smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

A correspondent in the Sioux country writes This system of Indian runners seem to be little understood. If impor- tant news is to be carried, an Indian gorges himself with meat, takes short nap, mounts one of the tleetest of their ponies and rushes along like the wind until his horse requires feed, when he mods few times while his horse satisfies his hunger from the luxurious meadows, when the ride is renewed. The runner needs nothing for his pony, and takes nothing for himself but his arrows and blankets, and will in the manner indi- cated ride two or three nights and days, passing over from sixty to one hundred miles in each twenty-four hours. When the nearest camp is reached his story is taken up to other Indians, and in like manner carried in every direction. The speed with which news travels depends upon it's importance but in this way the Indians often beat the telegraph, and their first reports, if they come di- rect, are usually to be relied upon. The runner who brings great news is feasted from one tepee to another. and it is not until his story begins to grow old that he let's loose his imagination and adds to the original in order to keep up the in terest in him as the bearer ot great news. There are always volunteers, and ire quently two or three will start for the same point, but the one that gets in last is bound to tell the biggest story, if he has to deny the statements of his rivals or cut his story out of the whole cloth in order to do so. Hence the conflict ing reports.
Year: 1878

Water spouts at sea are dangerous playthings If allowed to approach too near ship. In their fantastic tricks they will sometimes follow a ship, and if they overtake her the danger IS great that she will be swamped, as the whirl- wind carries Q vast amount of water. Sometimes the spouts take notion to approach each other, and then woe to the ship that is caught between them. The United States ship St. Louis, in trip in the Mediterranean in 1854, came near being destroyed in this manner. After very severe hail shower, says one who was on board of her at the time, two water. spouts, which were sailing along rapidly fully half mile apart, suddenly changed their course md ap- preached each other. Our ship was hove-to between them, and we were of course powerless. The huge tunnel shape columns of water lowered seem ingly to the clouds, and as they swept along sent forth a frightful roar. It was @ sublime sight to behold, but suddenly lu OuWhCo upOu dl1 U1stU OuSIo WuS udh- ger in this sublimity. If the terrific columns struck the vessel our fate was sealed. While we watched we trem- bled, and not without full cause. An old officer took in the danger at glance, and the boson's whistle called the men to the guns. When the water spouts were within hundred yards of the ship curling volume of smoke issued from both port and starboard port holes, and two reports seemed but one. The solid shot had penetrated the columns of water and they broke and fell, one of them so near that sheets of water struck the ship. It was a narrow escape, and the occasion was one that will never be forgotten by any one on the St. Louis during her memorable cruise up the Mediterranean.
Year: 1878

A young man of seventeen whose father was recently Postmaster of Chl- cago has become insane from too close application to his studies. This at least is the verdict of the jury that committed him to the asylum. This should warn us to, says Dr. Foote's Health Monthly, beware of allowing smart children to be- come too precocious. Better let the brain be more years in developing and retain its balance than to have it over- worked by excessive influx of knowledge.
Year: 1878

Coal PRODUCTION.-The board of control
OF the local producers union at the meeting
held in Philadelphia yesterday fixed the
amount of coal to be mined during August
at two million tons, which is the largest Quota
Year: 1878

THE CHEAP RATE at which third class mat.
ter Is now transported through the mails, has
very seriously interfered with the express
business between all points of the country
When pair of shoes can be sent from tO Ia
cents to any part of lhe country, the people
are more apt to avail themselves OF postal than
expressage faculties,
Year: 1878

LETTERS RECEIVED HERE FROM GENERAL
BANKS' DISTRICT indicate that he will have a
hard time to secure denomination to G IN
gress. The cause seems to be that he has
neglected his constituents, or at least they
think so, inasmuch as he did not promulgate
among them Patent office reports and garden
seeds, as most members of Congress do.
Year: 1878

The latest addition to the monstrosi-
ties composing what is called the Brit
ish Navy is the Polyphemus, which
seems to be constructed on the model of
the turtle. When afloat nothing will be
seen Of her except an arched steel back.
impervious to artillery This pleasing
monster will be provided with q rain
and all kinds of appliances for the dis
charge of submarine torpedoes. She
will have no masts, but will be driven
at a great rate by twin screws.
Year: 1878

Continued.


The third day after our arrivalin this
fair city of the French, this most ele-
CANT capital in Europe. this fashionable
centre of the civilized world, it was ar
ranged and determined by the Judge
and myself" that we would at once pro-
ceed to snend-
Year: 1878

gentleman. this murd-I should saw
tragic Incidents now what naunts
you with the vision of the dying mani
Dying man be hanged" interrupted the
Californian .contemptuously. See here,
stranger, do you think I am . chicken
to mind dead greaser! Many's the
one have settled since. What's both
ering me-snd I'll never get over its
that didn't let daylight through the
only man who ever dared to charge
false cards ag'in the roaring Santa Ec
Pet As the Omaha gentleman ex.
plains to his journal. this peculiar light
upon the sensibilities Of the human
conscience as affected by the early days
Of California MAS Of such . dazzling
kind that it fairly made him wink, and
he has been sensible ever since of q
dased sort Of new comprehension of
the exquisite sense of honor in Q fine
nature. It is quite . study. be thinks
this refined sense-and worthy of far
more application and subtitle analysis
than are given it by those much admir-
ed writer's and msgazinists who aim to
enrich the national literature with ex-
act delineations of the arRouauts of
lSi9.
Year: 1878

Nothing has probably done more to
advance the interests Of the planters
than the introduction of steam en-
gines for threshing, ginning, &c, and
the time Is not far distant when every
farmer OF intelligence and enterprise,
will supply himself with one of these
indispensable adjuncts. Great care
should be taken to procure the best
and simplest machine of this kind,
and 10 buy from houses of established
reputation, especially those who are
doing what they can TO build up the
resources of the South. Such house
we believe will be found in the we'll
known firm of VIM. E. Tanner & Co.
of Richmond, Va.


The machinery built by these gen.
tlemen is largely used in this State
and gives universal satisfaction.
Year: 1878

WANTED! WANTED Short. prac-
teal articles suggestin. methods of
making and keeping in repair, our
North Carolina public roads. The
condition of the highways of any
country is the best test of its thrift
progress and prosperity. Farming
will never pay where roads are bad.
Poor roads keep the farmers poor, be-
cause after the crop is made the mar
gin of profit Is small, and if it be still
further reduced by breaking down an
$50 wagon, or lameing a 1926 horse.
the cash balance at the end of the
year will hardly pay for the children's
schooling. Many farmers take little
interest in the condition of the roads:
although they might as well throw
$50 or 800 every year into the fire as
to leave the roads in bad order. 1t is
estimated that farm having a good
road to market is worth from 81 m
$40 more per acre. than one whose
outlet is hardly passable after davs
rain. Northern men always take into
consideration the state of the public
roads, when they are seeking Southern
farms. How long will our people re
main blind to these facts: We urge
our thinking men and practical work
ers. to give us their ideas on the SUBJ
ject: out lining the best methods for
making good road, and keeping 1t in
repair.
Year: 1878

IL WE LIVE WE MUST Grow Old
Some people think that age is the worst
thing we have to dread-at least person
ally. Death may be an entrance into
JOY such as we have never known; but
whose blood does not curdle little at
the thought of old age0 And yet, if we
live we must grow old. We all know
it, but few realize it. No one can be-
lieve that his strength must fail, his hair
grow gray, his skin fall into wrinkles.
We see these things come to our grand,
pareDts--to our parents themselves; and
then we suffer. But what young per-
son can look in the mirror aud actually
fancy what his face will bel old ages


To think of being old is terrible TO
many persons; yet old people often seem
very happy. Perhaps calm we know
nothing of comes with age, or 1t may
be that we grow old so gradually the
moment Of realization never arrives
A After all, it is seldom that one gets to be
so old that he is not willing to be SILL
oil der.
Year: 1878

AN enormous eagle, measuring seven
feet from tip 10 tip Of the wings, was
captured near Atlanta, Ga, on We'd
nesday last. An old negro was carry
Ing baby in his arms, and his wife
was walking close behind him, when
the bird suddenly descended and made
a swoop for the child. The father
warded of the assault by a well-direct-
ed blow, but the eagle returned to The
attack with renewed vigor. The ue-
gro kicked and fought with ell his might
while clinging desperately to the child,
and his face was scratched BY the claws
of the bird. His wife screamed for
help, and q farmer who was chOpping
wood close by ran forward, and with
stroke Of his axe laid the bird seues-
less on the ground. The eagle was
stunned but not killed by the blow,
and the farmer now has him under
bonds.-[Mobile Register.
Year: 1878

SEE the proceedings of the Trustees
Of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College, for an early copy OF which We
are indebted 10 Capt Blrkitt, OF the
ChlCkasaw MAssenger-a member and
Secretary Of the Board. The bids for
the location are lively, but we are as
cured that 1t will not be determined
without due deliberAtion and exAmins.
ton by the Board Jackson Clarion
Year: 1878

Guns should always be carried at half
cock, as then neither blow on the
striker nor a pull at the trigger will
bring the former into action. There Is
no necessity whatever for a gun to be
otherwise than at the half'cock, unless
game is Immediately in front; and, fur
ther, it may not be out OF place to add,
that it is dangerous when shooting IN
company for the gun to be swung round
in taxing aim with the finger on the
trigger. The eye should follow the line
of the flight, and the gun be raised at the
proper moment. Accidents from guns
bursting are rare; but caution is very
necessary in getting over fences to see
that no earth gets lodged in the muzzle,
or in winter time that the latter does
not get blocked up by snow dropping
from the bushes or otherwise. Ihese
obstacles, although they may be easily
removed, are qnite sufficient, if they
remain. to burst tho strongest barrels
when the piece is tirel: This is caused
bv the wonderful velocity Of the e1-
panning gases. This expansion, which
is said to be at about the rate OF 7,O00
feet per Sc 'ond, is the same i'll all direc-
tions. and the least check at the muzzle
of the gun causes such a sudden in
creased pressure on it's sides that the
lotter are unable to resists its effects,
and are burst open. No one is more
cautious or scrupulously careful in the
use of his gun than an old sportsman,
and no one more readily than he detects
and condemns carelessness in the ma
nipulation of their guns in others.
Year: 1878

John Farrago, Pennsylvania militia
captain, once declined to fight duel IN
these words:


S1R-I have two objections to this
duel business. The one Is lest should
hurt you the other is lest you should
hurt me. 1 do not see what good 1t
would do Inc to shoot you. l could
make no use of you when dead for any
culinary purpose as [ would rabbit or
a turkey. 1 could not eat you. Why,
then, needlessly shoot you down. A
buffalo would make better meat than
you. For, though your head may be
delicate and tender, it wants that firm
ness and consistency that takes and re-
tains salt. 1t might make a good bar.
becue, it is true, being of the nature OF
a raccoon or opossum but do not like
barbecucd meat.


Besides, it would seem strange thing
for me to shoot at auythingGhat stands
still to be shot at, as am accustomed to
shootat things flying or running or
jumping. Were you on a tree, now,
like squirrel, trying to hide your self
in the branches, aud [ could spy
through intervening boughs and leaves,
I think should enjoy taking n shos at
YOU. But Us it is, there is no skill or
Judgment in either discovering you or
bringing you down.


As to myself, I do not like to stand in
the way of anything harmful. l
nm afraid you might hit me. l shall
consequently stay at distance. If you
want to try your pistols take some ob-
iect, such as tree or door, about my
dimensions. If you hit that send me
word, and 7 will publicly acknowledge
that if I had been in the same place you
might also have hit me. Yours truly,


JOHN FARRAGo.
Year: 1878

A correspondent, writing from Dead
wood, in the Black Hills, says The
woods in this vicinity are full of Sioux.
They have left the new Territory allotted
to them and are scattered over the plains
from here to Missouri, in bands of from
twenty to FIVE hundred. They are kill
ing but few men, for they are smart
enough to know that they are not strong
enough to Withstand the whole army.
But anything else that n diabolical dis
position and life at an agency can sug-
gest they are in for. Last week they
captured cattle train loaded with -four,
blasting powder, etc. They emptied
the powder ont in the snow, filled up the
kegs with -four and snow and tried to
nail mp the kegs again. They also cap
tured a Bismarck coach, and, after the
driver and passengers had fed to the
foot hills, attempted to run the machine
themselves. One lusty old warrior rugged
himself out in woman's waterproof and
mounted the box. AS whip he did not
shine very resplepdent, for he soon got
the horses tangled up and frightened and
upset his load of kindred upon the icy
road. Then they got some axes and
went for the treasure bcx chopping at
the hinges and doors as long as their
axes lasted, without being able to break
it open. Why was not that particular
safe filled with dynamite? These playful
reds are also givt n to alb 'orption of horses
and cattle, burning of hay ranches, etc.
and many other cute but unappreclated
Jokes.
Year: 1878

The death of Sheikh Julaodeen, the
perpetrator of the B,yazid massacre,
from the effects of wound received IN
skirmish near Idgyr some time ago, at
fords the Erznronm correspondent OF the
London Times an opportunity to relate
some curious facts. AsSheikhs are sup
posed by the credulous Kurds to be In.
Vulnerable, if not immortal, the fact OF
Julalodeen's wound was carefully con-
cealed. When bis death was imminent
his son assembled all the head men OF
his trfbe and stated that his grandfather
had Just been sent down by the prophet
for the purpose of removing his son from
a world now about to be given up to the
ravages of G;aours that for the sins OF
the Armenians in Van the place was to
he handed over by the prophet to the
Russians, but that the holy man Julalo.
deem was to be spared the humiliation OF
such a spectacle, and would move to
Paradise that nighs. 1t was fortunate
the prophet took him. If the Russians
had, the end of rope would have been
his fate
Year: 1878

A timid girl, with her delicate hand
half revealed, half concealed in a
init, came in and laid a poem on our
desk, which opened as follows:
How dear to my heart is the goat Of my child


hood,


When fond recollection presents him to me {;
The beautiful beast which whene'er he was


riled would


Make everything fly from the presence OF he.
NV mischievous Nan was the frowiert butter
That ever did butt a stone fenco till it fell ;
He'd see it coming-a scream he would utter,
Then brace his four legs and 60 at it pell-


nell.


On, how he would buck it An iron.bound


bucket,
He once tried to buck it, and died in the we'll.
We read it over three times, for it
seemed familiar. Then we asked her
poirt-blank if she wrote it herself. She
fixed an eye on us while the other went
out the window (poor girD and she said
in a faltering voice that she did. So we
accepted one verse, at 80 much. It is q
very pathetic little picture of rural
felicity, but it certainly reminds us OF
something wo hive seen before some
where. =-NeW York Graphsc.
Year: 1878

The following anecdote was related Dy
Mr.. Webster in reference to his connec.
ton with the celebrated Dartmouth
College case, in which the New Hamp-
shire Legislature attempted to interfere
with the ancient charter OF that institu-
ton in which, it may not be forgotten,
Mr.. Webster triumphed, by the decision
of the United States Supreme Court
confirming the claim of the college.
While engaged in the case, Mr.. Webster
told the president that as the original
charter was granted, and the endowment
made, by Lord Dartmouth expressly for
the purpose of civilizing and instructlng
the Indians, question might arise on
this point ; and, so as no Indian had
been attached to the school for long
period, it would be we'll for the presl.
dent to 60 into Canada and bring some
of the aborigines within the walls OF the
college, 80 that jury could not find that
the charter had been abrogated on that
score. Accordingly the president went
and found three choice specimens aud
brought them to the brink of the river !;
and after some delay he procured boat
and began to ferry them across-When
the young Indians, not precisely under
standing the object of 80 much kindness
on the part OF the president, and espy-
ing the walls of the college on the bank,
had not only their wonder excited, but
grew suspicious that, if once within
those walls, it might be difficult to es.
cape. Whereupon the young Indian at
the bow of the boat cast a significant
glance at his associates, gave the war
whoop, and, quick as thought, they all
plunged into the middle of the river and
swan for the shore. Said Mr.. Webster,
"The falling of the walls of Jericho on
the sounding of the rams horns could
not have astonished Joshua more than
this unlooked.fur escapade of the In
dams astonished the president. He hal
Iooed, eutreated and tried to explain all ;
bnt the Indians kept straight on their
course to the shore, and made with all
their speed for the woods-the last
President Wheelock ever saw or heard
of them" So Mr.. Webster had to 60 on
with the case without the Indians. This
anecdote used to amuse him exceeding gly
and Judge Story would join in with his
happy, light-hearted laugh, which only
those who knew him can appreciate.
Year: 1878

An Illinois jury found man guilty
of murder in the first degree; but as the
laws of the State allow jury to decide
whether hanging or imprisonment for
life shall follow such verdict, and as
nine of the jury were in favor of the
former sentence and three for the latter,
there was hitch in further progress
until decision was reached by pulling
straws The three iurymen favoring a
life imprisonment drew a short straw,
and a verdict in favor of hanging the
prisoner was accordingly rendered. But
the affair came to the notice of the
Judge, who thereupon granted motion
Tor q new trial, end fined the thres Jury


nea one hundred dollara eRah,
Year: 1878

This invention consists of sheet-iron
cylinder large enough to receive the
body of an adult person. 1t is closed at
one end, and the body of the patient is
inserted, feet foremost, at the open end
up to the neck, round which dia-
phragm is placed in such manner as to
prevent air from entering the cylinder.
An air-pump is then set to work; the
air of the cylinder is partially exhausted,
when the outer air enters through the
mouth and nostrils !; by reversing the
pump, air is allowed to re-enter the
cylinder and respiration is thereby imi-
tated. By repeating tho operation a
number of times asphyxiated persons,
and particularly those who have been in
danger of death by drowning. have been
completely restored'
Year: 1878

When the lessons and tasks are all ended,


And the school for the day is dismissed,
And the little ones gather around me


To bid me good night and be kissed.
Oh, the little white arms that encircle


Ny neck in tender embrace!
Oh, the smiles, that are halos o. Heaven,


Shedding sunshine of love on my face
And when they are gone, sit dreaming


or my childhood, too 10 ely to last;
OF love that my heart will remember,


When it wakes to the pulse of the past.
Ere the world and its wickedness made me


A partner Of sorrow and sin;
When the glory of God was about me,


And the glory Of gladness within.
Oh, my heart grows weak as woman's,


And the fountains Of feeling will flow,
As think Of the paths steep and stony,


Where the feet of the dear ones must go;
OF the mountains of sin hanging DER them,


OF the tempest Of fate blowing wild
Oh, there is nothing on earth half so holy


As the innocent heart OF child!
The twig is 80 easily bendsd,


have banished the rule and the rod,
have taught them the goodness of knowledge
They have taught me the goodness Of God
Myheart is dungeon Of darkness


Where shut them from breaking q rule,
Nv frown is sufficient correction,


NV love is the law Of the school.
shall leave the old house in the autumn,


To traverse its Threshold no more;
Ah! how I shall sigh for the dear ones


That meet me each morn at the door.
1 shall miss the good nights and the kisses,


And the gush Of their inn 1cent glee,
The group on the green, and the flowers


That are brought every morning to me.
l shall miss them at noon and at eve,


Their song in the school and the street;
I shall miss the low hum of their voices,


And the tramp of their d0licate feet.
When the lessons and tasks are all ended.


And Death says, " The school is dismissed,
May the little ones gather around me


To bid me good night and be kissed
Year: 1878

The people of Prescott have been some

 what curious to know what had become of our new Governor, as nothing definite has

 been heard of him since he was rendered, on the 1st of August, skinner in New York City. The California papers now announce that the ''old pathfinder" in company with Postmaster General Key, will spend week at the State Fair in California, As the fair does not commence at Sacramento until the 18th inst, 1t is reasonable to suppose that Governor Fremont will not arrive here until some time in October. He will remain a few days in San Francisco snd probably a week in Los Angeles, where the people have decided to give him 8 grand reception. Since it is a settled fact that he is to be our next Governor. the people are anxious to have him come on,