smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

Every boy and girl should learn to
swim. A writer in the american Agrt-
custurtst offers the efollowing suggestions,
by obedience to which the art of swim
ming may be readily acquired:


When was boy learned to swim
by means of a swimming board. This
is the safest method possible. If corks
are used they may slip from around the
breast down beneath the body, throw
ing the head below the surface, and put
ting the wearer in danger of drowning.


Some country boys get two bladders
and then tie them together with short
cord, and use these as supports. They
are the most dangerous things possible
for boy to have.


The board is perfectly safe, and one
may learn to swim in q very short time
by using one. 1t should be over four
feet long, over a foot wide and two
inches thick, white pine or cedar.


To use it, boy wades into the water
up to his shoulders, then taking hold Of
the end of the board he pushes it before
hinl-towards the bank, and not into
deeper water-springs forward with his
feet and throws himself fiat upon the
water.


This movement carries him along
few feet. He then draws up both his
legs at the same time, keeping the knees
as far apart as possible, and then strikes
out with both feet, not straight back
ward, but sideways, just as a frog does.
The stroke is made slowly and is re
peated again, drawing up the legs slow
ly and steadily. The board keeps the
head above water. When the leg stroke
has been learned one hand is taken from
the board and the stroke learned, or the
chin may be rested on the board, while
the stroke is taken with both hauds.
This is a very good plan, as it com.
pels the swimmer to keep his hands
under the water, which he should al
ways do. By-and-by the board may bt
pushed ahead and the young swimmer
may swim after it, always keeping i
within reach. When Dumber of boy
60 to swim they should always have TIVE
/ or three of these boards with them fo
use in case of any accident.
Year: 1878

capital as well as money. Use whatever
share you have of them this morning for
some poor fellow less lucky than yourself
Concern yourself to get a situation for jones'
who has his big family to carry through the
Winter look up that son of your old friend
in the country, who is working his way here
in the city,without friends make your house
a home for the boy hold out your hand to
keep him from temptation speak good
word for Hogg to his Credtors-it will be bet
ter than money in helping him Opull through.


These are debts which we ali owe, and Will
owe every day of this year, and every year.
And Just in proportion as we pay them will
our hearthstones he warm, and our hearts
hight He that giveth to the poor lendeth to
One who makes payment a thOusandfold.
Year: 1878

win appreciate readily. If the plan seems to
bankers of the Association worthy OF con-
sideration, it might be well to submit
the matter formally to the Secretary OF
the Treasury. 1t is possible that no change
of law would be needed to bring about very
useful economies in the method of transacting
b,,s;
Year: 1878

Just where intOxication begins has always been
\ delicate point. especially in the courts. which
have been for many years wrestling unsuccessfully
with the great qucstion-Does lager beerinoXicate
In the Pmckney trial. however, a legal lumuary
has shed a Hood Of light upon the subject by giving
il as bus opinion that a man is not drunk unless
he is unable to find his way home II is to be
hoped that this standard will be ngdy applied in
ali futurc nominations for judicial Office.
Year: 1878

The alert young Democrat iu Congress WHO strides
boldly go the front after and demands full
Car investigation of the cphers will steal
a march towards the leadership Of hs party
on the timd old temporizcrs who are now
running the machine. 1t is the dread of
such stroke Of political genius which keeps
me bourbon leaders IN such disturbed state of
mind. These snufIy aud rheumatic old gentlemen
who live in constant dread Of any political east
wind. feel in their bones that their place
will be on the retired list or in the lu-
valid corps as soon aS their party needs
tn, service of the ston-hcartcd aud supple-Onted.
And that is why they are shivering with
tear lest some hot-bloodcd young corporal should
explode the cipher baI'l in Congress and make
enough vacancies above him TO iusnre lively promo
tun.
Year: 1878

Grave difficulties still lie in the way Of re-
ligious peace in Germany but as the public
mind is ow.engrossed with the problems of
Socialism and taxation, it is probable that the
remarkable letterwhich Pope Leo has addressed
to the Archbishop of Cologne will have great
influence on the relations between the Vati-
can and the Empire. Its cOnciiatOry tone
viii remove the impression that Prince Bis
marck is more anxious than the Pope to settle
the pending difficulties.
Year: 1878

A congress of Christians to discuss
the second advent is to be held in the
Church of the Holy Trinity in New
York city on the thirtieth and thirty
first of October and first OF November.
The call to this congress is signed by
bishops, priests and deacons of several
Christian denominations and is ad-
dressed as follows:


Dear Brethren an Christ-When from
any cause some vital doctrine of Gods
Word has fallen into neglect or suf-
feied contradiction and reproach, 1t
becomes the serious duty OF those who
hold it, not only strongly aud con-
stantly TO resffirm it, but to seek by all
means In their power to bring back
the Lords people to its apprehension
and acceptance. The precious doctrine
Of Christ's second personal appearing
has, we are constrained to believe, long
lain under such neglect and misappre-
hension.


In the Word of God we fud it hold
ing q most conspicuous place. II is
there strongly and constantly empha-
sized as personal and imminent event,
the great object OF the Church's hope !;
the powerful motive to holy living ana
watchful service; the inspiring ground
OF confidence smid the sorrows and
sins OF the present evil world; and the
event that is to end the reign of death,
cast down Satan from his throne and
establish the kingdom Of God on earth.
so vital, indeed, is this truth represen
ted to be, that the denial of IL is point
ed out as one Of the conspicuous signs
Of the apostscy of the last days.


Now, while casting no word Of re-
proach upon those who may differ from
us, we cannot be insensibIe 20 the fac.
that there has been q sad decline 10
our times from the clear, vivid, ardent
faith Of the early church in regard 70
this doctrine. Very many Christians
have been taught 20 regard the coming
OF Christ IS equivalent 70 their death /;
Others regard It as anonymous with
the gradual diffnuon- OF Christianity.
Many, satisfied with this present world,
have little desire for the return Of the
absent Lord; while here and there are
those who boldly speak Of such an
event as only ''fhscinating dream,
destined never 70 be realized. Bas
whlla We lament all thIs, and can bar
regard Il - Al alarming synPtoa Of
Year: 1878

Men and bull terriers alike have
| inb7rn courage, and any well-born
youth will fight when honor or wrong
demand 1t; but in a state of society in
which cowsrdly bullies go armed,
and the honest and upright obey the
country's laws and are unsrmed, there
can be no honorable and only disgrace
fal lighting. Therefore men, when out
ragged, have often submitted. They
would nOt be assassinated. AS men
get druuk to bolster up courage and
nerve the arm for murder, so do the
decent, sober and law-abidiDg keep
sober that such conduct may be evaded.
To converse with a half-drunken fell
low Is as dangerous in Texas town as
to tamper with an uneAploded shell.
The fuse of whisky is lighted by the
slightest conclusion of differences
of opinion, and the explosion that fol-
lows leaves the pavement stained with
the lifc-blood of man and grief over
shadows once happy household.
Whisky and the pocket pistol and as
sassn's knife constitute the basis of
that lofty courage which first is mad
deued with alcohol, and then strength
ened with the battery on the hip, and
then is IN a happy condition to "get the
drop" on the helpless victim of an i'm
pulse. The other pocket on the hip
contains an empty pistol freshly fired,
to be dropped" by the bloody villain
that "gets the DROP" beside the reek-
ing, gasping victim of society's de-
mand for the exhibition of courage"
When lighting was even decent, among
civilized creatures, it was mere illus
tration of strength and physical endur-
ance. 1t was not punishment for
wrong since he who inflicted pain was
an equal sufferer and fairly took what
ne gave. To dream of murder and of
ath-desling was then impossible; but
now this boasted civilization of this
progressive nineteenth century forces
honest decency and self-respect to re-
spond by a blow to the insults of any
vulgar, brutal fellow whoi stiffens his
spine With pistols and whisky and de-
votes his life to the study of the art Of


''getting the drop" on his victim,
and then has learned how, very deftly,
to have a bloody knife or empty pistol
beside the body of the slain.


Il must come to this ct last in Texas
as in England, Old and New, that de-
cent people cannot fight. No good
and worthy citizen will bear arms, not
only because it is violative of law, but
because it is o constant confession
either of cowardice or of the purpose
to kill, and yet each citizen is cogni-
zant of the fact that the bull terriers
and assassins of the community con-
stantly and secretly bear arms. These
must be met on their own terms or to
fight would be to commit suicide. We
must ever 60 armed to kill or, fighting
to avenge insults, submit to open as
sassination. The result is that fight
ing is worse than senseless, and Is only
confession on the part of sober, in
dnstrious citizen that he deems his life
valueless to his family and to society.


1t tells of no courage and only of the
wild despair of that insanity that bends
in cowardice before public opinion.
Year: 1878

IF man be thought fit to be cau-
didste of great party, he IS entitled
to courtesy. II vulnerable he should
be assailed with that dignified seventy
which is argument in itself. Personal
abuse and bitter vitupers;ion are not
only Ineffective, but lower unnecessa-
My and wrongfully the general es,i-
mate OF public men, and, by reflex
action, result in the degradation OF
public morals. The world is, perhaps,
yet too young fer the gentleman in poll
tics. The possibility of q gentleman
in politics, however, is no Utopian
idea, aud the day may come when can
didates for Office will be treated with
that respect which would be awarded
to them were they actual incumbents
of office, and performing their duty in
the most conscientious manner pos
sible
Year: 1878

WHEN Ben Butler proposed, four
years ago, to pay off the Federal debt
that bought the negro's freedom and
restored the Union, with irredeemable
paper, Gen. Grant turnea upon him
with the ringing words, 'Let it be un-
derstood that no repudiator of one
farthing of our public debt will be
trusted in a public place" Grant
knew that Butler was trying to tempt
the people to escape from burden by
a mean and base act. How Davis can
hcodwink the negroes about the capi.
tai and how they can be induced to
applaud Still and his associate speech
makers is an unfathomable mystery.
Year: 1878

JUDGE BACON is too old to be ''cured"
if addicted to the vice of forging land
titles. We thought we had taken in
bacon enough of the sort when Ham
was gobbled. But a strong case has
been made Of it, and Judge Turner's
capacity to go the whole hog will be
thoroughly tested when Strong, Bacon,
Ham and the rest are dished up before
him.
Year: 1878

IT may now be put down as a fact,
that Mr.. Davis is the leader of the
Greenback party of the fifth Con-
gressional district. He Is in the can
vass, and, controlling most of the ne
gro vote, is the great man of the party,
and yet many thoughtess white men
follow In the wake of Davis and bis
black herd with the hope Of assisting
Cuffee in saving the country.
Year: 1878

L. U. REAvIs, who will deliver the
opening address at the coming State
fair at the capital, says, in private
letter:


My greatest thought on this side of
the eternal world is that America shall
be Americanized and nationalized, and
the new country we now confront shall
be signalized by the full achievements
of the American idea, and the conti-
mental supremacy of our Constitution
the building OF the great city and the
great nation of futurity.
Year: 1878

DAVIS and his black herd arc happy.
Many good white people are thought
lessly following them in their work Of
destruction, aud CufTee claims that in
thus becoming s leader of white men
the principles Of Radicalism are being
effectually carried on through Green
backiem-
Year: 1878

81. Louis RepE5lseaa: The building
OF the Northern snd the Tsxss Pac es
would undoubtedly be the sufest end
most economical method Of setting
forever the ln5iAn question, and a.
both these great enterprises can Be
achieved without taking 9 dollar from
the national treasury, the sooner the
work is done the better it win be for
the country and its Troublesome wards.
Year: 1878

TIE most interesting feature of re-
cent Northwestern elections is the fall
ing off of the vote of which Ben Butler
and Governor Davis are the Eastern
and Southern representatives. Fiat
money madness has exhausted itself in
the West and the end in the South is
at hand. 1t will be Observed that these
fat money Ben Butler people denounoe
both the old parties and yet these par
ties are unbroken and the Greenbackers
almost unfelt and unrecognized. They
drew off enough force from Democracy
in Ohio to give the State, though we
won Congressman, to the Republicans.
Even Davis and his associates In this
district propose to give the seat in
Congress to bolter and outsider and
nondescript fiat money zealot.
Year: 1878

One OF the most preposterous collisions recorded In
the annals OF railway accidents occurred evening
on Flushing and North Side Railroad, Long Island
AT eleven minutes after O'Clock locomotive No Q
arrived from Great Neck at Hunters Point with
passenger cars IL was time and rounded the curve
lev hundred yards from the depot at the ordinary
rate OF speed. without tho ringing OF bell or the
sound OF a whistle a locomotive without attachment
IRON the station rounded the curve In the opposite
direction. The resuM Vas disastrous WITH a
crush ike that Of thunder the two engines
came together telsscopcd Both boilers wore
completely demolished ana the clouds Of steam that
arose from the floods Of boiling water precpitaied
tho roadway increased the panic among the passen-
gers. The shock was great throw tns latter
iron their scais und although no one fatally or
very seriously Injured, So lar as known, every
body given memorial vi tho affair IN the shape
OF n bruse or a sprained nmb. The fireman on OF
the locomotives was hurt more seriously than any
body else.


None Of the ofhcials connected with the incoming
train could account Tor tue TACT OF engine runuing
about IA sucn recklsss fashion. reporter OF The
HERALD called upon Tram Despatchsr Cannon. who
presumably ordered the engine the place where the
collision occurred, aud asked how II came about
Mr.. Cannon rsmarkct noncnalantIy, "Oh, switcn
engine happened To got In tho way Of an incoming
tram; that's all there ts TO It,"
Year: 1878

The Coluuibias as given above.


THE RACE.


The thren crews all started evenly and
kept steering good courses until half way
The Jesus crew then went too close to the
Bucks bo nk The Oxford men went into
,he bend on the Berks side. The Colum-
bias men, who were leading also went
howard the bend and came out again The
struggle up to this point was magnificent.


ALMOST ANOTHER FOUL


At the half-mile the University and Jesus
boats about length behind. This ad-
vantag ge the Columbias continued to in
crease until, at the three-4uarters of mile,
they were seen to shoot over to the Berks
shore, taking the Universitys water with
out trouble. The steering of the Columbia
boat here was simply beyond praise.
At the same time the Jesus Col
lege crew made dash at Columbia
and for a moment another foul seemed in
evitable. One OF the stewards cried OUT
ssrhat was deliberate drive ut Columbia.
The oars did almost touch, but the crews
then Strengthened out, Columbia leading o
length and rowing q quick, sharp stroke OF
forty in excellent form. The University
crew was out OF the race, but the Jesus Col
lege men now spurted magnifcently. The
last quarter mile was intensely exciting


M COLUMBIA WINS RAsrLy


Onward spun Columbia, more than ever
determined to get first to the line near Hen
lev bridge. They were now in the straight
stretch homcward and they went to their
work. Their lead OF a boats length was
increased to two, aud they crossed the line
Year: 1878

The man who penned the following
paragraph for the MetAcdtst Recorder
left no margin for misrepresentation as
to his opinion on the above subject:
The popular clamor for short sermons
is kept up by restless class Of young
persons who are smarter than their
parents or pastors. They get the
fidgets if sermon reaches beyond
fifteen or twenty minutes. And yet
these same goslings Of beth gonders,
when they come together in a social
party or meet in the parlor, will waste
solid hours in the stupidest common
places. Their talk does not rise to
the dignity of conversation; it is nom
sense from first to last; it is worss than
the waste of time, of life, of every
thing. But these giglars from the
goose pastures presume to know how
long a minister should preach, and
here and there the kind-souled pas
tors accommodate their sermons to the
gosling taste. Let the pulpit have
time to discuss the topics it under
taxes, and let the discussion be so
fresh, vigorous and attractive as to
arrest the attention from all who have
heart and brain to understand. For
a goose in the pulpit is worse than a
gosling in the pew
Year: 1878

THE following article, descrip-
5ive of this county, was written
by q prominent citizen Of the
county, in the year 1872, and
published in the Sharp County
Herald, a newspaper then pub
lished in this place; it was also
published in the North Arkan-
sas Democrat, (the Herald's sue
cessor,) in 1875. The article is
given as it appeared then, with
the exception Of that portion re-
lating to the population Of the
county and the number Of bust


ness houses in Evening Shade,


which is changed to suit the
present time.-ED. RECORD.


Sharp county was established


by the General Assembly Of
1868, and is bounded on the


north by the state Of Missouri,
on the east by Randolph and
Lawrence counties, the south by
Independence county, and the


west by independence, lizard
and Fulton counties. It's pOpu-


lation is about nine thousand.
Since the establishment of. the
county all of the necessary pub


JIG buildings have been erected
and are paid for, The face Of the
country is generally undulating,
though diversified with rich al
luYiaI bottoms and hat pplands.
In many places the hills are
lofty enough to be called noun
tains. The arabic lands are sus-
ceptible Of producing large
yields Of cotton, corn, wheat,
rye, hay, oats, potatoes, tobacco
and field crops generally, while
vegetables of nearly every kind
may be produced to great per
feclion, and all fruits adapted to
the climate attain the highest de-
gree Of perfection under proper
culture, That portion Of the
land which is thought to be un-
fit for cultivation, on account OF
the stones which lie principally
upon its surface, produces, each
year, q luXuriant crop OF wild
grass upon which large numbers
of cattle thrive and fatten dur
ing the summer months, and
which, in many places, could be
profitably saved as hay. On ac-
count Of the splendid range the
barrens afford, and their adapt
ability to the production Of the
tame grasses, stock raising and
sheep husbandry could be pur-
sued very protitably, especially
50 on the lands last mentioned,
a large portion of which can be
had under the U. S. Homestead
law for almost the asking.


While on this subject we may
add that we are informed by a
gentleman engaged to some eX-
tent in the wool business, that
the wool from our common grade
of sheep brings almost as good
q price in the market as that
produced on lands costing fifty
dollars per acre and upwards,
and where the sheep must be
fed daily. 1t therefore seems
that North Arkansas offers in
ducements to thewool producer,
superior to any other country.


Sharp county is well timbered,
excepting in the barrens. Sur
rounding Evening Shade is a
large scope Of country covered
by yellow pine, which is cut by
the saw mills in the vicinity in
to excellent building lumber.


Health in this country is very
good indeed. We will venture
to say that no country in the en-
tire southwest surpasses it for
healthfulness-the malarial and
bilious diseases so prevalent in
a large scope Of the west being
very rare here, except in a very
Year: 1878

Says the Atlanta Sunny South; 1t is
not generally known to what extent this
practice Of dipping snuff is carried in
some sections Of our fair South, ncr how
many mntrons and young girls Of intelIi-
gence and high social standing are slaves
to a habit that gradually undermines
their health, skaters their nerves, and
too often insidiously opens the door to
the terrable opium habit.


Snutf-dipping is dGmoralizing in the
first instance, because, in many cases it
fosters conCealment and deceit. The
habit is kept secret from parents and
friends.


We know daughters whose snuiTbot-
les are concealed in their rooms, where
they use it constantly without the
knowledge Of their parents. We have
seen at boarding schools, girls go into
Mysteries when deprived Of their snuff,
and borrow Tobacco from the servants as u
substitute, until they could obtain their
usual stimulant Of Scotch or MaCabOy
and we know three sisters-beautiful
young girls, were it not for the saIlow
hue furnishing their complectons-who
are at present under medical treatment
for the nervous system and digestive or.
gans, arising from the use of snuff,
Their physicians have assured them that it
was the cause Of the disease thus blight
ing their young lives, and that medicine
must he in vain as long as the practice
was continued; and still they cling to
their snuf-bottles as prcsistantly as the
topper TO his demijohn. And this when
they know that this vile poison nourishes
the worm disease at the root of life, silent
ly, slowly, but surely destroying it ere
its prime; for, aside from the tilthiness
of this habit, the constant drain of the
salivary glands, produced by frequent
splitting and the narcotic poison of the
weed itself, throw the dclcately balanced
system out of order, and bring a train of
diseases to render life insuportably bur
densomc.
Year: 1878

lie came from the country seven years
ago, and is now u well-to-do merchant.
Last week he wrote to the old folks, tell
ing them he had married lady with u
very fine voice--a "mezzo-soprano of very
extraordinary compass" He received an
answer from the maternal side of the
house, informing him that his lamented
aunt, was afflicted with something of that
sort during her life, but had already
found relief in placing a mustard plaster
on the sole of each foot, and drinking a
pint of candelion tea.
Year: 1878

AFTER all, man is Il generous beng
Not long ago one died III Massachusetts
who had been married only year, ana
received fortune Of fifty thousand dol
lars from his wife. Aud what did he 90
when he found death staring him in the
face! Not enrich his relatives AS he
might have done; he wilIed it all back TO
her again, on the simple condition that
she should not marry again. The noble
man !-W0mans Words.
Year: 1878

Before beginning the second psalm of
the day, Glasgow minister reached
down into his pocket and took a pinch
Of snuff. Even yet he cannot understand
what there was in the first verse of the
psalm to make the congregation laugh
when he read, MY soul cleaveth to the
dust"