smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

1t comprises about thirty dishes
Soon after the FIRST dish comes lamb,


roasted on the spit, which must never


be wanting at any Turkish or Arab


banquet Then follow dishes of solid
and liquid, sour and sweet. in the order
Of which a certain kind of recurring
change is observed to keep the appetite
alive The pillau Of boiled rice is always
the concluding dish. The externaIs to
such feast as this are these: A great
round plate of metal with a plain edge,
of three feet in diameter, is placed on a
low frame, and serves as table, about
which five or six people can repose on
rugs The left hand must remain in
visible it would be improper to ex pose
it while eating The right hand alone
is permitted to be active. There are
no plates or knives or forks The table
is decked with dishes, deep and shallow,
covered and uncovered these are con-
tinually being changed, so that little
can be eaten from each Some remain
longer, as roast, cold milks, and CHER
kins, and are often recurred to. Before
and after dinner they wash their hands.
An attendant or slave kneels with
metal basin in one hand and piece of
soap in little saucer in the other =
Water is poured by him over the hands
of the washer from metal jug; over
bis arm hangs an elegantly embroidered
napkin for drying the hands upon. If
a Turkish or Arab sheikh, effeudi, or
emeer invites, he always sends a SER
want to call you at the proper time.
The servant often repeats the very same
formula mentioned in Luke IA: IT
"TefDddulu el asha hadeu." (Come,
for the supper is ready. The fact that
this custom is mainly confined to the
wealthy and to the nobility is in strict
agreement with the parable.-Home
Year: 1877

Shortly before the departure of the
lamented Heber for India, be preached
a sermon which contained the following
beautiful illustration


Life bears US on like stream of a
mighty river. Our boat at first glides
down the narrow channel-tbrough the
playful murmuring of the little brook
and the winding Of its grassy borders.
The trees shed their blossoms over our
young heads. the flowers on the brink
seem to offer themselves to the young
hands. We are happy in hope and we
grasp eagerly at the beauties around
us but the stream hurries on, and still
our hands are empty Our course in
youth and manhood is along wild and
deeper foods, amid objects more strik-
ing and magnificent. We are animated
at the moving pictures and enjoyments
and industry passing US we are exer-
c'sed at some shortlived appointment
The stream bears us on, and joys and
griefs are alike left behind US. We
may be hipwrecked, but we cannot be
delayed whether rough or smooth the
river hastens to its hume, till the roar
of the ocean is in our ears, the tossing
of the waves is beneath our feet, and
the land lessons from our eyes, and the
foods are lifted up around US, and We
take our leave of earth and its inhabi-
tants, until, Of our future voyage there
is no witness save the infinite and
eternal"
Year: 1877

A great deal Of useless sympathy is
in this day expended upon those who
start out in life without social or none
tary help. Those are most to be con-
graduated who have at the beginning a
rough tussle with circumstances. John
Ruskin sets it down as one of bis cal
antilles that in early life be had moth
ing to endure" A petted and dandled
childhood makes a weak and insiped
man. You say that RuskiD just quoted
disproves the theory No. He is show
ing in detected, spIenetic, and irritable
old age the need Of the early cudge-
ling of adversely. A little experience
of the hardship of life would have
helped to make him gratefully happy
now. No Drawn of character without
compulsory exertion. The men who
sit strong in their social, financial, and
political elevations are those who did
their owR climbing Misfortune is a
rough nurse, but she raises giaDts. Let
our young people, instead Of succumb-
ing to the influences that would keep
them back and down, take them as par
allel bars, and dumb bells, and weig ghts
of the gymnasium, by which they are
to get muscle for the strife. Consent
not to beg your way to fortune, but
achieve it God is always on the side
Of the man who does his best. God
helps the man who tries to overcome
difficulties Christian at Work.
Year: 1877

A BUSINESS MAN, living at Frankfort


on-the-M Main, sent to correspondent al


Fraukfort-on-the-O Oder, large consign-


ment of cotton stockings, and at the


same time, to another correspondent at


the same place, an equally large con-


signment of cotton nightcaps, the pro-
ducts Of bis own manufacture. He wrote


to each the price at which they we're to


sell but the sum designated was found


to be too large, Of which fact they took


occasion to inform him He yielded a


little in his demand, but still there was


no offer for his fabrics Again he wrote,


in reply to oIher letters Of his UUrTes-


pondents. naming yet smaller amount.


But weeks elapsed, and yet there we're
no sales At length he wrote to each
correspondent to make some disposition
of his manufactures if they could not
get money for them, they we're at least
to exchange them, no matter at what
reasonable sacrifice, for any other goods.
Under these instructions the stocking
factor called upon the nightcap agent.
both being unknown to each other in
connection with their principal, and
.named his views" he wished to ex-
change lot of superior cotton stock
ings for some other goods; be was not
particular as ts the kind. as the trans
action was for friend, who was desir-
GUS of closing his stock" The man
at first could think of nothing which he
would like to exchange for so large a
supply of stockings; but at length
bright thought struck him. II have"
said be- ga consignment of cotton night
caps from an old correspondent. which |
I shall not object to exchange for your
The bargain was soon
closed The stocking-factor wrote back
at once that he had at length been en-
abled to comply with the instructions Of
bis principal. He had exchanged bis
stockings for "a superior article of
in an equal quantity, which
he was assured were likely to be much
IN demand before great while The
next day came letter from the night
zap agent, announcing bis success, and
appended to the letter was bill for
Year: 1877

SELF TORTURE. is no doubt
that some people enjoy being unhappy.
Take pleasure in contemplating injus-
tice done to themselves. A pet griev-
ance becomes a hobby with many men
In setting forth their grievance to the
world, or even OH brooding ever it in
solitude, they are necessarily dwelling
upon their own virtues. And it is not
surprising that, in many cases, The
habit should generate an unreasonable
self-complacency. Inordinate melan
cholY is but one of the many forms Of
vanity. A recluse from society takes
a perverse pleasure in cultigating mel
ancholy; or a widow cherishes her
grief, for a dead husband till she re-
sents any attempts at comfort, and
takes a pride in self torture. Are they
sincere in this ? The morbid recluse
may be really nothing but thoroughly
indolent man man who dwells upon his
weakness to excuse himself from action


Excessive grief, for the dead easily
connects itself with vanity. We are
really soaking for the praise of con-
stancy, or yielding to sort of super
stitious belief that the dead will take
pleasure in our useless sacrifice of our
own happiness The play of motives
is SO intricate that the attempt to
analyze them or sum up the result in a
single formula is necessarily illusory.
Year: 1877

DR.. TYING, Jr., tells a story on him
self which has some point in it to those
who are eager to preach before they are
ready While studying in Virginia he
was in the habit of holding service at a
neighboring chapel A friendly old
darkey use to pass his church. and
trudge a mile beyond to a Methodist
meeting g-house. When asked why be
did not 60 to hear Massy Tying he
made this shrewed reply: "An no
don't catch dis niger lettin' de atu-
dents practice on him"
Year: 1877

THEY were returning from a moon
light excursion to Rockaway. The sea
was quite rough and the little steamer
rose and fell, with every pulsation of
the great deep, like the hustle of a
stormy woman After studying the
sky and ocean for about an hour in
silence, he turned to her and said =
Dear Georgana, you will be mine :?
You will give me your band and heart?"
"Oh, Alfred" she answered, turning
deadly pale, "I'd rather give you my
stomach"
Year: 1877

THE BETTER EDUCATIoN.-You can
train the eye to see all the bright places
in your life, and SO slip over the hard
ones with surprising ease You can
also train the eye to rest on the gloomy
spots, in utter fOrgetfulness of all that
is bright and beautiful The former is
the better education. Life is too short
to nurse ones misery. Hurry across
the lOwlands, that you may linger
longer on the mountain tops.
Year: 1877

No trait Of character is more valua-
BILE than the possession Of good tenn
per. Home can never be made happy
without it. 1t is like flowers springing
up in our pathway reviving and cheer
ing Us Kind words and looks are the
outward demonstrations ; patience and
forbearance are the sentiments within.
Year: 1877

NET RESULT OF a worthy prede-
cessor of the Cardinal Antonelli's it is
told that be was wont, in sign Of bis
succession. to have net spread over a
table at which be partOOk of the hum
blest apostolical fare. After be attained
the ponti6cate, bishop observed to him
that the net no leDger appeared on the
table To which the reply was. Peace
holy father the fish is caught"
Year: 1877

A nation in revolution is like the
bronze boiling and fOaming. and puri-
flying itself in the cauldron. Not yet
is the statue of liberty cast. Fiercely
boils the metal; have an eye on the
furnace, or the fame will surely scorch
you. Danton.
Year: 1877

IT was the Howe Sewing Machine
Company that ordered the discharge of
all its employees who voted for Tilden
This at the suggestion of A. B Stock
well, once president and principal
gambler of Pacific Mail.
Year: 1877

Never be too opinionated to accept
good advice, by whomsoever offered
Yet you must think for yourself. 1t is
well to listen to the expressed thoughts
Of others, and it is an agreeable pastime
to give expression to your own thoughts,
but when alone weigh what you have
said


'Do you understand the nature of an
oath 2" juryman was asked in a St
Louis courtroom. "0f course l do, !"
was the reply. DO you mistake me
for member Of the Electoral Commits
sion ?"
Year: 1877

There was once German duke who
disguised himself. and during the night
placed great stone in the middle Of the
road, near his palace.


Next morning sturdy peasant, named
Hahns, came that way with his lumber
ing ox-cart. 30, these lazy people ~
said he, "lhere is this big stone right in
the middle OF the road. and no one will
take the trouble to put it out OF the way
And so Hahns went on his way, scoldiDg
about the laziness of the people.


Next came a soldier along. He had a
bright plume waving from his helmet,
and a sword dangling by bis side, and
went singing. merriy on his way. His
head was held so far back that he didn't
notice the stone. SO he stumbled over it..
This stopped his song, and he began to
storm at the country people. and call
them "boors and blockheads, for leaving
huge rock in the road Tor gentleman
to fall over" Then he went on.


1t laid there for three weeks; and no.
body tried to remove it. Then the duke
Year: 1877

The most prominent fact about bird
is faculty in which it differs from every
other creature except the bat and insects
its power Of dying. For this purpose
the birds arm eIds in only one long
slender finger instead of full hand. To
this are attached the quills and small
feathers (cOverts) on the upper side,
which make up the wing. Observe how
light all this is; in The first place he
bones are hollow, then the shafts of the
feathers are hollow. and finally, the
feathers themselves are made of the most
delicate filaments. .interlocking and cling
ing TO one smother with little grasping
hooks of microscopic fneness. Well how
does bird fy? II seems simple enough
10 describe. and yet it is q problem that
the wisest in such matters have not yet
worked out to everybody's satisfaction.
This explanation by the Duke of Argyle.
appears TO be the best An open wing
forms hollow on its under side like an
inverted saucer; when the wing is forced
down. the upward pressure of the air
caught under this concavi,y, much as
you hoist yourself up between the
parallel bars in a gymnasium. But he
could never in this way get ahead, and
the question il still TO be ans wered -
Now. the front edge OF the wing. formed
of the bones and muscles of the forearm.
is rigid and unyielding, while the hinder
margin is merely the soft flexible ends
of the feathers; so when the wing is
forced down. the airDnnder it, finding this
margin yielding the easier. would rush
out here, and in so doing, would bend rp
the ends of the quils, pushing them for
ward out OF the way, which OF course,
would tend to shove the bird ahead
This process, quickly repe eated, results in
the phenomenon OF flight.
Year: 1877

Just a word for the religion that makes
men better than they were-makes them
honest. A gentleman of Skowhegan,
very lately in business. received, few
days ago. from a recent convert to Chris
tianity, sum of money Of which he
was defrauded some years ago unknown
10 himself The sender informed him OF
the fact. and saying that he had given his
heart to Jesus. could not keep the money,
and would. if able. return four fold. but
being very poor could return but the
original amount, which he did in humility
and with the kindest wishes.


A Boston gentleman on being shown
the letter, remarked, III Moody and
Sankey bring such religion to Boston
and it takes, a big pile OF money will
change hands in Boston between now
and spring"
Year: 1877

We who are accustomed TO The formal
manners OF the North are sometimes as
tonished at the freedom which in the
South maniests itself even in the gravest
affairs. Recently gentleman in town
in Provence had occasion to send tele-
gram to his wife, announcing his speedy
return, and he phrases it as curtly as
possible. The telegraph clerk counts the
words, and then fixing upon the customer
his spectacles, sparkling with good
humor. says:


"The despatch is to your wife,"


at is"


There are only seventeen. Come.
now. tack on something pleasant. You
can give her something nice and loving
some little pet name. II it Isn't more
than three words it will not cost you any
more"
Year: 1877

When 1t can be said OF young man
"He drinks," and it can be proven, what
store wants him for q clerk? What
church wants him for N ember? Who
will trust him What dying man will
appoint him as his executor? He may
have been forty years in building his
reputation it goes down. Letters of
Year: 1877

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.-The Secretary Of the
Treasury having before him reports by the
Commissioners on the subject of the draw
backs on sugar, land declining to allow the
reports to be published In advance Of his
action, q reporter has interviewed the sugar
retiners, who think the government should
not make change in 50 important q matter as
these drawbacks without proper inquiry into
all the facts Of the ease. 1t is alleged that
irresponsible persons, not in business. had
raised the disturbance in three Cities and one
person got himself on a commission merely
to get even with certain persons in q trade
from which he was forced TO retire, and by
reason of his former influence he gets the
ear Of the Government.
Year: 1877




On the lawn is the marquee which
constitutes the sale n-n,anger OF the
Emperor. Occasionally the suites eat
at tables set ous On the lawn In the open
air, in the full view Of the wayfarerg on
the adjacent road, and In the enjoyment.
OF eddies Of It's fetlock- deep dust. Some
times the Emperor eats at one, but for
the most part he dimes with his suite.
A very interesting episode occurred the
other day. In the middle Of dinner
were heard the strains Of the Dead
March, In "Saul," for both the hospi-
tai and the church-yard, where the
wounded who die are buried, are nigh
at hand. The Emperor inquired IL that
was not the funeral passing of the,
young artillery officer who was drown
ed by the laundering of his pontoon
during the crossing, and whose body
was recovered four days later some dis
tance down the river. Being told that
1t Was SO, he at once rose, and, with the
Grand Duke and all his suite, walked
to the quaint little church where the
He remained during the whole OF its
performance, lasting for an hour, and
then went into the porch, where the
grave had been made, and stood by the
head Of the coffin while 1t was being
lowered into the earth.


On the following day all the Turkish
prisoners were brought from the guard
room on to the lawn just as dinner was
finished. A guard OF Russian Infantry
were formed In circle around them.
with fixed bayonets and cartridge
pouches opened. The poor devils no
doubt thought that they had been
brought ont to be shot, and that their
last hour had come. The Emperor,
with his dragoman, went among them,
talking Familiarity to them and asking
questions. The nizams answered him
with straightforward frankness which
might indeed be called bluffness. They
told him that they had not received a
penny Of pay for the last six -and-twenty
months. In answer to his question
whether they were satisfied with the
food they were now getting, they re-
piled that they had never lived 80 well
in their lives; and one felloW-he must
have been sneak and sycopha MT
added that he was. heartily glad tha he
had been taken prisoner, for he was
tired Of hard living and no pay. The
officers Of the suite went among the
prisoners distributing cigarettes, which
the prisoners with the most perfect ease
Of manner lighted at those between the
lips of the officers, and it was quite a
happy family.
Year: 1877

CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE sTRIKE-IM-
PLIcrr FAITH IN THE FIDELITY OF HIS MEN.


BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


SARATOGA, July 2S, 1877
had long interview with Mr.. W. II. Vanderbilt
This evening in regard to tho recent troubles He
nlked with great directness and rankncss repeating
what he had previously said about the excellence Of
the relations of his people toward the company and
rcterating the pride he felt the fidelity and intei-
gcnco oi the servants OF tho road.


"Is the strike over, Mr. Vanderbilt ?" asked.


81 hope So" was the reply "But It Is best not to
cry out until We out oil the woods On Central
there has not been what may be called a strike. The
obstructions 10 travel and traffic mostly came from
outside parties / simply appealed to the manliness
and the common forest Of everybody connected with
the road. and our people have nobly sustained me- |
think have every TO be proud OF this result
because have always uicd to act toward the EN-.
pIoyes o, the company one of them, and to show
thcm mat their interests and nine identical NO
more intelligent body OF men can be found anywhere
than the $50 engineers employed the Central and
they know, even better than DO, what business the
road Is dong and what 1t afford to pay"


"rhen you OF opinion that the recent reduction
was a necessity 7"


at was unavoidable as things looked when 1t was
made. cannot help sympathizing with men who
poorly pad still they all lecI as do, ha Loaf is
better than bread. II tho company pays than
1t can earn, II Is clear that 1t will quit paying
together


ECONOMICAL MANAGEMENT


Just sailing very close to the wind, and
every dollar that is spent the company is expended
With tho m ost rigid economy. believe know where
every five dollars goes But this oversight OF tho
pcndturcs Is the least part OF economy II you
bad told three years ago that would he carrying
freight At our present ratios would have laughed
YOU The badncss oil the times and the competition we
nave been compelled to encounter has taught econ
szy One engine now does the work OF Two, not only
Year: 1877

tention to duty, signal lack of
ability or dishonesty. But this
plan has one drawback-it does not
secure the fittest men for the
places. They set great value upon
their experience, but too often they
simply do sort Of listless, machine
work. In many other departments
| have noticed the same thing.
Through a feeling of ownership Of
a place, if | may so call it, teachers,
clerks and other public servants
seem to have drifted into kind of
slipshod work that would never be
tolerated in, the United States. But
it is important to remember that
honesty and faithfulness are fairly
secured by this plan.


There is another matter which
deserves notice. Two thousand
nine hundred and forty-one police
men were assaulted in the course of
the year, and many of these assaults
were of a serious nature. Trivial
assaults were not reported at all.
On frequent occasions l have seen
disorderly men try their strength
with an officer, without even being
arrested for so doing. The officers
only weapon is truncheon-a short
club-and this he is permitted to
use only on the most extreme occa-
sions. Practically, he might nearly
as well be unarmed. The New York
courts would uphold an officer in
clubbing, smashing, or killing an
assailant, where an English officer
would scarcely feel at liberty to
draw his truncheon.


A case was decided in the West
minister police court a short time
ago which illustrates how police
officer may be actually beaten. A
man was using bad language on
the street corner and an officer told
him to move on. For a reply he
struck the officer, knocking off his
helmet. A man standing near
came to the officers assistance, and
he, too, got roughly handled. Final
ly, it required the united efforts of
five officers to take the offender to
the lookup. The Judge fined him
fifteen dollars, or, in lieu of that, a
months imprisonment.


A remarkable case is now in pro-
gress, in which four detectives are
on trial for receiving bribes. The
preliminary examination before any
of them were actually indicted has
consumed three months. The
number of witnesses is quite ap-
palling. J. W.
Year: 1877

Tho Mistake of An Old Lady who


ThOnght Her aOn was Insured.


Providence Journal


The Importance of carefulness in


minute and apparently unimpor-


tant details in making application


for life insurance is strikingly illus


trated in a case tried before Judge


Knowles in the United States Dis
trict Court last week. Mrs. Maria
Wheaton, eighty.three years old,
brought action against the Phoenix
Mutual Life Insurance Company to
recover $1,000 insurance on the life
of her son. The policy was taken
out in 1868, and the annual prem
ium of $1S5 had been annually
paid during the life of the young
man supposed to be insured. The
insurance company resisted pay
ment on the ground that in the an
swers to the three or four score
questions propounded to applicants
Tor life insurance the statements in
this case in two instances were
wrong. The age Of the father at
his death was overstated three years,
and the age of a sister at death was
also three years more than the APP
plicant thought. There was also an
We believe, that the APP
plicant did not remember to emu
merate in his fathers familya child
or two who died before the appli-
cant was born.


Because Of these apparently non
essential errors, the company refused
to pay, and the old lady was COM
PEELED to enter upon the costs, perils
and uncertainties of a suit at law, |
The case was tried last week, and,
enough, the jury disagreed, |
The trouble of the venerable mother
is aggravated by tho fact that her
son had a policy for three thousand |
dollars in another company, which
was willing to honor the claim, but, |
unfortunately, collapsed before the
time of payment. Of course, the
lesson Of this lady'a hard experience |
is that person seeking insurance
should take care to select solvent
company, aud then should become
accurately posted as to the genera
tons Of his family that passed from
earth before he was born, and carry
lp his mind very definite and pre-.
else information as to the ages of |
bis long-departed kinsfolk, We |
doubt if all the life insurance com.