smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

with grooved lines. These grooves
determined the breadth of the let
ters she is to make, and their dis
tance apart determines the distance
of the lines. She wrote neatly and
rapidly in letters resembling the
raised ones of her books: ''Thc
Lord is my shepherd, l shall not
want" Her mother remarked that
she would write letter sooner than
she could herself. When we arose
to go she took her watch from her
belt and told us the time" three
minutes past sever" by means OF
the raised figures on the face; and
she took us by the hand, which
was her way of saying good even
ing.


1t is surprising that one who is
deaf, DUMB and blind; whose mind
has to be reached mainly through
the sense Of feeling, should be able
to comprehend SO readily and ex-
press herself so easily. She recog-
nizes those whom she has met be-
fore as readily as any one. As
might be expected, her emotions all
show themselves in hercountenance,
whether of joy or sadness. The



death of her kind friend, DR.. Howe,
was a severe blow to her.


Such is the appearance of Laura
Bridgman. She has no recollection
Of sight or sound, as she tells US,
yet is able to do such things as
have related, and finds much more
to enjoy in life than many who have
all their faculties. 1t is said that
she plays skillfully on the piano,
though this we did not see. She
spends much of her time at the in
8titution for the blind, South Bos-
ton.
Year: 1877

Devious are the paths of Mexi-
can justice, as q certain Californian
found out recently when he tried to
prosecute a native for stealing his


valise. The court at once ordered


Ohe arrest of the entire crew of the
vessel on which the theft was com
mitted, and made the prosecutor
pay successive fees of SIG and 1922
for the privilege of making his
complaint. This struck him as a
rather losing operation, and he took
the advice Of knowing country
man and cleared. At last accounts
the captain and crew were still in
durance, and the court was rapidly
absorbing the value of the schooner.
Year: 1877

provision in the bylaws respecting
quorum, the resolutions were
valid. The case was carried up on
appeal, and the decision of the
lower court has been reversed on
the ground that one man cannot
"meet."
Year: 1877

elective franchise. The Southern States


now enjoy political power derived from this


condition they have not complied with it.


They are enjoying political power by the


fifteenth amendment wrongly and without


complying with the conditions upon which


it was given. They have the benefit Of all


this in the electoral colleges. The popular
majority claimed for them is made up a.
most exclusively by the unnatural majorities
given in States where they have denied to
greater or less degree to legal voters the
elective franchise. They have no just right,
according to the forms of law or its spirit,
to the votes Of Louisiana, South Carolina,
and Florida. These votes have been legally
cast. by electors duly returned and duly
chosen, for Governor Hayes. You cannot
reverse this without giving effect to lawless
violence and intimidation. You cannot de-
prive the Republican candidates of these
electoral votes without defeating the honest
choice of the majority of the people of these
States
Year: 1877

Miss Esther Brown, lady of color,


expired yesterday at No. 433 East One


Hundred and Twentieth street. What


she died of was mystery, but her


friends had a suspicion that She was the


Vlctsm OF snake, frog, or some semi


amphlblous creature, which had for


months located in her vitals. The de-


ceased herself was under the impression


that there was a denizen in her stomach


which was disposed to be restless, and


which, when other food was wanting.


preyed upon her. This she told to sew


eral friends of here, and she accounted
for the strange intrusion in this way: At


not very remote date Miss Brown was


in the country, and one day while roam
ing through the fields and woods she


came upon brook clear as crystal and
exceedingl y tempting. Miss Brown
thlrsted and she at once qrtaffed q
draught of the brook WATER But. alasl


Miss Brown never recovered from the
effects of that drink A serpent or a
toad-Whlch she never learned, but she
was positive it was either one or the
other-happened to be in the water, and
slipped down her throat, and from that
day her stomach was the abode of the
reptile. She felt its movements within
her, and consulted physicians without
number. The medicines they prescrib-
ed she swallowed, but singuIarly enough
the creature lived on; gastric juice was
poWerless so far as it was concerned. and
the strongest emetics failed to move it.
At length Miss Brown sickened and died.
and Coroner WOltman was notified of
her demise. Yesterday his deputy Wis
tied the home Of the deceased to make
an autopsy. To him the mother of
Miss Brown stated that the dead woman
was the only one of nine children who
had ever been sick. In her youth she
had the smallpox, and later on in life
she began to complain Of pains in her
stomach for which no physician could
account. She remembered however.
having drank the water of a brook
which was known to contain a number
of snakes and lizards. A couple of
these creatures, it was supposed, were
swallowed, and they at once began to
consume portions of Miss Browns stom-
Gch. Old Mrs. Brown was positive about
the snakes. She said that when pork,
pickles or other victuals for which they
had no relish were eaten by her daueh-
ter the lizard tried to crawl away and
the snakes wriggled about, thereby caus-
ing the woman intense torture. 1t was
a dreadful shock to the old colored wo-
man to learn that poor Esther had no
such inmates as were supposed to be
located in her stomach, and that con
Bright's disease Of the kid
neys, and dyspepsia were the causes of
her death, and not snakes or lizards.
Year: 1877

A marriage was celebrated n few dayS
ago IN st. Augustine's church, Shaw
street, Liverpool, and as a part of the
preparations, Mr.. William Stevenson,
uphOlsterer, received orders from the


brides mother to lay down roll of
crimson baize from the door of the
church along the aisle to the place where
the important and interesting proceed
lngs of the day were to take place.
After the ceremony Mr.. Stevenson went
to pick up bis crimson cloth from the
aisle with view of carrying it away.
He succeeded in getting it into roll,
which he shouldered, and got the length
OF the door when he was suddenly pull
ed up by the sexton, who seized the
cloth and told him to leave it in the
church. The owner naturally asked
the reason of this stoppage, and the an
swer was to the. effect that the cloth
having been brought nto-lthe church
and used there, had been made holy
according to his theory, and having
hus been cOnsecrated could not again
be removed without an act of sacrilege
being committed. An ecclesiastical
tug of war" then began between the
representative of the church militant
and the rightful owner of the goods.
Each managed to seize the baize few
yards apart, and began pulling it with
might and main-the sexton to get it
inside, and Mr.. Stevenson to get it out
side the sacred edifce. "The tag" took
place just at the door of the church,
and large crowd soon gathered to wit
ness the novel contest of right against
might. The people cheered and laugh
ed; some cried "shame," but mean
while the two combatants continued to
pull with all their strength, until it be-
came evident that very soon there would
be nothing but shreds and patches to
fight about. Mr.. Stevenson, after en-
ploying his powers of persuasion and
other means to no purpose for long
time, at length left his cloth under pro
test, and it was deposited in the vestry
to await further steps which he will
take
Year: 1877

In New York city Jane Mclaughlin
stole from its parents and its home a
six-year-old child for the sole purpose
of using it to induce the benevolent to
give her charity. She kept it in damp
basement, in filth, nakedness and want.
so that by its tears and destitution it
might the more surely excite sympathy
and secure gain. To keep the child in
subsection and terror, she frequently
whipped it, so that the bruises were
kept fresh and bleeding. The parents
were half crazed with grief and susL
pense, so that the father forsook his
work, and spent his time wholly in vain
search and inquiry. She was sentenced
to state prison for ten years, and peo-
pie were indignant that the jury should
recommend her to the mercy of the
court. This was done to satisfy one of
the jurors who would not find verdict
of guilty without such proviso. The
court paid no attention to the recon-
Year: 1877

Its whole route, that is to saw. all but


about one-sixth of the region it crosses


IS capable of cultivation and settlement.


while more than half the region crossed
by the Union and Central, and four-fifths


OF the country traversed by the Texas


Pacific is, incapable of supporting an


agricultural population. The Northern


Pacific railroad would. therefore. be


sustained largely by its way traffic, which
would enable it to carry through freiehts
at less prices than the more southerly
routes which depend mainly on through
frelghts for their revenues. The com
pletlon of the Northern Pacific would
open many millions of acres of fertile
lands to the surplus population of our
cities now clamoring in vain for en-
ployment; it would supplant with or
ganlzed and civilized communities the
marauding savage tribes which now
roam over that vast territory in defiance
OF our little army, and save the govern
ment the large annual expenditures
which At = ,11nnn-incurs in vain effort to
secure the peace of the frontier; it
would throw open to the enterprise of
theworld the rich mineral resources of
Montana, and finally it would relieve
the commerce between the oceans of
the immense tax it now pays to the
cupidity of the single gigantic monopoly
which now controls it.
Year: 1877

The people along the line of the Union
and Central Pacific railroads and on the


Pacific coast are complaining of the


extOrtlonate rates charged by those COM
panies. What else is to be expected of
a corporation which controls the single
line of railroad connecting the Pacific
coast with the Mississippi river and
which has thus complete monopoly of
all the trade and travel across the CONT
nent? There is just one way to eman-
cipate the commerce of the country
from the oppressive exactions of this
monster monopoly, and that is to push
forward the construction of the North
ern Pacific railroad. The completion of
this railway is far more important to
the general commercial interests of the
country than the Texas Pacific. 1t will
develop, indeed, a far more desirable
country along its route, but as an instru-
ment of trans-continental commerce it
has great advantage over both the Texas
and the Union and Central Pacific lines:
for it lies in the direct track of the inter-
oceanic commerce of the world. 1t is
three or four hundred miles shorter than
the latter. and would save hundreds of
miles more IN the voyage from Pugets'
Sound to Japan or China over the route
from San Francisco or San Diego, and
has an immense advantage over either
in the matter of gradients. The Union
and Central Pacific traverse a vast des-
ert of some 1,400 miles in width. and
the Texas Pacific nearly as wide an ex-
tent Of generally sterile country. The
Northern Pacific encounters only a little
over 800 miles of sterile territory along
Year: 1877

There is a certain well known gentle
man, a resident of ward 1, who not long
ago, was the hero of little episode
which is altogether to good too be al
lowed to sink into newspaperless OBJ
security. He had been passing the even
ing at friends, making one of merry
euchre party, and when he reached his
own residence it was qnite late, in fact
past II o'clock. On entering his sleep
ing-room he noiselessly undressed and
crept into bed very quietly in order not
to disturb his wife, who was apparently
calmly sleeping, wrapped in pleasing
dreams. The gentleman was glad to
think his better-half, instead of sitting
up as was her custom, though against
his repeated requests, had retired, and
so took especial pains not to disturb her
repose, and in few minutes was HIM
self fast asleep.


1t was broad daylight when he awoke
the next morning, and the motionless
figure beside him showed that his wife,
usually quite early riser, had not yet
got up. He thought it strange she
should not be up, and stranger that she
should be .soundly sleeping; but feeling
Stlll 100 sleepy TO say anything, he
again consigned himself to slumber.
The sunlight was streaming into the
room when he again awoke, and still
his wife was sleeping beside him. Put
ting his hand on her head, and play
fully catching hold Of lock of hair
what was his surprise to find whole
head yield to his gentle pull, while
sudden burst of laughter from a lady
looking into the room through the part
ly opened door told the gentleman that
something was wrong somewhere, and
rising on his elbow he discovered that
instead of sleeping with his wife the
past night he had been reposing by the
side of a " dummy" which the partner
OF his bosom had skillfully decked out
in all the paraphernalia of sleeping
Venus. How the story got abroad is a
mystery, but one thing is certain, that
the gentleman who slept with the
" dummy" never told it.
Year: 1877

At the beginning of the Russio-Turk-
ish war early in 1877, there was regu-
lar panic in the grain market in this
country; wheat rose III price full fifty
cents on bushel in about week;
everybody talked about the rapidity
with which the people of this country
would prosper at the expense of the
warning nations of Europe The
bureau of statistics has just Issued a
statement from which it will be seen
that a war in Europe is not good thing
for the people of this country to rely
upon as a source of wealth. The follow
ing table showing the exports of bread
stufis from the United States for nine
months of 1877 and the same for like
period of 1876 will show what delu-
sive hope we had been hugging.
Year: 1877

THE Vanderbilt will case is again the
great sensation of New York city the
case having come up again on the 9th
inst in the courts of New York. There
is only one way in which the plaintiff
heirs can secure a greater allowance of
the estate than provided for in the
will, and that is by having the
will set aside. If this is done by
the court the estate will then be equally
divided among all the heirs. 1t would
seem that w. H. Vanderbilt who, by
the will received $95,OOO,OOO of the
Sl00,000,000 would act with greater
wisdom by giving the dissatisfied heirs
a few millions, than to take the chances
of equally dividing the whole, and in
curing all the legal expenses besides.
Year: 1877

THE action of the house on the sixth
inst. in objecting to the introduction of
Mr.. Joyce's resolution in regard to the
Cuban revolutionists plainly indicates
that the popular branch of congress
does not favor intervention in behalf of
the Cuban rebels The time may come
when the United States will take sides
against Spain in that struggle, but it is
evidently not here yet.
Year: 1877

A VOTE of the senate on making the
house silver bill a special order for the
11th was carried by Al to Is, showing
clearly that the senate contains large
majority in favor of the bill, the mes
sage of the president to the contrary,
notwithstanding
Year: 1877

THE Mexican question really begins
TO look serious, and unless a better I'M
derstanding is had between the two
countries very soon a war will surely
break out. Both sides are marshalling
all available troops along the border,
and they will not be long in getting into
- conflict
Year: 1877

MAJOR WALSH, of the Canadian police,
Is trying to get the commissioners to
make another attempt to secure Sitting
Bulls return to the United States. This
looks as if Canada did not care to en-
courage emigration from the United
States
Year: 1877

Sunset Cox has prepared a bill pro-
viding for the withdrawal Of 2O.cent
silver pieces from circulation. The
deeply religious nature of the member
from New York, adds strength to the
general belief that this bill is prepared
in the interest of church contribution
plates.- Worcester Press
Year: 1877

Nothing unnerves the averagesmall
boy so much as to be obliged to steal
cookies out of a crock. To his strained
senses the jarring Of the cover sounds
like the crack OF DOOM GALAXY.
Year: 1877

against honor. They can always be depended
upon to keep their faith. unless conscience Is
qurckened into repulsion. But there are
great many Republicans who would have been
placed IN an awkward quandary if the uppleas-
ant issue had been forced upon them. 1t was
tried in Ohio with most disastrous copse-
quences. There is no reason to believe the ex-
pertinent would have worked any better in
New York. As it is the party has done well
enough and has abundant reason to be con-
tented.


Mr.. Morrissey's victory over Schen was a
remarkable chapter in local politics He
must have received number of Republican
votes fully equal to his majority, which was
tritie less than 1000. He has beaten man,
who next to John Kelly is the greatest power
in Tammany Hall, as rich as Cresus and
having the New York Central Railway at his
back. 1t certainly is an extraordinary in
stance of the running qualities of a candidate.
1t is the first time Monissey has ever tried
conclusions with constituency that was sup
posed to be at all nice about the character of
the nominees presented for their suffrages. He
represents district containing mora wealth





Statesl


Now that we have got through with election,
it is to be hoped that public attention will be
awakened to the critical condition of affairs at
Washington, where the propensity to tamper
with the currency is beginning to threaten
danger to the country. Every step Congress
has taken thus far is in the wrong direction.
If the views of the House were to prevail we
should relapse into state of financial uncer-
tainty and distrust that would inevitably
prove destructive of the prosperity of the ma
ton. The Western Democrats are evidently
mad-stark mad, and the Republicans from
that quarter are not much better. Perhaps the
President will have a great opportunity pre-
sented to him of attesting his craftsmanship
before the session is over. If Congress passes
an act repeating the resumption law the chance
of vetoing it will be of inestimable value to the
Executive. Nevertheless trust matters will
not reach that pass. The Senate ought to be
counted upon to interpose and save the Repub-
| lie from the dishonor of breaking its plighttd d
obligation. YARMOUTH
Year: 1877

The Shoe and Leather Reporter looks for
war with confidence to good trade next sea-
son and says the apathy now so perceptible is
not likely to last long. The workshops will
hardly. get cleaned up and freshly painted, the
machinery oiled and the engines put in work
ing order, the accounts of stock taken and
the books ba lanced, before the demands of
customers will set everything in vigorous mo-
tion again. Those who are most conversant
with the currents of the traffic anticipate
that the next seasons demand will begin
early, continue steady, and last good while.
1t is impossible, of course, to foresee what
extraneous obstacles may interpose to disturb
the prospect. Just now there is an insane
mania for curIency-tinkering developing it
self at Washington that bodies evil to the ma
tional credit and the general prosperity. But
legislative bodies move slowly, and it is to be
hoped that many months may elapse before
any mischief can be done, even if there is no
way of preventing its being accomplished
ultimately.
Year: 1877

took great stride in the path of "conciia-
tion'' when they Joined forces with the Dem
ocrats in the Oneida district at the recent
election and chose for state Senator man
who had served in the rebel army. The new
Senator is man OF Northern birth and
breeding, and so was doubly traitor.
Year: 1877

The large opportunities for plunder which
war between this country and Mexico
would afford are fully appreciated by the
bandits along the Mexican border. But our
government cannot afford to let itself be
irritated by few thieves into engaging in a
costly and useless war;
Year: 1877

THE South showed its hand too soon when
It attempted in the House Saturday to pass a
law prohibiting the use of troops to sup
press insurrection. The North is not quite
enough "concliated' yet to tie its hands
against the hour when a new rebellion breaks
Year: 1877

we do not read anonymous etters and commuDi-
cations The name and address of the writer are in
all cases Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or preserve COM
munications that are not used.
Year: 1877

IT is becoming evident that the action of
the French Senate will be determined by the
will of the Princes of the House of Orleans.
Those men perceive that the course of the
government is steadily in favor of Bonapart-
ism, and they have no mind to assist in the
elevation to power of the young man who in
herits the memories of Sedan. As between
republic and an empire the Orleanists will
unhesitatingly choose republic.
Year: 1877

Mcs>rs. Goldwatcr X Bro, present to the inspection of the rcadsrs Of the MINER d new advertisement giving list of new goods just received by them. The firm is alive to the emergency of the times. Have reduced their prices in accordance with demand ard the result is, they are disposing Of an enor. nous amount of goods Summer goods of the latest styles aro being sold as cheap as can be bought at retail in San Francisco.
Year: 1877

RAILROAD FOR THE PECK MINE We no- ticcd in front of the Company's office to day two car.trucks with iron boxes, to be used st tbe Peck Mine, for the purpose of wheel ing of the ore that is being extracted from the shafts and tuanels of that rich bonanza mine
Year: 1877

LIGHTNING.-One of our prominent citi- zcns was knocked down yesterday, while out prospecting with two or three gentle men from town. He has made very little Noyes about the affair which came very near proving fatal
Year: 1877

S. VI. WEssEIIs.-This gentlemen arrived yesterday morning and comes prepared to carry out all previous contracts. His ma chinory k coming through from Ehlonhcrg by fast freight, and portion of il will be here in few days. Owing tO money mat tcrS' being close in San Francisco, Mir W. was delayed several days. therefore throwing him behind in getting his machinery on the ground in time, the Sth of May having been agreed upon for it to be there We have no doubt but what short time more will he extended to him by the owners
Year: 1877

Concerning the Election Arbitration.


New York, Jan. 20.-The general
testimony is that Congressman who ex-
press themselves against the electoral
bill indicate their anticipation of its
passage because of outside pressure
that promises to become overwhelming.
The shrewdest among Republican lead
ers think their party has nothing to
gain, with large chances of loss, by its
adoption. Democratic leaders, on the
other hand, fully realize that with the
present views and temper of the Senate,
if they reject this plan they must choose
between submission to the Inaugural
tion of Hayes or to revolution. Re-
publicans fear that Davis will be Sc
lected as the fifth judge, but to leave
out Swayne, of Ohio, his senior, would
be so clearly indelicate and partisan
that this is doubted. The real risk is
that the four judges might divide equal
ly, and then choose by lot, which would
give the Republicans three chances, to
one for the Democrats, as Hunt and
Bradley are also Republicans.
Year: 1877

What Hoar's Election Means,


Boston, Jan. 20.-Hoar's election to
the Senate is the unequivocal defeat Of
the Ben. Butler and Collector Simmons
ring of the Republican party, both OF
them having labored industriously for
his defeat. Failing of any encourage
ment to quiet his efforts to have him
self adopted, Butler concentrated on
Rice without having coalition or SYM
pathy with the latter, but simply in
the hope of defeating Hoar.