smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

At No. lis East 1l5h street. reporter asccrtaincd
last evening, that the deceased Mr.. 4. W. w.
Watkins, gentleman Of about seventy-one years of
age and the father of MIR. f. W. Watkins. civil
engineer, whose card was found in his possession.
The unfortunate gentleman had been tailor in his
younger days, but had long ago quit busi
ness. and spending his old age in
retirement 1t stated that nc had
left the city Monday evening with the intention of
stopping for the summer at Otisville. The members
OF his family who were seen said there could be no
possible doubt OF the identification. They had been
advised OF the sad occurrence by telegraph about
half past six o'clock yesterday evening. They be-
lieved the affair purely the result of accident
Mr.. watkins, as far they knew. had trouble IN
his mind, and they quite confident that he
untouched in intellect, and they had grounds for
any theory except that hc accidently fell from the
train. MIR. Watkins leaves three sons.
Year: 1879

WALL STREET YEsTERpAy.-In the
early dealings stocks were very buoy ant,
but as money became more active they
declined and closed generally below the
opening prices. Call money was loaned
at per cent aud commission rang ng
from TO per dap additional. Govern
ments were advanced by the prorosiii IN
of Secretary Sherman to purchase bonds
for the sinking fund.
Year: 1879

The cold snap has had tendency to
make the city orderly, and the police
have made no arrests since yesterday
morning Hence no cases were tried at
the Mayors Court either last night or
this morning.
Year: 1879

The number of gunners down the
State increases every day. This morn
ing a large number went
down on the 9l5 Delaware train this
morning. The baggage car was nearly
filled with dogs.
Year: 1879

In Smithland, some years ago, when
the venerable Judge Fowler was on the
bench, a man was arrested for carrying
"brass knuckles,' and the terrible
weapons were confiscsted. The statute
in force that time provided that articles
Of that kind should he taken by the
sheriff and placed where they would
"never be found any more" The court
instructed the sheriff as to the law, at
which the officer demuTed, saying that
he did not know of any such place. A
half tipsy lawyer, whom everybody sup.
posed to be asleep, suddenly arose to his
feet, with the remark, MAY it please
the court, as the sheriff seem- to be at a
loss where 10 place the knuckles s, that
they will never be found any more,
move that the court instruct him to
place them at the foot OF the chancery
docket. Once there, they never will be
heard Of again"
Year: 1879




Atlength a fifth ball struck Gordon
full in the face, and, entering his cheek,
Knocked him senseless He fell, and for
some time his PROSTATE form was
wrapped in the smoke OF battle. We
hear from Gen. Gordon's own lips story
that. in a metaphysical point, is exceed-
ingly interesting. lie says that when he
fell he was utterly incapable of moving.
He gradually began to think of bis con-
dtion, and this is the halt dream half
sohloquv that he carried on; 81 have
been struck in the head with six pound
solid shot; il has carried away my head.
On the left side there is little piece OF
skull eit but the brain is entirely gone.
And yet ! am thinking. How can n
man think with his head shot OFF, And
il ! am lhiuking cannot be dead. And
yet no man can live after his head is
shot off. ] may have my consciousness
while dead but not motion. II can lift
hmy leg, then am alive. 1 will try that.
Can |? Yes, there il is; lifted up. I'm all
right.p The General says that every
stage of this soliloquy is indelibly
stamped on his mind, and that in his
exhausted state the reasoning was car
ried on as logic Ally as ever mao reasoned
at his desk. Doubt succeeded argument
and argument displaced doubt jn.t rs
logica ly as could be. He says he never
will forget with what anxiety he made
the test of lifting his leg-with what
agony he waited TO see whether or not il
would move in response To his effort, and
how he hesitaJed before trying it for lear
it might fail and his death be thereby
demonstrated.
Year: 1879

A SWEET TEMPER.-No tra!y of
character is more valuable in a
woman than the possession Of q
sweet temper. It IS like the
flowers that spring up in our
path way, reviving and cheering
US. Home can mover be made
happy without it. Let a man 60
home at night, wearied and worn
out by the tolls Of the day, and
how soothing is a word dictated
by good disposition. 1t is sun
shine falling upon the heart. He
is happy and the cares of life are
forgotten. A sweet temper has a
soothing influence over the minds
Of the whole family. Where it is
found in the wife and mother, you
observe kindness and love pre-
dominating over the natural feel
ings of a bad heart. Smiles, kind
words, and looks characterize the
children, and peace and love have
their dwelling place there. Study
then, to acquire and retain sweet
temper. 1t is more valuable than
gold, and captivates more than
beauty, and to the close of life re-
tains all its powers.
Year: 1879

GENUINE HOSPITALITY - The
true hospitality Of the home is
never loudly demonstrative. 1t
never overwbelms you with it's
greeting, though you have not
a doubt of it's sincerity. You are
not disturbed by the creaking of
the domestic machinery, suddenly
impelled at unwonted speed for
your accommodation. Quietly it
does it's work, that it may put
you in peaceable possession Of its
results. He is not the true host,
she is not the best hostess,
who is ever going to and fro with
hurried action and furried man
ner and unnatural zeal, which i'm
plies forced effort to affect a hos
pitable appearance, but rather the
one who takes your coming with
quiet dignity and noiseless pains
taking; who never obtrudes at
tention, yet is very attentive all
the while; who makes you, in q
word, cat home"
Year: 1879

rehounded, struck the other side,
and then fell heavily upon the
floor.


The dreadful truth instantly
flashed upon her. He was drunk.
For moment her heart ceased to
beat, her head recled, and she had
then to lean against the wall to
keep from falling. Then all the
tender emotions of her heart
rushed freely into activity. 1t was
her own husband who lay before
her overcome by the master
spirit Of strong drink.


With almost super h uma IN
strength she raised him up, al
though q large man, and supported
him with her arm until she got
him up stairs and laid upon the
bed. By this time he seemed per-
fectly stupid, and only mumbled
lncoherent replies to the frequent
and tender opportunities Of his
wife.


After some time she got him
undresscd and in bed. But he
grew more and more stupid every
moment.


"Oh! what if he should die"
the poor wife moaned anxiously,
while the tears that bad at first
gushed out still continued to flow
freely. She also washed his face
with cold water, and tried various
means to arouse him from the
lcthargy Of drunkenness. But all
to no purpose.


At last, despairing of success,
she lay down beside him, in tears,
throw her arms around his neck,
and laid her face against his. She
had lain thus for about five min
utes, when her husband called her
name in whisper. i


Oh, how eagerly did she listen,
after her response to his call


"If my husband we're to do So"


AS he said this, still in a whis-
per, but very expressive one, he
looked her steadily in the face,
with a roguish twinkle of the
eyes, and q quivering Of the lips,
the muscles Of which could with
difficulty restrain from wreathing
those expressive organs into a
merry smile.


Mrs. Peters understood the
whole scene in moment, and
boxed her husbands ears souudly
on the spot for very joy, while he
laughed unit! his sides ached as
bad as his ears.


In all after discussions upon
the various unfortunate relations
of man and wife, Mrs. Peters was
very careful how she declared her
course Of action, were she placed
under similar circumstance. If in
any case she was led unthinkingly
to do so, the remark of her hus-
band, made with peculiar in
fection Of the voice-"Oh, yes !
If my husband were to do so"-
had the happiest effect imaginable,
and instantly put an end to the
improbable discussion.
Year: 1879

GOOD ADVICE.-Says the Elmlra
Gazette: mo, don't learn a
trade, young man. You might
soil your hands, wilt your shirt
collar, and spoil your complexion
sweating. Go hang your chin
over a counter learn to talk
twaddle to the ladies part your
hair in the middle !; make an ass
Of yourself generally, and work
for wages that wouldn't support a
Chinese laundryman on rice fed
rats and leave big enough BAL
ance to pay bis washwoman-just
because it is a little more genteel
in the eyes of the people whose
pride prevents them from pound
ing rock or hewing wood, and
whose poverty pinches worse than
one Of those patent cross.legged
clothes pins, if tho truth were on
ly told"
Year: 1879

The BARRIERS PoLE.-EVery
part of the barber's pole formerly
had especial significance. The gilt
knob at the top was once brass
basin, with a notch in side used
to fit under the chin to facilitate
the lathering and washing Of the
customers. The BARRIERS were
formerly surgeons at least, all the
venesectinn was performed by
them. The pole represents the
staff held by persons who were
bled in the arm; and the two
spiral ribbons painted around it
we're originally actual bandages-s
one for cording or binding the
arm to cause. the flow of blood,
and the other for dressing the
puncture afterward. The whole
was significant of the baroer's
twin occupations-sha7ing and
bloodlettiug. =
Year: 1879

Cleanliness is surely next to
godlincss. | do not think an in
dividuai can be physically unclean
and morally pure. One Of the
greatest causcseof skin diseases is
the lack Of the use ofwatcr. There
is all times and under ali circum
stances a shedding Of the epith-
elium Of the skin. It comes off in
scales, which if not removed, will
close the pores of the skin and
prevent the free respiration that
is constantly taking place. One
Of natures modes of disposipg Of
her surplus heat and waste matter
is by sending them out through
the pores Of the skin. In fact
so essential is this to the physical
economy that if the body be COW
cred with coat Of varnish for
even a short time death will occur.
From this you will observe how
important it is for us to keep
every pore open. To do this we
must bathe. | will not stop to
speak of the benefits to be derived
from the employment of Turkish
or other baths, but bathe regularly
and often. Every man, woman
and child should bathe twice a
week at least, and oftener when
the employment followed is such
as to render it necessary. Now it
may seem strange, but most peo-
pie don't bathe once a month on
an average, and one half Of those
who do, do it in such a way that
no good comes from it. While
sponging ones self off is better
than not bathing at all, yet it is
not as beneficial as it should be.
It is not necessary that you have
a bath room, with all the modern
conveniences. All you need is 8
warm room and a few gallons Of
water, some soap and a sponge.
1t requires no skill to use them.
Use the bath if you would pre-
serve your health. l remember
Of hearing a doctor tell patient
to take a warm bath. The patient
afterward said: "That's the fust
water that has touched my back
ia sixteen years." The man that
will not wash himself oftener than
that is a brute.


Physically we are a nation Of
invalids. We can never be aught
else as long as we antagonize all
the laws of hygiene by our daily
lives. The neglect of cleanliness
is one of the most fragrant causes
Of disease. Then keep your body
clean, and my word for it you will
instinctively loath and abhor all
that IS vile and filthy. A physi.
cally impure man or woman is an
object of aversion to everybody.
Regard cleanliness as a cardinal
Year: 1879

Like ali general rules the follow,
irg arc subject in particular cases,
to exceptions and qualifications:


Ignorance Of the law excuses
no one.


A mistake as to facts may re-
l!eve one from the obligations Of
u contract u mistake as to the law,
never.


The contracts Of u minor, unless
for nccessaries, are voidable.


A lunatic cannot enter into a
binding contract.


Fraud vitiates any contract.


Drunkenness, if it amounts to
incapacity, will render contract
void.


Contracts entered into on Sun
day, in the ordinary course of
business, are void.


The acts and contracts Of one
partner, in the course of the part
nership business, bind all the rest.


The acts and contracts Of an
agent within the scope of his
agency. bind the principal.


Contracts entered into without
consideration, unless under seal,
may be voided.


No consideration is good in law
which is illegal or contrary to
public policy and good morals.


A note, payment Of which might
be successfully resisted in suit
between the original parties, may
be valid and binding in the hands
Of third parties, innocent holders
for value, without notice.


A debt is not paid when a note
is given and accepted for the
amount. If the note is not paid
the original debt is revived.


To revive a debt barred by linn
itation an acknowledgement of it's
existence as a sabsisting debt, &C.
complained by q promise to pay,
or under circumstances from
which the law will imply such
promise, is necessary.


Part payment of a debt barred
by limitations will revive the
whole debt, which will hold good
until limitations run again from
the date Of such partial payment.
Each individual in firm is liza
bic for the full amount of the debts
Of the firm, except in cases Of
special or limited partnership.
If debtor owe several debts to
the same creditor and pay sum
Of money, he has the right to de.
signate the particular debt to
which the payment shall apply !;
otherwise the creditor may ap-
propriate it to that of the longest
standing, or for which he has least
security.


A will to pass real estate must
be in writing, signed by the tes
tator.
Year: 1879

Those of our subscribers, who have re-
moved, should send in the address of their
new residence to the business Off ce, as
soon as possible, In order that the paper
may be served to them.
Year: 1879

Many life has been lost because the
left hand has been neglected. The large
majority of men do not use a tithe Of
the power they possess. Their talent,
are mostly in a napkin One of the
wealthiest men in Wall street to-day
broke down in business a good many
years ago. He went into an Office where
he was acquainted and said 70 the mem
bers Of the firm that he had no bread for
his family. I'm ready 10 20 messages
for you or perform any other service
He hung up his coat there and COM
menced work around the lowest ring
of the ladder. Previously this mans
check was accepted any where in the
street You may be sure that such a
man gradually mounted. Over in Boston
a like-minded man fell out. He was
without bread, and soon would be with
out shoes unless he wakened up and
stirred his energies. He was a book
keeper, and at one time earned a hand
some salary What did he do; This he
did He took a cotton hook and went
down to the wharf to load and unload
cotton at so much an hour Behold anoth-
er man of grit. The owners of the cot
ton and the ship eyed this hero. Soon
the decree went forth. Come up higher
He resumed the quill and laid aside the
cotton hook. Encouragement never
weakened the Boston boy. Winners,
with hanging lips and chicken-hearts,
who cure their troubles with the bottle
or pistol, are pitiful creatures who should
never have been bon.-Nelc York WH-
tigSS
Year: 1879




In Chicago. But who would ever think
Of locating a romance in Chicago: and
not only using that prosaic city, but Sc
Letting for is hero a quiet except when
in a corner coal merchant; Ny plea
Is this: romances locate themselves, and
heroes are Ike murdor-you never know
when or where 10 prepare for them. So
1t was in Chicago that the cup was lifted,
aad quiet, bashful Mr.. Strong, who knew
far more about the different kinds Of coal
than he did about women, whose uu-
steady hand let it fall


Mr. Strong, at a date prior to the be-
ginning Of his romance, belonged TO that
army of middle-agcd Young men seldom
visible 20 a lady save at the theatre, or
occasionally on Madison Street, OF going
up the steps Of some boarding house. At
the theatre they troop by twos and threeS
70 their reserved seats in all the JOYOUS
freedom Of ungloved hands, listen to the
play. unless perchance they are distracted
oy the sight of some former companion
who Is detected stealing in with pretty
smiling girl. upon whom he laviSheS boz
bOnS and attentions and never once
glanceS in the direction of his torsaken
fuends They always hurry out between
acts. not so much, | am convinced. for
the sake Of getting drink, as to escape
into the open air, and chuckle over the
capture of Brown. Or ,presuming my
reader to be lady YOU are at another
time indebted 10 one of this band for a
seat in = crowded stage in crossing from
one side of the city to the other. He
cheerfully resigns his place, YOU are made
comfortable, and he hangs on to a strap
and bumps his expensive beaver against
the stage roof. Or, as | said before, YOU
may see him mounting the steps Of his
boarding house.


Il was in the latter case that Miss Jes-
sic Bloomer first saw Mr.. Strong. She
had arrived in Chicago one summer day
by an afternoon train, had taken a warm
bath, a refreshing nap, had tossed her
waving brown hair into an artistic mass,
robed herself in pale blue muslin. the
: delicate shade of which brought out ev-
cry rose and lily of her pretty dimpled
face. and at last foated airily down stairs,
and was standing at one of the parlor
windows Just as Mr.. Strong, tanning
himself with an evening paper, put his
foot on the lower step of his boarding
house. Some Young fellows were lOung-
ing on the upper one, and word from
them caused him to look up. As he did
80, the picture framed by the open win
dow with its shadowy lace drapery was
so dazzling that it caught his eyes at
once, and he was overcome with embar-
raSSment, and shuffied clumsily up, to
the suppressed amusement of the fellows
at the top, who remarked that "Strong
seemed to be struck


Now it may naturally be asked how
Miss Bloomer came to invade the home
of these commercial gentlemen. The
answer is easily given. She was young
sister of Mrs. Jack NORM, who with her
Year: 1879

The Cincinnati Inquirer has the follow
ing, proving that if wife expostulates
when her husband beats her, he can con-
tinue it with impunitY:
A woman testifying in the trial Of her
husband for abusing her said, He struck
me in the face didn't say anything to
him, but gave him good talking to-


The attorney scratched his chin a mo-
ment, and asked the woman if she would
please repeat her statement


Il say he struck me. didn't say any
thing to him, but gave him good talk
ing to.


Again the attorney scratched his chin,
but finally told the woman to 20 on and
tell what else happened


That same afternoon he struck me
again. can stand great deal, and |
didn't say word to him, but gave him
good talking to.


The attorney thought long and deeply,
and then asked:


Did he strike YOU the third time =


"Yes, sir; he did


Did you say anything to him


"No sir.


"Not a word"


"Not a word.


But, perhaps, You gave him good
talking to-


"You can just bet your life did


The lawyer began to scratch his chin
again, but the judge dismissed the case.
Year: 1879

A man, dressed like peasant, and
bearing a heavy burden on his shoulders,
fell against a shop window in Paris and
broke a sheet of plate glass worth at least
500 francs. The proprietor seized him,
but he averred that he had no money to
pay with. Two passers-by advised the
shopkeeper to search him, which was
done, and on him was found bank note
for 1000 francs. He averred with feigned
grief that it belonged to his employer,
but the shopkeeper insisted on helping
himself out of it, and to that effect gave
him 500 francs and sent him away,
sobbing bitterly. The note was forged,
the advisers were confederates, and the
victim not only lost his plate glass win
dow, but 500 francs into the bargain.
Year: 1879




! am gossipy to night, and the pc.
culiar ways Of some merchant
princes are my theme. One is an
iron merchant whose name may be
seen cast into architectural iron
structures on almost very business
block in Gotham. He looks back
upon life Of earnest, exacting, often
self. denying work, and now, as he
has hewn out princely fortune for
himself, and the frosts Of many win.
ters have left their silvery imprint
opon his head, hs takes life easy,
even as he works. All summer he
has lived in Orange, New Jersey,
whore he paid the neat little rent of
$500 per month for pretty house
embowered with lovely trees and
surrounded with luscious fruit and
flowers. Every day an early train
took the old merchant to the bust
ling city; and every forenoon saw
one OF his daughters marching over
the grounds, picking with her own
loving hands The huge, rare berries,
fruit or vegetable, preparing her
fathers dinner with scrupulous care,
and


AWAY THIRTEEN MILES


it came to New York, by special
messenger, to gladden. the heart,
while it refreshed the frame, of the
of the busy man Of iron in his Centre
street Office.


Another is dry goods prince, liv.
ing at Irvinton on the Hudson.
Every morning, at precisely the same
hour, the echoes of the hills made
famous by the pen of Washington
Irving are walked by the shrill whistle
of Q steam yacht lying at the wharf.
One, two, sometimes three carriages
have deposited their loads of living
freight upon the little dock, and the
beautiful yacht bears them swiftly
down towards the Palisades and the
city beyond. They are the numsr.
Gus family of a Broadway importer,
who rise early, drive to their yacht,
and while she is speeding away over
the swift waters of the Tappan Zee,
sit down to breakfast on board, en-
joying the morning air, the lovely
scenery, and the superb repast all at
once. Several gentlemen members
of the family 60 to business this way
every day, and usually they arc &C.
companied by number of the lady
members Of the household. The
yacht is fitted up in the most com.
plote and luxurious style; the stew.
ard furnishes table that Dslmonico
could not snrpass; she makes time
equal to an ordinary railroad train,
and the business men on board not
only get to their Office at an early
hour, but have an abundance of time
for breakfast besides - somsthing
which an out of town business man
will not fail to appreciate. l call
both Of these instances Of getting a
good deal of solid comfort out of
money-don't you ?


But gossip isn't gossip unless it
has touch Of malice, and with mum.
Der three the picture changes color
sadly. Number three is better
known to the general world than any
OF tho others. He is a millionaire,
but


ALAS A PAUPER MILLIONAIRE
He waited till the Gilbert Elevated
Railroad became an assured success,
and then began to build another
road in even a more lucrative route
for our pauper millionaire is shrewd
Year: 1879

There arc some very level plains on
the surface of the moon, surrounded by
mountains. These are 5000 feet high,
some of the rocky mountains being over
1000 feet high. AS many as thirty six
small white spots have been seen during
the last three years, ten (which are be-
lieved to be volcanoes. AS anything
must be about square mile in extent to
be seen, it is doubtful if We shall ever be
able to know positively whether the moon
he inhabited.