smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

And it is by no means certain that even this
brief trial Of speed will be satisfactory or
enjoyable, for, II the race be not closely con-
tested, u will be tedious aud uninteresting
Again, heavy or slippery track, n sudden
shower, or the action Of the drivers or that
Of the horses, may make a race dull affair .
Aud further, race is often protracted 80
long that people are detained an hour or two
after they wish to go to their homes. One
more objection to the horse race at our fairs,
is that it attracts large numbers from the
worst classes of society, and rather tends to
keep many good people away from the farm
ers festivals


Daring the last state fair sat, one after.
noon, with two thousand people, on the grand
stand. Before me, on the opposite side of
tho course, were a hundred carriages, and
large crowd, chiefly composed OF sporting


men. To the right and the left, along the
railing Of the track, were two or three thou
sand more. Ali OF these people we're watch.
ing the races Many of them had been sit
ting or standing about for two hours. Some
Of them gazed listlcssly about, others won
dered it the races would ever be ended, and
hundreds looked wearied and disguised with
things generally, and ra,ing in particular.
A few we're apparently interested in what
they saw, but where one person enjoyed the
trotting, hundred we're bored, and longed
for something elsc-they hardly knew or
cared WHAT


Beside me on the grand stand two ladies
sat. After an unusually long period Of
waiting, one of these ladies exclaimed :"
wonder if those horses are eyer going to
start Then she held her fan up before her
face asd closed her eyes. Her companion
made spritless reply to the exclamation,
and then added do wish the band would
play" In a moment, as if to crafty the
lady, the band did play,-played quick.
step. Instantly, dropping heads were raised,
the souls came back into dull eyes, listless
faces were lighted up with animation, aud
hearts and hands and feet beat time to the
music. And all about the grounds, wherev.
er could see, were lively, bustling througs
Of people surging toward the band stand


Seeing the sudden and remarkable trans
formation which the music had effected in



the crowds Of people, l could not but think
that it would be well to substitute for the
races concert By first class band. Such
a concert would attract only the best classes
Of society. The people would not be de-
tanned by it an hour or two after they want
ell to 60 home. There would be no uncer.
tainty in regard to their enjoyment, for
neither set Of jockeys, nor bad track,
nor the rain, could interfere with it.. There
would be no betting nor pool selling to lead
young men astray, aud they, as we'll as all
others, would be subject not to the degrad-
ing influences of the horse trot. but to the
pure refining influence Of music.


To those, if such there be, who may be
disposed to accord this article more than
passing thought, l wish to say Do not,
while considering it, let an Unborn conserva.
tism, and the lack of precedents, overweight
dictates of common sense. PAUL.


Rutland, august |.
Year: 1874

A sheep likes freedom and pure air.
Hence you will find it on uplOnds rather
than in the valleys 1t al1q seeks dry
places, aud suffers from great heat. These are
principles that should always be kept in
view. There are others, A sheep loves as
sociation, both Of place and kind. 1t will
therefore herd, aud will even bear a moder-
ate crowding at times; only give it air and
a dry, comfortable place, never coOpiug It up
in confined air, which will soon be made foul
by it. If you conform to these principles
you need but give it sufficient wholesome
food to meet with success, There is some
difference in breeds with respect to treat
ment, etc., but not so much as many suppose.
A sheep will feed upon a great variety OF
Year: 1874

Seeing inquiries in the Farmer in regard
to keeping hawks away reminds me that
eau tell how to kill them. Get small
steel-trap,-if it has spring that can be
turned under the jaw out Of the way when
set so much the better,-a pole twenty feet
long, and bit Of board just large enough
on which to set the trap. Now bore in the
center Of the board a hole just large enough
to fit the smaller end of the pole, and some
smaller ones around the edges. Tie the
board firmly by means of a string and the
smaller holes to the bottom Of the trap, and
the end of the trap-chain to the pole. All
is now ready, set the trap; adjust to the end
of the poe elevate the pole in the open
field, and tic to stake or other convenient
object to keep the pole erect. Smaller birds
are not apt to alight on 50 high a stand. l
once caught seven hawks in one trap in four
weeks, and only one other bird that an
owl.-COr. Maine Farmer.
Year: 1874

You seldom hear of any two men
having the same reasons for leav-
ing off the use of spirituous drinks
as a beverage, and in fact some
men never had any inclination to
leave off at all, until called upon to
leave this world of afHiction, and
dwell in land of peace and plenty,
where suffering is no more.


Now l never was what might be
called a hard drinker, although l
was in the habit of taking some
thing to warm up occasionally.
But I belonged to the Club, and we
had a meeting every week, at
which it was customary to have
some Of the sparkling beverage to
help pass away time, and some OF
the members would now and then
go home feeling quite happy. But
l considered myself too sensible to
let the ardent ever get the least
start Of me.


l left the Club room about twelve
o'clock one dark night, and started
for home. That was all l remem-
bered. But / afterwards learned
that policeman raised me out of
the gutter, and l was conveyed to
my residence, on wheelbarrow.
When came to my senses | was
lying upon o bed and was very
weak. My beloved Arabella was
watching by my bedside, and she
told me that l must keep perfectly
quiet, as / was very sick man,
and had been for more than three
weeks.


When I had nearly recovered
my little daughter told me that
when I was brought home that me-
moriable night, her mother felt Sc
sorrowful that she used up two
broomsticks and the rolling-pin on
my muddled head. That is just
why 1 stopped drinking, and my
advice is, if you will drink, be very
careful that you hide the broom
stick and rolling-pin.
Year: 1874

Two actors, who bore to each
other the most inveterate hatred,
were to perform in an opera, the
one knight and the other disguis-
ed as bear, with whom the knight
was to combat. Everything went
off very well; they fought; the
bear, as was fitting, was vanquish-
ed, and lay motionless on the
ground. But while very fine in
strumental music was celebrating
this chivalrous action, and attract
ed for few moments the attention
of the audience, the victorious
knight thought it pity not to en-
brace this opportunity, and there
fore struck his fallen adversary sew
eral times with the fat side of his
sword. The bear bore it very pa
tiently for some time; but when he
found it going too far he suddenly
sprang up, seized the knight and
treated him so roughly that he fell
down half dead with fear. At this
instant it was the turn of the or
chestra to be silent, and the knight
was to sing a bravura in honor of
the conquest. Everything was ST.
lent, the circumstance had not been
noticed in the orchestra, the
prompter gave the signal, but, IS
the knight was quite unable to sing,
tue bear, an equally good singer,
without much ceremony, seated
himself on the fallen knight, and
with a loud voice sang the air, to
the no small entertainment of the
audience.
Year: 1874

We suppose that all our readers
know that n man would not be what
he is without thumb. This little
fact has been so impressed upon us
from our school days that we are


not likely to forget it. Without


the thumb for lever, We would be


unable to hold anything tightly,
and most of the inventions of our
era would be useless, not to speak
of the enormous general power that
would be lost. Let us accept the
fact of our having thumbs. then,
and be thankful and rejoice over
Year: 1874

Now the local editor Of the Grand
Rapids Democrat is giving the
people advice about governing
their children. He says: "Don't
tell child you will do anything
for it unless you intend to keep
your promise. A strict Observance
of this rule may save you the agony
of seeing your child become q liar.
If You say, I'll skin you alive go
and skin it, though it brings tears
to your eyes,"
Year: 1874

A New York farmer laughed
when his prudent wife advised him
not to smoke on load Of hay. He
footed it home that night with his
hair singcd, most of his garments a
prey to the devouring elements, and
the iron work of his wagon in a po-
tato sack, and then his wife laughed.
Year: 1874

Being surrounded with such
mass of combustible matter, we
should take great care not to send
from our tongues the least spark
by which it may be kindled, least
we ourselves, with those whom we
set on fire, be consumed in tho
flames which rise.
Year: 1874

Our Pennsylvania neigh6ors hold their
Congressional election on the 3D. Of
November. The Democratic tycoons at
Washington, figuring upon tho basis Of
last Tuesdays doings in Ohio and Indiana,
have estimated that the Democracy will
gain eight Congressman in Pennsylvania,
This is the programme Let us now see
how nearly it will be fulfilled. The
situation there is slightly different
from that in Ohio last Tues
day. The temperance crusade invad-
ed much smaller area Of Pennsylvania
than Ohio, and the Republican party there
has no temperance plank in its platform.
On the other hand there is an eDor.
nous population OF working men, the
miners who dig the coal and the iron
workers whose labor gives Pennsylvania
so much of her wealth. To both these
classes the psst year has been one of
low wsges and scarce labor. Sucha state
OF things always reacts heavily against
the party in power. So it will not be
surprising to see tho Pennsylvania
Democracy poll strong vote. How the
miners and iron workers hope to better
their condition by voting for free trade
and rag money, it is Of course impossible
for any sane man to explain, but this
will not necessarily prevent the Demo
cratic dcmagogues from carrying over a
large following oil maIcontcnts. In the
midst Of financial depression and low
wages, the cry oil "vote for RoDoRBs and
down with hard times" will catch more
votes than oil the logic Of political econ.
omy,
Year: 1874

THERE are mary persons, both Republi.
cans and Democrats, who take comfort In
the result Of the late elections as q YER
dict In favor Of more paper money. Many
Of the same persons also construe 1t as q
verdict against protective tariff, and in
favor Of the Western and Southern ideas
on that subject We presume that this Is
the average Wetzel county view OF the
late returns.


We alluded yesterday morning to the
position which the Democracy took at
Baltimore in 1879 against imitation when
they adopted the Cincinnati platform Of
the Liberals who nominated HORACE
GRRRLRY. But Let US suppose, for the
sake Of the argument, that in case they OBJ.
tain control Of the next Congress they
will see ft TO go back upon that pledge to
the country and fall in with initiation.
And let US next suppose that by combin-
ing with the Republicans they will be able
to pass an imitation bill over the Presi.
dents veto. Then let US further suppose
that by joining teams in the same way
they will be ableto pass bill reducing the
present tariff down to point that will let
in British goods cheap for cash. What q
lovely country this would then be, 10 be
sure Lots oimoney and no tariff. The
Western and Southern millennium would
then have come.


But how would such a programme pan
out in actual experience Alas, that a
truthful answer TO this question should
involve the pricking Of bubble. But 1t
does. The programme would work come.
thing on this wise: More money means
higher prices Tor everything we produce.
And this means that other nations that
produce the same things cheaper, be-
cause their money is better, could and
would undersell US in all the markets of
the world. More than this, it means
that unless VIC keep such nations out oil
this country with a tariff OF tax they will
undersell and undermine US right at
homo-st our own doors. Underselling
and undermining US in that way means
the stoppage and break down oil
every species Of business in this country,
and final grand collapse ol the whole in.
1shon bubble in the shape Of a reputation
Of all sorts Of Indebtedness, public and
private, The late panic would not amount
to breeze as compared with the whirl-
wind that would follow such wild
scheme. The industries OF this country
would be levelled with the dust. Then
would be seen the abomination Of desola.
tion, ioretold, not by the prophet Daniel,
but by the common scnae lessons Of uni
yersal experience in tho past.
Year: 1874

He was queer old f0gy man.


tAnd loved old fogy ways;
And rallied against The reckless speed


OF these last modern days,
He once could travel leisurely,


And stop his friends to hail:
But now they rushed him through by steam
And rode him on rail. ----' -
That good old coach was fast enough


For prudent folks TO GO;
Impatient men now laugh at it,


And say twas rather slow:
And so they rush upon the train,


And speed like thought away.
Until a smash-up breaks their bones


He thinks it dosen't pay. -
he loved old house wives spinning wheels
The music of their hum
Vas lar more dear TO his old ear


Than grand piano thrum,
But ali! he signs, those wheels are gone
Since Whitney made his gin;
No more we hear their thrifty hum
No more the sisters spin
The rosy girls Of olden time,


Sunburnl, were firmer made
Than these, the late and tender shoots


That grow up in the shade;
They did their mothers heavy work.
AND eased her weary hands
ana sometimes, too, if brothers failed.
Could help them do mans.
Ihelr dresses were made with easy fit
Gave not pain beneath
Their hearts had ample room TO heat


Ihelr lungs had room 10 breath
Unlike ourpresent girl, with waists


Too much compressed and slight,
Who, if they do not dissipate,
Are very often tight.
They let no fashion dwarf their forms.
But grew to comely size,
And health shOne ever on their broWs
And sparkled from their ewes
They thanked kind Heaven for an it pifts
And thought with secret pride.
That they were beautiful enough


And they were satisfied.
But now, our modern girls, alas


Think Providence unkind
For putting too much in the midst.


And not enough behind
To mend such clumsy ways,


And think they far outshine the girls
OF good old fogY days.
He wished, he said. for their sweet sakes.
That Fashions tOrturing vice
Would ease them up little, and


Less pinching would suffice
That they might feel the bounding health
Around the heart that plays,
When all unfettered as it was


In good old fogy days.
Year: 1874

some of our readers may be interested
in this little poem. Undern b 8 humor
there fingers vein Of pathos which well
expresses the feeling of the public toward
her who was not enly great singer, bul
true acOnsdn.
Year: 1874




A HOME FOR LOST DoGs.-In Lon
don there is "Home forLost Dogs"
Il is situated at Battersea. 1t is al
ways full. Dogs Of every breed,
from the little Maltese lion dog that
one might kennel in a quart pot, up to
a mastiIf that would almost require u
small house to sleep in with comfort.
The peculiar characteristics OF dogs
come out here most strangely in this
dogs refuge. The retrieyers are, as
O rule, the most quarrelsome, and
have often to be fogged to part them
when they fight, The bloodhounds
are treacherous and uncertain, snap
ping suddenly at the man whom they
had caressed the day before.


The mastitIs alone maintain sullen
dignity, and, unless provoked BY an
actual attack, will make no quarrel,
but if engaged in one, it becomes a
serious matter, for it is not easy to
make them relinquish their hold OF
the adversary. The bulldogs are
the most poaceable of all. They
give no trouble whatever. There is
q popular superstition as to dogs Of
this breed being most ferocious ami.
mails, and it only exemplihes the OLD
adage Of giving a dog bad name, =
The Home is at liberty to sell any Of
the dogs if not claimed within three
days, but if valuable, they are
usually kept longer. II Q dog il
found diseased, the proceedings ar'
summary. His mouth is opened, tel
drops OF prussic acid is dropped init
it, and nothing more is heard iron
him ~,
Year: 1874

Coucba proposes 70 introduce
30 600 Africans TO take the plnees
of the slaves to be put into the army.
He might get a few thousand iutolli-
gent snhfragists from the South with
out outraging the sentiment Of Che
age which has put the slave trade
under the ban Of civilization, and at
the same time help our American
humanitarians to get rid Of their
reconstruction elephant.
Year: 1874

The Toledo Blade favors the license
system as the only method by whic b
temperance habits can be permanent
ly and successfully established among
the people Intelligent. thinking peo-
pie will not refuse to hear argumen ts
upon both sides and act conscientious
" when called upon for their verdict.
Below will be found extracts from one
of its leading editorials which we give
for what it is worth: o


As we have before stated. the ques-
ton is not as to what we would do, but
it is-what can we do? 1t is not ques-
ton as to whether drunkenness is
right or wrong. for upon that subject
there is no difference of opinion. We
are all agreed up to the point where
the questions of regulating, restrain
ing, or prohibiting the traffic put In an
appearance. At this point, the road
branches and men go in different di-
rections, some claiming that temper
ance can, soonest be reached in one
direction, and some in another. It
would naturally be supposed, in case
of this character, that actual search,
or experience, would settle the ques-
ton and insure agreements as to the
proper course to be pursued. But
such is not the case. With many per


sons. experience in the treatment of
the liquor traffic weighs nothing. Su-
perfcial thinkers can easily rail against
the traffic and enumerate its evil
effects, but it requires judgment and
enlightened reflection to produce and
defend plan which is calculated to
work a reformation. Facts and expert
ence, however unpalatable, must not
be ignored 1t viii not do to assume
that mankind can be legislated from
state of sin and degradation into a
state of purity and holiness by a sin
Gle enactment They do not progress
in that way. The whole history Of the
race shows that human progress has
been made by short steps with long
intervals between them. 0


The temperance question is not .
new one The arguments for and
against this. that and the other meth
DDS of suppressing the vice of intem-
perance have been presented SO often
that they must be familiar to all; and
vet, strange as it may seem, the same
experience and the game facts make
different impressions upon different
minds. Many persons, not having
reached that point where they can act
independent Of prejudices and selfish
desires and motives. set aside, or give
Year: 1874

The clerk Of II County in the Yves
tern part Of the State, was breaking
Il yearliug calf. The calf walked
around peaceably under the yoke
while Mr.. Clerk led up the other
enI, but in an unfortunate moment
the mAu conceived the idea of put
ting his own hoad in the yoke, to let
the calf SEQ how it would work with
a partner. This frightened the calf
which raised its voice aud tai and
struck out. Its owner went along,
and tho pair tore through tho princi
pal streets Of tho village, Mr.. Clerk
with his head down and his plug h,t
in his hand, yelling, "Hcrewe come
d-n our fool souls Head us some.
body"
Year: 1874

it could not be caught; if you should
20 yourself, your effort would be as
frutless as that of your servant, for
its very nature now is to fear man.
But suppose you had the power to
change yourself into the form of that
bird-could assume it's plumage. adopt
its habits and warble its songs. In
such conditions you could visit your
pet, become familiar with it, and learn
it to love you again to such a degree
that your absence would cause sorrow
and anxiety so much that it would
follow you; then it would gladly rise
upon its pinions and follow you back
to it's old home.


Thus has the Lord acted toward His
children. When the storm Of evil had
driven man from the presence of
Heaven, an angel could not approach
us 1--WE were afraid of spirits) neither
could an angel have driven back the
powers that chained us. Henceit was
necessary that Divinity, who had the
power to assume humanity, and to
subdue the powers of evil, should take
upon Himself our nature, and become
so much the brother and friend of all
that sorrow would fill every heart,
without His presence.


Where is the heart that is not filled
with love and admiration for the char
acter of Jesus. All men admire Him.
And He has clearly marked out the
way back to our Fathers house, and
millions are following Him home.
1t is by His life that He saves us, not
by his death.
Year: 1874

Last night, for the third time since
the arrival of this company in our
city, their pavilion was filled to over
flowing. AT the matinee in the after
noon the attendance was unusally
large and composed to great extent
of ladies and children. Perhaps no
combination of the kind has ever Wis
tied our city with more fiattering sue
cess than this one, or has ever given
better satisfaction. The acrobatic per-
formances far surpassed those
usually seen, especially the feats
of turning and tumbling by
Samwells and the Segrino Broth
ers. Miss Katie Holloway with her
trained horse fairly took the house by
storm. The trick horses and all of
the other animals introduced into the
ring showed excellent training.
In consequence of the extraordinary
support which they have received, the
company will remain in our city to
give a farewell performance to-mor-
row night.
Year: 1874

Young man ahoy! Fitzpatrick is
the man you are looking for. He will give
you the incest fitting garments to be had in
the city; cloth of the best material; work
done upon honor, and the best satisfaction.
generally. Call on him and have a full suit
made at once. jy2 tf-3
Year: 1874

pa- The tide ofimmigration is steadily set
ting in, and the first thing eastern people do
is to throw away their New York Hats and buy
a new one of DESMOND. They say there is no
between the two. 21@o
Year: 1874

We have to dispose of our immense
Stock of Clothing, Dress Goods, ETC., etc., to
make room for IA very extensive Stock of Fall
Goods, just purchased in New York, and en-
route for us. We have reduced the prices, and
you will find 1t to your advantage to call q
the
Year: 1874

Persons who have not Investigated
the subject, little understand the vast
expenditure OF money, to say nothing
of the immense loss through the with
drawal of so many men from the in.
dustrial pursuits Of life, required to
keep up the armies Of the Old World.
They are compelled to keep constant
ly in fighting trim, and to do this they
must make every man a soldier and
keep large per cent. OF their able
bodied men constantly under arms.
The following table shows the number
Of men that each one OF the powers
named keeps constantly on duty in
time of peace, the cost OF the army
of each nation, and the amount OF
the revenues of each government:
Year: 1874

The three weeks were over, and
Walter was walking rapidly from his
hotel toward the house VIII ere Eleanor
dwelt with an aunt and uncle, and
where he should find her awaiting his
arrival. II his relation to her had


lacked anything, it had been excite
ment, at least all superficial excite
ment. Her love had been given as
frankly, as freely, and as simply as