smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

The sport loving public has heard that
the mile, as q standard of distance, was re-
constructed ut Bridgeport Lost November by
the exquisitely simple process of cutting off
large piece of it. They were not in
formed, however, that q special improve
ment in walkers records was devised at the
same time, and was industriously tested
upon the record of Campana. 1t is not ab-
solutely necessary 10 believe that ''Sport"
was party to this labor-saving operation,
which consisted merely Of chalking up q
few extra miles to the walkers credit while
no one was looking. but it is great shame
that when his record was susceptible of i'm
proyement by such method it was allowed
to stand at only five hundred and twenty
one and one-quarter miles for six days,
when q few extra strokes Of the markers
chalk could have made it outfigure the best
scores ever made by the tedious, stupid,
old-time system of walking fifty-two hun
dred and eighty feet to the mile. Indeed,
there is no positive limit to the new system
of computing Distance, SO We may yet hear
Of some exciting walking match in Con-
necticut in which nearly all the work will be
done by the marker while the contestants
lounge easily in n single tent and play
euchre for the prospective gate money Of
the last and decisive day.
Year: 1879

There was something charmingly logical
and consistent in the disposition which the
late DR.. Habel made Of his own physical
remains. Understanding by experience
the great service to the healing art of the
study Of tho human structure by actual
physical examination, and knowing how
great is the demand for subjects, he be-
queathed his own body to surgical col
lege for dissection. 1t was cruelty sug-
gested few months ago that the eighty
thousand physicians in the United States
might put an end to the business Of body
stealing if each would by will present his
own remains to his profession, for this
plan would provide about two thousand
subjects per year, which would really be
somewhat in excess of the demand. The
profession did not respond as promptly to
the suggestion as amateurs in science might
have expected; perhaps the physicians
thought the cheapest way out of the logical
conclusion was to provide u substitute, for
subjects" seem to have been pretty cheap
within the year. DR.. Habel, however,
appears to have loved his profession more
than himself, and thus reached that degree
of unselfshness without which consistency
is impossible. 1t may be, however, that he
is but the first fruits OF the above sugges-
tion, and that his professional brethren, as
o body, are going to follow his example.
Year: 1879

what has been said on this important point
in a great periodical by distinguished men
of recognized capacity, who may be contem-
plated as experts in regard to the physical
influence of certain fluids upon the human
system. They pronounce in favor of the
use in defined circumstances and in mod
crate Quantities of a fluid which the
fanatics would like to obliterate from the
number of created things and FOL. the very
existence of which some of them would
impeach the wisdom Of divinity. But the
point of view taken by Gull, Paget and
the others in England, is widely different
from that taken by the agitators. Agitation
has for its corner stone the habitual drunk
ard-the lost and depraved. 1t starts from
him, holds him up as an awful example,
and would regulate all the world on princi-
pies constructed to prevent this occurrence,
which is irrational-a little as if people
should be required to sit on sofas all their
lives because the practice of walking some
times results in broken legs. But the ply
sicians set the habitual drunkard aside as
result of exceptional circumstances and dis
ease, and deal with the indulgence of wants
felt on the supposition that men can con-
troll their appetites. They take the more
generally correct view of humanity.
Year: 1879

Within few years national preparations
for war have become sort Of rivalry as to
what country could make the largest cam
non or put the heaviest plates on ships.


One day it was reported that certain GOV
ernment had made gun that could easily
send missile through ten inches of iron,
and all the world believed for at least
twenty -four hours that this cannon had
circumvented the pestilent contrivance Of
armor clad ships. Next day came the re-
port that some government had covered q
ship with twelve-inch plates. Then came
story of gun ten tons heavier,
that could pierce twelvc-inch plates Then
they used fourteen-inch plates. and then ten
tons more were added TO the weight Of the
gun, and SO the governments kept on in
rivalry not improbable to the iron founders
and plate rollers, but tough on the tax
payers. It was q matter Of rational curiosity
for great while what would be the limit of
this sort of seesaw between guns and
Year: 1879

A few days ago, under the head of "Always
With You," the HERALD mentioned q certain
family as being extremely needy. Many
thousands OF well-to-do persons read the
paragraph, and sighed ''Poor wretches r. or
something of similar meaning. They looked
at clock or watch, determined that by that
hour in the morning some dozens, if not
hundreds, Of people as warm hearted as
themselves had visited the sufferers and
carried so much food and raiment that tho
wolf at the door had been compelled to
stink away to some tenement not yet visited
by HERALD reporter. Some Of these great
hearted people honestly determined
that early on the next morning and
before they read the news of the
paper for similar cases and hurry OF
to relieve the unfortunates whose names
they would find, proving for themselves
the truth of the saying that ii. is more
blessed to give than TO receive. Meanwhile
the family alluded to shivered the long day
through, and shivering was no idle occupa-
tion yesterday and the day before. They
breakfasted, dined and supped upon ina
gination, but finally-blesscd be the earnest
ness of a whole city full Of people who are
really charitable at heart they received
q single quart of beans. Beans are quite
nutritive when properly prepared, and the
recipients Of the quart alluded to were ex-
tremely grateful for their temporary reprieve
from starvation, and We call attention to the
case merely to show the benevolent ptfblic
how uncertain Is the barrier of life against
death when poverty must depend for re-
lief upon people each of whom leaves the
matter for somebody else to attend to.


Perhaps other persons, whose dire neces-
stiles have been made known publicly,


have been lucky enough to get quarts OF
beans from charitable hands. For fear,
however. that some of them have been
neglected 1t might be well for the benevo-
Year: 1879

When the French Legislature meets on
the 14th inst, it will. as foreseen tor some
time past, have a republican majority in
both branches. Nevertheless the extent of
the republican gains in the Senatorial
elections yesterday must have been n sur
prise to all the friends of the Repub-
lie, except, perhaps, those who direct
the party. It has been no loss to
France that the conversion Of the
government to republicanism throughout
has come so gradually. Had the republ-
cans at once obtained control it might have
been difficult for the wiser and cooler heads
Of the party to have resisted the impetu-
osity Of the extremists. The delay enforced
q moderation among the radicals, and gave
the leaders like Gambetta nm opportunity
to demonstrate to the hesitating that
the Republic meant safety, while
leaving the royalists and Bonapart-
lists to prove that any other form
of government was impossible. The
elections by the local councils, yesterday,
of sufficient republican Senators to secure a
majority of nearly sixty, were logical
sequence Of what had gone before. Every
three years >one-fouth of the Senate is re-
newed, and it is significant that this repub-
ican majority should have been secured
with one-fourth of the original Senate Of
1873 yet to be renewed


France is to be congratulated on this
easy transition. for the government goes
over to the Republic with as much absence
Of shock as has been notable in the return
to specie payments in the United States.
The way had been SO thoroughly prepared,
and the country had so, Enthusiastically
made up its mind that the most timid
could not get up q feeling of alarm, and
the little devices of the lessening band
of reactionaries for disturbing the public
mind scarcely excited curiosity. It is
not improbable that some changes will
shortly take place in the Cabinet. A lew de-
partmentar officials may be removed. The
Duke d'Audiffet-Pasquier will, doubtless,
give place to q positive republican in the
Presidency of the Senate, and the republi-
cans will. obtain the majority of all
the important committees. All these
things will be effected without
much difficulty. President MacMahon.
even if he SO desired, would be
powerless to alter the course Of events.
Amid so much perturbation among the
monarchies of Europe it is gratifying to
see France seated in popular sovereignty,
calmly fulfilling her destiny.
Year: 1879

Nine months from the date of the Treaty
of Berlin was laid down as the utmost limit
to which the provisional government might
be extended in the Principally Of Bulgaria.
Within that period the new State was to be
governed by ON imperial Russian Commits
sioner. He was to have the assistance of an
imperial Turkish Commissioner and of
consuls named for the duty by the sigma
tory Powers. BY the limitation given the
provisional government thus constituted
might run until the middle of April; but
the election of prince will be proceeded
with, it appears, on the 18th inst, which
implies that the constitution is nearly COM
pleted, for that was to be made ''before the
election of the Prince" Some days ago
it was reported from London that the
Emperor of Russia had proposed
to the British government the name
of the Duke of Edinburgh as his candidate
for the new throne. Perhaps some views
have been exchanged on that subject, for
ON English prince would be pleasant
change from the policy of grating Danish
and Bavarian sprouts on oil these small East
ern thrones and prince who was the son
of the English sovereign and the son-in-
law Of the Russian Czar might fairly be re-
garded rs a person with claims to consider
alton when crowns are passed around. But
the consent of all the Powers would
be necessary, for this choice is within
the prohibition of the third article Of
the Berlin Treaty. The words are =
s'No member of any of the reigning
dynasties of the great European Powers
shall be elected Prince of Bulgaria" BY a
double exclusion, therefore, the Sailor
Duke is out but q common consent of
all the Powers might set this clause
would likely assent to such q modification
of the treaty less readily than any other
statesman in Europe for, though he plays
with great assiduity the role of grand cour-
tier and does his utmost to exhibit noble
solcitude for the advancement of the royal
family, yet it is clear that, with son of
Victoria on the Bulgarian throne, the first
and common sentiment throughout England


would be one OF regret that the Kingdom of
Bulgaria was not greater and did not in
clude all of Turkey north Of CONSTANT
nople and that sentiment would react
against the Earl, for the reduction of Bull
garia to its present proportions was his
especial achievement. He would be classed


once more as q maladroit bungler, who,


with infinite art and sagacity. constantly
Year: 1879

In the chapter on another page describing
the magnitude, location and methods Of
operating the great mines Of the Comstock
"big bonanzas," the reader will find good
deal of. valuable information in regard to
our silver deposits, the risks involved in
such speculations and the labor incident to
their development. Mining for the precious
metals has become one Of the most
important of our industries, requir-
ing courage. skill, perseverance and
an enormous outlay of capital. In it,
as in every other branch of business, the
invention and ingenuity Of our mechanics
have found wide field for their operation.
Thirty years ago our mining contrivances
were of the simplest and most primitive
character To-day the machinery employed
in the conversion Of ore into bullion is o
marvel Of completeness and perfection. So
great has been the progress made in this
respect that it requires only thirty hours to
take the ore from the depths of the noun
tain and, submitting it to the various pro-
cesses of crushing, milling and amalgama-
ton, convert it into the bullion Of COM
merce. The calculation which our corre-
spondent enters into of the extent of the big
bonanza mine, the story of which is one Of
the romances of silver mining, will enable
New Workers to realize the value Of the i'm
mense deposit. This great silver pocket,
according to his figures, is about one-half
the size of the City Hall Park, from the
Mayors Office down to the end of the Post
Office building, and twice as high as the
latter structure Some years ago certain
enterprising gentlemen found pretty big
bonanza in this same piece of ground; but,
unlike the Comstock lode, it has. fortunately
for our citizens, "given out"
Year: 1879

NINE. ANDERSON is still walking away, ap.
parently as fresh as when she began. Her bill
of fare, elsewhere printed, may solve the secret
of her wonderful endurance. Peanuts and port
wine. it will be seen, included in it, but it is
not clear to which of the two the credit of her
performance must be set down
Year: 1879

THE WEATHER.-The change in the mcteoro-
logical conditions since Saturday has been very
slight The area of highest pressure continues
over the Central Valley districts and the West.
The barometer is lowest, but rising gradually, in
the northeastern districts, the storm centre hav


ing advanced far into the Atlantic. Snow has
fallen and continues to fall in the lake
regions and the northern Middle Allan
tic States. A considerable amount has
also fallen in the Gulf States, turning
into slect and rain in the southern districts. In
the West tho weather has been generally clear.
with occasional hurries of light snow. The
winds have been from fresh to brisk on the
Middle Atlantic, New England and Gulf coasts
and In the Northwest. In the other districts
they have been fresh A fall of temperature
has taken place In the South Atlantic and Gulf
States; II has been variable in the Mid
die Atlantic districts, and has risen de-
ei.lcdly elsewhere. Although the pressure
over the ocean along the Atlantic coast
ID only relatively high, it is not likely
that our district will be affected to any
great extent by the disturbance that is evidently
moving north of the West indies. The weather
in New York and its vicinity to-day will be cool
and partly cloudy. Tomorrow IT will be warmer
aud fajr followed by increasing cloudiness.
Year: 1879

created false positions for his government.
But the Dukes chance, if he has any. is
not brilliant. It is certain that the eandi-
date favored by Russia will be chosen, and
not at all certain that he is that candidate.
Year: 1879

THE SAFE ARRIVAL Of the Abyssinia of the
Cunard line, will be great relief to a large
number of people in this country as well as in
England. She encountered heavy weather of
the coast, but at no time was the slightest ap-
prehcnsion felt Oh board in regard to her safety
Year: 1879

THERE IS PRosPEcT of some rare sport OH
the Upper Hudson this week. The ice is in
superb condition and the ice-yacht feet will be
skiinming across it to-day or tomorrow at the
rate Of sixty miles an hour
Year: 1879

CONGRESS again meets tomorrow. A large
number of the appropriation bills have been
disposed of, and if it will resume work in the
spirit in which it began it there will be no dan
ger that an extra session will be necessary.
Year: 1879

In Colorado is ten.acre field which is
no more or less than subterranean lake
covered with soil about eighteen inches deep
On the soil is cultivated field ofcorn, which
produces thirty or fifty bushels to the acre.
If any one will take the trouble to dig a
hole the depth Of a spade-handle he will
find it to fill up with water, and by using
hook and line, fish four or five inches long
can be caught. The fish have neither scales
nor eyes, and are pirch.like in shape. The
ground is black mari in it's nature, and in
all probabilities Was at one time an open
body of water, on which has accumulated
vegetable matter, which had been increas-
ing from time, until now it has crust
sufficiently strong and rich to produce fine
corn, though it has to be cultivated by hand
as it is not strong enough to bear the weight
of horse.


While harvesting the field hands catch
great strings of fish by punching hole
through the earth. A person rising on his
heels and coming down suddenly can see
the growing corn shake all around him.
Anyone having the strength to drive rail
through the crust will find, on releasing it.
that twill disappear altogether. The whole
section of country surrounding this field
gives evidence Of marshiness, and the last
rain produced an abundance of mud. Has
not this body an outlet? Although brakish
the water tastes as if fresh, and is evidently
not stagnant. Yet these fish are eyeless and
scaleless-similar to those found in caves.
Year: 1879

serious, very serious indeed In fact the situ- .ati0n was not little instructive. if tue deg radiation Of woman's usual aTOcat0nS is such as would naturally transform a high spirited man into so sorry speci. ncn as the limp and pitiahle WigfsIl. ii mo. be at 3gether lost time for him to occasionally '.::'';3 'imself in her place" Considered seriously, ,he argu- ment of this laughable farce is an obvious hlunder. Woman sutfragsts do not propose the subjectiOn of man, gut the emancipation of woman. He must be very superficial obser- yer, who could ever suppose that the woman vote might be massed and controlled by any political party as has been the case with the i Irish .lr li!c negro YDlr. inu-e vi! political results were due entirely to the fact that the political forces so consolidated belonged to separate social classes. Constituting the un- divided half of all social classes, all races, all religious denominations woman can never be turned to any such partisan use. Indeed it is evident that if any political party could have expected to control her vote. she would have been long ago admitted to the suffrage by the shrewd politicians who are always on the watch for such advantages.

 We have left ourselves little space for''Pep ping the Question" It was very funny, though not so good as the Spirit of Seventy Six. By common consent, "Bobbn' was the star of the performance, though by no means tine only player deserving commendation. We wish the Litchfield Dramatic Association long life and a still more amusing career in the near future. There is lots of fun in it that on- ly needs to be properly brought cut. What they want of all things is a very thorough, very cross stage manager
Year: 1879

To THOSE who are so unfortunate a. to
become prematurely gray, or whose ha,r
exhibits tendency to fall off, we recon-.
mend. trial of Halls Hair Remover
We do so with the utmost confidence be.
cause it is everywhere received with
marked favor, and has built upon Its own
merits such sure foundation that it is
known and used in all civilized countries.
Addison IN. " Advertiser.
Year: 1879

Senator DAVIS, of West Virginia, who
has been waltzing through several sessions
of Congress upon the point of imaginary
deficiencies in the Treasury Department, has
struck new lead by way of diversion. He
has offered u resolution in the Senate call
ing on the Secretary of the Treasury for u
detailed statement of the amounts expended
for the last fourteen years under the head
of permanent annual appropriations,


The Senator regards this resolution as the
train to a mine, which, when exploded, will
astonish the world. He contends substan-
tally that he will expose the dire fact that
appropriations far exceed the expenditures
under them, and that the unexpended bal
ances are not honestly covered into the
Treasury according to law, and that the
heads of the Departments are held to no
responsibility for these balances, and hence
they must be plundered in the Departments.
He contends that lie has made these won
derrul discoveries while searching through
the recesses of the Treasury Department in
pursuit of conjectured DEFICIENCIES In other
words, failing TO discover what he was
after, he now hatters himself that he
has discovered something else. In view OF
this last discovery he proposes when the
regular appropriation bills come up fol
consideration to move an additional section
to one Of them repeating all the permanent
annual appropriations except that provid


ing for the payment Of the interest on tn,
public debt. Congress can then make reg
ular annual appropriations, ~ may be ne
cessary to meet the expenditures now EN-
braced under the head of permanent Rp
propriations," The trouble with Senator
Year: 1879

DURING the late contest in Louisiana
General WooDFoRD, of New York, demon
strated to the country that Northern
statesman and orator can 20 into that sec
tion and speak the words Of truth and
soberness, and criticise with much force and
plainuess the policies and methods of the
Democrats and bring his life back with him.
He Haunted the bloody shirt in the face of
the Rife Rangers and ballot-box suffers
with a vigorous hand and drove the simple
truth Of history into their very teeth, and
they stood it like little men. This shows
what nerve and pluck, clothed in marked
ability, can do for the right, where there
isn't too much daren't about it. Louisiana
is quite noted for killing colored men and
poor white trash" when they have the
law in their own hands, but when brave,
honest and able man goes among them from
the North to preach the gospel of constitu-
tionnl right and the sanctity of citizenship
everywhere within our borders and under
the old flag, he can do so withimpunity. II
our Northern Republican statesmen and
orators did but know IL, the late Conieder-
at States present n most attractive field ior
Republican missionary work. The heather
are hungering and thirs,ing for the sincere
milk of Republican principles. They are
tired of Bourbonism
Year: 1879

DAVIS now is that the discovery has been
made, az he thinks, that the starving-out
policy of the extra session, when applied to
the supervisors of election, was failure,
inasmuch as there were funds found with
which to pay them, Notwithstanding the
action of Congress to prevent it. 1t is to
be hoped that the Senator will do nothing
under this resolution, should it pass, that
will increase the volume of public ridicule
that he has already contracted under his
former Utopian performance.
Year: 1879

DIR. L. H. SMITH, State Senator in the
Virginia legislature from Dinwddie county,
leads off in the proposition to stand by the
Republican colors until the ship goes down,
If needs be. If all of the twenty-sx Re.
publican members of that body were as
true to principle as he is, the prospect of a
reorganization and resuscitation of the
party in the old Dominion would be more
encouraging than 1t is now.
Year: 1879

THOSE unfortunate people who read the
Democratic organ and believe what they
read therein may now be laboring under
The delusion that civil war" exists in the
Republican ranks over the currency ques-
tion; but if they are they enjoy that mis-
apprehension exclusively. No intelligent
Or well-posted man in Congress or out of it
will admit that such condition of affairs
exists or anything akin to it.
Year: 1879

SOME of our country exchanges speak of
Congress as having begun work peaceably
"and quietly" If this is work, pray what
is it to play? To be sure, this is the begin
ming Of the long session, and there is plenty
of time to spare at this end of it. But it
costs the same and the Taxpayers suffer ac-
cOrdingly.
Year: 1879

THE murderous acts committed by the
Democracy at their city convention in Phil
adelphia on Tuesday last looks very much
like the Yazoo business transplanted to
Northern soil. But then Democrat will
be a Democrat, whether he live North or
South