smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

IL your seat is too hard to sit upon,
stand up. If rock rises up before you,
roll it away, or climb over it. If you
wish for confidence, provo yourselves
worthy of it. It takes longer to skin an
elephant than a mouse, but the skin is
worth something. Don't be content with
doing what another has done surpass it.
Deserve success, and it will come. The
boy was not born man. TIE sun does
not risc like rocket. or 60 down like a
bullet fred from gun slowly but surely
it makes its round, and never tires. 1t
is as easy to be a leader as a wheel horse !;
if'the job be long, the pay will be greater !;
if the task BE- hard. the more competent
you must be to do il.
Year: 1874

A darky was attempting to steal
goOse, but the dog raised an objection, and
Sambo retired The next night during a
thunder shower he attempted it again and
just as he was on the point of getting
away with his goose, the lightning strucl,
close by and the noise nearly frightened
the poor fellow to death. Dropping tho
goose, he started away, muttering, "Peers
ter me der am mighty lot Of fuss mado
bout common goose.
Year: 1874

II is beautifully said that mo act of
genuine charity is ever lost. Somewhere
in the conservatory of good deeds tho
plant will put forth its blossoms and pen,
fune, perhaps in the balm and brillianc o
of the eternal morning, perhaps in tho
subdued light and murky atmosphere oi
the mortal lifc."
Year: 1874

DoNESTlc.-Eeep your wife at home,
if you can, chat is if you have home for
her; if not, make it your first effort to
furnish her with home. It is no profit
to woman to be running about tho
ncighborbood she lives in, acquiring
habits Of idleness, and to the neglect of
her domestic duties. One Of the best
ways for man to keep his wife at home
is, to stay at home hi himself.
Year: 1874

The quickest way wo know of to make
q nan believe there's nothing ip !be world.
worth living for is to excite him into
chasing cat across yard where two or
three clOtheslinc are innoccntly in the
evening breeze. "' ''
Year: 1874

There was recently great excite
ment III St. Louis. Early in tho
morning the chief OF police received
a despatch from the conductor of an
eastern train approaching the city,
setting forth that there was a trunk
in tho baggage car attached which


omitted a verv suspicious smell. Tho
number of the check on the trunk
was given, and the statement made
thst the holder was on board. A
largo number OF policemen were at
the station when the train arrived


The suspicious trunk was taken to
the police station, and quiet officer
accompanied the owner to his hotel,
to keep strict VIZ" over him till the
Year: 1874

Since the recent action of the New
York Legislature in awarding the
prize for the best invention of a steam
canal boat, steam is rapidly supersed-
ing the horse as motor upon the
Erie canal. One transportation COM
pany alone has four of the new boats
running and four under way.
Year: 1874

The new commissioners for the
government of the District of Col
umbia have gone to work in earnest.
They are literally tearing up the rot
ten foundations of the late ring-rule,
and clearing out the noisome stable
of the "Boss" Shepard dynasty.
May they hold out faithfully to the
end.
Year: 1874

An impression prevails at the West
that the days of wooden barrels are
numbered, and that within the coming
decade every pound of -four shipped
East ward will be in barrels or boxes
made from the straw on which the
wheat grew. The conversion of straw
into paper is process already quite ia
miliar, and, in the next step Of convert
ing it into paper mache, there is moth
ing to daunt either the intrepidity or
ingenuity of this inventive age. We
have large trays and bowls and tubs
made Of this material now, and the
step which would extend the size to
that of barrel has often been exceed
ed in late years. When slaves go up
to certain figure in the market, there
is nothing more sure than that the
man will arise who will enable our farm
ers to utilize their straw in the man
ner foreseen by some of the far-sighted
of our Western men.-Brooklyn Ar.
gus.
Year: 1874

Within the past decade there has
been wonderful increase all over the
country in the desire to have better
fowls. The same feeling is quite man
ifest just now in our own State. We
hear of fancy poultry everywhere, and


at OUT County and State Fairs this in.
terest is becoming very prominent. It
is proposed this season to give the own
ers of rare birds fair show as we'll as
the common. We have now q State
Poultry Association, and an excellent
journal on this subject. It is therefore
quite proper that this Society should
have the management mainly of this
matter at the State Fair as proposed.
The premiums are largely increased,
and at the next State Fair it is expect
ed that much better exhibition will
be had than on previous years. Let
all who own good fowls or wish to see
. fine show, be on hand at the Fair.
This branch of our industries certainly
needs encouragement.-St Paul Press.
Year: 1874

The Congressional Convention.


There are 20 present indications
Of any great general interest being Ia.
ken, by the people Of this county in the
approachingConvention for thisC Congress
sional District. It's, doubtless, owing
to the belief that we cannot materially
influence its action. Another reason
is that the denomination of Maj. Strait
seems to be a foregone Conclusion. 1t
is pretty certain that after the conven-
ton the present apathy will give way
to active interest.


Maj. Strait will, we think, be unui-
versally acceptable as candidate to
the people Of this County. Two years
ago We did not favor his nomination
but, when nominated, very cordially
supported him, aud his ofdcia! faith
fulness, effective work and personal in.
tegrity commend him to US for our
support again. We do not recall a
Single official act that should be Con-
demned nor any measure Of either
general or local interest that did not
receive effective support from him.
In the matter Of the improvement of
the Minnesota river, which more di.
rectly affects our local interests than
any other question on which there is
likely to be any National legislation.
Maj Strait secured all that any one
could have done.


1t is generally known that the An
nual Congressional appropriation to
the Minnesota river has been devoted
to the removal Of rocks and snags from
the bed of the river, and that the
work ordinarily done. had no more af
feet in reducing the river navigation
than would have resulted from throw
ing the money into the bed of the
river. Through the efforts Of Maj.
Strait, and in the face Of great opp o.
sition, the purpose Of the appropriation
has been changed end, this year, will
be employed in making a Survey of
tue river with a view to improving
it with system of Locks and dams
that will make it nayigable during the
whole time that it is free from ice.
The success Of this enterprise is felt by
all to be of the utmost importance to this
County. That Maj. Strait is deeply
interested and thoroughly in earnest
in securing its accomplishment we
all believe, and that he can do more
towards it than any one else has been
spoken of in connection with the
nomination, we, also, believe.
Year: 1874

The vicinity Of Litchfeld, on the
st. Paul and Pacific Railroad was Wis
tied last week, by a terrific storm Of
wind, rain and hail. The crops were
almost entirely destroyed and other
damages done.
Year: 1874

We really have something Of drouth
in this section, there not being rain
enough within the past three weeks to
to lay the dust. Il Is feared that the
potato crop has been seriously affected
BY this long season Of dry and very
hot weather. Thus far the corn seems
to be doing we'll, but good shower
would help It wonderfully. Chat6eld
Democrat.
Year: 1874

other Discovery.


The scientific world will receive with pecu-
liar qualification the intelligence not only OF
the safety of the members of the Austrian
Polar expedition, sent out some two years
ago, but that the expedition has added
the Arctic seas. At or near the eighty-third
degree north latitude, the highest point
reached by the expedition, and north Of
Nova Zembla, tract of land was discovered
which may prove to be. from further explora-
tions, large island or one of an extensive
group Of islands, like that at the head Of
Bafin's Bay. If 80, then we may have the
fact established that the only possible prac-
ticable route for sailing vessel or steamer to
the North Pole is the route of the Pacific
Equatorial current through Behring Strait
The full report of this returning Austrian
expedition will, no doubt, largely contribute
to the settlement of this important question.
Captain Hall has shown that the difficulties
of reaching the North Pole, against the strong
outhowing and ice-packed current of Baffin' 8
Bay and Davis Strait are perhaps insur-
mountable ; and now, if the route from Nor
way be proved impracticable from group of
islands with narrow passages blocked up with
ice, Behring Strait going in with the
Pacific Equatorial current, may be the proper
route for the next Polar expedition, whether
from Europe or America.
Year: 1874

The Board Of Apportionment through the
efforts of Messrs. Vance and Wheeler, two Of
its members, and despite the opposition OF
the Mayor and Comptroller, made small re-
duction in the city estimates for the present
year. The saving was necessarily insignr-
can't for one-half of the year was gone before
the reduction was made. Among the depart
ments in which the appropriations we're cut
down were those of Finance and Charities
and Correction. The former obtained little
over three hundred and thirty eight thousand
dollars, including the Chamberlain's salary,
and the latter received one million three hun
dred and twenty-five thousand dollars. As
the total amount raised by taxation this year
is in round numbers thirty-fve million dol-
lars, and as only about one million two hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars of this goes
for the payment of debt, it can readily be seen
that the economy enforced by the two mem
bers of the Board of Apportionment was proper
and desirable. The revelations in regard to
the Charities and Correction Department are
of Apportionment was in leaving the appro-
priation to that department. as large as it now
is. Yet when the reduction was made tho
Commissioners, who have been buying -four
dry goods, butter and tea, ''in open Market"
threatened to close up the public hospitals
and charitable institutions.


In like manner the Comptroller, whose de-
partment costs from fifty thousand dollars to
seventy thousand dollars more than it cost
under Connolly and the Tammany Ring,
threatens to embarrass the citizens in the pay
ment of their taxes, because the enormous
appropriation he demanded was reduced .
few thousand dollars. Mr.. Green asked
three hundred and three thousand dollars
for salaries and got two hundred and
seventy thousand dollars-a reduction OF
thirty-three thousand dollars. Suppose he
had paid half years salary on
the original estimate he would still
have one hundred and ffty-two thou
sand dollars left for the expenses OF
clerk hire for the remaining six montha
He has already announced that in con-
sequence Of the decrease Of his appropria-
ton he has cut down all salaries in his
department twenty per cent. Twenty per
cent on one hundred and ifty-two thousand
dollars is thirty thousand four hundred
dollars, or nearly the whole amount of reduo-
ton made in the departments estimate,
leaving the clerical force still as strong az
formerly. The amount appropriated to the
bureau for the collection of taxes is sixty-four
thousand dollars of which twenty-eight thou
sand dollars is for temporary clerks" Any
honest and competent man could do the
whole business OF this bureau at cost Of
thirty-five thousand dollars year and make
large salary for himself. If, therefore, there
should be any delay or Inconvenience occa-
stoned to taxpayers in the payment of their
taxes the fault will be with Comptroller Green,
and the responsibility for the inef6ciency OF
the bureau will rest with the head of the
Finance Department.
Year: 1874

him into many blunders. We are aware
that it is premature and scarcely fair
TO discuss Mr. Tilden's qualifications for the
Presidency but the fact that citizen SO un-
equal to the requirements of the station
can think that he has any chances for the
nomination is the best proof of the great pow
erty of the democratic party in available can
didates.


The wisest thing the democracy could do
would be to indorse the nomination of Cover
nor Dix if it should be made by the republi-
cans and inaugurate an 'era Of good feeling
on the hundredth anniversary of our national
independence. Governor Dix is a lifelong
ocratic principle. He is o hard money
democrat free trade democrat, and
his opposition to the harsher fea-
lures of the reconstruction measures
proves his abiding fidelity to the democratic
doctrine of local self-government. He was
nurtured in the best school of New York
democracy-that of Silas Wright, of whom
Judge Church and Mr.. Tilden were also dis
ciples. After the sudden death of that wise
and virtuous statesman-'the Cato OF Amerl-
can politics." as Senator Benton called him
the long intimacy which had subsisted be
tween him and General Dix met an appro-
pirate recognition. Mr. Wright had left in
manuscript an address which he had engaged
to deliver before the State Agricultural Fair
at it's next meeting, and General Dix, as his
nearest friend in political Gfe was selected to
read it. We know Of no point in which
Governor Dix has ever swerved from the
principles of the Silas Wright democracy
and if the party could reconcile itself to such
candidate as Horace Greeley, who had
always secuted its principles, what reason
able objection can it have to a consistent
free trade and hard money statesman like our
worthy Governor?
Year: 1874

VICToR HUGo's PROPHECY. Victor Hugo is
one of the tremendous figures of the nine
teenth century, and whenever he speaks the
world is sure to listen. He does not always
speak wisely. In his later years, whether
from the extravaganza of thought that, as in
the case of Burke. marked advancing years,
or whether it is that exile and disappointment
have disturbed his reason, he has written
many things that have grieved his admirers.
But there is no man in France and few men
in the world whose works are more widely
read than those of Victor Hugo. Although
the great writer has always opposed war and
has never ceased to preach the fraternity of
the nations we now find him in public let
ter declining to attend a peace conference,
because he feels that there must be war be-
tween France and Germany. We do not
think much Of the prophecy, but coming
from Hugo it will create i'll feeling through
out Germany, and must result in harm.
Year: 1874

The Euening Post, in giving just and appre-
ciative prominence to the fact that the
HERALD '.is the most widely circulated morn
ing print in the United States," falls into
blunder in reference to our position respect
ing MIR. Tilden. ''The HERALD" it says,
.sprofesses to be of the opinion that every
man who distinguished himself in the reform
movement in this city or State should in
future be severely let alone by nominating
conventions inasmuch as all participation in
the correction of public abuses is fatal to any
candidate for popular favor Therefore, if
the HEnALD's premises are accepted, we should
never discriminate against rogues in choosing
public officers; we should never assist in
stopping thief, much less abet proceedings
which might send him to prison; we should
close our churches and disband our police
both institutions which have no motive for ex-
istence but to war upon evil doers in the
interest of reform; we should commit all our
public trusts to those men only who will
tolerate oil abuses and correct none; and we
should hand over society to the dangerous
classes to be directed like the serpent, by its
tall


On the contrary, the HERALD took especial
pains to establish precisely the reverse of this
position. If we had our own way in
awarding the political honors Of New York
we should at once confer high station upon
every man who distinguished himself in the
reform movement, and we should grudge
nothing to Mr.. Tilden, whose services in
the overthrow of Tammany we have never un-
derrated But we made the argument that
Mr.. Tilden's services were of the character
that receive reward from the next generation.
We illustrated this selfish tendency of our
political human nature by Mr.. Webster's COM
promise speech, Mr.. Douglas advocacy Of
popular sovereignty, Mr.. Stewards addresses
about "higher law and "irrepressible con-
1icts." Men who lead in new and hazardous
enterprises, who make public opinion and do
not merely follow it, are never accepted as
available candidates. No man, for instance,
has done more to insure emancipation than
Wendell Phillips, and yet it would
be impossible 70 rally any party to
his support sufficiently strong to ele-
vate him to Office. We know why this
is SO, but il will be difficult for the next
generation to understand it. Sometimes o
party makes an experiment with great
leader, like Horace Greeley. Mr. Greeley
was, weall admit, one Of the most deserving
men Of his age And yet his defeat for the
Presidency was an unparalleled disaster.
1t is not our fault that Mr.. Tilden occupies
position of honorable ineligibility. any more
than it was the fault of the friends of Douglas
that he occupied such position at the
Charleston Convention. Douglas was de-
feated by his overshadowing power MI
Tilden has the same failing, and it would De
a pity to annoy him and injure the party Dy
running him just now. We are sorry these
bars and stops exist They do not exist IL
the HERALD, but in the temper OF the puphs
mind This temper must be carefully studieo


if the democrats mean to win any OF th'


coming campaigns,
Year: 1874

GENERAL Bowen is one of the Commits
soners of Charities and Correction but he
does not appear to be responsible for the lille
gal acts of the Commission. Messrs. Stern
and Laimbeer seem to have run the depart
ment Oh Gardner and Charlick ran the Police
before their indictment and conviction. In
Year: 1874

the Grand Jury regarding the illegal purchases
made by Mr.. Stern. But he should now pub
licly disclaim all connection with the lawless
acts of his associates and lay before the public
all the information he possesses of the man
agement of the department under the present
Commission.
Year: 1874

PRESIDENT GRANT will not leave Long
Branch with his family until the end of Sep
tember, probably the 25th. He does not like
Washington in September, and Mrs. Grant
considers the capital unhealthy during the
present month. SO the President wisely con-
cludes to enjoy the Long Branch sea breezes
for some three weeks longer during the most
pleasant month of the year on ''the beach"
Year: 1874

Imagination dwell on the state of moIlls


which this strict system of surveillance


reveals. What acts do these French
I people imagine that their young daugh-


ters will commit If left for a moment


unmatched and unguarded? / recall


the answer made by an American moth


er to French lady who was exhorting


her to adopt the Partisan method in the


training of her daughters. "Did for


Que moment fancy" she said, that my


girls needed spy to watch them every


moment to keep them from evil, l would


pray that they might die tomorrow"


To such an extent is this system car


ried that it is considered improper in


Paris for young lady to walk out alone


with her own brother. How do peo-


pie know that it is her brother?" they
argue. Still more revolving is the fact
that it is considered highly immoral for
a father to kiss his own daughter on the
Ups must offer him her forehead or
her cheek. The monstrous indelicacy
of the ideas hidden behind such social
laws need no comment here. Ii cannot
be wondered at, therefore, that Partisan
mothers are averse to permitting their
daughters to associate with their Ameri-
can contemporaries. The frank, free
ways of a well-brought.up American
girl, who, thinking Lo evil, is on the
lookout for none, and who associates with
her friends of the opposite sex as openly
and innocently as she does with those of
her own, are mystery and horror to
The French matrons, whose boast it often
s that their girls have never been left
alone from the moment of their birth.
TO our transatlantic feelings, the French
iystem is as revolving as ours is shock
ng to their ideas. Still, ON some ac-
counts, the repulsion and horror which
he French ladies feel for American girls
s not wholly to be wondered at nor con-
lemned. Our fast set, race which
launts and iDfects the society of our
arger cities, sends out too many repre-
entatives here-girls that delight in
ouching the brink of all that modesty
most abhors, who are loud in dress and
manners and in tone, who drive out with
foreigners late in the eve
ling, who receive the visits of gentlemen
n their bedrooms, and perform other
cts peculiarly shocking to Continental
deas of morality and decency. These
asst young ladies do not understand that
10 European can be brought to imagine
hat women who do such things may be,
nd, indeed, almost invariably are, of
virtue, and that he cannot
how the unrestricted liberty
f our native land may permit young
iris manners to degenerate without
here being any actual moral cause for
uch degeneracy.
Year: 1874

The Best Things.
The sweetest songs are those
That few men ever hear
And no men ever sing.
The clearest skies are those
That farthest of appear
To birds Of strongest wing.
The dearest loves are those
That no man can come near
With his best following.
Year: 1874

The Danville Times says The fol-
lowing melancholy but beautiful lines
were written by $citiZen of this place,
few years before his death, who pos
sessed one of the brightest intellects OF
any man this country has produced -
I have been to the funeral of all my


hopes,


And en,smbed them one by one
Not word was SAID, not tear was shed,
When the moxntul task was done.
Slowly and sadly l turned me round


And sought my silent. room,
And there alone by the cold hearthstone,
wood the midnight gloom.
And as the night wiRd's deepening


shade


Lowered about my brow,
I wept DER days when manhood rays,
Were brighter far than now.
The dying embers on the hearth


Gave out their fickering light,
AS if to say this is the way,


Thy life shall close in night.
I wept aloud in anguish sore


Over the blight of prospects fair,
While demons laughed and eager quatfed
My tears like nectarrare.



Through hell's red halls an echo rang,
An echo loud and long,
As in the bowl l plunged my soul,


In the might Of madness strong
And there within the sparkling glass
know the cause to lie
This all men own from zone to zone,
Yet millions drink and die.