly. We
have disregarded the laws Of ma
ture and common sense, and have
paid the penalty. If something is
not done to improve the sanitary
condition of the city, the young
men, the working men, and those


who have families to raise and ed


ucate, might as well get away from


here, for there is no telling how


soon another epidemic may come


This one caught us entirely off ou


guard.
Year: 1878

"Woman cannot plead at the bar,
or preach in the pulpit, or thunder
in the senate house. Yet hers is
no trihing eloquence. In power,


though unostentatious in display,
is mighty in result. In the retire
ment Of her own family; in the cir
Gle other friends and acquaintance,
in the various intercourse Of society,
what a charm woman can spread
around herr what a zest to every
other enjoyment she can impart-
what encouragement she can give
to virtue, and what reprools to
vice, what aid she can afford to the
cause of religion; IN short, what an
amount of good she can accomplish,
and what an immense influence ex-
ert, by her mere conversation. Is
it not then of vast Importance that


her powers Of conversation should


be cultivated as o part Of the course
Of her education, and not lett, as
they often are, 10 take their whole
iefaracter from the adventurous


circumstances OF life in which shC
Year: 1878

DIR. W. L. COLEMAN read. a pa
per before the Howard Medical AS
sociation, a few days ago, in which
he took strong ground against the
use of quinine in yellow fever cases.
He stated that out of 115 cases,
treated by himself alone, and not
seen by any other physician, be
lost only nine. At the conclusion
Of this very interesting paper he
says


While quinine is my favorite remedy
ia the treatment Of nearly all OF the dis
eases Of the South, and my sheet anchor
10 mauy, yet have been compelled by
sad experience to abandon it in yelloW
fever, from having seen so many eVi
effects follow its administration, and i
some Of the gentlemen here who have
used it 80 freely in this epidemic vii
take the time and trouble to 90 ovei
their ground and visit the families they
have treated, if any of them are left,
very much fear they will bear bitter com
plants on account of its having beer
used. As | said before, this is selI
limited disease, and having found nj
remedy that will abort or cut it short
my whole aim and object is TO conduc
the patient safely through by the simples
possible method. Twenty yearg ago, i
l had given Fowler's Solution Of Arseni
to Is patients, without losing one, As


have done here. l would have been Ell
thusiastic inits praise but my days {
enthusiasm and hobbies have passed
and do not accord to any one remed.


as yet, the power Of curing this diseasl