smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

SIAMEsE FLOATING HOUSES "A traveller
in Siam describes the floating houses:-
We hugged the shore closely and passed
within few yards Of floating houses,
whose owners looked at us with the calm
nonchalance of the Orient. Perhaps YOU
may not understand II floating house; it is
built Oh Il raft Of bamboo poles and secure
ly moored to strong posts in the mud OF
on the bank. 1t is II perfect house, rooms,
roof and all and its floor is about twelve


inches above the water. There are thou
lands of these houses in Bankgok. and they
are not to be despised, as they have a
never failing supply of water. are excel
lenlly drained, and very easy of access.
One of their drawbacks is the facility with
which the numerous water snakes of the
Menam gain an entrance; the Siame>e
never have snakes in their boots, for the
reason that they don't wear any. but they
frequently find them in their beds OF about
their apartments. The floating houses
had their origin a. a time when the land
bordering the river was very unhealthy
and the king gave the order to build upon
the river itself and not along its banks
The hollow joints of the bamboo specially
adapt it to the construction of RATS, and il
is said that this tree first gave the Chinese
the idea Of building boats in compart
mentS.
Year: 1879

SENATOR WINDOWS proposal for
colonizing the colored people of the
bulldozing States in localities more
favorable to their independence and
to their progress is warmly seconded
by thousands of colored men of the
South. Southern white men, how
ever, laugh at the proposal and pre-
dict that it will be. forgotten in six
months without one colored family
having moved. But there is this
merit in the proposition: The cotton
and sugar States cannot afford to
lose their laborers, and the prospect
of losing them, if made imminent,
might force the decent people there
to summarily suppress the young
Thugs who manage their political
campaigns.-Disp0tch.
Year: 1879

EGGS FOR HATCr1NG.-There are
many theories advanced and ways
proposed, as best suited to preserve
the germ of life in the egg till it can
be placed under the hen. Extremes
of heat and cold and evaporation of
moisture from. the egg, are what We
wish to avoid. In this, as In many
other matters, nature is our best
guide. The ground covered with
leaves constitutes the natural nest,
the tendency of which is to retain,
rather than dispcl, moisture. By
putting soil and leaves in box, and
placing it, with the eggs, either in
the cellar or cellarway 1--WE mean the
staircases between the cellar and the
next story, according to the degree
of moisture in the two positions, we
get perhaps the most complete imi-
tation of nature practicable. We
should prefer in winter room
warmed artificially in which to keep
eggs for Matching, were it not that
the air i'll such a room is almost al
ways too dry.-Poultry World.
Year: 1879

Ii is officially announced that the
Southern Minnesota railroad will
build forty or fifty miles of road
west of Jackson this year. The
general direction of the line will be
northwest so rs to strike Murray
and Pipe Stone counties where the
company has large quantities of
land.
Year: 1879

1t is estimated that three thousand
persons in the State of Minnesota
will be benefited by the. new
pension-arrears law and that it will
disburse a million five hundred
thousand dollars in the State.
Year: 1879

Keep straight ahead. The curve line may
be the line of beauty, but it is better to be
able to walk crack than a circle. The
nan who can walk in a straight line may be
all right, but he who can only walk in a
cycloid curve is assuredly all wrong. This
injunction concerning your physical pere-
grination applies as well to your spiritual it.
ineracy. Are you slandered ? Keep straight
on in your course and let backbiting die
the death of neglect. What is the use of
lying awake nights broodiug over the re-
marks of some false friend, that runs through
yonr brain like lightning? What is the use
OF getting into worry aud fret over gossip
that has been set afloat to your disadvan.
,age by some meddesome busybody who has
more time than character The thing can.
not possibly injure you, unless, indeed, you
take notice of it, aud in combating it give
it standing and character. If what is said
about you is true, set yourself right; If it is
false, let it pass for what it is worth. If q
bee sting you, would you go to the hive to
destroy it ? Would not thousand come at
you? 1t is wisdom to say little respecting
the injuries you have received. We are gen.
orally losers IN the eud if we stop to refute
all the backbiting and gossiping we may
hear by the way. They are annbying, it is
true, but not dangerous, so long as we dc
not stop to expostulate and scold. Our char
acters are formed and sustained by ourselves
and not by others. Value what you know
of yourself more than what others may
think of you. Character is more than repu
tation, and the approval of your own honest
conscience is thousand fold more valuable
than the commentator of community
But you can have both. Live for Gods ap.
proval aud your own proper commendation,
and that of your friends will surely follow.
-ChrisiiQn al Work.
Year: 1879

In heaven the outward and the inward
church shall absolutely correspond; but
here and now the church may be so set
upon her symbols and her regularities that
she shall fail of doing her most perfect
work and living her most perfect life. The
Christian may be SO bound to rites and
ceremonies that he loses the God to whom
they ought to bring him near The oon.
gregation may be so jealous for its liturgy
that it loses the power of prayer. The church
at large may make so much Of its apostolic
ministry that it loses the present ministry
of Christ himself. Here it is certainly true
that no symbol is doing its true work unless
it is educating those who use it TO do with
out itself, if need be. The Christian is mis-
using his rites aud ceremonies, unless they
are bringing him more personally and i'm
mediately near to God. The congregation
is not using its liturgy Alright if it is getting
more and more unable to worship, except iu
Just that form and order; aud the church is
suffering, aud not thriving by her ancient
ministry, if she is making it exclusive and
mechanical, and calling none the ministers
of Christ who have not her ordination.
Everywhere the letter stands for the spirit,
aud to give up the letter that the spirit may
live more fully, becomes from time to time
the absolute necessity of the living church.
-PhIliDs Brooks,
Year: 1879

RARE CAsE.-A Lake George letter de-
scribes an amusing mistake made by clelk k
at one of the hotels on the lake. lie had
observed the devotion of man of sixty TO
a woman much younger, and believing that
an intrigue was going on accosted the old
gentleman very rudely, intimating that such
proceedings were not allowed there. The
man of sixty flsw into passion threatened
to chasti,e the impudent fellow, aud made
a grand scene The sequel proved that he
was the woman's husband, aud had been for
over ten years. The clerk humbly apollo
gzed he expressed his profound regret, but
added that his mistake was natural enough
Asked aiterward to explain, he said he had
noticed that a patron of the house had
while sitting on the piazza in the evenings
repeatedly put his arm around his feminine
companion, bent down aud kissed heI
warmly; and in his clerical Judgment that
was not the way husbands were in the habit
of treating their own wives.
Year: 1879

Emotion is, in the nature of the case,
transient. You fnd yourself in high state
OF feeling. You enjoy it; you want to
keep it up you try 10 do so. But feeling
never comes by trying. You fail. While
the feeling is al flood you suppose you have
much faith; when it is at ebb, you suppose
you have little. Neither the flood nor the
ebb proves anything. You should neither
be exhilarant because OF feeling, nor de
pressed for lack OF it. Feeling no more
proves the existence Of religious life than
the sparkle OF the sun on the snow proves
growth in the grass beneath it. The corn
needs night aud darkness as much as sun
light. Life is the test OF faith.-C Christian
IL..1...
Year: 1879

The wonderful advancement made OF late
in the proceso of manufacturing steel is
well illustrated in the case of the great sus.
pension-bridge between New York and


Brooklyn. Of course, in SO large a structure
1t is of che utmost Importance to use the
lightest material that will give the requi.
site stiffness, so that the desirability of the
use of steel in the place of iron for the floor
beams and trusses had long been recognized


Yet year ago, when the contract was first
advertised, the state of steel manufacture
in this country was not such as to give the
engineers Sufficient confidence to warrant its
use in so important structure, and so the
specification called for iron. Political diff.
fculties necessitated an entire suspension of
the work during the winter. Meanwhile so
much improvement has occurred in steel
manufacture that confidence in its use is
thoroughly established, and this spring, in
the reimbursement Of the contract, the
plans and specifications were adapted TO
steel. The bid of the Edgemoor Iron Com.
pdnN was oO-lOu CtnJS lOuuu, anu
amounts to about Si6s,000. 1t was sup
posed that the difference between the price
OF iron and steel would amount to 100000
or more, yet the lowest bid for steel ex.
ceeded last years bid for iron by only about
$4,000. These facts are very significant as
indications of the progress and prosperity
of the country. The state of its iron.trade
is one of the surest indications of country's
commercial health; and now, everywhere,
new furnaces are going into blast, aud new
rolliug-mills are starting operations, giving a
very encouraging outlook. Again, if in a
years time we can make such improvement
in SO important a branch of manufacture as
steelmaking as to reverse the decision of
the country's best engineers regarding its
use, what may we not expect in the future
Year: 1879

Senator Hannibal Hamlin, it is said
is popularly supposed, in Maine, to be
immortal he has been veteran poll
tican so long that hardly anybody can
remember when he begun his public
life. The farmers like his homely
ways and his devotion to agriculture
In the time when lie was Vice Prpsi-
dent he is described as walking through
Bangor's business streets, when al, home,
in blue ''overalls," and muddy boots,
bearing occasionally under one arm a
gift of yellow squash for some friendly
Bangor householder.
Year: 1879

Cardinal McCloskey has informed
Archbishop Purcell that a conference OF
Church dignitaries will be held in the
East, for the purpose Of devising some
plan for the Archbishop's relief. One
ofihe Archbishop's creditors brought
suit yesterday in Cincinnati, to set
aside the conveyance of property to an
assignee, Oh the ground that the con-
yeyances were without consideration,
being made for the purpose of hinder
ing and delaying a settlement with the
creditors,
Year: 1879

Mr.. L. was gentleman of independent
fortune. which he exhausted in the
course of a few years in gratifying one of
the oldest whims that could ever enter
the mind of a rational being. His sole
enjoyment was the attending of funerals
When he heard of the death of any great
man. through the channel of the papers,
he Immediately made the circuit OF the
whole town TO know who had the Job,
and then proceeded to accompany 1t. He
has often been to York and the confines
of Scotland to be present at the inter
ment of a nObleman or gentleman, and
in this respect he was in no way biased


by party or religion it was the same to


him if he was Whig or Tory, out or in
whether a Roman Catholic or a PrOtes-
tant, Jew or Presby yteTian they equal
Iy commanded his respect and attention,


Droyided the funeral was magnificent.


His highest ambition was To obtain one


of the little escuUcheOns, which he con-


sidered as so many trophies of his glory,
and being known to most OF the under


takers, and their constant companion III
their peregrinatiOus, they seldom or ever
refused him this request B-lne eDtlre-
lv inattentiVe to his own affairs, he found
himself in state of distress when he
did not expect it; yet, reduced To al
most the want of common neccesarles OF
lite, his passion for death-hunting still
prevailed. and when he cou not ride he
walked on foot. But whenever the Jour
ney was of any length he bribed the
bearse driver to let him be an inside


passenger with the corpse. In this dole
iuI state he travelled more than once
but unfortunately tell martyr at leT 9Th


to his strange whim. Beng an inside


passenger on one Ot these solemn occa~


-ions, in very hot weather, snd there be
ing no air-hnle, as there Usually Il, in


the h.arse, when they to out the


cnruse tn y found poor Mr.. L. dead from
an ffocatiOn
Year: 1879

DELIRIUM tremens is always produced
by fusil oil and never by pure ethylic
alcohol Next to organic disease of the
stomach, cierhosis of the liver is the
most common consequence of hard
drinking; a distinct form of non-heredi-
tary consumption is another frequent
result. So says DR.. w. B. Richardson.
who adds that if the use of alcohol were
discontinued there would be no more
Brights disease.
Year: 1879

AFTER the schooner Rosina had struck
upon Halibut Point, Mass, during the
great gale of last week, the crew left the
vessel for 4 time, and on their return
found she had slid off, and, all sail being
set' was scudding away before the wind,
with only a large dog on board. The
men hired tug, and tried to overhaul
the fugitive, but she soon distanced
them, and sailed away.
Year: 1879

PEOPLE usually find fault with the
government for being too slow to adopt
improvements. As papers and CORES
Pondents at Liverpool had been declar-
ing somewhat loudly that it would be a
great boon if cheap certificates OF posting
were furnished, so that the sender of a
letter might possess a proof that it had
actually left his hands, the English pos,
tai authorities agreed totry the expert
ment at Liverpool. At first twenty
seven of these hali-penny certificates
were called for daily, but it was not long
before the daily average fell to fourteen.
Year: 1879

NASHVILLE, March 2I.-Nashville is
tonight hotter than a limeklln. The
House to day agreed to 90 into the dis
cussion Of the State debt question to-
morrow. Every effort is being brought
10 bear 10 have the House amend the
Senate bill SO ~ To read fifty cents and
1 per cent interest, instead ot forty
cents and 1 per cent. interest. The
State credit men claim tonight that the
House will so amend the bill. In that
event the Senate will concur, and the
State credit men and low tax
men. together with the bondholders,
will be satisfied. After q careful can
yass Of the matter with Representatives
i'm the House, your correspondent des-
pairs of any amendment so framed as To
meet the views Of either the State credit
men or bondhOlders. The rcpudiation-
lists have sown the wind and are reap
ing the whirlwind. Any proposition on
a lower basis than fifty and four VIII
split the Tennessee Democracy, and the
state credit men and Republicans will
unite 10 effect an honest settlement.
The vote will be a very close one to-
morrow. Influential men from all sec
tiOns of the State are now here TO bring
about harmonious conclusion within
the next five dayS
Year: 1879

Eultor VI Lhc Register.


There have been certain claims made
against me ON behalf of the city OF
Wheeling, which | deuy to be either
Just or valid. All claims audited and
not disputed have paid. The remain
der are, by order of Council, in the
hands Of its committee or of the City
Solicitor, and would therefore respect
fully ask that the press and the public
await the decision OF q proper tribunal
on the question involved. What COM
plain OF Is that, on &c pdrte statements,
some Of the newspapers pu ublish articles
whose only effect has been TO manufac-
ture public sentiment and TO intlame
prejudice SO generally that 4 fair trial of
the issues between myself and the city
has already become almost impossible in
this community and perhaps in the
State. have uniformly declined to en-
ter into a controversy in the public
prints, knowing that those matters, If
there be any such which could not be
amicably settled between Council and
myself, would have 10 be passed upon,
not ON One-sided published asser-
tiOns, but upon evidence fair
ly taken in open Court. Until
such hearing is had, | appeal to the
city papers, whose power to mould pub
lie sentiment, the sovereign above law
and courts in this country and age, |
acknowledge, not To condemn my case
unheard, and | am confident that with
most Of them, their sense OF fairness
will not permit this request To be made
in vain. When the capitatiOn taxes re-
ferred To- in an article in Yesterdays
Mt,iiigsHcgr were collected, and until
recently, both Council and myself were
under the impression that Council had
made the necessary assessment Tor 1877,
as il had always done for every year be-
fore and since, and that it was inCum-
bent on me to collect them. BY some
oversight the assessment was omitted
by Council, and the city has therefore
no right 10 this money, nor have j any
right to so pay il, although | had not
fully determined not to do so il legal in
demnity could be given me for SO doing.
In conversation held with members OF
the Committee on Finance, il was un-
determined whether il would he better
Ia pay il 10 the city or to return it, and
consequently have taken as yet no ac-
ton in the matter. OF course II was
too we'll known that this tax WAS col
lected, for any sane person TO suppose for
a moment that it would be possible for
me 10 retain it for my own uses, even
were willing to do so, which certainly
am not, and the circumstances do not
Justify any such inference. II the sug
geStiOn Of the IatsiligSHrer to taxpayers
to bring suit were adopted, it would
render the payment Of this tax to COun-
Gil impracticable; and, since that paper
has made the matter so public, the only
course left II 10 return the tax tO the
PAYERS, who are hereby notified that
they can receive it on application at my
office at the city building.


Respectfully,


GEO. O. BLACK
Year: 1879

Prof. Cunning delivered his first illus
trated lecture, last evening, i'll the lee
ture room of the Masonic Temple, be-
fore small but highly appreciative au-
dience. The lecture was well delivered
and showed great study OH the part OF
the lecturer.


The lecturer showed first that the
crust of the earth is formed of two
classes or families of rock. The ore was
born of fire the other of water. lie
showed that the world under the all
is wasting away, and under the ocean is
building anew. He showed, then, how
the history Of life on the globe has beer
written in the mud OF dried up seas
That mud has been transformed int
rock. He drew on a portable canvas
the types of life that people the world
to-day and then making kind Of dis
section of the continent he restored
from their iuins, imbedded on the rocks
the leading types of life that character
lied each geologic period.


The lecture Thursday evening will
be on Man before civilization, or Maj
in the geologic record.
Year: 1879

A Chester policeman came to this city
last night, looking for a man named
Dougherty, who was wanted In Chester
to answer for an off nee, but had
dumped his bail" Up to ten O'Clock
this morning the Chester policeman had
mt foupd his man.
Year: 1879

Ii there has been time this session
when the imputation might be made
that the lower house had wasted time, a
glance at the Journals for the six DAYS
Of last week will eonclusively show that
that time has long since past. With the
knowledge that a certain and limited
time remained in which TO transact u
large amount Of business, and with the
order enforced that restricted loquacious
members % speeches OF five minutes, the
body has made rapid strides over lcgiS-
lGtive ground and will show up in good
form AT the end OF the year.


Saturday was i iull day-an energetic
ending Of a laboriOus week, and extended
from O'Clock in the morning until
nearly o'clock Sunday morning. Most
OF the day was occupied with the pas
sage Of Senate bills, which will be found
among the Acts in another column.
The evening was devoted 10 the reports
Of the majority and minority OF the
Joint Committee appointed to confer
with the representatives Of the Balt-
more and Ohio Railroad Company, and
upon a satisfactory method of correct
ing the abuses complained of by the
people. As will be seen below, the re-
port OF the majority was adopted.


THE SLIPPERY ELM" BILL.


shortly after twelve o'clock, the large
audience which had filled the lobby in
anticipation of hearing the disposal Of
the Elm Grove steam bill, were re-
warded. Capt. Bradford moved to take
it up and, the motion prevailing, it was
taken up and read the third time as 'Ol-
lows:
Year: 1879

Springer's mouth is closed for two weeks, any


The extra session will be chiefly a solid Southern
benefit


The Democrats must take either Tilden or jeff
Davis III lSoO.


Is Randalrs Jig up'1 Can the widest kind of
straddliug save him I


Senator Chambers blast of stalwart Republican,
ism struck chord IN the popular heart.


II i Intrnated that Thurman wiz decline 20 play
sccond-fiIdle to TIidon. What. before he asked


Once more it has been made apparent that the
worst enemy of The solid Southern statesman is his
own mouth.


General Butler ended his Congressional career
with a valuable public service when he seated him
self iurclblY on SprlngeTS chln'


Blackburn looms up as the Speaker Of the new
Congress The worst that be saId of him is that
he is bhely to make the country regret Raudllls
defeat.


fortnight will be an insufficient time for Cali-
fornia TO cool oft in, and the chances are that a
new auti-Chlnese bill will make It's appearance
early IN the new session.


Judging by the tone of the Democrats during the
Congress lust closed, the called session could most
appropriately be styled an adjourned session of the
late larncntcd Confederate Congress. That would
make future ouloglcs OF Jeh DAVIS even more et-
tcctlyc,


Mr. Potter had narrow escape with his report.
The members seemed inclined to run at the sight Of
it. lhls isn't any wonder for prominent journals Of
Mr. Pottsrs party say that there IL nothing in
Il that can DO anybody any good, or any harm.
There is something dreadiully dead M A. though.


The Democrats of Cincinnati are discovered 10 be
nearly or quite unanimous for the denomination of
Governor Bishop As Hamilton County is a great
povcr. this j, likely TO decide his denomination !;
and a., the majority OF the voters of Hamilton
Couuty are pretty well known 10 be weary OF 50
much -acie Dlch in the GOycrnor-hIp, il Is also
likely 10 decide the election OF ms opponent


Tho small but obstinate squad of Greenback
Congressman have especial reason TO be delighted
that tho extra session is to meet so soou II the
date of meeting had been delayed uil Fan there is
an even chance that they would have had no party
left 10 represent. Asitis, they are likely to have
power enough to help organize the new House IN the
interest of the Solid SOUTH and that Will be pretty
sure way Of starting copous flow OF money from
the Treasury.


General Robinson. who is chairman of the Ohio
Republican Committee. seems to have SUSPICION