smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

The Office and utility of leaves are
becoming better understood by cuItiva-
tors than formerly; yet we find a good
many still adhere to the old belief that
the suns rays shining directly on form
ing fruit are what perfect it, independ-
emily Of other influences. On this sub
ject theory and practice have been in
variabiy found in perfect accordance
with each other. The principles of
physiology teach us that the sap of a
tree, when it passes in at the roots, re-
mains nearly unchanged in its upward
progress through stem and branches
until it reaches the leaves, where, being
spread out in those thin organs to light
and air, it undergoes a complete change
and thus becomes suited to the forma-
tion of new wood and new fruit. Strip
a rapidly growing tree of it's leaves at
midsummer, and from that moment the
supply of new wood ceases, and it will
grow no more till new leaves are formed;
and if it has young fruit the growth
and maturity of the latter will cease in
the same way. A few years since a yell
low gage plum tree lost all it's foliage
from leaf blight when the plums were
not fully grown and while yet destitute
VI uhNOIs 1u6 lIU1b I6mdluOU SGaU1OQ-
ary and unaltered until in a few weeks
a second crop of leaves came out. They
then swelled to full size, assumed their
crimson dots and received their boneyed
sweetness of flavor. The object of
pruning should be, therefore, to allow
the leaves to grow full size without be-
ing injured from providing. We find
the following corroborative fact stated
in late number of the New England
Farmer "We once knew of an intel
igent lady who stripped her grape
vines Of a portion of their leay es in
order to let in the sun and ripen the
fruit; but to her surprise where the
leaves remained as nature had disposed
them the grapes were the earliest and
every way the best. This led her to
investigate the matter, when she was de-
lighted to learn that the leaves were not
only the protectors but the caterers of
the fruit, constantly celebrating and
supplying it with the pabulum it re-
quired to bring it to perfection. THE
(LOndOn) GGrden.
Year: 1875

| That is a good. .natured man who
writes that it is a mans own fault If ht


is unhappy with his wife, in nine cases
out of ten. 1t is a very exceptional


woman who will not be all she can be


to an attentive husband, and a more
| exceptional one will not be very dis


agreeable If she finds herself willfully


neglected. II would be very easy to


hate man who, having bound wo-


man to him, made no effort to make her


happy hard not to love one who was


constant and tender and when woman


loves she always tries to please. The
great men of this world have often been
wretched in their domestic relations,


while mean and common men have been
exceedingly happy. ......-


The reason is very plain. Absorbed
in themselves, those who desired the
worlds applause we're careless of the
little world at home, while those who
had none of the egotism strove to keep
the hearts that were their own, and
were happy in their tenderness. No
woman will love a man the better for
being renowned or prominent. Though
he be the first among men, she will only
be prouder, not fonder; and if she
loses him through this renown, as is
often the case, she will not even be
proud. But give her love, appreciation,
kindness, and there is no sacrifice she
would not make for his content and
comfort. The man who loves her well
is her hero and her king. No less
hero to her though he is not one TO
any other; no less a king though his
only kingdom is her heart and home.
Year: 1875

A young lady conti6sutor to tie Bos-


ton Courier writes: "Let me tell you


what kind of partners we poor girls are


obliged to take up with now. The


most narrowing of them all, think on


the whole, is the surprised partner. Of


course 1 can't tell you what his name


IS. One feels rather flattered when he


asks one, for he is supposed to be a


genius-lives by his wits. I should


hardly suppose his income could be


amazingly large. He writes books any


way, and looks like a pen, as tall and


shoulders to legs; then his hair stands


He wears glasses and his countenance


is continually agitated by surprise. He


invites one to dance with him, and one


consents; but when he chances to look


down and sees the modest form on his


arm, his surprise is unspeakable. He


is surprised at the music, surprised if


he is greeted by an acquaintance, sur


prised at everybody and everything but


the supper-table, which he approaches


firmly and naturally, and notice that


he meets an oyster like an old friend.


Sometimes he deals out few gracious


remarks to one with an air of giving


candy to a child, and one swallows the


candy as meekly as possible and smiles


beautiful smile when his state of sur


prise causes him to crush her costly fan


in his hands as if it were so much


paper. Not that one is not in a condi-


tion to take him by the collar, but one


is obliged to be careful about offending


these geniuses-they may put you into
a book. AS for dancing he doesn't
dance at all, only walks about bewild-
cred and sad, and when he pretends to
waltz holds one in his arms as have
seen children hold big dolls nearly as
large as themselves. He pays no at
tention to the music whatever, but
holds his head aloft as If he were listen
ing to the music of other spheres. An
other one is the bashful partner. He
is young-handsomely young-and
looks as if a glance might kill him.
One goes on the floor with him with
fearful presentiment in her soul, and
glances over her new robe, so airy, so
sty ylish, so suggestive of Paris, saying,
pathetically, Eyes, look your last :
She takes every precaution; she tucks
her flowing skirts under one arm at the
dreadful risk of being called uugrace-
full she pins up her train and tries to
keep her feet behind her, but it is all
of no avail; his every step leaves a
track of ruin her toes ache from being
crushed by his awkward boots, and,
alas for those delicate founces. He
dances with such righteous vehemence
that the skirts are shaken down, the
flowers drop from her hair, and she
retires painting and breathless, to say
nothing of the state of her disposition.
Still it is better to sacrifice all this
than to be wall flower, for if one gets
the reputation of being a wall flower
she may as well hang her harp on the
willow tree"
Year: 1875

The approaching trial of Lee, the
Mormon prophet, charged with being
engaged in the Mountain Meadow mas
sacre, in Utah, draws near, and cor
respondent says the Mormons are pre-
pairing for some startling Developments.
It is beyond question, he says, that not
only were obnoxious Gentiles put out
of the way in Salt Lake City without
any trial, but even many of the
brethren" were watched when out of
doors and quietly led TO place conven-
lent for butchery, and there had there
"throats cut" for the double purpose
of keeping them from "opposing the
kingdom and atoning for their sins of
unbelief. It is said of Isaac c. Haight,
who was the lieutenant colonel of the
militia regiment that committed the
massacre at Mountain Meadows, that
he grew so fanatical and was so far re-
moved from any supervisory authority
that he did as he pleased and disposed
of the lives of the obnoxious with all
the freedom of doge of Venice. In
the little town of Cedar, the head
quarters of his militia, he is said to
have kept two of the brethren-Stewart
and Macfarlane-for that special pur-
pose, and to aid at odd times in harass-
ing and stealing from the passing immi-
grant Gsntiles.


No fewer than ten men were taken
down into the cellar beneath Haight's
house, and from there they never came
out alive, and the only answer that was
ever made to any inquiry about a miss
ing person in those days was the la
comic sentence, "He has gone to Cali
fOrnia."


To listen to the tales that are now
told by men and women of the early
times of blood one feels carried away
in reflection to dark ages and barbaric
nations, and it is this history that Brig
ham Young has good cause to dread
being brought to light in the forthcom-
ing investigation of the Mountain
Meadow massacre, and do not see how
he can prevent its exposure.


The investigation, when once begun,
will be like the letting out of water
the dam, snce pierced, the breech will
widen and widen until it all is out, and
the revelations of crime will startle the
nation. It's ultimate result will be the
breaking down of a fearful superstition
and despotism and the deliverance of a
people who deserve to be free.
Year: 1875

Coming out of the Erie railway build
ing, I yesterday saw Mark Twain,
whom we used to know in the old Frisco
DAYS as Sam Clemens. He wears the
same old brigand hat, and cloak, and
one is always sure when looking at him
that he would rather look shabby than
wear a pink overcoat with yellow but
tons. 1t is now just ten years since |
sat one day on the steps of the Ameri-
can house, in Honolulu, Sandwich Isl
ands, with Clemens, and happened to
mention that I was writing letters to
the New York Herald. He was then
unknown, except as an odd character in
San Francisco, and as the writer of let
ters to the Sacramento Union, and he
very timidly said he had received an
offer from a musical monthly to write a
page for it for six dollars. He wanted
to know whether it would pay him to
go on to New York. I had never read
anything of his, and / told him if he
went on to New York he couldn't earn
his salt. Yet there he stood yesterday,


with his saucy musSache and eimlet
eyes, as unconcerned as if he hadn't


made a hundred thousand dollars, and
hadn't married girl with more salt
Year: 1875

of Indifferent docility in which his fu-
ture sovereign pursued his round, and
at last wrote begging l'Empereur Nicho-
Las to indicate a preference which would
help to turn the balance and decide the
important question. Before the an
swer was received fate conducted the
wanderers to the theatre, where the
first person upon whom the young
grand dues eyes alighted attentively
was the Princess Maria Maximilianne of
Hesse modestly seated in the second
row of her fathers box. who is that
young person p asked his imperial high
ness and when Prince Orlof replied,
he added decidedly, 'and the future
empress of Russia But her name is
not even on tie list cried the poor
Prince Orloff. No matter, we will
make it first.' replied the head-strong
youth, and he proved as good as his
word, the unconscious Princess Marie
was in due form demanded In marriage,
and has ever since been the faithful and
beloved of a good and great monarch. "
Year: 1875

It is not everybody who knows where
to joke, or when, or how; and whose
ever is ignorant of these conditions had
better not joke at all. A gentleman
never attempts to be humorous at the
expense of people with whom he is but
slightly acquainted. In fact. it is
neither good manners nor wise policy
to joke at any body's expense; that is
to say, to make any body uncomfortable
merely to raise laugh. Old Hsop,
who was doubtless the subject CT many
a jibe on account of his bumped back,
tells the whole story in bis fable OF
''The Boys and the Frogs What wa
fun to the youngsters was death to the
croakers. A jest may cut deeper than
a curse. Some men are so constituted
that they cannot take friendly joke IN
the same light coin, and will requIte 1t
with contumely and insult. Never ban
ter one of this class, or he Will brood
over your badinage long after you have
forgotten it, and it is not prudent to
incur any ones enmity for the sake OF
uttering a smart double e7lterdTe or a
tart repartee. Ridicule, at best, is a
perilous weapon. Satire, however,
when leveled at social foibles and po-
litica1 evils, is not only Legitimate. but
commendable. 1t has shamed down
more abuses than we're ever abolished
by force of logic.
Year: 1875

How TO BRING Down A CONGRESSMAN.
Sam Ward {" Vestibuli Rex'' on con-
gressional dinners ga senatorial
dirner must be more stately than a
dinner of M. C's. The first are always
more recherche, and I believe look
myself more dignifed upon such occa-
sions. With the members of the
house, on the other hand, free and
easy way is admissible, and the dinner
contains, as a rule, one great dish spe-
cially prepared for the occasion, the
rest of the bill of fare being of the
usual character. For instance, will
sometimes serve them ham. soak
it for four day in water, changing
it four times a day, then boil it five
hours in cider with a wisp of new hay (;
then bake it with brandy, sherry, or
claret, according to the weather, and
when they have tasted slice of that
ham, why, they will pass any thing
/ want in congress"
Year: 1875

THIRST AT SKA.-Thirst on land is
bad enough, but thirst at sea, with
water everywhere, yet not a drop to
drink, is ten times worse. OF the agony
conception when we read, as in the case
which it occasions we may form some
of late shipwreck, OF the survivors of
a boats crew greedily drinking the
blood of their dead comrades. No one
knows what his civil fortune may one
day bring him to endure. For the
benefit of the reader, therefore, we
make a note of the following que,tio
put by the board of trade examiners to
the candidates for certificates of COM
potency as mates in the English mer-
chant service "What would you do in
order to allay thirst, with nothing but
sea water at hand ?" The answer is,
"Keep the clothes, especially the shirt,
soaked with sea water" Drinking salt
water to allay thirst drives the sufferer
mad but an external application of it
gives relief, if it does not satisfy the
demands of craving nature. 1t is a
pity that this simple yet truly scientific
remedy is known to but few of those
who tempt the treacherous main.
Year: 1875

The following puzzle is again on its
rounds : "To five and FIVE and fifty
five the first of letters add, twill make
a thing that killed the king and drove
wise man mad" It was published first
about twenty years ago, and has never
been correctly answered. But they say
there is an answer.
Year: 1875

The secand-class morning train had stopped at Rainhili station to take in pas- sengers, when those upon it heard through the dense fog another train. which had

 left Manchester forty-five minutes later coming toward them at a high rate of speed. When it first became visible it was but one hundred and fifty yards of.

 and collision was Inevitable. Those in charge of the stationary train, however,

 succeeded in getting it under alight
Year: 1875

BT -aIR.


An account is published of an inter-
esting exhibition of telegraph machines,
worked exclusively by air, lately given
in London by Mr.. Guattaris, the invent
or. A number of different instruments
were on view. The impulse is produced
at one end of tube by the operator,
and performs the mechanical work of the
other end, either by ringing a bell or
turning needle round dial. A rapid
ity and precision can be made equal to
the electric telegraph, the conducting
tube being able to be laid under or over
cover, In the same manner as the ordi-
nary telegraph. Attached to each ma
chine is bell and dial, and the message
is Transmitted by the moving of small
lever which drives the air through pipe
to the other operator. As the lever is
moved up and down, the dial, which
stands where the message is destined
for, registers Whatever the words may
be. Each dial is supplied with a needle,
and, as each squirt of air presses against
the words of the machine, the needle is
moved exactly the number of times that
the lever is pressed. Each instrument
can receive or send message about 400
yards, and is, therefore, of special con-
venience for private INSTRUMENTATION.
Year: 1875

A delicate compliment is a work of far
higher art than the most biting sarcasm
Every one knows the story of
the poor creature who found him
self seated between Madame Reca-
mier and Madame de Stael, and
managed to offend them both by say
ing that he sat between wit and beauty
The court of Louis XIV. seems to have
been the school where the art was
brought to perfection. The Aattery
offered by the men of genius to the King
was at once coarse and exquisite Wit
ness the inimitable reply of Mignard,
who was painting the kings portrait for
the tenth time, when Louis asked him,
"Do / look oltisrl" 81 see few more
campaigns on the brow of your majesty"
1t is only fair to Louis to acknowl-
edge that he could himself bestow
praise with more grace than any other
monarch of whom history makes men
ton. After the battle of Seneff, he re-
ceived the great Conde in state. The
Prince was suffering from a sharp attack
of the gout, and made his way somewhat
painfully up the steps of the royal stair
case, at the head of which was the king.
Conde begged of the king to forgive him
for thus keeping his majesty waiting.
Louis hastened to silence him with these
words: "Cousin, take your time; when
one is so heavily laden with laurels it is
impossible to walk fast" 1t is an old
reproach against Orientals that they can
not understand a joke, and that they are
still less able to say pretty things to Ia
dies; but a daughter of Louis XIV, the
Princess de Cont, inspired the Moorish
Ambassador with as gracefully turned
compliment as can be imagined. She had
rallied against the Mohammedan custom
of polygamy, and the Moor thus de-
Tended the practice Madame, plural
ity of wives is allowed among us, be-
cause in our country we must seek in
several women the charming qualities
which are here to be found in one" Wit,
like money, is of no country.
Year: 1875

AN ingenious system has been adopted
on the Northern Railroad of Frsnce, by
which, through means of a stationary
electric battery, the whistle of an ap
preaching locomotive is blown automati-
cally. If the road be obstructed, and it
is found necessary to step a coming
train, the signal tender sends an electric
current along the rail which, by certain
appliances, is made to pass to the engine
and open the steam whistle, causing it
to blow.
Year: 1875

of his honored and sacred profession
one whose words were listened to with
Difference and respect But he had
these powers of mind over her he had
that persuasive power of eloquence, that
insidious and silver tongue which would
lure an angel from his paradise. He was
her accepted and chosen teacher and
guide. She looked up to him with ven
Grafton second only to that with which
she regarded her God. Nay, if an in
carnate Christ had come down, with the
glory of Calvary upon his brow and the
love of sacrifice in his eye, she would
not bow down to him with more Obedi-
ence than this woman gave to her pastor
and her God. From her childhood, sir,
she was under his teaching and admoni-
ton. He was almost an inmate of
her home. In the confidence of
her husband, and as the friend and
pupil of this aged, venerable and gifted
man, he was welcomed with tenderness
and affection. He exerted upon her, sir,
all his arts, his specious wisdom, his
prayerful devotion all the arts of his
gifted nature were bent for the seduction
OF this happy, beloved wife and mother /;
and she fell. And do you wonder, sir
Is she to be blamed for the act? Is this
prosecution of her9 Is this action, there
fore, brought by the wronged husband,
an action against her for her condemna-
ton! Oh, no, sir. Consider how strong
be was consider how submissive she
was to his teachings, and imagine with
what specious and insidious tongue he
conveyed to her the theory of his plans,
that fornication was but the natural ex-
preston of love. He taught her to be-
heve In pious adultery, and by steady
steps, he led her along the fowery path
to the precipice upon which she fell.
That seducer is brought into a court of
justice to answer for his crime. The
husband wronged, the seducer guilty,
stand before the immaculate Justice of
the law, and before it each is to answer
for deeds done to this woman. And we
are told, sir, according to the logic of
my learned friend, that this aged, vener-
able and gifted seducer may take the
witness-starld and apologize for his guilt,
and present all the evidences of his
learned ingenuity and that the husband
must be still silent and that this is law
l say no, sir. Before your honor will
admit any such construction, before you
will approve any such administration,
you must be driven to it hy the force of
inevitable legal logic Thank God there
is, in my belief, no such rule of law in
this State.
Year: 1875

rom the Cnlcago


Is not Moulton the most remarkable
man, after all, in this scandal? Since he
has completed his testimony, it is easy
to understand why he should have been
trusted and hearkened to alike by Beecher
and Tilton A New York boy, with a
common-school education and CONNER
cial training, acquiring his means by
acute perception and untiring applica-
ton, and an amateur only In literature
and art-he is an excellent specimen of
the American type of self-reliant, self
made men. He displayed during his
long examination and tremendous cross
examination the mental force and moral
courage which fully account for the ad-
miration of two such remarkable men as
Beecher and Tilton. Without bravado
or buncombe, he gave his direct evidence
without the suspicion of alesson learned,
and faced the fierce fire of the cross
examination without fiinching. During
ten days he showed himself the equal of
the formidable display of legal ability
which had been massed against him. 1t
will take overwhelming testimony to
break down evidence given with the per-
spicacity, force, directness, and familiar
ity with which Moulton said everything
he had to say. 1t looks now as if the
defendants counsel would only discover
sufficient contradiction and inconsistency
in his testimony which the recollection
of mass of incidents, covering long
period of years, must involve in order to
commend itself as truthful.


Tilfon's Tesfinsony-Consfrwcti,s a Narra


tire.


lCor. Chicago Tribune]


The direct examination of TiltOn has
been cumulative. Every interview with
Beecher, every incident germane to the
case, every subject that could be intro
duced to the plaintiffs advantage
have been brought out in historic sue
cession. The testimony to-day consisted,
therefore, in the construction of narra-
tive instead of the development of a
theory. The first story of the structure
was the hideous description of the inter-
view between Tlton and Beecher to
settle the paternity of little Ralph Tilton.
The profoundest impression to which the
ordinary mind is subject was effected
upon the audience by the recital of that
nuimaginable scene. Vast horror made