smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

SOME very curious features in this sum-
mer's visitation of yellow fever to the United
States are in a measure cleared up by the
statement of a gentleman recently from the
scene of the pestilence, to Georgia paper.
1t will be remembered that the scourge made
its appearance late in the fall, after the close
of the hot summer months IN which the
danger is supposed to be greatest, and that it
struck out of the way localities, avoiding the
great aggregations of population most sub
ject to attack by epidemics. A new feature
Of singularity is also added by this same
statement which furnishes general explana-
ton. In Fernandina the ravages of the dis
ease were almost universal, while its NOR
tality was exceptional. Out of 1000 to 1000
population there were 1,100 cases of yellow
fever, including nearly every white inhabi-
tant: but out of all this disease there were on
ly about so deaths. This is extraordinary
mildness for the dread epidemic. However,
this with other peculiar characteristics of
this seasons attack seem to come from the
fact that the disease was not normal mani
festation, but purely local outbreak deter
mined by the filthiIy unclean condition of the
city, rather than the mysterious general con-
dition of atmospheric surroundings which
caused its more fatal visits in other years.
Fernandina is sluggish lsort of Southern
coast town, and is probably dirty enough at
the best of times but this particular year
the municipal authorities utterly neglected
its publication for reasons of economy, and
the ravages of the plague are the result OF
this criminal negligence. There would be a
sort of grim satisfaction to the unprejudiced
observer in the knowledge that the so deaths
reported included quorum of the city council
Still another popularity of the epidemic in
this place is that the colored people, ordinarily
exempt, have suffered largely from its raw.
ages, owing probably to their uncleanly hab'
its of living. Altogether, this summers visi-
tation is peculiar and interesting manifest
alton, and should be an impressive lesson as
to the necessity of that cleanliness which is a
sort of municipal morality.
Year: 1877

WILLIAM E. SMITH, the Republican can
didate for governor of Wisconsin is daily gain
ing ground and his election is considered GER
tain. The war record of Judge Mallory, the
Democratic candidate, is not such as to com
mend him to many who have recently acted
with the party in that state, and it is believed
he will lose votes on that account.
Year: 1877

we DO not read anonymous etters and communi-
cations. The name and address of the writer in
all cases Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or preserve COM
munications that are not used.
Year: 1877

Regarding the length OF the session, the stu
alton in the senate is regarded as making
brief session impossible. In the house the
question of increasing the army will probably
come up in connection with the appropriation
bill, and such a proposition will necessarily
lead to considerable debate, and as both appro-
priation and military committees would have
to act in the matter, considerable time must be
consumed on this one bill. The navy def
cheney bill can hardly pass without attracting
considerable attention from both houses. The
subject of rebuilding the Interior Department.
building must come up at once, and the condi-
tion of nearly all the public buildings here is
now known to be such as to make delay in
providing places of safety for the large mass of
public archives altogether inexcusable. In
view of these items of necessary business alone,
a short session is not expected, and those who
live at distance are quite inclined to begin
general work in earnest and push it as rapidly
as possible. since this is the pleasantest season
for work in Washington.
Year: 1877

THE Hungarians seem minded to take
their revenge upon Russia for her work in
suppressing the revolution of 1s49, when
Kossuth and his heroic compatriots struggled
for the independence of Hungary. They
have not forgotten the hospitality which
Turkey extended to the exiles, and they are
anxious to discharge their debts of gratitude
and revenge. Many Magyar volunteers are
said to be serving in the Ottoman armies.
Year: 1877

The Democratic Congressional caucus
which nominated Randall forgot to pass
resolution against subsidies. Evidently that
old Democratic doctrine is to be ignored by
the new Democracy at the dictate of the
COrtI
Year: 1877

Africa and proved II to be neither less than
the River Congo All doubt this point at an end.
The question is settled. . Bear In mind, also,
that he employed not by some great society, but
by the NKw YORK HERALD aud the Lon ion Telegraph
Year: 1877

The following record will show the changes in tho
temperature for the past twcntyfour hours COM


parson with the corresponding date OF last year,


indicated by tho thermometer at Hudnuts pharmacy,
Year: 1877

The Democratic meeting in Wash
ington, last Monday, under the auspi-
ees OF the Tilden and Hendricks
reform club, was very fully attended.
Ford's Opera House, where the demon
stration took place, being literally
crowded, with many ladies, despite the
bad weather. Among the vast audience
Richard T. Merrick was chosen presi-
dent of the meeting, and the list of vice
presidents and secretaries embraced the
names of number of the Oldest and
most substantial citizens of the District.
The speakers in addition to the presi-
dent were Congressman Watterson,
Banning, Tarbox, Hooker, Gen. Force,
Pulitzer, and others. The general
tone of the speeches was animated in
favor of the appliance of all means
of peace to settle the pending complica-
tions. The speakers avowed themselves
earnestly desirous of some method of
solving the great question at issue.
Watterson said he expected ON the day
Of counting theyote, tosee one hundred
thousand unarmed men in Washing
ton, patiently awaiting the result, and
determined in their views of the Ameri-
can right of appeal. He knew that all
appliances of peace would be used in
the settlement of the question, but the
people were not prepared to submit to
usurpation, in the event of which
second jackson would be ready to lead
them to the preservation of the consti-
tuition and government.


Banning said: The people want peace,
but there must be no bayonets in the
House.


Several of the speakers declared their
belief that the rank and file. of the Re-
publican party would be with the mass
of the Democracy in their views as to
how the question should be settled
by the count being made, as has always
been the case.


The resolutions of the meeting de-
clared it the duty of both houses of con-
gress to exercise the usual and concur
rent jurisdiction on the final examina-
tion and counting of the electoral bal
lots. They declare Tilden and Hem
bricks elected and believe there is vir-
tue enough left in the hearts of their
fellow citizens without distinction of
party to discover by peaceful means,
and to enforce by constitutional agen-
cies, solution of the present difficult
ties. If this faith should he deluded,
they then without vaunt or menace, but
in spirit Of sad and resolute determi-
nation, resolve to do their full duty in
any emergency, and appeal to their fel-
low citizens throughout the country to
defend their right and preserve and de-
fend the constitution and government.
The Theatre was tastefully decorated
with flags and notices.
Year: 1877

WHEN General Ignatieff left his ambassa-
dorial post at Peking in 1861 he presented a
case of champagne to Prince Su Shun,
favorite of the emperor But he sent no
corkscrew with the wine, and when Su Shun
amiably forwarded bottle or two to the en-
peror, the imperial butler, who had never
seen bottles so fastened down, was at loss
as to the manner of opening them. At last
he set bottle on a stove-and that Celestial
household was dispersed directly around that
Celestial kitchen in an agony of fear to the
tune of tremendous explosion.
Year: 1877

The message of President Grant favor
ing resumption of specie payments voices the
popular desire and expectation. The people,
weary of taking notes however beautifully
printed, long for money that jinges. Expert
ence has brought to them the conviction tn at
legitimate business can only be safely entered
upon and continued in when the standard of
value in use among the peoples of the earth
is readopted by us and when the value of a
note or bill due six months hence can be GER
tainly ascertained at the time 1t is given.
They see toe that all the conditions are favor
able to resumption, and that the step which
shall bring a restoration of the specie stand
ard can be soon taken with little discomfort
and no danger. With the balance of trade
heavily in our favor, with our mines turning
out S90,000,000 worth of the precious metals
year, with no outward movement of gold,
with great masses of greenbacks idle, and
with national credit which will enable US to
fund our floating debt at four per cent, it
would be folly to long postpone reform OF
the currency.


The method proposed by the President is
one which has long been looked upon favora-
bly, by students of finance as better calculated
than almost any other to safely and speedily
accomplish resumption. The interest charge
will not be heavy on the amount of greebacks
it will be necessary to call in in exchange for
bonds. Let the volume of government notes
be reduced hundred and fifty millions and
sufficient gold can in no long time be accu-
mulated to meet the demand for redemption
on the day fixed by law. After the first
heavy demand is met the sums of gold re-
ceived into the treasury in the course of bus-
ness will be ample to provide for the notes as
they are presented. The withdrawal of a
large amount of greenbacks is an absolutely
necessary preliminary step to be taken,
for experience has demonstrated again
and again that gold and paper
will not circulate side by side as long
as the amount of both is larger than the COM
mon transactions of business require. Our
paper currency is now excessive and its vol
ume must not only be reduced to the narrow
est limits which the necessities of the circu-
lating medium will allow, but much below
those limits so as to create deficiency that
gold will flow in to supply.


The recommendation that the restriction
on the issue of silver coin be removed, should
receive very careful examination before being
acted upon, for the country does not desire
and cannot afford to replace our paper cur
rency with debased coinage or with a metal
which has uncertain value in the markets of
the world. If the present authorized amount
of silver coin be too small it should be in
creased as much as is necessary; but some
Limitation should be placed upon its
issue, else the second state of our currency
will be little preferable to the present.
Year: 1877

We not read anonymous letters and communi-
cations. The and address of the writer are In
ali cases Indispensable not necessarytor publication
out as guaranty Of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or reserve eommu-
nications that are not used.
Year: 1877

THE shrewdest Democrats think the Flori-
da case, now before the Electoral Commis-
sion, is their strongest hold, unless it be
technicality in Oregon. If they fail here In
the first trial, they will have little hope Of
SUCCESS
Year: 1877

Snow is often called the "poor mans
manure;" and if it is true that it has any
manural value, the farmers prospects for
the next season are certainly fattering.
The body of snow upon the ground in
all the Northern and Middle States is
very great, and millions of acres of land
are covered by it as with a blanket of the
whitest wool. 1t is probable that sell
dom, perhaps never, has so wide an area
of our country been covered as during
the month of January, 1877. The ques-
tion whether snow is capable of affording
to lands any of the elements of fertility
is one often asked; and in reply, the
Boston Journal Of Chemistry says that
it probably is. The atmosphere holds
ammonia and some other heterogeneous
products, which are without doubt
brought to the soil by snowfakes as well
as by rain drops.


Experiments both here and abroad
would seem to prove the truth of this
conclusion.


Rains are not only valuable for the
moisture which they supply, but for
what they bring to us from the atmos-
phere. During thunder storm nitric
acid is produced in considerable quanti-
ties; and dissolved in the rain drops to a
high degree of attenuation, its effects
upon soils are highly salutary, as the
nitrogen perpeates the entire soil.
Year: 1877

The British House of Commons has a
very remarkable member in the person
of Mr.. Kavanagh, country gentleman,
of ancient family and great estate IN Ire
land. Although born without legs or
arms, he rides, drives, and does all, and
indeed more than all, that most men do,
and his dexterity is such as to lead to the
conclusion that nature must have given
him at the shoulder joint something
which answers the purpose of hand.
In 1765 there was living in Somerset
shire, England, farmer scarcely less
remarkable He was born without arms
or shoulders, but endowed with such ex-
traordinary strength and dexterity that
he could, by some contrivance, do almost
the same as other men. His teeth were
so amazingly strong that he could hIt
ten peclxs of beans with them, and with
his feet could throw a sledge hammer
further than other men could with their
arms, He married, rs has also N.Y.
Kavanagh,
Year: 1877

The talk about blue glass has had the
effect of sending tramps about the conn
try peddling blue glass spectacles, with
forged certificates from distinguished
physicians. Farmers should beware Of
spelling their eye sight.
Year: 1877

A fair estimate of the crop OF these ten
acres would be five hundred tons. Five
hundred tons of timothy hay would cost
$40, 900, and as this five hundred tons of
chopped fodder will answer the same
purposes as the timothy hay, it is easily
seen that every community can thus raise
its own meat at about half the cost to
II
Year: 1877

per. It is only twelve and a half cents per month. But we are anxious to get all the masses more in the habit of reading. We know that if they will read their county paper they will keep better posted and be more prosperous

 they will think more and be more prac- tical and prevalent and better times will be brought about. Urged on by this desire we now make this offer, to-wit: to everybody who will remit us one dollar and fifty cents we will send the DEMOCRAT from now until the lst day of January 1879. Is not this as liberal as you could ask, and cannot every man in Pope County who is any man at all afford to take his county paper at this low figure. Send us your money at once and have your names enrolled on our subscription books, and you will never, never, never regret it.
Year: 1877

Burlcigh writes from New York TO tho
Boston J0itrndl: Zone OF our city pas
tors is most excellent singer. lie has
sympathetic voice. He frequently sup
plements his sermon with q song, ana
the music is quite rs efficient as the ap-
peal, He visited n madhousc the other
lay, and was shown u cell in which n
madman was confined. lie was one Of
the most furious sort. lie had to be chain
ed to the floor to keep him from dashing
his brains against the sides of his cell
1t was rs much "a ones life was worth
to approach him. lie tore his clothes into
aud his bed was mass of rags
As the minister looked through the graf
ing the prisoner made for him, and with
such violence rs 10 jerk himself back on
to the floor lie rose foaming with rage.
IN kill YOU I'll beat your brains out.
: Clear out Instead OF moving, the
preacher began 10 sing. The hymn lie Sc
Iectcd was Our Home in Heaven First
The madman listened then lie stretched
himself out 10 the full length of lis
chain. First one arm relaxed and then
the other Tears moistcncd his eyes. -
Then he coilcd upon. his bed of rags as
quie, rs child. And when the hymn
was ended lie looked up saying, More,
more The preacher sang till his strength
gave way, and when he left the mailman
seemed hushed in slumbcr The keeper
said he had no doubt but il would have
been perfectly safe for the minister 10
have gone and sat down by his side in
the cell. Ii was the old case Of Saul aud
David ~
Year: 1877

There is only one class of individuals
for whom we have a feeling Of malignant
and deadly hatred. We refer TO those
persons who embrace every opportunity
that is offered TO make stale puns. We
know men who never refer to q shoe
maker without remarking th;t lie is u
man Of sole, or that hc has lost his lit
tie awl, or that his work Is made 10 last
who never sec u plate of cheese without
observing that il is mitier than the
sword and who invariably speak OF
marriage rs matter Of money" These
persons icrked out these puns with all
the enthusiasm that might characterize
"a man who has jnst perpctrated good
thing, and then when you decline Ito
laugh, because you are well aware that
the puus in question were old stagers in
the name Of Noah-that patriarch, in
deed, having amused his family circle
with them in the ark during the days in
which il was too wet 90 20 out--thc
6ends actually think you don't see the
point, and they proceed to explain each
pun In detail. We arc not naturally of
q sanguinary disposition. We hesitate
generally about shedding the blood of
our fellow-creaturcs. We have even left
the battlc-ficld-whcn we were out with
the militia-and gone quietly homo
rather than steop our hands in human
gore; but we have firmly resolved that
The next man who in our presence makes
IA pun on the words sole, or "awl," or
''matrimony," shall die on the spot We
shall carry a howizter in our pocket for
the purpose. Our cry now Is vengeance.
We will be tormented no longer.
Year: 1877

Mrs. Gillespie, the President of the
Woman's Centennial Executive Committee,
said on Thursday in Philadelphia, at the
meeting at which the committee and
several Philadelphia citizens gave her a
testimonial Of $500, that the entire ex-
pense of running the Women's Pavilion,
and also the expense of getting up the
chorus at the opening and closing of the
Exhibition, were paid by the ladies, and
the only thing they regretted was that in
the building of the Pavilion they had not
got lady architect to make the plan and
superlntend the building, one-quarter of
which was set apart for foreign exhibitors.
Year: 1877

There is a period in the early life of
every true woman when moral and in
tellectual growth, seems for a time to
cease. The vacant heart seeks for an
occupant. Theintellect, having appro-
priated aliment requisite to the growth
of the uncrowned feminine nature,
feels the necessity of more intimate
confpanionship with the masculine
mind, to start 1t on its second period
of development. Here, at this point,
some stand for years, without making a
step in advance. Other marry and as
tonish In a few brief years, by their
sweet temper, their new beauty, their
high accomplishments, and their noble
womanhood, those whose blindness led
them to suppose woman devoid of such
traits.
Year: 1877

When Napoleon rushed back to Paris
as fast as horses could draw him in
order that he might himself tell the
story Of his discontinue, he thought fit
to select the King of Naples, from
among all his Marshals, to take COM
mand Of his retreating forces. As was


usual with him, he thought out every
thing that was likely to happen and left


Murat instructions accordingly. No
man, perhaps, ever more patiently pro-
vided for the prosecution of a design,
or took more careful account of the
probable accidents which might super
vene; but when he had once taken this
trouble he expected not only that his
officers would minutely conform to di-
rections, but also that nature, accident,
every circumstance, should keep strictly
within the range Of his provision; and
he was fearfully angry If things took
an unexpected turn, and he invariably
vented his wrath on some officer, al
though it may have been the elements
or the outfall of events that disappointed
him. 1t was Murat's supreme i'll fortune
that Immediately after the Emperor's
departure 18th December) the ther-
memeter descended to point unpre-
cedented at that season, and rendered
the execution of his orders impossible,
There were % degrees q presume of
the Centigrade thermometer) Of frost,
So far were the wretched forces from
having at length surmounted the ex-
treme horrors of the retreat, that at
wilma all the horrors recommended in
an aggravated degree. A division of
10, 900 men was in eight days reduced to
5000 without having seen an enemy or
received a stroke save from the elements.
In one night all the artillery horses
were frozen to death, as they stood,
with their harness on, and just as they
had stood in life. Half the drivers died
of cold the same night; the other half
came to put their horses in motion,
could not stir them, and at last found
they were all dead. Before the retreat
could be continued the Russian cannon
was heard in the rear. Murat himself
seemed to care as little for cold as for
cannon-shot. He turned out at the first
hint Of danger from the enemy, and he
hos lo1 In, hn
style as ever; but nine-tenths of his
miserable force were paralyzed by the
cold. Their arms literally dropped from
their hands. The few exceptionally
hardy men who could still move fled as
they best could, leaving their comrades
to the mercy of the Winter and the
enemy. These frost-bitten wretches
were stripped, and in various ways
afflicted by Cossacks and others. The
enemy was never twelve hours march
behind the rear guard (Ney), and there
was neither rest nor refreshments for
days. Artillery, baggage, and the i'm
perial treasure were abandoned. Except
that they still took with them a few
horses, nothing remained to the sur
vivors but the tatters and arms which
they carried. The line of the flight was
covered with corpses, and with cold
stricken beings, who had laid down
never to rise again. These details are
in the highest degree horrible, and it ia
a pain to dwell upon them; but it is
right that we should sometimes mediate
on scenes like these, and not exclusively
on the "pride, pomp and circum-
stance of glorious war. Blackaoood'S
Magazine.