smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

Some people estimate the ability of a
newspaper and the talent of its editor
by the quantity of original matter. 1t
is comparatively an easy task for a
frothy writer to pour out daily a col.
umn of words-words upon any and
all subjects His ideas may flow in one
weak, washy, everlasting food, and the
command of his language may enable
him to string them together like bun
ches of onions, and yet his paper may
be poor concern. Indeed, the mere
writing part of editing paper is but a
small portion of the work. The care,
the time employed in selecting, is far
more important, and the fact Of a good
editor is better shown by his selections
than anything else; and that, we know,
is half the battle. But,as we have said,
an editor ought to be estimated and his
labor understood and appreciated by
the general conduct of his paper-its
tone, its uniform, consistent coarse, its
aims, its management, it's dignity, and
its propriety. To preserve these as
they should be preserved is enough to
occupy fully the time and attention oil
any man If to this be added the gen.
eral supervision Of the newspaper es-
tahlishment, which most editors have to
encounter, the wonder is how they find
time to write at all.
Year: 1874

Why is it that so many of our farm
ers, and nearly all of our carriers, insist
on using tight rein on working hor
ses2 When horse, left to his natural
inclination, has heavy load to pull, he
can best exert his strength if his back
bone is in one continuous line, and this
he will have if not prevented by tight
check-rein. Some claim that it prevents
a horse from falling and when man
can raise himself over fence ny lift
on his suspenders, we will believe it
When horse falls, tight rein will
most efectuslly prevent him from get
ting onto his feet again. Try it with
out the rein and see if we are not cor.
rect in our practice and theory.
Year: 1874

An article in the American Journal Of
Science and Arts presents the unpleas-
ant animal called the skunk in ne W
attitude 1t appears that at the Wes {
these creatures have a habit Of hitting
people at times, and that the bite al
ways results in hydrophobia. A large
number of cases are cited in illustration.
The hydrophobia produced by other an
imals is much less fatal than that from
the skunIls. From this it is possible TO
infer that the disease originated with
these animals, and they have transmit
ted it to others, its power being, as al
ways, lessened by transmission. They
are its originators. Then, to carry out
a suggestion offered in the article, tits
noticeable that the odorous secretions
of the skuuks, when administered in
proper quantities, have very beneficial
effect upon all sorts of convulsive
trouble and attacks o: that kind. The
inference is then made that the liquid is
an antidote for the poison of the bite,
and the idea is thrown out that in the
skunk the source and cure OF hydropho-
bia may be simultaneously discovered
if any scientific person feels inclined to
wrestle with a problem Of such mate
strength. iIeG ass sra
Year: 1874

"Will was dead, and all night long his


wife lay motionless upon his breast;


great fires burned, table, stood covered
for the master, who was never to feel
I cold or hunger more. When the chill
late winter morning broke, Mabls too
had entered into the great eternal sun
shine Of God"


The next day Aunt Lora took me
to the grave where wife and husband
slept together. The moss, Goods bless
ing on the grave" had crept softly,
greenly above them; the scarlet letters at
the base of the white cross, which told
the story of William Forsythe Long
and Mabel his wife, CLEANED readily
through the holly wreath which hung
there, message of love and remem-
brance from the living to the dead.


No trace of the murderer was ever dis
covered; it was supposed to be one of
those all but motiveless crimes which
have desolated so many Irish homes du-
ring the last forty years. Mr.. Long
was an Englishman; he had began his
reign well-was full of schemes to ben
eft his tenantry. His crime was having
taken the place of an Irish family, who
had emigrated when long career of ex-
travagance had made itsimpossible for
them to live at home any longer-BeE-
orr7;in
Year: 1874

A BOWL OF PUNCH WAS AS A Bowl.
A remarkable bowl of punch was made
across the water in 1874. 1t was made
in fountain in a garden, in the middle
of four walks, covered overhead with
orange and lemon trees, and in every
walk was a table the whole length of it,
covered with refreshments. In the foun-
tain were the following ingredients
Four hogsheads of brandy, twenty-five
thousand lemons, twenty gallons of lime
juice, thirteen hundred weight of white
sugar, thirty-one pounds of grated nut
megs, three hundred toasted biscuits,
and one pipe Of dry mountain Malaga.
Over the fountain was n large canopy to
keep of the rain, and there was built on
purpose little boat, wherein was a boy,
who rowed round the fountain and filled
the cups OF the company. 1t is sup
posed more than six thousand men drank
from the fountain.
Year: 1874

John w. Forney writes in the Phila-


delphia Press: can incident 1 have Of


ten related to my friends in private life


will serve to illustrate the golden value
of good record, and the weakness of
public men who allow themselves to


be affected by newspaper calumny. One
of the best characters ever knew was
president judge of certain judicial
district in the interior of Pennsylvania.
He was gentle, susceptible, and delicate
as a woman, and as honest man as ever
lived. But he could not bear criticism.
No braver spirit ever sat on the bench,
but he could not imagine such a thing
as newspaper complaint of his rulings


He was strict temperance man withal.
but did not believe in the prohibitory
law, regarding it as illegal and uncon-
stitutional. And he saif a. much in a
case brought to his attention in some
what elaborate opinion. No notice was
taken of it, because his Judgment was
right, and his law sound; no notice ex-
cept by little paper, not more than six
by eight inches, in the interest of the ul-
ira temperance men, called the Bee, and
that enjoyed its own tempest in its own
teapot. I was sitting with Mr. Buchan-
an, when the irate Judge-came in
with the Bee in his hand. He was
warm friend of the Pennsylvania Sena-
tor, and when the latter said, Won't
you take glass of wine with us, siE'
the answer was, 4 thank you, sir; but 1
came to show you this terrible article
against my opinion in the Bee The
what? said old Buck, then a very hand
some bachelor of fifty. The Bee, SIR
said the little Judge in high anger. And
where the devil is the Bee printed,
Judge" why, Mr.. Buchanan, it is
printed in this very town, and has a very
large circulation among the temperance
people, and it has given me much pain
by its censure Of my judicial action;
and, sir, intend to take notice of it
from the bench tomorrow These
words were uttered with much feeling.
The honest and sensitive jurist had
been stung to the quick by the little Bee
yet never can forget Buchanan's words
as he pushed a cold, bright glass of old
'Wanderer' Madeira to his Judicial
friend: Let me have the honor of
glass of wine with you, sir. / declare
to you never to this day heard of the
paper you call the Bee, but you have
made good record as an impartial and |
honest judge, and you will be remem-
bered for this long after the name of that
paper is forgotten. The faithful public
man, who feels that he is right, must
expect criticism, but he will outlive it
as sure as that both of us must die |
They are both gone; but story Of the
Bee lives likes moral without a sting"
Year: 1874

From Lippineott's Magazine.


If certain gentleman of ancient
Greece really died, as one account SAYS
he did, from the effects of violent
laughter, caused by seeing donkey eat
figs, this excessive amusement could
hardly have been caused by anything
but the extreme novelty of the situa-
tion. And it is just such an element
of complete unexpectedness that strikes
us most in any ordinary development OF
German humor. The Teutonic mind
has the effect of being so ponderous,
and seems naturally so fitted for heavy
and serious occupations, that we derive in
such cases somewhat the same general
impression we should receive on seeing
an elephant disporting himself on the
greensward after the fashion of those
well-know characters described in Eng
lish poetry as "the young lambs so
brisk and gay"


There is, it is true, great deal of diff
ference in this respect between individ-
uals. Heine, in particular, was possess
ed of sort of humor that was always
cold, cynical, and sardonic, and at the
same time as keen and poignant as that
of any trenchant wit of other lands.
from Aristophanes to Thackeray. But
Heine, though born at Dusseldorf. was
of Jewish descent, and cannot be taken
as a specimen of German intellect in
general, while vast majority of those
who really may be received as such diff
fer from him in almost every respect.
They are as broad and plain as he is
light and incisive, and their ideas of
humor are on scale that seems to a
foreigner quite tremendous.


Another very noticeable characteristic
of German humor is a certain wonder
full species of simplicity that nearly al
ways accompanies it, This suggests,
somehow, the deep, hearty and thorough
ly enviable enjoyment child exhibits
over some piece of fun in which older
persons would find it very hard to dis
cover any point at all. There are few
more preposterous things in the world
than the proceedings of a party of big,
stout Germans congregated in drink
ing saloon, and discussing over their
beer some witticism whose staleness, fiat
ness, and unproftableness, from an un-
Germanic point, are positively phenom-
inal. The great, thunderous roars that
come forth from their cavern-like Jaws,
the almost total disappearance of their
eyes in masses of feshy cheek, the re-
sounding slaps in the face and violent
punches in other tender portions of the
physical conformation which they be-
stow upon each other in the excess of
their delight-all these tell of sensa-
tions which VIC outside barbarians have
little in common.
Year: 1874

The spirit photographs which pass
current among credulous spiritualists for
genuine ghosts Of the departed are pro-
duced in various ways. The latest and
most scientific method is az follows: The
plain background screen, before which
the sitter is placed in order to have his
portrait taken, is to be painted before
hand with the form of the desired
spirit" the paint being composed Of
some Auorescent substance, such as a 30
luton Of sulphate Of quinine. When
this painting dries on the screen Il is in
visible to the eye; but 1t sends out rays
that have power to impress the photo
plate, and thus the image of the person
together with the quinIne ghost are sim
ultaneously developed upon the mega
tive.
Year: 1874

Said Professor Richard A. Proctor,
the celebrated English astronomer, in
one Of his recent American lectures.
"The sun seems to us 10 be perfectly still
When we consider what we have learned
about him we know that all the forms Of
uproar on earth are as absolute quiet,
Even the hideous groaning Of the Garth
quake is surpassed n million-fold by the
disturbances on every square mile Of
that inhamed sea- This is no idle dream.
This great central machine Of the solar
sun, the central heart, pulsates with life
and will continue to do so until the fuel
is exhausted"
Year: 1874

On Saturday afternoon a miner named
Martin Loughery, working in No. 10
mine of the Pennsylvania Coal Compa-
ny's works at Pittston, while in the act
of breaking a massive piece of coal
which he had dislodged, discovered en-
bedded in the center of 1t what appeared
to be small wooden box of an oblong
shape. Upon touching the box itcrum-
bled into dust like fungus, and dis
closed a copper whistle, having flint
mouthpiece, and in other respects shaped
like our ordinary tin whistles. The
miner frightened it up, applied it to his
mouth, and made it sound doubtless for
the first time in centuries. The spot
where it lay is about one bundled feet
beneath the surface of the earth. How
many seasons have been swept over the
terrestrial sphere, by the never-ceasing
tide of time, since this memento was
laid carefully aside, by some hand of a
former age, is question to form food
for the reflective mind. The voice that
was wont. to charm the single pipe into
music must have been hushed in the
age of long ago. Yet the copper
whistle remains to attest in favor of the
science of geology. 1t should be pre-
served in some of our museums, or by
some historical society together with a
specimen of the structure in which it
has slept for ages. Who shall say in the
face of such fact, that our country has
not known a civilization anterior to that
imported here by Columbus, or that a
race of enlightened human beings did
not flourish and fade on this grand hem
isphere ages and ages ago?-Scronton Re-
l11bLienn
Year: 1874

A poet of Chicago was recently in
formed that Madame Nilsson had
thoughtfully built shelter for cows on
her lands at Peoria. Mindful of the
catastrophe which led to the destruc-
ton of his native city, he immedi-
ately burst into this wild and beautiful
frenzy of verse: "Christine, Christine,
thy milking do, the morn and the eve
between, and not by the dim religious
light of the ftful kerosene. For the
cow may plunge, and the lamp explode,
and the fire fend ride the gale, and
shrek the knell Of the burning town in
the glow of the molten pail"
Year: 1874

age, Burr was hated by the country that
once loved him. he was left homeless, al
most friendless, but he was not left desc
late. The bread cast upon the waters-in
his happier days all returned to him
As he had once loved to care for and
shelter the poor and homeless, so he
himself, in his last days, was sheltered
and cared for tenderly.
Year: 1874

A correspondent in yesterdays issue
suggested the use of electricity instead
of hanging as means of capital pun
ishment, and gave figures of the COM
parative velocity of pain and electricity
to show that such a death;would be pain
less. The point is we'll taken. Professor
Tyndal has proved, in one of his short
er essays, that death by lightning is too
quick to be felt. If the plan were adopt
ed, doomed man might be executed in
his own cell. Thus all the horrible pub
hcity of the present practice would be
done away WITH Chicago Tribune
Year: 1874

luxurious ACTION OF SALT ON
TREEs.-Prof. Kedzie, Of the Michigan
Agricultural College, gives the follow
ing account of the injurious action of
salt on trees: On the college grounds
there formerly grew a fine, vigorous
specimen Of common sassafras, appar-
emily in perfect health. A quantity Of
strong brine was inadvertently thrown
beneath this tree, forming a stagnant
pool in it's immediate vicinity. In q
very short time the tree began to mani
fest signs of decreased vitality. The
salt was absorbed unchanged in such i'm
mense quantities that, entering the cir
culation, il effloresced upon the surface
Of the leaves of n white crystalline de-
posit, and the tree soon after died.
Year: 1874

Twenty seven Nashville ladies deter
mined TO practice economy; vowed not
to wear anything more expensive than
calico dress 20 church; and they stuck
to il, as none Of them have attended
church since
Year: 1874

They walked together, in the dusk,


Along the gardens shrubbery edge;
The heavy roses scattered musk


Blew faint across the cedar hedge;
A spotted snake came gliding through
To shield her from imagined harms,
What should he do-What could he do,


But take her safe into his arms!
While for one happy moment still


Her head was leaning on his breast
He felt little tremble thrill


The head against his shoulder prest;
The parted lips were trem bling, too:


Some feeling for her fears TO show,
What should he do-what eOUld he do,
But kiss her ere he let her goP
Redder than in the garden bed


The roses blossomed in her cheek.
"Nou wicked, wicked cheat" she said,
Soon as the injured lips could speak,
Lest he should prove her charge for true.
And seem the most depraved of men,
What should he do-what could he do,
But give her back the kiss again?
Year: 1874

HSements


WASHINGTON, May S-The bill report
ed from the House Committee on banking
and currencyEo-da to amend the charter of
the Freedmens Savings and Trust Company
provides that hereaf er it shall be the duty
of the trustees and officers Of said company
to make deposit to the extent of one-half
of the deposits by them received upon
bonds and notes secured by mort
cages or deeds of trust upon unincumbered
real estate situated in the vicinity of the
agency or branch of said county from
which the deposits are received, worth IIpoc
a cash appraisement at least double the
amount of said loans exclusive of the
buildings. The other half they shall invest
in United States bonds or keep on deposit
in some National bank such sums as may be
necessary TO meet current payments. 1t
is made the duty of the officers of the bank
to collect as speedily as may be done all
sums of money loaned upon real estate out
side of the States from which received, and
as the same be collected loan the funds in
accordance with the preceding part of this
act as ii shall appear the interest of deposi-
tors may require. 1t may be lawful for the
trustees, with the consent of the Comp
troller of the Currency, at any time to close
any of the agencies or branches or portions,
paying to the depoSitors Of such agencies or
branches pro ratio amount of the principal
or interest which may be due them and
also a relative proportion of any surplus
which may have accumulated, whenever it
may be deemed advisable or when so or
dered by Congress. The general business
and affairs of the corporation shall
in like IN nner be closed up by
the trustees or corporation under the
direction of the Comptroller of currency.
The officers Of the company are prohibited
from lending any person or company at any
one time more than ten dollars of the
funds. There is stringent provision to
punish embezzlement. Interest exceeding
five per cent shall not be paid on deposits.
Whenever it shall be deemed advisable by
the trustees TO wind up the entire business
of the bank and its branches, commission
ers shall be appointed to take charge of all
property, make collection, etc, and dis
tribute proceeds among the creditors pro
rata, according to their respective amounts.
Year: 1874




New YORK, May Sat a meeting of
Democrats from all parts Of the country, in
the rooms of the Manhattan Club last night
Augustus Schell, who presided, stated the
object of the gathering in the following adj
dress of welcome:


The occasion is one of great interest to
us, to our city, our State and our country.
We have met together once more to feel
that the great Democratic principles of our
Government are recognized throughout the
country. Recent elections bring vividly to
our mind the. condition of our country
twenty years ago, when the Democratic
party was in the full tide Of successful ex-
pertinent; when our Government was ably
governed by men of character and integrity.
We are happy to meet you on this occasion,
to join with us in celebrating this return to
great principles, and we are satisfied before
another Presidential election shall have
passed, we shall not only be recognized in
the States, but in the Presidential chair by
Democrats of virtue and ability.
Year: 1874

NEARLY one month has now been
consumed in paying the gifts drawn in
the Louisville Library scheme, and yet
many remain unpaid. Two cashiers
and half a dozen assistants have been
at it day and night ever since April 4,
but with all their work they could not
paw the gifts as fast as the tickets came
in They have been behind with their
work from the beginning and are still
behind and likely so tos-eontinue for
some DAYS to come
Year: 1874

SOME little surprise is expressed that
MIR. Johson forgot to define his views
on the Civil Rights bill, Friday night
matter concerning which the people
of Tennessee are vastly more anxious
just now than about Sinking the pay
ment of interest on the State debt.
Year: 1874

DEsPoTIsM is tolerable sort of a
government when conducted under
standingly, and men know what to ex-
pect. But the despots of Washington
do not understand the business. If
this Arkansas anarchy must be settled
at Washington after all, any prompt
decision, even if wrong, would have
been less criminal than this miserable
delay with its attendant slaughter.
Year: 1874

1t viii be noticed that bill passed
the lower House of Congress yesterday
directing settlement Of the Govern
ment claims against the State of Ten
nessee on account of railroads. The
State claims, as an Offset, compensa-
tion for the use of the roads by the
Government during the war. 1t viii
be noticed that the bill requires settle
meat on the market value of the roll
ing stock at the time, 1866. This might
seem reasonable enough if we could
forget that greenback dollars are now
worth about twice as much as then, and
that settlement at the then market
value of that currency would be tanta-
mount to double payment.
Year: 1874

WASHINGTON, May S.-The Cabinet
was in session for nearly two hours te-dEy,
during which the Arkane4s question vas
under consideration. IL was expected that
the general government would have made
some decision in response TO the many ap-
plications therefor from the present actors
of the contending factions in this case, but
no conclusions have been reached as vet
here. The decision OF the Supreme Court
favoring the Brooks side, in such direct
contradiction of its previous decision that
the Legislature had exclusively the control
Of the question, has the effect Of augmenting
the difficulties under which the general
government rests in arriving at a solution
Of the vexed question. This new phase Of
the matter was talked of at some length in
the Cabinet session and the reversal of the
former opinion OF the Supreme Court
Of The State occasioned comment.
No member of the Cabinet has made e
definite or positive expression Of opinion on
the subject. All the papers that have been
presented In the case were read to-day.
There may be some decision tomorrow.
but there is no certainty of it, as the at
tOrneys of the different parties are continu-
ally sending telegrams presenting new
points and arguments which they are ahx-
ious to have considered. A cabinet officer
said this evening that the government was
heartily tired OF the controversy. When its
decision is made a proclamation will be
issued, which ali will understand must set
tie the question.


Delinquent Railroads.


The House Committee on Pacific Rail-
road to-day unanimously agreed to report
and recommend the passage of bill, di-
recting the Secretary of the Treasury, to
demand from each of the Pacific Railroad
Cashiers, the immediate payment of the
five per cent per annum of their respective
net receipts, required by law to be paid
over to the Government, and applied to the
liquidation of interest on their bonds.
The bill will also contain provisions di-
recting the Attorney General to commence
proceedings, to enforce the payment of the
five per cent. in case the demand OF the
Secretary of the Treasury be not complied
with.


Pushing the Civil Rights Bill.


A caucus of Republican Senators was
held this morning to fix the order of bus
ineSs, with special reference to the civil
rights bill. No conclusion was reached,
and there will be another meeting this
afternoon.


sober Second Thought.


At the adjourned meeting of the Re-
publicans Senatorial caucus this evening.
there was long discussion of the pending
civil rights bill. with view of making it
acceptable to all members of the majority,
by agreeing upon some modification of its
provisions. No definite conclusion was
reached but 1t is believed action will be
taken at another caucus, to provide for
such changes in the bill, as will clearly ad-
nit of separate schools being provided for
white and colored children, also for separ-
ate accommodations by inn keepers, propri-
eturs of theaterS, etc, on condition that
equal advantages are secured to all classes.
Year: 1874

A caucus of Republican Senators was
held this morning to fix the order of bus
ineSs, with special reference to the civil
rights bill. No conclusion was reached,
and there will be another meeting this
afternoon