smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

The San Francisco Post mentions s
recent case of spontaneous combustion
which occurred lately in drinking sa-
loon in that city, the details of which
are horrible TO the last degree. The
victim was very hard drinker. On
the day of his shocking death he had
just been discharged from the hospital,
where he had been under treatment for
delirium tremens. He had been drink
ing heavily for several hours, and stag
gered into the saloon nearly insensible.
but asked for more drink. This was
refused, and he staggered towards the
gas-jet TO light the stump of cigar.
A moment AFTER he fell 10 the floor
with a low moan, a flash of fire, his
head enveloped in thick black smoke,
while flames issued from his mouth and
ears, with a horrible smell of burned
flesh. Prompt and unsuccessful efforts
were made TO save his life. His face
was perfectly black and partly charred
with moist SCOT. His eyes were open
and his mouth was completely roasted
on the inside. A more dreadful death
can scarcely be conceived.
Year: 1877

The people of Middlebury NAV con-
gfatulate themselves upon the progress
OF temperance work in their midst (es
peclally those disaflected toward it


The druggist have signed pledge
SO have the saloon-keepers it is under.
stood, however, that they never did
keep liquor to sell-and not so long
since drunken man affirmed that moi
drop of liquor could be bought in
Middlebury. Furthermore, YOU can
not find man in town who s.knows o,
his own certain knowledge" that it Is
bought, or dares to saw that anv one
sells 1t. This is conclusive proof thn.
rum-selllng here is thing Of the past
we are a temperance community In
theory, delinquent only in practice.


About year ago reform club was
organized for the benefit of reformed
drinkers. Fortunately the reformed
men no longer require sympathy and
encouragement.


The above facts, together with the
very elevated and cheerful tone of pub
lie. sentiment, have shown to many
ladies the propriety Of rclinquishing all
temperance effort.


A while ago there were few known
cases OF drunkenness brought to the
notice OF the sheriff q suppose some
,Nergennes man smuggled spirits In
here from Canada), with Il request that
they receive immediate attention. Al
ter suitable delay the sheriff promptly
handed the eases over 10 a LAWYER
When the lawyer was interviewed In
regard TO the celebrity of his measures
he stated that he was waiting for the
sheriff.


This is perfectly natural and nol
without historical precedent. Eng
lands great statesman and orator, VII
liam Pitt, Earl of Chatham. had his enc
mics in Parliament. AT one time he
and his arch enemy were on the eve of
a battle, Both houses of Parliament
and indeed. the whole nation, were
trembling with expectation. The bat
tie never came of. A contemporary
poet lucidly gave the reason as follows:


His honor, longing to he at him,


Was waiting for the Earl OF Chatham


Pitt, ready with his stunning thunder.


Was only waiting for his honor.


Yes, truly we have taken a long step
forward. II reminds one of the story
of the frog that tried TO get out of the
well by dropping back two feet to every
foot in advance. suppose he got out
at last ifhe persevered in that line of
effort. If he did not got out, where
did he go to: Mrs. Sn.
Year: 1877

A new electric alarm has been intro.
duced into the st. George Hotel. This
machine recently was made the subject
ofa practical test by a party of yonne
men, headed by a young naval officer


who, in their desire to perpetrate what
they no doubt looked upon as practical
Joke, did not consider the serious result
that might have ensued. The apparatus
affords Instantaneous knowledge of hiph
temperature in every part OF he honse
Year: 1877

On the Gath ult. the last of what was
so long known as Table Rock, at Mag
ara, broke off and fell into the river.
The mass weighed nearly sixty tons and,
up to 1876, 1000 names of visitors had
been carved upon it. The part which
fell on the Gath composed only half of
the original rock, the rest having fallen
in. On Saturday. Jan. 1, 1929, surface
of the rock supposed to be the side of
half an acre, forming the bed of Maiden
Walk, broke loose and was precipitated
into the immense chasm below. The
crash was heard for distance of five
miles, and the effects in the immediate
neighborhood resembled the shock of an
earthquake. The water running under
the bank is supposed to have caused the
fall on the Gath, and the shock, when
the rock struck the water was distinctly
felt three miles from the falls. Several
of the trees which stood on the rock are
now seen standing in the river as erect
as when in their original places on the
rock. Where the rock shelved off from
the bank, at a distance of twenty feet
from the top, can be seen the root of a
tree estimated to be two feet in diameter,
1t attracts considerable attention.-SyrG-
cuse Standard.
Year: 1877

This morning little after day break
the people of Ibrail were awakened by
the sound of artillery and musketry on
the other side of the river, showing that
the Danube must have been crossed.
Gen. Zimmerman had gone to Galatz
and crossed the Danube with two regi-
ments of infantry, and a proportionate
amount of artillery and cavalry, in a
number of boats towed over by steam
launches.
Year: 1877


The right wing of the Russian army is
moving along the left bank of the Aluta
toward the Danube. Eight thousand
Russians participated in the occupation
of the heights commanding Matchin.
Year: 1877

w HO afc indebted to us for PROVIS-
IONS or PIlOsPHATES, We would respect
fully call attention, that your bills arc due
on or before the first of Novomber. We
are depending on you for payment AT
ONCE, to enablo us to mcct obligation
made TO assist you, and which arc due ut
that time.


In order for us, as we'll as you, to MAIN
tain our credit it is necessary to meet our
promises promptly.
Year: 1877

The Grand Jury of Talbot county in
Their repert al the last term recommend
the erection of new Jail or additions to
the present one. They have made three
presentments for alleged violation of the
local option law by sale of intoxicating
liquor under the disguise of bitters; this
Delng done with view of making test
case whereby clearer understanding of
The law can be had, as there is a an i'm
preston among bitters sellers that they
violate no law thereby. The grand jur-
ors also urge that the next Legislature
pass law clothing justices of the peace
win power in petty criminal cases, so far
as 10 save to counties the great expense
now incurred in confining such cases to
trial in the circuit courts.
Year: 1877

The New York Nation, commenting
upon the statement of Gen. Boynton that
Gen. Ba5cock was one of the movers in
the kidn=pping affair in which ex-Spec-
ial Agent Moore was the active instru-
ment, suggests that cit IS of some imPor-
lance to the morals of the army and to
the character of future graduates at West
Point that the standard of fitness for a
military commission should be something
higher than ability to steer clear OF the
penitentiary. Gen. Babcock should be
either vendicatei or cashiered; and if
the superior officers of the army cannot
find IN cuse for beginning the task, it
will be incumbent upon congress to take
the initiative.''


This is the proper view to take. If
Babcsck is guilty convict and cashier
HIM, if not stop singing mud at him in
this indiscreet manner.
Year: 1877

The delegation Of Sioux Indians to Wis
it Washington cannot be got together be-
fore the L 9Th of September. Washington
telegr-ms state that Secretary Shurz is
very much opposed to receiving these
periodical visits from the Indians of the
west. This is where his judgment is
sound. The government pays the expen-
|ses of a lot of barbarians who visit the
east for no other purpose than to crafty
their vanity and make a useless display
of themselves. The coming visit will ac-
complish no purpose, and President Hay
es will do the country a service by Civ
ing these painted murderers the cold
shoulder.-Pycss aud DaEotaian.


The above is sound sense. The idea
of treating with every old breechclout
who wants to go to Washington as the
representation of distinct nation is
worse than farce. The peoples money
can be better spent than in carting a lot
of the vain old lords of the. soil about the
country to crafty their vanity. Secre-
tary Schurz is right. They must be SUBJ
jects not rulers, and accept Of civilization
or go where the woodbine twjneth.
Year: 1877

We are credibly informed that there
has been thirty-six steamboats, running
between Bismarck and the points above
on the Missouri and Yellowstone this
season, and this number will naturally
increase as the establishing of the posts
on the Big Horn will so far protect that
country that settlements will spring up
rapidly. Furthermore we were recent
ly informed by Gen. Rosser that it was
quite probable that the Northern Pacific
Comnan.7 would next year build a Sec
ton of their road from Bismarck to the
mouth OF the Big Horn and connect that
point with Bismarck by line of steamers.
In view Ct this we would call the atten-
tlon of 1nachinists and boat builders to
two enterprises necessited by this in
crease Of business. In the first place in


the erection of steamboat ways Ct sufi-


clent capacity that no boats need be
compelled to go below for repairs. We
believe this to be one of the best paying
enterprises in the country. We also
need IL. .1nding and machine shop. With
the steamboats, and the building of this
upper section Of road it would give a
moderate sized shop all they could do
and at good prices. Here is a chance to
make BIZ, money fron moderate invest
ment =
Year: 1877

A quarrel between labor and capital is
like quarrel between Chang and Eng.
The tie that binds them is the life of both.



The sooner both interests realize this
and act accordingly the sooner will this
much vex ed question be at healthy rest.
Year: 1877

The County jail and Small Grimes.


If the Legislature would clcthe the
Mayor of this city with full authority to
try, commit and execute sentence for
petty larceny and small crimes, the county
prison would not be crowded to such an
extent. In Philadelphia, New York and
other cities, those guilty of small offences
are not kept at the expense of the county
for three to six months awaiting trial. 1t
might be that the great mass of petty
thieves would prefer to be tried and pun
ished at once to being sent to New Cas-
tie to await the meeting of the county
Court; and it would probably be well to
accommodate them. In former times
petty thieves were tried and convicted at a
Mayors Court. 1t was composed of the
Mayor, Alderman and President of City
Council.
Year: 1877

The right Of the State of Florida was
crushed utterly before the Electoral Com
mission yesterday. According to that
vote the State has no right to decide for
herself, in her own courts, who she has
elected to cast the vote of her people for
President and Vice President.
Year: 1877

HorE LEFT FOR LEE.-John D. Lee. who ordered the indiscriminate murder of the emigrants in the Mountain Meadow massa- ere, has succeeded in obtaining a new trial from the Court of Utah Lee committed the most fiendish crime in 1851, on the de- fcnsclsss emigrants, who were vending their way to the Dorado of the West. The court has it's duty to perform in the new trial grant cd to the great criminal, and nothing but de. reflection on the part of the prosecution can save him from execution. Many a neck has been saved from the halter on account of loophole in the law, SO that Lee has reason to be hopeful to the last.
Year: 1877

PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD or SuPERyrs. oRs.-A petition being presented to the Board of Supervisors to the effect that Mrs. Steinhrook was homeless and destitute and q subject for relief st the hands of the County the Board decided to lay said petition aside. 1t appearing to them that she was the owner of property of renumeratiye nature.

 The County Treasurer was authorized 10 dispose of certain bullion now remaining in the Treasury at the highest market rate in. identifying him from any loss personally that may accrue from such sale.
Year: 1877

Tubman Ayres, an old 49-er and Pacific Coast rover, came in this morning from Ger hat, where he has been making his hoae for some tmio. He goes to Walnut Grove on business, and will return iu few days and give Prescott more extended interview be. fore taking his departure for home
Year: 1877

ry TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


VicKsBUaG, Oct !, 1877.
On the empanelling Of the Grand Jury in tho City
Court to-day Judge Young delivered very able and
powerful charge He referred to the too free of
firearms and urged tho great necessity Of investigating
and bringing TO justice such guilty partes and whilc
he recognized the fact that much OF the crime the
landing AT our city, yet the fact cannot be dened that
too many persons wore carrying firearms and weapons
OF deadly character midst The charge lis-
toned to with marked attention by the jury and large
number Of the best citizcns Of the city and county.
Year: 1877

Archbishop Bayiey was living at late hour last
night, but sinking rapidly. Hc was In an uncon-
scious condition, and his physicians were OF tho
opinion that he Is not likely TO hold out more than
day TWO longer
Year: 1877

as decent, gentlemanly rat that crack
ed an occasional grain of corn, or licked
syrup, once in while, from his tail that
he had dropped into some sweet jug.
He figures in history in such pleasant
episodes as the famous visit of the
country rat to the city, and in poetry as
the rat that eat the malt that lay in the
house that Jack built. He did no harm,
and was liked and tolerated on all hands
But this new rat, born in the throes of
revolution, and growing amid the fierce
turbulence of this latter day, is blood
thirsty and abnormal scoundrel He
despises the mild and musty corn, or
the tranquil jam upon which the rat of
our fathers fed, and whenever he wants
lunch he rushes out into your yard,
seizes half grown chicken, and, clip
ping its throat-latch with his sharp
teeth, throws the palpitating corpse ov-
er his shoulder and gallops back to his
den to wallow in warm gore These
huge rats can be seen in great numbers
galloping about the stores along
the street at night 1t is almost impos-
sible to raise poultry anywhere in the
city. The rats kill young ducks and
chickens with the greatest ease, and
during last winter, entered, on one oc-
casion, a chickencoop, and pulled from
its roost and destroyed full-grown
hen. They kill grown pigeons frequent
ly. They do not confne themselves to
the city, but are spreading into the
country We have seen them six miles
from town.


DR.. Taylor has one which is about as
large as his dog, that burrows back of
the store The Doctor says the burrow
opens up at the other end somewhere
beyond Decatur These. rodents can
swim creek, and nothing seems to stop
them. They make moonlight raids into
the country, moving in troops of a score
or SO, carrying destruction to the barn
yards and granaries and CONSERVATION
to the sleek and non-combatant rats OF
the rural districts. They will attack a
man when they are pressed in corner
On such occasions when flight is impos-
sible they will fly at their pursuer in
blind rage, and generally succeed in
closing their teeth through his flesh
somehow. The bite of this little animal
is actually poisonous. Capt E. NJ.
Roberts was bitten by one, and his hand
is now shriveled all around the bite.
Mr.. Harwell was bitten, and it was fear
ed that his arm would have to be ampu-
tated Mr.. Dickson was bitten, and
was sick for weeks. The poison instilled
is virulent and obstinate. There is
notice in the St. Louis papers Of late
date that professional rat-killer of
New York had gone to that city, carry
ing gang of ferrets that have been
trained to hunt and kill rats He guar
antees to kill several hundred day, and
to virtually rid st. Louis Of the pres
ence of this ubiquitous and deadly ma
rauder. When he has finished we ad-
wise that he be sent for.
Year: 1877

The Philadelphia North 4merican
says: Here are faint photographs of
some of these men as seen along the
line Of the Boston and Albany railroad,
whose hearts might have been reached
if the winding stairs had been climbed
by love- patience and kindness. Tis
night fall; along the railroad track, near
a small stream of water, fifteen to twen-
ty men are lying on the ground, without
any covering, asleep; old boots, shoes
and dirty, hard stockings are scattered
around. and several bare, blistered feet
are visible; when aroused, they answer
any questions willingly, and the tales
narrated would freeze the life out of
young hearts, which language fails to
portray A man is seated on top of Il
fiat rock. He has some pieces of what
appears to be letter III his hands
The paper is rotten from age and from
being carried in his pocket. The almost
illegiblc lines were written by a tender
hearted mother now dead, and the poor
out-cast is trying TO read her last words
to him. He repeats the story Of
mothers love-how, when he lay a boy
in her lap, and her hand on his head,
she told him of the boyhood Of good
men, and made him promise, when he
would become man, that he would re-
member her counsel and follow their
example But when he came to the
great city he began to drink with revel-
ing companions, and no one ever gave
him kind word afterward; and the
stricken wreck in agony of soul burst
into tears, and refused to be comforted
or receive any aid. Another has seen
better days; he was once a happy hus-
band and father. His wife went down
to the grave uncomplaining, and soon
sweet golden-haired little girl lay at
her side. He feels accursed- in one
sense murderer; he is tifty-four years
old and friendless. Rum has been his
ruin. When found he was eating corn
from an empty car, where some kernels
had been left scattered on the floor.
The next in review is a man who had
formerly been employed in the Freed
mems bureau; he has wife. and four
children He has been to New York
to obtain employment, has failed and is
returning to his family in Maine. He
states that he had lived in Washington
diiu Iio CulCi tiluCu REPRESENTATIVES,
and Senators at his home, He is a
Freemason, we'll posted, and had been a
member of DR.. Storrs' church, Brook
lyn, n. Y He is an object of pity. He
said he had washed his shirt on Sunday.
He was furnished with lunch, and he
promised calling on Rev. Dr. Webb. A
man was found in a very weak condition;
he had not strength enough to go into
the woods and ask for food; he had
walked from Providence to Worcester
and thence to Boston, and did not seem
to care for life The Boston and Albany
railroad detective from whom these
items have been obtained has, from OBJ
servation and long experience, an insight
into the character Of this class, and IN
the 300 whom he has interviewed in the
past few weeks he considers that the
men spoke truthfully, and in most eases
would rejoice in finding labor, many of
them having learned trades,
Year: 1877

Miss Maggie O'Keefe was beautiful girl,
From the sole Of her foot to the little black
That she used to pin Oh with q queer little
twirl,
Right over her acquiline nose
Her lovers she surely could count by the score,
And for aught l know, there were myriads
Who ceased not in silence Miss K. to adore!


And so she had plenty of beauX.
Well! one of these lovers she'd known all her
life,


Twas an understood thing she'd soon be his
wife;


When the war-sounding note of the drum and
the fife
Went ringing through city and town,
When the President calls for the first volun-
teers,


Her lover enlisted; think for three years.
He went as high private, and then it appears,


That his stock began to go down,
For shortly after he went away,
A Major De Boot appeared one day,
On special service-that is to say,


Hethere was detailed to recruit.
Quite gorgeous, the Major, in figure and face,
Moustaches as long as clergyman's grace;
And every young lady and girl in the place
Waslwild over Major De Boot.
Maggie frequently thought of her absent beau,
But privates were then at discount, you


know,


While ColOnels and Majors were all CONNIE IL


AS the story would seem to prove.
A private was only an awkward galOot,
So Maggie O'Keefe married Major De Boot,
(She found him sort of a second-cass brutc)


But Major" of course she could love-
For a year or two every thing went quite well,
They lived on in style at the best hotel,
And the Major continued most lawfully Swell


While holding his proud situation.
But when the war ended and peace was made
They mustered out the entire brigade,
A WI inh hn Moi yVo ifn lien


For gone was his occupation.
Then the Major looked round for something to


do;
He must be good for something, he knew;
So he started off home for Kalamazoo,


Though Maggie felt bad about going.
His pride very soon was run into the ground,
And in driving a horse-car, the Major soon


found
A calling which gave him chance to be round,


While Maggie, his wife, took in sewing.
The private. whose suit for her love had been


spurned,
With glory and honor soon after returned,
And a big pile of money twas said he had


earned


BY fortuate speculation.
AS he rides about in his coach and four,
And passes sometimes by Maggie's own door,
She regretfully thinks of the days of yore


And her own bad calculation.
Boston Advertiser.
Year: 1877

A SMALL quantity Of carbolic acid is
recommended to be used in whitewash
and in paste for laying paper-hangings.
1t will repel cockroaches and other in
sects, and also neutralize disagreeable
odor consequent upon the decomposition
Of the paste.
Year: 1877

The proper exhibition of parental
love, deep and lasting Us life, unmared
by any unwholesome environment, is the
most eXhuulted trait OF human character
possessed by mortal man. Guided by
reason and restrained by judgment, it
enables its possessor to So train the
plastic mind of youth in its various
stages OF progressive development, that
the gray hairs of age will never be
brought down to the grave with sorrow.
What is the choicest gift of the Creator
to his creatures Love. And of this,
parental, and tillial love oltshine all
Others. Wretched is parentage without
parental love. A lite void of domestic
love is almost a blank. Can anything
be sweeter, even the voices of angels,
than the first lisping accents Of child
hoodl No inspired artist ever yet sue.
ceeded in transferring to canvass the
sparkling eye the rosy cheek and ruby
lip of little child. There is a depth OF
purity in that eye, a bloom on that
cheek, a fragrance in the kiss from those
guileless lips that art cannot portray. A
mothers heart my feel it; but no pencil
can portray, no pen sketch it. We
might as we'll have been born dumb, as
attempt to describe it.


But says not overly fond moth.
cr, "they are great IespOnsibility--au
incessant care and terrible trial to
practice too, sometimes" That may bt
true. All OF us have been'tba to some
body; and somebody has felt the same
towards us; became slack in the vigi
lance OF their watchiulness; lost theil
patience got tired; almost disheurtened
at times; relaxed their careful supervi-
sion over us; and, perhaps. never took
up again these neglected luties and VIZ
are now grown up, wild, half formed
vayward, selfish and with our physica
faculties running at a dangerous speed
Year: 1877

Toledo, June "a.


A bold attempt was made last night to
rob the express car of train No. 9, bonnd
east over the air line division of the Lake
Shore and Michigan southern railway.
Shortly after the train lett Ligonler, Ind,
the car was entered by four men, who ac-
costed the messenger and were about to
bind him, when they were suddenly con-
fronted by a force of officers and express
men, headed by the chief of police OF this
city, who had been notified that an attempt
would be made to rob the Car. A desperate
struggle ensued, resulting in the capture of
the entire band. They are all young men
and residents of Noble county, Ind. The
train was not stopped, and none OF the pas
sengers were aware that anything unusual
occurred.