smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

AT the corner of Tchoupitoulas and
Gravier streets, on Friday evening, was
given remarkably interesting and dar-
ing wirewalking performance, which
was witnessed by numerous concourse
of curious spectators. The performer
was full-grown rodent, and his appa-
ratus was furnished by a telegraph wire
which at the point indicated crosses over
the street from the roof of Bassett &
Co.'s liquor-store to the roof of the store
directly opposite. 1t appears that this
gay and festive rat has during the past
we k made frequent evening excursions
across that wire, to the edification of the
denizens in that quarter, so that for the
past few evenings it has been the regular
thing for curious public to watch for
him at about five p. III. each day-that
hour, curiously enough, having been Sc.
lected by his ratship for his mid air
journey. True to the call he came for
ward yesterday, as related, and accom-
plished the hazardous task in such clever
style as would have put to the blush the
best efforts of the champion of two
legged wire walkers, and which was ap-
plauded by the beholders vigorously and
enthusiastically. He appeared first to
view. on the roof of the Messrs Bassett's
store, where near the edge of the tele-
graph wire runs along an upright post
at an elevation of about foot. Mr.. Rat
opened the ceremonies by leaping from
the roof to the wire, which he clutched
with his fore-paws, and upon
which thereafter, 10y a very skillful dis
play OF his gymnastic powers, he swung
himself until he stood upon it on all
fours. Remaining thus standing for a
few seconds as if to take a careful sur
vey of the dangerous road before him he
started upon his journey, and at mod
erately rapid gait he skipped along the
slender wire as deftly almost as if he
were on terra firma. He never swayed
to the right or left but maintained per:
fectly erect position that evidenced a
calm confidence and capacity as to the
results of careful training and expert
ence. Reaching about midway the dis
tance he halted an instant and looked
down. upon the multitude of upturned
faces below him. Whether he didn't
like the looks of the faces or whether he
was in hurry to keep an appointment
he was off again in a trice, and at an in
creased pace traversed the remainder of
his journey to the roof of Mcssrs. Jack
son Il Co.'s store, reaching which he
leaped to the roof and was seen no
more. Speculative minds may herein
indulge their fanciful imaginations to
their hearts content touching the prob
able purpose of this rat in thus not only
making regular evening journeys across
the wire but also in returning, for it is
clear that lie does return since he always
starts on his trip from the same roof
NeU Orleans Times.
Year: 1874

evidently bent on mischief. He gave out
that the wire should not he put up. A
splice was necessary, and before the addi-
tional piece of wire could be put in the
indications were that there would be
trouble. Jones' quick perceptions, how
ever, suggested way out of the diff
Guilty, by the aid of electricity.


Attaching piece of copper wire to the
wire of the line, and inserting the end of
another copper wire Ito which was at.
tached a relay in the ground, he soon
found that he had circuit" and was
in communication with Tuscumbia. With
the two copper wires he could break and
close the circuit and thus communicate
with the office, and by means of the
"relay" he could, by sound, understand
what was said to him. He made known
to Tuscumbia the situation," and
arranged with that Office to second his
plan.


Meanwhile the countryman and his
companions had posted themselves at the
point where the main wire was broken,
and to them the preparations going on
were as unintelligible as an example in
algebra. The leading spirit, however,
was the long Individual whose ire had
boiled over on the ferry-boat. He had
seized the iron wire as it lay on the
bushes and expressed himself as anxious
that some one should attempt to take it
from him. At jones' direction the East
port operator took another coil of copper
wire, threw it down near the countryman,
and stepping little further off pushed
loose end into the soft ground, taking
care to leave considerable loose wire.
Then eying the coil and the fellow al
ternately, as though 10th to leave the
coil, he essayed to take it up. The bait
was taken eagerly, the countryman
seized it in triumph, still holding fast the
iron wire.


1t only remained for Jones to direct
Tuscumbia to turn the force of his main
battery upon the Eastport wire; Jones
did this and withdrew. In a moment
there was an unearthly yell; pair of
huge brogans attached to legs encased
in butternut were seen describing sundry
acrobatic gyrations in the air, and pres
emily about the worst doubled-up speci
men of the genus homo ever seen lay
moaning on the ground. He had received
a pretty heavy shock of electricity from
the battery at TusCumbia. His confed-
crates had seen him 60 up but they did
not stay to notice what became of him.
They fled to the woods at break-neck
speed, which was not diminished as long
as we could see them.


At first we were somewhat alarmed
but fastening to the man found that he
was not injured, though frightened out
of what little wit he had possessed. He
begged for his life and protested solemn
ly that if allowed to depart he would
avoid interfering with telegraph lines
and operators ever afterward, promise
which, no doubt, he rcligiously kept
Our FSresSde Friend.
Year: 1874

THE raising of clover is found to be
the most successful and cheapest mode
Of enriching the ground. Wherever
clover can he successfully cultivated the
land can be made productive and re.
munerative.
Year: 1874

CRACK. d STovEs. .-Doa't let your stove
smoke, merely because there is crack
in it but take common wood ashes and
salt, make paste with little water, APP
ply it to the aperture and the crack VIII
he closed in moment. II can he put
on when the stove is hot, rs easily as
when 1t is cold.
Year: 1874

WHAT THE FARMERS Must Know -
The farmer, like The business man, must
know what he is doing, he must have
some pretty decitied IDEAS ot what lie is
going to accomplish, IN fact be inust cal
cuate it before hand.


He must knos bis soil--that Of each
lot, not only the top, but the subsoil.


He must know what grain and grass
are adapted 10 each


He must know when is the best time
to work them, whether they need sum
mer following.


lie must know the condition In which
the ground must be when plowed, SO tnat
it be not too wet nor too dry.


He must know that some grains re
quire earlier sowing than others, and
what these grains are.


lie must know how to put them in.


He must know What it will pay to have
machinery to help him as well as muscle
Year: 1874

Suicides are in the main too common and too like to be interesting. One in Elma, near Buffalo, was exceptional. It was death scene glimpse of do- mestic romance. John w. Standart was farmer and country storekeeper who had wealth and good social con- nection. He was thirtysix years old and his wife only twenty. They had two little children, and it was supposed that they were contented and happy. The story of the suicide was thus told by the wife, who may not recover of her own hurt "Soon after breakfast my husband loaded his pistol and took his razor from the shelf and threatened to kill himself. I said, You had bet ter do it right here if you are going to, and will kill myself, too, because I can't live without you.' This was on account of some words we had, but we made upr A little while afterward he said he was going away, and I would never see him again. I said if he did he would find me dead when he came back. He pulled pistol from his pocket and said he would kill himself. I tried to wrest it from him, but he was stronger than was. put my hand over the muzzle of the pistol so he couldn't hit himself. The pistol went off, and shot me through the head and face. then said, 'Oh, John, you have killed me I am going to die! He came toward me, seeming very sorry for what he had done, and put his hand up te the wound on my face. He then took razor and drew it across his throat" At this point the woman exclaimed: "And oh God, how the blood spurted p and swooned com pletely away. After few moments de- lay she regained consciousness and con- tinued her statement. "He staggered and fell to the north corner of the room. called out to him to come to me. He staggered across the floor and kissed me two or three times. He tried to speak but couldn't. asked him if he loved me and he couldn't answer, but indicated that he did. He then lay down beside me and died"
Year: 1874

The locust plague which has fallen on the fair fields of the Northwest, says an exchange, appears to defy all reme- dial measures. Unless some means is devised for arresting the eastward march of these swarms of crop-devour- ing insects the consequences may be most serious.

 The nostrums suggested by agricul- tural authorities and claimed to be safe guards against the grasshopper and locust, have proved either too expen- sive or too dangerous for common use. Paris green is no doubt unwholesome to the grasshopper, but it's arsenical in- gredients are deadly to the farmer and deteriorating to the soil he spreads it over. Experiment has shown that such poisonous substances cannot be safely used unless in diluted form and in small quantities. The responsiveness of harmless, sends the farmer to some tending with the evil.

 It is questionable whether the inva- sions of grasshoppers can ever be pre- vented in some portions of the West. These insects are bred in myriad rum bers on the Rocky Mountain slopes and protected by the snow covering of the soil until the genial weather of spring arrives and they can go forth on their depredations. In their breeding places they cannot be reached. But when 8 colony has moved eastward and depos- tied it's eggs in the soil they may be at- tackled. It is said that in the South west the spring crop of grasshoppers has sometimes been cut off by deep blowing and turning over the layer of soil upon the eggs to crush them. This expedient, especially if repeated, may be effectual. But the great aim of the agriculturist ought to be to expose the soil and subsoil to the freezing tenn peratures of winter and spring. Were it possible to remove the snow, so that the intense cold should penetrate the earth, the deadly effect on all insect life lying dormant there would be very marked. It is not necessary in the Northwest that this should be done in midwinter, for the March and April winds are frigorifc enough. It appears likely, therefore, that the farmers who can turn up their fields while the cold weather lasts would have the best pros- pect of escaping the ruinous presence of locusts.

 It is strange that, with all our boast of the progress of agricultural science and entomology, the rural public is all in the dark and knows not how to con- tend with the insect foe. The evil of this locust invasion is so great and so alarming that every effort should be made to devise remedy, What can the United States Horticultural Depart ment suggest?
Year: 1874

The Changers of Muscatine county, Iowa, have formally addressed Gov. Carpenter, commenting him for his expressed determination to enforce the present Railroad law of the State, and asking him to carry that determination out fully. They say "It appears that there is plan on foot to render the law imperative through some technical ities or informalities, by reason of which the railroad companies hope to put off the action of the law for another year, and in the meantime keep up the present system of extortion. Now we would entreat your Excellency to have the law strictly and rigidly carried out, as it represents the wishes and views of the people, plainly expressed by their representatives in the last Legislature, and any steps taken toward evading or procrastinating the operations of that law will be viewed by the people with a great deal of dissatisfaction"
Year: 1874

A blast of from 2,5OO to 5000 tons was made at the mines of tke Toniber Brook Mining Company, in Morris county, New Jersey, exceeding in mag nitude any ever before accomplished in America. After much delay in the necessary preparations the wires were connected and the signal given for the work of destruction to commence. A few turns of the battery and 8 dull, ! heavy thud was heard, and the immense bou1ders of rock and ore were seen to give way sluggishly and roll in one huge mass at the foot of the quarry. The scene was terrific in the extreme. The 2 air was filled with fragments of rock, and the sickening odor of the evolved gases was almost unbearable. The great work was finished, and there, ir the midst of the primeval forest, ley ir bseksn heaps 5000 tens of ore
Year: 1874

KEEPING F1sH.-In Russia, while the weather is cold, they clean all kinds of fish, as for use, then place them on an inch of fine white sand in tub, and fill the latter with pure water. The water freezes solidly about the fish, and the whole block of ice is then turned out of the tub, stored away, and will keep the fish perfectly fresh and pure until it is melted. Professor Blot sug- gests that game and Ash might be kept thus in the ies-henses of any country all gUmmsg,
Year: 1874

. WOULD Nor Do IT.-In response to an application of the Governor of Minnesota that he be permitted to draw subsistence stores for the relief of suf- ferers from the grasshopper ravages, such stores to be charged against the fund available for the purchase of arms for the Minnesota militia, the U. S. Secretary of War telegraphs that he has no authority to transfer appropriations from one purpose to another, and that he has no money whatever at his com- mand with which to purchase the sup plies requested,
Year: 1874

SETTING HEN ON FISH -EaGs.-A curious mode of fsh-hatching is said to be followed in China. Having collected the necessary spawn from the waters edge, the fishermen place a certain quantity in an empty hens egg, which is sealed up with wax and put under a setting hen. After some days they break the egg and empty the fry into water we'll warmed by the sun, and there nurse them until they are sufi- ciently strong to be turned into lake or river.
Year: 1874

SToP TH1EF.-The resource of pur- sued thief in Indianapolis was to knock off the hat of man whom he met. Then he stood in dark doorway while the other man ran after the wind-waft- cd hat, while the policeman ran by and chased the bareheaded runner until the mistake Was discovered. The thief had act waited,
Year: 1874

The Secret of CapttvatiOn.-Features of Grecian mould, well-turned neck and beautifully rounded arms, are no doubt very nice things to have, and ladies who possess these charms have reason to be thankful to Mother Nature yet, after all, the most captivating of all womanly charms is pure, fresh and brilliant complexion. This superlative fascination any lady may secure by using AGAN's MAGNOLIA BALM.
Year: 1874

The Pacific Mail Steamship Company and the
Panama Railway Company give notice that they
viii transport, Tree Of charge all goods, wares and
merchandise intended for display at the w, rld's
Exposition IN Chill, South America, to be held
during the summer Of 1874.
Year: 1874

RICHMOND, Va, Sept Is, 1874.


Your correspondent yesterday waited upon Gov
ernor James l.. Kemper, and in response to the
general inquiry as to wnat his opinion was OF the
late revolutionary movement in New Orleans he
said 1T is the atrociOus system Of misrue forced
on the unwilling people OF some OF the Southern
states which has subjected virtue and intelligence
to the rule OF vice and ignorance; which has put
the Tree born and educated classes under the
dominion OF their late slaves, led on by miscreant
adventurers, compared with whom the negro is as
Hyperion to q satyr; which has paralyzed the In.
dustry OF whole communities and given them up
to be pillaged and sacked by the most daring pun
derers and thieves America ever produced, and
which constitutes q black and damning stain on
the civilization OF the nineteenth century. 1t has
wrought out Its logical results at New Or
leans. The flesh will quiver as the pincers
tear. The South can never recover and the North
can never prosper as long as the power OF the
common government upholds those who trespass
and plundcr the section which produces the
chief exports OF the country. The negro
ought not to be blamed, for he rarely CON-
mts wrongs except such as partisan synd-
Gates at the North predetermne to be done or
adventurera at the Sonth lnstigate him to do
Year: 1874

Colonel McEnery, almost to a man, desire
to ignore them. I am willing, and have
offered to give to my opponents every possible
safeguard against fraud in the coming cleo
ton.


Even the Shreveport Times, the ablest and
most malignant exponent of the views of the
opposition, in recent issue admitted that
registration had been exceptionally fair as far
as it had gone and on Saturday night the
State Registrar made up his returns of
registration to date, and found that in the
city of New Orleans, where the opposition
claim to have a majority sufficient to wipe
out an admitted large republican majority in
the country parishes, more than half the
qualified voters had been registered, and the
republicans were ahead.


In this fact alone you have a sufficient ex-
planation of the so-called uprising of the
people on Monday last, and the So
called negro riots in the country
parishes, which have simultaneously
been reported. If we can have
a peaceable election in November next, the
result will show most conclusively, think,
that McEnery was not elected to the Office to
which he makes such persistent claim.


WILLIAM PITT KELLOGG.
Year: 1874

NEW ORLEANS, sept. 10, 1879
JEMEs GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR OF THE HER


S1R-In reply to your despatch of this date
inquiring if I would be willing to resign if
McEnery would resign also and abide the re-
suit of new election, I have to say,
6rst, that McEnery is q defeated candidate for
the Office of Governor of this State, and has
nothing to resign; secondly, that no new
election is needed, inasmuch as the
constitution of the State provides for
an election for members of the Legis-
nature early in November next and the
Legislature that may be then elected will have
1t within their power to remove any or all the
existing State officials and supply their places
by men of their own choice.


The constituency I represent is largely
composed of colored men. 1t was by their
votes chiefly that was elected to the Office
now hold. For two years have administered
the government of the State with sole desire
to place its finances on O sound footing to
develop its internal resources and to secure
to the colored people the full and free enjoy
ment of the rights conferred upon them by
the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments to
the constitution of the United States.


In spite of the apparently almost insuper-
able obstacles which have beset the present
State government at every point, we
have reduced expenditures and taxation,
limited the debt both of State and
city, limited the rate of taxation,
and provided by constitutional amend
ment against all possibility of in
creased burdens being placed upon the peo-
pie. The last democratic Legislature that
assembled in this State, of which Nc
Emery was prominent member, ex-
ceeded its revenues by S13,00O,0O
and left the succeeding republican admins
tration to provide the means Of payment


My opponents have adopted the plan of
venting upon me individually all the hatred
they bear to the principles Of the party
represent.


Borne down almost by the responsibilities
of my position and by the accumulated
weight of obloquy thrust upon me,
have repeatedly said, if the repub-
lican party believed my resignation
would establish peace and secure
from the opponents Of the republican
party o recognition of the rights of the COL
ored people under the constitutional amend
ments, and would gladly divest myself OF an
Office which / had not sought and had most
reluctantly allowed myself to be nomi-
mated for The obvious reply to these
propositions has been that if 1 were to resign
the duties of the executive Office would de-
volve upon Lieutenant Governor Antoine,
and he would be no more acceptable to the
opposition than myself, and the colored peo-
pls Wouio Aho eneAleclNeS no petter projected
than Eow.


No specific charge of wrong doing has ever
been made against me and sustained by proof
ALI accusations have been couched in gener-
alites which, when reduced to actual
facts, will be found to amount
simply to this-that the administration
] represent is in favor of putting
the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments into
practical effect: and the supporters of
Year: 1874

Several weeks have now elapsed
since the meeting of the prominent
Democrats Of the country in New
York City, known as the Manhat-
tan gathering" or the meeting of the
Manhattan Club. This meeting had
national significance and import
ance sufficient to warrant full notice
and comment by almost every journ-
al in the country. Large numbers OF
letters and kilograms from the most
prominent Democrats, in almost ev-
cry State, who could not be present,
were received and read before the
meeting, expressing regrets that
they were unable to attend a meet
ing of such Importance, declaring
their fidelity to the old party, and
predicting its future success. 1t was
grand reunion of the men now in
the lead of the Democratic party
the only national party now opposed
to the Republican party. The DEM
ocratic press OF the country, almost
without exception, has plainly ex-
pressed its approval of the spirit and
utterances Of that meeting.


Yet the Democrat Of this city has
not dared to give its readers report
of this important meeting, OF the do





ings of the National Democracy, or
the expressions Of its men and press,
although this same party is opposing
the Republican party, and is In fact
and spirit the ally of the Anti-Mo-
nopoly party Of Iowa, for whose well
fare the Democrat pretends to be
earnestly laboring. Why is this!
Must the GranScrs be kept in utter
Year: 1874

leaders of the new party, while the
old party on the other side is taken
into full fellowship, petted and
praised. They find, if they will
take the trouble to seek the truth,
that the new party is to be sacrificed
by its leaders for the benefit of the
old Democratic party; and the Re-
publican accessions to the new party
are to have no alternative but to fol-
low their leaders to the old Demo-
cratic party or return to the Repub-
lican party. They must eventually
choose. Is it not better to do so
now? or will they longer quietly
submit to the fraud being practiced
upon them, and give the Democracy
the benefit of their services and infiu-
ence in another campaign? Let us
ask them what portion of the results
of victory did they receive last fall
in the division? Where are those
Republicans now who were elected
last year" Are they not found in re-
ality in the Democratic fold, under
Democratic influences, and doing all
that men in their position can do to
build up and strengthen the Demo-
cratic party? Where shall we find
them when the Democratic party
refuses longer to even make pretense
of division?


Sure as the year 1876 arrives, the
Democratic party will set up for
itself in business. Where then will
be the boasted strength of the Grange
party? 1t will be a mere handful of
men without power or prestige, and
it's members will stand between two
fires. With the aid Of a majority OF
the Democratic party it is now able
to present an appearance of strength.
This appearance will be found to be
delusive and temporary, and the
party will be early shorn of its lau-
rels. 1t will never be able to reach
the reforms it seeks. Failure and
disintregation are its doom.