smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

A young girl but eighteen years Of
age, says the Osceola Mo- Democrat,
whose name we withhold, owing to q
desire on the part of the actors to keep
the affair secret, was sitting 10 the
darkened kitchen with her betrothed
in the wee hours OF the night, when
starting for the fireplace in order to
replenish the fuel, her foot struck
what she supposed was piece Of rope,
and stopping to pick it up, she re-
ceived the venOmOus fsngs OF . large
rattlesnake iu her thumb. To ordin-
ary individuals this would be the sig
nal for iainting fit, but not so in the
present case. The girl simply turned
the light up, and asked her "young
man" to kill the reptile, and seizing 8
case-kuife she severed the Fitten
thumb from the hand, thus prevent
ing the deadly poison from getting
into her system, and probably causing
her death. The snake measured four
feet and two inches in length. None
but the two actors knew anything OF
the affair until the next morning.
The bitten thumb grew blacker, until
it was as black as a piece Of coal. The
wounded stump is fast healing up,
and il it had not been for the bravery
and presence Of mind Of the girl, she
would have long ere this been 9 corpse
rotting in the grave. Such presence
of mind is very rarely seen in the life
Of either man or wOmans
Year: 1877

Scarlet fever and diphtheria are
sweeping the children at Chicago to
the grave-yards. The Times, in an
article on the subject, intimates that
the deaths within three months do
not fall much short ofeight thousand.
The cause is supposed to be imperfect
drainage and bad ventilation, but the
Times calls loudly for an investigs-
ton. We make the following ex-
tracts from leading editorial on the
subject.


"The city is full of grief-rRachel
mourning for her children because
they are not.' TIE ample statistics
given in q late issue of the Times
show how great is the present mortal.
ity among children, and demonstrate
that the ravages of diseases among
infants have nearly the deadly force
of q pestilence. The conclusions Of
the article are that the principal dis
eases which affect this class are scar
let fever aud diphtheris, and that the
prime causes of their spread and ma
lignancy are bad drainage and impure
air arising from imperfect ventilation.


What the Times started out to say
with reference to scarlet few er is that
there ia a most marvellous and wholly
inexplicable supineness on the part Of
the public with reference to the raw
ages of this complaint. Yellow fever
and cholera have been made the sub
jeet of special studies, and the inves-
tigatiOn of commissions and vet
neither of these diseases is compare
lie in their deadly results to those Of
scarlet fever. In England, alone,
the annual number Of deaths by
scarlet fever reach the extraordinary
dimensions of 72,000I Suppose that
even oLe-fourth OF this number were
to die OF cholera or yellow fever each
year in England, what panic would
ensue, and how instantly would be
brought to bear on the evil every
appliance within the reach of scien-
tifice Investigation In 1873 there
ragged in the United States both ehol-
era and yellow fever, aud both pro-
duced an alarm that pervaded the en-
tire Nation. Now, what does the
reader suppose was the mortality
resulting from the presence OF these
two frightful diseases ? 1t was less
than S,000-nOt very many more than
Chicago has lost, in three months,
from scarlet fever and diphtheria.
During the same year in which the
country was psnic-stricken over the
prevalence Of cholera and yellow
fever, there occurred over 10000
deaths from diarrhoe, dysentery, and
cholera infantum and this is not
above the average annual mortality
from these diseases. The special
tables Of mortality in the Vital
Statistics Of the Ninth Census shows
that there is, in this country, an
average annual mortality from such
more or less preventable diseases as
smallpox, scarlet fever, typhus fever,
enteric fever, and consumption, Of
over 100000. And yet these frightful
results attract no attention.
Year: 1877

To make yourself popular with an
editor, buzz round him when he is
busy, read aloud to him articles in
his exchanges. He will be as glad to
see you As II be hsd run 9 nail In his
foot.
Year: 1877

We do not believe that the moral sense
of the American people will consent TO or
tolerate that the election of president OF
the United States shall be determined and
decided by throwing out the votes Of sew
eral thousands of legal voters, legally
polled, in any state of the union, We
take it, therefore, that the votes actually
polled In these FIVE bulldozed " parishes
of Louisiana will be counted, no matter
what may be the result produced upon the
election by so deing. We
assume that those who did vote were legal
voters. and know of no right recognized by
any law Of any state where the vote of legal
voters, lawfully polIed. can be rejected and
they disfranchised. - Chicago Tribune
| Non. 18Th.
Year: 1877

The day of political adventures from
the north or west is oyer in the south. LII
that region of country is to recover all that
il has lost in industry and wealth it must
at least tolerate the presence OF men who
come with the honest intention OF perform.
ing all the duties of good citizons, N. 4
Times, (Rep),
Year: 1877

| AuO husoidu peopit no longer neeQ 10
be warned that they must strain all the
resources of the Empire if they would
come out Of this war, not merely with


honor, but without disgrace. They al
ready feel the pinch of financial adver-
sity. Some enthusiasts have suggested
that people who have broken or super
fuous articles of silver should send
them to the mint TO be ecoined; but more
prosaic minds are seriously discussing
the necessity of raising another foreign
loan. In the center of Russian intelli-
gence there seems to be general con-
viction that Russia must prepare for a
second campaign.


Naturally the disas ers in Bulgaria
are the theme of profound wonder, dis
appointment, and anger. Nobody i'm
agined that the Turks were so well
armed, SO well led, so clearly match
for the best troops of Russia even in the
open field. The war was begun with
the vague idea that after some hard
fighting the Turks would beg for peace,
or be driven back to Constantinople.
The Russians find that they were pro-
foundly mistaken. The ala rming fact
is that the military skill of Russia
seems to have fallen off, although the
atmosphere of her public life is mill
tary. She also shows a far greater
tendency than in the past times to keep
the highest posts of command within
the narrow circle of the Imperial
family. No such fault was committed
in her great wars with Napoleon or in
her former contests with Turkey. The
Princes have shown no capacity beyond
what might serve a General of Brigade
in quiet times, and none of them have
given the slightest proofs of ability to
handle the masses of men. Nor is the
worst part of the mischief summed up
in their positive errors. BY keeping all
the power in their own hands, they
have, it would seem, stunted the growth
of such military capacity as Russiac an
furnish.


These facts are the theme Of bitter
comment in Russian society, and they
will bear political fruit after the war.
Year: 1877

The Sitting Bull commission was no
less successful than was generally an
ticipated. They were sent at the ur-
gent solicitation of the Canadian au-
thorities, who regard the hostiles as a
perpetual menace to their frontier, and
the police must be augmented if they
stay. This Government would gain
nothing by their return,
Year: 1877

Inc Importance OF the nervous system. life
and death and the direct bearing which on hum
happiness thoroughly recosnized Its capabilities
crate uses the danger OF overtaxng IT, whether
tpouxht study or Intense mental application
cessive indulgence OF the Appetites
proper subjects for confederation When
Is dermnged II absolutely promptly seek
vice from expert who for long years has de-
voted ms whole time and attention to- this study Who


from his experience and practice has 20
avoiding painfully slow feeling the truth 80
to the Inexperienced and annoying the pxtrnt
who naturally wants to without delay wha ~
the matter the extent oil the the
ties OF recuperaton md the time required.


striking example Of the value OF experience prao
tca observation we'll the usefulness prompt
application Of suitable remedies Is found In tho
ant sta cment coming both from home and abroad
large proportion o those who suffer from
trbsnce and absolute insanity who
placed under treatment within alter the As symp
toms have manifested themselves


tho brain has become exhausted by intense mental ep
picaton dcprvng OF the power OF connected though
II only Its strength by being properly fed
precisely the with the preside
ife The value OF this branch OF medical practice
scarcely be overrated for IL reaches the
alton OF family the securing OF hereditary titles
and the retention of estates In tho ssme family.


From long and large experience in this direction.
have been able command by tho thankful
probation of of the first families In tho city and
nation; and communicate much that pertains to
exercise of department tho
and the means OF recovering its powers whether of brain
appetite, propensity or passion
Year: 1877




The Washington correspondent of the
World says:


The attitude of Thurman and Bayard
In to-days discussions leaves little room
70 DOUBT that their final votes will be cast
ior conservative compromise, under
which the claims of both Mr.. Tilden and
Mr.. Hayes will be acted upon under
e9uai terms as possessing equal rights.
w ht ther the Democratic members of the
House committee will be ready to make
an equal concession will depend upon a
Denef In their ability to carry q majority
of the House in the same direction. a.
wei as upon rooted dislike on the part
OF some of their number to yield the an
cient constitutional prerogative of the
muse In the verification Of the electoral
vote. AS the committee drew near to-
day. to final and decisive issue, it was
noIiceaoie that each party felt ready in
Ge1auit OF agreement to fall back, the
republicans on the President of the
senate and the Democrats on the right
oi tne House to elect. of the Republi-
cans, however, Willard refused assent to
any such proposition. In his treatment
OF this subject. Conkling in the sessions
OF the committee has stood nearer to
thurman than to Morton. Members of
the committee unite tonight in charac-
terizing the joint sessions which are lust
closing as singularly free from partizan
spirit or rancorous discussions. The
presentation and discussion of plan has
failen mainly to the Senate members
whose long study during the recess has
gwen Them familiarity with the subject.
The three Republican members have.
agreed with them. 1t has depended
upon the Democrats OF the House
committee to determine the ex-
tent of their concessions. To night full
agreement of the fourteen members does
not seem probable; the agreement of a
majority upon one plan appears certain,
and the indications point to united ac,
ton as consequent upon the decision of a
majority A feeling which has developed
TINS evening, that the disagreement of
tms ttms committee need not be final, and
that a second committee may resume the
work in which they fail with a better
chance of success, may prevent 4 favor
able report from the committee. Should
none be made, new committees will at
once be appointed.
Year: 1877

Bill Clark, a colored class-leader in
Georgia, visited brothers hen-roost, fell
and broke his neck. The pastor of his
church was terribly bothered to get his
funeral sermon in proper shape so that
brother Clark's character would not suf-
fer. He went at the job in this manner:
"There are circumstances connected with
his death that are perplexing. If, after
he fell and before he struck the ground,
he repented of his sins, there can be no
question but he is now in glory; but there
was mighty little time for him to think
about it.
Year: 1877

Governor Hendricks on the last day
of his official term pardoned a man who
was under life sentence. The priso.
her fired pistol at one man and kille&
another. he studied so much uron the
matter in prison as to become partially
insane upon that topic. The Governor
aud he had been schoolfellows ia early
life, and this fact joined with others
produced that action of the former.
Year: 1877

No one will dispute the state
ment that nearly all so Is are bene
fted by the application of fertiIlz
ers, m some form and if it pays to
pu5 them in the soil to the full
extent that they will yield an in1
crease. Firstly, the limit between
the amount which makes a percep.
tible increase and the quantity
Which gives the full benefit is not
great and hence the proportionate
increase Of price is not as great as
the proportionate yield of CROP
One hundred pounds of a fertilizer
may Just begin to warm mp tract
of land, while fifty ponds more
would cause great yield, hence it
would be economy to use the one
hundred and fifty pounds at TIE
first. Again, there is the saving Of
labor as we'll as interest on invest
ment in making a smaller area
produce a much greater quantity
If field produce eight bushels of
wheat per acre without fertilizers,
and with fifty pounds cf a fertilizer
costing 3 cents per round will yield
ten bushels, or fourteen, it is econ
omy to use them. But if one
hundred and fifty POUNDS wfll
cause twenty-five bushels to be
produced then that amount is best
we use these figures merely for
illustration.


High feeding and care produce
improved herds of stock, and there
is no reason why high manuring
and high culture should not pro
duce great yields and also leave
lands improved beyond their sta
tns when the system was begun
There is of course point beyond
which manuring becomes a waste,
but it is hardly probable that any
farmer is likely to reach it.


The true course for every farmer
to adopt is to experiment. The
experience of others is good as a
guide, but difference of soil or eli
mate may make that experience of
little value or give a different re-
suit. Hence it is best that each
farmer should determine for him
self the fertilizer adapted to his
soil and crops. He may lay it
down as a fixed rule that barnyard
manure is good everywhere and ii
is not likely that he can get
enough of it to make it injurious.
AS to the commercial fertilizers, he
should try them in fields of equal
natural fertility, one field with moth
ing and another with given quan
tity, and Others with an increase
or he may Put all in the same field
in different lots. Thus he will get
an idea as to how far he may fer
tilize with profit.
Year: 1877

When you see woman standing
on kitchen chair, looking up at a
ragged hole in the pIastering, while
she holds a hammer in her right
hand and her left thumb in her
mouth, there is your chance for a
candid opinion about the nail
works.
Year: 1877

The fairest action of our human life
Is scoming to revenge an injury;
For who forgiyes without further strife,
His adversaTy's heart to him doth tie,
And t is firmer conquest truly said,
To win the heart, than overthrow the


head.
If we a worthy enemy do find,
Toyield to worth it must be nobly done /;
But if of baser metal be his mind,
In base revenge there's no honor won.
Who would a worthy courage overthrow?
And who would wrestle with a worthless


foe?
We say our hearts are great, and cannot


yield;


Because they cannot yield, it proves


them poor:
Great hearts are tasked beyond their


power but seld;
The weakest lion will the loudest roar.
Truths school for certain doth this same


allow:
High-heartedress doth sometimes teach


to bow.
A noble heart doth teach a virtuous


scorn =


To scorn to owe a duty overlong;
To scorn to be for benefits forborne;
To scorn to lie; to scorn to do a wrong
To scorn to bear an injury in mind;
TO scorn a free-born heart slave-like to


bind.
But if for wrongs we needs revenge must


have,


Then be our vengeance of the noblcst


kind.
Do we his body from our fury save,
And let our hate prevail against his
mind?
What can against him a greater vengeance


be,
Then make his foe more worthy far than


he?


--Elizabetb Cdrelc.
Year: 1877

not forget, BILL he said, that YOU
have saved your coloners life.' We
had fierce struggle, master, ere we
beat out the French; but, broken and
half-naked as we were, we did beat
them out, and the battle became gen.
eral, "At first the flare of artillery,
as the batteries blszed out in the dark
ness, dazzled and blinded me; but
loaded and fired necessarily, and. the
thicker the bullets went whistling past
me. the faster l loaded and fired. A
spent shot, that had struck through a
sand-bank, came rolling on like bowl,
and, leaping up from hillodk in front,
struck me on the breast. 1t was such
blow, master, as a man might have
given with his fist; but it knocked me
down, and ere l got up, the company
was a few PAGES in advance. The
bonnet of the soldier who had taken
my place came rolling to my feet ere ]
could join them. But, alas +! it was
full of blood and brains, and | found
that the spent shot had come just il
time to save my life. Meanwhile, the
battle ragged with redOubled fury OF
the left, and we in the centre had 6
short respite and some of us needed
it. For my own part, lhad fired about
hundred rounds, and my right shoul.
der was blue as your waistcoat.


"You will wonder, master, how
should notice such a thing in the hea


Of an engagement; but l remember
nothing better than that there was ,
flock Of little birds shrieking and fut
tering over our heads for the greater
part Of the morning. The poor little
things seemed as if robbed of theiI
very instinct by the incessant dis


charges on every side Of them; and
instead Of pursuing a direct course


which would soon have carried then
clear Of us, they kept futtering in onc
little spot. About midday, an aide
de-camp went riding by us to the right
Year: 1877

The darkness had fallen again. The
ship was still becalmed at sea


Mr.. DuuCalf came on deck after his
supper.


The thin line OF smoke. seen rising
ming. was now succeeded by ominous
flashes o! fire from the same quarter, in
termittently y visible. The faint, hot breeze
from the land was felt once more.


There's Just an air Of wind" the
mate remarked. I'VE will try lor the
captain while we have the chance


One OF the boats was lowered INTO the
water under commaud Of the second
mate, who had taken the bearings 'ot the
tabooed island by daylight Four OF the
men were to 90 with him. and they we're
all to be well armed Mr.. Duncali all
dressed his final instructions to the off
Ger in the boat.


''Yo ou will keep lookout with Il Ian
tern IN the bows. When you get anigh
the island, you will fire a gun and sing
out tor the captain -


Quite needless" interposed a voice
from the sea. The captain is here


Without taking the slightest notice
of the astonishment that he had caused
the captain padded his canoe to the side
OF the ship. Instead of ascen ding to the
deck OF the Fortuna. he stepped into
the boat Lend me your pistols" he
said quietly to the second officer, and
oblige me by taking your men back to
their duties on board" He looked up al
Mr. Duncalf and gave some further
directions. If there is any change in
the weather, keep the ship standing of
and on. at a safe distance from the land =;
and throw up rocket from time to time
to show your position. Expect me ON
board again by sunrise"
What. cried the mate. DO YOU
mean to say that you are going back to
the island, in that boat, all by YOURSELF


81 am going back to the island. :"
answered the captain. as quietly as
ever. lin this boat, all by myself" He
pushed off from the ship. and hoisted
the sail rs he spoke.


You're deserving your duty" shout
ed the mate. with one of his loudes
oaths.


ATTEND to my directions" the cap,
tain shouted back, Is he drifted away
into the darkness.


Mr.. Duncalf-violently agitated foi
the first time in his lite-took leave o
his superior officer, with singular
mixture of solemnity and politenes>. il
these words:


The Lord have mercy on your soul
| wish you good evening"
Year: 1877

Alone in the boat. the captain looked
with misgiving mind at the flashing of
the volcano on the main island


If events had favored him, he would
have removed Aimata to the shelter of
the ship on the day he saw the emptied
basin of the lake. But the smoke of the
priests sacrifice had been discovered
from the main island, and the chief had
sent two canoes with instructions to
make inquiries. One of the canoes had
returned; the other was kept in waiting
Oft the cape, to place means of COM
munication with the main island at the
disposal of the priest. The second shock
of earthquake had naturally increased
the alarm of the chief. He had sent
messages to the priest entreatIng him 70
leave the island. The priest refused
He believed in his gods and sacrifices-
he believed he might avert the fatality
that threatened his sanctuary. Yielding
to the holy man, the chiei sent reinforce
ments of canoes to take their turn at
keeping watch off the headiand. Assist
ed bv torches the islanders We're on the
alert (iu supcrStitiuus terror of the demon
Of the prophecy by night as well rs by
day The captain would have riSkcd GER
tain death if he had ventured toapproach
the hiding place i'll which he had con-
cealed his canoe. He waited and watch
ed. 1t was only after Aimata had left
him as usual, to return to her father AT
the close OF the evening. that the chan
ces declared themselves in the captain ;
favor The fire flashed from the noun
tain, visible when the night came, had
struck terror into the hearts of the men
in the canoes. They thought of their
wives, their children and their posses
sions on the main island, and then, one
and all, deserted their priest. The
captain seized the opportunity of com
m,inicating with the ship. and OF eX-
changing trail canoe, which he was
i'll able to manage, tor a swift sailing
boat, capable OF keeping the sea in the
event ol stormy weather.


As he now neared the land, certain
small sparks of red. moving in the dis
tance, informed him that the canoes had
been ordered back to their duty. Steer
ing by the distant torchlights he reach
ed his own side of the island without
accident. and. guided by the boat Ian
tern, anchored under the cliff He
climbed the rocks advanced to the door
vi tIlc nut anu WIS lllCt W Ills
and astonishment, by Aimata on the
threshold.


81 dreamed that the anger OF the de-
tiles had parted us tor ever" she said /;
land | came here to see if my dream
was true. Oh, how have been crying,
all alone in the hut! Now l have seen
you am satisfied. Kiss me. and let
me 90 back. No, you must not 60 with
me. My father has his doubts; my
father may be looking for me. 1t is
you that are in danger. not 1. | know
the forest as well by dark as by day
light. You shall see me again at day
break -


The captain detained her. Now
you are here" he said, why should I
wait until day break to place you in
safety. have been to the ship; have
brought back one OF the boats. The
darkness will befriend us-let us en-
bark while we can"


She shrank back as he took her hand.
"11y father" she said. family.


"Your father is in no danger. The