smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

The Carmi (Mo.) Times has the following
remarkable account of suicide near that
place Again it becomes cur duty to
chronicle death by suicide, and in this
case the determination to commit tho deed
seems to have been stronger than in any
case ever heard Of before. For long time


Mr.. Elijah Brown, aged about sixty-fiye
years, living at Crooked Creek, has not


been in his right mind, and has not only
threatened suicide, but has made three
attempts to take his life-the last one Of
which occurred last Sunday night and
terminated in his death. About year ago
he attempted to shoot himself. but was
prevented by bystander. Seven months
ago, when his son, James R. Brown,


suicided, tue old man said he intended to
do the same thing at the first opportunity.
On Saturday night last Mr.. Browns family
sent word to Mr.. David Harris to come
over, as Mr.. Brown intended killing him
self. Mr.. Harris went over and found


Brown digging grave by the side, of chat
VI AAo lASb WAO, ~hllO q S<sAAAO sou
on the side Of the grave and shotgun
was laid near by. Harris asked him what


he. intended doing and he replied that he


wrs going to kill himself that he was dig


ging his own grave and wanted to be buried


just as he was found in the grave, without
any coffin asked Harris to do the shovel
ing in of the dirt, and tell every one that
he was in his right mind, and all the world
could not prevent his killing himself;
that no one was to blame for the act but
his own family. Harris stayed with
him until the candle burned out, when
both returned to the house. Brown at once
got another candle, put some fresh caps on
his gun, and started back to his diggings.
Harris then went home, and Mrs. Brown
went out and watched the digging. The
grave was finished about II o'clock that
night. It is not known whether he attempt
ed to kill himself that night or not, al
though that was his first intention, as he
returned to the house shortly after the grave
was finished. Here he fixed string to his
rifle so as to discharge it himself, but for
reason he gave that idea up. Sunday he
came to Carmi and purchased dracnm
bottle of morphine, went home and carried
some boards out to his grave to cover his
body with, and then finished up all his
preparations for death. About 10 o'clock
that night he handed his little grandson a.
twenty-five cent piece, and Immediately
swallowed two-thirds of the bottle of NOR
phine. He lived until 5:25 y sserday even
ing, sleeping all the time. Brown was in
comfortable circumstances, and appeared
sound on every other subject. For the last
year or SO he has quite frequently said that
he intended to kill himself.
Year: 1877

honses established for them by the Young
Women's Christian Association and other so
cietes, are also founded Oh sound common sense
and humanity.


There is an increase of at least twenty-five
per cent in the last fifteen years IN the number
Of women supporting themselves in this country,
especially IN the large cities. But 1t is notice.
able that this change il due to what women
have done for themselves rather than to what
has been done for them; and it is to be noted
also that the increase has been not III conse-
quence of any loud-voced agitation in favor OF
womcn's rights, but in spite of it. The PLAN
fact is that the war left large numbers OF
women, who had hitherto led domesticj depend
ent lives, obliged to work or starve. In con-
sequence, they have quietly taken up all kinds
of occupations, many heretofore considered I'M
practicable for their sex. They have gone into
artistic work of every kind, from designing
stoves to high art In painting. They are skilled
nurses, dentists, photographers and in some OF
the cities the whole retail trade is in their
hands. They are hortculturists, hotel-keepers,
stock -raisers. They have pushed their way
into every position III newspaper Office, un-
dertaken every kind of manufacture done by
hand. All this too by the class OF women VINO
work with least noise or boasting. They de-
serve, in short, the name Of good citizens, as
any man would who honestly plods his way to
a settled income by a sclf-respecting life.


The way to increase and help this class OF
women is to give them the instruction which
workman would receive the protection which
he would not need, and then leave them to
enter the market precisely as he must DO
Good work, good wages; sham work, poor
wages, with no question of sex, is the mex
orable rule which is bringing confusion out OF
this much debated question. The ladies who
met at Steinway Hall have, as we believe,
acted with this common sense theory and rule
in yiew
Year: 1877

Gen. b. +. Butler has written letter of con-
lolence, if we may call it so, to Marshal Pit-
kin of louisiana who has had the misfortune
to be removed from office. The MM shall seems
TO have run to Gen. Butler with his complaints
and the General urges him "not to kick and
"souirIn any more than Isaac dad when he lay
"upOn the altar under the knife of his father
abraham" but to offor himself a willing
sacrifice for the paciiication Of the country and
the good OF the Republican party. 1t would be
sound advice, If it were offered in earnest
But it pains us TO observe, under the smooth
language Of this letter, a vein OF sarcasm,
a tone Of diSplcasuro. Gen. Butler is evidently
disposed 10 grid at the Presidents notions Of
administration. He is WOfOund disOeheyer
in the virtues of civil service reform, and we
recollect that on a recent OCCASION when a re-
form Of the postal service in the Black Hills
was under discussion he Glludcd to the subject
in manner which indicated some little un-
friendiiness toward the principles of reform
and q lack of sympathy with the efforts OF the
President TO carry it into operation. We dare
say that when the Boston Custom-house Com
mission ovorhauls the affairs Of Collector Sim
mons the General may again be irIitatcd into
expressing by innucndO bis dislike for people
who pretend to be more moral than their
neighbOrs.


Yet we hardly think the sentiments of Gen.
Butler viii have much influence with this
Government. The President must have known,
before he started upon his course, that he
would he exposed to multitude OF petty
attacks in flank and rear from politicians of
the Butler school that they would try to trip
him though they lacked the courage to oppose
him face to face; that they would pOunce upon
his small mistakes; that they would gather
up, as Butler seems TO have done, all the ma
licous gossip of the capital and spread it be-
fore the country We do not speak OF the
frank and honest opponents Of the Presidents
policy. There are many good Republicans who
believe in al sincerity that the Southern policy
Of non-intcrtercnce is a mistake, and there are
some who bcheye that the machinery of the
civil service ought 10 be used for the purpose
os keeping Republican olice-holders in power.
We can respect the genuine deusiOns of
these people, and we are satisfied that the
results Of the action of President Hayes will
in time convince them of their error But the
hostility Of the Buffers we shall have with us
always. Nothing will ever convince them.
The more completely the President succeeds
i'm his undertaking the more thoroughly will
they be exasperated and dIsgusted. For when
the civil service is managed on business prin-
cples. and the South is restored TO its own
people, II Is not easy to sc what place viii be
Year: 1877

The ladies of this city Gas our readers will
note III another coumn) held meeting last
night in Steinway Hall to explain to the public
what they had been doing for poorer women,
and TO ask help III prosecuting the good work.
The question il brief and easily disposed of.
A woman must live, and if there be no man
whose duty it is to provide the means of
living for her, she must and ought to find
them for herself 1t is for the benefit of So
ciety rs well as her own that she do this in
the most skillful and intelligent way possible.
The training schools, therefore, which these
good women who met last night have cstab-
hshed and which are intended to make of
idle, ignorant, untidy girls neat and skilful
cooks, seamstresses, and manufacturers of small
wares, are thoroughly practical, rational help
to society. A woman also needs certain pro-
lection which is not necessary for man. The
Homes for single and unprotected women in
the city, the cheap and respectable eating
Year: 1877

"a n friend. Few men have done more for
the encouragement of the young writers IN TINS
country. He was quick in the detection
of literary talent, and in no case failed
TO honor it with cordial apprecla-
ton. Without affecting the airs OF
patron of letters, his bearing toward the timld
aspirant for the virgin honOrs OF publication was
always not only cOnsiderate, but kindly, ana no
unAedged author ever left bis presence with the
sense of despair engendered by the lack OF cour-
teous sympathies. Among our elder writers
there were not few who counted his friendship
rs an honor. His conversation was genial
animated, suggestive, his manners toward MS
old and familiar acquaintance were marked
with a certain affectionateness that Is rare
in the intercourse between man ana man.
although he had little patience with con-
ceit and presumption, and OF the bores that
often nfest the purlieus of literature, his toer-
ance was limited to a singularly brief space OF
time.


In common with his brothers, he tooksa just
nride in the character of the publications
issued by their house. He had high stand
ard of literary excellence, and one even
still higher for moral principle. No temp
tation could induce him to countenance work
which he deemed of unworthy execution or OF
dcleterions tendencies. With no sectarlan
bgotry, he was favorite publisher with many
religious writers. and if anything hostile
TO the cause of virtue and piety bears
his imprint, it may certainly be ascrlbed
to accident, not to design. The last days
of Mr. Harper, though attended with not
a little physical suffering, were calm and peace
full. He had contemplated the gradual but
certain approach of death for many months
without dismay (; he could look back upon long
years of useful activity with tranquil content;
he was surrounded with devoted family
circle of three generations and when the call
of the Master was heard, the servant was
found ready.
Year: 1877

left for the Butler party 10 national politics.
Openly or in secret therefore they can always
be counted with the opposition.


We trust the country will not concern Itself
about them. They are men whose strength
las never rested upon public sentiment, but
upon political intrigue, and there is no sort OF
reason why their vexations and complaints
should be made of consequence. Let them
alone and they will find their proper level.
Year: 1877

siding with The latter. They are the disinter-
ested parties to the controversy; the gem
tlemen of the Custom-house are not. when
therefore the Commission declare such re-
ducton to be possible they will be believed
until they are proved TO be i'll the wrong
Year: 1877

Senator Morgan of Alabama is sadly in need
of an English dictionary. A man possessed of
sufficient education to be elected by the white
people of Alabama as one of their Senators
ought to know that balIOt-boX stuiling Is
not usually included among the political
ofenses which party in power can con-
done; and a man honorcd by tie confidence
of a whole State ought TO be incapable
of such an attempt at political black
mail as his letter to the Attorney
General His distinct intimatiOn that the
President can expect NO favors from the Dem
ocrats of Alabama, if he allows certain inJict-
ments for frauds in voting to be pressed in
the courts, is as coarse an impertiGence as any
member OF his party has committed in recent
times. Whatever treaties may be made with
the Democratic party at Washington, Mr.
Morgan may rest assured chat there will be no
cartel for the exchange of balot-boX stuiteIs
The handle of the jug would be all on Mr.
Morgan's side.
Year: 1877

Mr. Geo. II. Butler, whose irritating career as a
civil servant was brought to untimey end before
it had fairly begun, now cheerfully claims that he
has the dead wood on his prosecutors. 1t was an
other gifted inebriate, Mr. Butler says, who made an
unseemIy exhibition of himself, and he will under
take to prove that the testimony of the wandering
divine was all aliunde and that he himself was albi
And now If "A corps of Egyptian and Nubian damsels
would only waltz into court with bells on their
ankles they might convince Mr.. Key that the genius
displayed by Mr.. Butler a supervisor of Oriental
females is an ample guaranty of his capacity to take
charge of Occidental mails, and Cox and Sayler
would be yindicated.
Year: 1877

1t would be prudent to wait day or two before
accepting with unsaggerng faith the statement that
President Hayes favors an unlimited reconciliation
of silver There is flavor of Nevada mining stocks
about this ruinor which doesn't recommend it.
Year: 1877

Repudiation has gained the day in South
Carolina, after all. The State Senate, so far
from amending the House bill providing for
the payment of interest on the state debt, so
as to defeat the attempt OF the House TO
make boDdhOldels wait at least a year for
their interest, has actually stricken from the
hill the appropriation itself, thus cutting the
feet OF the measure from Under it. This
shameful victory was evidently achieved only
after a sharp struggle, being won by small
majority, which was overturned on vote to
reconsider but was renewed on the final bal
lot. If there had been any other purpose IN
this movement than that TO deprive bondholderS
OF the interest righfuliy due them, we should
certainly have heard of It, BY Itself, 1t Is a
naked act of reputation, which will leave its
mark on every man who is in any way re-
sporsible for it and On the State which suffers
it, Gov Hampton should see to it that none
of il sticks TO him.
Year: 1877

The John j. O'Brien Association seem to be
of the opinion that they arc the worst-paid
'and hardest-worked men in the employ Of
"the Government" The community synpa-
thzos with these suffering patriots, and would
be sorry to see them stay where they are so
poorly off. When the guillotine Is set up in
the Custom-hOuse, we shall lock TO see the
j. j. Obs rush under the Ak in body.
Year: 1877

Already there is difference of opinion be-
tween the Custom-h0use and tiie Custom-house
Commission rs to the Irachcabiity Of cary
ing the report Of the latter into effect. AT tie
same time that the officials are busy protesting
that the proposed reduction cannot De enforced
70 its full extent, we get from Washington the
details of the Commissions scheme. showing that
il is proposed 10 make the reduction something
over 20 Der cent rather than less, and that
the Commission have already made up their
minds just to what degree and IN what par
ticular each office should be affected. Between
the Cast0m-house and the Commission m this
matter. Tie public will have 10 hesitation IL
Year: 1877

Large bodied men are always more just and generous to women than small men. It is fact for psychol- ogists to ponder over, but it is fact that, as a rule, a large soul goes with large body and vice versa.
Year: 1877

A blowpipe has been invented which
carries its own fire in itself. At the end
Of the air tube is chamber into which
Goals are placed. Through this the air
is forced, and the fame elected from the
opposite side through the proper nozzles
is directed as the operator desires. A
most intense heat may be produced, and,
by on ingenious arrangement Of q
double or multiple nozzles, the object to
be reduced or heated may be attacked on
several sides at the same time. So far
this invention has only been applied to
the heating Of heavy bars Of metal which
need to be bent in stu. or to the expan-
sion Of wheel tires, etc. But with some
alteration the device may be practically
and advantageovsly modified to work in
the laboratory and assay.room.
Year: 1877

WASHINGTON, OcG. 2-In the course
Of an interview with 3 member Of Con.
gress this morning, the President re-
marked that from what be had seen on
his tour to the south, be believed the
people Of that section were really anx-
iOus to accord to the colored people
their civil and political rights, and hiS
trip had strengthened him IN the CON.
viction that his Southern policy would
rebound greatly 10 the blacks In whose
welfare he had always felt and should
continue to feel the deepest Interest.
The President also stated that be had
lately received renewed assurances
from leading Republicans, Of the sup.
port Of hia Southern policy.
Year: 1877

The sexton of church in Plattsburg
used about twO-thirds of a barrel of
benzine sprinkling the cushions and
carpets to kill the moths with which
the carpets and upholstery were iniest-
ed. Then he went down to the fur
mace to start y fire. On iguiting a
match shock came which threw him
fifteen feet and rendered him insensi-
BILE. The damage Was considerable to
the sexton and the church, but the
lesson was valuable.
Year: 1877

MAN went through VirkiniA selling
Bibles at iifty cents each. and every
body thought he WAS u phi'anthroP'st
until il was discovered he had stolen
two Thousand of the good books from a
Baltimore house
Year: 1877

Henry had already received the name
of the ''Man of the People" He sprung
from what may be called the middle
class, and his personal appearance was
plain, almost humble. During his
early manhood he was noted for idle
ness, and failure in all that he under
took. He failed twice as small coun-
try merchant, giving his time and at
tention to hunting, fishing, and playing
the violin, instead of his business; and,
as last resort, read law for six weeks,
barely received Il license to practice.
and seemed destined to starve little
more rapidly even, in his new profess
sion than in trade. The moment was
\ near, however, when his wonderful
powers were to reveal themselves. The
lclergy of the colony-who were not a
popular class-brought suit to re-
cover their salaries, resting their claims
on a royal order in council, which was
in direct opposition to an act of the
burgesses, and Henry was employed to
oppose them, though the law was COM
pletely in their favor.


The result was remarkable. The awk-
ward youth was to speak in the midst
of derisive smiles from the clergy, who
were present in great numbers. His
head being down, and his voice fall
tered. But soon an astonishing trans
formation took place in his appearance.
The head rose erect, the voice grew vi
brating and imperious, and he denounc-
ed king, clergy and parliament in terms
SO violent and overwhelming. that he
was interrupted by cries of "treason, -
and the parsons left the court house in
bitter Indignation. Henry's triumph
was complete. He had played upon the
cords of the popular heart with the
hand of n master The jury decided in
his favor in open opposition to all law;
and the crowd, yielding to passionate
admiration, caught the young ora
tor upon their shoulders, and bore him
in the midst of shouts and outcries,
around the yard courthouse.


Henry's next appearance was in the
debate on the Stamp act, in the house
of burgesses. He was then made the
mouthpiece and leader of the extreme
revolutionists, and his over fiery spirit
pervaded the whole fabric of society,
moulding public sentiment and spur
ring the people to resolute resistance.
Year: 1877

in which they are interested. We have
left them, after delightful hour, stim-
ulated and refreshed, and during the
whole hour not neighbor's garment
was solled by 80 much as touch. They
had something to talk about. They
knew something and wanted to know
more. They could listen as well as they
could talk TO speak freely of neigh
boris doings and belongings would have
seemed impertincnce to them, and of
course, an impropriety. They had no
temptation to gossip, because the doings
of their neighbors formed subject very
much less interesting than those which
grew out of their knowledge and cul-
ture.


And this tells the whole story. The
confirmed gossip is always either mali
cious or ignorant. The one variety
needs change of heart and the other
change Of pasture. Gossip is always
personal confession either of malice or
imbecility, and the young should not
only shun it, but by the most thorough
culture relieve themselves from all temp
tations to indulge in it, 1t is low, friv-
olous, and too often dirty business
There are country neighborhoods in
which it RACES like pest. Churches
are split in pieces by it. Neighbors are
made enemies by it for life. In many
persons it degenerates into chronic dis
ease, which is practically incurable.
Let the young cure it while they may.
Year: 1877

The Somerset Mel Reporter is re-
sponsible for the following fox story =
" THE fox which Mr.. Fairgrieves now
has, occupies yard back of the store, to
which Mr.. F.s' dog has free access. The
dog and fox are great friends. They
frolic together, play no end of jokes on
each other, and live in the most perfect
harmony save at meal time The dis
cussion that choice bit will call forth
is sometimes most interesting. Mr.. f.
gave the fox bone the other day. The
dog had been taught by experience that
it was no use for him to try and capture
it, so he retired into the store to watch
the proceedings, doubtless hoping some
thing would turn up in his favor. The
fox ate what he wanted of the bone and
preferred to lay it away for future use.-
The dog pricked up his ears, but yawned
and betrayed no especial interest. The
fox dug hole, placed the juicy bone in
the bottom and covered it over with
earth, patted' it down. He then went
into his kennel, brought out an old dry
bone that he had kept away from the
dog for several days out of pure cussed-
ness placed it in the hole over the
sweet one, covered it up with apparent
care, and retired to his kennel to watch
operations. The dog saw the fox safely
housed, and, as he had done before,
stealthily approached the treasure, re-
surrected the dry bone and trotted off
Year: 1877

He started to his knees, and raised his
hand toward the cane-brake, and tried to
cry out, either for help, or else TO warn
his companions there hidden, but his
voice had failed him, and he sank back
dead without having spoken word.


With as little delay as possible drag
ged the body up into the timber, and
having re-mounted my own horse and
taken the rein of the dead mans horse
over my arm, l started back. did not
follow the road over which had come,
but kept to the southwark, toward
Brlckett's Ford, where the sheriff had
talked of going. BY the middle of the
afternoon 1 was on the track of the
officers, though / did not find them un-
til evening. told them what had
discovered, and early on the following
morning, with fifty or sixty well armed
citizens, we set Off toward the Big
Brake. / remembered the place where
the horsemen had taken to the water,
and upon entering here, and following
carefully along, we found hard road,
where some peculiar movement of the
flood had thrown up ridge of gravel.
Having gained the cane brake our way
was clear enough, for we found an open
path, cut through the canes, and at the
end of quarter of mile, where the
ground was high and dry, we came upon
the robbers camp. Twelve of the desper-
ADDE'S were there, and were easily captur-
ed and'the amount of property which
fell into the hands of the officers was
large. Some of the villains were away,
and probably made their escape. The
chief of the gang, Texan ranger, of
of the name of Bastrop, was the indi-
vidual who had overtaken me on the
road, and whom had shot. Had he
been content to let me depart in peace /
doubt If should have been the cause of
trouble to him. AS have already said,
1t had occurred to me that the haunt of
the robbers was in the cane brake but
as had no particular desire to be mixed
up in such a mess, might have kept
on my way, allowing the proper officers
to attend to the finding of the outlaws.
The cowardly attempt upon my life,
however, determined me otherwise and
the last act of John Bastrop's career,
instead of saving his gang from arrest,
as he had intended, proved the signal
of the destruction of both him and
them.