smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

The recent plan of our enlightened
Secretary of the Treasury for resum-
specie pigments with a teapotful of
silver halves and quarters, to be paid
out in sums not exceeding five dollars
to each bill-holder as long as they
lasted, reminds us of an incident said to
have occurred in small faro bank,
kept by a colored gentleman in St.,
Louis at the beginning Of the war.
The proprietor, naughty old house
servant from Virginia, who had some
how GOT his freedom and had strayed
Westward, although his capital was
small and his banking house humble
shanty in the suburbs, inspired i'm
mense awe in the crowd of blacks
who came to WOO chance under his
roof by wearing terrible frown, a
suit of seedy black, vast shirt collar,
and q ruffled shirt, to which last gar
ment the boldest African mind sur


rendered at discretion. The stakes,
as may be imagined, were exceeding
ly small, being nicely proportioned to
the meager capital Of the bank, and
ranging from halfdimes to quarter
dollars, the last being the highest that
was ever permitted. The son of the
proprietor acted as dealer, while the
dignified sire paced the room during
the evening sessions and kept general
oversight of the gamesters. One
evening a couple Of army officers in
duced their black servant by the pre-
sent of a small fee to smuggle them
into this bank, where whites were not
commonly tolerated, and providing
that facile menial with ten silver dol
lars, instructed him to put them on
the ace. The proprietor, who was
absorbed in spelling out the news
from the evening paper, had not OBJ
served the entrance of the strangers
nor the queer turn the game had tax
en-. Presently, however, he lifted up
his eyes and spied the fabulous pile OF
specie glitttering over the painted
cards. For a moment he was struck
dumb, but recovering his voice he
cried out, in voice of thunder
"Who put dat money on dat ace?'
There was a dead silence. The tremb-
ling darkies were all afraid to answer.
"Who put dat money on dat ace 2
repeated the outraged son of Guinea.
There was still no answer, and he
went on: "Whoever put dat money
on dat ace, had better take dat money
off dat ace and be dam quick about it,
too You niggahs mus think thahs
some of these here Roffschites roun'
dis bank. ~. Y. Sum.
Year: 1874

Some days ago we mentioned that
Nebuchadnezzar was the first Granger
but we find we were incorrect. A Gin.
cinnati paper sets us right by informing
us that Eve, who made reputation III
the apple business, and who broke ur
Adam monopoly, was the first to pat
ronise husbandry
Year: 1874

RICHARD HENRY ST0DDAND.
saw two maids at the kirk,
And both were fair and sweet,
One in her wedding robe,


And one in her winding-sheet.
The choristers sang the hymn,--
The sacred rites we're read
And one for life to life,


And one to death, was wed.
They were borne to their bridal beds
In loveliness and bloom,--
One in merry castle,


The other o solemn tomb.
One on the morrow woke


In world of sin and pain {;
But the other was happier far,
And never awoke again
Year: 1874

AFTER HER TooTH.-A lady in
Knoxville, Tenn, had front tooth
put in on pivot. Lately the tooth
became loose, and the other day,
while out in the yard feeding her
chickens, she sneezed hard when the
tooth fell out and was at once swal-
lowed by one of the chichens. The
lady kept her eye on that same chick
en-, and as soon as possible, effected a
capture, when she felt of the craw un-
til she discovered a substance she
took to be her tooth, and taking a
knife, the craw was opened at that
place, the tooth taken out, and again
closed with needle and thread, and
the chicken released. The chicken is
still living and well, though full of
resolution never again to swallow II
tooth, while the lady sports a full set
of teeth again.
Year: 1874

TIE SERPENT OF APPETITE. l,


is an old Eastern fable that a Ger


tain king once suffered the Evil


One to kiss him on either shoulder


Immediately there sprung there
from two serpents, who, furious
with hunger, attacked the man, and
strove to eat into his brain. The
now terrified king strove to teal
them away and cast them from him.
when he found, to his horrer, that
they had become Q part of himself


Just 80 it is with every one who
becomes q slave to his appetite. He
may yield in what seems q very lit.
tie thing ut Arst; even when be
finds himself attacked by the SER
pent that turks in the glass, he may
rancy ne ~-- "aat him of. But,
alas he finds the thirst for sJrOuR
drink has become a part Of himself.
It would be almost as easy to cut
off his hand. The poor poet Burns
said that if q barrel of rum was
placed in a corner of the room and
a loaded cannon in another, point
ing towards him, ready to be fired
if he approached the barrel, he had
no choice but to 60 for the rum.


The person who first tempts you
to take a glass may appear very
friendly. It was not q dart that
Satan aimed at the fated king. He
only gave him q kiss. But the SER
pen: that sprang from it was just
as deadly for all that.


o be careful of letting this ser.
pent of appetite get possession Of
you, for it will be a miracle Of grace,
if you are ever able again
to shake him of.


Guard against every sin. my dear
however small +; let it not
gain a hold upon yon. Pray to be
kept from temptation In every form,
and think not that in your own
you can battle against it. .
Year: 1874

Paul Morphy, seeing bis error in vast
ing so much time in playing chess, will
not now allow the mention of that seduc-
tive game in bis presence. Some such
remorse as this may yet overtake the
young man who is now devoting his en-
tire leisure to billiards.
Year: 1874

A writer In an English paper says :
No doubt the stigma imposed upon
the stage since the time of Thespis is
due to some suspicion in the public
mind that the social morals are never
observed with all the exactness possible
by the professors of the dramatic art.
Ia France the church for ages brutally
refused them christian burial, and even
among ourselves acts of parliament
treated them as vagabonds. But I have
been assured, on eminent authority,
that such suspicion is groundless, and
that the attitude of society towards
these children of the sock and buskin
has arisen from misconstruction Of
their conduct and behavior. The levi
ty it condemns is only the outward ex-
preston of an artless nature, unencum-
bered with the eonventionRlities of life.
OF course men and women of the stage,
as well as other people, make casual
slips. According to tradition, some
even among the angels have fallen. But
as e race the theatrical profession is dis
tinguished for higher code of morals
than any other class and it is contend
ed by those best informed In the matter
that decided predilection by any young
lady for the stage arises, as q rule, from
her desire to cultivate art and virtue.
The world always treats its best people
unjustly, and thus scandal misappre-
hends and naisinterPrets the ingenious
ways of the actor and actress. The life
they lead. regarded IN its true signid
canoe. is therefore TO be regarded as q
protest Of nature and impulse against
the hard, cruel, and absurd laws Of So
ciety. and as such should secure sympa-
thy If not admiration.
Year: 1874

There are but few kinds of wood that
are fit to be used for packing butter,
even Tor a short time. White oak is
considered the best of anything in ccz-
mon use. Ash is used considerably, but
il is said to contain an acid which wlu
iniure the butter in a short time. Pine,
spruce, and other resinous woods are
sometimes used, but are Questionable
as they impart their peculiar taste 70
the butter. Whatever wood is used, il
should be previously prepared for re-
ceiving the butter by soaking in brine
couple of days, then pour in boiling
brine and let it remain two days longer.
The hot brine takes out most of the
wood taste, and fills the pores with salt
instead. which helps to keep the tub
sir-tight. The importance of sanding
butter to market in suitable packages is
not fully appreciated by many dairy
men. At the Vermont dGirymen's meet
ing, last winter, Mr.. Henry Stuart read
q paper on the question Of butter max
ing and butter mazketing, looking ak Il
from the standpoint of the consumer.
he said it takes four times as long to
use pound of poor butter IN family
as it does OF one pound of that which Is
good. If al the butter that vas made
was of q good quality, the CONSUMPTION
would be increased = great ektent.
A person can find but little frst-rate
butter in the hands of the grocer. The
purchaser Of poor butter considers him
self i'll used and grumbles. Much but
ter is spoiled by being packed in uBpre-
pared tubs or IN secondhand tubs.
He once made butter, and on one occa-
sion sent of a package in tubs that had
been used previously. he was returned
twenty-seven cents per pound, instead
of forty cents, as he would have had If
the tubs had been new and sweet. Then
much butter is spoiled in the hands of
dealers by allowing il to stand in close
proximity to packages of Goldfish, on
ions, kerosene oil, maekerel and tobae-
co. Would line the boxes with cloth,
saturated with strong brine. He had
made and put up butter that sold in a
country town for fifty cents, when ordi-
nary butter from the groeers brought
but twenty-five cents. The suet butter,
as it is called, though it is not legal TO
sell it under the name of butter, is
vastly better than much real butter that
is exposed for sale In our cities.
Year: 1874

The following curious account of the
funeral rites among the Karens of Bur-
nah is given by a magazine writer !:
While burning, the body was separa-
ted by sort of kiln from the fuel that
surroundedit, 80 as to prevent the ming
ling of the ashes of the corpse and
those produced by the incineration Of
the wood. This preeaution Is always
taken where the ashes are to be pre-
served otherwise all is consumed to-
gether, and the work of demolition in
either case occupies scarcely an hour.
But before the bones have been re6uced
to ashes, the Karens select a single one,
usually that of an arm or finger, and
carefully preserve it till a convenient
time for bringing the relatives and
friends together again. In the case OF
the deceased copyist this meeting was
to take place four DAYS after the burn
ing of the body. At the appointed
time great feast was prepared, cere-
monies similar to those performed over
the body were repeated over the bone,
Its solitary representative, and solemn
dirge was sung TO frighten off Muk-ha,
an evil spirit of whom the Karens stand
IN special dread. Then one Of the sill
yer bangles worn by the deceased on hs





vessel of cooked rice, of which the de-
parted spirit was invited to partake.
On inqUiring the reason of this cere-
mOny we were told that If the bangle
and the string by which It was suspen-
ded should remain perfectly motion
less, this would be rece we'd as an indi-
cation that the soul of the deceased was
a prisoner in hell, and the party would
break up in Ciismay. But If the string
should evince q tremulous motion. the
bangle turn round or the cord snap sud
denly in twain, the survivors would see
in these tokens indisputable evidence
that the deceased had answered their
call Fortunately for their eredulity
the bangle (moved no doubt by the
passing breeze) did turn suddenly
around, and the poor wife with cry of
Joy pressed it eagerly to her lips. The
spirit was then invited to the grave pre-
pared for the bone, which was buried
with the food and clothing the dead
man was supposed to require in the
spirit-land, and money with which to
ransom himself If he should chance to
be taken prisoner on the way by an evil
minded demon. The whole company
then clspped their hands three times,
saving, Go in peace This grave is thy
small house, but thy grand and spacious
mansion is on the cool bank of the river
Mandowka, where beautious maidens re-
cline on beds of fragrant flowers, and
all is cool, calm, and quiet. With this
loving vaIedictory the funeral rites en-
1sd, and the company dispersed. The
urn containing the precious ashes was
carefully laid away by the beresved
wife, but the grave IN which the solitary
bone had been deposited could never be
revisited. 1t was thsnceforth not mere
" q spot devoid of interest, but one
sure to endanger the well-being of any
rash enough to approach it even by ac-
cident."
Year: 1874

The Popular Science Monthly has
this item, which viii be good reading
for mothers g One Of the great dan
gers attending the use Of the various
sedatives employed in the nursery is
that they tend to produce the opium
habit. Thsse qusck medicines owe
their soothing and quieting effects TO
the aetisn Of opium, and the infant Is
by them given morbid appetite foT
narcotic stimGiants- Tie Offering for
sale Of such nostrums should be pro
hibited, as tending to the physical and
moral deterioration Of the race. In In
dia mothers give 20 their infants pills
containing opium, and the result Is a
languid, sensual race OF hopeless de-
bauchees In the United States the
poisonous dose is administered under
another name, bat the consequences
viii probably be the same.
Year: 1874

TIE question Of ten hours or eight for
q DAYS work promises 20 become inter
esting IN New York about the first Of
next month. The master mechanics


and especially the boss carpenters, have,
for some time, been preparing for n re-
turn TO the ten-hour system, and at q
largely attended meeting resolved that,
Year: 1874

or of the will over the system is not
80 great as 10 supposed. ] was once
called in Paris to see o girl who was
suspected Of pious imposition. Upon
bearing q church bell ring ut eight
every Sunday morning, she would
stand on her feet on the edge of the
bed, and, while her body remained as
immovable as statute, pray inces-
santly until the bell rang again twelve
hours afterward. ! gave her. q gal
vanic shock so powerful that o healthy
person could not have endured il, yet
She did not stir There is no doubt
but she had received from her brain
some immense power over her ncrv-
GUS system entirely independent Of
her will. The act Of performance
does not have refercnce 10 the will.--
The communication between the brain
and spinal cord may be very largely
destroyed, and still voluntary action
exist. A very few remaining fibrcs
are sufficient. a*T* Many afacts
show that when the will has ordered
q certain action, that action is com
plcted Independent of tho villas
walking in sleep. Indeed, the action
of the muscles is nearer perfection
the less we think about it. The ac-
tion is more like telegrnphic dis
patch from the brain telling the muse
les what to do, than a vibration Of the
nerves directly causing the result.-N.


Y. Sun.
Year: 1874

from lnc JilsSOirl Nility Ilileh-I


We have been repeatedly asked wheth.
er there is probability that the Kansas
City, st. Joseph and Council Bluffs
Railroad Company intend 70 change
their track from the present riv-
er route to the Old grade of the Platte
county road, by the way OF Sayan-
nah and Oregon. We answer that we
do not know what the intentions of the
company are in regard to this matter. but
if we are 10 credit the managers with
ordinary business capacity. and none
will doubt it. then we would say they
will not move for the following reasons:


First, they have q road POI miles in
length, without hill to overcome On
the whole route, and they wouldn't dis
play good Judgment to change from an
almost level route to one of such heavy
grades as the one referred to above.


Second, the length of the road would
be increased at least ten miles, and tE2y
could not afford to run it for the same
they can the present route, the distance
and l!e;lyy grade bOtA combining to add
largely TO the expense; Of course it
NbuIl Dt ~ WHY SpOu tIilLi,S lOt oiCEOll
il they would make the change, but it
would be bad Judgment on the part Of
the company.


The only hope for q railroad near
Oregon is in connection with an east and
west route, or one coming down the
Nodaway. 1t is thought that the high
lands between Banks Spring and some
point near Grant, can he crossed on n
grade Of 10 feet per mile. Ii this is cor
rect, then we may secure Il connection
with the NOdaway Valley. But the
most feasible route would be in connec-
tion with some road coming from Man
haitian, Kansas, down the Wolf River
Valley. thence by the way of Oregon, in
the direction of Chicago. East and
west routes must necessarily encounter
heavy grades, heavier than our county
presents by any of the natu-
raj lines that may he found


y route was surveyed Il few years ago
under the direction OF Jabez Beaumont,
from the elevator TO the southern limits
Of Oregon. 1t was found that the grade
would not exceed G5 feet per mile. A
more natural route than this may be
found by ascending kunkers Fork of
Mill Creek, thence across the divide TO
NickorS Creek, where no further impcd-
imcnt would be found this side OF the
Nodaway, whence connection may be
made with any route east, or with the
Nodaway Valley road.
Year: 1874




1t quite depends on the way ironing Is
done whether it is agreeable or not. The
ironing board must have a slip-c0ver, to be
washed each fortnight and besides there
should bo large piece of cotton to lay over
the starched things to take the first press
uro of the iron This piece must be fine,
for coarse cloth will leave the impress of its
threads on nice fabrics. A breadth of an
old jaconet skirt is the best. A bowl of
clean water, with clean sponge OF soft
brush, or worn rag, must be ready for damp
ening spots that have dried since folding, OF
have not ironsd smoothly. The table ought
to be solid, without leaves, and high
chair should b0 provided, so that one may
sit close to the table. touching it with the
waist. 1t is just rs convenient to iron sitting
as standing, if one gets used to it, and most
of the fatigue of ironing comes from stand
ing long at \ timo. A housekecper who
knows how to be good to herself-as every
woman ought to be-will have a table for
ironing with one side followed out, like the
cutting board which seamstresses use in
their lap. 1t will be easy 10 sit up to such q
table, and in swivel chair that can be
raised or lowered at will, gas, stove or fur
mace on one hand, and clothes-frame on the
other, many poor, tired woman would find
her dreaded ironing-day one of the easiest
Of the week. Truth to say, these eonvenI-
ences are named not more to recommend
housewifely exercise to idle people whose
nerves are pining for it, than in hopes that
some overburdened working-bee may be
able to test the comfort of these helps. Those
who have the most work to do generally
have to do it in the hardest way. A good
mistress will see that her servants have all
these cOnveniences, if they can be taught to
uso them. l confess that the pleasure OF
wearing fresh white muslin and crisp, rufiiod
skirts is much alloyOd by the thought that


some gasping glrl has toiled over them in n


heated laundry or burning attic en- July


day y.-Harper's BGzar
Year: 1874

a winter as this, though it is of great
rarity to the old stagers Of the woods, is
nevertheless welcome guest as a long-cher-
ished acquaintance of other days and assO.
Citations A merry Christmas and happy
new year il is when the jingling bells and So
cial glee may have free pass from sette-
ment to settlement


The apples and the cider appropriate to
the season have lately come within our urreach,
and for the most part the product Of our
own labor, having thereby sweeter relish
as a sacred relic Of early memories. The
butternuts and walnuts We have not yet add
ed to our evening enjoyments, but | can safe.
ly predict that what we are now doing for
the cultivation Of these adjuncts of New En-
gland evening colations, will give them to
our children of the coming generation.


One thing more can but hope for, and
that is that our Aroostook winters may by
degrees come to be the seasons of rest, re-
taxation and change of labors which is not
only part of early memories but interwOv-
in with our best ideal Of manhood when our
summers afforded the harvest for winter
stores,--a season Of productive toll in the
house, the barn, and the field; while the
winter, though by no means for inactivity, is
for such means of recuperation, and such
use and care of the summer products as
would best enhance their value. Let any of
us who have shared in the sweating tolls of
the hay field go into the woll.flled barn
where the rude storm can not intrude, ard
the full fragrant rations are in waiting for
the keen appetites Of the sheltered herd,
and then go back to the blazing fire, the
bowl of apples, and the mug Of cider,
all the more sweet it passing neigh
Dor or stranger will call and share
them. There is then a season for digesting
the varied condiments which a great and
good Father gives his children in all the al
ternate shades Of sunshine and storm Of which
our life is made up, all pointing to that rest
which remains for the people of God.


I.t. NJ. II. KEEP.


Dalton, AroOstook County Me.
Year: 1874

As soon as convenient after making sau-
sage, cut in slicOs or make in cakes and fry
till done. Then take stone jar, place your
cakes closely in tho jar and pour over the
fryings. II fnot sufficient to cover to the depth
Of two inches wheE done, use fresh lard


Keep tho sausage In q cool place. When
wanted for use. remove the lard, take out
what you want, and return the lard to keep
the air from what remains. This will keep
till August.
Year: 1874

SCHOOL DIsEAsEs.-It is serious ques-
tion whether we are not getting what is called
education at too exorbitant price, when the
health and usefulness of eyes are impaired or
sacrificed. And the mischief that is done to
eyes in schools and colleges may safely be
taken as an indication of the damage that is
inflicted upon other parts OF the body. OBJ
Jectors may, perhaps, say that the APPALLING
statistics obtained by the foreign observers
could not be gathered in American schools
and colleges. 1 believe that they might, and
found my belief upon twenty years. work
among just the classes of subjects tabulated
by Cohn and the other continental observers.
believe that our system OF education, if, in
deed, we may be said to have system, is one
of the most damaging in its effects upon the
growing bodies of scholars of any in the
world. Let any one familiar with hygiene
take the pains, as have, to inquire carefully
into the physical effects of curricula of our
leading schools and colleges, and he will be
compelled to confess that there is the greatest
cause for reform. TIE attention which is
paid to gymnastic exercises and other methods
of physical culture does not correct the evils.
1t often happens that those who really need
physical exercise most do not get it, or that
the exercise is excessive, and does harm to
those who engage in it, What we need in
our school and college curricula is a dmin-
ution Of the hours of labor. The working
hours too often extend from eight or nine in
the morning to ten or eleven at night The
strain thus put upon growing bodies is too
great. Some method should be devised by
which much that now involves a persistent
use of the eyes in confined and unnatural
postures of the body could be accomplished
through the use OF models or photographs, or
the blackboard. Much that is now attempt-
ed to be taught by badly printed books might
be taught orally, or by some form of object
lessons. Even if such radical changes could
not be accomplished, much might be done
towards lessening the evil effects of our pres
ent method by shortening the hours devoted
Year: 1874

( The queue is now the fashionable style of
arranging the feminine back hair. The heir
is combed straight down to the nape of the
neck, sans part, then braided in three, then
doubled up and tied with bow of briobt
colored ribbon. AT a distance this new stvle
represents an apoplectic sausage adnirablyl
Year: 1874

Among the racy and suggestive bits of
gossip that reach us from the intellectual
centre OF the Universe, is the statement that
General Butler isn't getting outside of his
usual amount of watermelon this season.