smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Families Broken Up and Many Men

 Ruined by the Railroad and Land

 spec.Ia,ing Companies.

 There has been so much said about southern Texas in regard to the climate, fertility of the soil, etc., that l wish to say few words through your valuable paper about this ever.rated and falsely represented country. It is the most changeable climate in the United States. It is tolerably healthy, we admit, but not near as much so as represented. We have chills and levers here as well as anywhere else, and also few cases of pneumonia in the last few weeks. The soil is very rich, where it is rich. but it is like all other countries-it has poor land and lots of it. It has been repre- sented as level, unbroken country, and as rich as the Mississippi bottom, with scarcely a poor spot in it. This is false; it is hilly country, or the greater DOT tion of it and as much poor land as ever I saw in any state, with scarcely enough timber for fre-woOd for for year 1t it was all settled up. They are hauling rails from six to twenty miles; their water they haul in the summer from three to forty miles, and glad to get 1t at that. Still, they tell the people it is the best country in the world, and the climate as mild as that of Italy. Now, my dear friends, you who are preparing to move to Texas, come and look for yourselves before you sell your little homes in the states. Don't believe what you read on paper. These glowing tales are gotten up by railroad companies and land spectators. You ask one of these men where he lives, and he will tell you in St. Louis, or somewhere in the old states. Now, if this is such a good coun- try, why don't they move to it7 There have been more families broken up and more young men ruined by these rail road and land speculating companies than any other class of men in the world. Cor. Memphis Appeal.
Year: 1877

A correspondent of the American Farmers club writing on the pruning

 and training of fruit trees offered the following suggestions: Apple trees iI gardens and orchards that are alle wed to grow freely and naturally, require to have only their heads thinned out, and especially in the center, so that light and air may be freely admitted to every part Young trees should be closely looked after for few years after planting, so that by the judicious removal of ill placed shoots or branches and the shors- ening of others, the tree may be encorr, aged to assume neat style of growth. Standard and pyramidal pear trees should be treated in the same way as apple trees, good thinning rather than hard pruning being quite as desirable in their case as with apples. Horizontally trained trees against walls require. how ever, to be treated somewhat differently, if only for appearance sake. The flowers are borne on spurs, consequently these only should be left untouched; and the shoots made last season. should be pruned close in, say to within an inch or 80 to sheir base. The production of fruit

 bearing spurs, rather than unfruitful

 shoots, on the main branches, should be the object aimed at in pruning, and it sheuld be borne in mind that hard or close pruning is not favorable to this process; consequently be sparing with the knife in the case of the horizontal leaders, which may be nailed in their entire length if well ripened. Standard plum trees also require to be we'll thinned

 out if good crops of fine fruit are de-

 sired. Plum trees on walls, which are

 generally trained in fan shape, must be

 treated pretty much the same as pear

 trees. In this case, also, the flowers are

 borne on spurs. 20 that the breast wood

 and such growths as are not required for

 mailing in should be cut close back. The

 leaders may be nailed in their entire

 length in this case also, if well ripened;

 if not, cut back to the we'll seasoned

 wood. Be careful in strong growths not

 to cut back more than is absolutely

 necessary. Hand pruning in such cases

 means more vigorous growth still in the

 coming season. Prune weak shoots close

 to encourage vigor, and cut the strong

 ones as little as possible to repress it, and

 you will soon get well balanced tree.

 The flowers of the peach and nectarine

 are borne on the shoots developed the

 previous year, hence the system of prun-

 ing to be followed in their case is totally

 different from those before mentioned.

 The shoots which bore flowers and fruits

 last season must be cut out as far as

 possible and the young growths made at the same time encouraged; and if trained against walls (as is advisable with at least the nectariDes) nailed to their places straight and neatly, at from two to three inches apart.
Year: 1877

A ponderous English cotemporary, gays the Philadelphia Press, has called attention to the ilippant tone common to American newspapers, meaning the bits of humor scattered through the columns of otherwise dignified journals and the freauent light writing of many ot our editors. It is very true that of late years good deal of space has been gwen to fun in American daily papers. Ana why should not this be? The wit m one column in no way detracts from tho force of the political leader in another, and those papers carrying the greatest influence are the political ones which dish up the most fun. It is only when a newspaper allows fippancy to per meate all its articles that the innovation is rightly complained of. What reason is there that joul nal should come forth every day as solemn as judge sen, tencing criminal to death :? It IS we'll for us to laugh occasionally. The iun, too, has the effect of making the daily paper family journal. It is no longer read only by the pompous head of the house. It has become interesting to every one, and he who opens paper for one sort of artic does not stop with it's reading. Coming from nonsense he strays to that of the news 1t does no harm, either, fo the hun wing man ot business to find sparkling line here and there in his mol ming paper. He can ponder over the cabinet complications just as we'll after hearing of BUsh's troubles in the Detroit polite court. He is in a letter humor, too, when he gets to his office or store is he has had quiet chuckle to. himself on his way down in the street car. The mind heavy with thought is relieved by laughter, and health improved.
Year: 1877

Of course, when in Rome one must learn the customs of the Romans, and so was induced to visit grand bull fight, the proceeds of which go toward the support of a hospital. It is task of some difficulty to obtaih seat in the Lima Bull ring, there being three differ ent admission fees that must be paid ere the seat can be counted secure. After submitting to this slight extortion, I looked around the building. It is a cir cular edifice, said to be the largest in the world, and can accommodate 10000 people. The day of my visit being a feast day, the place was crowded with the elite and poverty of Lima, for it would be considered falling from grace should the chola not attend the bull fight, even if he should go hungry for a week to accomplish this. There was a fair sprinkling of the foreign population, and many beauty whose nerves would have shrunk from contact with mouse, now impatiently waited for the bloody struggle between mans ingenuity and brutal force.

 THE FIRST TO APPEAR.

 The capeadores, picadoaes and mata- dores were the first to appear, the former mounted and plainly dressed, the last two gorgeous in colors, and with bright red capes jauntily thrown across the arm. They marched slowly around the circle, and it was a study to note the the cold glitter of their eyes, that seemed full of an expectancy that only blood could sat is.y. One could very plainly see that to these men the value of human life was worth only the pleasure it's taking would give.

 But though so willing to take life, they are provided with hume, ous places of refuge should the bull press them too hard, and thus they can safely employ all all their skill on foe placed at great disadvantage. After the authorities had been saluted, a bull, maddened by hun ger and other tortures, came bounding into the ring, and with wild eyes glaripg, stood and watched his foes. Soon a ca peadore approached, and by provocation sought to highten the fury ot the beast, which rushed at it'll speed upon horse and rider; but just as the sharp horns seemed about to gore the former, the capeadore, by dexterous movement eluded the blow, and his companion took his place, so, drawing the danger from one to the other, they kept the bull rushing wildly around the ring, and after time gave place to the picadore' and matadores.

 TANTALIzING THE BULLS.

 The excitement increased with theil a ,pearance, for these men are full of , daredevil courage, and delight in tn, wild fury of the bull, tantalizing him il all the ways they eau, and fitting abou
Year: 1877

In answer to the question asked at what age trees should be set out for an orchard member replied that he had experminted with transplanting trees of different ages from one to four years from the graft, and he preferred the one year trees. They can be taken up more

 nearly with the entire roots, are set quicker and are not checked in the growth.
Year: 1877

The excitement increased with their ,pearance, for these men are full of a daredevil courage, and delight in the wild fury of the bull, tantalizing him in all the ways they can, and Hitting about
Year: 1877

from That employed In the luhuhuienlal
law of 1868 on this subject, "a large
amount OF the school fund has been in
vested in bank stocks" This is mis-
take. The bank stocks which belong TO
the school iund belonged, before the
creation of this State, to what was known
as the literary fund Of Virginia. 1t was
transferred, by the constitution OF 1868,
TO the school fund-formerly known as
the 'irreducible school fund"-ot this
State.


II. Not dollar OF the school fund
which has at any time been invested in
United States securities, is now otherwise
invested.


Ill. Neither the State nor the school
has at any time held dollars worth OF
stock in any bank at Charleston, and
therefore never lost $4,000 or any other
sum by such investment.


w. Phe amount of the distributsble
school fund, which Is annually sppor-
tened among the counties, depends in
very slight degree upon the income
derived from what is known TO the Con-
stitution ss the school fund" 1t is
mainly raised by the levy of direct tax
Of ten cents on each huL dred dollars va
uation OF the property of the State,
and the amount in the treasury for
distribution ut a given time depends
mainly upon the promptness with which
sherlfs settle their accounts with the
State. We presume it is not necessary
for US to inform our respected cotempo-
rary that the hard times which are upon
US are felt by the tax. payer, tax collector
and the State alike. At no time since
the existence of the State, have the col
Letting officers been so tar in arrears to
the dlstributable school fund as ut this
time


V. We take pleasure in assuring the
editor OF the Independent, and all other
lnquiring friends, that not dollar OF
loss has Deen sustained or irregularities
practiced, in the management OF the
school fund, and that there is no good
reason for this general uneasiness among
the people as to the safety of this fund,
which we are told exists.


1t is right, yea, 1t Is praiseworthy, IN
the people and in their ssntinels, the ed
itors, to exhibit an intelligent and watch
ful interest in the conduct OF their
public servants, and to guard with
jealous eye their every right. But equal
care should be taken that no injustice be
done those upon whom public duties are
temporarily devoIved. Their acts should
b. examined iutelligently and in frank
and manly spirit, and if they deserve
adverse criticism, let them have 1t IN
plain and candid language. lnuendoes,
suspicious and misrepresentation accom-
plIsh no good purpose. We don't apply
TINS to our neighbor o.. the Independent
but some of the carping at the board oi
the school fund has been uncsndid, to
SAY the least.
Year: 1877

A tramp came along the other day,
says the Bridgeport Standard, and con-
fided to the impressible better half of a
farmer on the road that he was a Count,
who was travelling through the country
in this humble way seeking true heart
which he might win and take back with
him to share in the revenues of his i'm
mense estates in Italy. He begged that
she wouldn't mention the fact, as it
might interfere with his cherished plan
of being loved for himself alone. She
promised not to say word about it, and
invited the Count to stop with them all
night, giving him the best bed in the
house and the seat nearest the beefsteak
at the supper table. The meal was quite
revelation to her in the matter of the
table habits of the nobility of Europe,
but the discovery she made in the morn
ing was still greater eye-opener. His
lordship had departed in the small
hours, taking with him, probably as
cherished souvenirs, the larger portions
of the bed linen, the farmers best boots,
an old horse-pistol and half a ham. He
left dirty, scrawling misspelled note
stating that he must away, as his pas
sionate longing for the true heart Of
which he was ever in search would MOI
let him rest until they were united. Tht
farmer loaded his shotgun, took thu
road, and was gone two days, but didn'


find the Count. He must have gon,
back to his estates in Italy.
Year: 1877

A melancholy young married man has
made several Intellectual attempts to have
his landlord provide door-bell for his
house. First he sent to his landlord some
pathetic verses entitled, What is Home
without a Door-bell," which had no
effect whatever. Finally the melancholy
tenant hit OH the following plan, which
he has put into active operation: He has
arranged the floor of his front porch SO
that it acts something after the manner
of the platform of Fairbanks scale,
which, on receiving persons weight,
instantly connects with some diabolical
machinery concealed below. The whole
force of the apparatus beneath is then
communicated to an immense Indian
club, which Immediately drops from the
ceiling of the porch and bats the door.
By an ingenious contrivance person
whose weight is fifty pounds, standing on
the porch, causes one single rap; one
hundred pounds, two raps, and so forth,
being graduated so as to give the inmates
an idea of the size of their visitor. The
inventor is in great terror, however, lest
fat neighbOr, who lives opposite,
should take it into his head to call before
the thing is entirely perfect, as his
weight would cause about sixteen raps,
and, in all probabilities, would smash in
the door. The inventor also, with a sad
smile, explained to us how, by adjusting
a little wire, he could turn the edescending
club from its regular course, and COM
pletely bat the penurious landlord off
the porch when he called for the rent.
Year: 1877

The Enquirer intimates that a move
ment is on foot among the railroad men
of Cincinnati for the calling of a meet
ing in that city of prominent railroad
officials of the country for the purpose
of concerted action and a general agree
ment upon the matter of rates and
general management. Letters have been
sent out to various officials throughout
the country urging such action.


The object of the proposed eonsulta-
ton is principally an advance in the
rates of freight. Probably no better oc-
casion was ever offered for concerted
action of this kind than at the present
moment. The late strike, growing as it
did out of reduction in wages to which
the management was forced, was the
legitimate and logical result of con-
tinued system of carrying freights at less
than cost, which had been in active op-
Grafton for months, and which to. the
disgrace of the railroad management, be
it said, is being again openly entered
upon as soon as the strike is ended.
More than half the roads in the country
have been bankrupted by this process,
and unless some action in the direction
indicated by this call for meeting is
taken, the remainder must follow. The
business public is generally aware of
this fact, and recognizing it in its ter
rible reality, are willing that an advance
shall take place. More than this, they
are even anxious for it and will cheer
fully acquiesce, and, more than that,
will themselves put their shoulders
to the wheel to help in the united move
ment. The railroad managers of the
country are, and have been, engaged in
a Kilkenny-cat warfare, and now the
business public proposes to take the
combatants by the tails, and if the fight
isn't stopped something will be apt tc
give Way.
Year: 1877

The mean small boy is different from
the mean big boy, because all of his
tricks are calculated to make other
hearts ache. He now takes silver
quarter and makes it fast to a string,
and to See him hanging about the Post
office one would set him down as boy
who never had an evil thought. He
selects victim, and drops the quarter
where it will do the most good. The
ring of the metal commands attention at
once, and the programme is carried out
as in a case yesterday. The victim was
short man, with very red neck, and
when he heard the quarter drop he
clapped his hand on his pocket and
looked around.


"Did you drop quarter?" mildly
asked the mean small boy, pointing to
one on the stone floor.


"Ahl must be hole in my pocket" "
replied the fat man as he pulled up the
knees of his pants and bent over to pick
it up.


He had his fingers on the money when
it slid away, and as he Strengthened up
he was greeted with fendish chuckles
from half dozen mean big and mean
small boys, one of whom inquired:


Which pocket has hole in it?'


The man didn't say. For some in
explicable reason he refused to enter
into any explanation, but hastened away.
Year: 1877

The Suicides Hotel in Paris has been
torn down. 1t was situated in the Latin
Quarter and was a great place of resort
for students, but of late years it gath
cred around itself rather superstitious
reputation, which gave it the cheerful
name it bore. Ten years ago young
student blew out his brains in the room
which he was occupying, and Just one
year afterward another student COM
mitted suicide in the same room after
losing his money in a gambling-hOuse.
The proprietor of the hotel was alarmed
at the fate of these unhappy students
and the room was transformed into a
lumber-closet. A few months afterward
a waiter, who had been accused of theft,
crept into this lumber-room and hanged
himself. A strong-minded druggist took
possession of the premises and carried
on his business there, but being over
taken by serious trouble, he retired to
the fatal chamber and poisoned himself
with his own drugs. At last notice was
given that the place was about to be
pulled down to make room for the
Boulevard Saint Germain. An indem-
nifty of $4,000 was demanded, but re-
fused, and the jury having decided that
$i7, 800 was ample compensation, the
owner grew despondent and declared he
was a ruined man. A month ago he
asked permission to visit the old prem
ises before they were pulled down. His
request was granted and nothing more
was heard of him until the workmen
found him hanging by the neck in the
fatal room
Year: 1877

gen. LIE Due, the Commissioner of
Agriculture, isorganizing society called
the Relief Union, at Washington, to
provide an efficient agency for concen-
trating and distributing aid to the poor
of the District, the leading principles of
the society being to afford relief to the
needy by furnishing work of some kind
at.bread-wages and to offer aid in selling
any and all products of industry to the
best advantage to the workmen.
Year: 1877

A WRITER in the Philadelphia Bulletin,
in series of papers, explains g How to
Improve Old Public Schools" The best
way to improve these institutions Of
learning is to have lake in front and
base ball grounds in the rear, so that the
pupils may devote two-thirds of theil
time to boat-racing and base ball play
ing, and thus secure complete educa
ton, without spending three years and 9
lot of money at some one of our leading
American colleges.
Year: 1877

A CURIOUS custom obtained among the
ancient Venetians. There is in Venice
an ancient palace, and on its panels are
perpetuated the portraits of the doges of
that city of the dead. In viewing the
array of faces graved in the majesty of
time and romance, the eye is startled as
it rests on one vacant space. He who
should have looked out from there in
that sacred list, was found guilty of
disgraceful deed, and the keen soul of
the Venetian bIotted his face, if not his
memory, from the records of their his
tory. His absence is in. his darkest
shame. He is even denied place in the
! memory of the people.
Year: 1877

A MARRIAGE was arranged between
two young people living some distance
apart, near Bengal, India, but who had
never seen one another. The bridegroom
duly arrived at the brides village, and
the ceremonies had actually begun, when
a report reached the bride and her
mother that the intended husband was
an incurable cripple. They both de-
clared that they would commit suicide
rather than complete the ceremony, and
as it was fact that the bride
groom was cripple, he was dismissed.
Butaccording to the prevailing supersti-
ton, eternal disgrace would have at
tended the bride if she had not been
married on that day when matters had
progressed so far. So, another bridegroom
had to be sought, and after searching
the highways and byways boy was cap.
tured and duly married in the place OF
the cripple. The latter being in the
same plight, had also to provide him.
self with a bride before the day closed
and thus there were two marriages in.
stead of one.
Year: 1877

grain of the metal would cover nearly
four square feet. This is ten thousand
times thinner than ordinary writing
paper, and two million seven hundred
and ninety-eight thousand of such films
together would make only one inch in
tbictnasS
Year: 1877




There will wisely be no attempt by Presi-
dent Hayes or his republican friends to in.
fuence the choice of Speaker. That Office
belongs to the democrats by their assured
majority in the House, and party honor re-
quires that all democrats vote for their own
candidate Their caucus will be held this
evening, and, in spite Of the number OF
aspirants and the brisk competition, the
best judges at Washington have no doubt
that Mr. Randall will carry off the prize.
All things considered, the caucus could not
make better choice. Mr.. Randall is an old
member of the House; he has an excellent
acquaintance with parliamentary rules and
great quickness and decision in apply
ing them; he has already served
with credit in that position, and
his skill and ability last winter
during the trying and turbulent scenes
of the closing month of the session attest
his force of character and 1his eminent fit
ness, self-possession, party standing and
personal popularity with the opposition
which either his own party can desire or
the republicans have any right to demand
for the smooth despatch of business. The
foolish and ill-natured things said against
him by some Of his democratic rivals will be
regretted by them, and forgiven by him, as
soon as the action of the caucus makes it
the duty Of all the democratic members to
vote for him.


The loose and indiscreet talk which has
been from time to time INDUCED in about
the election OF a republican Speaker by the
bish and drivel Neither the President nor
any respectable Southern democrat could
afford to be party to such an intrigue.
We have no doubt that great many demo-
cratic votes will be given, and honorably
given, to the Presidents measures in the
course of the session but no democrat
could vote for republican candidate for
the Speakership without forfsiting his
party standing and the confidence Of his
constituents. On particular measures OF
legislation every member is free to vote &C.
cording to his judgment and conscience,
and from what we learn of the temper Of
the democratic representatives we are justi-
fed in believing that while they will reso-
lutely keep the organization Of the House
in their own hands they will make no op-
position to anv part of the policy Of the
President SO far as his policy has yet been
disclosed.