smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

Twenty Thousand People
old aad young. every week. It is just TO say
that the patrons of the WESTERN
METHODIST belong to the best class Of
community.


We desire our business men to make note
of the above facts before completing their
advertising arrangements for the coming
season.


We use our best efforts to keep our columns
free of all irregular and irresponsible adver-
Using for many good people seeing az ad-
vsrtisement in a paper. especially their
church paper. take it as guarantee Of re-
sponsibility. Such confidence should not tc
abused when it can be helped. We want.
therefore.
Year: 1878

A recent telegram to the N. Y. Her.
aid gives the following account of the
flying machine invented by Prof. Rich
tel of Hartford, Connecticut


The machine not only rose in the air,
but moved backward and forward, up
and down, at the option of the seronaut,
and although embracing in part balloon
principles, the evolutions were accom-
plished without waste of gas in de-
scendlng or any use of ballast whatever.


The seronaut worked the central pro-
peller of the machine with effect and
rose over every obstacle to the height of
lO0 feet. The breeze was blowing to the
eastward and the exhibitor allowed his
machine to be scarried with it for an
eighth of mile and amused himself by
showing his ability to ascend or descend
at will. Then the propeller at the point
ed end of the frame work was set in mo-
ton and the machine shifted it's course,


twisting and turning in small circles
Still its general drift was to the east
ward, with the wind, and the spectators
freely expressed the opinion that its
powers were at an end and that it could
never return against the wind; but at a
signal from Prof. Richtels the machine
was pointed back toward the exhibition
grounds. The propelling wheel was
started at top speed, and with accelera-
ted motion the ship sailed along back,
at an altitude of 100 feet, until it hover
ed over the exhibition grounds; then,
amid general applause, the central pro-
pelier was set in motion, and under its
influence the ship sank slowly and easi-
" 10 the earth, landing within half a
OOZen rods from the original starting
point.
Year: 1878

1t will be but very short time before
we shall be able TO observe the effect that
stripping the pine forests from the sides
and summit OF the Sierras will have on
the climate of this state and California.
II a Few years every accessible tree, even
to such ss are only of value as freWoOd,
will be swept from the mountains. Even
now this has been done in some places.
1t ia TO be hoped that new growth Of
pines or timber trees Of some kind may
spring up on the ground that has been
cleared; but we do not hear that any
such growth has yet started.


Already one great change has occurred
that is evident to the most ordinary OBJ
server, which is the speedy melting
away of the snow on the mountains. Il
now goes off at once-in a fiood-with
the first warm weather Of spring, whereas
formerly, being shaded and protected
by the pines and other evergreen trees,
it melted slowly, and ali summer sent
down to valleys, on both the eastern and
western slopes Of the Sierras, constant

and copious streams Of water. Instead
of good stage of water in our streams
throughout summer, as in former times,
there is food in the spring, and when
this is passed by our rivers speedily run
down, and being no longer fed from the
mountains, evaporation leavesth their beds
almost dry when the hot weather of sum-
mer comes on.


The mountains being stripped Of their
trees there will be nothing to shade the
rocks and earth, and both will absorb
sufficient amount of heat from the says
of the sun during the fall, and even till
far into the winter, to meet any light fall
Of snow that may occur. The result
will be that our autumn weather viii
reach further and further into winter
until at last we shall have no winter
worthy of the name.


On the California side OF the noun
tains the effect will be much the same.
The hot weather of the valleys will ex-
tend over the foothills, and gradually
reach up into the mountains ViygtHtd
Nev.) EnterpT1ss.
Year: 1878

The town of Griffin is supported by
buffalo hunters, and is their general
rendezvous in this section. The number
of hunters on the ranges this season Is
estimated at 1,500. We saw at Griffin
plat of ground of about four acres COW
cred with buffalo hides spread out to dry,
besides large quantity piled up for snip
ment. These hides are worth in this place
from one dollar to one dollar and sixty
cents each. The generally accepted idea
of the exciting chase in buffalo limiting
is not the plan pursued by the men VINO
make it a regular business. They use the
needle gun with telescope, buy the pow
der by the keg, their lead in bulk and the
shells. and make their own cartridges.
The guns in a party ef hunters are used
by only one or two men, who say they
usually kill drove of thirty or forty
buffalos on one or two acres OF ground.
As soon as one is killed the whole herd
smelling the blood, collect around the
dead body, snufing and paving up the
ground and uttering a siDgulsr noise.
The hunter continues to shoot them
down as long as he can remain concealed,
or until the last animal bites the dust. +"
The buffalo pays no attention to the
report of the gun, and fees enly at sight
or scent of his enemy. The others OF the
party then occupy themselves IN peel
ing" Some of these have become 81
skilIful they offer to bet they can skin 1
five or six year old bull in five minutes
The meat is also saved and sent to mar
ket, and commands a good price.-Gal
vest0n Net1s.
Year: 1878

And now it seems the Bonanza kings
are all in favor of gold as the unit OF
value. This was to have been expected.
The very rich--thOse who have a large
surplus over their indebtedness-natur
ally desire that excess to be as valuable
as possible. A million dollars in one
very scarce metal, which has been made
the legal unit, will buy more of the pro
duets of human industry than a million
dollars in a very much cheaper metal !;
the very rich, the world over, are there
fore in favor of a scarce and dear metal
az a unit of value. Then it should be
remembered that the BanODza mines pro-
duce, e,forty-ive per cent. of gold to forty
five per cent. of silver. The mining in
terests of the Rocky mountains are about
equally divided between silver and gold,
and it is to their interests TO have both
metals circulating as currency. Now
that it is officially stated that the Bo-
nanza kings are for gold, it puts an end
TO the bugaboo raised by the gold
papers that it was the great mining
magnates who were at the back
of the silver movement in this country
In truth, this agitation is in the interest
of the great producing and indebted
classes. 1t is not the very rich, but the
great bulk of the community, who wish
TO restore the silver dollar to the place it
occupied in our currency up to the time
of the commencement of the hard times
in 1878.
Year: 1878

God plans better than we, and some
times when seemingly defeating our
wishes IS granting US more than we ask.
We are short-sighted, and can cOmpre-
hend but narrow sphere of action in
which but few agencies combine, but
Gods purposes are for the ages and the
universal good. We are short lived and
in our little field can work but a little
while, and may sometimes feel that our
labor i in vain; but to God whose years
are endless and whose orderings are in
infinite wisdom, no good work Is in vain.
Il may be lost 70 human knowledge but
it has accomplished his purpose and lives
forever. And often in later days we see,
or they who live after Us see, that when
we were shutup to a life we did not desire,
or a course of action we did not choose,
God was working by us better than we
knew. When we are sent down into the
danths we come - tne I5Yvl Of the deep
springs OF the soul, and eur words and
deeds are felt by hearts far away from
us.


PauPs desire to visit Rome WAS graft
fed, but when brought there and the
deor of his prison closed after him, he
doubtless felt that, Tor time at least, he
was shut in from his great work. But at
no time was his work more extended or
of more real and permanent value. The
sympathy of all the disciples gathered
about him. The care of the churches
was still upon him. He still preached
the kingdom of God TO those around him,
whether as fellOw-prisoners or visitors.
But his great work was in the epistles
written to the churches at this time, in
which the gospel was made known, even
in his own age, to far wider extent than
could have been by his voice; and in
which it has been made known to an in
Vulnerable multitude in all ages follow
ing. The churches at Ephesus, Colosse
and Philippi have long since ceased TO
exist, but the epistles written to them
have been fountains of instruction and
blessing to all the generationsOf believers,
and will to the latest age be words of life
to the dead. Paul, the prisoner, was in
the fullness of his work and the height
OF his power United Presbyterian.
Year: 1878

A man with more ears than brains
heard his neighbors in Atlanta, Ga, de-
scribe an internal machine, and forth
with took the hint and constructed one.
One night last week he carried his toy
to the front steps of merchants resi-
denee. and after setting it down, rang the
bell. When the portly form of the mer-
chant appeared in the doorway the Wis
itor pointed TO the box and told him that
a plot had been formed to blow up his
house. The cigar box was dropped into
A pail Of water and then opened. 1t had
lining of white pine, and was divided
into three com partments. each OF which
was packed with gunpowder and shot


and in the central one was three matches
placed 90 as to come in contact with sand
paper when the lid was raised. Th'
merchant suspected at once that the in
ventor of the machine stood before him
although his visitor pretended to hav'
overheard in an alloy the details of tn


plot. The police arrested the half-witte'
fellow, and forced him to admit that h


had made the box. Times were rathe
duh. he said, and he had thought that


little excitement might help business.
Year: 1878

An exhaustive compilation or statistics
relating to the AIMED Strength of
France" has recently emsnated from
the intelligence branch of the quarter
master generals department at the horse
guards, and it is impossible to scan the
results of Mai. East's labOriOus investiga-
tions on the subject without being struck
at the prodigious strides made by the
French military authorities in the work
OF reorganization since the passage Of the
new law, "sur ie requirement" by the
National assembly five years ago. Never
lsince the disastrous campaign of the
First Napoleon, which closed at Water
90, has the normal rate Of expenditure
upon the army Of France approached the
amount it has now reached. The num-
erical strength of the troops at present
established on 4 peace footing exceeds by
$4,000 men what was deemed sufficient
on the same basis Immediately before
the outbreak of the war with
Germany. The French war office
has spared no pains to become
acquainted with the working of
every military system in Europe. II is
a portentous fact that, according TO the
estimate of Maj. East, Notwithstanding
her immense loss of territory, money
and population, France at this moment
possesses a total available land force,
consisting exclusively OF trained men, OF
2,473,766. This vast aggregate includes
the "active" and territorial" armies
with the reserves belonging to them re-
spectively.


Consequently a mighty force, drawn
from this armed host, under the new
regime, could be put in the field in a
comparatively short space of time. OF
course, it is only the modified plan of
recruiting introduced subsequent TO the
Franco German war that could render
possible the mobilization of force so
enormous. BY the act passed in 1872,
every Frenchman between twenty and
forty became liable TO personal military
service, without the chance Of receiving
any kind of bounty by way of compen
sation for enlistment. so stringently
are the regulations enforced in respect to
this matter that no substitution is al
lowed, and even dispensatiOns from ser
vice obtainable under certain conditions,
do not necessarily secure exemption.
Year: 1878

The reason why woman requires
large wallet for the transportation
of a twenty-five cent shinplaster, is
as deeply wrapped in mystery, as the rea-
son why dog always turus around three
times when he gets up after a nap.
Year: 1878

Eg The st. Louis Republican has
these wise and well timed remarks to
make in regard to the denomination of
the able Chairman Of the Naval Commit
tee of the House:


tits hardly comprehensive, yet there
is really some opposition in the Tennes-
see Congressional District represented
by Whitthorne to his denomination. 1t
doesn't amount to much and Whitthorne
will get the nomination by an over
whelming majority, but some people in
his District think he ought to be sIaugh-
tered in obedience to the vicious princi-
pie ofrotation in office. 1t is had enough
for district to drop an old, experienced
Member under any circumstances, but to
fail in sending Whitthorne back just
when the Republicans are arranging to
send ex-Secretary Robson to Congress
for the express purpose of getting even
with him" for showing up the corruption
in the Navy Department., would be a
piece of inconceivable idiocy. Whit,
tno rne must go back, so that Robson may
have his hands full.
Year: 1878

Hear what the New York Sun says
Our rich men in modern times have suf
fered peculiar embarrassment. Some
OF them have nearly worried their lives
out in trying to decide what to do with
their money. II they loft it to any
charitable object, trustees might squan.
der it, or, for some reason or other it
might not accomplish the good for which
it was designed. One had no children
to speak Of to leave his to, and another
was like the old woman in the shoe, he
had so many children he didn't know
what to do-some Of them bothered
him so.


The prevalence of yellow-fever at the
South affords to all persons who are en-
barrassed in determining what DISPOSE
ton to make Of their surplus funds an
opportunity to dispense with reasona
bic sum in way that is certain to prove
a blessing to the sore afflicted and suf-
fering.


Every dollar that goes South now
wears an angels face to those to whom
it is sent.
Year: 1878

The astonishment caused by the Maine
election grows out of the unexpected
strength of the new force it demon
strates, The old party leaders have not
been willing to admit that greenbackism
could do more than modify the strictness
of the existing parties; it was not mag
ined that it was possible for it to secure
a footing in the political field as a dis
tinct power-at any rate not in an east
ern state. But here is Maine turned up
side down by the new party-the Re
publican majority overthrown, its popu-
lar candidate for governor beaten, two
congressional districts lost, and Hon.
Eugene Hale, representative in congress
from the Fifth district, and, next to Mr..
Blaine, the favorite leader in the state,
unexpectedly unseated. Mr.. Hale has
been member OF all the congresses
from the Forty-frst to the Forty-tiith in
elusive, and had come to be recognized
rs fixture in the house. His defeat
fills the Republicans of the
East with dismay, since it suggests the
strong probability of similar derange.
ments and disasters in other states where
they have despised the Greenbackers-
New York and Pennsylvania.


1t is evident that the Republicans must
now give up all hope of securing con
troll OF the next house. There was very
little ground for such hope at the be.
ginning and the loss of two members in
Maine dissipates that


The Maine result will create most un
easiness in Massachusetts by inspiriting
the party that stands behind Butler and
increasing his chances of election. In.
deed the probability that Butler will be
the next governor OF Massachusetts is SO
strong that it will require all the exer.
ton the Republicans can put forth to
prevent it.
Year: 1878

The St. Louis Republican says: The
colored people of st. Louis are begin
ming to find that their white Republican
associates divide the spoils of office with
them on the same plan that tradition
says the white man settled the question
of the turkey and the buzzard with the
Indian. The colored people are given
free choice to vote and do without the
offices and vote. That is all there is
all there is about it.


1t is about the same here.
Year: 1878

tho way A contract has been made with Mr..
Sc7u Mr., Winchester and Major Hassen, OF the
Turkish agency, here ana have chartered the tug
Z. NJ. Winch to take them on board in the morning.
No Communication has been had with the Bramall.
but the captain ana crew can be board. The
iog came suddenly that The keeper OF the hight had
iine got steam TO blow the horn and that was
the probable cause OF the disaster
Year: 1878




Some years ago We had ir onr en-
ploy man who, several times in the
day, ran out of the Office to buy q drink
of whiskey. Every time he went ont,
the cashier was instructed to drop ten
cents into drawer to our credit. At
the end of seventeen months, the man
who had gone out SO often had drank
himself out of good situation; and
the drawer when opened, was found to
contain four hundred and nine dollars,
which we loaned to a young mechanic
at seven per cent interest. He nsed it
to purchase set of timers tools, On
the 18th of February, 1876, he return
ed it to us with interest, saying in his
letter that he has now wife, two chill
dren and property worth five Thousand
dollars. The other fellow is q hummer,
hunting for food.
Year: 1878

We thiak the question OF deep or
shallow blowing 10 pretty definitely
settled, 80 far ns our ordinary prairie
soils are concerned, in favor of shallow
blowing. That is six inches may be
taken as the maximum depth at which.
to plow for the best results in raising
corn. The best time, however, for
tplowing is one wherein many farmers.


aake mistake. Very often the land
| is plowed too wet. When this is the
case, no amount OF surface labor viii
bring the soil to good condition. In
nine cases ont of ton. when the land is
full plowed aud the surface thoroughly
stirred in the spring. when dry, and
planted without replowing, better
crop of corn will be realized than If the
crop be planted on fresh plow0d land,
{ if the blowing be done while the land
lis wet. This is especially true il trash,
or manure has been plowed under in
tho fall. 80


1t is mistake to suppose that soil
should be very soft to reach the best
results in tillage; on the other hand il
should he moderately compact, if OF
the same time it he in pulverable
state Thus all that is necessary Is to
work the surface into good state OF
tilth, and there is little danger but q
good crop of corn will result if only the
plowing of the crop be conscientiously
accomplished. ref ..-..,-s1
| When, however, corn is planted on
all plowlng, we have found it an excel
lent plan at the first cultivation to use
narrow bull tongue shares on the culti-
vator, next the corn, setting them 80
they will move the earth to the full
depth of the plowing, These throw no
earth laterally, but open the soil so
the young roots of the corn have mel.
low earth to work in. 1t also tends to
aerate the soil, thus fixing the gasscs
that are always being decomposed in
soil open to the dir. When the corn is,
thus plowed both ways. these narrow,
teeth may be moved to the outside OF
the cultivator and the broader ones
used next the corn. Thus the soil is
kept mellow to the full depth OF the
plowiug. s..t... -...


The object of cultivation is, first, to
destroy weeds; second, to keep the
surface of the soil mellow. II this mel
low surface, or rather surface OF fine
ly pulverized soil, be maintained
through the growing season, the roots
are kept in state of constant activity,
the leaves are of deep green, and the
crop is kept growing right along. IT,
on the other hand, the surface becomes
crusted or sodden from being water
soaked, the plants cease growing and
soon show by the altered color of the
leaves that something is wrong. This
shows conclusively Tint it is the action
of the air in the pores OF tie soil that
conduces, as our principal means, to
continued health of the crop.


When the ground is entirely and
closely shaded, as with crop OF grass
or grain, this crusting Of tho soil does
not take place, neither does it become
sotlden, and hence, again, the absolute
necessity of stirring the soil in all So
called hoed crops, until they attain
such growths as enables them to pretty
well shade the ground. .-..
Year: 1878

No animals, unless we'll fed at oil
times, can give a constant return for
the food consumed, and no pasture is
safe from injury by overfeeding il over
run in dry weather by q lot OF poor,


hungry animals.
Year: 1878

point your gun at any one else.


Don't carry your gun so that its
range includes all your hunting
companions. Don't try to find out
whether your gun is loaded er not
by shutting one eye and looking
down the barrel with the other.
Don't use your gun for walking
stick. Don't climb over fence
and pull your gun through muzzle
foremost. Don't throw your gun
into boat so that the trigger will
catch in the seat and the charge be
deposited in your stomach. Don't
use your gun for a sledge>hammer.
Don't carry your gun full cooked.
Don't carry your gun with the ham,
mer down. Don't be a fool. Don't
you forget it..
Year: 1878

4 man was once walking along
one road, and woman along an
other. The roads finally united,
and man and woman, reaching the
junction at the same time, walked
on from there together. The man
was carrying a large iron kettle on
his back; in one hand he held by
the legs live chicken, in the other
a cane, and he was leading a goat.
Just as they were coming to a deep,
dark ravine the woman said to the
man: Il am afra i to GO through
that ravine with you; it is lonely
place, and you might overpower me
and kiss me by force" " If
you were afraid of that"
said the man, "you shouldn't have
walked with me at all how can
Ipossibly oyerpower you and kiss you
by force, when I have this great
kettle on my back, cane in one
hand and live chicken in the other,
and am leading this goat, 1 might
as we'll be tied hand and foot ?"


Yes" replied the woman ;
. but if you should stick your cane
into the ground and tie the goat to
it, and turn the kettle bottom side
up, and put the chicken into it,
then you might wickedly kiss me,
in spite of my resistance. "Suc-
cess to thy ingenuity, 0 woman y
said the rejoicing man to himself;
" I should never have thought of
such expedient."


And when they came to the ravine
he stuck his cane in the ground
and tied the goat to it, gave the
chicken to the woman, saying,
" Hold it while [ cut some grass for
the goat, then, lowering the kettle
from his shoulders, imprisoned the
chicken under it, and wickedIy
kissed the woman, as she was afraid
he would.
Year: 1878

a PORTION Of the Democratic press
are hard on New York politicians.
The Baltimore Gazette says:


"At the next election Tilden or
his representatives will be routed
horse and foot. There is, therefore, no
use talking about New York and New
YORK politicians in connection with
Democratic future. The Demo-
crallc party could never carry the
GrameTcy Park load again, aud it
should never be called upon TO do so.
The West and South must form q
partnership at once, and prepare to
name the next President"
Year: 1878

The refreshing bit of Intelligence
reaches us from Washington that the
present occupants OF the White a ouse
still insist that wine shall not be used
therein. This is very virtuOus and
very Republican. Is not this mark ed
preference for whisky q move toward
GraBiism ?-RnrEUille Tribune.


Granted that is. Which horn Of
the dilemma do you prefer?
Year: 1878

Chattanooga is now very judieiously
and properly turning her attention to
the construction Of a system Of sever
age for the protection of the city, IL
possible, against a repetition of the
late scourge.