smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

A SAD HoUR.-There came a morn
ing at last when the babys eyes did not
open. DR.. Erskine felt the heart throb
family under his fingers, but he knew it
was beating its last. He trembled for
the mother, and dare not tell her She
anticipated him.


Doctor" she said-and:her voice was
SO sopassionless itmight almost have belong
ed to a disembodied spirit-"I know
that my darling is dying"


He bowed his head mutely. Her very
calmness awed him.


"Is there anything you can do to case
her?"


Nothing. do not think that she
suffers"


"Then will you please go away? She
is mine-nobodys but mine, in her life
and in her death, and want her quite to
myself at the last"


Sorrowfully enough he left her.


The mother held her child closely, but
gently. She thought in that hour that
she had never loved anything else-never
in this world should love anything again.
She wanted to cry, but her eyes were dry
and burning, and not tear fell upon the
upturned face, changing so fast to mar
bic. She bent over, and whispered some
thing in the baby's cara wild, passion
ate prayer that it would remember her,
and know her in the infinite spaces. A
look seemed to answer her-a radiant,
loving look, which she thought must be
born of the near heaven. She pressed
her lips in last despairing agony of love
to the little face, from which already, as
she kissed it, the little soul had fed. Her
white wonder had gone home. This
which lay upon her hungry heart was
stone.
Year: 1874

We called yesterday on the daughter
of Mohammedan living in thise city
(TripolD.


Though the girl had been married sew
eral days she had never been seen by her
husband. lie only had gone to the mos
que when the ceremony was performed,
she taking no part in it. After the GER
emony, the bride usually stays at her
fathers house nine days, during which
time she sits in state, decked in her finest
dress and jewels, receiving calls from
her friends. Then her joy is at an end.
She must go TO her husband, take off her
fine clothes, and become perfect slave,
subject to the will of her cruel master.
The parents of this bride were very poor.
Her mother was dressed in little better
than rags, and was at the ;dngUa wash
ing clothes. All the women of the brides
company had their hair plated full Of
gold coins these were hcirlooms, and so
greatly treasured that woman would
almost starve sooner than part with one.
The present given by the family to the
bride was an elegant pale-blue brocade
silk dress and black silk embroidered
with gold. The former cost $3.50. The
bridegroom's presents were a sumptous
lilac silk, heavily embroidered with gold !;
earrings Of pearls and gold, bracelets
as wide as finger. During the call
she wore the bridegroom's presents. The
other dresses were hung spread out on
the wall. 6


We stopped at house below, accord
ing to custom, and sent word we were
coming. The bride returned answer that
she would be most happy to salute us.
After waiting about twenty minutes we
went up stairs, for she lived on the sec
ond floor. She had not quite finished her
toilet, and sat on the floor before large
mirror, surrounded by her fnery. As
we entered she arose and salut ed us, and
then returned composedly to her dressing.
OF all the strange and ghastly sights, her
face was the most wonderful, as may
well be imagined, from the way in which
~ was p4Op"l Cb'


First, hot wax was spread over the
whole face, which, when cool, was peeled
of. This was done to remove all the
hair from the face. Then whiting was
rubbed on till the skin looked like mar
bic. Her eyebrows were painted jet
black, her lips and large spot on each
check painted brilliant red. On these
red spots, on her forehead, and at the
corners Of her mouth, gilt flowers were
pasted. Then over her whole face pow
dered sugar had been snapped, which
made it sparkle as if with diamond
dust" She wore pearl earrings, and
around her neck were o string of large
amber beads, three strings of roped
pearls, and a curious necklace, which we
were privately told was borrowed for the
occasion. 1t was made Of gold five
pound pieces, overlapping each other
like scales. The usual headdress was
covered with real and artificial flowers.
The finishing touch wns put an in the
shape Of piece of black wax heated over
the canoon till very hot, made round and
fiat, and then stuck between the eyes,
From Dr.. Jessup'S Syrian Home Life.
Year: 1874

No SoUL.-A stump orator out West,
wishing to describe his opponent as a
soulless man did it in this wise: 81
have heard" said he, "some persons
hold to the opinion that, just at the pre-
else instant after one human being dies,
another is born, and that the soul of the
deceased enters and animates the new
born babe. Now have made particular
and extensive inquiries concerning my
opponent there, and find that for some
hours previous to his nativity, nobody
died."
Year: 1874

A CONNECTICUT man, whose son was
ill, appealed to the physician Do
bring him out of it right away, Doctor /;
do break up the fever at once, even if
you charge as much as il he went thro'
whole course Of fever"
Year: 1874

The Davenport Gazette says q young
lady who arrived there from California,
without male protector, says it is a
safe and delightful trip for a lady to
make alone, and as for the male protec-
tlon, it only makes additional trouble,
and another to feed out Of the lunch bas-
ket,
Year: 1874

Recently, at g saloon on the Divide,
some men were discussing the shooting
affray which occurred during the morn
ing between two brcthers-in-law, Full
man and Ward. It was agreed on all
hands that it was shocking bad shooting
a discredit to Washoe. At least a
Phoebe man bantered the Comstock man,
whom he knew to be good shot with a
pistol, to go out IN the back yard with
him and do some shooting, just to show
the "boys" how il should be done. In
the saloon was box of eggs, and what
the Piocher proposed was that each
shoot two eggs off the bare head of the
other at the distance of ten PAGES, the
one missing to treat the crowd. The
ComstOeker was bound not to be bluffed
by q man from the other end OF the
state, so to the back yard all hands ad-
journed. Each man used his Own six
shooter. The Comstocker first bus
ted his egg on the top of PIocher's
head, which exploit was loudly applau-
ded by all present. 1t was then the
Piocher's turn to shoot, and an egg was
produced to be placed on the head OF
the Comstocker. but when he removed
his hat there was a great laugh, for the
top of his was head as smooth as a bill
lizard ball. For full ten minutes all hands
tried in vain to make an egg stand or
his head. It couldn't be done. The
Piocher then tainted the ComstOcker
with having gone into the arrangement
knowing that he was safe. The latter
told him to set up his egg and he was
all right-he was there. The Piocher
went into the saloon, and a moment af-
ter came out with a small handful of
-four, which he dabbed upon the bald
head of the Comstocker and then tri
umphantly planted IN it his egg, fell
back ten steps, and then knocked It off
The ComstOcker then told him to put
up his second egg and shoot at it, as he
didn't want n have his head chalked
twice during the game. This was done,
and the wreck of a second egg streamed
over the ComBtOcker's pate. The Pho
cher now stood out with his last egg on
his head. The Comstocker raised his
pistol and fred. The Piocher bOun ed
q yard into the air and the egg bounced
whole from his head. "I've lost p said
the Comstocker. 'Iet all come up and
drink. BY a slip I've put half the
| width Of my bullet through the top OF


his left ear - and so it proved upon
/ measurement Virginia city Enter
1 prise.
Year: 1874

death of me, that's quite clear. She's
made two very good attempts at the
Botanical Gardens, and tonight at tt G
opera. The third time perhaps she'll
succeed


"But doesn't the thought horrify
you?"


"I accept my destiny" Stericker
said, smiling, and with rather an affect
ed air. f It would be something to fall
by the hand of such a woman as that ;
that would be my consolation; really a
fine creature you know, although no
longer in the bloom of youth indeed,
removed some distance now from the
bloom of youth, but still grand and
beautiful, and so resolute ! If she had
loved me as she hates me -


You love her still, then ?"


Well not precisely. But admire
her, just as I admire the Bengal tigress
in the Zoo. If possible, should like
Arabella to be Gagged like the tigress A.;
but as that can't be-well, I wear this
stud as a memento of her, and for the
rest take my chance. Now, what will
you take? Another cigar No? Some
more brandy and water ?'


No. I would take nothing more. I
had, in point of fact, already taken
more than was absolutely necessary for
me. I left Stericker. I was much i'm
pressed by my experiences of that
night, by what had happened at the
opera, and his extraordinary narrative
touching the vengeance of Arabella.
Was it true? was really not in a state
of mind to determine. Even now I
have difficulty at arriving at any dis
tinct conclusion on the subject. But I
know that Stericker's face wore, to my
thinking, a very remarkable expression
as I quilted him. His smile was simply
awful. And strange to say-at least, I
think so, though it may not strike
others In that light never saw Ster-
iclzer again. He died shortly after
wads, as I read in the newspapers, the
victim of a street accident. He was
knocked down aad run over in Hyde
Park, by pony ph@ton, driven by a
lady. There was, of course, an inquest
upon his remains, the jury deciding,
however, that he met his death &c by
misadventure Some attempt had
been made to hold the lady responsible,
and to charge her with furious driving.
But nothing of the kind was sustained
before the coroner. Various witnesses
gave evidence, acquitting her of all
blame in the matter. Her conduct in
court was said to be most becoming.
And it was reported that, attired in
very deep mourning, she had followed
Stericker's body to its last resting place
in Brompton cemetery. Now, was this
lady the Arabella of Stericker's story
She may have been. But have no GER
tain evidence of the fact. Nor, indeed,
have I anything further to communi-
cate touching the life and death of my
acquaintance Stericker.
Year: 1874

Benjamin F. Taylor, who lately drop
ped in upon a camp meeting, writes a
letter to one of the religious papers, in
which he draws this capital portrait of
" everybody's aunt :"


And there is a mother in Israel, cush-
ioned as to her chin, and face as pleas
ant and hospitable as an open fire on
Thanksgiving day. At 800 a pound
and nothing could be cheaper-she
would be worth $40, 900, for she weighs
two hundred. Her hat is &c bonnet. :"
It scoops out in front, like a young
scoop shovel. It curls up little be-
hind, like a young wren. She wears
about as many hoops as a stone jar.
But she indulges in petticoat or two,
" gathered" 4" as she will tell you, at the
top, and puckered with the pull of
string, as they used to wind a clock.
A cape without fringe or ornament has
fallen upon her like the mantle of
prophet, and enveloped her shoulders
and her arms even to her elbows. If
It were little peaked and scollOped,
it would be a Vandyke but it is as IN
mistakably cape as the Cape of Good
Hope. Her hands were in mitts,
fumsy suggestion of gloves without any
fingers. She never dyed her hair. She
would about as soon shoot herself.


That face of hers beams with good
ness and good will. You want her to
be your aunt, as she cannot be your
mother. You would be glad to sit by
her kitchen fire and hear her talk, and
she would be precisely as glad to have
you. Her easy, cushiony way of walk
ing suggests a gentle old chaise with
the top up. She is enjoying every min
ute of the time. She is a Methodist
of the old school, and she needs no as
surance from you that she will go to
heaven. She has it from better au-
EbOritv
Year: 1874

A cultivated taste marks woman of
elegance and refinement as decidedly as


knowledge of classical literature does a


gentleman and there is nothing in
which female vulgarity is more clearly
shown than In want of taste. This IS
an axiom that we think viii not admit
of dispute; but it Is a question how far
taste is natural, and how far It may be
acquired. a delicate taste must, to a
certain extent, depend upon the orgsni.
zatiOn of the individual and it is i'm
possible for any rules to be laid down
which viii impart taste to persons en-
tirely devoid of It. Bat this Is very
seldom the case with women, as it is
one Of the few points in which women
naturally excel men. Men may be, and
probably are, superior to women in all
that requires profound thought and
general knowledge but in the arrange
Year: 1874

ment of house, and the introduction
of ornamental furniture and articles of
bijouterie, there can be no doubt of the
innate superiority of women. Every
one must have remarked the difference
in the furnishing of bachelors house
and one where lady presides the
thousand little elegancies of the latter,
though nothing in themselves, adding,
like cyphers, prodigiously to the value
of the solid articles they are appended
Year: 1874

SERIOUS CHARGB AGAINST PROMINENT
PHYSICIAN. Two women, whose names and
addresses the police authorities positively de-
cline to disclose, made affidayits in New York
yesterday accusing a prominent physician of
that city OF the murder OF his illegitimate child
The doctor is now confined at police head
quarters, but the detectives decline TO give his
name. One OF the women is supposed to be the
mother Of the murdered child
Year: 1874

NRw YEAR kRCBPTIoSs.-As has been its
rule heretofore, TIE EVENING STAR will coz
tain on Thursday next list of those persons
proposing TO receive on New Year Day who
may desire such publication to be made, and
who, themselves, or by some one authoriz TO
act for them, furnish the necessary data for
that purpose. Such announcements, which we
will be very glad to receive aud publish in
brief form, should give the names of the ladies,
If any, who will assist in receiving, together
with the street and number of the residence.
They should in each case be accompanied By a
responsible signature, ss a guarantee o, au-
thenticity, and must he sent in before eleven
O'Clock Thursdsy morning to secure insertion.
Year: 1874

The PRINTING Of internal revenue stamps by
the New York bank note company will begin
once. In the contract made with the company
1t was provided that it could be aunUlled at anv
time after ninety days notice. In view OF the
suffering entsLed by the wholesale discharge OF
female employees, necessitsted by the transfer of
the contract, strong pressure will be brought
upon Congress to Rnnul il. 1t is ascertained
that the difference in the cost of printing iu
favor or the New York company, so slight "a
hardly TO be an object. Secretary Bristow will
advocate the retention Of this work in the Treas
Ury department.
Year: 1874

TAXATION OF CHURCH PROrKRTY-The
Seneca County Courier takes ground in favor
OF the taxation OF church property, as follows
Several leading newspapers of the state are
engaged in discussing the policy of taxing
church property, and the general drift of the
argument is in favor of taxation. There are of
course, two sides to the question but il seems TO
us that, on the whole, the interest of all would
be best subserved by taxing church prOpertg
the same as that of other corporations or OF in
dIvidusls. There WAS nsuRht but the best of
motive in the original plan TO relieve church
property from taxation, but the abuse OF the
prlvilege-when, as now, church corporations
hold real estate To the amount or millions OF
dollars-has rendered some change necessary


Ii the discussion shall result in nothing further
than limiting the amount of such exemDtion il
WilihaVe been a move in the right direction"
Year: 1874

THE County MEEriNG.-The Democratic meet
ing held at New Castle last Saturday was one of
the largest, most enthusiastic, determined and
respectable political bodies ever assembled for
The purpose that called this one together. When
contrasted with the motley crowd that gathered
in the same place few weeks ago, the Democ-
racy OF Delaware have great reason to be proud
Of their first meeting in the campaign of 1874
No mixture of races seen in this, but officers
committees, speakers, audience, were all of the
same race and the same color.


Though difference OF opinion on minor topics
gave rise to frequent and, at times, heated dis
cussion among the more active participants in
the proceedings, the vast audience was orderly,
and obeyed the rap Of the Presidents gave with
promptness and willingness, and submitted to
his decisions with readiness seldom seen in bo-
dies SO large.


One of the most pleasing features of the meet
ing was the readiness with which the unsucccss-
fal advocates ofa measure acauiesced in the will
Of the majority, betokening unanimity which,
in the language of the orators of the day, will,
il We be but true TO ourselves inevitably carry
everything before it at the approaching election,
and inhict upon the enemies of our race and
State such defeat that they will never recover
from it. From the 'signs Of the times" and the
indications that are daily gathered there can be
doubt but that very large majority of the
voting population of New Castle County favor
the Democratic party, and if Democrats will dc
their duty and go to the polls and vote instead
of remaining at home and allowing the election
10 go by default as they did in 1879, their sue
cess is as sure as human events can be.
Year: 1874

We invite the attention Of our readers, espe-
einlly Of our Republican friends, to the able, con-
vincing, manly aptcls from the New York Times
which We publish this week on our first page.
Coming from sach source, the leading journal
Of the Republican party in the United States, it
ought to carry with it great weight to the minds
Of the members Of that party
Year: 1874

The New York World and Times think Europe
is on the eve of tremendous war If all the
great wars that " Europe has been on the eve Off
within the last ten or fifteen years, had taken
place there wouldn't be much of the little conti-
ncnt left.
Year: 1874




process, the good results of which
are every day becoming more appar-
ent. That many good men left the
party, is true. Few went out with
whom we were not reluctant to part.
Many of them honestly thought the
party would not be able to rally in
sufficient force and determination to
successfully combat the evils within,
and gave up the effort and went
over to the help of what they sup
posed to be new and better party.
They find there now the very men
who caused the greatest
amount of mischief in the Republi-
can fold, and who went out with
very different and altogether selfish
motives. The black sheep of both
the old parties are generally found
in the new organization. They are
there with the hope of spoils, and
their leaving has made the band
stronger because in the aggregate
purer. The bad men in any party
are the few, and the greater the con-
troll given them, the sooner will
they bring disgrace upon the mass.
The men who are devoid of principle
the corrupt rule-or-ruin men,
ore ever ready when disappointed in
one party to flee to another which
promises them even temporary pre-.
ferment. Those who will not give
up principle for place, power and
spoils, will not change so easily, as a
rule. The man who will stick to the
right, though he be left hopelessly
alone is not the average man who
has gone over from either of the old
parties to the new. There is much to
admire in the Democrats Of Iowa
who were born Democrats, who will
die Democrats, though their fellows
90 in herds after strange anti-monop-
oly gods. We may believe them in
error, but cannot question the hon
esty of the men who will thus abide
almost alone by the principles and
the name they love. They are the
men to whom the wanderers will
return after the novelty OF anti
monopoly service has worn Off and
its husks become unpalatabse. That
time is no farther away than the
year 1876. ...


The doors Of the Republican fold
are yet open. The house has beer
renovated in the absence Of those o
our friends who went out picnlcint
with the anti-monops last year. Now
they are returning. They tell US
they have had a jolly time, but DOM
relish husks and have come back tc
stay. They have no fancy for "Stone
SOUP" They have determined moi
to winter again in tents in the anti
monop camp. They asked for bread
and received Stone.
Year: 1874

Capt. Blain, in grange political
convention in this county last fall,
said: at will be better for the man
who opposes us If milestone were
hanged about his neck" The Stone
is now hanged about the neeks OF the
Anti-Monops, and struggle as they
will, their party must go down with
its load. The sea is rough, and they
already realize that their strength is
falling.
Year: 1874

The fact that Gates, the Anti-Mo-
mop candidate for Congress in this
District, was draft commissioner
during the war, is not considered by
the Anti-war democrats very strong
recommendation
Year: 1874

Chicago Burned Again." Under
this caption, on another page will be
found an extended report OF the fire
which occurred in Chicago on Tues
day of last week, copied from the
Inter- Ocean Of the following day.
Year: 1874

The ninth resolution in the Re-
publican State platform closes with
this declaration:


We commend the position Of the
party in instituting investigation Of
corruption in Office, sparing therein
neither friends nor foes"


The acts Of the party have for
years been in keeping with this
plain and emphatic utterance; and
this gives us double assurance that it
is no unmeaning expression. 1t is
trne, and to be regretted, that the
party has not always been able to
bring the swift and merited punish
ment it has desired upon its official
offenders, simply because the party
cannot make up verdictS for juries
ard legal decisions for judges. The
party can by no just reasoning be
held responsible for the failures OF
the iuries to indict and convict, nor
for the failures of the courts in any
case to bring justice upon those
whom the party and the people may
believe to be guilty of wrong doing
in office, unless the party can be
proven an alder or abettor in the
failure. The party has condemned
without stint State Treas. Rankin's
embezzlement, for instance, and has
demanded his punishment at the
earliest possible day aud in the Sc
verest manner that the law will JUS
tify. Justice seems slow; but shall
we say that jnries and Judges are
corrupt because they do not decide
as you or l think they should. They
have heard the evidence, and act
under oath. We have formed our
opinions without the aid Of the
sworn testimony. Let US be careful
that in cOndemning them we do not
condemn ourselves by the assump-
ton that we are wiser or more hon
est than they.


When it can be shown that the
party has endorsed official wrong by
upholding or shielding the official,
charge it upon the party. If the
party re-elects an official defaulter,
embezzler, or other bad man, after
his guilt has been fairly shown,
charge that upon the party. If the
wrongs have all been in one party,
let that party carry all the blame; If
not, divide the censure.


No other party in the United
States has ever been so vigilant in
watching the officials it has chosen,
or so quick to investigate and punish
official misdeIneanors, or go deter
mined and successful in putting out
bad men, as has the Republican
party. This characteristic still
clings to the party, and always will
cling to il until the elements OF
which the party is composed are
materially changed. The party has
of late passed through the fire. Its
numbers have been somewhat re-
duced; it has been scourged and
chastened, and has learned some les
sons whicIl in the days of its appar-
ent highest prosperity and strength
it was not in the humor to heed. 1t
had warnings but listened not to
them AS 1T has now learned to do.
Last years exodus from the party
fold seemed to weaken, but hss, IN
reality, as We verify believe,
Year: 1874

g A. SHAFER is carrying on the Carriage
~. and Wagon business in the same build
ing where he is prepared to do all kinds Of
woodwork in a neat and substantial manner.
All persons in need Of work are invited to
give theIn q call at their chop. ltt.)