smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

The report of the Department OF Agriculture
for February is at hand, and it is an unusually
interesting number 1t contains an item on one
new branch of industry which will doubtless
be extensively engaged in throughout some por-
tions of the Southern States,-in Louisiana
and Arkansas especially. 1t is in reference to
the manufacture of syrup from sweet potatoes,
of the yam variety The average product is
said to be over two gallons of syrup to every
bushe of sweet potatoes, and that the residu-
um, after the juice has been extracted, is q
valuable edible for either man or beast AS
there are large and extensive tracts of barren
"piney-woods lands throughout Arkansas aad
Georgia, and other Southern States. which are
almost worthless for any purpose, except that
they appear to be peculiarly adapted to the
growth of the sweet potato. the development
of this new branch of industry will prove q
God send to those hitherto barren and unpro-
ductive regions Ii man with one mule can
cultivate fifteen acres in potatoes, and the
yield will exceed ON an average two hundred
bushels to the acre,swe have as the result of
one mans labor SIX thousand gallons of syrup,
which is probably worth not less than fifty
cents per gallon, as the syrup is said TO surpass
that of the beet in delicacy of flavor. 1t is
stated in the report above referred to that the
yield Of syrup from sweet potatoes Is much
more abundant than from beets, and. such be-
ing the case, there can be no reason why the
sugar product from the same source should
not be proportionatey greater.
Year: 1871

Ifedged hopes Of the highest place in the future
of the Speaker, arising from the quarrel which
has been unfortunately forced upon the Re-
publican party at the other end Of the Capitol
of which he is waiting to take advantage.
knew all that; and therefore was careful to
say no word. did not say that the Speaker
wrote the resolution; did not know that he
did; but knew he suggested it. / appeal to
the Speakers fairness-no, cannot appeal to
that. will state what said when he came
to my seat yesterday and showed me the reso-
luton and asked me to 90 for it, and said I
should be chairman of the committee under it.
said, 81 will be damned if will. tGreat
laughter will have nothing to do with it."
am sorry to be obliged to use the word here
and apologize for it-but when asked to be-
tray my associates with whom had voted in
caucus it seemed a very good one to meet the
exigency Laughter That was my answer;
and when he read the clause containing an ap-
preparation, even l. with my ignorance of the
rules as he claims, told him how, if he was de.
termined to put the resolution through, it would
escape an objection to it to be differently
worded did this because ! believe that he
suggested to the gentleman from New York
( Mr.. Cox to make the point of order against
the bill Of the majority Of the House, which
carried it over under the Speakers ruling
Year: 1871

An addle-headed old pedagogue, by the name
of Blanchard, and who has probably at some
time or another been blackballed when can
didate for the Masonic degrees. has perpetrated
the discovery that Masonry brought on the late
civil war. As Blanchard, in addition to being
an ass. is an abolitionist, he ought to be very
grateful to Masonry if it brought on the war
of secession, for the reason that one of the di-
rect results of the war was the abolition of
slavery. Blanchard ought also to be grateful
to Masonry, in that, it being the sworn destroy
er of fools, it has thus far mercifully spared
his life Let this venerable noodle put on his
spectacles and take another look ut the matter.
Ii he will, the chances are that he may become
as friendly to Masonry as he Is now hostile to
that Order.
Year: 1871

The CROPs.-It is a settled fact that
tie grain crop in California this season
will be failure, generally. On a recent
visit to Marysville we observed that there
was no prospect for grain between Davis
vile and Marysville. Almost the entire
country between these two points, on the
line of the railroad, is parched up; even
the tule land below Knights Landing,
reclaimed by the Sacramento Reclamation
Company, is SO dry that the crop is fail
ure. Mr. Charles f. Reed informed US
that he has sown one thousand acres of
grain on these lands, which is an enter
less. In order to make feed for stock the
food gate at the mouth of Sycamore
Slough has been opened to let the water in
and food the reclaimed land. that it may
be the means of starting the grass. It
will overflow about twenty five thousand
acres, which will make feed for a large
amount of stock, should it have the desir
ed effect Our farmers in this vicinity
should feel encouraged at the prospect of
their crops, for the only encouraging pros
pect we saw was between here aud Suisun,
with the exception of small strip this side
of Putah creek 4 Vallejo Recorder.
Year: 1871

How THE JURY AGREED.-The San
Jose Patriot Of April 18th, contains the
following:


On the night of the day that the jury
in the Mrs. Fair case rendered verdict,
the case and the verdict were the subjects
of animated discussion in all the saloons
and public places in San Francisco. Two
of the jurors in that case happened to be
in one of those saloons, sitting quietly and
unobserved in a corner, where the verdict
was being discussed and the case commen-
ted on with much animation. After some
time one Of these jurors arose and said /:
"Gentlemen, my friend and myself were
two of the jurors in that case, and 1 will
tell you how it was decided During the
progress of the trial not one juror had
spoken to his fellow,jurors of the case No
one had opened his lips to another in regard
to the evidence or any arguments; it SEEM
ed to be sealed subject to us all, and
when we retired to make up verdict, no
one juror knew anything of the opinion Of
his fellow jurors. On entering the jury
room the first thing done was to cut piece
Of paper into twelve pieces, and to place a
number on each piece from one up to
twelve. These were put in hat and
drawn, and the slip drawn was the number
of the juror. On these slips each juror
wrote his finding in the case, and when
his number was called put it into the hat.
When / wrote my finding, Murder in the
first degree l hardly thought there would
be another such finding on any of the slips,
but when the slips were all deposited, and
taken out and read, to my astonishment
it was found that each juror, on the first
and only ballot, had voted just as l had
"Murder in the first degree"


We obtained this incident last night
from authority we considered reliable.
Year: 1871

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 23.-A man named NJ.
B. Pierce, who it seems was sheriff of Fon
Du Lac county, Wisconsin, was found
dead in his room at Union Hotel here to-
cay, with pistol shot wound in the left
breast and pistol lying on the floor. A
letter to the landlord of the hotel
was found on the table, which says:


"Do as you please with my remains, but
my wish is that you take my effects and by
their sale, realize enough TO get me covered
up under the snow and frost. My effects
will cancel all expenditures, for all want
is box and hole. | am Sheriff of Fon
Du Lac county, Wis, and L want to be
buried before you communicate with my
friends. My reason for doing this ~ the
business of nobody but myself"


Another letter, addressed to his deputy,
Robert Cosgrore, desires the latter to settle
affairs as best he can, and do all for his
wife and babies that is possible.


A letter from his wife refers to some mat
ters from which it is inferred that Pierce
was in pecuniary trouble, in consequence o
which he may have left home. He hat
been here since the 9th inst. Only sixty
cents was found among his effects.
Year: 1871


Gdldry as follows:


One of the first subjects which addresses
itself to the mind of the stranger on the
Plains, particularly if he be Of philosOphi-
cal or scientific turn of mind, is the mirage,
which is here observed in all its perfection.
Many weary mile of the traveller has been
whiled away in endeayors to account for the
fitful and beautifully changing visions pre-
sented by the mirage. Sometimes tie dis
tortiOns are wonderful, and so natural as to
deceive the most experienced eye. Upon
one occasion l met young officer who had
spent several years on the Plains and in the
Indian country. He was, on the occasion
alluded to, in command of detachment of
cavalry in pursuit of party Of Indians who
had been committing depredatiOns on our
frontier. While riding at the head of his
command he suddenly discovered, as he
thought, party of Indians not more than
a mile distant. The latter seemed 10 be
galloping toward him. The attention Of
his men was called to them, and they pro-
nOuneed them Indians on horseback. The
''trot' was sounded, and the column moved
forward to the attack. The distance be-
tween the attacking party and the supposed



peaIing palmer TO view each moment. The
charge was about to be sounded, when it
was discovered that the supposed party Of
Indians consisted Of the decayed carcaSses
of half dozen slain butialOes, which num-
Der had been magnifiea by the mirage,
while the peculiar motion impaired by the
latter had given the appearance of Indians
on horseback.


I have seen a train of government wagons
with white canvas covers moving through
mirage which, by elevating the wagons to
treble their height and maenifying the size
Of the covers, presented the appearance Of
a line Of large sailing vessels under full sail,
while the usual appearance Of the mirage
gave a correct likeness of an immense lake
or sea. Sometimes the mirage has been
the cause Of frightful suffering and death by
its deceptive appearance.


Trains of emigrants making their way to
California or Oregon, have, while setking
water to quench their thirst and that of their
animals, been induced to depart from their
course in the endeayOr to reach the inviting
lake of waler which the mirage displayed
before their longing eyes. It is usually
represented at a distance Of from FIVE TO ten
miles. Sometimes, if the nature Of the
ground IS favorable, it is dispelled by al
vancing toward it; at others il is like an
jqItjS tffHuS, lowering in sight, hut keeping
beyOnd reach. Here and there throughout
this region are pointed out the graves Of
those who are said to have been led astray
by the mirage, until their bodies were fam
ished and they succumbed TO thirst.
Year: 1871

The worst sufferers by the sudden cutting
off of the water supply in Boston last Fri
day, were the milk-men. Some Of the GUS
toners complained of the unnatural thick
ness in the milk, but were comforted with
the assurance that the thing should not oc-
cir AGAIN.
Year: 1871

The carpet-bag Governor of Florida is
opposed to martial law, and be raps some
Of the Federal officers in that State pretty
severely. In a letter to Senator Osborn,
who has been laboring to get the President
to interfere in Florida, Gov. Reed says:


"Gige me Federal officers who viii do
their duty and We need 10 martial law.
Give me District Attorney who will at
tend to the legitimate business Of his office,
instead of vilifying and traducins the pri-
vate and official character of State officials;
give me United States Marshal who will
make an effort TO put a stop to lawlessness
and execute the law instead Of cobspiring
to overthrow the State Government, anu
give me the proper support of the Federal
Government, and can put stop 70 al
outrages and lawlessness in few montns
without the aid of martial law
Year: 1871

On the road between Meriden and Hart
ford there is a saloon where decoctions of
benzine are passed over a rickety bar, at the
small price of five cents. Directly opposite
is country graveyard, where the country
for few miles around bury their dead.
The hostess of the saloon has an unfeeling
signal ON the side Of her door, as follows {:
s'key to the cemetery gate within.-Ddn-
bury NelrS.
Year: 1871

A Michigan correspondent writes ave
believe an actual computation Of the number
of the clothes sent to each male sufferer by
forest fires in Michigan would give him
about two hundred pairs of old pants and
one hundred old boots per capita.
Year: 1871

The following recipe for the choice Of a
wife seems to be very good one;
As much Of beauty as preserves affection.
Of modest diflidence as claims protection.
A docile mind, subservient to correction.
A temper led by reason and reflection.
And every passion kept in due subjection
Just faults enough TO keep from perfection
Find this, my friend, and then make


your selection.
Year: 1871

A Brooklyn politician, in writing letter
of coincidence to the widow of an associate,
said 81 am sorry to hear that Harry has
gone to Heaven. We were bosom friends,
but now we shall never meet again."
Year: 1871

The steamer Westphalia took out Sol 600 In SPECIE


The money market is still without notable change, and
owing to the present dullness OF the Stock Exchange,
lenders find Il impossible to obtain above per cent on
call the general rates being and ~ This unusual ease
so late the season. and the corresponding ease at the
Continental money centers leads many to believe that
we will have no special hardening of rates even during
the movement OF the crops In discounts prime COM
mercal paper moves at n d6 per cent.


Government bonds have been dull and quiet, but hrm
IN tone throughout the list 1t will be observed that the
registered tenforties quoted exinterest Fisk &
Hatch report AS follows at y. III.
Year: 1871

had no bu. my mother knew more about the hn'
THAN LITTLE cHILD DID.


a 4nn So and % s.n 70
ou. to drag my poor mother when. God knows se has
often asked me Thomas sands spoke the
truth IN saying BY the roadside that %ssns asss
Sands married Mary Champon's niece. White bis first
wife, still living. tho Poorhouse In Camden county;
Sands and Mary Champion been against me Al
through. The boy Harper did mot tel tne
truth but do not blame him much Patience my sister
(arper would tell the story he did tell he lHarper) should
always have home there Knowing that am about 10 oe
Ssan say that never told Harper n the meadow or any


KILL THE OLD MAN AND GET HIS MONEY!;
nothing like IT, My father treated mother for many years
house He then aaid he could skin IN minute turned
back and called OF b. and all the vile names he
could think Of and he for in the hred
the gun and killed him. II was ut OF
Jay I never premsdsased the killing OF my father.
thsnk Al the people who have been kind 70 me even the
little children have brought presents thank them ALL
am not afraid TO die Ny wife and child alone In the
world and hope those who have expressed their sympathy
with hard lot may like doing something to aid my
poor boy, my mother and my wife when am gone, and
EDUCATE ny 6oN


better than bis father Mr. aoovs has promised look
after this ltnank him for all he has done for me- and
thanx shern Frederick and his good wife for their kindness
deserted die without wiil towards anybody in the
world BLAMING nobody but believing little mercy has been
shown me- This 10 tho only confession shall ever make In
do His


JOHN WARE


mnPk
Year: 1871

A Correspondent of the Journal Of
Agriculture says he finds his clay loan
lands increase more in preductiveness
BY the use Of eight bushels Of salt to
one bushel of plaster, per acre, than
from the application Of barn yard ma.
nure,
Year: 1871

Corn HARVESTER AND "HUsKER. -
At the Patent office in Washington every
visitor to the "model room can understand
the truth of the saying that there is no end
to the number and variety of "reapers,"
"mowers," "harvesters'' and other elm
proved agricultural implements. With
all this it is somewhat remarkable that
there has been no successful machine here
tofore provided for harvesting Indian corn,
and at the same time rdding the farmer of
the time-consuming nuisance of "husking.
1t has remained until now, and for clergy
man, to produce this machine, the model
of which is now in Philadelphia.


The machine is on two wheels and drawn
by two horses. 1t operates on the outside
row of corn, passing continuously around
the field. The stalks in each hill are all cut
off at once by two circular cutters, revolv-
ing towars each other, at the front of the
machine. The stalks are carried thence,
butts first, by revolving arms and an end
less apron to a pair of tiuted, rollers, which
grasp the stalks and carry them rapidly
through. The ears, however, being too
large to pass between the rollers. are push
ed out of the husks in the neatest and most
effective manner. This is because the
j1int of the ear with the stalk is the weak
est point and easily broken by contact with
the rollers. The ears fall into hopper
and are taken up by au elevator to trough,
whence they slide into wagon that accom-
panies the machine, and carries the corn
to the granary. The stalks with the husks
entire are passed between the rollers to
platform, and when sufficient for n bundle
to accumulate it opens and drops them on
the ground ready for binding and stacking.
The machine is provided with an arrange
ment by which the corn when it has fallen
can be lifted off the ground and brought
into contract with the saws. provision is
also made for cutting the corn while green,
and placing it in bundles without husking;
that process to be the subject of another
operation of passing between the rollers
when the corn has became perfectly ripe.
1t is worthy of note that the busking is
accomplished without shelling grain of
corn. One man and four boys with three
horses have run working model of the
machine, and cut and husked corn at the
rate of ten acres per day, saving the stalks
and husks perfectly.
Year: 1871

Hrs HEAD WAS LEyEL.-A New York
wholesale grocer, who had become rich in
his business, has lately made the following
revelation. He says his rule always was
when he sold bill of goods on credit to
subscribe for the local paper
of his debtor. So long as his customer
advertised literally and vigorously he rest
ed but rs soon as he began to contract his
advertising space, he took the fact as evi
dence that there was trouble ahead, and he
invariably went for his debt. "For," said
he, "the man who feels too poor to mako
his business known, is too poor to do busi-
ness" This Withdrawing of an advertise
ment is an evidence of weakness that bust
ness men are not slow to observe.
Year: 1871

both result from the lack Of ability to convert the food
into nutriment. How necessary, thcn for those suffer-
ing from these alarming symptoms to Immediately
resort to remedy that will strengthen the stomach
and digestive organs. For, this desirable
object has been accomplished the health improves and
the patient resumes his usual personal appearance
Hostetters Stomach Bitters have attained worldwide
popularity such cases. and have been proven the best
and safest means Of removing constipation toning the
stomach giving energy to the liver and relieving every
symptom Of nervousness and depression of spirits Its
cheering and beneficial effects highly spoken of by
thousands who to it their restoration to health
No restorative in the annals Of medicine has attained
the popularity in tho short space of time it has
been before the public, or has tho high endorse
accorded to this excellent tonic. Many other
purportng to bo corrcctves and restora
tive. have been introduced and have perished by
one while the popularity Of Iiostetters Stomach Bit
ters continues to increase and is recognized
standard household medicine. The which
attends the of the Btters evnces at its virtues
in all Of debility and disease Of the stomach
Certificates, almost without number have been publish
ed, attestng its truly miraculous power in removing
those painful and fearful diseases And at this time it
idle to do than call attention to the great
remedy Of tho age in order to awaken public attention
it's excellence 1t is the only preparation of the kind
that is reliable in all cases. and it is therefore worthy
of the consideration Of the afflicted


aug 5, iS1l-lm
Year: 1871

camp of the Ohio Democracy by Colonel
John NJ. Connell, one of the ablest writer's
and most popular speakers within that
organization. 1t is in the form of a letter
to Hon. A. G. Thurman, Chairman of the
Democratic State Executive Committee in
reponse to an invitation from that body to
take the stump in favor of the Democratic
ticket lately nominated by the State Con-
vention. This Colonel Connell very plain
ly and squarely refused to do, on the ground
first, that Colonel MeCook, the nominee
for Governor, was not really nominated
and second, that the party is entering upon
the canvass with false platform, to which
he and other true Democrats cannot sub
scribe.
Year: 1871

And this is fair specimen Of DemOcra-
tic government wherever it obtains power.
Not democratic organ in the country
condemns these wholesale frauds of Tam
many, but number try to defend them.
Year: 1871

There is no doubt that the
carpet-baggers and scalawags
of the South are pure and una.
dulterated patriots. For in
stance, the Superintendent Of
the public schools Of Charles
ton, South Carolina, stole the
annual appropriation Of three
hundred thousand dollars, and
the schools had to be closed on
account of there being no mon
ey to pay the salary of the
teachers. He would make an
excellent witness to go before
the Ku.Klux Committee. The
lie that he wouldn't swear to
would not be worth telling.
Year: 1871

The taxes collected 10y the
Radical party in power at
Washington, from the people
of the United Statesy since the
close of Me war, have amour.
ted to


Twenty-seven Hundred Mil


liOnns of Dollars.
Try and realize this enormous
sum if you can.


During the same period the
public debt has been decreased
but
Year: 1871

Joseph Jones, age So, while insane, cut his
throat with knife, early yesterday at his residence
No 52 West Forty seventhst and died before medical
aid could be procured Later in the day inquest was
held at which his wife testified that he had been very
intemperae for the past eight years ana had az eS
seemed OF unsound mind She awoke Monday night anu
missing her husband went in search OF him. There was
blood the cellar steps and after considerable seac
the deceased was found in the water-dOset Neruoe
of suicide while insane " was rendered.
Year: 1871

and for surrcndcring It The Board may orally
examine them and II the application s entertained eI
animation blanks shall be given under tho rules now
existing It shan he the duty OF the clerk TO keep
registry OF the applicants which shall be always open
for inspection. -
Year: 1871

An adroit rogue tapped the till at Messrs Bar
ry 6 McDannelPs confectionery last evening
and made off with considerable sum of money.
About seven o'clock, an old colored man named
Brown came in to get can of syrup. There
was No one in the store at the time except Mr..
Mcdaniel, who went into the back room to
drawthe syrup, Brown following him to the
door, but standing SO that he could see in the
front room. While Mr. Med. was filing the
vessel he heard noise and asked Brown who
had come in! Brown replied that no enc had.
and he supposed the noise was caused BY bows
on the street. Mr. Mcdaniel then came out
and going to the front part of the store discov-
cred the money drawer lying on the floor be-
hind the counter, rifed of its contents, EXCEPT
small amount in silver. The amount taken is
not known, nor has the thief been apprehended
at the hour of this writing, though search was
made in suspected localities by Messrs. Waddle
and Smith, of the city police.
Year: 1871

Life has been called warfare. Blessed,
then, is the periodical armistice of the
Sabbath. Blessed not merely as day OF
rest, but also retrospection. 1t is only in
the pauses of the fight that we can see how
the battle is going on.


Better to weave in the web of life


A bright and delicate filling,


And to do Gods will with a ready heart.


And hands that are swift and willing


Than to snap the minute, delicate threads


Of our curious lives assunder,


And then blame Heaven for the tangled ends


And sit and grieve and wonder
If you have performed any act of disin-
terested virtue, conceal IL; if you publish
1t, you will never be believed here nor re-
warded hereafter.