smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

TIE EXPERIMENT of educating boys for the
navy has proved of such marked benefit in in
creasing the efficiency of the service that Con-
grcss will be asked to improve and extend the
system. But Congress is so stupid that it will
probably pay no attention to the suggestion.
Year: 1877

PHoESIxvrLLE, May 7.-'The young
may die, but the old must and al
though Richard Conard forty years
ago passed the Scriptural three
score years and ten, and had even
seen the patriarchal five score years
and five, yet the grave claimed him
at last. He was born in Ireland in
tbs year 1768. At the age of thirty
he enlisted himself in the unfortu-
nate rebellion inaugurated by Lord
Edward Fitzgerald against the Brit
ish Grown, and he desperately
fought for Ireland's emancipation
from the British yoke. After the
failure OF that attempt to achieve
Independence Richard settled down
into quiet life for brief period. Xe
soon afterward entered the British
army, whose ranks he deserted and
came to this country in the year
1912. When the canal of the Schuyl.
kill Naviga ton Company was con-
structed, he was tho first to strike "A
pick in that long aqueduct. lie al
SO was an active laborer when tho
first rails of the main line of the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
were laid. He was twice married
but a son, now living in Kansas,
was the only issue by the first union.
His last wife was a widow Fitzgar-
aid (showing he still loved the old
name), by whom he also had one
child.


The past twenty.fve or thirty
years Of his life he spent in a lowly
little dwelling in Upper Providence
township, Montgomery county, op-
posite Phoenixville. Here his life
slowly ebbed away-a life remark.
able for its length, worthy Of note
for its memories. In the deliriu m
Of his last sickness his memory
bridged n chasm of 80 years and he
imagined himself no of Lord Fitz.
geralds brave soldiers doing guard,
and could recognize, as OF "Auld
lang syne,' his companions in arms.
Was it all delirium or fantasy I Or
did the veteran really have al insight
into the glorious reunion Richard
died last week. He was always q
strong, hearty man and possessed
an iron constitution, and when he
quit this earth it was not from dis
ease, but age and general debility.
Year: 1877

taken by parties who do not return,
but give them away, il is something
that the managers cannot guard
against, and they rely upon the hon
or Of those who accept them not to
misuse them in that manner.
Year: 1877

party of young men crossed the Gre.


fensee, Canton Zurich to Failanden,


Switzerland, few days since, to witness


the conservation of a new church. On
arriving at their destination, they fastened
their craft with a long chain to the ietty.
and after going to church and eating a
good supper, washed down by copious
lbations of beer, they went down to their
boat 1t was already dark, SO they made
the best Of their way homeward The


Journey was lorg and tedious. On and on
they went, but the harder they rowed the
less progress they seemed to make. They
were in despair, some of them thought
they were doomed for their sins to remain
forever on the lake. When dawn broke the
crew were well nigh spent, two of them lay
in the bottom of the oat utterly exhausted.
They looked round, they looked twice, they
looked thrice, before they could realize the
fact that they had forgotten to unloose their
boat from the chain, and that they had !
been rowing for their lives the night
through within a few yards of the newly
church
Year: 1877

The idol smsshe- Of the New York
Times thus communities another i'm.
age. we always look upon Washing
ton as peculiarly fortunate man, but
rumor tells US that Mrs Washington
frequently became so exssperated be-
cause of her husbands calm, wooden
and persistent smile that she would
burst into tesrs, and after making IN.
warrantable alIusions to alleged minxes
10 the treasury department, would
lock herself up in her room aud leave
the Father of his country 10 brood
over The gloomy thought ina: she
would ultimately unlock ber door and
come forth for more conversation
Year: 1877

BOILED PoTAToEs.-But few cooks
put Ppon table plain boiled pota
TO that is fit TO be taken into the
stomach. This rule, if followed, makes
a potato not only pais,abIe, but digest
ible. Peel and put into cold water
say one dozen peachblow potatoes
and let them stand an hour (longer
will not hurt them j wash them out
OF the water and put them into boiling
water enough 10 cover them in a
saucepan with close fitting cover
throw IN tablespoonful or salt, and
let them boil half an hour; turn of
the water, and stand the saucepan on
the back Of the range or stove for five
or ten minutes, keeping The cover
tightly closed, as herein lies the secret
of having potato look like snow
ball. Serve in covered dish, and
keep them covered until wanted for
the plate. Most cooks lift the cover
off the sauce pan 20 let The steam
escape This makes the potato heavy
and indigestible.
Year: 1877

a Coon Portable FENcE.-It is
made in panels consisting of -four
boards, six inches wide and twelve
feet long nailed TO three two by>four
Joists fire feet long the outside ones
should be nailed clear at the ends of
the boards. As each length is nailed,
rise up, and, standing a, the end. bore
an inch hole just under the top board
IN each of the outside posts. When
1t Is ready 10 set Up, cut braces tour
feet long and bore q hole in each end
of the brace between them up even
with the holes in the tsp, and fasten
them all together with a wooden pin


Then drive down peg, bore a hole
IN the top two or three inches ahove
the ground, and fasten the bottom of
the brace 10 it by means of a min


This fastens it securely. and leaves il
at the same time perfectly temporary
Year: 1877

INDIGESTION TIE CAUSE OF CoRNs.-
There is something curiously interest
ing in this extract: The pleasant
ways in which well regulated diet
affects physical as well as moral men
are infinite. Mr.. Walker found that
when he ate moderately, and had
brought himself into sound health,
the same shoes were easy which had
been tight. lie studied a pair of shoes.
He had a pair rather smaller than
usual, which afforded him the opporr
tuniiY of making his observations with
great accuracy. Having purposely
tried excess of diet, he found them so
Painful as 10 be Gnbearab|e on the feet.
But they were perfectly easy and COM
for,ably when he ate only that happy
quantity, enough. Our philosopher
traces even corns TO indigestion.
Year: 1877

BRINE TO PRESERVE BUTTER YEAR.


- ~ -.,e.,y dav;cas tor leap-
IDg butter III manner That VIII pre-
serve the fresh, rosy flavor of the new,
with all its sweetness,is the following,
from the Duchess Farmer, which is
said TO be entirely successful: To
three gallons of brine, strong enough
to bear an egg, add a qnarter OF a
pound of nice white sugar and one
tablespoonful of sal;peIer. Boil the
brine, and when il is cold strain care,
fully. Make your butter into rolls,
and wrap each separately in a clean,
white muslin cloth, tying It Up with a
string. Pack a large jar full. weigh
the butter down, and pour over it the
brine until all is submerged. This will
keep really good butter perfectly
sweet and fresh for O whole year. BE
careful not TO put upon ice butter that
You wish TO keep for any length OF
time.
Year: 1877

bow TO CuoO>E Coon Cow.-A
crumnly horn is a good indication; a
fall eye another. Her mead should be
small and short. Avoid a Roman
nose, which indicates thin milk and
little of it. See that she is dished in
the face-sunk between the eyes. No,
tice that she is what stock Men call
a good handIer-Skin soft and loose.
like the skin on a dog. Deep from the
Ioin to the udder and a very slim tail.
4 COW with these marks never fails 10
Year: 1877




Having had severa! inquiries from
farmers in your part regarding pure
golden millet, its nature, culture, &C.
| will. as briefly as possible, give my
experience If you will allow me t" e
space. for their benefit.


First, it will grow in almost any eli
mate or soil; it is sown broadcast as
any grass or grain and put in about
the same way; three fourths to one
bushel Of seed to the acre; cut same
as hay; or cut anl bound IN bundles
AS grain. which is y nicer way if you
wish to thrash for seed. 1t natures
in ten or twelve weeks; grows Eve to
eight feet high; produces three to
five tons Of hay and 6fty to one hun.
dr,d bushels Of seed to the acre. does
better in wet or dry extremes than any
crop | have any knowledge Of; one
rair after 1t is up being sufc,ent to
insure fair yield; will never fail or
waste: winds and rains do not frus-
,rate it: will stand two or three weeks
after it is ripe and wait the coming OF
the harvester; do not be in hurry
to cut it; let it mature we'll; as food
for all stock l know not of its equal !;
all eat it eagerly aud thrive on its nu.
tritious qualities; I have never seen
anything as good for milk cows if we'll
cut before feeding. Fowls fed on the
seed will lay the year around.


would advise any brother farmer
who can get pure seed to SOW it, but
be sure you do not get the old com
mon nillct or hungarian it is the
very thing to insure an abundant
supply Of excellent hay for winter
feeding. I am sure those who have
been in the habit Of sowing corn will
do SO no more when they try this.
Another great recommendation, it
is a great fertilizer; it leaves the
ground in q light mellow condition
and free from every other growth,
literally smothering out every thing
else BY sowing as soon as the danger
Of frost is over you can save a crop and
tnrn under crop on the same piece Of
ground each year. have friends who
have sold enough from one crop to
more than pay for the ground on which
it was grown. I have paid ~ high as
$3.50 per bushel for seed-,t sells at
g. now, but I would willingly give
So could it not be had for less I,
is the best crop to raise for profit OF
for use I have ever tried. have no,
a single objection to it except that i,
takes labor to save it. In cutting
from good ground it will require ten
to twelve hands to bind after the ma
chine and they will have hard work IA
keep up if the machine runs constant
ly. When once ripe it is no trouble q
cure.
Year: 1877

"Hghtning fluid" as professional. Occa-
sionally persevering business man, more
sanguine than any of his fellows, strikes
out for himself and learns to transact his
own business by telegraph himself, with
more or less success. OF this class there is
one prominent example in this city. The
efficient manager of one of the ocean
steamship lines running into this port is an
amateur operator Of more than ordinary
merit, an accomplishment which is of in
estimable value to him.


Of late years our more astute statesmen
select good telegraphers for private secre.
taries, inasmuch as they are not only thus
enabled to have reliable telcgraphing done
sat home," but to ''picl up" many stray
idea while transacting business in or about
telegraph office. The country was mys.
tilted last spring when Mr.. Blaine spoke
SO accurately Of the "mcssagc" which Proc
tor Knott had concealed in his pocket.
during the dramatic scene in the House.
but to those who knew that Mr. Sherman.
Mr. Blalnes private secretary, is an old
and expert operator, the revelation did
not seem so much like the work of a
clairvoyant. The secretary of Gen. B. F.
Butler IS an operator, and President HAYES,
when Governor Of Ohio, employed tele
grapher as private secretary. The Prince
OF Wales keeps two operators at Sandring-
ham Palace. The same valuable custom is
gaining all over the world, and many of
the kneenest Of our business men prefer to
select their confidential assistants from
telegraphic ranks.


The telegraph, although so recently
brought into general use, is making rapid
strides. Four hundred thousand miles of
wire are now stretched over the land or
under the sea-enough to ''put a girdle
round about the earth" sixteen fold-but
It's perfection is far from ACCOMPLISHED. and
the demand for culture and intelligence
IN that branch of the worlds industries
Will long continue to be very great.
Year: 1877




NEW IDEA IN CANAL PRopULsIoN.
New York Legislature has passed n bill
making an appropriation of $1,000 to
enable Mr.. Ii. II. Baker to Law an exnori
mental portion of his single rail propeIlins
track along the BERN bank of the Erie
canal. The rail which is to be elevated. is
intended to act in connection with coz.
wheels and an inexpensive engine placed
on each canal boat as a substitute for horses.
The machinery is simple, and the cost, it is
asserted, is less expensive and the facility
OF construction better than any method of
propulsion previously devised. The
amount appropriated by the Legislature
will enable the protector to finish five miles
inside of thirty days, and the cost of the
entire line to Buffalo will be but $3.50. 600.
IL Is not even necessary that the rail should
DC level, the pressure on the cog running
over the rail being sufficient to keep it in
place. 1t can be readily detached to
enable boats to pass each other There
Will be no damaging wash created more
than at present.
Year: 1877

The questions Of the amelioration Of the
condition Of working women is engaging
the attention Of thoughtful and humane
persons in our large cities. A rule which
forbids shop girls to sit down during bust
ness hours seems to excite peculiar expires
slons OF sympathy. 1t is not easy to see the
necessity of such rule applied to either
sex. Strong men find it fatguinc enough
to stand upon their fectall day, and women
are so physically constituted that such a
requirement is too great for their cndur-
ance. 1t is true that there are few occu.
patrons involving physical strength which
any but an exceptionally strong class Of
the gentIer sex can endure. The desirable
ness OF finding occupation for women in all
positions for which they are comretent has
been generally admitted. The ability of
the shop girl to sell is as good as that of the
shop man, except that she may break down
sooner under the fatigue Of being on her
feet all day. If her duties cannot be nor
formed, if she has the privilege of bcinr
'0"'e" "HtH liefc are no demands upOn
her attention, that is a good reason for not
employing her at all. 70 compel her to
stand to give an appearance Of business
where there is no business is inhuman and
absurd; but if it is necessity Of her posi-,
ton, and the business Of the establishment
cannot be properly conducted without such
eXertion, then She must take such employ.
inent st her own risk, and, in q brave
spirit, meet the consequences, even though
they involve permanent injury OF course
no one with ordinary human feelings would
compel feeble women unnecessarily to sub.
mt to such an ordeal. There are Few shop.
Keepers, it Is believed, WHO now require
women to stand up all day where there is
TO necessity for it.-Buh. ,yua.
Year: 1877

THE FIRST Bio GUN.-The first
big gun has inst been cast at the
South Boston Foundry, twelve


inch rife gun. being the first cne
made for the Government of the
United States. The weight of this
piece of ordnance when flushed
will be about 80 600 pounds, and
it will carry a project 9 weighing
about 700 pounds. The ordinary
charge of powder in firing it will
be from 110 to 140 pounds, with
which the proieciile will pierce a
solid mass of iron from twelve to
fifteen inches thick, at a distance
of 1000 yards. The gun will be
made of cast iron, lined with a
wrought iron cored tube, and when
finished will be sent TO the proving
ground a. Sandy Hook, to be test.
ed, and if found to be satisfactory,
will be mounted in one of The
Notifications in New York harbor
Year: 1877

1t is the duty o: every farmer to
take his county paper.


The farmer may not get rich as
fast as the mere speculator, but he
is not so likely to lose his honora-
bly, earned wealth by the first ad-
verse wind of fortune.


High farming" is thorough cult
vation, liberal manuring, and boun-
tiful crops. 1t is the best stock,
well fed, with large profits. 1t is
the only road to wealth and pros
perity.


Take good care of the work
stock. Let them not get low in
flesh or condition. Feed them well
now, and they will reward your at
tentlon when work is required in
the spring.


To be an improving and success
iul farmer one must read, and study,
and keep posted in all that pertains
to new processes and improved
methods in agriculture. This is
the corner stone of prosperity.


Salt, mixed with Stacked lime and
sowcd on wheat after the snow
melts, two to three Bushels to the
acre, is good, and will largely in
crease the yield and greatly benefit
the land. SO says an agricultural
exchange.


Raise your own horses, cows,
hogs, and sheep, and thus improve
the same. Grow your own supplies,
and thus you will have no occasion
to spend. Where we shall have ev-
erything at home, hard times will
take wings and fly away.


1t is better to have one hundred
bushels of corn off of one acre than
to go over two acres for the same
amount. 1t is infinitely better to
cultivate only half as much land
and to cultivate better, than to ex-
pend your labors over large surfaces
with imperfect cultivation and poor
returns.


Everything now indicates that we
shall have bountiful crops and plen-
ty of good fruit Then let every
farmer bestir himself, and commence
to prepare and cooperate intelli-
gently and earnestly with nature, by
seeing that everything is ready for
spring, and be certain to have all
fences in good repair. And, don't
forget to subscribe for your county
paper.


The ''high farmer" is the farmer
of the future. He viii cultivate less
land, put on all the manure he can
get, and reap large returns on less
labor, and tsus make big profits, and
this will ennoble the avocation and
awaken greater interest in farming.
Farming that is worthy of the name
does pay. but requires an exprndi
ture of brains as we'll as muscle to
secure the largest returns.
Year: 1877

Hon. John M. Bright has intro
duced in the House of Representa-
tiyes one of the most important
bills that Congress has been called
upon to consider for half century,
and one which, il it becomes law,
will do more to relieve the
laboring and commercial classes OF
the country, and ease the money
market, than any similar scheme
that has been devised.


Fer the benefit of our readers, all
OF whom are interested in the sub
ject we Will explain, says the NASH
vile Banner, the salient features of
this measure, which are: That the
old round silver dollar, containing
4l2t grains of standard silver, shall
be made a legal tender for all and
every purpose, save when gold is
stipulated in the bond. Then again,
it is made the imperative duty of
the mint authorities to receive
from any person offering gold or
silver bullion, in any shape whatev-
er, from a silver spoon to a bar
from the mines, and issue to all
such note payable in silver or
gold as the cause may be, in 80, go
or 80 days, or at such time as may
be required to convert the same in
to coin, without any expense to the
depositor except the actual cost Of
coinage. Should Mr.. Bright sue
coed in getting this bill passed, as
he doubtless will, its effect will be
TO bring into immediate use as
money the gold and silver of our
mineral regions as fast as il is ex-
t-acted from the earth. instead Of
sending it to England to be sold as
bullion as is now the case. There
is no question whatever that our
mines will produce not less than
$100,o0o,o0o during the present
year, which will go into immediate
circulation as money, thus adding
that amount in hard money to the
circulating medium of the country.
So our readers will see that we have
not attached more than due impor-
tance to this measure.
Year: 1877

If one more Democrat had gone
No the polls in one of the pre-
cincts in the Fourth District of Cal
ifornia a Democratic and not a Re
publican Congressman would have
been elected. In a Missouri Dis
trict Democrat has been elected
to Congress by majority of one
vote. In the Third Congressional
District of Massachusetts Wal
bridge A. Field defeated Dean, Dem
ocrat by a majority of five. There
was a great deal of close voting all
around in the late election.
Year: 1877

The city of Salem in Oregon has
adopted this original method of deal
ing with drunkenness. When any
person becomes Unexpectedly given
to strong drink, a certain number
of citizens may petition to have him
declared a drunkard. The petition
is directed to the City Recorder,
who gives notice, by publication in
some daily paper, that the person
named in the petition has been de
clared common drunkard." AT
ter such notice, it is unlawful for
any one "to give or sell such per
son, or assist him in getting, any
wine, spirituous or malt liquor"
Year: 1877

Soon Morton and Cameron and
Sherman Will be unknown in the
high councils of the nation, for
their States will strip them of the
honors they have so unworthily
worn; and as justice moves in the
sometimes slow but sure fulfillment
of her appointed work, the names of
Clayton and Patterson and Dorsey
and West will be forgotten in the
charity that will teach forgetfuess
of the varied scars bred by civil
war.
Year: 1877

Mr.. Tucker, of Virginia, thus
disposes of the sophistical nonsense
that the President of the Senate
alone has judicial power over the
count of the Electoral vote:


Everything done in the presence
of Court was done under its pro.
lection and control The same
sense was found in the sublime ap-
peal of Moses to the God of Israel.
''Ii Thy presence be not with me
carry us not hence" 1t did not re-
ter to the omnipresence of the Del
ty, but it meant the presence in the
sense of superintendence, direction,
and care. The use of the word
presence" in that clause of the
Constitution meant an active, vital,
controlling, and determining super
vision of the whole procedure. If
it did not mean that it meant moth
ing more than the curious presence
of bystanders or of the crowd in
the galleries. 1t could not be that
the House was to be present merely
to witness a mistake which it could
not correct, an illegallty which it
could not forbid, a wrong which it
could not rectify, or fraud which
it could not Illustrate. On such n
construction as was contended for
on the opposite side the presence of
the two Houses became a solemn
farce, dumb show, an empty pa
geant, and a mythical humbug.
Year: 1877

The New York Express says the
readjustment of Southern State
debts is one of the duties of those
who owe, and of those who own the
bonds; the duty of the one is to
make the best possible advances to-
wards payment consistent with abil-
ity to pay and of the other side to
accept the conditions.
Year: 1877

Memphis Ledger, Jan. 10th: Dur.
ing the heavy rain-storm yesterday
n decided sensation was produced
in south Memphis by a heavy fall
of small live snakes, thousands Of
which were to be seen on the
ground this morning, wriggling and
squirming around in all directions.
A gentleman living on Goslee street,
south of Vance, took the trouble to
gather up n dozen or so, which he
brought to this Office in a quart
bottle of water. They are from a
foot to q foot and half in length,
Of light brown and greyish color,
with small black head; in the larger
ones, which are nearly as large as
the ordinary red worm, small black
spots are visible. They are con-
stantly in motion and seem inclined
10 come near the surface OF the wa
ter. To use the expression of the
gentleman who brought the bottle
Of reptiles, there are millions of
them on the ground yet, and the
sight is not pleasant. People will
naturally think Of their cisterns,
aud it may be well to make an ex-
animation. What extent Of terri
tory has thus been visited we are
not informed, though it was most
likely small. The phenomenon we
do not attempt TO account for,
though it is not improbable that the
water discharged from the clouds,
yesterday and the contents, was
taken up from a lake, guI: or the
ocean by a water-spout thousands
Of miles away. These little wrIg-
glers are supposed to be harmless,
but they are unwelcome visitors.