smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

Dickens DOMESTIC TROUBLES


The late Charles Dickens, it was gen.


orally known, was separated from his
wife. In the third volume of For
ster's Life of Dickens just issued in


London, the great novelist himself
explains his mysterious family troub-


les {; 'tPoor Catharins and | are Lot


made for each other, and there is no
help for it. 1t is not cnly that she
makes me uneasy and unhappy, but
that | make her so too, and much
more so. She is exactly what YOU
know in the way of beng amiable
and complying; but we are strangely
ill-assorted for the bond there is be-
tween us. God knows she would be
thousand times more happy if she
had married another kind OF man,
and that her avoidance of this desti-
ny would have been at least equally
good for us both. | am often cut to
the heart to think what a pity it is,
for her own sake, that / fell in her
way, and if | were sick or disabled
tomorrow | know how sorry she
would be, and how deeply grieved
myself to think We had lost each 9TH
er. But exactly the same incompat-
ibility would arise the moment | was
well again, and nothing on earth
could make her understand me, or
suit us to each other. Her tempera- |
ment will not go with mine. 1t mat
tered not so much when we had on
ly ourselves to consider, but reasons
have been growing since which make
it all but hopeless that we should
struggle on. What is now Detailing
me has seen steadily coming, ever
since the day you remember when
Mary was born and | know too well
that sou cannot, and no one can help
ME.


"Why ] have written | hardly
know, but it is a miserable sort of
comfort that you should be clearly
aware how matters stand"
Year: 1874

4 correspondent who had a conversation
with Henry A. Foster, Honorary Secretary
of the Irish Rife Association, writes that
all arrangements for the International rife
mach, at Creedmoor, on the part of the
Irish team had been nearly completed;
that six out of the eight named in the
team We're certain to 90 to Ameri-
ca to compete for the prize, and that
great interest was manifested in the con-
test among the patrons of rife shooting in
Ireland and England, and that the team
were doing the best they could to uphold
the reputation they had already achieved
as expert and clever Iaarksmen; that they
would leave nothing undOne on their part
to win the victory in the United States,
and if they did not gain the laurels, they
would most willingly place them on the
brows of those who best deserved them.


II is not yet certain whether Clancury
will accompany them TO America. His go
inc will complete the representation of the
! nobility, while the other gentlemen make
up the list showing that the gentry of Ire
land as well as the nobility are not uncon-
cerned at the result of the great interna-
tiOnal match.
Year: 1874

ST. PAUL, Minn., July 2O.-Ex-Attorney
General Clark, Of Manitoba, was last eve
ming struck twice on the head with a slung
shot in front Of the Metropolitan Hotel by
some unknown person, who escaped. This
morning as Clark was leaving for the East,
he was set upon by crowd of rIItfians
from Minneapolis, aided by Mike Hay,
chief of police of that city, who beat and
kicked Clark savagely, and but for the in
reference of two Of our citizens would
doubtless have killed him. Clark was
taken into the cars and left on the train,
but it is feared is dangerously hurt, being
i'm poor health. Hay was arrested and held
for trial. He is one of the Minneapolis
party who were imprisoned last year at
Winnepeg for an alleged attempt to kidnap
Lord Gardner. and the murderous attack on
Clark is in revenge for his action as public
prosecutor in that affair.
Year: 1874

New York Post.


We have already called attention to the
new pnstal law. and to the fact that the
amount Of merchandise, samples, etc,
which can be carried for less than letter
postage, has been increased from twelve
ounces to four pounds, and that the latter
auantitv can be now carried for bat thirty
two cents. On inquiry at the pOstOihce to-
day IL was found that the new provisions
had not vet affected the bulk Of mail mat
ter To an appreciable extent, but it was
thought that a considerable change would
be perceptible when the public became
familiar with the increased privileges.


Even under the old law, il was said, the
quantity Of matter sent for less than letter
postage was much greater than generally
supposed. One firm in the city, for in
stance. makes a great quantity Of uppers
for patent leather boots and sends them
through the mail to shoe dealers in all parts
of the country, pair OfupFerS just coming
within the old limit as to weight. Now,
it is supposed, with the reduction in post
ace, this business will be correspondingly
increased, as will that Of the large milli-
merry establishments which now fill small
orders through the mails for ribbons, laces,
etc, from different parts Of the Union.
There is nothing now to hinder the latter
FROM sending dress patterns in the same
way, if customers are willing to take the
risk Of loss in transit.


A dealer in musical instruments visited
the pOstoffice to-day to obtain Information
in regard 70 the law, and became satisfied
that he could forward by mail at a cheap
rate nearly all the articles in his stock Of
goods.


Il has also been suggested thai tea deal
ers could DO a profitable business by mail
ING packages of not more than four pounds
i'm weight TO customers in country towns,
who would thereby obtain their tea at 2
rate much less than is usually charged by VII
LACE shopkeepers, while the city dealer
would secure his usual price.


If the cost OfpOstage were the only
thing to be considered, tailOrs might ind
no obstacle in mailing whole suits Of
clothes, but nothing can now bo registered
on which letter postage is not paid, and the
risk Of loss, i ia said, viii probably prevent
the tTansmiSsion Of many valuable articles
IN this manner. An experienced officer in
the pOstofiice to-day spoke Of this as a de
feet in the law, saying five cents for every
registration would be sufficient to defray
the expenses Of the increased clerical labor.
Year: 1874

The recent belligerent tendencies of
the canvass have developed brisk de-
mand for shooting irons. 1t is a mat
ter of common remark among the
supporters of the White Mans Ticket
that if balls are to have the call on bal
lots, they intend to show a full hand
from now until August 6.
Year: 1874

Men sftsn speak Of good manners as on
accomplishment. ! speak Of them a.
duty. What, then, are good manners
Such manners as the ussges Of society
have recognized as being agreeable to men.
Such manners as take awsy rudensss and
remit to the brute creation all coarssness.
There are great many who feel that good
manners are effcminate. They have feel-
ing that rude bluntness is great deal
more manly than good manners. 1t 10 .
great deal moro Density. But when mon
are crowded iate communities. the art Of
living together is no small art How to
diminish friction; how to proinote ease Of
intercourse how to make every part of
mans life contribute to the welfare and
satisfaction Of those around him; how to
keep down offensive pride; how to bauish
the raspings Of sel6shness from the inter-
course Of men; how to move among men
inspired by various and coAfictive motives
and yet not have collisions this is the
function Of good manners.


1t is not offeminate to bs refined And
in this laud se man should plead inability.
There may be a peasantry in other couu-
tries; there may be class in foreign lasds
who have no opportunities; there may be
those whose toll is so continuous, whose
opportunities for knowing what constitutes
good manners are SO few, and whose ig-
norance is SO gross that they are excusa-
BILE; but this is not the case with any
within the sound Of my voice.


I affirm for every American citizen the
right to be not simply man, but good
hammered man.


Not only is the violation Of good man.
ners inexcusabe on ordinary grounds, but
It is sinful. When, therefore, parents and
guardians and teachers would inspire the
Young with desire for the manners Of
good society. it is not to be thought that
they are accomplishments which may be
accepted or rejected. Every man is bound
to observe the laws Of politeness. 1t is
the expression Of GOODWILL and kindness.
1t promotes both beauty in the man who
possesses it, and happiness in these who
are about him. 1t is a religious duty and
should b. part Of religious training. -


Hnyu Ward Beecher
Year: 1874

Commodore Scudder, Of the United
States Navy, had double-nosed pointer
dog Of which ho Dragged good deal, and
for which be would have refused larger
sum than was ever offered for dog
since the creation Of tho world. Bus be
il dead now--not Commodore Scudder,
but the dog. Like the famous hound
Gelert. he died martyr to his high sense
of honor The Commodore told the story.


II went out hunting patridges one
day." he said, "and took the dog along.
We hadn't much luck at first, but after .
while Buster that was the dogs name
stood and pointed at covey Of the finest
birds ever saw in all my born days.
They were sqnatting down In the low
grass dozen yards of. in plain sight.
and determined to Ere at them as they
lay. l lifted my gun, took deliberate
aim, and would have killed q dozen at
least; but before could pull the trigger
a courier dashed up with dispatch which
he said required immediate attention.


II reserved my FIRE and read the dis
patch. 1t was an order from tho navy
department to proceed, without a mo-
ment's delay. to Philadelphia, to take COM
mand of squadron which was about ts4
sail to the Mediterranean. was go much.
excited, you understand, that laid down
my gun right on the spot, and went off,
leaving Buster there pointing at those
birds like they were north stars and he
was mariners compass, so to speak, l
forgot all about him but be was faith
full dog, Buster was-and, like Casabian-
ca, wouldn't have left a burning ship with
out my orders.


"Well, l went to the Mediterranean. and
cruised around for three years, having a
frst-rate time. When returned, at the
end of the cruise, it occurred to me as |
stepped ashore in Philadelphia. to 60 and
see how things wero at the place where |
went gunaing. John and | went-and
the first thing came across was my gun,
living there with the barrel covered with
rus. and broken clean off the rotten stock
But what was my surprise upon going
few PAGES further, to find the skeleton of
that heroic, double-nosed pointer. stand
ing up just where had left the dog three
years before! He had never budged an
inch, Mr.. Quill, not solitary inch, that
double e-nosed pointer hadn't; but he had
stood there and pointed at those birds un-
til he had perished in his tracks! Well,
sir, after shedding tear for my departed
friend, l went few yards ahead, and
there ,cere the skeletons Of the pdrtrtdgcs
regard this as the most extraordinary
circumstance that ever came under my
observation but if any man presumes to
doubt my word, III shoot him on the spot
Il will. by Georgcw


1t was queer. that stsry Of Scudder's
about his dog. but it would hardly be safe
to say what think about it.
Year: 1874

Perhaps Of all the erroneous notions
concerning mind which the science of met
aphyscs has engendered Or abetted, there
/. none more fallacious than that which
tscitly assumes or explicitly declares that
men are born with equal mental capacity,
opportunities and educations determining
the differences Of subsequent development.
The opinion is as cruel us it is false What
man can by taking thought add one cubit
either to his mental or to his bodily stat
ure? Multitudes of human beings come
into the world weighted with a destiny
against which they have neither the will
hor the power to contend; they are the
ttep-children of nature, and groau under
the worst of all tyrranies, the tyranny Of
q bad organisation. Men differ, indeed.
in the fundamental characters Of their
minds an they do in the features Of their
countenanees or in the habits of their bod
les; and between those who are born
with the potentiality Of full and complete
mental development, under favorable cir
cumstances. aud those who are born with
un innate ineapacity Of mental develop
ment. under any circumstances, there ex-
lists every graduation. What teaching
could ever raise the congenital idiot to the
common level of human intelligence p
What teaching could ever keep the in
spired mind Of the man Of genius at that
level ?--Scribxsr's Mdgaxihc.
Year: 1874

cruelues on cat, and there were many
instances where he showed peculiar traits
Of character 1t had dsbeen the endeavoi
of his mother to bring him up properly
and, aside from the peculiarities exhib'
tied, he was good boy. In August,
1871, he was very sick with pneumonia,
since which time he has acted strangely
and seemed to delight in human suffer.
ing. The boy cannot control his feel
ings, and he thinks himself that no child
would be safe when IN his hands, The
counsel claimed that PomerOy was in
sane, and that the act committed by him
was that of an irresponsible person.


During the progress of the trial, which
commenced last Monday, there has been
the most intense public. interest mani
tested The evidence was all in yester.
day, and to-day has been reserved for the
arguments for and against the prisoner
the charge of the Court and the verdict
of the jury. F-


The case was given to the jury at about
half-past five this afternoon, and after
celebrating until nearly eleven o'clock
this evening they came in with verdict
of guilty of murder in the first degree,
with recommendation to mercy. The
young prisoner manifested no feeling
Whatever when the dread decision was
pronounced but his mother wept vio.
lently. Although the public is satisfied
with the verdict there is nevertheless a
popular disappointment, as it was gener
ally believed that the defense of insanity
would be maintained by the jury, There
has been great excitement all the even
ing pending the deliberations of the jury,
and all the public resorts in the vicinity
of the Court House have been filled with
crowds anxiously waiting for the YER
dict
Year: 1874

THEIR cHRIsTStAs-FEVER! " r


Now that you comprehend them, you
will not be surprised to hear that these
people, vino were in want, had resolved
to Keep Christmas.


And you will add, almost of yourself,
that these are precisely the sort Of peo-
pie who are sure to take the Christmas
fever, and to have it hard, and to whom
its Wreaths and tapers and carols are full
of meaning and delicious charm-and
you would be quite right.
Year: 1874

The report Of the committee appointed
10 take into consideration the subject ol
paving Chapline, Sixteenth, Main and
Zane streets will be submitted to the City
Council this evening. The projected i'm
provement contemplsteS the putting oil
these four great thoroughfares Of the city
IN condition worthy Of their importance
IS the lines OF communication with the
largest portion ol the city and with the
country beyond our corporate limits.
They constitute the lines Of ingress and
egress for all the trade and traffic OF the
city. To put them in thorough repair Ia
10 relieve other streets from the wear and
tear Of very much oi the heavy hauling
now done on them, thereby lessening
materially the expense Of cleaning and
repairs.


An examination Ol the Street Com.
missloner's account will show that the
cost Of repairs upon the streets amonnt
to about fifteen thousand dollars per an
mum, nearly all of which expense Is due
10 the fact that the streets have never
been properly paved. Our whole system
Of paving Is bad, it Is mere surface work,
and owing to the spouty nature OF the
soil on some portions, and the general
action Of the winter frosts, every Sum.
mer brings the inevitable necessity tor
large and expensive repairs. The work
which should have been done thoroughly
and year by year, is at last, from absolute
necessity, precipltated upon the city
measurably in one lump.


q The question for the consideration of
the Council is whether II will or will not
rebound TO the best interests Of the city
to take in hand these four great lines and
expend upon them an amount Of money
which in the wisdom Of the Council after
thorough investigation Of facts may be
deemed sufficient 10 put them in con-
dition commensurate with their import
Snce to the city.


We cannot undertake at once to put all
the streets in the state ofrepalr which we
understand the action of the Council In
raising the present committee, to contem.
plate, and we would most respectfully
suggest TO the members tho propriety Of
laying aside any action contemplating
large or even considerable expenditures
upon other streets above what Is actual.
Iy necessary to preserve them from
serious damage.
Year: 1874

waves that we're so destructive to life and


property on that coast. The ship had


but Just dropped anchor in Peruvian


barbor when the tidal wave came
that wrenched her from her mooring
aud swept her over cliff forty feet high
into an inner harbor, while before the
eyes OF our heroine, who was seated on the
deck, the populous city fell down as if
the block creation of child. Fortu-
nately the ship, unlike its compeers in
the harbor, which were many Of them
dashed to pieces, had steam enough to
get out to sea with Il c reeeding wave,
though dry land seemed TO pursue her
for space in the reAux. Proceeding
down the coast that night, town after
town was found to have been swallowed
up by the earthquake. How for weeks
this woman in strange land, where she
did not speak the language, sought her
husband, not knowing whether be was
alive or dead, and how he at a distant
port loHged and prayed for and at last
found her when she had almost given
him up; how they met soon to part, as
be was again called away for months
here is a theme for a novelist. The ner-
vous strain on each has left ineffaceable
marks on their lives Is it any wonder
that even in the soothing influence of
this glorious sea air sleep comes but
slowly to eyes that never close but TO
see pictured anew the great rush inland
of q mighty ocean and to hear the
crashing of stone and timber and the
shrieks of despairing humanity as a
great city is swallowed up in earth to
the music of many watersY
Year: 1874

A correspondent Of the Springfield Re
publican says; A lady OF delicate
physique was complaining that for years
she had been unable to sleep without
taking some narcotic. Those who heard
the remark we're at first tempted to con-
demn her for having frittered away her
strength in the pleasures Of society,
until her story, quietly aud modestly


told, showed that she had been through


scenes OF trial and suffering that might
affect the stoutest. The wife of q
United States naval officer, it was her
fate few years since to be on her way
to join her husband at some port on the
Pacific coast Of South America at the
time Of the great earthquake and tidal
Year: 1874

A Family of Girls with a Passion
for the Trapeze.


From the Port Huron (Mich.) Commercial.l


About eight years ago there lived il
Port Huron a man who was well known
to most all of our citizens. He was {
painter and photographer by profession
His children were three daughters, o
more than ordinary personal attractions
whom he seemed to try to bring up a.
nearly as he knew how in the way they
should go. he was strict member o
the Methodist church, and endeavoreC
to conduct the affairs of his family witt
all the stern rigor of discipline provided
for by the doctrines of that church
Perhaps if he had been less stern, things
would have turned out happier, but who
is there can judge unerringly OF wha
would be proper management? Aftel
the departure of the family from thi:
place but little was heard of them
Bits of gossip came now and then, tell
ing how the father had given up art and
taken to the ministry, and how the
daughters, in spite of their training
were not turning out very well. Rumors
tdIOt lndl Out vi luGu udQ ldhCn bnN
precarious calling of performer on the
trapeze, that she had been seen in vari-
ous places acting in that capacity, but
after all there were few who read from
time to time in the newspapers of the
breakneck performances. of The San
yeahs," who dreamed that one of them
was a Port Huron girl, and the daughter
of Methodist preacher.


Last week, however, the visit Of the
Washburn Variety Troupe to this city
confirmed the stories that had been
heard. On the afternoon Of the day on
which that delectable organization hon.
ored our city, young lady dressed rather
showily, and with jewels flashing
on every finger, walked into the editorial
rooms of the Commercial and introduced
herself as the youngest of the three
children who had lett here eight years
previously. She said her sister next
older than herself was the Madame San
yeah we had heard of and that she was
legally married to the man whose name
she bore. He had been attracted by her
pretty face and engaging ways and made
her his wife. Then he had taught her
to Join with him in the perilous trapeze
performance, and she had shared his
dangers until one day in one of the most
thrilling feats her nerves failed her and
she fell. Her arm was shattered, and
when she left the doctor care her career
as a gymnast was ended, for one arm
was stifened so that she might never use
it again.


Then the younger sister had taken her
place. She naively bore testimony to
the peril of her calling 1t is all chance
work in some of the performances" she
said, whether you catch the bar or not
No practice can make one sure of not
falling for the length and poise Of the
swings are changed at every place, ac-
cording to the size Of the room where
the performance is to take place. She
had only four months experience, she
said, and had had one fall, which had
laid her up for many days, but she liked
the business after all, and so did her
sister until she was disabled p
Year: 1874

WHAT THE COUNTRY PAPERS Do
An exchange combats with consid-
erable vigor, the argument that the
New York papers are cheaper and
better than the country papers be-
cause they give more reading for
the money. Do ths city papers, it
asks, ever give yon any local news?
Never. Do they say anything i'll
regard to our own county! Nothing.
Do they contain notices of our
schools, churches, meetings, i'm
provements, and a hundred of other
local matters Of interest, which our
paper publishes without pay Not
an item. Do they ever say word
calculated to draw attention to our
county and our numerous thriving
towns, and aid in their progress
and enterprise! Not a word. And
vet there are men who take such
contracted views of this matter that
unless they are getting as many
square inches of reading nsatter in
their own as they do in New York
city paper, they think they are not
getting the worth of their money.
1t reminds us of a person who took
the largest pair of boots in the box,
simply because they cost the same
as a pair much smaller that fitted
him.
Year: 1874

IT being understood by letter
from Senator Little that money
could be borrowed from the State
at per cent. interest, a meeting of
the citizenz of Mineral Point was
held last Saturday and resolution
passed in favor of borrowing $780,
600, to be used in buying up bonds
and judgments on the best terms
obtainable. This much of the reso-
luton is sound, but the proviso that
the 100000 be repaid to the State
in four years we Go not like 50 well.
1t would seem to US more desirable
to secure the loan for at least s
years if possible. TO pay $4,000
per year, for four successive years,
right upon the heels Of the heavy
tax paid this winter, it strikes US
would be found burdensome to many
persons in the county. To do so
would, with ordinary State, county
and municipal taxes require levy
each year of 3 to 6 per cent. on as
sessment, which, following year after
year would work hardship to many,
especially should there be failure
Of crops, panic, or serious depre-
citation of the value Of products.
We do not wish, however, to be
understood as opposed to borrow
ing the money for four years, but
only to express an opinion that it
would be safer, and its payment
come easier on a longer time.