smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

l~~~SSs~~~~@SSS~


The scorching sun and drying winds in New
England during the summer months render it
necessary to water choice plants, small fruits
and recently transplanted shrubs and trees,


whenever the ground begins to dry for the


want of frequent rains. TO water plants
seems to be such simple process that few
give the subject moments thought after pur-
chasing the water-pots; yet no intelligent
person who has given the subject careful at
tentien, and observed the usual method adopt
ed, can come to any other conclusion than
that much OF the time spent in watering plants
is worse than wasted in fact, that many
plants are dried up by watering.


Two gallons of cold water sprinkled over
twenty or thirty plants when they are hot,
and when the ground IS hot, assists nature in
drying up the plants; it does it in two ways;
first, the sudden dash of cold water on the hot
leaves checks the growth of the plant, and
thus stops the downward progress of the roots
which in dry weather seek for moisture; Sec
ond, because the slight sprinkling of the
ground forms crust out of the finely pulver-
lied soil, and thus not only destroys what
would have acted as a mulch and new con-
ductor to keep the heat from penetrating to
the roots of the plants, but, by its compact
form, the crut acts as good conductor of
heat to the roots of the plants, and conveys to
them heat in such quantities that they are
dried up more than they would have been if
no water had been applied.


To know when to commence to water
plants, how often to water, and the quantity
to be applied, requires good judgment, care
full observation and long experience. Soils
differ so much that it seems to be necessary
for each cultivator to establish rules of his
own, such as his experience teaches him are
best adapted to his particular location, soil
and crops. This subject of watering plants
is an important one, and one that should re-
ceive much more attention than is usually
given il.
Year: 1879

A correspondent of the New York Tribune
gives the following as cure for refractory
horses:


My method with balky horses-and l think
it equally good in case of kicking or backing
in harness, or running away-bas proved very
successful with my team, requires but mo-
ment in its execution, and think is not in
the least inhumane. take a long string
(three-ply broom-twine, is the best,) long
enough to reach from the horses neck to the
carriage, fasten one end around the horses
neck in hard knot, 80 the loop will not slip,
bring the throat-latch through the loop to pre-
vent the string from working back on the
neck. When the horse bAlks do not strike at
or about him, but sit quietly in your seat and
pull on the string until you choke him. If
the horse is very stubborn you may have to
choke him severely, but he will be willing to
pull before he is choked down. Two or three
chokings will render him afraid to balk. I
tried this on my team last fall, and have had
no trouble with them since.
Year: 1879

Love at first sight in church, with Scrip
tural commentary, is illustrated in the local
columns of an Albany paper: One Sunday q
beautiful young gentleman happened to have
seat in a pew adjoining one in which q
lovely young lady was sitting. He was seized
with violent passion for the fair stranger,
and resolved to propose to her then and there.
SO he handed her Bible with pin stuck in
the following text:


''And now I beseech thee, lady, not as
though wrote new commandment unto
thee, but that which we had from the begin
ming, that we love one another" III. John,


The lady returned the book, pointing to
Ruth, H.. 10: ''Then she fell on her face,
and bowed herself to the ground, and said
unto him, why have found grace in thine
eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of
me, seeing am a stranger ?"


He handed it back with his finger on III.
John 10. IA: Il had many things to write,
but will not with ink and pen write unto
thee. But I trust that I shall shortly see
thee, and we shall speak face to face"


AS the result of this interview it is said that
marriage will take place in month or two.
Year: 1879

(BOSCOn ucI did,


1t is no use for an Eastern man to try to tell
big story when there is Western man
about Causeur has tried it and got beaten,
beaten clean out of sight. He thought
he could spin yarn that would test
any ones credulity, but he always found that
a Western man could 60 him one better.
''When l was young man." said Col. B,
1--WE lived in Illinois. The farm had been
well wooded, and the stumps were pretty
thick. But we put the corn in among them,
and managed to raise fair crop. The next
season l did my share of the plowing We
had 'sulky' plow, and sat in the seat and
managed the horses, four as handsome bays
as ever man drew rein over. One day
found stump right in my way. hated to
back out, so Just said word to the team,
and, if you'll believe it, they just walked that
plow right through that stump as though it
had been cheese" Not soul expressed sur
prise. But Major s. who had been a quiet
listener, remarked quietly, "It's curious, but
l had similar experience myself once. My
mother always made our clothes in those days
as we'll as the cloth they were made of. The
old lady was awful proud of her homespun-
said it was the strongest cloth in the State.
One day l had just plowed through white
oak stump in the way you speak. of, colonel.
But it was little too quick for me. 1t came
together before was out of the way, and
nipped the seat of my trousers. felt mean, I
can tell you, but | put the string on the
ponies, and, if you'll believe it, they just
snaked that stump out roots and ALL Some
thing had to gioe, you know"
Year: 1879

A correspondent of the Philadelphia Press


writes from Chicla, Peru, 1920 feet above
the sea as follows:


Here am among the snow-capped peaks
of the Andes, acclimating myself for trip
over the mountains, whose highest point,


1850 feet. I intended to scale. Leaving
Lima this morning with party of officers,
came over the celebrated Oroya Railroad to
Matucana and thence by the light express to
this place, the present terminus of the road.


The building of this road was one of the
greatest undertakings the world has ever
known. 1t is only completed Sc miles and
cost $50, ,00O, 600. From the sea coast to the
summit of the Andes we passed through
forty-tour tunnels and over r,any high
bridges, one of them 300 feet high, the road
following the valley of the river Rimac,
crossing and recrossing it many times. From
Matucana to the top is nothing but success
ion of VS. rs and doublings. Some of these
places are truly frightful. AS you pass
around a mountain peak you can look for
thousands of feet below and still above you
can see the lofty peaks of the Andes. Even
here at Chicla we are still 5000 feet from
the top, and the railroad tunnel on the sum-
NIT will be over $4,000 feet above the sea.


Chicla is the highest railroad station and
within few feet of the highest city in the
world. In Lima Callao the ightest clothes
would be very comfortable, but up here l
wear double suit of heavy underclothing
and large Ulster. With all my clothes, l
am nearly freezing, and red hot stove close
by, at that. Less than week ago l was in
the tropical seas of the equator-quite a
change. Most people here are troubled with
what they call 'soroche," headache, nausea
and sometimes bleeding at the nose. month
and ears. The air is so rare that it is difficult
to breathe.


At the invitation of the roadmaster took
a ride with him down the road. We were
just ahead of the regular train, and we start
ed off like streak of lightning. have been
in good many tight places in my life, but
never in position to make my hair literally
stand on end as it did in coming down the
Andes on a hand-car. Starting among the
very clouds, down. down we came; disap
pearing like flash in a tunnel of pitchy
darkness and on to frail- looking iron bridge
over mighty gorge from 200 to 800 feet
deep. We stopped in long curved tunnel
to look at some work that was going on, and
did not hear the train in our rear until it was
in the tunnel. We could not lift the hand
car of, so we made spring for it, cut loose
the brake and made dash for our lives. |
And truly it looked so, for she came in full |
view before we were we'll across the gorge :;
and on she came at the rate of mile q |
minute, but we were going by this time much |
faster than that and in short time we left her |
far behind. We reached Matucana, twenty
:hree miles from Cbicla, in safety, but since
come to think it all over, I would hardly
1are to try it again.
Year: 1879

GENERAL GRANTAND THE ECANALSCHENES.


The announcement that General Grant stands
ready to accept the presidency of the proposed
Nicaragua InterOceanicCanal Company is, to say
the least, somewhat premature. 1t seems that
Admiral Ammen, after his return from the
Paris Congress, put himself in communication
with his lifelong friend, and after urging him
to make his retirement from politics final, in
vited him to take an active interest Ill the
construction of Nicaragua waterway. Gen
eral Grants reply was a cable message Of two
words-"I approve" The Admiral's inference
is that the ex-President entertains no thoughts
of returning to public life. but is willing to
become president of the proposed canal COM
pany. 1t is obvious, however, that General
Grants approval may be restricted to the enter
prise itself which the Admiral had outlined in
his correspondence as a substitute for The i'm
practicable scheme adopted at Paris. While
it is certain that he has made a close study
of the subject at home and abroad, it is
scarcely possible that he has fully committed
himself and agreed off-hand to take the lead
in the organization of this great work.


II is safe TO assume, however, that General
Grant will have nothing to do with any in
teroceanic canal scheme which is not dis
tinctiyely American. Soon after the subscrip-
tions TO the Panama Canal were opened in
Paris, there was some idle chatter about
electing General Grant as president of the
International Company. NJ. de Lesseps and
Lieutenant Wyse did not know the man. The
route must be selected or approved by Ameri-
can engineers, and the enterprise planned and
directed with "a view 10 the promotion of Amer
lean interests, or General Grant will never con-
sent to devote the remainder of his life to
this colossal undertaking. One thing may be
taken for granted. Whatever route may be
ultimately chosen-and we are not prepared
TO say that the Nicaragua is the best one
American ideas must prevail in the construc-
ton and management of the canal, and the
brunt of the responsibility must be borne by
a distinguished American.
Year: 1879

lar leader to act In any different way. To nave
advised the storming of the prison and the
mulder of De Young would have been mere
madncss The attempt even without success
would have made IL impossible for Near
ney TO live any longer IN San Francisco il
il could have been shown that he was either NOR
ally or legally responsible for 1t. The mon Wouiu
have been put down. and the leader Of 1t put ont OF
politics forever. 4 demagogue infinitely less shie"u
than he il wonld have avoided such blunder
There might have been murder; there might nave
been con1lgration but there would have Deeh no
political future for Mr. Denis kearney or lor h's
party whether De Young had been lynched OF not.


Secondly. the pleasure with winch we leau VI
Kearney 3 successful Efforts TO preserve the peace
is a little diminished by the consideration that the
safety of property, the authority OF the laws the
lives of citizens. ought no more to be at the mercy
OF one man than ut ths mercy OF the moo Wv
ing Kearney credit for the best intentions, why
should law and order be maintained because he con-
sents to their maintenance Whv should society
be compelled TO accept peace as boonf why
should it be put under obligations 10 any indl-
yidual for the preservation of that which ought
never to have been IN jeopardy Mr' kearney
probably never thought for amoment OF abusing his
power: there were too many good reasons why he
should not but suppose that no had not been
present suppose that by some combination oi CIR
cumstauces the one man who alone could bride lis
wild and wayward passions had failed to speak the
necessary word. Considering this, we 500 that
there Is not so much reason for congratulations
after all and this brings uS to the point, that a
condition Of society in which the pnblc peace IL
at any mans mercy, cannot be regarded as heal
thy one. We are much obliged to Mr. kearney
but suppose that he. instead Of Mr. Kailoch had
been shot 7 What would the mob have done then


1t would hardly be of good import. if all the best
blessings of civilization held by such an uncer-
tain tenure There is always danger when masses
Of mankind are at the command OF one who can
make them follow without reason, or doubt, or con-
science, or even personal prudence. "her-
ever lie leads Such guidance is almost
always characteristic of undesirable or dan
gerous movements. Who ever marshailed a
mob always wisely from Catiline down TO Thomas
W. Dorri Did Jack Cade Did DantOn or harat
or Robespierre, or Lord George Gordon or John
Wilkes The more the masses think for them
selves the less need will there be of man, or
Of men. to think for them. 1t requires great Wis
dom and good conscience, uncommon tact, rare
self-cOntrol and sef-abnegation to use enormous
power over popular forces for the real benefit Of the
people. Ii Kearney were the best of men ne would
still have the infrmities Of human nature Neither
TO him nor to any one should irresponsible power be
intrustcd
Year: 1879

OH ards who are armed with a whole arsenal
of deadly weapons. This unique turn-ouV
constitutes an internal machine winch even
the famous road agents of the plains are con-
tent to give wide berth.
Year: 1879

The small warfare of the Democrats upon
Secretary Sherman is merely satety-valye
signal of their internal agitation over the dis
astrous effects of resumption upon their politi-
cal fortunes.
Year: 1879

A New Hampshire observer Of the canvass
In Maine comes 10 conclusion on the prob
able size of the Republican vote which coin
cides almost exactly with that of our staff
correspondent published yesterday. Like
every other Republican authority, he is san
guine of success.
Year: 1879

dence required by the accounting officers.


STEPHEN GIRARD's TAcr1cs.-A man
who had just set up in the hardware business,
and who had been clerk where Girard had
traded, applied to him for share of his pat
ronage. Girard bought of him, and when he
broug ght in the bill, found fault and marked
down the prices.


"Cask of nails" said he, (which was of.
fered for so-and.so, you have charged so-and-
so, and you must take it off"


81 cannot do it," said the merchant.


"You must do it" said Girard.


II cannot, and will not" said the young
merchant


Girard bolted out of the door, apparently
in rage, and soon after sent check for the
whole bill. The young man began to relent
and say to himself: perhaps he Das offered
them at that price. But it is all over now;
I am sorry did not reduce the bill and get
it out of him in something else. His trade
would have been worth good deal to me-"
By-and.by Girard came in again, and gave
him another job The young man was very
courteous, and said:


81 was almost sorry l did not reduce your
former BILL"


"Reduce BILL" said Girard chad you
done it, l would never trade with you again.
I meant to see if you cheated me-"


A SHREwD M1N1srER.-A shrewd and
popular minister had just finished an exhor-
tation strongly recommending the support Of
a very meritorious institution. The congre-
cation was numerous, and the chapel was
crowded to excess. The discourse being fin
ished, the plate was about to be handed round
to the respective pews, when the preacher
made this short address to the waiting con-
gregation: "From the sympathy have wit
messed in your countenances, and the strict
attention you have honored me with. there is
one thing am afraid Of, that some of you
may be inclined to give too much. Now, it
is my duty to inform you that justice, though
not so pleasant, should always be prior vir-
tue to generosity; therefore, as you will be
Immediately waited upon in your respective
pews, I wish to have it thoroughly under
stood that no person shall think of putting
any thing into the plate who cannot pay his
debts" We need not add that this pro-
duced most overaowing collection.
Year: 1879

at his hands. True, no one, however good
and kind, however lavish of her benefits
could supply that mothers place in his heart
but this friend, he thought, could come near
er doing so than any one else. And he ~o'
very lonely, there was no doubt of that
Would he not be happier in the society Of
such friend p


Revolving thus the pros and cons, he decid'
ed that at all events it would be proper for
him not to delay in making an acknowleg'
ment of Madame d'Arcy's offer. He there
fore wrote the following note, and dispatched
it by the hands of servant;


"Your letter, dear Madame, has been re-
ceived, and read with feelings almost impossi,
BILE to describe Permit me to express the
gratitude feel for your unprecedented kind:
ness and generosity. 1fyou will allow me, l
shall bring you an answer in person to-mor'
row evening. By that time | shall have
sufficiently prepared what have to say.


Most gratefully yours,


"W1LFRED BARsTow."


"a good nights rest" he said to himself,
with his usual philosophy, twill enable me to
arrive at proper conclusion. l am too be-
wildered now to look at the matter as calmly
as ought. Such a question is too important
to be settled rashly and in moment Of ex-
element"


And sleep he did, and spnndly, while
through his rest there foated golden dreams.
Madame d'Arcy's nervousness was tar
greater than his, She feared, from the tone
of his note, that he contemplated refusal,
and was preparing himself to soften it in the
most efectual way. Although she had her.
self requested him to take time in his decis-
ion, she now argued unfavorably from the
delay.
Year: 1879

ST. LOUIS, June Ga special to the


Post Dispatch from St. Charles, Mo,
says: John Blan was hanged here, this


morning, for the murder Of Elijah
Warren. After the black cap had been
adjusted, Blan told the sheriff that he
wished to say something. 1t was re-
moved, and Blan then made a brief
speech TO the crowd present, which
numbered several thousands, in which
he acknowledged having committed the
murder. He said whisky and bad COM
pany was the cause and warned all
to shun both. The cap was then read
justed, the drop sprung, and in a few
minutes Blan was dead. When Sheriff
Revenzi notified Blan TO prepare to
leave his cell, he suddenly threw his
spiritual adviser, who was standing by
his side, into the corner of the cell,
sprung through the door of the cell into
the ante-room of the Jail, and was just
rushing into the Jail yard, when he was
caught, and after desperate struggle
was overpowered and returned to the
Year: 1879

The strike of the puddlers having now
been actually begun, anything that will
tend to throw light upon the relative
position of the puddlers and the mill
owners must prove OF advantage.
Year: 1879

why does lightning so rarely strike twice
in the same placer Prof Wortman asked the
new boy in the class in natural philosophy
Hub" said the new boy, 1t never needs to.
And it is little singular that nobody had
,hnncht of that reason before.
Year: 1879

Anybody who wishes to may


become a gentleman. He will
not form a habit Of telling smutty
Of vulgar stories. Ne will alwars
be tidy in dress. he will be
careful not to offend persons
will keep his face clean. He will
never be loud mouthed or over
bearing to his interiors. This
trait of character always marks
the snob egotist. He will never
lift his voice in a small room
when talking to men. as though
he were in a field driving oxen.
He will never speak go as to
wound or pain the heat Of the per.
son who is under him. lie will
never speak Of his superior family
connections or give those he is
with to understand he is of more
consequence than they. He will
never pry into the family affairs
Of any other person. nor meddle
himself with the affairs another
person should attend to. He will
never try to bully or beat his way,
nor assume a superiority that is
entirely lost the moment it is
boasted Of. The gentlema if al.
ways has friends, even under ad.
verse circumstances, because he
deserves them. The success OF
the true gentleman is always
lasting. Chronicle.
Year: 1879

A WAsnISGroN special to tho Tribune
repeats the statement that tho Pacific
Coast Senators will Introduce during
the next session n modified scheme for
the restriction Of Chinese immigration.
and adds, it is probable Senator Blaine
wilftake occasion to explain moro fully
his position in regard to the question
The measure. however. will not be
pushed to final action. and is only de-
signed to keep the subject before the
country and III n position in which it
can be reached early next Winter.
Year: 1879

From a passenger from Benton on
Thursday nights stage, it was learned
that a shooting nffray had taken place
the night before in which one OF the
Lynch boys had shot Dutchman, IN
engineer, who had been employed in
that camp for some time past. From
the meager statements OF tie passenger.
1t appears that one OF the Lynch boys
and the engineer were about to come 10
blows when Lynch drew pistol and in
shooting ut his antagonist hit himself
in the hand. A brother of the shooter
happened along just at that time and he
Immediately turned his pistol loose ana
hit the engine r in the leg. How Be-
riously the man is wounded is not
stated. Esmcraidd HeraId.
Year: 1879

As the true "inwardness of this
back-penalty business becomes known
to the people Of the State. We can't for
the life Of us. understand how they can
place the least confidence in the teach.
Jugs of either the Virginia Chronicle or
EHterPr,st. In their treatment OF this
matter the line of argument adopted by
these representative 2 journals has been
precisely similar, and equally insulting,
to the common sense OF every man who
has taken the pains 10 know anything
Of the facts in the case. These have
been deliberately and persistently falsi-
fled by these journals. and in lieu Of
the facts they have given the public
labored sophistries Of superficial shall
lowness in the effort to deceive their
readers and to hide their own shame.
TO attempt the role OF these journals
in defense Of this anti back-penalty in
fanny, is positive evidence Of foolish
ness or kuavery, aud in the instances
cited, there is no reason tn believe that
they are affected by the former. 1t is
sufficiently disagreenble to the people
Of the State to be robbed; but to have
the paid attorneys Of the robbers sit in
Judgment of the case aud insult the i'll
tclligence of the robbed, Is a little more
than most persons cnn tamely submit
to. The very best thing those journals
can do touching this matter. is to can
didly admit that they dare not tell the
truth. and at once cease their purile
efforts To accomplish the impossible.
Year: 1879




says:


.:The House and Senate Democratic
caucus committees in joint session this
afternoon have decided to recommend
the adoption of all the principal features
Of Springer's plan Of compromise on the
subject Of the Federal election laws, but
decided also that it shall be embodied
in one OF the appropriation bills instead
Of presenting it as a separate measure.
The vote on recommending the reten-
tion OF that portion Of the law which
provides for two supervisors Of different
politics to serve at elections in a testi-
monial capacity. was fourteen against
four. The result OF to day s JOLT m eet-
ing OF tho Democratic caucus commit.
tees nre generally construed rs indica-
tive Of an early termination OF the extra
session, hut its length cannot be safely
predicted before a decision is made by
the joint caucus next week, on the i'm.
portnnt question, whether or not gener-
al Legislation shall be allowed. There
does not seem to be much doubt enter
tnined in any quarter that President
Hayes will acquieso eventually, il not
Immediately, in the modified Democratic
demand for a repeal of portions of the
Federal election law