smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

A correspondent of the New Haven
Palladium from Westford, Windham
county, is entitled to place at the head
of the class Of tellers of snake stories.
He says: "a little over week ago, rs
a gentleman living at Westford Hill
was trimming some trees in his peach
orchard. a party of friends arrived and
requested him to show them the dircc-
tion of a whortleberry lot. He at once
preceded the party to the pasture, re-
tanning in his hand the sickle with
which he had been trimming. After en-
tering the lot they came suddenly upon
an enormous black snake coiled up be-
side rock. One of the party threw a
pail at the snake, which before had laid
quIeS, puS wnrou
its eyes glowing like Goals of fire, and
its forked tongue darting out and in
with the quickness Of lightning. The
tail of the snake which lay in the centre
of the coil kept up sort of vibrating
motion SO rapid as to be almost indis-
cernable. The party stood gazing at
this horrible sight half moment as if
SPELL bound, and then took to their heels
and ran away with all the speed they
possessed, the snake pursuing. The
gentleman acting as guide, probably
from desire to protect the rest. more
than from any inability to travel faster,
brought up the rear and was first over
taken. Seeing the monster close upon
him, and knowing that further flight
was useless. he suddenly faced about
and determined that as the snake de-
sired fight he should have it; and af.
ter short, sharp struggle in which the
sickle played an important part, he sue
ceeded in mastering it. Seeing the
snake getting worsted, and their courage,
singularly enough, returning about the
same time, the rest gathered rails and
stones. and returning to the charge soon
succeeded in dispatching it. The length
of the snake by careful. accurate meas
urement, was eleven feet five inches,
and in the largest places it was nearly
as large around as tea kettle.


Noticing one place was considerably
larger than the rest, it was cut open
and found to contain the gentleman
rooster, which has been missing since
the previous day. He has missed con.
siderable poultry this summer, mostly
small chickens, whose mode of departure
he at the UImv was uuablv " v-Oovs--'
for, but which had, doubtless, served the
snake as dinner. Had it not been fol
the hearty dinner the snake helped him
self to the day previous, and which
doubtless, rendered him less lively thar
usual, it would probable have lunche(
off some of the party.''
Year: 1879

The American Agricaaltasist believes
that the old fashioned method of plow-
ing under manure has become obsolete.
The common method is to keep it as
near the surface and to intermingle it
with the soil as much as possible. In
feeding plants we must not only place
the food within easy reach of the roots.
but must also supply the best food in
the best condition. These conditions
arc secured by thorough mixture of
the manure in as finely divided condi-
ton as possible throughout the upper
three or four inches of the soil. The
best practice is to spread the manure
upon the ploughed ground, and to work
it in with the harrow. ~ leai
Year: 1879

We must remain as yet some little
in doubt as to the methods employed BY
the old artist to perfect these miracles
Of taste. We have, however, the abso.
lutte certainty that these ancient masters
were familiar with the diamond, and
that their best work was made by using
this, the hardest Of all substances, as
tool. A splintered fragment Of the dia-
mond served as a scraping tool, and they
were we'll acquainted with the drill.
Prehistoric man worked a drill at the
very commencement of his existence. A
Phoenician gem-a lion attacking bull
shows how the drill was used. A
number Of circular depressions are found
in the gem, which mark the extremities
or the figures. inns was uoue v-.J
for the sake of effect, but to show the
artist the limit of his work as to depth.
After the holes were sunk, the artist
united the various portions Of his work
by scratching. Now the use of the dia-
mond point or splinter. fixed in a style
or iron socket, allowed certain fexibil-
ity of handling, which our modern pro-
cesses of gem.engraying do not permit.
To-day the work is done by means of a
minute rotating disk of copper, which is
whetted with oil and diamond dust. On
the least application of the substance
to be cut to the disk, it is the disk
which bites into the stone. The differ
ence in manipulation is, then, that to-
day it is the stone which goes to the
tool, and not, as in olden times, the
tool to the stone. It is more convenient,
then, in 1879, to bring the cart to the
horse. It can now be readily under
stood why in modern work, time and
labor being spared (the art conception
not entering for the present into the
| subject why this work of to-day is in
| ferlor to the art which Is past. lt Is
purely mechanical process now, for a
rotating disk will no more draw lines
which have feeling than will photograph
ing processes paint pictures. 1t has
been stated that we are not entirely ac-
quainted with the methods employed by
the old glyptic artists. This becomes
quite evident from this fact, that their
best work seems to have been both cut
and polished at one and the same time.
To-day we have no tool, no substance,
which will accomplish this double feat.


MIR. King, dwelling on the diamond
point, says '1ts extensive use 10 Sne


great distinction between the antique


and modern work. .''-Harper's Maga-


zine for September.
Year: 1879

We must regard every matter as an
entrusted secret which we believe the
person concerned would wish to be con-
sidered as SUCH Nay. further still, we
must consider all circumstances as secrets.
entrusted which would bring scandal
upon another if told. and which it is not
our certain duty to discuss, and that in
our own persons and to his face. The
divine rule of doing as we would be done
by is never better put to the test that in
matters Of good and evil speaking.
Year: 1879

If Mrs. Nellie Grant Sartoris collects
all the obituaries which recently appear
ed she will have the satisfaction of know
ing that she is the most beloved of all
living representives of her sex.
Year: 1879

Of each are published on Dutch paper. India paper
and papier ehamois; and these may safely be com
mended to the lover Of fine books, spite Of their one
uniform defect the undue paleness OF the ink with
which they are printed. But do not sec why we
should be asked to believe that there Were no heroes
of printing before Agamemnon Name. G.w.s
Year: 1879

face the fact that manual labor is the sphere
in which the great majority Of the human


race are destined to move, and that 1t ls me-
chanIcal skill and genius which have trans-
formed the world, and which should command
the highest prizes In the race OF life.
Year: 1879

On financial questions the New York Demo.
Gratis are ovasive for the first time in many
years, and We are left to guess their position on
the reconciliation of silver and kindred
topics which engaged so much of the attention
of the last Congress. This fact tho ignoring
of the fraud battle-cry and the mild rebuSe of
Governor RoBINsoN's policy toward New York
city in tho single line about municipal govern
ment, indicates that while TILDES prescribed
the nominations, tho framing of the platform
"a very slight tub to the whale-was turned
over to the leaders of Tammany. Democratic
dissension will produce Republican harmony,
aud while TTLDEN will continue to hold the
Democratic organization, for the control ol
which he has played so desperately, CoNKLING
will walk away with the State and the Repub'
licans will gain great start IN the race for the
Presidency. Thus are the political fortunes oI
the Nation made the football of the personal
pride and prejudice of selfish partisan leaders,
philadelphia Times (Dem)
Year: 1879

As was to have been anticipated, the
mockery of trial Of GULLY for the MUIR
der of Judge CHISHOLM and his son and


daughter ended in verdict of acquittal.


This is a sad commentary on American


jurisprudence and justice. There was no
lack of proof of the murders, which were
the most barbarous known to history
Neither could there have been a shadow of
doubt of GULLYs guilt as one of the muir
derers Public sentiment forced q trial, or
none would have been held-while local
sentiment brought an acquittal at the bar
of Justice without the slightest regard to the
guilt or innocence of the accused. The


court went through the hypocritlcal forms ol
a mock trial more as an insult to the cause
Year: 1879

THE Oltolona Southern States is up on its
ear again, and there is some danger of its
tearing its shirt inits rawlings. In referring
to Home Rule, it admits that the negroes
are in majority in Mississippi but ex-
claims at the top of its croaking voice
Every county will become Yazoo and
every patriot BARKEsDALE before we
twill submit to African supremacy"
Though DIXON was no "nigger in COM
plexion, and was not in the line of securing
African supremacy" he had to pay the for
felt of slight divergence from the Bourbon
line, Mississippi is fast lapsing into a state


of barbarism that will shame the Zulus.
When people gets to going to the bad,
the best way is, perhaps, to let them 20
until they become so bad that they cannot
endure each other. Then cure may come.
Year: 1879

THE able paper from the pen of FRED.
DOUGLASS upon the colored exodus, which
wasread before the Social Science Association
at Saratoga on Friday by Professor WAY
LAND, came to us so late on Saturday morn
ing that it was not possible to do more than
give it paragraph allusion. We give it at
considerable length this morning, and COM
mend it to careful pcrusal. The subject is lib
orally and philosophically discussed, taking
in both sides, but it will scarcely reconcile
the colored race to remain in the South and
endure all the wrongs that are heaped upon
them beyond the time they can escape.
Year: 1879

IT is now contended by political tyros
that the Syracuse ticket is not machine
nomination Oh, no probably not TIL
DEN, who is a machine Of himself, prob
ably had nothing to do with it.
Year: 1879

THE prosperity of the country is knock
ing the stufling out of Democratic speeches
no sound so dismal to the average Demo-
crt as the music of the forge, the spinning
jenny, and the general hum of business.
He cannot stand these
Year: 1879

THE Democrats of New York are taking
soothing-syrup in three forms. One resides
in the prospect Of supplanting ROBINSON
with some other name on the ticket more
acceptable to JoHN KELLY; another that
KELLY's bolt will strengthen the ticket in
the rural districts, and still another in the
hope that KELLY will repent aud play the
returning prodigal. SooLhing'syrup is still
in Order and 80 is Crow in that State.
Year: 1879

WlTH four Republican members of Con-
gress from California the Democrats cannot
carry the House on a vote by States as the
Republicans have majority in nineteen of
the thrty-eight States. This, however, is
of little consequence, inasmuch as the elec-
tion of President will not 20 TO the House
at all. A solid North will take good care
of that matter by the voice of the people
The shotgun can play its part in the South
but Northern ballots will take care of the
next Presidency without recourse to any
other agencies.
Year: 1879

THE Chicago Tribune thinks that the
CHIsHorNIs will be avenged, but not by the
fox-hunting officers Of justice in Kemper
County. The people of the North will take
the contract of punisling the Southern
brutes who murdered the CHIsHoLMs. The
press will put q tongue in every wound of
CHIsloLM's to cry thostones in the North to
mutiny and rage Those wounds will
stump for the Republican party in every
Stale north of MASON and DGXoN's line.
Year: 1879

a hard load, but this is far the heaviest he
has ever undertaken todraw. In November
he will find himself with his cart hopelessly
stuck in the mud, with no power to extri-
cate it for future use. To what base uses
do we come ut lastl PHILLIPS has had q
checkered career but this last venture will
decide his color and destiny politically.
Gloomy prospects, with no turn in the path.
Year: 1879

The steamer Republic made her first
regular excursion trip Of the present sea-
son to Cape May, yesterday. Only
about two hundred persons, four OF
whom were from this city, were on
board the season being not yet fairly op-
enOd.
Year: 1879

The wise and witty author of Rdb and his
Friends has somewhere toll the following
story A wife was lying seriously ill with
quinsy. The medical man averred that
immediate relief would come if by any
means the suppuration could be made to
burst and suggested that the patient should
be somehow provoked into hearty laugh.
Many expedients were tried in vain, and at
length the husband, who was sitting by the
bedside, with his elbows on his knees and
his hands upon his cheeks, looked up with
a serious face and said, "Try her with
compliment, Doctor" The odd appearance
of the sympathetic and anxious countenance
combined with the yet odder suggestion to
accomplish all that was desired. The SUI
ferer could not choose but yield. She posi-
lively "guffawed " at the ludicrousness of
the situation, and the relief was instantane-
Gus. Now we have sometimes thought that
a judicious use of commendation would be
cure for many moral evils not less serious
in their own department than the physical
malady which was thus comically removed.
There is, for example, the shy, timid child
in the household, who is "cutfed " about
from one to another, and constantly lectured
for awkwardness, stupidity, and general in-
efficiency. She comes in for most OF the
seedlings. Everybody is down upon her.
She is made the scapegoat for all the rest ;
and no matter where discipline may begin,
it commonly ends with general set-to on
her. But the only result of such treatment
is, that she becomes more shy and awkward
than ever. She is afraid to speak, lest she
| should draw down upon her head some new
attack. She fears to move, lest some one
should find fault and the character, which
under other treatment might develop into
frank willinghood to learn, becomes re
served, defiant, and indeed regardless. In
most large families there is some "ugly
duckling" of this sort, and parents and
elder brothers and sisters are often at loss
what to do in such a case But here comes
in the wise prescription, "Try her with a
compliment" Give over blaming, aud adopt
the plan of encouragement. Wink a little
at the things which in others you might bt
disposed to reprove, and take every possible
opportunity for uttering words of homes,
aud hearty praise. Nothing is more injuri
GUS than constant fault-fnding, aud many
young people have been utterly ruined by
the continuous "naggng OF their elders
Let the evils alone for time, and look ou


for the excellences then when you discover
these, be generous in your appreciation o.


them. A plant cannot grow without th'
sunlight, and no healthy or strong character


can be developed without loving commenda
tion.-Christidn at Work.
Year: 1879

A perplexed young housekeeper of our
acquaintance whose pretty brow was most
unbecomingly puckered over a wrong-sided
balance sheet Of the family expenses, de-
clared that the problem of "making the
ends meet almost outweighed the advan-
tages of having home of her own. Upon
our mildly suggesting to her that perhaps
the trouble came from the fact that her good
man and herself were born with tastes that
would do credit TO a much larger income
than they enjoyed, she replied that it didn't
make any differences if they had six thou
sand instead of two, she was sure it would
all CO. Aud very likely it would. A good
many people have yet to learn the lesson of
limiting their needs, and praoticing the art
of selection. "a man has need, said the
wise Bacon-whose practice, by the way,
fell far behind his precepts-"i II he be plen-
tiful in some kind of expense, to be as saw
ing again in some other As If he be plen-
tiful in diet, to be saving in apparel, and
the like; for he that is plentiful in expenses
of all kinds will hardly be preserved from
decay" This indicates a line of conduct in
which many persons of limited incomes are
exceedingly thoughtless. II they choose to
pay expensive rent rather than to live in a
more modest way, they should accept this
luxury as All equivalent for many that they
are thereby compelled to forego If they de-
eide to dress, or furnish their table, on a
scale suitable for persons with double their
income, they should expect to give up the
summer trip, the concert and lecture tickets,
the books and pictures which otherwise
they might enjoy. There are people in our
cities, with aesthetic tastes that they are not
able to crafty. who not only omit to mark
out any rational lines of enjoyment, but
think they must take in the world at a
mouthful. In city like our own, rich in
intellectual entertainments, they act as if
there were never another season coming.
Oratorios, operas, plays, lectures, concerts,
must all be taken in, or postponed under a
bitter protest that brings unhappiness. The
habit of wise selection from each, and the
reflection that though in one sense life is
short, it still affords time enough for all
rational enjoyment for those who know how
TO use their opportunities, would be worth
more than a legacy to such people. Be rea'
sonable, first of all, good friends who are
perplexed with such matters. Don't quarrel
with the fact that two and two make only
four, and that four will go into twelve but
three times. And when you have reached
this point of philosophy, add to your good
sense clear calculation. Don't spend money
thoughtlessly. Conform your ideas to the
multiplication table, keep your tastes within
your means, and put your purse in sublec
tion to the lead-pencil, if you would preserve
the peace of mind necessary to happiness IN
any state of life.-Golden Rule.
Year: 1879

The simple presence OF such persons in
the church is of itself to every minister
powerful help and encouragement He is
glad, of course, to see new faces coming in
from time to time. The poor mother, the
standby at home, who has breakfast and
a husband and half dozen children TO get
ready in the morning, so that she herself
can come out only now and then, whenever
she does come is seen with pleasure. The
young men of his flock, flowers of the king
dom, whose eyes and religious natures open
usually only in the latter part of the day,
but who occasionally under the inspiration
of a new suit of Sunday clothes blossom out
in the forenoon, excite in him, till he learns
better, CLEAN of hope. The religious cas-
ual, the small and infrequent worshiper de-
scribed by Horace, owning pew but occu-
pying it SO seldom that when he does use it
Il has to be found for him by the sexton, is
not by any means unwelcome and there is
always an inspiration OF some sort in the
great crowd OF strangers who appear Sun
day night when 1t has been advertised that
he is going TO speak on the kingdom OF
Satan, or the doings Of the devil, or the
sowing of wild oats, or some kindred theme
But alter all it is the stand-bys, the men
usually old ones--and the women living often
farthest from the church, who are absolutely
sure of being in their places punctually every
Sunday, Thanksgiving and even Fast day
whatever the season or the weather or the
subject may be--these that he looks upor
with special delight and finds to be tn,
fountains of his greatest earthly inspiration
Sunday Afternoon.
Year: 1879

When we are considering the dangers
which threaten our youth, we should not di-
rect our thoughts too far away from home.
For the means of safety are to be found
only in so arming ourselves and our chill
dren with the wisdom of innocence that the
grosser temptations of life shall be as though
they were not. BY sincerity, by honesty,
and by purity in thought, word and deed,
we may give mighty reinforcement to the
good which in other men lies sleeping but
never dead. BY the untrue word, the dis
honest act, the loose jest, or even the unut
tered sympathy with evil, We may set the
example which our children will exceed in
their practice. After making all allowance
for the influence which comes into the home
from without, we must still hold ourselves
responsible for the opportunity which evil
men find in the unguarded lives of the
young, the weak and the George
RafcLSior.
Year: 1879

him. Modesty, timidity, the opposition of
friends, the surroundings of man, may
keep him years from declaring his real SEN
timents towards one whose silent friend he
Is. But, let an emergency arise where he is
needed, and how nobly the secret friend
comes to the front Who could have pre-
dicted that Joseph and Nicodemus, two
members OF the council that had hunted
him down, would have performed the rites
of sepulture for Jesus2 It should have
fallen to others, but they took the duty and
the honor. They were certainly disciples.
They believed in Jesus. They loved Jesus.
There can be no mistake, think, in those
points. They did not believe sufficiently to
come down from their seats in the Sanhed-
rim and follow the lonely teacher on his
circuits of preaching and benefcence. But
they loved him, and probably he was never
80 beautiful in their eyes as when he was
enduring the torturing inquisition of the
high-priest than when he was suffering
under Pontius Plate than when he hung,
thorn-crowned aud pierced and dead, on the
cross of Golgotha. There must then have
come to these good men painful repentance
of the secrecy of their discipleship. They
had refused that dead man what was his
due when he was living. Always in the
sight of the dead our shortcomings toward
them become most poignant recollections.
We are recalled from our carelessness by
the fact that we never can repair the wrongs
we have done them, nor pay them the at.
tentions which we have thoughtlessly with.
held.-Rev. DR.. Deems
Year: 1879

We have always had a dislike to report
ing prayers, but here is something so sub
lime that it is certainly worth preserving.
1t is the dedicatory prayer offered by Joseph
Cook at the dedication of the chapel in the
Yosemite Valley, at the Sunday-school as
sembly, last June. Here is the prayer
Almighty God, thou hast consecrated this
valley; may we not desecrate it. We are
sinners. In presence of these stupendous
revelations of thy power, may we be deliv-
cred from contempt of thy word and CON-
mandment. May we loathe our leprosy,
and dishonesty aud selfshness, as thou dost.
Face to face with these precipices may men
acquire hearts as upright and downright as
the rocks. From thy house, which we ded-
icate to thee, may thy truth be proclaimed
in tones as bold as the hills, and tender as
the voices of these waters Our sincere
prayer is that thou wilt give us similarity of
feeling with thyself. What men say here
the world will little note, nor long remem-
ber; but it will never forget what thou hast
said here. May our speech accord wholly
with thine. May all discussions of thy
truth here, echo God. May they reflect thee
as these waters reflect the precipices. We
shall pass away and be forgotten; but gen
Grafton after generation will be represented
by those who walk through this valley. We
dedicate this house to the religious service
of all nations. May artists and poets be in
spired here. May statesmen and reformers
obtain courage here. May preachers and
teachers find strength and tenderness here.
When the children of Europe and of Greece
and of Italy and of the Holy Land come
here may they meet thee, and may we
meet them in the spirit of Christian broth
erhood. When the children of the Hima.
layas come to the Sierras, may they find
peace and strength. When the children OF
the Yellow Sea come hither, may they find
instruction and be treated with justice on
the shores of the Pacific. In this holy place
wilt thou knit the hearts of all nations to
each other and to thyself. The high noon
is above our heads, and in the presence OF
these glorious works of thine we dedicate
this house to thy service. We give our
selves up to thee in irreversible, affection
ate, total self-surrender. We beseech thee
to fill this temple to the latest generation
with the love Of God, the grace of our Lore
Jesus Christ, and the communion of the


Holy Spirit; and this for thine own sake
| Amen l"-Selected.