smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

NeW lOTh neIdlul


Some days since we saw occasion to
applaud the discretion of the spirits.
1t was given out that the attention of
the spirit world had been called to the
story of Mrs. Hull, and that through
several mediums intimations had been
given that the spirits knew all about
it and were prepared to disclose the
whole story if anybody would treat. 1t
was not the parsimony of mediums or
wisdom mongers that stood in the way,
but the people who turn the crank of
the oracle were possessed with the
conviction that outside suggestions,
theories and information tended TO
distract the attention of the police
from the indescribably brilliant lines
of reasoning by which they expected
to reach the truth. And so the keep
ers of spiritual communication
stood on the matches and would not


ct the wisdom Of the under world


prOut up to distract the agents of
justice. We respected their good will,
but it appears that they did not abso-
lntely hold their peace. They com
mitted themselves to the little indis-
cretion of saying that it was done by a
man and woman-therefore not by
an elephant and giraffe, nor even by
the gyasticutis; and as in fact it was
done by a man, this is pretty near to
it, because the mere addition of a
woman is of not sufficient consequence
to invalidate the important inlorma-
tion actually given in the statement
that it was done by a man. But now
that it can no longer interfere with
the police we rely upon the spirits to
come boldly forward and tell us that
the assassin S name is Cox.
Year: 1879

true soldier in war and in peace.
While strictly orthodox he is courte


GUS to those who differ with him, and
recognizes the universal brotherhood
of our race. His heroic Christian
conduct in remaining here to look
after the sick and dying during the
yellow fever epidemic last year, when
nearly all the members of his church
were gone, will never be forgotten.
1t is matter of imperishable history.
To the practical work of sanitation he
has given much study and his valuable
assistance. He is in the midst of a
career Of great usefulness, Memphis
cannot afford to lose such man, and
we hope that he will be induced to
remain with the people for whom he
has labored so zealously and CALAMITY,
and who hold him in such high esteem.
Year: 1879

II the Memphis papers DO not
weary in well doing, they will build
up public sentiment in that COM
munity which will render the foolish b
practics ofcarrying concealed weapons
the opposite of popular. We wish
them success in their good work, and
trust they will keep it up until this
relic of barbarism will be q thing OF
the past. Let the savage array him
self in hideOus forms, and go around
with deadly weapons and the scalping
knife, but let men of culture, intelli-
gence and courage rely upon some
thing else. Rather let our jails be
filled with young men, and men
of maturer years, hailing from the
first families, but who 20 to theatres,
social parties aud other public places
with pistols in their hip pockets, than
that life should be endangered by a
practice so utterly deYoid of reason, so
wicked and so cowardly. Let the
press in other portions of the State
Join in with that of Memphis, anu let
US have public opinion that will de-
mand the enforcement of the law.
Year: 1879

ATTENTION is called to the Port
Royal dispatch OF this morning. The
outline OF "a scheme is there presented
which will doubtless work great
changes in American commerce in the
near future.
Year: 1879

Regarding borers in peach trees,
says the Country Gentleman, it Is
useful to heap peck of dry Stacked
lime about the peach trees after the
grubs have been picked, and before
the earth is drawn back to the tree.
The lime kills any grubs that may
be left. IF a live grub is thrown
into the dry lime it will soon die 4;
this may be tried to satisfy an in
quiring mind. Having used lime in
this way in 1877, the writer found
no bore1s at all in his trees in 1878.
and therefore has confidence in this
means of repressing the depreda-
tions of this pest.
Year: 1879

E3-The closing exercises will consist of a
magnificent display of Fire works at night,
such as East Tennessee has not witnessed
for long time, if ever Persons return
ing on trains can witness it and get off in
time
Year: 1879

1t is we'll established fact that cot
ton cloth that is bleached ny chemical
process before it goes into market, does
not wear as well as that which is un
bleached, and is very liable in time to
turn yellow: also it is very much hard
er to sew upon. have for some years
past used the unbeached in preference.
Sheets and pillow cases can be made up
far quicker before cotton has been wet,
an allowance can be made for shrink
ing indeed any garment can be made
if this item is borne in mind. Make a
good suds Of soft water and lye soap,
il You have it; put the cotton cloth in
cold suds, and bring it to a boil then
take the cloth or garment out and when
cool spread on the snow or grass. Have
a tub of suds close by so as to dip the
goods in each day. In three days they
will be bleached to snow whiteness aud
keep white till worn out. This is the
way our grandmothers blcached their
marvellous webs of linen and aamask
and it is too good PRACTICE to be for
gotten, or 90 out Of use When the ap'
pie trees are in bloom, spread out gar
ments that have turned yel ow, after boil
ing in such suds. and they will be clean
sed white as snow.-Letter to Country
Gentleman
Year: 1879

A Kentucky paper remarks that the
look of intelligence assumed by the
young lawyer as he sits in court should
be put stop to. 1t is calculated to
cause the presiding Judge to lose conf
dence in himself, to make him believe he
doesn't know anything.
Year: 1879

G. Eaton has invented what he calls the
Poor mans prospecting hand or power
quartz mill, and is manufacturing them in
Chicago whtre they are SOLD for $3.50 each.
The mill is described as simple and durable,
and so constructed that two men can operate
it all day. The force of the blow can be
changed so as to strike light or very heavy
blow readily. 1t can be run by band or
power, band pulley being put on for the
latter purpose.


When power is used the manufacturers
say that each stamp will strike $50 blows per
minute and that the force of the blow in
comparison to the face of the stamp ~
inches) is greater than any of the ordinary
heavy power stamps. These machines are
well made, being put together with bolts. to
be taken apart readily, 60 as to be convenient
to pack on mules back. The whole ma
chine weighs about 1900 pounds, the heav-
lest piece weighing 200 poands.


The revolution of tappets on the crank
shaft depress the inner ends of the levers,
which raise the stamps by means of straps
passing over the outer end of said levers.
The other end of the strap or cord fastened
to the stamp is secured to rachel wheel, by
which means it is possible to regulate the
drop. Spiral springs draw down the lever as
they are released by the cams. so as to cause
the stamps to strike the blow.-P0rtage Lake
Mining Gazette.
Year: 1879

Nothing since the days of the Revolution
has ever presented to the world such scene
as has been for fifteen days and nights pass
ing within this great country. Repose or
rest has been unknown in it, except it was
seen in messenger totally worn out, asleep
upon his pOsthorse or upon his carriage


Everyday the roads in every direction, and
to and fro from every remote corner of the
country, have been covered with vehicles
laden with voters; bar0uches, curicles, gigs,
flying coaches, military wagons, with eight
horses to each, and crowded sometimes with
forty voters) have been securing the country,
leaving not the smallest chance for the quiet
traveller to urge his humble journey, or find
a chair in an inn to sit down upon. 1t is
reckoned that, one day with ano.her, about
eight horses day were found dead upon the
different roads, literally killed by high speed
and continuous work. Every house, every
room, every bed at York, by an incessant
change of voters at the rate of 1000 day,
created consumption of provisions that
might have served the whole city for twelve
months. So eagerly was every vote sought
for that Mr.. Denison, who was canvassing in
York, with party Of Lord Millions friends,
having heard by accident of freeholder,
who was actually on board vessel in the
river sailing for the Straits, went after him
in a boat and brought him back the man
voted in York the day before the polls
Closed Old English Newspaper.
Year: 1879

Denver (Col) Nesns: Two Englishmen
recently started from Denver for walk to
the mountains before breakfast, an appar-
emily easy task, as the mountains did not ap-
pear more than mile or two away. After
walking for an hour without seeming to
have made any progress towards the desired
goal one of them became discouraged and
concluded to return for his breakfast; after
wards he took carriage and went in search
of his friend, whom he found on the bank of
a small ditch engaged in removing his boots.
His friend inquired what he intended to do
He replied, ITO wade the ditch" His
friend said there was no necessity for that, as
it was less than three feet across, and he
could easily jump it. 'sYou can't tell any
thing about it in this blarsted country" re-
piled the other; it may be three hundred
feet across" His morning walk proved to
extend about fifteen miles before he reached
the foothills.
Year: 1879

(DetrOlt Free troee


Some time since Detroit merchant was in
want of clerk, and he advertised the fact
Among the numerous applicants who sent in
recommendations was young man who had
shortly before received letter from the old
man Blank, to the effect that any further Wis
its to his house on the part of the young man
could not be permitted, and that ''Mary's"
future husband was already selected. In
his haste and excitement he forwarded this
not in place of recommendation from q
mercantile house. and on discovering his
mistake, he called upon the merchant to Sc
cure the missive.


',Ah!" said the merchant, as the young
man entered, ''you can begin here tomorrow
I was about to write to you"


''That-that letter." began the young
man, but the merchant interrupted:


s'Best recommend in the world. Old Blank
and have been enemies for forty six years.
Any one he is down on always employ, in
order to aggravate him: Come right along.
III give you position il the front OF the
store, where the old curmudgeon must see
you every time he passes, and if you want to
make up faces at him I'll pay all the costs!"


Thus We are able to furnish another illus
Year: 1879

| 1t is a we'll known, but not less remarkable


fact that If the tip OF an exceedingly small


tube be dipped in water the water will rise in
| the tube throughout its whole length. This
| may be shown in variety of ways For in
| stance when piece of sponge, or sugar, or


cotton, is just allowed to touch water, these


substances, being all composed OF uumberless


little tubes, draw up the water and tie whole
OF the piece becomes wet, 1t is said to suck
up or jmbibe the moisture. We see the same


wonderful action going on in nature, in the


Using of the sap through the small tubes or


pores of the wood, whereby the leaves and


upper portions of the plant derive nourish-
ment from the ground. This strange action
is called " "capillary," from the resemblance
the minute tubes bear to hair, the latin word


for which is capiVus.


1t is. moreover, singular that the absorp-
ton of the water takes place with great force.
If dry sponge be inclosed tightly in a YES
sci it will expand when wetted with sufficient
force to burst it unless very strong. Wood,
which is more unyielding material, acts
with tremendous force when wetted, and ad-
vantage has been taken Of this fact in split
ting blocks of granite. This process is large
ly adopted IN Dartmore. After mass of
granite has been rent from the mountain by
blasting, it is measured in every direction to
see how best to divide it into smaller blocks
These are traced out by staight lines on the
surface, and series of holes are drilled at
short intervals along this line. Wedges of
dry wood are then tightly driven into the
holes and wetted, and the combined action of
the swelling wood splits the block into the
direction repaired, and without any destruct-
i've violence. The same process is then car
ried out upon the other faces. and the rough
ly shaped block finished with the hammer and
chisel II World of Wonders
Year: 1879

A few years ago there lived on the line Of
the HousatOnic road in Massachusetts little
boy who was only five or six years of age,
but who was natural preacher. So much
talent in that direction did he possess that his
friends often put him on table and listened
to his discourses. One day he was preaching
with great power, and becoming unusually
animated and swinging his little arms in the
manner of older ones, when something about
the platform on which he stood gave way
and down to the floor the little fellow went,
head first. He was considerably hurt, but
controlling himself for moment, he arose
and, resuming his place, with great gravity
he said: "People-meetin's OUT" and then,
not being able to control himself any longer,
he let forth the floods of his anguish until the
whole neighborhood could hear his childish
CrV.
Year: 1879

PROF. SAMUEL A. KING, aronau., in his
published communications as to q balloon
voyoge across the Atlantic. speaks confident
ly of his ability to make balloon voyage of
months duration, sufficient, with thirty
five mile breeze to circumnavigate the globe.
The experiments in which he has been en-
gagged almost exclusively for the last two
years have demonstrated 20 his satisfaction
that it is not only feasible to construct bal
loon that will maintain the bulk of its lifting
power, but that it is also easily practicable to
keep it afioat and in transit for this length of
time. Having satisfied himself on these inn
portant p oints the Professor is conducting
Year: 1879

ont of the clover and bue-eyed grass,


He turned them into the river.lan
One after another he let them pass,


Then fastened the meadow bars again,
Under the willows, and over the hill.


He patiently followed their sober pace;
The merry whistle tor once was still,


And something shadOwed the sunny face.
Only boy! and his father had said


He never could let his Youngest go;
Two already were lying deed,


Under the feet of the trampling foe
But after the evening work was done,
And the frogs were loud in the meadOw-swamp,
Over his shoulder he slung his gun
And stealthily followed the foot-path damp.
Across the clover and through the wheat
With resolute heart and purpose grim,
Though cold was the dew on his hurrying feet.
And the blind bats fitting startled him.
Thr ce since then had the lanes been white,
And the orchard sweet with apple bloom;
And now, when the cows came back at night
The feeble father drove them home
For news had come to the lonely farm
That three were lying where two had lain;
And the old mans tremulOus palsed arm
Could never lean sons again.
The summer day grew cool and late,
He went for the OWS hen the work was done;
But down the lane rs lie opened the gate
lie saw them Ginning one by Oue.
Brindle Ebony, Speckle and Bess,
Shaking their horns in the evening wind;
Cropping the buttercups out of the grass.
But VINO was it following close behind?
Loosely swung in the idle air
The empty sleeve of army blue;
And worn and lie from the crisping hair,
looked out face that the father knew.
For Southern prisons will sometimes yawn,
And yield their dead unto life again:
And the day that comes with cloudy dawn
In golden slory at last may wane.
The great tears sprans to the meeting eyes;
For the heart must speak when the lips are dumb,
And under the silent evening skles
Together they followed the cattle home.


Harpers Magazine.
Year: 1879

There is no use in putting up the
motto "God bless our home," if the
father is a rough old bear, and the spirit
of discourtesy and rudeness is taught by


the parents to the children, and by the
older to the younger. There is no use in


putting up the motto THE Lord will
provide" while the father is shiftless,


the mother is shiftless, the boys refuse to
work, and the girls busy themselves over
gewgaws and finery. There is no use in
putting up the motto The Greatest of
these is Charity" while the tongue of the
back-biter wags in the family and silly
gossip is dispensed at the tea-table.
There is no use of placing up conspic-
uously the motto "The liberal man de-
viseth liberal things" while the money
chinks in the pockets of the head of the
household, groaning to get out and see


the light of day, and there are dollars
and dimes for wines and tobacco and
other luxuries, but positively not one
cent for the church. In how many
homes are these mOttoes standing-let
us say hanging sarcasms, which serve
only to point jest and adorn satire !
The beauty of quiet lives, of truthful,
hopeful, free-handed, free-hearted, char
liable lives, is one of surprising lowell
ness, and those lives shed their own in
comparable fragrance, and the world
knows where to find them. And they
shall remain fresh and fadeless when the
colors of the pigment and the worsted
and the floss have faded, and the very
frames have rotted away in their joints.
Year: 1879




How manifold are thy works, 0 re-
porter, and how dost thou compass the
people of the earth around about.


Thy name is legion, thou art every
where at once, thy fat is a joy unto the
printer and thy lean hangeth upon the
hook until it be dead.


In the day dost thou gird thyself and
travel into far countries and sit with
lawgivers and money changers in the
temple; thy hand is against every man
and every man is against thee.


Thou climbest the stairs at night, yea,
even seven flights of stairs climbest thou
up and makest thyself to sit in chamber
whereunto the reaches and mosquitoes do
appertain.


If so be the son of man prevalent upon
thee to look upon the wine when it is
red, it being but the third hour of the
day, thou art full as a tick and thy
masters do dock thee as to thy wages.


The foolish reporter saith in his heart:
My work albeit being done l will tarry
awhile hereabouts, lest haply there being
fire or murder, the paper shall be
scooped of an item.


And as he tarrieth, 10, there comes a
fire and he hustleth out upon the war
path and they squirteth water upon his
raiment and entreat him sore, but he
! writeth up anon and sweateth much, foI
he is IA foolish reporter.


But the wise reporter, whensoever his
task be done, skippeth for home and
J lieth upon his couch and sleepeth the
sleep of the righteous man.
And when the fire cometh and the
| murder descendeth. he laueheth them
to scorn and no man saith unto him &C
and he goeth or come and he cometh, OIL
scoop and he scoopeth it.


For he was wise reporter and he
maketh merry with himself and all his
ways are ways of pleasantness and al
his. paths are peace.
Year: 1879

Yesterday l watched the happy boys
of Moncton, down on the river bank,
sliding down the long muddy incline,
ending with plunge into the water
that was little thicker than the banks
they slid down. remember the game
with vivid distinctness. How often
Ihave played it in my days of inno-
cence. Coasting wasn't u circumstance
to it. And this mud bank sliding has
been p pular among boys in all ages and
countries.


The fun comes in when you slide over
a clam shell.


One boy has just glided over shell
now. | can hear him clear here, and l
think he is about two miles and half
away. l cannot hear very distinctly
just what he is saying remember The
formula as perfectly though as if had
only ceased to study it yesterday.
Year: 1879

Commend us to Carrie Roberts
who was sat home" to tramp who
called to the house of her employer in
New Lebanon, Ohio, recently. 1t is not
every young woman, who being alone in
a dwelling, and suddenly discovering the
presence of robber, would have the
presence of mind to make direct for his
hair and to administer to him lesson
that made him glad enough to drop his
booty and escape from the premises fol-
lowed by several shots fired from a
revolver in quick succession. If tramps
in general came across such energetic
domestics their intrusions would be less
frequent than they now are. Circum-
stances, of course, favored Carries feat,
or probably we ought to say her hands.
If the tramp had been bald-headed, or
had worn a wig, she could not have
given him such conclusive evidence of
her strength as to convince him of the
prudence of retreat. We can only ex-
press our regrets that Miss Carries aim
was not as steady as her nerves, and
that she did not prevail on her visitor to
stop by well directed shot from her
revolver, although he doubtless left her
lock of his hair.
Year: 1879




Men should not allow their wives tc
split wood; it is emphatically mans
work, and awoman is likely to make a
bad job of it. Peter johnson of Rochester,
N. Y, however, left his wife without
frewood, and so she took an AK and
started for the woodpile to get a supply
for herself. Selecting a proper piece Of
wood, she struck at it several times with
out hitting it, and at last cleft it partly
in two. Thinking she could easily part
it with her hands, she inserted her
fingers in the crack and tried to spread
it apart. Out dropped the AK, which
until this time had remained in the
wood, and the stick springing together,
imprisoned her tingcrsas in wise. After
struggling awhile she picked up the AK
with her free hand, but in striking ut the
cleft the blow missed and cut off one of
her fingers. She then gave it up, and,
with her fingers still held in the stick,
she managed to go to u neighbor's house,
where she received assistance.
Year: 1879

THERE has never been p rio | in
the historyof this country when suicide
was more prevalent than it has been
during the past few years. Time was
when such act was sensation and a
nine days wonder; now it seems to be
taken as a matter of course, and dis
missed with a paragraph. The causes
that are leading to the spread of the
t,o-prevalent crime, might afford a
study for humanitarians. 1t is time for
public opinion to bestir itself, and see if
they cannot be rooted out. Public
opinion, which can make the memory
of suicide disgraceful, can do much
il it will only make itself felt.
Year: 1879




The death Of Miss Minnie wilkins of
Memphis, by yellow fever, was MS
pathetic as it was dreadful. In the in
tervals of the black vomit spasms she
besought her husband to kiss her, and
he, with a devotion which will probably
cost him his life, complied. She died
with her arms about his neck, and he Is
now Frustrated with the malignant
pe3tilence. Greater love hath no man
than this that he should give his life for
isfriends," But the life of this husband
was given, not to save that of his wife
for she was beyond hope-but to cheer
the agony Of her last moments on earth
With kiss and m embrace.
Year: 1879

THERE is an unprecedented activity
in the iron and steel trade all over the
country. 1t is stated that every steel
rail mill in the country has more orders
than they can fill and some have taken
orders running in 1881. While this
state Of affairs exists in this country, the
London Times groans over the spectacle
Of forty four idle Bessemer converter-
in the united kingdom.
Year: 1879

The effort to shove the silver coin
into circulation by oblieing employees of
the Government to take ten per cent
Of their salaries in it, has been failure,
for instead Of taking the metal the
employees demand and get the silver
certificates.