smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

| lounge to await the care of


friends who would soon come.


In three-quarters of all hour
we had a dozen armed men at
the house. No one thought of
mercy in connection with the


black desperadoes. They were
summoned to come forth. and
surrender, but for the reply the
gun was thrust out of the door
and brandished at those who


made the demand. 1t was f.
nally planned to burn them out.
Hall a dozen men secured posi-
tioncommanding thedoor andthc
one window of the cabin and
opened fire. and others crept up
and applied the torch to the
rear end of the cabin The ne
groes must come out or burn.
If they appeared they were TO
be captured unwounded, if pos
sible.


The flames soon took firm
hold of the cabin and crept ov-
er the roof, but the minutes
went ny, and the slaves remain
ed inside. just when the roof
was about 10 fall in, and the
heat was awful they pushed
open the door and leaped out,
There was a general cry for
them to surrender, while doz-
Ell rifles covered them. Their
clothing wss on fire, their bod
les blistered, and they were half
blind, but refusing the offer of
surrender they dashed at the
crowd. with a yell. The gun
was discharged and two men
wounded, and another was knock
ed down by club, and the only
resort was 70 shoot the devils
down. Even after they had
fallen they strove to get up and
renew the fight, yelling like
fiends. and no one ever saw men
die harder.


That was a sad day for "Mag-
nolia Plantations" and one +,
which | never call up except !
with an aching heart for the loss
of one whose friendship was
worth more than gold and sill
yer to me.
Year: 1874

Twenty-nine years ago when


David Maydole was a roadside


blacksmith at Norwich, n. Y,


six carpenters came to the vii


lage from the next county to


work upon a new church, one


whom having left his hammer
behind came to the blacksmith
to get one made, there being
none in the village store.


MAKE me a good one," said
the carpenter, ''as good as you
know how"


''But," said the young black
smith, who had already consid-
erred hammers, and had arrived
at some notion of what a ham
mer ought to be, and had a prop
er contempt for cheapness in all
its forms, perhaps you don't
want to pay for as good a one
as | can make" - fs


"Yes, l do; l want a good
hammer"


And SO David Maydole made
a good hammer, the best one
probably that had ever been
made since Tubal Cain, and one

that perfectly satisfied the car
penter. The next day the mans
five companions came in and
ordered two more. Next the
storekeeper of the Village Or
dered two dozen, which were
bought by a New York tool
merchant, who left standing
order for as many such ham,
mers as David Maydole could
make. And from that day to
this he has gone on making
hammers until now he has lis
men at work. He hasnevertried |
to compete with others in price. I
He has never reduced a price
because other men have done /
so. His only care has been to
make perfect hammer, to make /
as many such as people wanted
and no more, and to sell them
at fair prices.
Year: 1874

A letter to the Cleveland Lea.
der from Geneva Ashtabula
county, tells the following story:


Early one fine morning not
long since Rev. K. (of our
town. upon visiting his Yege'a-
bic garden found his fowls max
ing sad havoc among the gar
den sass. This was more than
he could stand, so proceeding
to the house got hammer and
saw and fenced in the patch;
then discovering some tall weeds
and grass that should be cut
down, and getting his scythe
he found it too dull TO work
with advantage he trudged a.
way to the planning mill for the
purpose of grinding it. Upon
arriving there the mill was closed
and all still. He then bethought
him that the town was unusual
ly quiet, and while contemplat
ing upon the spot, the church
bells rang out, warning the pe0-
pie that it was nearly time for
morning service. Our reverend
friend did not stop long there
but struck a bee line for home,
his apparel and made
for the church, where he arrived
put of breath and just in time
to read out his text and preach
MS sermon,
Year: 1874

In South Boston a building
/. four stories high, and covering an
area of four thousand square feet,
was raised five feet from its foun.
dation. The tenants were not
disturbed, and no machinery or
merchandise had to be removed.
Forty men working with four
hundred powerful screws did the
job. n
Year: 1874

The inhabitants of Balmforth avenue and that
nei shborhood have been considerable eniventd
n the past week by the advent of several pole


cats To have observed the Balmtor1h avenue
man OH his way home in any of the last few
nights, is to have witnessed degree of circum-
spection that might have beer considered i'm


possible to attain in this life. Despite the cau-


on and prudence thus displayed and actually
called for, one young man SO far forgot himself
on seeing cat in the grass the other night, just
IS he was leaving the house to go after the mail.
as to shuttle his foot at it. OF course it is not
necessary to say that tho young man smelt come
Year: 1874

thing that was not exactly rat, but he thought
| that moving in the cool air would dispel the
| favor and he kept on down street, and eventu-
ally pushed himself into the crowd which al
ways ills the ante-room of the post-office The
moment he got well into the warm room was
the signal for a general and very boisterous Sc
res OF observations on the quality of the atmos-
phi, re, while the more sensitive grasped their
nostrlls and endeavoced to escape. During the
excitement a Ltle dog was discovered i'll IL e
crowd, and Immediately there arose. cry o:
Put him out" nterspersed with remarks On
the animal that was not calculated to give him
confidence. Confusion resulted at once. Every
body rushed at the dog, and foremost and NOR,
active than the rest was, we are panied to say,
the identical young man who had shuffied his
foot the cat, and the expression Of determine
ton on his face was very extraordinary, indeed.
Probably no dog ever emerged from a congrega-
ton with such CELEBRITY as that dog came .oui
of the t-offce aud proceeded across the street


and probably no dog was ever followed up with
such pertinacity as.was displayed by the youn


rlan III question: Daabuy Nelrs.
Year: 1874

Letter to President Grant Urging tho


Veto OF tho Scheme or Imitation.


During the excitement produced by the action
of Congress last winter In authorizing the imitation
OF the currency Governor John A. Dix wrote the
following letter to the PRESIDENT


STATE OF NEW YORK, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.


ALBANY March 80, 1874. J


MY DEAR SIR--I am very much concerned on
account OF the action Of Congress on the currency
question; and cannot lorbear to express to you
my earnest hope that you Will. by the interposi-
tion OF your veto prevent the disastrous conse-
quences which must result from any further
increase OF the paper circulation.


Money can now be borrowed in the city OF New
York on the best security at four and five per
cent interest. ! believe l speak within bounds
when say that one-half OF the paper currency OF
the country Is absorbed by stock and real estate
speculatons. Every addition to 1t will inevitably
run into the same channels and only serve to
multiply and aggravate prevailing evils. The
act,on OF the Senate sustaining the action OF the
House Of Representatives has already degraded
legal tender notes below the standard OF specie
from one to two per cent more than before; and
II the maximum OF four hundred millions pro-
posed by Congress Is reached by further Issues
am confident the measure Will bring on within
the next two years revulson, which will be fatal
to your administration and ruinous to the In
dustrlal interests Of the country, II not to the
public credit. Irrespective Of such a national
calamity, should greatly deplore that
you. who as sincerely think have
done more than any other living man
to preserve the Union, should, by failing to
exercise the constitutional power which the peo-
pie have con0ded to you for their protection,
allow them to be made the victims OF fatal policy
and the government to be involved in deep ana
indelible reproach.


1t is under these painful Impressions that take
the liberty OF writing to you and Of entreating You
with all the earnestness which it Is possible to In.
fuse into personal appeal, not Co give your con.
sent to any imitation OF the currency at q time
when every consideration OF the public interest
and safety demands its contraction. l am, dear
sir. with sincere regard, yours,


HIS Excellency U. 8. GRANT.
Year: 1874

A WORD OF ADvICE.-A lady who hap
hened into certain dry goods store yesterday,
was astonished to find that goods were selling
twenty per cent. lower than in Boston. Our
traders complain that trade is dull and that
people go to Boston to buy goods They should
do as the Boston traders do-advertise their
wares and prices. Our ladies see the great ad-
vertisements Of low prices in Boston papers,
and hasten there to do their shopping. A
Portland man, who advertises extensively, says
his February trade has never been so great as
this year.
Year: 1874

AMATEUR THEATRICALs. - Tonight the
Woodford's Corner Dramatic Club give their
entertainments at the school house. The num-
ber of tickets already sod is large and we be-
speak full house. The proceeds of the enter
tainment are tc go towards building an engine
house and hall at that place, which is very
much needed.
Year: 1874

THE greatest sen sAtion in Virginia at
present Is the recent discovery Of i'm.
meuse deposits Of iron ore in Madison
county, which promise to yield seventy
per cent oI iron Of the beat quality. A
mine Is now being worked in a small
way, which is turning out about six hun!
.dred tons OF ore per week, that will yield
fully sixty per cent Of iron. Work will
be increased in few days; and several
thousand tons a week will be sent to the
foundeties at Richmond and Alexandra.
Year: 1874

present Surplus of not less than ten million
bushels of grain, the quantity of which is
destined annually to increase.


Fifth. That it would open the upper Mi5siS-
sippi country to the coal mines OF Ohio and
Pennsylvania that vast bodies of valuable
timber abound along the entire route, which
might be shipped in either direction to mar
ket; that it would give the Lake Superior
copper and iron mines direct route into the
valley Of the Mississippi, enabling Wisconsin
and Minnesota to engage in extensive manu-
iactures, and that it would place the copper
mines, granite quarries, and all forms of me-
tallic and mineral wealth of the north in di-
rect connections with all parts of the South
ern States.


Sixth That the work is feasible, can be
cheaply built, will be a free avenue of traffic,
open to ali alike; will secure a competition
necessary to keep in check chartered compa-
nes; will open vast field for new and pro-
htable enterprise, new regions to settlement;
and in its broadest sense will be a great ma
tional improvement.


Your memoralists therefore respectfully
pray that preliminary survey be authorized
and a sufficient appropriation of land or
money be made to make the route available
for the use of the Northwestern and Eastern
States
Year: 1874

from the y. \. Etenlng Post (kepubilcan.l


So long as the grangers elect ex-
ecutive officers who have intelli-
gence enough to understand the
rights of the people and the duties
of public men, and the boldness to
express them, as they appear to have
done in Wisconsin, we by no means
regret their success. Governor
Taylor, of that State, in his inau-
gural address, said:


The farming population of our State are
far removed from the centres of political
power. Their occupation, thus far, has been
wholly individualized Unlike great monied
interests which are organized and cohesive,
they are never found in the Hobbies Of our
Legislature. Ihey employ no attorneys to
iufest your presence and to corrupt the foun-
tains of law They seek no private avenues
to the public treasury They ask no special
enactments for the benefit of the few at the
expense of she many. They enter into no
combination for the subversion of the princi-
Piles of mutual justice and equality between
man and man. Submissive to the stern de-
cree which compels them TO lives of hard but
cheerful toll, they trust alone 10 the fidelity
of their sworn representatives To violate
this confidence, and permit the workingmen
OF our State to become the prey of the pro-
fesSional sharper an spokesman of the Hobbies,
would not merely be a technical violation Of
our oath of Office, but surrender of every
honorable attribute Of our manhood
Year: 1874

To the Senate and House Of Representatives


of the United States, the Memorial of the


Legislature of Wisconsin respectfully rep


reseitS:


First. That from personal explorations and
ascertained levels the fact is settled that a
feasible navigable water route may be easily
attainable at but moderate expense, between
the Mississippi river and St. Croix lake and
river. by way of its northern branches, con
Meeting with either the Nemadji river, Bois
Brule, OF with a stream entering Lake Supa-
rior at or near Ashland, or by all Of these
routes


Second, The partial surveys already made
establish the fact that the ordinary level of
Lake st. Croix is only about sixty feet above
that of Lake Superior; that the river Saint
Croix. above its falls, flows for long distances
in a channel almost level, its chief descents
being from one terrace to another; that its
northern branches interlace with those of
streams flowing to Superior, taking their rise,
indeed in the same lakes and marsh grounds,
the divide or crest being a lucurtrine region,
and not, as has been generally supposed,
mountainous that the highest laudlevel
known s five hundred and sixtysix feet
above Lake Superior. while the sum Of river
descent i not believed to exceed much if
any three hundred feet that the river
branches on the route have direction near
Iv north and south, with permanent supply
of water rarely or never affected by floods,
with bold banks, generally cut through the
drift formation that they pass through a
timbered region. where material of all kinds
can be had almost without cost, for the con-
struction of dams to create slack water for
locks and other needed improvements, and
that nature has nearly completed the chan
mel, leaving only for man to clear it and put
il in order for use.


Third, That the direct distance from the
falls Of the St Croix TO Superior IS only
about eighty-four miles, and the river dis
tance will not much exceed one hundred
miles that a canal 70 connect these streams
cannot exceed five miles, and it is believed
would not exceed one mile, and that by
dredging across the marsh divide, or into
some open lake upon the crest IN order TO
establish a river connection


Fourth. That this Improvement once
made, would be open to navigation as early
and as many days yearly as the straits OF
Nackinaw or the canal at Sau't 81. Marie; /;
that Il would save to all OF northern Niscon-
sin All urper Minnesota a distance Of about
five hunared miles in transportation OF sur
nms products 10 the great lakes, compared
with the route Of the Fox and Wisconsin river
Improvement, and open cheap route Iof
Year: 1874

BELOW We print Memorial OF
the Wisconsin Legislature to Con
gress, asking an appropriation for
the construction Of a canal from St.
Croix Lake to Lake Superior. This
memorial shows the Importance and
feasibility Of this new and cheap
route for transportation between
the west aud east. The Minnesota
Legislature is about to pass a like
memorial, and it is hoped that Con
gress may take favorable action,
looking to The speedy construction
of the canal.
Year: 1874

This is the truth so plainly ex-
pressed that nobody can misunder-
stand it, and we wish it could be
embodied in authoritative instruc-
tions to the present Congress. II as
q fact that one protected m0nopoist
has more poacer ia Congress than q
achOle district Of ugriculterists or
mechanics. While the monopolist
has his salaried agent constantly in
Washington to look after his inter
ests, the purely industrial classes
hare no guardians e,rcept OCCASION
ally q tfaithtt" member Of Congress.


The courageous and truthful
words Of Governor Taylor are in
keeping with the current tendencies
Of public opinion, and it is another
good sign that the grangers have
organized a system Of forcing mem
bers of Congress to give an account
of their opinions and their steward
ship. To make our Legislators ac-
countablc to the public which they
are supposed to serve, is to insure
us against much Of that corrupt Job
bing which has so largely charac-
terized the legislation of the last
few years.
Year: 1874

he addressed the superintendent Of an
Ohio road. No answer. The editor
wrote again. No answer. He wrote a
third letter, and an answer came back
6 Go to h---i" The editor turned the
letter over and wrote Send me q p- IS
on your road. and I VIII r The pass
came, and he was made happy.
Year: 1874

In the older parts of London, the house
drains form direct fue connection from
sewer TO house, and at all times when the
temperature within is above that without,
there is an inward flow of sewage gas to the
house through closet, sink, and drain, and
probably not one percent of these houses have
full external ventilation of their drains.


There are flap and syphon traps on drains,
but traps Of any sort are delusion and
snare, as is proved by the presence of sewer
gas in Easements and water-closets, and as
was shown when carbolic acid was used in
certain sewers as disinfectant,- the peculiar
faint was found in all the houses, The
remedy for this defective and injurious state
of things may be simple and ought to be easy
of accomplishment.


No new house should be drained but under
the supervision of public offlcer-parish sur
Neyor in London-all drains from sewer to
house should have full means for ventilation
outside the external wall, and at this point
the line OF pipe (if earthern ware is used) or
line Of drain (if brick drain is used) should be
brOken-that is, the drain should end at the
outer wall in the ventating shaft on the
house side and begin at lower level in the
same ventilating shaft on the sewer side.
There may then be syphons or flap over
the open ends OF the drain to shut out rats |:
but any sewer gas will escape at the ventilat-
ing shaft, and this may be carried away by a
drain pipe or stack pipe and if required pass
through charcoal into open air.


The main sewers OF the metropolis are now
rudely ventilated direct from sewer to street
surface i'm thousands of instances, and il is
this and the abolition of cespools, which have
given London the lowest rate of mortality of
any great city in the world. Ifevery house
drain were properly connected, and also fully
ventilated as indicated, the improvement Of
health would be still greater though not per-
feet.


Remarks of Mr.. Robert Rawlinson a. a
Social Science meeting; as published in the
Pallmall Gazette, London, March 10th, 1869.
Year: 1874

of that wise policy which President
Grant proclaimed in his veto of the
great Imitation bill, Is one of the
principal obstacles against which Mr..


Tilden has to contend The democratic
party is suspected of planning the issue of
more irredeemable paper money, and these
Western victories are thought to have in part
been won upon the basis of imitation Mr..
Tilden finds this shadow thrown across
his fears. He has but one way to dis
pei it. and that Is to boldly utter
those words of fidelity to the financial
principles of his State, the true prin-
ciples of the whole country, which his fellow
citizens have right to demand and which
Governor Dix in his letter to General Grant
emphatically sustained. But no shadow
comes to him from the Southwark. Tales of
revolution, Ku Klux, another rebellion, have
no effect in this canvass. Mumbo Jumbo is
like the man in the story who had no shadow.
Year: 1874

The necessity for art culture in many
trades is absolute; and yet, though we boast
of the completeness of our educational system,
there exists no well organized public
school in this city where the craftsman
can learn the first principles Of art The
schools of the National Academy of Design are
intended exclusively tor artists, and Chinese
rule of exclusion is adopted against those
who seek the aid of art only as an assist
ance in the perfection of their handicraft Yet
it is in its relations to the latter class that the
practical value of art is most felt. There is in
the National Academy no law which prevents
the mere craftsman from entering as student,
but an amount of skill in drawing from the
round is required to enter the school,


which, if the craftsman possessed, he
would not require to enter at all. No
provision is made for the numerous class who
would like to acquire the elementary princi-
pies of drawing. With the exception of
the Cooper Union School, which is
inconveniently over-crowded aud not
over well managed, there does not exist
single public school where per-
sons Of either sex desiring to receive
elementary instruction in art can do so. In
London and in Paris every district has school
devoted to teaching drawing and modelling.
No examinations have TO be passed to
enter them, and all who desire instruc-
ton can procure it by the payment of a
small fee. These schools, though much at
tended by students who intend to devote
themselves wholly to art, are principally for
the benefit of artisans England found that
Germany and France derived SO much benefit
from the art education given TO the working
classes that she resolved to adopt the system of
popuhrizing art by means Of general method
of instruction Massachusetts has followed
that wise example and organized system Of
art schools somewhat on the English system.
We hope our own State will before long take
steps to supply this great need, SO tina,
primary education in art may be placed
within reach of every one who desires tc
| obtain it. In tha maaniima we thinl
Year: 1874

THE BOARD OF PoL1oH ordered yesterday
that record Of meritorious acts of officers
should be kept hereafter, and the indications
of the meeting were that the objectionable
uniform order will be modified to suit the
wishes Of the officers.
Year: 1874

The EPISCOPAL CONVENTION yestesday re-
ceived report from the Committee ON
Canons which condemned and prohibited
ritualism, and the subject was made the order
for discussion on Monday. This is the most
important question the Convention has thus
far chosen to consider, and will reopen the old
and unavailing discussion
Year: 1874

UNLESS SOME DECIDED CHANGE occurs the
downfall of the Argentine government is only
q question Of time. The wholesale desertion
Of its troops and the treachery of its leaders
are rapidly reducing it's military and moral
strength. 1t appears too weak to offer battle to
the rebels under General Mitre, yet every
moment of inaction gives the latter an advan-
taos