smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

SExToNs.-A great deal can be done for
quietness in churches by the sexton. The
most perfect sexton ever knew was an
apostle of silence. His eye and ear and
hand were everywhere, and his genius for
forestalling and suppressing confusion was
wonderful. Before service he always ex-
changed his boots for slippers. He glided
about the aises MS noiselessly us II ghost.
lie made bookkeeping fine art. Doors
and windows were fixed that they would
never be heard. He took care that no
sound should come from the furnace or
gas-liXtures after the service began. The
fact was that this was not II mere instinct
of propriety or crafty measure of success
in his office; it was IL constant answer of
his believing and humble heart to the SOL
emn sentence, The Lord is in Ills holy
temple What u contrast to the clumsy,
fussy, heavy-shod brother in charge of
the stoves in n rural sanctuary | remem-
ber, who was sure TO start up two or three
times i'll the midst of prayers, sometimes
when the preacher was doing his best to
get or hold the attention of his hearers,
march round from his seat to the fire,
swing open a stridulous stove.door. punch
the sticks with u poker, and toss in an
additional supply of fuel, giving us another
shriIl screcch from the hinges us finale.
-BjShOp HqHtingt011.
Year: 1878

Four STRANGE GIRLs-It will be Il
small drop of consolation to the thousands
of honest housewives who look on servant
Girls as nuisancrs, to learn that there are
four working girls in Detroit whose plans
and deeds are worthy of public mention,
One of them, the oldest-came to this
country from England seven years ago.
She was followed after n time by a second
and third and fourth, and during the last
IT, rec wears the four have held places in
families in the same neighborhood. Each
one hegan saving money from the first
They have made every effort to please the
families employing them, and consequent
ly have been paid extra wages. Every
gulment purchased by them has been for
comfort and long wear, instead Of show
and style. Two of them have never seen
the city hall though living in the city three
wears. None of them have yet had beau,
OF had occasion to 60 to the store in the
evening. Each one can sew, patch, darn,
put up fruit, make preserves, cook any
dish. tack down u carpet, put up II stove,
harness horse, make her own clothes
and trim her own hat. Each one has a
hank account, and for several years past
all have had grand object in view That
object is now almost accomplished. A few
weeks ago they united their savings and


purchased lot in the northern part of the
civ 40x90 in size. They then contracted
with builder for cottage, which was
ready for occupation only two or three
days ago. The eldest sister then gave up
her situation and moved in. The furniture
was bought here and there, where cash
would secure u bargain, and is good if not
snowy. Many little things were con-
tributed by friends, and the little home is
rs neat as pin.


The eldest sister will now become Il
hundress, having already more work ol
that kind than she can do in four days oI
the week She will keep house, and make
IL home for and be mother to the rest
All own share, and if sickness comes tc
one of the three still acting as servants


she has place to 90 and some one TO care
for her. They will be planting trees, set


ting ont vines and planning improvements
nc Tho weeks 90 bv. each good nAluredly
Year: 1878

The Foe of American Social Life is in
the tendency to luxury and effemnacy
among the well-to-do young women of our
American cities and large towns. They
do not realize how this dreadful mania for
expensive pleasures, ard u life of alternate
dleness and amusement, is destroying
their health, abolishing true marriage,
feeding the flame of gross sensuality and
intemperance among young men, and sad
dcning the hopes of the best parents of the
land. Some of them will never know it in
this world. But most of them have no
real purpose to waste their lives in this
wretched way. And it is Il high crime in
mothers, teachers, ministers of religion
and the public press to pander to this in
sanity. Thousands of good-healted young
girls are sacrificed every year when u lit
tie wise and loving guidance could save
them. But we feel that they should be told
that, unless they change this life, they will
pass away like the flowers of June, and II
more hardy and resolute class appear in
their places. American society will shed
every class of triies, male or female. us
the trees shed their withered leaves. Let
them awake from their dream of social
indulgences learn to live out of doors; to
build up their health; to cultivate more
simple tastes in dress and more modera-
ton in pleasure; study domestic economy :;
study social skill and tact; fit themselves
for the nOblest positions ever yet offered
to their sex, and learn that woman is the
soul Of American life-not the tinsel on its
garment.
Year: 1878

A correspondent Of the New York
Evening Post writes as follows ain


conversation with an eminent scientific


gentleman, who Is an intimate personal


friend of the inventor Edison, learned


number Of interesting facts bearing on


the future Of the much-discussed electric


light. My informant, who has just re-
turned from visit TO Menlo Park, assured
me that the light was entirely ready for
Introduction into general use, and that
the company was simply waiting tor the
European patents, which the English So
licitors have just telegraphed them will
not be ready under twenty days. The
apparatus Is standing complete in Edi-
sons workshop, and am assured gives a
soft, beautiful light of the same strength
as gas. The question Of relative ex-
pense Is, Of course, somewhat specula-
tive one, but the highest estimate makes
the cost one-half that of gas. In answer
to my inquiry how this rsvolution would
affect gas stocks, my informant thought
that, while gas must ultimately go out of
use, the enormous existing plant of gas
and the great interest involved would for
a long time contest the claims of the
new light to popular favor. lie thought
the gas plant could not be used to any
considerable extent in distributing the
electric light, but that this work must be
done de move, as it would cost as much
TO adapt the gas pipes and jets 10 electri-
city as TO supply new apparatus. Edit
sons jet, he says, is very neat, and the
contrivances very simple. Even at the
same cost, or greater, the electric light
will be preferable. In its use there will
be less expensive plant, and there will
be an absence of heat and danger, while
the running expense will be insigniii-
cant. The attempt to anticipate his light
by a rival company does not rufile him
in the least as he is confident of the su-
periority OF his invention, and, more
over, the two companies will occupy
rather different fields"
Year: 1878

THE value to Southeastern Ari-


zona of the lengthy and critical
examination made of many of its


mines, by Professor Cox; State
Geologist of Indiana, can hardly
be estimated. The Professor was
enraptured with them as scfen-
tist and not as an expert" That
he will make money out of his
trip appears doubtful; but he goes
home loaded to the guards with
reliable Information gathered by
his own individual efforts, and
just such information as the MI
ners of Pima County are proud
to have given to the world. The
same facts have for nearly GEN.
tury been made public; but it has
been done by newspapers, always
suspected of blowing" for their
section of country; or by parties
more than suspected of acting
from sordid motives. Prof. Cox's
report is as favorable as the facts
will justify; but it is enough to
soon fill Pima County with noted
mining camps. His character for
integrity and for scientific attain
ments are SO high and we'll known
Throughout the East that capital
lists will not hesitate to accept that
report and to invest money ON it.
His indefatigable industry and
investigation, while in Pima
County, make his report of great
value; and his disinterestedness
Except as a scientisD make that
report reliable. 1t has been for
want of just such searching ex-
animation by parties command
ing general confidence; that Ari-
zona has not made more rapid
progress in the past.
Year: 1878

ssS-lt not unffequently happens, in
this world of mistakes and thoughtless.
ness, that a man, even the best Of men,
may once or twice during long or 9th
erwise faultless life, kiss his hired girl
by mistake for his wife. But no man,
OF ages past or Of to-day, was ever
known to kiss his wife under the erro-
neous impression that she was the hired
Girl
Year: 1878

Under the English Constitution a Par
Lament may not last longer than seven
wears, and custom has greatly reduced that
limit, as it is at the peril of his popularity
that Premier fails to test the sense OF the
constituencies after four or five years, even
though no particular question forces him
to it. The present Parliament was elected
in February, 1874, and is, therefore, now
in the middle of Its fifth year. For some
months Lord Beaconsfeld has been contem-
plating dissolution, delaying only for a
happy moment in which to take the risk Of
a new election. There can now be little
doubt that the dissolution will be ordered
after the Berlin Congress has adjourned,
and that the ministry will go to the country
with the "cry" OF peace and national dig
nifty preserved and Cyprus gained" And
there is just as little doubt that their tri-
unph at their hustings will be a signal one.
The Liberal party of England is weaker
to-day than when Mr.. Gladstone sprang his
sudden and tricky election in 1874, and
went down amid the jeers Of the country
The course Of the party, or rather of its
Gladstonian leaders, during the Russian
war, has produced a division among them.
selves, and . disgust among the people.
Their defeat is almost inevitable.
Year: 1878

Col. St. John is in the field for Governor,
and is making an active canvass. lie has
a host OF earnest friends, especially in the
Southern part of the State, and will I'M
doub;edly show considerable strength in
the convention. The temperance element
is enthusiastic in his support. lie is a rad
ical Temperance man, and his practices are
consistent with his professions he would
not pay whisky bills to secure votes nor
seek nomination through the influence Of
the wholesale liquor dealers OF Leaveuworth
-ashas been done 10y certain Temperance
candidate that We could name.
Year: 1878

The tramp raid upon farm machinery in
Ohio and Indiana was one OF the most re-
markable and fiendish exhibitions which
the communistic craze has so far presented.
Many mowers and reaper,, left standing in
the field over night were found utterly de-
molished in the morning. Flaming and
bellicose warnings were issued by the law
ess vagabonds, commanding farmers to alb
stain from using such implements and
threatening vengeance upon those who 70
fused. The result was that large numbers
of farmers housed their reapers for protec-
tion and went TO work in the old-fashioned
way to gather in their harvest as best they
could


Now this was very serious matter and
demanded prompt action. So soon as
knowledge OF this condition Of things
reached the Governors Of those States they
should have lost no time in calling upon
the sherifis OF the several counties wherein
threats had been made and overt acts COM
mitted to exercise unusual diligence in
ferreting out and bringing the offenders to
justice. The viper might and should have
been crushed at once and the dignity OF
law and order maintained. The persons
engaged IN this rad were clearly the worst
grade Of tramps-a class bent on mischief
and with a fixed determination to shirk all
honest work. Right in the very towns
where the most reapers were destroyed by
them they refused point-blank to enter the
harvest field for one dollar and hall
day, board and lodging included.


To reason with such fellows is waste of
time. If they know anything at all they
must know that the great farming inter
ests of the West never could have been
built up without these modern agricultural
implements. They know that every reaper
and thresher has cheapened the bread Tor
the hungry populations OF the great cities.
They know that thousands and thousands
Of workingmen without dollar in the
,s orld TO start with have made themselves


.ependent through the aid OF machinery,
: W they know that the same road is still
-, ,en TO others who will enter it. They
how that machinery has vastly increased
relther than diminished the demand for la
nor.


There is no palliation whatever for this
outrageous attack upon the farmersin Ohio
and Indiana. 1t is a blow that strikes the
poor man, the mechanic and the laborer
harder than it does the man Of means, for
the latter can better afford to pay higher
price. for food. 1t is a blow which if re-
peated and generally extended throughout
the West, would recoil upon every pur-
chaser of food. And the officials OF Ohio
and Indiana owe a solemn duty to the pub
lie to. bring every offender to justice and
protect the farmers in their essential
rights.
Year: 1878

The telegraph says the Montreal Orange
men relingu ished the idea Of parading yes
terday, thus avoided disturbance. Con
sidered simply As peace measure, this was
certainly the better course for them to per
sue, but it must be very humiliating to the
pretended ''strong" government of Canads
to be compelled to thus make a confession
before the world that it is impotent to
protect one class Of its citizens against the
religious intolerance Of another class. By
abandoning their parade the Orangemeu
preserved the peace, but at the same time
advertised the fact that their government is
unable to protect them from the mob.


So far ~ the two factions in this relig
ious quarrel are recoucerDed, We suppose there
is not much to choose between them, and
either, given the power, would tyranise ov
er the other, but any government worthy oi
the name would protect either party in III
right to peacefully parade the public
streets. Rstaer that some lives should bs
lost than that the liberty Of the citizer
should b oNiIced at the behest of the
mob.
Year: 1878

Ga July 4ih, at the old Alma Hotel
soon after the procession had passed, a,
young man by the name OF Samuel Well
felt, took dull razor and attempted to cut
his throat. lie only succeeded, however,
in cutting very ugly cash, and was pre-
vented from doing more, by his sister, who
was in an adjoining room. The wound
was promptly sewed up by DIR. Myler, and
the man is now in fair way to recover
disappointment in love is said 10 have been
the cause Of the rash act
Year: 1878

We are able to consider the relations
of inert matter in worlds where gravity
is so small as it must be in the Martian
moons. 1t has been said, by myself
among others, that building and all en-
gineering processes would be much
easier in world where gravity is very
small than in our own world. But if
less arduous, so far as mere labor is
concerned, they would in some respects
be far more difficult. Much more skill
would be required to give adequate
stability to buildings, made even of the
most solid materials, in world where
all weights are so much reduced. Sup
pose even platinum were available in
sufficient quantities for architectural
purposes, yet block of platinum of
given size would press downward with
less force there than a block of deal
wood of about one-twentieth its size on
our earth. Whewell has well described
in his Bridgewater treatise the effects
of a great reductfon in the force of
gravity, though he is not there consider
ing life in other worlds, but the import
ance (Which many are apt to overlook)
of those portions of our earth's frame
which lie far below the deepest mines
ever yet dug by man. If the interior of
our earth could be scooped out and re-
moved, we should in fact suffer from
precisely the same inconvenience as
would affect creatures like ourselves
living in the moons of Mars.
We should, indeed, find ourselves
living like them in dread and
terror. Things" Whewell truly says,
"would not lie where we placed them,
but would slide away with the slightest
push. We should have a difficulty in
standing or walking, something like
that we have on shipboard when the
deck is inclined; and we should stagger
helplessly through an atmosphere thin
ner than that which oppresses the
respiration of the traveller on the tops
of the highest mountains 1T is
hard" says the ingenious writer in the
Spectator, to conceive even one
storied house holding together in the
Martian moon world, 9 against any
serious lateral blows Projectiles
would be no less deadly than in our
own world. But the range which pro-
jectiles such as ours would obtain in
such world would render close fight
ing impossible on the one hand, and
efficient aiming impossible on the
other A Krupp cannon, for instance,
whose greatest range on our earth is,
let us say, five miles, would on the
Martian moon fire projectile which
would leave that moon forever, and the
recoil of the cannon would probably
carry it half dozen miles away from
the firing point. Much weaker pro-
jectile force would have to be en-
ployed, and less mischief would be done
on this account, and also because any
living body struck by one OF these pro-
jectiles would give way before it much
more readily than similar body SINH
larly struck onour own earth. Richard
A. Proctor, in Bel0raUid.
Year: 1878

1.-THE wicked stand in slippery
places,'' but for perfect picture OF
reckless insecurity, you want to look at
frightened woman trying to stand on
a camp-stool to keep out of the way OF
mouse. Dambury NesOs.
Year: 1878

AnharmOn1OuS Democratic Caucus.
SOME SHARP TALK-THE TARIFF Bull "AS


GOOD AS DEAD"


The democratic caucus last night was not
conducive to that harmony which the dems-
cratic leaders would be pleased to see among
the rank and file. 1t appears that Gen. Tom
Ewing and Representative Ben Willis had
quite tilt. The latter made speech, and
said that in view of the near equalization of
gold and greenbacks he favored an early ad-
lournment. to prevent any pernlci0uS imam
clal legislation. Gen. Ewing said that Willis
represented the Fifth-avenue democracy; that
the people had sent him lEwing) and others to
congress to secure legislation to relieve them
OF their burdens, and he would stay here until
the crack of doom, rather than have the people
resent the fifth.avenue democracy, and he
was proud of it, but on the financial question
he also represented the democracy of Jefferson
and Jackson, which the gentleman from Ohio
There was also some lively talk between
Representative Bridges, of Pennsylvania, and
an Arkansas member. The former stated
mount question of Importance to his people,
and he considered it his duty to inierpose
every obstacle to defeat the bill, and if the
action OF the caucus should prevent him from
interpOsing such obstacles he would refuse to
be bOnnd by its action. The Arkansas men,
Der said he had better take his hat and leave
then. Bridges replied: young man, was a
face and voted with the southern democracy
when my vote was needed, and may do so
again unless. indeed, the southern democrats
require a little too much"


Yesterdays proceedings in the open House
and in the caucus clearly indicate that the
anti itariff men cannot be whipped into line :;
and that the tariff bill is as good as dead. 1t
debate that COnger, of Michigan, will move to
strike out the enacting clause and that it will
be carried by majority of from 20 to 80 votes
Year: 1878

RECORDER OF DEEDS WOLF was at the White
House to-day seeing about his threatened rO-
tatiOn from Office to make room for General
George A. Sheridan, of Louisiana. Nothing
definite as to the matter has been determined
upon. Besides General Sheridan there are a
number of other applicants for the place,
which give some color to the statement that
change in the recOrderShp of deeds of the
District is to be made.
Year: 1878

Geo. w. Carter is looming to the
front once more. After steering Pinch
back on to a lee shore where his politi-
cal ship was wrecked, he took the
sable Senator Bruce, of Mississippi,
under his wonderful wing, Bruce is
chairman of the Senate levee COM
mittee and Carter is his clerk, his alter
ego, his pilot. Therefore on Carter do
we depend in no small degree for forty
five millions worth of levees.
Year: 1878

In northern China, people Of all ages
are dying of actual starvation by thou
sands. The famine extends over dis
trict which includes ut least 5000 vii
lagos, and 1t is said that at least 800
die daily. Houses are pulled down In
every village to sell the timber and
thhtch In order to get food. Those
who can get husks and dry leaves,
ordinarily used for fuel, are considered
well on. Most OF the poor young girls
have been sold To old men middle aged
men and young men, and children die
daily OF sheer star rvatiOn and others
freeze. The dead cannot get u burial :;
they are too many, and none can afford
the expense 30 they are cast daily into
large pits. The people ut Shansi are
SAID to be living on the corpsess OF their
fellow beings who die of starvation.
And the strong are killing the weak
for the sake of obtaining their flesh for
food.
Year: 1878

"lf a man will not work, neither shall
he eat has been considered wise and
just saying from time immemorial. That
every man should perform some labor,
and as producer cXchanger, transporter
or teacher, give an amount of service
commensurate in value with the food he
eats and the clothes he wears, seems to be
sclf-evident proposition, and he who
does not this, is, as rule, looked upon
with contempt by all right.thinking peo-
! pie. There are thieves who steal, tramps
who beg, and confidence men who can be
looked upon in no other light than thieves
who steal with permission. There are
heirs who inherit fortunes and spend
them, leading lives worse than those of
mere idleness-and gamblers who take
advantage Of the weakness and folly of
mankind-to enrich themselves at their
expense; all who take without giving in
return forming one great class of which
society might well be rid. No man
h ould live at the expense of his neghbor
unless in some way he can benefit that
nci9hbor sufficiently to discharge the
debt.


1t was something IN this way we re-
tlected while since, on our way home
from visit to Blackwell's Island where
we saw more than thousand abe-bodied
men prisoners, clothed, fed and guarded
at large expense who are not permitted
to do profitable work; that is, any work
from which the county derives Il revenue.
They are made of service in making
walls, keeping roads in repair, and have
aided In the erection of some buildings
They also make most of the shoes used
on the island, and have recently built
some wagons used by the Commissioners
of Charities and Corrections, but nothing
that they might, could, would, and should
make is allowed to be sold.


Naturally one looks for the reason of Il
rule so apparently unreasonable, and on
inquiring is told that certain classes of
our population object to the manufacture
of anything by convicts that will be put
in competition with honest labor, and
argue that whereas the conviCts must be
supported at any rate, the articles manu-
featured cost the county nothing but the
material used, consequently the county
can put them in market at a price ruin.
Gus to manufacturers who pay for their
labor. The same general argument is
used when it is proposed to hire out the
conviCts to manufacturers. The wages
paid are small because the services ren.
dered are not those of skilled workmen--
but small or large, it makes no difference
with the objectors-who are of the class
that can see nothing which does not seem
to promote their own interests; who
would destroy all machinery, because it
comes in competition as they think with
their labor.


An effort is now being made in the
State of New York to pass a law for the
prisons of the State similar to the one
now in force on Blackwels Island. 1t
will be readily supposed We do not favor
such law. The expenses our criminal
population entail upon us in various ways
are enormous without adding the cost of
food and clothing which every able-bod-
led man should be allowed and obliged to
provide for lf.--RuraL Mem YORKER.