smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

would thank you Tor the catsup
Doctor said I.


"One Of the worst things a body
can eat, ma'am j.. knew fatal case ot
cholera morbus brought on week be.
fore last by the use Of it."


family set it down by my plate
without tasting it.


"Will you be kind enough to pass
me the bread ?"


"Dreadful thing, this kind o1
bread; ought never to eat bread
made with soda. Mary, why didn',
you have light bread for dinner
Had horrible case Of dyspepsia yes
terday-all owing to continuous use
Of soda bread"


Not fearing dyspepsia from barely
a single use Of this dangerous kind OF
food, | should boldly have consumed
the needed quantity of the same, but
my poor appetite had been 50 shock
lngly tired by the report of the Board
OF Health and salt being now the on
ly unprohibited article before me,
played with the dangerous edibles OH
my plate, and only made pretensc
of eating, taking good care, the mo-
ment | got home, to fly straight to the
pantry and producing some cold meats
and other accessible eatables, Ware
and l sat down to a astronomical
tete-o-tete, and without having to hear
detailed report from the Board of
Health satisfied our halffamished
selves at leisure and in peace.


CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.
Year: 1874

TO distinguish young from old
fowls when dressed, the Mirror and
Farmer gives tn e following directions:
The rear end of the breast bone in
chicken is soft, gristle, which, as
the fowl grows older, hardens into
solid bone; by pressing inward upon
this bone it can be readily ascer-
tanned whether the fowl has been:
wintered or not, as it will easily bend
in a chicken but cannot be. bent in an
old fowl. All edible birds when
young have the lower part of the
legs, the feet, and the under part Of
the feet soft, but as the fowl natures
these become hard and rough.
Year: 1874

Sea-shells have been found in the
Andes mountains full $4,000 feet
above the sea When I first heard
this | had almost a mind to declare
that [ didn't believe it. But it is
never very wise to say that one does
not believe anything that's wonderful
without stopping to inquire further
there are so many wonderful real
things that are true.


And this is true. Ny friend Hawk
tells me that the great traveller and
naturalist, Humboldt, picked up some
sea-shells at that great height on top
Of the Andes. How did they get
there? 1t is not probable that the
ocean waters ever rose to such a
height, but it is quite likely that the
magnificent Andes were once very
low ridges beneath the sea, and that
the great fires which are always burn
ing in the heart Of the earth and rag
ing to get out, once raised up by a
mighty effort the whole long and
grand range Of Andean mountains.
So tho eea ehclls were carried ur
with the mountains high and dry a;
they are to-day, and the poor she'll.
animals wondered at the dreadful
change, and sickened and died in the
bitter, dry mountain air long, long
ages ago.-St. Nicholas for December
Year: 1874

HONE CoNDUcT.-Much of the COUNSEL given
by familiar moralists toward making home hap
py has the defect of a presuppositi1n that it
must be some particular member of be house
hold to whose aggressions or neglects the dis
comforts of the family are chiefly due. Thus
the self-suficiency of several individuals is en-
couraged to vaunt itself over the presumed i'm
ton of all is rendered more difficult tina IN before
To advise wife to be lovingly forbearing with
her care-abstracted husband, or husband 10
be affectionately patient with his pleasure low
ing wife, is to intimate that fault in the matter
has been all on one sde and nourish in the
passionately advised one a sense of self
righteousness particularly adverse to the har-
monizng end proposed.


All the members Of an ordinary family have
some part in the formation of the character of
each, for good or evil and where the happi-
ness of home is disturbed by what is common
ly attributed to the perversity or intractablity
of one of its occupants, a just consideration of
all past, as we'll as present, circumstances in
trlerrase will generally show that the offender
can cite some warrant for his offence in the un-
sagacity or neglect or petty provocations of
those with whom he lives. If he has been
wicked, they have been at least unwise. While
some natures in the family, as in the world, are
more prone than others to folly or irritability ;
while some are more gentle and ductle and un-
selfish than others, it is humanity impossible
for any one of them to take distinctvely un.
fortunate course without some, perhaps, invol-
untary or only maladroit instigation from the
others. Father, mother, sister, brother, are all
in some measure responsible for each others
defects, and the general manners of home
must be first studied when the uuhappiness
caused by an individual is to be radically rec
tilted.
Year: 1874

The MBANEsr MAN-If we were looking for
a model by which to draw the meanest man in
the community, we'd go for the fellow who will
receive paper and read it for time, and then
on receiving bill for it, sends it back marked
"refused."
Year: 1874

WHAT THE USE OF ToBAcco DoEs.-Here is
little anti-tobacco extract from q letter in the
Country Gentleman:


First experiment: hog was shut up in q
tight pen, and his only food was one-half pound
of tobacco day. In one week he had lost four
pounds. Second, a mule was placed in stall
without food. Two plugs Of tobacco were placed
before her twice day. She grew gradually
restive. On the third day one plug was forced
down her throat, when she tore the experiment
ter's ear with her teeth, showing the bad effect
tobacco has on ones disposition. 1t was then
found necessary to muzzle her SO that she could
not open her mouth. At the end of eight days
she died. Third, a dog was nailed up in a to-
bacco hogshead. At the end of four days he
was taken out much reduced Fourth, another
dog was enclosed in a tobacco barrel and rolled
down a steep hill. Within two years that dog
went mad Truly these are Satan's nets l
could cite plenty more of such experiments
We all know that single drop of the oil of to-
bacco placed on the end of dog tail will kill
q man in minute. OF four men lately killed
on the Erie Railway three were smokers and
the father of the other an in veterate chewer of
tobacco. On the bodies of the two men washed
ashore after the late storm on Lake Michigan,
papers of tobacco were found. In my own
neighborhood, very distressing accident by
which a most estimable lady, the mother of
seven lovely children broke her leg, was occa-
stoned by pair Of runaway horses running
into fence that surrounded tobacco field
Miss Chloe Flatfoot recently died in the county
adjoining mine at the age of l18 years. She
has both chewed and smoked over 100 years,
and as she had no disease till the time of her
death, it is only fair to suppose that it was to-
bacco that killed her. For so long time was
Satan spreading his nets for her; but think
Mr.. S. will agree with me that he must have
her for sure now. But why multiply examples!
Year: 1874

SWAN HUNTING.-The Forest and Stream says
that the swans. early in September, leave the
shores of the Polar sea and resort to lakes and
rivers in and about Hudson's bay, where they
remain until October. Then they collect in
hocks of fifteen or twenty, and mounting high
in air, in wedge shape, depart with loud
screams for more genial southern climate
They fly with great rapidity, at the estimated
rate of one hundred miles in the hour, which
is about double that of the goose. They de not,
like the geese, follow the line of the sea-coast
but fly far inland, reaching their feeding
grounds at night; and the first signal of their
arrival is given the next morning by univer
sal clamor. They seem to be greeting each
other with their musical notes after their com.
pleted journey. When settled on their feeding
grounds, they do not forsake them unless driven
away by very severe weather.


In the Chesapeake the wild swans collect in
large focks of hundreds, feeding over extensive
flats on the duck grass, worms, insects, and
she'll fish. They are found from the mouth of
the Chesapeake to the Capes of Virginia; but
do not pass southwark to Hatteras inlet. We
have seen few focks of them in the bays of
Jersey but have never met with them in the
waters of Long Island. They feed with the
geese but do not fly with them. When crippled
and caught, they are easily tanned; and we
have had them at the South, ir our barnyards.
stalking majestically among the tanned wild
geese and other domestic fowls.
Year: 1874

On October Goth light will be shown
from the light house recently erected on
the most northerly point OF the outer
island OF the Apostle Group, Lake Super
ior. The illuminating apparatus will show
a brilliant white flash every ninety Sec
ond, preceded and followed by short
ecliDse,
Year: 1874

The avidity with which members Of
Congress jump to the conclusion that
salaries must be cut down, and retrench>
ment perneate everywhere under the
jurisdiction of the Government, is remark
able. The agility and fervidness with
which they oppose such a step when their
own pet officers or their own interests
are affected thereby is likewise astounding.
1t is with difficulty, therefore, that the
chairman Of the Committee on Appropri-
ations succeeds in getting through the
appropriation bills as they came from bis
committee with ths estimates Of the De-
partment greatly reduced. lie is fought
at every step, at every item in tbe bill.
by some member who is certain to be af-
fected by the duced estimate,
Year: 1874

liant wedding, some time in last August
After tho honey moon and bridal tour was
over, they settled down, and the young
lawyer resumed his profession. But the
low drinking dens had more charms fer
him than the beautiful cottage home, with
its young ard loving mistress. who lavish.
ed upon him all the warm and pure love
Of true and loving wife to win him from
his downward road to destruction.
Friends tried to reform him, they even
elected him to ofiioo as a proof of their
love for him and his talents but he sunk
deeper and deeper.


On last Friday the 10th. the young
wife, driven to despair, laid down her
former weapons, the Bible and Prayer
book, dressed herself for the street, and
called upon druggist where she UNDER
stood her husband procured whisky on
prescription. She asked the druggist if
the report was true. He answered that.
it was. She demanded said paper. The
man of drugs refused She appealed
three or four times, but with the same re-
suit. She then slipped her haud in her
pocket, drew forth


A SHINING REVOLVER


and leyeled it at the astonished druggist.
as she emarked: Take your choice"
The man ofmedicines knew by those de-
termined eyes and" steady hand that there
was no time for fooling, and he surrender
ed the paper, and with that shining wea>
pom in sight, vowed he would never sell
her husband liquor again, even on pres
cription. She said "Mind you keep your
VOW, Break it, and here is my low and
protection Taking the. little weapon,
she called on all the druggists and exact>
ed the same vow, with the same warning.


She then visited the saloon where her
husband obtained whisky, told her bust.
ness the saloonist took the oath, but this
did not satisfy the wronged wife, for she
remarked, 'you have treated me gentle>
manly in this enterview but sir, | have
great doubt about you keeping your word,
for | think the word of man who wilt
stoop low enough to sell whisky to his fel>
low men is not worth farthing. and just
so sure as you sell my husband whisky
again ard | fud it out, just so sure will I
shoot you.' The dealer told her he
would Gil and sign bond not to sell her
husband liquor again.


The young wife, for she is mere girl,
has the sympathies of the whole city. Ev-
cry one speaks well of her and seems to
glory in her determination. Her husband
is a perfect gentleman in every respect,
only when in liquor, and for the past few
weeks that has been all the time"
Year: 1874

In capital case lately tried before
the Supreme Court of Massachusetts,,
medical evidence was given on one side
showing that it was impossible to dis
tinguish with certainty human blood
from that of horse, and, on the other
side, evidence was given showing that
the difference between these two kinds
of blood is distinctly revealed by the
miscroscope. The remarkable fact here
involved presents itself in the light of
the investigations made by eminent men
of science in Europe, and with concur
rent results, showing that, though there
are, beyond question, differences of size,
determinable by careful micrometric
measurement-the human corpuscles
thus appearing to be on an average,
larger than those of the horse-yet,
even in fresh blood, these differences
have been found so slight as to be rec
ognized only with extreme difficulty. In
human blood the corpuscles are seen to
vary from 5000 to 5000 in an inch, the
average being $500. In horse blood the
same variance exist, the average being
4 4,600-so that very small human cor
puscles and very large horse corpuscles
might be placed side by side and
found equal in size. This is in fresh
blood. In dried blood the differences
are almost blotted out, SO that it has
been universally agreed that when blood
has once become dry, it in not possible
to distinguish with certainty the blood
of one mammal from that of another.
Year: 1874

l discovered many years ago that
wood could be made to last longer than
iron in the ground, but thought the pro-
cess so simple and inexpensive that it
was not worth while making any stir
about it, would as soon have poplar,
Eastwood or quaking ash, as any other
kind Of timber for fence pOsts have
taken out Eastwood posts after having
been set seven years, which were a.
sound when taken mp AS when drsl iiey
were put in the ground. Time nnd
weather seemed to have no effect on
them. The posts can be prepared for
less than two cents apiece This IL the
recipe: Take boiled linseed oil and stir
in it pulverized charcoal to the con-is-
tency Of paint. Put coat Of this over
the timber, and there is not a man that
will live to see it rotten.


We have never tried the plan recon-
mended above, but give II for the benefit
of our readers. If it shall prove true
that posts so treated last so much longer,
it is certainly worth knowing; for fenc-
ing material, in many localities, is be-
coming very scarce where once it was
plenty. The process is not an expen-
sive one, and we hope some Of our read
ers will be led to try it.-Ex.
Year: 1874

A MEN CEREAL.-A new cereal has
been grown in Oregon, which has puz-
zled the farmers, as it is unlike any grain
with which they are familiar. From
seven to ten stalks grow from one root to
a height Of about four feet, and these
stalks or straws are thin and hard. The
radicals are tough and spread widely
The heads are six inches in length and
covered with heavy beard, each filament
being five inches long. The grain is
double the length of kernel of wheat,
and, instead of being firm and compact,
Is hollow, the cavity containing glutin-
GUS matter. While the grain bears a
closer resemblance to wheat than to any
thing else, the straw looks more like
that Of rye or barley. Its origin is some.
what peculiar, the first grain having
been taken from the stomach Of wild
goose by a farmer in Tallawook county
nearly three years ago. He was struck
with its appearance, and planted it, and
the succeeding season sowed the pro
duct. He distributed a portion of hi
second crop among a few friends in diff
ferent parts of the State, who, this year
raised small quantities. 1t will requir'
another year to determine the value 0
the grain.
Year: 1874

Years ago 1t was decided by compe-
tent physicians that the Siamese twins
must be united in death as we'll as in
life. In all respects save one they were
separately organized individuals. This
exception was the union of their circu-
latory systems by large artery passing
through the band which connected them.
To sever this artery, or even to tie it SO
as to check the flow of blood, was to so
interrupt the circulation in either twin
eous death. The experiment of tying
this artery was tried, and few moments
stoppage of the blood rendered the twins
insensible. There was no escape from
the conclusion that they could not be
separated while living, and that the
death of one would be the death of the
other.


Nevetherless, as our special despatch
states, the experiment of separation
would probably have been tried imme-
diately after death of Chang had ply
sician been present. 1t so happened,
however, that Chang died quite unex-
pectedly, ,iand two hours later was follow
ed by his brother. 1t is greatly to be
regretted that the experiment, slight as
the chances of its success would have
been, was not tried. 1t is still more to
be regretted that no physician was at
hand to ascertain beyond question the
true cause of Eng's death.


For it must always be in doubt wheth-
er Eng died from fright or because OF
the arterial connection between himself
and his brother. These men must have
lived all their lives in morbid terror OF
the fate which awaited them. Eng was
two hours before his death in perfect
health; but he had always known that
the death of Chang was his own death
sentence. We are told that he became
delirious with nervous excitement when
his brother died, and that he subse;
quently passed from this condition into
one of complete unconsciousness, in
which he died. Was this wild excite.
ment merely the result of the mental
shock with which he recognized that he
stood face to face with the long dreaded
doom, or was it the natural result of the
sudden change in his circulatory sys
tenn? In other words, was Eng frighten
ed to death, or did he die from the cessa
tion Of the heart-beats ,of Chang, which
had SO mysteriously supplemented the
action of his own heart? We shall nevel
precisely know, and there will Away
remain the doubt whether prompt sew
erance of the band that united the deaC
and the living might not have saveC
Eng, and given him the new birth of
separate and individual life Graphic
Year: 1874

saw nothing but good temper and hon
est romping, yet was assured that the
most powerful argument against the
old ceremonies is that they lead 70 vicious
displays The lady of the house soon
invited the laborers within doors, and
there feasted them with homemade
cakes, kneaded and baked by Eher daugh
ter's own hands, home-bred beef, home
brewed ale of double strength, and goose
berry wine of home vintage. The mas
ter made a speech of the briefest kind
and of the homeliest language, thanking
his men for their industry. Formality
of strangeness would have spoiled all
As it was, the fellowship of employer
and employe was established in an in
slant, and 1 have no doubt the lusty
cheers which echoed through the house
came from the very depths of their
hearts.


Later in the evening large number
of the people in their masters family
Joined others in worship at the village
church. diminutive vestige of medic
val architecture, the dust and mould of
which were hidden beneath wreaths,
crosses, hearts, anchors, and festoons of
greenery and towers. The dim light Of
the altar candles and the subdued muir
murings of the organ together produced
a finely religious sentiment in the assem-
blage, and as the venerable rector pro-
ceeded with the thanksgiving ritual,
the boisterous merrymakers of half an
hour ago were enwrapped in devotion,
the finale hymn was sung with thrilling
fervor and richness. In the two last
Joined the choir, and want of precision
was more than atoned for by spirit and
zeal:


Praise Him for our Harvest store,


He hath filed the garner floor;


For his mercies still endure,


Ever faithful, ever sure.


"And for richer food than this


Pledge of everlasting bliss;


For His mercies still endure,


Ever faithful, ever sure"


1t is the present side of rural life in
England that have here attempted to
depict All farmers and all farm labor
ers are not such as these. In many
quarters, instead of justice and content
ment they are wrong and vengefulness.
The pretty hedge rows. and curving mead
ows hide want of oppression. Soil is
titled and grain produced while the til
lers and harvestmen starve. But l have
written this sketch to commemorate
some customs and few people passing
away who filled with gratitude 3 page
in a travellers note book.
Year: 1874

A queer case of somnamhulism oc-
Cured few evenings since at factory
in Westfeld, CT. One of the workmen
being instructed in the evening to carry
into the shop the next morning guam
tity of wood lying outside, was sur
prised when the time came to find it all
carefully piled. The watchman says
that during the night the man did the
work according to his instructions, step
ping carefully over the things on the
floor. The watchman spoke to him sew
eral times, but received no answer, and
as soon as the job was done the somnam'
bulist went home. The night worker
noticed feeling Of lassitude the next
morning, and was unable to work during
the day,
Year: 1874

A lucky fellow in Chicago, who was
City Treasurer some five years ago, has
been drawing the interest of $500, 900
since that time. The money was depos-
with him to bind a bargain between
railroad company and the corporation.
The city authorities decided to sell a
certain property to the rail road comPa-
ny for 100000. A number Of proper
ty holders obtained an injunction re-
stricting the city from disposing of the
land, and the railroad people refused to
receive their advanced 100000. The
new city Treasurer declined to take the
money, because the city has no claim in
the matter, and so this much abused man
has to take care Of that large sum and
pocket the interest.
Year: 1874

The fat mems ball in New York last
week was an exquisitely funny affair. The
march was led by Samuel McGraw,
weighing 3O4 pounds, and his lady was
of very small build. The largest lady
in the ball room was school teacher,
who weighed 200 pounds avordupois just
previous to entering her carriage 10 go 20
the ball. She was much admired and
floated in the may polka redowa as IL
she we're a gazelle. The supper was q
very solid one-a turkey per fat man
and the only thing light about the enter
tainment was the music.
Year: 1874


. The Pail Mall Gazette thinks that the
good old-fashioned simpleton is dying
out" but finds one in the hero of the
story now current in Berlin "a certain
young officer returned home late one
evening, and having reason to suppose
that he should find it difficult to rouse
himself in the morning told his servant
to come and call him exactly at six, and
to time himself by the watch which lay
by the bedside. Accordingly, next
morning, at five, the good fellow came
in on tiptoe, looked at the watch, and
went out again. He did not return till
seven, when he woke his master, who up
braided him in no measured terms for
his unpunctuality. But, Lieutenant,
pleaded the worthy lad, there was no
six upon the watch, SO / waited till sew
env-the fact being that the seconds
dial, as usual, trenched on the place OF
the lowest figure Of the hour dial, and
necessiated its omission"
Year: 1874

A New Hampshire clergyman, spend
ing the summer for the sake of his
health on Star Island, volunteered to
preach in an unoccupied church during
his stay. The church was accordingly
opened, and he ministered to their relig-
ious wants through the season. But he
did not learn how highly his efforts were
appreciated until his departure, when
his magnanimous listeners sent him a
bill for the use of the church.
Year: 1874

SAFETY OF ANEsTHETIcs.--If the
force of statistics be Of any value, ether
appears beyond question, to be the safe
est anesthetic. By combining Ameri-
can and British data relating to this
question, the result shows conclusively
tha, chloroform is eight times az dan
gerous as either, twice as dangerous as a
mixture of chloroform and ether, and,
as far as experience goes, il is more dan
gerous than biehloride Of methylene.
The report of the London Chloroform
Committee, appointed to investigate this
subject, states not only is ether less dam
gerous than chloroform, but that with
every care, and the most exact dilution
of the chloroform yapor by the most
skillful hands, the state of insensibility
may pass in few moments into one Of
imminent death.