smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Amateur writers for the press will
find these hints from the Burlington
Hawkeye simply invaluable:


"Never write with pen or ink. 1t is
altogether too plain, and doesn't hold
the mind of the editorand printers close
ly enough to their work.


'lf you are compelled to use ink,
never use that vulgarity known as the
blotting pad. If you drop blot Of ink
on the paper, lick it off. The intelli-
gent compOsitOr loves nothing so dearly
us to read through the smear this will
make across twenty or thirty words.
We have seen him hang over such a
piece of copy half an hour, swearing
like pirate all the time, he felt that
good.


"Don't try to write too plainly. 1t is
sign of plebeian origin and public
school breeding Poor writing is an in
dicatiOn of genius. It's about the only
Indication of genius that great many
men possess. Sprawl your article with
your eyes shut and make every word as
lllegible as you can. We get the same
price for it from the rag man as though
it were covered with copper plate SEN
tences. Avoid all painstaking with
proper names. We know the full name
of every man, woman and child in the
United States, and the merest hint of
the name is sufficient. 1t is a great
mistake that proper names should be
written plainly.


"Always write on both sides of the
paper, and when you have filled both
sides of every page trail line up and
down every margin and back to the
top of the first page, closing your arti-
Gle by writing the signature just above
the date. How we do love to get hold
of articles written in this style And
how we would like to get hold of the
man who sends them. Just for ten
minutes. Alone. In the woods, with a
cannon in our hip pocket"
Year: 1877

far rather settle in Georgia, the Empire
state of the South, furnished with great
diversity of soil and climate, enjoying a
stable government, and eager to well
come the muscle and enterprise of the
North. Such is my view of Florida,
grudgingly admitted, but now firmly


held.-Letter in Springfield Republican.
Year: 1877

county correspondent, that seal in
Barnum's travelling collection, died
about that time and was thrown away
near where this seal was shot; and
that it is not surprising that the coinci-
dence of the loss of Barnum's seal and
the finding of this one should have led
to the suppOsitiOn that they were one
and the same,-Free Press.
Year: 1877

Moody again, teaches that the appetite for
strong drink can be entirely removed from
a man by the grace of God. Three years
ago the female crusade movement had a
wonderful temporary success in portions of
the West, but it did not strike at the root
Of the matter. There is no use in prevent
ing or persuading men from selling liquor
as long as other men are determined to
have 1t. The law of supply and demand
was disregarded and the great crusade was
a sad failure. Murphy is wiser. Moody
is wiser. Reynolds, Osgood and other
Maine men now working in the West are
wiser. They stiike at the root of the tree,
the appetite, and If this Is overcome the
weakest man may be saved. Temporary
excitement will account for many wonder
full things, but If men who have been re-
formed in pittsburg and Boston, in Phila-
delphil and score of Western cities, shall
stand firm, excitement will hardly account
for it all. II cannot he doubted that the re-
form clubs have accomplished great good
in this section, but the amount seems
small when compared with the great
achievements in OHIO, Michigan, Western
New York, Pennsylvania snd elsewhere.
The Cincinnati Commercial one day last
week had a column and half Of brief dis
patches from various towns and cities
where temperance meetings were in prog
ress, led by men who were proud 10 call
themselves followers of Murphy, sharers
in "the Murphy movement"


While this work is not always conducted
with the dignity and judgment which we
should expect if justices Of the Supreme
Court or Harvard professors had charge of
it, and while it is 10 be acknowledged that
sometimes tho bounds Of discretion seem
TO be overstepped, yet so great is the
amount Of good, SO honest and earnest the
principal workers, so desirable the end
aimed at, that we think all good men and
women must join in bidding God-speed to
Francis Murphy and his followcrs.-Bos-
ton Herald.
Year: 1877

a minister afraid of the devil was the
novel scene presented in a church at Cart
more, England, on a recent Sunday. The
minister, who is in the habit of warning
his congregation against the Vaccinations
of the evil one was delivering a discourse
on his favorte theme, when suddenly
window blind and roller behind The pulpit
lost its hold, falling right over The preacher
and completely concealing him for a time
from his flock. In its descent the roller
smashed a number of window panes, and
the clatier of the falling glass added panic
TO the already terrified condition Of the en-
shrouded minister. Ignorant OF the cause
of the darkness and the horrible noise, he
thought he might have exceeded the bounds
of discretion in his denunciations OF the
devil, who had thereupon arrived hastily
in person bent on retaliation. A frightful
shrek of ~ am gone" echoed through
the church, and the maddened preacher
with one bound cleared the pulpit, nor ever
stopped till he reached the extreme corner
of the edifice. 1t may we'll be imagined
that the suddenness of this alarming incl
dent and its dramatic nature exercised a
most powerful effect on the nerves of all
who witnessed it. Fortunately there was
no general panic or the consequences might
have been serious; but the story should be
a lesson TO those ministers who touch upon
the delicate question of the personality OF
the devil 10 retain their selfpossession un-
der any circumstances, and not to leave
the pulpit unless actually elected from it
by force.
Year: 1877

The course Of the Presidents wife in re-
fusing 10 serve wine even at state dinners
will be heartily approved by others than
the advocates of total abstinence from in
toxicating liquors. Leaving the matter OF
what is called temperance wholly out OF
consideration, it is an excellent thing for
the mistress of the Executive Mansion to
set an example of plain living. Washing
ton society governs itself by the example
which is set ia the families of the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet, and ostentation there
induces extravaganza throughout WASH
iugton society, and tempts men to live be-
yond their means, to speculate and 10 pee
ulate, and every example set in the White
House OF simplicity of life is safeguard
against the extravaganza of which cOrrup-
tlon comes.-N. Y. EOsRiR0 Post.
Year: 1877

There was not much time for literary la
bors during these happy months of mar
ried life. The wife new to her duties was
engaged in mastering them with all the pa


ienco, self.suppression, and industry
which had characterized her throughout
her Lille. Her husband was now her tirst
thought; and he took the time which had
formerly been devoted TO reading, study,
thought, and writing. But occasionally
the pressure she was forced TO put upon
herself was very severe. Mr.. Nichols had
never been attracted toward her by her lit
erary fame; with literary effort, indeed, he
had no sympathy, and, upon the whole, be
would rather that his wife should lay aside
her pen entirely than that she should gain
any fresh trumphs 10 the world of letters.
So she submitted, aud with cheerful cour-
age repressed that "gn" which had been
her solace in sorrows deep aud many. Yet
once "the spell'' was too strong to be re-
sisted, and she hastily wrote few pages of
new story called Emma, in which once
more she proposed to deal With her favorite
tbeme-the history Of a friendless girl. One
would lain have seen how she would have
treated her subject, now that "the color of
her thoughts" had been changed, and that
happy marriage had introduced her to a
new phase OF that life which she had stud
led so closely and so constantly.


But it was not TO be. On January 10,
when she had returned to Haworih, after a
short visit 10 Sir ]. X. Shutteworth's, she
wrote TO her friend saying that her health
had been very good ever since her return
from Ireland till about ten days before,
when a sudden change had taken place,
and continual attacks of faintness aud sick
ness had set in. Those around her were
not alarmed at first. They hoped that be-
fore long all would he well with her again !;
they could not believe that the joys of
which she had just begun taste were about
TO be snstched away. But her weak ness
grew apace; the sickness knew no abate-
ment; and deadly fear began 10 creep in
to the hearts of husband and father. She
was soon so weak that she was compelled
to remain in bed, and from that "dreary
bed" she wrote two or three faint pencil
notes which still exist-the last pathetic
chapters in that lifelong correspondence
from which we have gathered so many ex-
tracts. In one of them, which Mrs. Gas
kell has published, she :-"I want to
give you an assurance which know will
comfort you-and that is that find in my
husband the tenderest nurse, the kindest
support, the best earthly comfort that ever
woman had. His patience never fails, and
it is tried by sad days and broken nights"
In another, the last, she says: ~ can not
talk-even to my dear, patient, constant
Arthur can say but few words at once"
One dreary March morning, when frosts
still bound the earth and no spring sun
had come 10 gladden. the hearts of those
who watched for summer, her friend re-
ceived another letter, written, not in the
neat, minute hand of Charlotte Bronte, but
in her fathers tremulOus characters.
Year: 1877

Correspondence Clinton H. Public.


Along the Missouri Valley bot
toms can be found in disagreeable
abundance a noxious weed called
polygonuns amphi6iuna, or heart weed
1t is almost impossible to get rid OF
it when it once takes possession OF
the land. But as is asserted, moth
ing was ever made in vain; so with
this weed. BY accident it was dis
covered that this despised weed con
tanned superior qualities for tan
nlng leather, and is in many re
spects better for that purpose than
either oak or hemlock bark. The
discoveries of this process are now
building large works, at a cost OF
thirty thousand dollars, in the town
of Little Sioux, for the purpose OF
distilling this tanning extract from
the weed, and as there will be nc
scarcity of material, it will undoubt
edly prove profitable. This extract
is three times richer in its proper
ties for tanning than is oak or hem
lock bark, and gives a soft, smooth
finish to the finest calf-skin. With
1T hide can be thoroughly tanned
in about four weeks, while with
bark it takes from twenty-five days
to four months to do the same work.
A similar extract, made in Europe
is now extensively used in the East.
ern tanneries for finishing leather
but owing to its great cost bark is
the cheapest. With this new dis
covery in Iowa there will be quite O
revolution in the tannery business
as tanneries can now be established
in the West. Heretofore tanning
could not be carried on profitably
away from the bark producing re
oions, on account of the heavy cost
of transportation. Consequently
the West furnishes the green hides
to the East, and then brings them
back in the form of leather Thus
is added freight both ways and al
endless amount in commissions to
the men through whose hands the
hides and leather pass. Now
tannery can be located wherever il
may be found convenient or profit
able
Year: 1877

The consideration of Senator
Wallace's resolutions, relative to
the counting of the electoral vote
was resumed in the Senate on the
10th, on which Senator Sherman
spoke at length, in which he char
acterized the citizens who would
control the affairs of Louisiana as
murderers, assassins and the worst
class of society. Senator Bogy re-
Piled, administering a severe rebuke
to Sherman for his wholesale SLAM
der of the law abiding citizens OF
that State. Senator Boutwell, fre-
quently interrupted Senator Bogy,
referring to the condition of affairs
in Mississippi, when the later re-
piled to him direct:


1t would be one of the marvels of
history that in a free country an
effort was made by a party, and for
party purpose, to blacken and
disgrace one half of the people of
this country. The Democrats in
Mississippi and elsewhere were the
peers of the Senator from Massa
chusetts. The people of the South
had been compelled to take the law
in their own hands to relieve them
selves from the miserable govern
ments sent there by the Senator
from Massachusetts, and his friends.
The administration of Governor
Ames in Mississippi was disgrace
to the country. In Mississippi now
there was peace and prosperity, and
black men many of whom were
worthy of respect, were treated with
as much or more respect than black
men were in Massachusetts. White
men in the South had been forced
to resort to violence, as the people
of San Francisco had to some years
ago. 1t was not lawful, but it was
the great American common law
right of self-defense.
Year: 1877

Senator Harris was serenaded the
night after his election. In reply,
he took broad, national grounds,
saying, among other things:


GAS one of the representatives of
Tennessee in the American Senate,
can only promise you that the
Con stitution of the Union shall be
my chart, and the highest motive
and object that shall prompt my ac-
ton shall be the interest of Tennes-
see in common with the other
States that compose this glorious
confederacy. can not forget the
fact that the highest and best inter-
ests of Tennessee are most promo
ted by that line of policy that re-
cognizes the great nationality that
strives and struggles for the pro
motion of the interest of each of its
constituents. / trust that l may be
able to place myself upon that plane
of patriotism far above every sec
tional prejudice-a patriotism that
knows no limit narrower than the
outer barrier of the country, and
the whole country.
Year: 1877

A bare pasture enriches not the
soil, nor fattens the animals, nor in
creases the wealth of the owner.


One animal well fed Is of more
value than two poorly kept.


The better animals can be fed
and the more comfortable they can
be kept, the more profitable they
are-and all farmers work for profit.


Ground once well rlowed is bet
ter than thrice poorly.


Bountifal crops are more profita-
bic than poor ones. Make the soil
rich, pulverize well and keep it clean
and it will generally be productive.


Weeds that grow unmolested
around the fences, stumps and
stones, scatter their seeds over the
farm, and are very likely to grow.


Cows well fed in winter give more
milk in summer. An OK that is in
good condition in the spring will
perform more labor, and stand the
heat of summer better than one that
is poor.


When you see the fence down put
it up; if it remains until tomorrow
the cattle may get over.


What ought to be done to-day,
do it; for tomorrow it may rain.


A strong horse will work all day
without food, but keep him at it,
and he will not last long.


A rich soil will produce good
crops without manure, but will
soon tire.


Farmers sons had better learn to
hold the plow, and feed the pigs,
than measure tape and count but
tons.


Young ladies who have the good
fortune to become farmers wives,
will find it more profitable to know
how to make Johny cake and cheese
than to play on the piano.


All who wish to be rich must
spend less than they arn.,-Farm-
ers Home Journal,
Year: 1877

A Juvenile who had visited a
newspaper Office handed to his
teacher a composition entitled, ,"How
to Make Newspapers" in which he
thus describes the process: "The
headmen sit down on their desks
and writes on square pieces of paper
what to print in the Paper. They
put them in a box and send them
up stairs. When.t they get up stairs
man takes them and gives lot OF
other men every one a piece of
this Paper that is written on.-
The man that the paper is given to
takes the types and fixes them one
after another so they read what the
Paper reads. A man then takes the
words and puts them In a box as
they are to be in the papers; then he
takes the Box and places it in some
machinery that makes it go back
and forth; then there is a boy who
stands over the machinery and puts
the paper on the machinery, and
then some hooks bring it down over
the box with the types in and the
types Lave ink on the types print
on the paper then there is hooks


that take the paper up and lay it on


another machine that folds it up
and then they sell them to the men.
Year: 1877

Some Of our subscribers think
we ought to continue their papers
whether they ask us or not, while
others complain if we do. Which
horn of the dilemma shall we take?
Why, the safe one of course, and
stop those who fail to notify US.
Year: 1877

The printers dollars-where are
they? A dollar here, dollar there,
scattered over numerous small
towns all over the country, miles
and miles and miles apart-how
shall they be gathered togetheri
We imagine the printer will have
to get up an address to those wide
ly scattered dollars something like
the following:


Dollars, halves and quarters,
dimes and all manner of fractions
into which we are divided, collect
yourselves and come homel Ye arc
wanted! Combination ofall sorts oi
men that help the printer to become
a proprietor, gather such force and
demand with good reasons for ap-
pearance at his counter, that moth
ing short of a sight of you will ap-
pease them. Collect yourselves, for
valuable as you are in the aggre'
gate, single you will never pay the
cost of a gathering. Come in here
in single file, that the printer may
form you into a battalion, and send
you forth again, to battle for him
and vindicate his credit"


Reader, are you sure you haven't
a couple of the printers dollars
sticking about your "old clothesT
Year: 1877

The Spartans taught their boys
to steal, that they might be the
more crafty soldiers and better able
to subsist off the enemy; but in this
country such a branch of learning
has never been considered neces
sary, ms the genius of the American
people is quite sufficient without
any special training,
Year: 1877

The two-cent check stamp tax is
generally conceded to be an un
speakable burden upon the people
inconvenient, irksome, financially a
grievance, and, in this period OF
practical and imperative economy,
should be at once abolished, as
should be the war tax on capital
and deposits. The people all over
the country would hail with salts
faction such relief.
Year: 1877

A live town is known by its news
papers. They are always filled to
overhowing with advertisements.
The farming community and consu-
mers generally, always look at the
advertisements to see if there are
any new bargains to be had for
their money. People who don't
advertise miss the best trade.
Year: 1877

Christmas night, an East Hill
man, whose turkey didn't act as
though it was going to agree with
him, thought he would take a seid


litz powder. But by mistake he
took a tartar emetic, and when the
Returning Board went into session,
it threw out pretty much everything.
Year: 1877

The stories of the highway robberles OF
the olden lime pale before the daring and
dash of the vas sabouds who cart1red a
whole train on the Union Pacific Railway.
This wholecals robbery was a piece OF
news to the travelling public, and the rob-
berry of a station on the Virginia Midland
Railway was scarcely less sensational. THIS
last piece of business was undertaken, 1t Is
stated, by gang Of tramrs, who et1ec'ual'y
cleaned out the station and then attempted
to CAPTURE a train in the manner Of the
Western thieves. They were not as well
orrsnized asthe masked robbers, however,
and their attempt to seize train was a
failure. Clearly, an example of the stern
es, kind must be made Of these villains if
travellers are to have full confidence ia
the ability of the railway companies to
protect life and property,
Year: 1877

end sought TO beobained. They therefore report with
recommendation that it do pass, bill H. r. So, substi
tute for all the Others and the prayers OF
the petitioners.


In making this recommendation the Committee beg leave
to add that the equalization of bountes emneny proper
and just and denial OF 1t operates great hardship
upon thousands who served their country with great del
ity Gross inequality of compensation for services
dered has fallen heavily upon several classes viz upon
those who first respond to the call of duty those
who were at any time honoraby discharged from service
before the expiration of their term of enlistment and
upon those whose enlistment intermediate between
calls for troops.


Among many Others bounties have been refused--in
such as the following: Where, by reason OF disability


aced in the line Of duty the soldiers were prevented from
serving out their full term Of enlistment, where they
were promoted during their terms where by failure OF
the mastering officer correctly to date their cnlstment
and where In of the States the enlistment was for
period less than twelve months and where, though in
service at the date OF particular CALL they
tered in until afterward That such determinations are
unjust manifest, and should be corrected and
with Congress to furnish remedy. The rule of
ton adopted by the Department, perhaps question
OF law, cannot be dened that matter for what
the soldier failed to out his full term OF enlistment,


loss of bounty the consequence The object of the
bill reported by the Committee is to relieve against this
hardship and equaize the benefits of the bounty SYSTEM
by giving to the soldiers who honorably discharged
bounty at the rate of 800 per which is evidently
the object of the laws providing bounes for the period
actually served without reference to the term of enlist
ment. tsfe@ta s ta64as sa8 s@ s8M


is that the embarrassed financial condition of the
country and the paralysis In business, may well
Representatives reflect seriously upon all measures in
volvng large appropriations Of money, but this is not
sufficient argument against the passage OF this BILL The
Government in respect to these bouties, debtors and
cases. yet duty and good faith require her pay them
The Government better able pay these just demands
than those entitled thereto to lie out OF Them All of
which is respectfully submitted.
Year: 1877

Secretary Thompson says his wife greatly enjoyed the
Jokes made about him when he appointed Secretary
of the Navy until last made at her expense


You know he explained, that the New Orleans Times
told story that when Mrs. Thompson heard OF my APP
pointment she said The idea Of making my husband
Secretary OF the Navy! Why, Dick can't swm. Could
anything be absurd? If there is any thing that
can do better than another, it is swimming. have
always been capital swimmer"
Year: 1877

This route follows the old stage road
travelled last year. When Wards cut
off from Hat creek, via Old Woman IS
Fork to Pleasant Valley is completed,
land he is under contract to have the
road ready for travel by March 31st, J
this route will be shortened over sixty
miles. The stage stations will be trans
ferred to the new road, and the dis
tance to be travelled by the Cheyenne
and Black Hills coaches will thus be
reduced to 230 miles.