smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

During the recent great food in the
Potomac river a Miss Milburn and two
children of Mr. Houser, at Mason's Is
land, were drowned. Tho particulars Of
the affair, which are as follows, show
that two colored men were also drowned
whilst heroically striving to save the i'm
periled family. The island was over
flowed aud the inmates forced to leave
their house and take refuge in a tree -
While they were in this perilous situa-
tion a crowd of men gathered on the
river bank opposite the island, but took
no steps for their rescue until a colored
man stepped forward and said that he
hardly expected to get back alive, but
that he could not stand still and see the
people drown. He was quickly joined
by another colored man, and taking off
their coats and handing them to a by
stander, they put out for the island -
They reached it safely and started back,
having in the boat with them Miss Mil
burn and two children, intending to re-
turn for Mr. Houser, his wife and the
other child When a part Of the way
across their boat was swept against a
tree and upset, drowning one of the men
and one child, while Miss Milburn, the
other child and the remaining man sue
ceeded in catching hold of the tree -
They remained there from 3 o'clock Sun
day afternoon until three o'clock on Mon
day morning, when the tree and its liv-
ing burden we're swept away. A crowd
remaired on the bank beside FIRE all
night long, listening to their cries. but
were unable to rescue them. Mr. Hou-
ser, his wife and the remaining child
stayed in tree near the house all night
and we're saved The names Of the he
roic colored men could not be ascertaiDed
but their noble conduct in facing death
to succor those in distress is worthy of
the greatest admiration.
Year: 1877

Joseph Thompson, candidate in the
late municipal campaign for the Mayor
atty of Baltimore, has acquired quite
reputation as a wit In lecture on
"Humors of Politics" before a club in
Washington city the other night he de-
scribed beautiful nose that he met with
in that campaign worn by an assuming
influential politician. He was introduced
to the man wearing the o.namented pro-
bosis:


II looked upon bin; there was an air
of importance lowering around him that
made one feel that IF you wanted the
dog star took down aud weighed" there
was the man to do it, Upon his face
was hung nosd and oh, gracious, what
nose it "loomed up like a lamp on
London bridge on foggy night" How
many years of patient, unceasing prac-
tice was required to ornament nose up
to that style and dimensions You have
seen portraits hung up against the wall
that the eyes seemed to gaze upon you
no matter what position you took That
nose was Just such a masterpiece it
glared upon you from all standpoints,
front or rear, like smothered calciam
light that bad gone out and left a ruddy
glare; blush that was once upon bis faco
must have passed of upon his nose, and
lingering there a littlc while remained
entirely, and intensified not only an in
tense blush, but an eternal blush plant
such nose and then unearth in after
years and it would be blooming STILL
Il was in the highest state of preserva-
| ton
Year: 1877

Max Won Grollman, aged SO, employ
ed as a pressman in the paper-staining
factory, No. Sc Lewis Street, says the
New York Star, was found dead in bed
yesterday morning at his residence, No.
115 Sheriff Street, from an overdose of
opium taken by him, as was his wont,
to drown his sorrows. The history of
the deceased is full of interest. Born of
a wealthy and titled family, in Hesse
Darmstadt, he received liberal educa-
ton, and became endowed with the title
of Baron. When the young Baron be-
came of age he entered the service as a
soldier in the Hessian army, and soon
rose from the ranks to the position of
Captain. He received many medals by
reason of his meritorious service in the
late Franco-Prussian war. After the
war he came to this country with con-
siderable amount of money and letters
of introduction to many of our promi-
nent German residents. His money,
however, soon gave out, and
the property belonging to
him in Europe had been
confscated by the German Government
for some unexplained reason; but, by
the help of some newly found friends
here, he obtained new start in busi-
ness, and for time succeeded very well.
He meantime wooed and won the heart
of a Miss Hartman, and soon made her
his wife. The young couple lived to-
gether for a time, but soon quarrels
arose between them, and the welded
life of the Baron ended by his wife OBJ
tanning a decree of divorce for alleged
cruel treatment, and he was compelled
to pay weekly alimony of $5 for her
support. After this separation from his
wife he took to drink, and, as his neigh
bors say, was invariably under the in
fuence of liquor. He had also become
addicted to the use of opium, and on
Tuesday night was last seen under its
influence. Not having put in appear
ance at his place of business yesterday
morning, inquiries were made for him,
and on going to his room his dead body
was found.
Year: 1877

1t is well known to musicians that
during the last century there has been a
gradual rise in the pitch of musical
notes; that is, the note which formerly
used to be regarded, say as A, has
gradually become considered fiatter and
f1atter, so that the sound produced by a
given key on modern instrument is
sensibly sharper and more acute than
that given by the corresponding key on
an older instrument. To SO great an
extent has this variation now arrived
:hat the highest concert pitches of the
present day are at least a tone above
those in use in 1850; that is, the note
which now would be regarded as b fiat,
or even almost A natural, was consid-
cred to be G natural or close to it in the
first half of last century, while even dur
ing the last so years there has been a
rise of from a semitone to a semitone
and half in pitch. One effect of this
is that the music of the older composers
as now played produces an entirely diff
ferent effect from that which it was
intended to do; it sounds as though
it were transposed into higher key;
while music originally written for fair
average tenors and sopranos can now
be efficiently sung only by exceptional
voices, the highest notes, which former
ly were fairly in reach of ordinary culti-
waited voices, being now made so high
through the raising of the pitch as to be
expressed only as screeches and notes
unpleasant through their great shrill-
ness, and consequent deficiency in rich
ness and fullness of tone. The differ
ence of pitch is acoustically expressed
by saying that the number of vibrations
per second required to give certain
note is now considerably greater than
was formerly the case. A number Of
exact comparative measurements Of
pitches in use at various dates and in
different places has been recently made
by Mr.. Alexander Ellis, the materials
for the investigation being derived from
standard organ-pipes, ,tuning-forks, etc.,
carefully preserved by their various
owners.-London Society.
Year: 1877

A new style of wall and ceiling plas-
tering has been introduced that offers
some advantages in case and speed in
covering the walls and in securing the
plaster against falling and fire. Inplace
of spreading the plaster on laths fixed
to the wall, it is prepared in solid blocks
or slabs, and these are nailed to the raft
ers or joists. The slabs are made of any
convenient shape or size by simple
process that may be carried on in the
building or at the plasterer's shop. A
smooth, hard surface is prepared, and a
sloping edge is set up to give the slabs
a beveled edge, and on this is spread
layer of plaster of Paris. Upon this, and
securely bedded in it, is spread sheet
of canvas or other heavy fabric, or
layer of some loose fibers; laths are then
laid along two opposite sides of the slab,
and over all is spread a thick layer of
common plaster; before this sets it is
brushed over with a coarse broom to
give it a rough surface to make key
for the finishing coat of plaster. When
the plaster has set, and the slab is hard
and dry, it is raised to its place and
fastened there by nails driven through
the laths. The finishing coat is then
applied in the usual way, covering the
division between the slabs so that the
surface is uniform. Such a system of
plastering has the advantage of quick
and cleanly work at a saving of labor,
and making wall covering that will
not fall in masses when wet, nor take
fire at the back as two laths are bedded
in the plaster r.--JGnuaTy Scribraer.
Year: 1877

FOUNDERS" is the appropriate title
given by one of New York's smartest
fashionable sections to the well-dressed
religious tramps who go from church to
church without contributing to any.
In some of the stylish city churches
these people make up large percent
age of the congregations. The sections
and ushers have habit of spotting them,
just as the police spot professional
thieves.
Year: 1877

A STEAM boiler in the candy factory
of Greenfield & Sons, 63 Barclay Street,
New York, exploded about p. m. on
the 20th, causing great loss of life and
destruction of property. The boiler
was located just under the sidewalk in
front of the factory, and its explosion
was instantaneously followed by the en-
tire stone front of the five-story
building falling outward into
the. street.. and in q few minutes
the inside walls and the floors also
fell, burying all in the ruins who had
not been able to effect their escape at the
first warning The debris of the build
ing was almost Immediately wrapped in
flames. The number of persons at work
in the factory at the time of the explo-
sion is not definitely known, but is sup
posed to have been about $50, nearly all
of whom were children ranging in
age from 10 to 20 years. There were
besides dozen or more persons in the
salesroom on the first floor. Thirty
three persons, more or less seriously in
jured, were rescued and taken to the
hospitals. The bodies of the dead could
not be recovered until the fire subsidized
and the number could not be estimated
on the night of the fire, but the loss o.
life must have been enormous. A mum
Der of adjacent buildings were seriously
injured by the explosion and partially
burned.
Year: 1877

THE opinion of the Naval Court OF
Inquiry into the Huron disaster has
been promulgated by the Secretary of
the Navy. The conclusions are that the
commander of the Huron was primarily
responsible for the loss of that vessel,
and that Lieut.. Palmer, the navigating
officer, made errors in navigation; also,
that the deck officers on the night of
her loss might have been at fault in not
ascertaining the accuracy of perpendic-
ular soundings reported to them from
time to time. The ship is reported to
have been in every respect staunch and
seaworthy, and she was in that condi-
ton up to the time she struck.
Year: 1877

Professor Loomis has been making
experiments in aerial telegraphy in the
mountains of West Virginia, his idea
being to send wire up to certain
height, reaching particular current OF
electricity in the atmosphere. At any
distance away this same current can be
reached by similar wire, and commu'
nication can be had Immediately. Ihe
professor has telsgraphed to parties
eleven miles distant by merely sending
up a kite, at each end Of the distance, a
certain height, attached to which IN place
of the ordinary string was q tine copper
wire. When both kites, although eleven
miles distant from each other, touched
the same current, communication was
had between them both, and messages
were sent from one end to the other by
means of the ordinary Morse instrument
in connection with the instrument in
vented by Professor Loomis. He has a
scheme now on fo6t for series OF ex-
periments from point on one OF the
highest peaks in the ALPS, in Switzer-
land, to q similarly situated place in the
Rocky Mountains. If this succeeds, OF
course his invention will rank in impor-
tauce with that of the electric telegraph
itself. ALI the money necessary to carry
on the experiments has already been
promised.
Year: 1877

L find the great thing in this world Is,
not so much where we stand, as IN what
direction we are moving-O. W. Holmes.


Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove
unkind.


Leisure is sweet to those who have
earned it, but burdensome to those who
get it for nothing.


Do not be afraid of diminishing your
own happiness by seeking that OF others.


Keep goodmo cpany and be one OF the
number.


Riches gained by deceit cheat no man
so much as the gamer.


One day you will be pleased with a
friend and the next day disappointed In
him. It will be so to the end, and you
must make your mind up to it and not
quarrel, unless for very grave causes:
Your friend, you have found out, is not
perfect. Nor are you, and you cannot
expect to get much more than you give.
Yon must look for weakness, foolishness
and vanity in human nature it is nm
happy if you are toe sharp in seeing
them.
Year: 1877

"Have you no fear OF them when In
the ring ?"


emo; but keep my eye on Chieftain
all the time, and at the least miss, tap
of the whip reminds him that I am look
ing on. He understands this, too, and
knows just how far he can triae with
me. He is the leader, and as long as he
behaves have no fear Of the others.
With performing dogs and horses the
more kindness the keeper shows the
more successful he is, and strong affec-
ton frequently exists between the brutes
and their trainers but it is not 80 with
elephants. They never form any liking
for the men who have the care of them,
and when they have their ugly turns
their keeper is the first one they will
attack. They will select him out OF
room full of persons, and then, if he
shows the least fear, he is as good as
dead. The long list Of keepers slain
proves that"


"But have elephants no affection for
anything?"


"Oh, yes. They will form strong
attachment for dog, or q bear, or some
other beast. Baby here has a great
liking for the camel Dick, and whenever
he is let loose will run over to him and
mount guard over him ; and he will not
then permit anybody to approach his
favorite. should hesitate to go too
near the camel until I had first called
Baby away but strong as is the atfec-
ton they will thus form for beast, they
seldom have any for man, and never
the least for their keepers. :"


sc If they are 80 very treachereus, L
suppose you have to stay with them the
greater portion of the time ?"


"F am never away from them for more
than an hour at time, day or night. l
have room here in the building, and
when we are travelling I always sleep In
the same tent. have bed made near
them, and they are the most curious
customers you ever saw. They will
never 90 to sleep until they see me go
to bed. Sometimes I sit up reading for
an hour or two after the performances,
and they will all stand in line Watching
me until I get through. It's queer
sight-the great garden dark as Egypt,
only an occasional watchman's lantern
fitting about, and I sitting reading at
nv little table by the light of solitary
| candle, with these great brutes looming
| up in the gloom, with tapping ears and
staring eyes, following my every move
| ment. Frequently, if get interested
in my book, and sit up too late, my
assistant will come to me and say,
Come, George, do go to bed and give
the elephantsa chance to get sleep,
and then I have to turn in whether !
want to or not, for must keep my big
fellows in good physical condition, you
| know"
Year: 1877

They are falling, slowly falling,


Thick upon the forest side
Severed from the noble branches


Where they waved in besuteous pride.
They are falling in the valleys


Where the early violets spring,
And the birds in sunny springtime


First their dulcet music ring.
They are falling, sadly falling,


Close beside our cottage door
Pale and faded, like the loved ones


That have gone forever more.
They are falling, and the sunbeams


Shine in beauty soft around
Yet the faded leaves are falling


Falling on the grassy mound.
They are falling on the streamlet


Where the silvery waters flow,
And upon its placid bosom


Onward with the waters go.
They are falling in the churchysrd,


Where cur kindred sweetly sleep
Where the idle winds Of summer
Softly DER the loved ones weep.
They are falling, ever falling,


When the autumn breezes sigh
When the stars in beauty glisten


Bright upon the midnight sky.
They are falling when the tempest
Means like Oceans hollow roar
When the tuneless winds and pillows


Sadly sigh forevermore.
They are falling, they are falling.
While our ssddened thoughts still so
To the sunny days Of childhood,


In the dreamy long ago.
And their faded hines remind us


or the hlighted hopes and dreams
Fading like the falling leaflets
Cast upon the icy streams. 'S2Y
Year: 1877

Leaving, as the three years profit. ..s4S %


Now. if the above is correct, we have
a profit of $4s.O0, and q grass Held
that will cut from one to two tons OF
hay for several years, and without the
usual cost of plowing and the appliIca-
tion of manure of some kind, which is
no small item. 1t may be found Best in
some instances, to plow the seed that
depends somewhat upon the condition
of the sod-but I am now speaking OF
land with firm sod, but bound out ana
run out, as we term it. and producing
but a small quantity of hay.


You will see, by my statement, that +
have valued the manure from sheep one
third more in summer than in winter.
From my own experience and observa-
ton, I am fully satisfied that sheep
land. and that they should always be
kept on the plowing land, and ahead OF
the scythe.
Year: 1877

KEEP YoUR TROUBLES SACRED.-A
worthy wife of forty years standing,
and whose life was not made up OF
sunshine and peace, gave tie follow
ing sensible advice TO a married pair
of her acquaintance. The advice is
good, and SO well suited TO all married
people, as well as those who intend
entering that state, that we here pub
lish for the benefit OF such persons !;
"Preserve sacredly the privacies of
your own house, your married state
and your heart. Let no father or
mother, sister or brother, ever presume
10 come between you two, or to share
the joys and sorrows that belong 10
you two alone. With Gods help,
build your own quiet world, not al
lowing your dearest earthly friend TO
be the confident of aught that con
Germs your domestic peace. Let mo-
menls of alienation. if they occur, be
healed at once. Never-no-never
speak OF it outside; buS to each other
confess, and all will come out right.
Never let the morrow's sun find you
at variance. Review and renew your
vows; 1t will do you good, and there
by your souls will grow together, ce-
meDted in that love which is stronger
than death, and you will become truly
one.
Year: 1877

BUrTERMILK BREAD.-Put three or
four pints of fresh buttermilk into a
saucepan and boil it. Stir it pretty
constantly while it is heating, TO keep
it from separating into whey and cGrd,
Have a quart Of flour siited into a
suitable vessel, pour the boiling but
termik on the flour, and ocald 1t thor
oughly. Stir until all the flour is mix
ed, and set to cool. When sufficiently
cool add a teacupful of good yeast,
end let it rise over night in the morn
ing sift and mix into the sponge
enough flour TO make a s;iff dough ;
knead well, aud set 20 rise for two
hours, then divide into loaves and
knead slightly. AT this time use as
iittle flour as possible. Set to rise
again, aud bake as soon as light
enough. Bake in a steady oven for
three quarters of an hour. This is 8
good sponge for dark or runny flour.
The bread will be white and moist.
Graham flour, prepared with scalded
buttermiIk, mixed little sitter than
where sweet milk and water is used,
is very sweet and good. Do not put
soda into the milk or sponge. 1t will
be perfectly sweet when baked if The
yeast is fresh, and if the whole pro-
cess is carefully attended to in the
right time.
Year: 1877

A LESSON TO FAruERs.-The great
secret of success in bringing up chill
dren is to establish and perServe perr
feet confidence between parents and
childen. If the father is the boys
best friend, as all wise mothers are the
girls, there is no trouble about keep
ing them from bad associates, whose
vicious examples and silly bravado
have lasting effect upon their char
acters. Fathers, in your efforts to Sc
cure fortunes for your families, re
member that money will not save you
from many heartache if your boys go
wrong, and that their only safety is in
being kept close at your side. helping
You in your business, and you in turn
sharing their fun and play. Nothing
Is so fiattering TO boys as the society
of their fathers, and nothing makes a
man SO popular with :hem as his join
ing in their amusements. Try to do
tais, and your sons will try in turn to
understand your cares and troubles.
Take as much pains 20 preserve them
from contamination in the shape Of
immoral companionship as mothers do
their girls, and you will find them
growing up TO be modest and virIu
Gus young men, fit companions and
husbands for girls who have been care
fully guided from all knowledge of
evil. Devote your evenings to family
amusemenIs and pleasures. Invite
young people to your house, and pay
them attention, instead of going off to
bed or shutting yourself in another
room tie moment they make their ap.
pearance, as if there was, and could
be, nothing between your manhood
and rhei: youth. So shall you be kept
young in heart, and the inexperience
of your sons will be tempered with
something of the sobriety of expert
ence.
Year: 1877

Mans Observation-Disclosures is to
man what beauty is TO a woman. Ii
oreates An instantaneous impression IN
his behalf, while the opposite quality
exercises as quick prejudice against
him. The politician who has this ad-
vantage easily distances all the rival
candidates, for every voter he speaks
with becomes instantly his friend.
The very tones in which he asks for a
match to light his cigar, is often more
potent than ;hUse OF a Webster or a
Clay. Polished manners has often
made hundreds successful. while The
best of men by their hardness and cool
ness have done themselves an incal
cuIable injury, the she'll being so rough
that the world could not believe
that their was a precious kernel
with it. Had Raleigh never flung
down his cloak in the mud for the
proud Eliza beth to walk on, his career
through life would scarcely have been
worth recording. Droves of men have
been successful in life by pleasing
manners alone. 1t is a trait of char
ac;er well worth cultivating. Never
forget the value of true civility.
Year: 1877

Tue LAWS DELAY.-The Missouri
Legislature has passed a bill to relieve
the State of the expense of maintain
ing prisoners in Jail for long periods
while waiting trial. The bill makes
it the duty of the county jailor, when
ever a prisoner shall have been cOnfn
ed two months before the regular
term OF the Court in which he is TO be
tried, to notify the Judge of the fact;
and the Judge, when thus notified, #
satisfied that trial of the prisoner
cannot be had at the regular term, is
required to call special term for the
trial Of the prisoner. a st. Louis
journal says that there are probably
five hundred persons imprisoned in the
different county jailS TO await trial for
bailable offences, and of coGrse all are
supported at the expense of the public.
A law like that recently passed Is not
more matter of relief to the public
than of justice to the prisoners. A
proportion of these probably are not
guilty, but in the absence Of bail are
held to await trial. If ii shall appear
that they are guilty as charged, their
punishment for the offence may not be
more severe than that which is visited
upon them by the law in advance of
their conviction, and if it appears on
trial that they are not guilty as charg
ed, they are permitted to go, but with
out compensation for the time they
have been kept in confinement. The
practice of law in this az in other cities
it attended with altogether too many
delays.