smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

Billy Anderson, the well-known lawyer,
who is now in this city, and who for some
years (since 1869 has been resident of
Eastern Nevada, gives startling account


Of the effects of the poisonous fumes from
the smelling furnaces there in use. He
speaks particularly of the town Of Eureka,


where these furnaces are very numerous
and scattered through the village. He says
that in approaching the place smell re-
sembling that of garlic can be detected at
distance Of at least three miles, Often the
fumes and smoke hang over the town in
clouds so dense as to resemble London
fog, and the smell of the poisonous gasses
is almost uncomfortable. Kittens and puppies
die soon after coming into the world, and it
is found impossible to rear these animals in
the place. A sheet of white paper laid in
the open air and left over night, will be
covered with thick white crust. The
arsenical fumes mingled with those Of lead
and other minerals, more or less affect the
health of all who reside in the town. Some
are but slightly affected, while others suffer
very severely. The poisonous atmosphere
of the place not only affects the physical
but also the mental health of many, causing


-- ! <,yss. r. in
Year: 1874

than the preliminary negotiating Of duel between
him and one of the princes of that royal house. The
story ran yesterday that the Duke de Chartres, or
according to another rumor one Of the sons OF Ne
mours, would give Paul chance for real night
French duels for the most part are as immortal as
immoral; fencing matches to satisfy honor, piayed
for the pubic's entertainment, without danger OF
touch of tragedy w. H. H.
Year: 1874

A dispatch from Morocco says that 12000
inhabitants of the City OF Fee have rseD In consequence
Of the reimposition of the gate tax All business was
stopped but at the last accounts there bad been
fighting. 1t hoped that the Sultan would yield TO
the desires of the people, and the Objectionable
faY
Year: 1874

REFORM IN TIE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT
TIE CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE


CONSIDERING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE GOVERN


MENr OF THE DIsTRICT-THE PRESENT SYSTEM


AND OFFICERS TO BE DESTROYED ROOT AND


BRANCH.


lBY TELEGRAPH TO TILE IRIBUSE.l


WASHINGTON, June 1.-The Joint Committee to
investigate the affairs Of the District held another
meeting to-day for the purpose of considering their
report and 10 devise some plan for the future gov
ernment of the District. The Committee find the
latter part of their task difficult, especially
the time within which they must act is now very
limited 1t may be considered as beyond all ques-
ton that one feature of the report will be the de-
struction Of the present Government, root and
branch. Neither the Legislative Assembly, the Gov
eruor the delegate in Congress after the end of the
term Of the present incumbent, the Auditor.
Controller Secretary Of the District nor the Board
Of Public Works viii be continued, aud it is pos
sibe that that the Police and Fire Commissioners
will also be abolished.


Several plans have been proposed in the Com
mittee for supplying the places OF these officials.
One of them is as follows: To give to the President
Of the United States the executive power; the man
agement of the revenues TO the Secretary of the
Treasury the assessment of taxes to the Secretary
of the Interior; the charge of improvements OF
streets, &c, 10 the Chlef Engineer OF Tue Army;
all matters of law to the AttorneyGeneral; and
charge of the schools TO the Commissioner of Educa-
ton. To meet all expenses of the District Govern
ment it is proposed by this plan to levy tax of
per cent as at present, real estate, make
special assessments, collect license fees, &C., and
the United States is to appropriate, annu-
ally a sum equal TO that derived from
all other sources. The same plan also oOntemplates
the appointment by the President and confirmation
by the Senate of an Auditing Committee to ascertain
all indebtedness of the District and Board of Public
Works including bonds, sewer certificates. certif-
Gates of indebtedness, unaudited Indebtedness, and
all claims for damages of old material, return OF
general sewer taxes, &C., all of which shall be
funded by the Secretary of the Treasury into Dis
trictbond bearing low rate of gold interest and
payable at the Treasury Department after long
series Of years out of District funds. An appropra
tion Of $l,000,0O0 TO meet accrung interest and
ordinary expenses during the coming year is another
feature of the scheme.


Should such bill as this be reported it would
probably meet the approval of a majority of the
Taxpayers of the District, would insure honest
and economical administration of District affairs,
and would make such liberal provisions for i'm
proyement of the national capital as would insure
its becoming at late day the most attractive city
IN the United States. At the same time it would be
open TO the objection that it entirely ignores the
people of the District, and makes necessary an an
hual appropriation for District purposes of about
$4,000 900 Again. there are many who think that il
tie present Distinct ring is found gully it ought
Year: 1874

And now we will follow our wanderers
across the sea, and leave these young folks
to enjoy their books.


Pacing up and down his solitary room,
restless and impatient---the old fever burn
ing in his eyes and lightning up the weary
face, was William Sears


Three years before, he had left America,
had wandered far, won fame and distine-
tion, but the nameless desire which desc
lated his boyhood WAS still unquieted.
The dreams Of the past had given place TO
the reality Of life, but he found nothing
new, nothing which he had not before un-
derstood by those mysterious munitions
which are the blessing or the curse of ma
lures like his. The fresh laurels with
which they crowned his brow only cast
another shadow over his heart. Praise
never once dazzled him into. forgetfulness
Of the wearing pain within--and William
Sears, famous and the idol Of the day, was
as utterly alone as the dreaming boy Of
six years before,


OF all these things was he meditating as
he paced his lonely chamber. The moon
light lay without hazy and beautiful, the
Year: 1874

One OF the principle features Of the Mid
die Ages is the recognition of the fact that
Christianity assigned to woman new place
in the social order-of the world, very differ.
cnt from. what it lad been before. The
deep respect accorded by that epoch to wo.
man could not hut exercise most powerful
and beneficial! influence on humanity for
when man, confident in hi. physical force.
reISrS alnne, we can never expect to sec
real human culture develop itself There
now arose a new kind Of worship of the
Beautiful, and Of female beauty in particu.
lar, and that in higher and more refined
sense than had been the case with the nom
Christian world. The Greeks, the Romans.
and the Arabians, had bestowed praise on
woman, as necessary to their happiness, but
they treated her only as an inferior, and
even as slave. The Christian world set
before itself new ideal. What man now
strives for is, that the lady whose affections
he cndeavors to win should recognize his
personal worth; that she should prefer him
to other suitors; that she should love him
because she honors and esteens him, Such
a demand is based upon the supposition that
man considers woman as his equal; nay,
that he looks up to her rs a superior being,
the cndcayor he makes to deserve the favor
of her he loves. and to become worthy of
her. reacts on his own conduct. Love raises
him above all that is common and vulgar:
it becomes with him the handspring Of
every noble action; he can lcncciorth nei.
tler do or say anything of which he would
feel ashamed before her. The Tcutonlc pa.
itions especially seized the full signifcatIun
of this lofty conception of woman and Of
her place IN life with them la,c WAS noth-
ing but the spontaneous homage Of strength
to leauty; they introduced new social
usage, aud n mofc elevated system Of ethics
iunons tho inhabitants Of Southern Europe.
and at tho s;,ipo timo communicated to them
that rcycrcntial respect which raises woman
though. naturally weak above the c,n.plcn
ic,c. Of humanity.
Year: 1874

Scoldng is habit very easily formed.
1t is astonishing how soon one who indulges
in it at all becomes addicted to it, and con-
frmed in it. 1t is an unreasonable habit.
Persons who once get in the way of scolding
always find something to scold about. If
there was nothing else, they would fail a
scolding at the mere absence Of anything to
scold at. 1t is an extremely disagreeable
habit The constant rambling of distant
thunder, caterwauling, or Il hand-organ
under ONES window, would be less unpleas-
ant. The habit is contagious. Once intro
duced into a family, it is pretty certain, in
a short time, to affect all the inenibers. If
one of them begins finding fault about
something or nothing, tho others are apt
very soon to take it up. ami very unneces-
sary bedlam is ereated,
Year: 1874




Mt many Of the older residents of Des
Moiues have forgotten Miss Mary Hay, a
lady who praciiccl woman's rights if she
didn't preach tirem.. In Stature she was
full six feet, powerfully formed and stronger
than most mon in the settlement. She
could fell tree with the skill of an accom-
plished woodman, and drive cattle equal to
the best bullwhacker on the plains. She
was an expert with rifle, and could drop a
ball into a squirrel in the top of the tallest
tree. She was also an accomplished nayiga
tor, and frequently operated ferry across
Coon River. The tales told Of her proves
and strength are legion.


On one occasion she was ferrying Chief
Justice Williams over Coon River in
skiT. The Chief Justice, with accustomed
g,lantry, essnyed to make love to the oars
man. Mary resented this, and reaching for
the head of the judiciary with an arm and
hand that would fell an OK, threatened to
pitch him into the river if there was any
more Of that kind of nonsense. The Justice
may have been willing to face a room full
of lawyers, but he didn't care to try the
strength of that brawny arm, and quickly
postponed all endearments.


Although an Amazon in size, Mary had
her full share Of the feminine desire to dress
well. On one occasion she appeared in
church with a little jaunty hat, of the latest
cut, small para4ol, and Il short dress and
pantalets. A stranger from the East, chanc-
ing to see the lady in that costume, was 50
much amused that he smiled audibly. Mary
saw the ridicule, and her wrath was kindlcd.
When service was over, she sought the
abode Of that Down Easter, with the ex-
pressed determination of ''thrashing the
ground with him." The tidings Of her in
tent preceded her, and when she hove in
sight of his boarding house, he lit out for
thick brush, and remained concealed until
she departed. Subsequently she made other
wrathiu visits for the same dire purpose,
but each time the Eastern man eyaded
her, and finally the difficulty was amicably
settled by the interpostion Of mutual
friends.


On one occasion there was berrying
party somewhere in this vicinity, the ladies
being the hosts and furnishing the teams to
haul their guests to the berry patch. Mary
invited Il gentleman yet living in DcS Moines,
and at that time a United States official.
When the time arrived for starting, the lady
appeared at the door of his office. driving
two yokcs of cattle attached to farm wagon,
and sang out for her escort to hurry. lie
didn't move quite fast enough to suit her,
and she picked him up, chair and all, and
placed him in the wagon, and then with
"g'ang Buck that could lave been heard
across the river, started to hunt after ber-
ries.


She was as brave aS she was massive, and
when some drunken Indians once refused
to leave her premises, she ran and seized Il
hooppole and drove them from thence single
handed.


Subsequently Mary married an estimable
gentleman in an adjoining county, a county
officer, with whom she started for California,
but died on the way.
Year: 1874

We don't know who is the philosopher
speaking, but deem his suggestions so sug-
geStiye that we say cut this out and read it
often:


Better to wear calico dress without trim
ming, if it be paid for, than to owe the
shop-keepcr for the most elegant silk, cut
and trimmed in the most bewtching man
ner.


Better to live in a log-cabin all your own,
than bruWn-stune mansion belonging to
somebody else.


Better walk forever than run into debt
for horse and carriage.
Better to sit by the pine table, for which
you paid three dollars ten years ago, than
send home new extension, black walnut
top, and promise to lay for it next week.


Better to use the old cane-scated chairs,
and faded two-ply carpet, than trembIc at
tho bills sent home from the upholsterer s
for the most elegant parlor set ever made.


Better to meet your business acquaint-
ance> with free 'don't owe you cent"
smile, than to dodge around the corner to
escape dun.


Better to pay the street organ-grindcr two
cents for music, if you must have it, than
owe for grand piano.


Better to gaze upon bare walls than pic
lures unpaid for.


Better to eat thin soup from earthenware,
if you owe your butcher nothing, than to
dine off lamb and roast beef and know that
it does not belong to you.


Better to let your wife have fit of hys-
terics, than run in debt for nice new furni-
tnre, or clothes, Or jewclry.
Year: 1874

WmLEa man, guilty of larceny was lying
hand cuffed on the hurricane deck Of an out
ward bound steamer, Il little girl fell from
the deck of the boat into the water. The
prisoner Immediately sprang overheard,
swan to the girl, and, after several attempts
with his manacled hands, succeeded in hold
ing the child until boat came to their
rescue. The act was witnessed by scores
of passengers, who signed testimonial in
his honor for tile noble act.
Year: 1874

The safe OF the New York Central Railroad Com
pany was robbed yesterday or during the pre-
vious night OF the sum OF $32 0O0 bills OF various
denominations. The failure to appear at his place
as usual, Of young man employed in one OF the
ofrces, named George Van velzer, led to the dis
covery OF the robbery. Both circumstances, the
disappearance OF the money and the young mau.
led to the inference that he had committed the
known that Will 1asten the act on him. Van Vel
zer Is only about nineteen years of age, and has
been employed for some years in the depot. His
father most respectable man, also holds position
under the railroad management Young Van Vel
ger was at his post as usual on Saturday, but
nothing in his conduct created suspicion. His alb
sence YESTERDAY morning, Il appears attracted at
In the day, however, some one happened to re-
member he knew the combination Of the safe. In
this sale was large amount Ol money, and the
chiefs or the different bureaus In the depot became
uneasy. An examination OF the safe was maize,
and 1t was at once discovered 1t had been tam
pered with. The combination was dsarranged
anu the door could not be opened. Word was
sent to the manufacturers OF the strong box, and
after few hours delay the interior and the fact
Of the theft were at once laid bare. cursory
glance soon told that robbery had
the contents it was established that the sum taken
amounted to $40 000 There Is yet nothing to
connect young Van Velzer with the absence OF the
money except his own disappearance, with hts
railroad authorities are very careful about con-
Meeting his name with It. Captain Irving, OF the
Centra! ONCE, was notified OF what had occurred
during the afternoon, and he intrusted the work.
ley A Young man named Baxter is also missing,
and 1t Is supposed Van velzer and ne together.
The police are OF opinion they are still In town,
and hope to catch them before much OF the money
SOuandered
Year: 1874

Warning to LandlOrds-HeuvyD Dam.


ages.


Before Judge McAdam


Smith va. Strauss-The plaintiff an old lady, was
about to enter a butchers shop on Eighth avenue
to purchase meat. but as she stepped on the iron
grating in front OF the door 1t gave way precipi-
tating her into the cellar beneath. She was much
bruised and received severe shock through the
fall and brings this action against the landlord for
compensation Tor her injuries The Court charged
the jury that the owner OF building erecting or
malntalning grating in this way Is bound to
keep IL In such order as that 1t may be safe for
persons TO pass over 1t at all times and IL he neg
ects to do 50 is liable in damages to any person
injured through his neglect. The jury rendered q
verdict in favor OF paintllr for $1,000.
Year: 1874

n. 1. WOrlus washington Letter.


Facing the South front of the Capitol
on New Jersey Avenue, a dwelling
house of solid granite is building. Its
position and structure are remarkable
enough, even were it not the property
and design of General Butler. 1t is II
copy, l believe, of his Lowell house. The
stone is from his Cape Ann quarries, and
he got it here in characteristic way
according to report. When the pedes-
tai for the Scott monument was shipped
to Washington, Butler said he
would give the ballast ii al
lowed to select it. He was, and accord
ingly ballasted the ship with his granite,
and thus practically solved the question
of cheap transportation. Before his CUB
ernatoral campaign in 73, which was
the finest field he ever had for display
of his peculiar humor, gentleman told
him authoritively that if he would keep
quiet there and wait till the next year he
could be Governor of Massachusetts with
out any fuss.


"My friend;' said Butler, promptly,
"I'm much obliged to you, but don't
want anything l can get without fuss
Year: 1874

The Wool market has had rather a
larger business this week than WAS AN
ticipated would occur so close to the end
of the year. The sales have been of tho
general miscellaneous character which
seems TO have characterized buyers
wants for the past six weeks.
Year: 1874

ENCoURAGEMENT.-Th will always he
enough in the events which btfall to
relax the aprinG of our resolutions, and to
moderate our best aims. Why should We
enervate one another by silence when we
should sIeak, by dfsparagement when we
should praise, by shaking of the head when
we should he pattirg on the shoulder, by
gloomy vaccinations when We should in
cite to enterprise, by platitudinizing about
the vanity Of all things human when
noble mOtivesf There is not too great an
exuberance of life in any of us albeit
where there is most, it may be ill-regnlated
or unwieely directed-and the influence
which systematically lowers the action Of
life can only be mischievOus. Brightness
10 health giving as we'll as pleasant; and
whatever imparts an impulse to the cur
rent of hope and gladness in our souls tends
to make them more like, or more likely to
become, what they should be.
Year: 1874

As Comptroller, We say unhesitatingly,
that John G. Burch is the best one that the
State has had for years, that he is our first
choice for the position. We doubt very
much whether he can be elected, owing to
the prejudice against him growing out OF
the canvass two years ago; but this we dc
know, that if the Legislature will rise
above this prejudice, as we have done, they
will make him COMPTROLLER.
Year: 1874

AS the peasants believe that departed
soul must expiate any evil done in this
life on the spot where the sin was COM
mitted, the whole country is supposed to
be peopled with these ghostly visltants.
Almost every lone wood or gloomy spot
has its own ghost. At holy seasons a
blue light is visible on the meadows, a
fiery form hovers over the marshes, and
weird animals approach the frightened


wanderer in desolate places; these are
all poor souls who must thus atone
for their misdeeds, far from human habi-
tations. The reason for this is that if
the peasant perceives anything uncaRny
in his house or stables, he at once fetches
priest, who forthwith blesses the whole
house and banishes the appartion to
some solitary nook, where it can no longer
disturb people. However, the exercising
may also be performed by the peasant
himself, by collecting all the keys in the
house and chinking them together. He
can thus drive the spirit to the borders
of his domain, but he must be very care.
ful not to set foot beyond his own boun-
daries, or be will inevitably be torn to
pieces. A common crime seems to have
been removing the landmarks, for which
the bearing a red hot stone on his shout
der and crying in wailing accents,
"Where shall place it2' If any passer
by has the courage to reply, Put it
back in the spot whence you took it, !"
the spirit is enabled to replace the land
mark in its rightful position, and is i'm.
mediately relieved from his penance.
The Hottinger Case, at Innsbruck, is
haunted by fiery milk women, who have
watered the milk during their life time
Year: 1874

A Virginia letter says; " II a plsnta-
ton negro has a grudge against q per.
son, he will cut off the head of white
chicken cock and place it on fence or
a tree in the immediate neighborhood OF
his enemy's dwelling, with the bill point
ing toward the door. This in their opin-
ion puts spell or charm on the house,
and brings ruin, sickness and death on
the inmates thereof So firmly do they
believe in charms, and so strongly does
this belief act on their imaginations
that, when they think themselves
charmed, they sieken and die in spite oil
all that can be said or done. On one
plantation in the eastern part of this
State twenty negroes sickened and
died before the war, out efa stock OF one
hundred, simply because they deemed
themselves tricked or charmed"
Year: 1874

cocNos"hs otda


From the Springfield Republican,


What Jerry Black has darkly binted il
now boldly stated in some of the papers
that Secretary Stanton hastened his
DEATH during the last days of his de-
spending illness, by partially success
full attempt to cut his own throat. II
was one of his customs, runs the now
extraordinary revelation, to be shaved
at home, and the duty was performed
by colored barber, who came regularly
for the purpose. In Mr.. Stanton's prl.
vate apartment stood an improvised
shaving chair, and to this the trusty
valet would 60 at the appointed time to
perform his duty. Mr.. Stanton had
been apparently failing in health for a
week, and had become so despondent as
to almost excite fears Of an alteration
of the mind. On the evening of the
23d of December the colored valet
called to shave Stanton. They were
left alone in the private apartment, and
Stanton took his seat in the chair The
barber had partially finished his task,
and, laying the razor on a little table
beside Stanton, stepped across the room
for some water. A movement startled
him, and he turned just in time to see
the glistening steel flash by the barred
throat, leaving a streak in its wake.
Rushing to the side of Stanton, the bar
ber caught the razor before another
stroke could be made. He called for
help, and in few moments there were
at the bedside the surgeon-general, a few
trusty attaches of the government, and
one or two members of the family. The
work had been done, however and the
life current reached. At three o'clock,
next morning, Stanton was dead. How
we'll the secret OF his death has been
kept, those who read this may know.
Year: 1874

A girl in Georgia brought q suit against
a recent lover, claiming ten thousand
dollars damages, but she compromised
fer four bales Of cotton and a new para
sol Her lawyer took the cotton for bis
fee. and she kept the parasol to heal her
wounded affections.