smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

Pitman's woodpile has suffered good
deal lately from the ravages of thieves;
so the old gentleman, the other day,
loaded his gun with coarse salt and ex-
pressed his determination to lombard the
first man who should be observed to
haunt the timber On Wednesday morn
ing he had to attend court, and, as he did
not expect to reach home until late in the
evening, Mrs. Pitman felt it her duty to
keep an eye on the woodpile. But Pit
man returned about dusk, and as he
walked up the yard he thought he might
as we'll carry in enough wood to. last all
night. He had just placed the fourth
stick upon his arm when an explosion
occurred, and the same instant he felt as
if million red-hot darning-needles were
dancing up and down his legs. He had
heard from Mrs. Pitman. He yelled with
pain, and dropping the wood, most of it
upon his toes, he fell to the ground. just
as he did so he saw Mrs. Pitman standing
in the kitchen doorway with his fre-arm
at "parade rest" and contemplating her
victory and her victim with serenity.
Pitman's first thought was that she had
suddenly been animated by an insane
but judicious desire to realize upon his
life insurance policy. But when he
screamed to her she dropped her artillery
and flew to the scene with expressions of
alarm and griet at the discovery that she
had perforated Pitman. She called the
servant girl, and as they carried him into
the house she explained that she mistook
him for a thief, and then she apologized
Pitman said it was all very well to apol-
ogize, but what good was that to a man
with two quarts of salt and half pound
of gun-wads in his legs. Mrs. Pitman
insisted that he oughtn't to mind a little
salt, it would do him good. She urged
that love was better than anything else
for preserving meat, and that his legs
would probably be alive and well and
prancing around the universe when the
rest of him was dead and spoiled. That
made him mad, and after splitting up his
gun with his ak he went to bed, and he
hasn't spoken to Mrs. Pitman since; but
he has limited gloomily to the doctor that
if divorce can be had he will obtain
one.-Mar AdeLer.
Year: 1874

We condemn gossip---scandal twin sis
ter - yet it is fault easily committed


We begin by gentle deprecatory refer
ence to somebody's infirmity of temper,
and we find ourselves specifying a par
ticular time and scene, which straight
way the one who hears tells again to some
one else with additions, slight perhaps
but material. Before we know IL we have
stirred up hornets nest. This may be
done without any more potent motive
than mere love of fun, and half the
gossip in the social world is of the un-
thinking kind INDUCED in merely from a
spirit Of drollcry. Far worse is that
other sort of talk which ends in slander
and begins in malice, and which separates
friends and sunders the ties of years OF
intercourse with its sharp and jarring dis
cords. The only way to avoid this evil is
to refrain from making the affairs of our
friends staple article of conversation in
the household. There are plenty of sub
jects at hand--let us avoid personalities.
Year: 1874

THE London papers have ga tale of a
dog" which accompanied his master, who
carried on his breast the Victoria Cross, to
the Ashantee campaign. Being of the
bulldog breed, and with a natural turn
for fighting, he distinguished himself on
several occasions, and, indeed, through
out the campaign. In one instance he
rushed into the enemys ranks, and sing
ling out one of his naked foes, so bit and
worried him that he actually brought in
his prisoner in triumph. He was such a
favorite with the men that in a heavy en-
gagement their fire was suspended for a
minute to allow of his uninjured return
from one of his desperate forays. He
lives to enjoy his return and his honors,
and at this moment is one of the greatest
pets of Belgravia.
Year: 1874

If anything in the world will make a
man feel badly, except pinching his
fingers in the crack of door, it is un-
questionably quarrel. No man ever
fails to think less of himself after it than
before. 1t degrades him in the eyes of
others, and, what is worse, blunts his sem
sibilities on the one hand, and increases
the power of passionate irritability on
the other. The truth is, the more quietly
and peaceably we get on the better for
our neighbors In nine cases out of ten
the better course is, if man cheats you
cease to deal with him; if he is abusive,
quit his company; and if he ISLANDERS
you, take care to live SO no one will be-
lieve him. No matter who he is or how
he misuses you, the wisest way is to let
him alone, for there is nothing better
than this cool, calm, and quiet way of
dealing with the wrongs we meet.
Year: 1874

A SOLUTION of gutta percha in either,
thrown on charcoal or crayon drawing
in the shape of spray, will soon form a
transparent and durable coating, which
allows the dust to be rubbed off occasion
ally with a wet cloth without damaging
the drawing.
Year: 1874

In accepting the positions assigned
us 10y our fellow members Of the In
stitute it was understood that the OBJ
ject of this department Is TO present
statistics in reference to our own
schools, and to the schools of other
counties and other States. Another
object was to have u medium of COM
munication between teachers, between
teachers and trustees, and between
teachers and parents. All have II
common interest in making our
schools as nearly perfect as they can
be made by the harmonious and en-
ergetic action of all concerned.


Communications from trustees and
from parents are respectfully solicited.
Teachers are not always what they
should be. Perhaps if they see them
selves photographed in this depart
ment, they will acknowledge their
imperfectiOns and reform in time.
Friendly criticism may be the means
of saving many valuable young
man.


While there is no room for long es-
says, short, spicy articles will always
be acceptable. If every teacher will
send at least one article each week, he
will improve himself and encourage
others. At the end OF each school
month send your roll of honor with
any local items that will be of general
interest.
Year: 1874

From the Washington Chronicle.


Many man who had floating in
debtedness that he thought he could,
by little eXertion, meet and eXtin-
guish, finds now that he is likely to
carry the whole property. This was
threatened last Summer, when he
carried his family to Saratoga, and he
had sorrows and misgivings about the
propriety of the expenditure. But
the hope-not of rest, for the fashion,
able Summer resort is the hardest
working place known to the civilized
world-but the hope, we say, of get
ting his eldest out of the way of her
sisters, who are crowding upon the
skirmish line, induced him to in
crease rather than lessen hislindebted-
ness, and now the Autumn comes,
"the saddest of the year, for the
campaign was failure and the daugh-
ter grows older and the debt heavier
each day. The matrimonial market
was never so dull as during the last
Summer. 70 use the commercial
phraseology in its quotations, goods
considered in fair demand heretofore,
have been found heavy on the hands
of the holders and will have to he car
ried over to another season. Bidders
were few and slow in their advances,
seeming to fear further decline in
the market. The more delicate arti-
cles heretofore most in demand seem
to suffer more than the coarser fabrics
that would stand better wear and tear.
Specimens carried over from former
market seem to be in q worse condition
than any other, and handled goods
are almost in as poor demand az the
second hand article.
Year: 1874

The familiar talks, the scientific lee
lures and the eloquent addresses of this
venerable educator will long be re-
membered 10y the members of the
Teachers Institute. At another time
we will refer more particularly to his
labors for our good. The Professor has
made favorable impression on this
community. Wishing him a safe
return to his home, we at the same
time assure him he will always receive
hearty Welcome in future visits to
Los Angeles.
Year: 1874

1t is we'll to announce in the outset
that no personalities will be allowed
in this column. We represent all the
teachers in the county and all have
equal claims upon us. There will
necessarily be differences of opinion
upon many matters that may be pre-
scnted for discussion. Let each one
give his opinion in strong argument,
but always in gentlemanly language.
Let the Golden Rule be observed by all
our correspondents.
Year: 1874

We regret to announce that Miss T..
G.. Martin, of the Green Meadow Dis
trict, and Miss e. l.. Hall, of Soledad
District, have left the county. These
ladies made many friends during their
brief stay with us. Miss Hall will
long be remembered for her beautiful
elocution. Her recitation was one of
the pleasant exercises of our annual
reunion.
Year: 1874

na. The tide OfimmigratiOn is steadily SET
tin. in and the first thing eastern people do
is to throw away their New York Hats and buy
a new one Of DESMOND. They say there is no
com parison between the two. 2l4o
Year: 1874

Marx TWAIN says he thinks he WAS
very successful in the object OF his re-
cent visit to Euglsud, which WAS to
teach the people good morals, and to
introduce some Of the Improvements OF
the present century"


A Pennsylvania debating society 10
engaged upon the question whether
an unIidy woman. with sweet temper,
is TO he preferred to tidy one with a
sour temper" The controversy, &C
cordiDg to the last report, is still rag
iug.
Year: 1874

| MIR. Ruskin remarked, not long


ago, that the aristocracy of Groat


Britain had for generations been


reared in tho belief that for them


selves life was a perennial picnic, in


which they were to do nothing but


enjoy themselves and be waited


upon by their social interiors. Tho


Pal Mall Budget raises its voice in


warning that a sudden change is


coming in this respect. Paupor


emigration was never thought of by


the wealthy classes; tho voluntary
exile into which poverty md starva-


tion drove the thousands of work.
men was unhoodod by them. Now,
says the Budget, tho organized plan
Of emigration, which is tho only
hope for the alloviation of the suf-
fcrings Of the middle class, the bono
and sinow of English society, is
reducing the population perceptibly.
''The population OF this country"
says the Budget, twill be reduced
to what is vulgarly called upper ten
thousand" md these will havo to
lead very deterrent life from that
they have been accustomed to-"
They can afford to lose notime, it
points out, in realizing that their
picnic has come to an abrupt con-
clusion, because their servants havo
been obliged to go in search of food;
that the fun is over, and they must
begin to face the serious duties of
life, unaccustomed to it as they are.
and untitled forit as they must be
by generations of Incidence and
sloth.
Year: 1874

THAT the effects of worry are more to
be dreaded than those of simple hard
work, is evident from noting the classes
of persons who suffer most from the effects
of mental overstrain. The case-book of
the physician shows that it is the specula.
tor, the betting man, the railway manager,
the great merchant, the superintendent of
large manufacturing or commercial works,
who most frequently exhibit the symptoms
of cerebral exhaustion. Mental cares ac-
companied with suppressed emotion, occu-
pations liable TO grave vicissitudes of for
tune, and those which involve the bearing
on the mind of multiplicity of intricate
details, eventually break down the lives of
the strongest. In estimating what may be
called the staying powers of different
minds under hard work, it is always nec-
essary to take early training into account.
A young man cast suddenly into posi-
tion involving great care and RESPONSE
bility, will break down in circumstances
in which, had he been gradually habitu-
ated to the position he would have per-
formed its duties without difficulty. II is
probably for this reason that the profess
ional classes generally suffer less from the
effects of overstrain than others. They
have long course of preliminary train
ing, and their work comes on them by de-
grees; therefore when it does come in
excessive quantity, 1t finds them prepared
for It, Those, on the other hand, who
suddenly vault into that position requiring
severe mental TOLL generally die before
their time.-ChdnberS's Journal.
Year: 1874

THE chief use Of the Eustachian tube is
TO allow free interchange of air between
the ear and the throat, and this is exceed.
ingly important; and Il is very important
also that its use in this respect should be
understood. Persons who go down in
diving. bells soon begin to feel great
pressure in the ears, and If the depth Is
very great, the feeling becomes extremely
painful. This arises from the fact that in
the diving-be the pressure of the air Is
very much increased, in order to balance
the weight Of water above; and thus it
presses with great force upen the mem
brane of the drum, which, If the Eusta-
chian tube is kept closed, has only the
ordinary uncompressed air on the inner
side 10 sustain II. 1t is therefore forced
inward ard put upon the stretch, and
might be even broken. Many cases. in
deed, have occurred Of injury TO the ear,
producing permanent deafness, from de-
scents in diving-bells undertaken by per-
sons ignorant of the way in which the
ear Is made though the simple precau-
ton of frequent swallowing suffices TO
ward off all mischief For, If the Eusta-
chian tube is thus opened again and
again, as the pressure of the outside air
increases, the same compressed air that
exists outside passes also into the inside OF
the drum, and the membrane is equally
pressed upon from both sides by the air and
so is free from strain. The same precaution
is necessary In ascending mountains
that are lofty, for then there is the same
effect of stretching produced upon the
m membrane, though in the opposite way.
The outside air becoming less and less
condensed as a greater height is gained,
the ordinary air contained within the
drum presses upon the membrane, which


is thus unsufficiently supported on the
outside, and similar feeling of weight
and stretching is produced. The conjurer's
trick of breaking a vase by word rests
on the same principle. The air is ex-
hausted from within, and the thin though
massive looking sides of the vase col
lapse by the pressure of the air outside;
and, Just as ever so small hole, made at
the right moment in the side Of the vase,
would prevent the whole effect, so does
swallowing, which makes little hole, as
it were, for the moment in the drum of
the ear, prevent the in-pressing or out
pressing of the membrane. Mr.. 1yndall,
in his interesting book ION Sound" tells
us how he employed this precaution OF
swallowing, and with entire success, when,
in one of his mountain excursions, the
pressure on his ears became severely
painful.-POpular Science Monthly.
Year: 1874

DURING the past year or two, whenever
Republican journals have contended for
maintaining the organization and integ-
rity of the party, they have been assailed
by that traitorous portion of the press
which pleases to call itself "independent"
as overanxious to keep the animosities
engendered by the war of the rebellion,
and as constantly on the alert to find
"Ted- handed rebels" upon whom to wreak
their vengeance. The tendencies of the
times-the humane spirit of the age
have all been in the direction of clemency


The only danger has been that we should
progress too rapidly in the direction of
magnanimity. Probably in not another
nation under the sun would such grand
exhibition of clemency have been wit
messed. Great Britain exports her chief
political offenders to far-of penal col
onies. Russia either chops off their heads,
or sends them to fret away their lives in
the frozen regions of Siberia. Spain
massacres them with more than aborig-
inal barbarity. And so of most of the
ciDiiized countries. But we remove the
disabilities" which we placed upon the
traitor when our blood was up, and either
let him come 10 Congress or give him a
post-office Notwithstanding all this
kindness, there seems 10 be extremes of
clemency at which tie popular sense re-
volts, and the instincts of the independ-
entn papers themselves give the lie to all
their professions of forgiveness. There
is point beyond which the nation is not
prepared to advance in this direction, and
a step too far at once arouses that patriotic
sense which seemed fast lapsing into a
latent condition or dying out altogether.


Two recent events brought this subject
Year: 1874

If your horse is in the habit of kicking,
use low dash board, and your horse will
soon get over 1t.


Keep your horse fat; don't allow any
one to get lien on him.


When your horse refuses to take up an
oat, consider him as having failed.


To make your horse very fast, tie him
with two halters.


Never feed horse chestntits to chestnut
horses, nor horse sorrel to sorrel horses;
you can give cream to cream horse, if
you like and the horse likes it. 1t is not
necessary to employ a cream pitcher to
pitch hay to cream horse, however.


1t may answer to stirrup your saddle,
but don't stir up your horse-at least a
stirring horse-in crowd. 1t might
cause a stir.


Look carefully after the bits of your
horse or you may soon be looking after
the bits of your wagon.


If you have the proper address, you
may receive couple of lines from horse,
but on no account "drop line"


However we'll you may be attached to
your horse, you must be certain your
horse is well attached TO your carriage.


If a horse is recommended to you as
being a horse of good carriage, don't in
fer that he is a good carriage horse,


When you tell horse to "get up, look
well to his "get up" Some horses get up
within the buggy, and some get up with
out the buggy, but like deep sorrow,
leave their traces there"


A horse is something like public Off
Ger when he is installed, in this that he
begins to "feel his oats" directly, if there
are any oats In the stall. Whatever stall
you use for your horse In the stable, you
should always use head-stall when you
drive him. An unbridled horse is very
much like an unbridled tongue.


Rearing colts is often very profitable,
but rearing horses are not profitable, es-
pecially these who rear up in the rear and
execute flank movements on the dash
board with shoe-hy Accomplishments.
They "foot up" bill for repairing too
rapidly.


Harvesting a horse resembles getting
married, In this, that the bride comes
first; but you don't feel the bride'll reign
till you "get into the harness" and feel the
check Blind brides are most common
in both cases, and poor things in either.


You may make horse laugh by tick
ling your horse under the ribs, but ii will
always be in crowd of donkeys.


When you go to church you ought to
shed tears of repentance for yourself, if
you don't have any shed for your horse.
Detroit Commercial AdUeTtiser.
Year: 1874




In the Wisconsin State Grange on the 23d,
emment building double-track railway
from Chicago to New York; favorihg trade
with those manufacturers who will give
terms to Patrons, and refusing to deal
with any others, and to instruct the
State Agent to publish list of
those firms who decline direct trade with the
Order; Congress to authorize the issue of cur.
reHcy sufficient to supply money circulation
to answer the demands of trade, and obviate
the effects of the present panic; approving of
the movement of the Executive Committee of
the Illinois State Grange in interrogating Repre-
sentatives in Congress relative to the views en-
tertained by them on leading measures now
being prosecuted by Patrons of Husbandry;
asking the Legislature to pass law raising
the present railway tax from three to five per
cent; and that Commissioners be appointed
with full powers to regulate unjust discrimi-
nation and excessive rates of freight and pass
ecgers that railways should be taxed on their
gross receipts. A Telegram was received from
the State Grange of Michigan, in session at
Kalamazoo, sending the greeting of 500 Pat
rUns tIrn In seseios, aud tho -e~Ponse WAS
turned that the State Grange of Wisconsin,
open in the fifth degree, returns the fraternal
greeting of Michigan with cheers of hope for
the good cause everywhere.


The Michigan State Grange adjourned ON the
23d, after adopting platform in which they
declare that railroads are amenable to State
regulation as much as plank and gravel road
companies, and that the Legislature has as
much right to regulate their charges ms to fix
turnpike toll or the charges of mllers for
grinding grain. They declare that the
farmers have suffered more by railway
exactions than all other causes combined;
and that the railway corporations have out
grown Legislatures or defy them, and have
made the chosen representatives of the people
a matter of barter and sale; and they assert
that it is the duty of the Legislature and
State officers to investigate the matter of the
violation of the law by the various railway
companies doing business in the State, and
to promptly enforce the laws enacted
for the protection of the rights of the people,
and in cases where the present laws may be
found deficient to promptly remedy the de-
fects by new enactments. They also resolved
that no legislative, judicial, or State officer
should be allowed to accept free passes from
railways, and all offers of any special
privileges by railway companies to any
such officers should be looked upon and
treated as a corrupt attempt at bribery; that
tive, as farmers Of Michigan, regard the
organization of the Order of the Patrons of
Husbandry as movement of vast Importance,
not only to the interests of the great produc-
ing class of our country, but also in its ulti-
mate and highest objects designed and calcula-
ted to bless society at large" etc.
Year: 1874

Here is heart-rending story from Louisi-
ana, portion of the country that in these
latter days is somewhat prolific in sensational
developments. Not many days ago a most
abject and poverty-strlcken woman called
upon one of the most prominent merchants
Of New Orleans, well known for his liberality
and kindness of heart, and after unfolding
tale Of misfortune and wretchedness, said
that her husband had died forty-eight hours
before. OF course the merchant was pro-
foundly moved by this revelation of distress,
and, when his visitor graphically said that she
was unable to defray the expenses of the
burial, and disliked the idea OF burial at