smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Perhaps the most crushing reioinder
ever flung back in return for an insult
from the bench was that which Curran
hurled at Judge Robinson. Judge
Robinson is described as man of sour
and cynical disposition, who had been
raised to the bench-so, at least, it was
commonly believed-simply because he
had written in favor of the government
of his day number of pamphlets re-
markable for nothing but their servile
and rancorous scurrility. At time
when Curran was only just rising into
notice, and while he was yet poor and
struggling man, this judge ventured
upon a sneering joke, which, small
though it was, but for Curran's ready
wit and scathing eloquence, might have
done him irreparable injury. Speaking
of some opinion of counsel on the other
side, Curran said he had consulted all
his books, and could not find single
case in which the principle in dispute
was thus established. "That may be,
Mr.. Curran,," sneered the Judge; "but
L suspect your law library is rather
limited" Curran eyed the heartless
toady for moment, and then broke
forth with this noble retaliation "It
is very true, my lord, that 1 am poor,
and this circumstance has certainly rath-
er curtailed my library. My books are
not numerous, but they are select, and
I hope have been perused with proper
dispositions. have prepared myself
for this high profession rather Ey the
study of few good books than by the
composition of great many bad ones.
I am not ashamed of my poverty, but l
should be ashamed of my wealth if I
could stoop to acquire it by servility and
corruption. If I rise not to rank, [
shall at least be honest; and should l
ever cease to be so, many an example
shows me that an ill-acquired elevation,
by making me the more conspicuous,
would only make me the more universal
ly and nOtoriously cOntemptible.
Year: 1877

Some of the people of Indiana are urg-
ing the erection of new State capitol,
but that may have no connection with
the following story from the Indianapo-
lis Journal: In the midst of Senator
Harris speech against the Belt railway
bill, the ceiling almost directly over his
head was observed to crack, and stimuli
taneously an ominous creaking and rum
bling noise was heard by every person in
the Senate chamber. The noise caused
something like panic, the crowd in the
lobby made rush for the door, and the
seats in the threatened quarter were va
Gated in hurry, in expectation that the
miserable old rookery was about to tum-
BILE down. The excitement lasted about
five or ten minutes, but as soon as it was
seen that the walls were still standing,
and none of the plastering had fallen the
atmosphere and the crowd became COM
posed, and business weht on as usual.
An examination developed the fact that
the walls just to the right of the presi-
dent of the senate had settled slightly,
of course carryingthe floors and ceilings
with it, but the calamity is not believed
to have endangered the safety of the
building to any appreciable extent. The
news soon spread about the city that the
State house had tumbled in, and crowds
fiocked there to find that they had been
sold. The intelligence was too good to
be true
Year: 1877

The counterfeit $40 bills on the La
fayette National bank of Lafayette, Ind, g,
the passage of which brought to State
prison one notorious Italian shower of
the "queer" and his companions, says
a New Haven paper, are O very poor
imitation OF the genuine. The paper
upon which they are printed is also very
poor. Notwithstanding these facts, the
three men-Gulotta, Achille and Hyland
(who only received five years in county
jaiD-got rid of from seven to ten of
them in this city December Is, 1876.
The way in which these men work is as
follows: Three or four come to this city
from New York. One of them carries
the package of money which is to be dis
posed of. He does none of the "shov-
ing," but passes out the bills to his ac-
completes one by one, so that in case of
arrest at most only one will be found on
them. They pass them and return him
the good money they receive at rem
devious before agreed upon. Thenwhen
the city has been worked sufficiently the
men leave town, that is if the police are
not too sharp for them. When the lead
er is suspicious, as he has been upon
nearly every one of his visits to this city
of late, he hides his bundle of counter
felt money and leaves by the next train,
abandoning his friends to their fate.
When two Italians were arrested here
few years ago for passing counterfeit
bills on the Traders bank of Chicago, a
third person was known to have been
with them. After the arrest of his
friends he could not be found, but
package of the bills was discovered hid
den away, in the fence of the First
Methodist church, showing that the
course he had pursued was the usual one
of abandonment and flight. 1t is graft
flying reflection that the men who have
worked this city during the past few
years have all come to grief in this State
through our police.
Year: 1877

There was living not long since, in
Brooklyn, man who had inherited from
a drunken father an appetite for rum.
He was hopeless drunkard. The man
had many noble instincts, and, better
than all these, he had loving, faithful,
brave wife, who made skillful war upon
the demon, her husbands master. Recog-
uizing the fact that her husband was
under an overpowering impulse, that he
longed and struggled manfully to free
himself from the passion for drink, she
bent all the energies of her woman ma
sure to the task of helping him. She
loved and suffered and toiled until at last
the loving and suffering and toiling ac-
complished their purpose. She took her
husband by the hand, and shared with
him his struggle, until, after years
of labor, she overcame his master: and
saw him free man again. Her battle
with rum had been fierce one, taxing
and wasting her strength sorely, but she
was conqueror at last. Her husband
stood upon manly feet, and showed no
signs of falling again. Several years
passed away, and this reformed man fell
i'll of consumption. The distinguished
physician, from whose lips we have the
story, prescribed alcoholic stimulants as
the only means possible of prolonging
his life. The poor wife was in terror,
and begged the physician to recall the
prescription. She told him of her long
struggle and victory, and said the pre-
ferred that her husband should die then,
a sober man, than that he should fill
drunkard's grave year later. But the
freed spirit of the man was strong, and
he undertook to take alcoholic liquors as
medicine, and to confine himself abso-
tutely to such times and measures in the


natter as the physician should prescribe.
This he did, and, during the months thus
added to his life he never once drank
single drop more than the prescription
called for, and he died at last a sober
man, as the wife had so earnestly prayed
that he might. But the end was not yet.
When the loving and patient woman Laid
him in his grave, and saw her long labcrs
thus ended in the victory for which she
had toiled SO hard and suffered so bitter
ly, she turned, in her grief, to the brandy
which had been left in the house, and
drinking it, she fell herself into the pow
er of the fiend which she had fought SO
heroically. And that woman died not
many months later, hopeless, helpless
drunkard.
Year: 1877

We are reminded of one particularly
bright little bourgeoise, whose LIE we
have followed from afar during many
years. When we first knew her, more
than twenty years ago, she was young
and blooming bride, who took possession
of the seat reserved for her at the till in
her husbands shop as proudly as if it had


been throne. 1t was large grocery
shop in the RueSt. Denis, ,andthe business
was fourishing. Madam Ms throne
was fenced off from the shop on three
sides by brass wire retting, leaving only
an opening in front which served as
frame for her bright and ever-pleasant
countenance. There she sat day after
day, with the heavy leather-bound books
and ledgers before her, always busy and
never hurried; with gracious smile for
every customer, and vigilant eye for all
the shopmen. In the summer, when the
Rue st. Denis WAS hot and sitting; in
the winter, when the ever opening door
sent in cold draughts of wind, there she
sat. One would like to think that in the
evening there was some relaxation; but
as every account that was sent in by that
house was in her hand writing, we fear
there was often evening work as well.


After time little girl took her seat
beside her within the sanctuary of the
brass wire netting and played with her
doll, or did some little bit of childish
needlework under the mothers eye. The
doll soon made room for states and copy
books; but still the child was there and
kept her mother company. In time she
took her place now and then at the heavy
books by way of initiation into the mys-
steries. while her mother worked by
her side. Years went by, and Madam
NJ was still there; her eye was as
vigilant, perhaps more vigilant than ever,
but it was less bright; her smile was as
gracious and as unfailing, but it was less
varied and more conventional; in word,
her youth was gone, Utterly passed away
behind that commercial cage of brass wire.
The other day, looking into the shop, we
noticed that there was new master. But
the mistress was not new; the child, the
girl, the woman whose life had been
spent there, now reigned in her mothers
stead. The shop, her dot, herself, had
been handed over together to the same
purchaser. "Her father and mother had
RETIRED" she said. "They live in the
country now, she added, not without
touch of pride. e.-MacmilIan's Magazine.
Year: 1877

released, and the thongs that bound me
soon held the maniac.


"My husband held me in his arms.
He had Goiselessly approached, and TAX
ing the horror Of my situation in at a
glance, had by the only means at hand
secured the madman, who was the very
patient he had been summoned to at
tend, but who had escaped the vigilance
of his keeper soon after the departure Of
the messenger, who had ROW returned
with the doctor In pursuit Of him. AS
the poor wretch was being hurried
away, he turned to me and said:
Madam, this is plot to rob me of my
reputation. Your husband is envious of
my great skill as surgeon. Adieu! I
afterward learned that the man was
once an eminent surgeon in Europe, but
much learning had made him mad.
When he bound me to that table my hair
was as black as a raven; when I left it,
it was as you see it now-white as full
blown cotton"
Year: 1877

A Danbury woman's fourth husband
was seriously i'll a few years ago.
Watchers from among the neighbors
stayed with him at night. There came
a night which babe fair to be his last on
earth. The watchers took their place in
the sick room. The bereaved wife said
to them:


81 don't think he'll last till morning.
If he drops off in the night you need not
disturb me, for I am going to sleep and
want to have rest, and everything is
arranged. You can take the cellar door
to lay him out on"


Seeing him drive by on load of corn
stalks just now reminded us OF the Incl
dent The unhappy woman spoke too
loud.
Year: 1877

The House of Representatives Of
Connecticut passed bill making the
legal rate of interest six per cent. IN the
absence of q contract for different rate
The bill previously passed ilIe senntei
Year: 1877

IT is a long ways across and hllly
country from Erzsroum 10 Constantino-
pie, but II tue Russians are not near
enough to knock at the sul!an's back door
Ibis winter, they have at least found good
quarters for the cold weather, When
spring comes it will take big army TO
hold them back, and the defence Of the
Bulgarian line will necessarily be weak
ened by this threatening advance from
Armenia.
Year: 1877

At the present time, under the prevailing de-
pressing circumstances affecting all trades and
business it becomes the farmer to practice econo-
my in all his farm operations, for upon the pros
perity of farmers all other branches of industry
are equally dependent. But it we'll becomes as
that we rightly construe the meaning of the term
economy; IT Is too frequently construed as parsi-
mony, which is often very far from true economy.
My idea of economy in connection with
farm affairs is something as follows; Judicious
disposition or arrangement of all our work, yet
liberal and frugal management of all our affairs.
am aware that there is an apparent contradic-
tion in my definition, yet q seeming one only,
when rightly construed. All necessary labor
should be arranged and systematically applied
with the utmost frugal Iiberahty. While prac-
ticing hberality, every item should be made to do
execution,-"to tell, In common parlance.


Taking this view, it would be false economy not
to provide sufficient and suitable help to cultivate
our lands and do ell necessary farm work, together
with making Judicious permanent improvements.
10 spend unnecessary time and labor in accom-
phshing any result; to grow any crop without good
and through preparation as wei as full culture
to allow our farms, from any cause, to deteriorate
in actual or intrinsic value to spend unnecessary
time and labor in merely exterminating weeds.
while We should subdne them to the extent of our
not subduing our crops Of their value; to curta in
the products of the farm in the aggregate, is not
economy. Rather, economy would teach US TO
arrange for and so cultivate our lands as to pro-
uuce tne Rrcast hmount oI prOuuctS at tne lowest
possible cost of labor and fertility. Increased
products from the minimum of the previous cost
must be the rule in order to attain success in iarm
ing. When the farm products are low, what is
wanting in price must be made up by economical
culture and increased products.


l might add that economy would teach us to
provide good and suitable farm tools and all i'm
plements Of husbandry, for without them labor
canno be economically applied. Only that stock
should be kept that will produce the greatest
profit on the investment: non-productive stock and
invstments should be kept down to the minimum
rate or amount. Deal literally with your stock
and land, if you would have them deal literally
with you.-l W. II. White, in Coautry gsntiepsan.
Year: 1877

Premiums are received and Losses are paid In
cash only Policies are issned payable at the death
OF the Insured also payable at the end of certain
lumber OF years. Policies are also issued on the
Year: 1877

Tor the Canadian border IL viii require four days.
hard and constant travel to enable the Commls-
soners Ia reach Fort Walsh


when they reach that place Sitting Bull may or
may not come In. Nothing Is certain, though much
Is hoped. for while the Commissioners are still in
the dark as TO the intentions OF the Sioux chef
tain they are sanguine that he will come to
terms.


Though nothing definite Is known regarding Sit
ting Bulbs movements the Commissioners state
that they have for supposng that the defeat
and surrender OF Chief Joseph and his Nez Perces
band may induce that famous and willy chief to take
second thought before he absolutely refuses to
have any Intercourse with the Commission ap-
pointed by the government to treat with him. 1t
Is TO be hoped that these expectations may be fully
and speedily realized.
Year: 1877

sToICAL CONDUCT OF THE NEZ PERCEs-


The manner and method OF lighting adopted by
these Nez Perces has been admirable from nrst to
last, and they have taken their mishaps and final
defeat without whimpeE They have never
scalped dead white man, nor even Ill treated a
wounded soldier or citizen throughout the entire
campaign. Whatever tales may have reached you
In regard to the alleged crueties perpctratcd by
the Nez Perces are denied here in anticipation by
the officers and soldiers who have been engaged
with them in all the conflicts during the progress
OF nostilites


Whatever scalps have been taken from the heads
OF white men were taken by members OF other
tribes OF savages, who lowered along the verge OF
the various battle fields and swooped down upon
dead Ncz Pcrces and white soldiers alike The
last word to be said OF Chief Joseph In this conncc-
ton is that the original difficulty between his tribe
ana the white settlers in oregon has had vet but
a confused and unsatisfactory description When
the whole truth Is made known the question viii
assume an aspect quite different from the one 1t
now wears.
Year: 1877

Business among the leading houses
has centered almost exclusively on cheap
glazed and brushed kid and bright pebble
and the stock must be very good to induce
buyers to pay over 1Gc per foot. Buyers
have been offering as low as 10c per foot.
Buyers from the East and New York
have been few and the inquiry by mail
is also small. Ofthe cheaper grades there
is little or none to be had, while of the
finer the market is well stocked. Prices
on medium and common are stiffer, and
holders are somewhat trmer in their
views. There is no change in the quota
Year: 1877

From the Auburn ~. r. News Fob. 81


Two gangs Of convicts wero yesterday detailed TO
clean the snow from tho walks ON the State street
front Of tho prison. in charge Of their respective
keepers Al about half past three O'Clock In the after
noon Keeper Harry Caser, young man about twenty
six yoars OF age was experimenting his gang near tho
north gatc when two OF the convcts refused to work.
Hc Immediately ordered them to return to their shop
State shop No. l. Ono OF them to obey, but
the other, named Barr, refused to co. saying that he
should stay outside until tho rest OF The gang went in
IRON thor work The onlccr reprmandcd Barr for his
insoIencc and disobedicnco OF orders, and again
manded him to pass in NJ the Just then citizen
spoke ~ the Keeper and, NJ he turned his head TO
ply, Barr mado savage attack on hiin striking HIM
heavy blow with shovel, cutting directly on limo
with the eyebrow tho lott side OF tho forehead and
fracturng the skull. Mr.. easier fell to the walk,
when Barr repeated tho blow, cutting him across
a third murderous blow which cut through tho mock
directly under the base o the skull Tho unfortunate
keeper attempted to rise alter the nrst blow, and at
the second gave gfOan and closed his eyes Alter
the third the shovel the brutal murderer kicked
the prostrate man IN the lace, and just at this
moment, while the crowd dare not Interfere convict
at work with tho other gang nj some distance rushed


the spot with uprased pickaxe and threatened TO
XII Barr y nc struck again barr hen ran toward INC
rested by Keeper Brennan. He still retained the
shovel and when taken in charge he had knie In his
pocket Barr was at once taken in charge by The
deputy Keeper and placed IN the prison jail In the
meantime Mr.. casler was removed to tho prison
hospital dying within u few minutes after the last
terrible wound. Thus another chapter Of horrors Is
added 10 prison history In Auburn, and another
vict murderer givcn TO that class OF maudlin
sympathizcrs who insist upon s0itcning the doom
laid down by law Tor tho transgressor The victim OF
this cold-boodcd and demoniac murder, Harry A.
Caster, is native OF lion, where his pafents reside
lie was employed in Utica as shipping clerk OF tho
macablc works previous to his appointment in
the prison year ago, and beloved and respected
in his circo OF acquaintance. well The shop
over which he had control at tho prison. Ono OF the
saddcst OF the tragedy s the TACT that
ho leaves young wife desolate, 10 whom he
RED the 24tn of October last, bret three months
ago. Barr, the murderer, is young New YORK dos
pcrado who sent to Sing Sing IN 1870 for robbery
on u sentence OF ton years. He aftorwnrd trans
ferrcd 10 Auburn Asylum as lunatc In March last
he was transferred TO Auburn prison, pronounced
cured On tho 9Th OF September last he was again
declared insane and resent to tho asylum from whence
hc was again transferred to prison October last
Year: 1877

investigate the cause OF the nre. his mother and wio
found themselves IN unpleasant and somewhat peril
ous position mp stairs the smoke penetrated their
apartments, and prevented them for while rom nnd-
Ing their way cut Sergeant Oates, hearing of the
rushed up stairs and brought the women down without
injury.


At the hour Of going press tho engines were still
playing upon the expiring flames


The Marvin Company lease the cntire building from
the Now YORK Orphan Asylum Association, but occupy
only the first floor and basement and rent out tho re-
mainder for Offices and light business
Year: 1877

CHINESE CHARACTERIsTICs.-O lesson
that China has to teach the western nations
is n persistent effort, kept up during thou
sands OF years and in spite OF Tartar incur
sions, Manchu defeats, and innumerable re-
bellions, to raise to high offices OF trust and
honor only such men as are worthy OF the
position by reason OF their good moral char
actcr or wisdom. This is the unceasing
burden of their classics and the proverbs and
quotations taught by heart in every school OF
China. Notwithstanding their Emperor and
his supposed autocratic rule, there is no
country so democratic, and none where hon.
est critics have been bolder in the censure
of wrong-doers in positions OF power.
The number Of martyrs to the truth OF
their own convictions would astonlsh one,
were it not also the case that the Chinese
show a singular indifference to life and a
readiness to commit suicide that is almost
appalling. Not infrequently they show a
tendency to commit acts OF incredible
cruelty and barbarity. The most peaceful
nation on the earth, they seem able to bear
great deal Of physical pain without finch
ing. Surgeons testify to their comparative
inScnsibility to nervous shocks from
operations. Their educational system
il conducted on a gigantic scale, and its
HOnoTS are dWalueu W hieh "Ho S"n ~
form herculean feats Of memory and wea-
ther out tremendous examinations. But all
this system is destined to one end-the pro-
curing OF the highest talent for the service
OF the State. True to their ideal, in spite
Of corruption, wickedness OF high officials,
and the inherent effects Of no ossifying sys-
TEN, the Chinese are always trying to sift
out the best men, and getting them into
Offices OF trust If the results are bad the
system is at fault, not that idea Of justice
and propriety which causes them to perse-
we're in the attempt.
Year: 1877

4 tall, elderly, refned-looking gentleman
recently went into small post-office in q
rural region OF England. lie asked some
questions relative to the registering OF a let
ter, and was very sharply, rudely, and un-
necessarily snubbed by young woman in
attendance. lie asked her II she thought
that was proper way to answer an inquiry
in a public office. She said she thought
that she had been quite civil enough for
him. He asked her, with an .ominously-in-
creasing mildness Of manner, If she would
favor him with her name. She emphaticatly
declined to do 80. He then said he thought
he would tell her his name, which, however,
she declined to hear, saying that his name
was no concern of hers. He calmly replied
that he thought it was, for his name was
John Manners, and he was the Postmaster
General -....
Year: 1877

LEVY BROTHERS sell their Hamburger Edgings
and Insertings at The lowest prices. They know how
to buy them cheap and that Is the secret They now
show the largest stock in this CITY,.
Year: 1877

Needs Attention.-Th Dispatch reporter
issrequested to call attention to the condi-
ton OF the gutter on the east side OF hull
street between Twelfth and Thirteentn.
In this connection the attention OF the Com
:mittee on Streets Generally might hecalled
to the general condition OF the street.