smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

| When the probable loss of the Inman


steamship City of Boston was first sug-


gested in the newspapers, on account of


her non-arrival at Liverpool, some one


in this country proposed the employment


of carrier pigeons as sea messengers of


distress. A prominent London journal
devotes long article to this proposition,
and urges that test of its practiclbility


be made. If it is certain, or even only


probable, that had there been suitably
trained carrier pigeons on the City of
Boston, we should now know the story
of her fate, the fact is one of no slight
interest and Importance.


There can be little doubt that the
missing steamer is finally and forever
lost. Whether she was destroyed by
colliding with an iceberg when few
days out from Halifax-as Mr.. Inman,
her owners, believes-or whether she was
consumed by fire caused by the over
heating of her engines, as has been ru-
mored, we shall probably never know.
And, if anything, it is this dreadful wa Mt
of knowledge that intensiGes the anguish
of those whose dear ones form,d part
of the precious human freight on board
the fated ship.


In order to employ carrier pigeons for
the conveyance of messages from vessels
in distress, it would be necessary to es-
tablish large dovecots as homes for them
at one or two of our important seaports,
from which they could be taken by out
ward bound ships. In case of accident
or peril, a slip of paper attached to one
of the birds would be swiftly borne to
the cot from which the pigeon came,
provided the distance were not too great,
and the bird could be induced to Fly from
the ship.


Five hundred miles is long fight for
the carrier pigeon, though sea birds can
can doubtless traverse longer distance
without touching the water more than
once ortwice But the speed of the
carrier pigeon is very great. At the
annual pigeon race in Belgium last July,
some 200 birds were sent from Brussels
to a place near Toulouse, $50 miles dis
tant. There they were let go, and the
winning bird reached Brussels in twenty
hours from the time he was liberated. II
England, carriers have flown 200 miles
in three hours and a half.


Useful, however, as carrier pigeons
might be in some cases; as where ship
was short of provisions, or her machinery
disabled, they would avail nothing, prob
ably, on the occurrence of sudden dis
aster. The outbreak of FIRE, or COLI
sion with an iceberg, are accidents so
terrible in their nature hat they leave
no time for any thoughts but those of
how to escape. And it is probable that
some such sudden and unexpected fate
befell the City of Boston some disaster
that would have rendered the writing of
a message and attaching it to bird
utterly impossible. But if she went
down in a storm at sea. and before she
had half crossed the ocean, carrier pig
cons taken from this side might well
have brought us the last words of her
to those in the world they
had left.-N. Y Sun.
Year: 1870

IDEA or DEATA.-That death and
sleep are very much alike the sages all
tell US, but see how very attractively
Leigh Hunt described the latter "It iss
delightful thing certainly, that of being
nestled into bed and feeling that you will
drop gently to sleep. The good is a.
come-not past. The limbs have been
just tired enough to render the remaining
in one position delightful. The labor OF
the day is done A gentle failure of the
perceptions comes stealing over one the
spirit of consciousness disengages itself
more and more with slow and hushing
degrees, Ike mother detachng her hand
from that of her sleeping child the mind
seems to have a balmy lid closing oyee
it, like the eye; It's closing-tis closed.
The mysterious spirit has gone to take
its rounds"
Year: 1870

THE manufacture Of oil from the cot
ton seed is making progress with every
prospect of ultimate success. 1t is soule
what surprising that the problem of the
use of cotton seed should not have been
solved long since, especially when we
consider how many thousand tons of it
have been allowed to go to waste in the
United States.
Year: 1870

Every American is eager to learn all
he can about Washington, and is never
weary of hearing anecdotes about him, or
incidents Of his private life. A letter,
just published, gives rsome facts about
him, in which our readers may be inter-
ested:


While the Fed ri City was building.
the Legislature of Pennsylvania voted
the President house, hoping, perhaps,
to keep the seat of government in Phila-
delphia. The house formerly occupied
as the University of Pennsylvania was
accordingly built for that purpose. But
as soon as General Washington saw its
dimensions, and good while before it
was finished, he let it be known that he
would not occupy it; that he certainly
should not go to the expense of purchsa-
ing suitable furniture for such dwelling
and hired instead a modest but comforta-
| bic residence


The President ate Indian cakes for
breakfast, after the Virginia fashion al
though buckwheat cakes were general
ly ou the table. Washington's dinner
parties were entertained in a very hand
some style.


His weekly dining day for company.
was Thursday. and his dining hour was
always four o'clock in the afternoon.
His rule was to allow five minutes for
the variation of clocks and watches, and
then go to the table, be present or absent
whoever might.


He kept his own clock in the hall, Just
within the outward door, and always ex-
actly regulated. When tagging members
of Congress came in, as they often did
after the guests had sat down to dinner,
the Presidents only apology was


"Gentlemen, Tor sir) we are too pune
tual for you | have cook who never
asks whether the company has come.''


He was always dressed in a suit Of
black, his hair powdered, and tied in "a
black queue behind, with very elegant
dress sword which he wore with inilnita-
bic grace.


Mrs. Washington often but not always
dined with the company, sat at the head
of the table, and if as was occasionally the
case, there were other ladies present, they
sat each side of her. The President sat
half way from the head to the foot of the
table, and on that side he would place
Mrs. Washington though distant from
him, on his right hand.
Year: 1870

When Adam was far advanced in years


and at the point of death, he sent his son


to the angel Michael. who kept the gate


of Paradise to pray for the oil of mercy,


so that he could be healed. The angel


answered that it could not be until fifty
five hundred years, but he gave Seth a


branch of the tree Of which Adam had
eaten, bidding him plant it On Mount


Lebanon, and that when it bare fruit his
father should be healed. Seth planted


the branch on his fathers gave it took
root and grew, and from it were made
Aaron's rod and Moses. staff with which
be struck the rock and sweetened the wa
tiers of Marah. 1t also formed the pole
on which the hrazen serpent was raised
up, and the ark of the testimony At
last it came into the hands of Solomon.
who used it in building his palace but it
continually resisted the efforts of the
builders to adjust it. Now it was too
long, and then again too short. The
builders, being angry, then threw it into
marsh, SO that it might serve as bridge.
The queen of Sheba would not walk upon
but adored it, and told Solomon that upon
it should be suspended the man by whose
death the kingdom should be destroyed.
Solomon then had it buried deep in the
ground, where afterward the pool of Beth
sada was dug, and from the virtues of
this tree healing properties were impaired
to the waters After it had been buried
three hundred years it rose to the surface
of the water, and the Jews took it and
made of it the cross of our Savior
pincott's .naJasfne. 7-SA asaa ,rfiS-1
| RATS AND PuPPIss.- Many people
who have been told that the Chinese eat
rats, do not believe the story; but it is
true. In the northern part Of China.
where meat is cheap, rats are never eaten
in the central provinces. they occasional
ly add a flavor to a poor mans soup;
but in the vicinity of Canton, they are a
staple article of food with the lower,
classes. A rat is prepared for the Chi
nese market in a peculiar way; it is
skinned, opened, pressed fiat, salted and
dried. Rats are to be seen in the market
place, piled up in the above shape, like
Goldfish in our grocers' shops. Of course
when the coming man. is represented
by the thousand here, he will want his
rats and 10 doubt there will be enter
prise enough among our people to give
them to him in the. form as above de-
scribed. This will be called "a new
branch Of industry and trade, very pro-
perly.b 1a nelsa.sa ~ ..aId--- g Bee
Year: 1870

HoLD ON.-Hold on to your tongue
when you are just ready to swear, lie
or speak harshly or use an improper
word.


Hold on to your hand when about to
strike, pinch, steal or do an improper
act.


Hold on to your foot when you are
on the point Of kicking, running away
from study, or pursuing the path of er-
ror or shame or crime.


Hold on to your temper when you
are angry, excited, or imposed upon,
or Others are angry about you.


Hold on to your hearts when evil as
sociates seek your company and invite
you to Join in their mirth and revelry.


Hold on to your name at all times,
for it is of more value to you than gold,
high places or fashionable attire.


Hold on to the truth, for it will
serve you well and do you good
throughout eternity.


Hold on to your virtue--it is above
all price to you in all times and places.


Hold on TO your good character, for
it is and ever will be your best wealth.
Year: 1870

@ Paper collars and cuffs have
been fashionable for long while, and
they are now making handkerchiefs of
paper, a Ia japanese. They are very
strong, and can hardly be told from
fine silk handkerchief This will be
bad news for the washerwomen.
Year: 1870

From GERTRUDE OF WYoM1Na.-Be-
cause a jury-mast is a make-shift for
lost spar, it does not follow that jury
woman is a make-shift for any body.
In fact, the women who sit upon juries
are not the sort of women who person
ally supply the family linen.
Year: 1870

Enter into knowledge. In your own
right, or by the aid of friends on long
time, have cash capital sufficient to
do at least a cash business. Never
venture OH credit business at the COM
mencement. Buy all your goods OF
materials for cash; you can thus take
every advantage of the market, and
pick and choose where and when you
will. Be careful not to overstock your
self. Rise and fall with the market on
short stocks. Always stick to those
whom you prove to be strictly just in
their transactions, and shun all others,
even at temporary disadvantage
Never take advantage of customers
ignorance, nor equivocate nor misrep-
resent. Have but one price and a
small profit, and you will find all the
most profitable customers-the cash
Ones-Or they will find you.


If ever deceived in business transac.
tions, never attempt to save yourself
by putting the deception upon others !;
but submit 10 the less, and be more
cautious in the future. According to
the character or success of your busi-
ness, set aside q liberal percentage for
printing and advertising, and do not
hesitate. Never let an article parcel or
package go out from you without a
handsomely printed wrapper, card or
circular, and dispense them continual
ly. Keep yourself increasingly before
the public by judiciously advertising;
and it matters not what business Of
utility you make choice of, for if intel
ligenuy and industriously pursued,
fortune will be the result.
Year: 1870

Seth Green, the noted pisciculturist,
has been for q long time puzzled by the
terrible destruction of very small trout,
and his investigations have at length
resulted as follows: "There is a small
worm which is favorite food of trout
and many other kind of fish: This
worm is the greatest enemy winch the
Young fry have. 1t spins Wen III the
water to catch young fish, Just as a spl-
der does on hand to catch flies. l have
seen them make the web and take tht
fish. The web Is as perfect as that o.
the spider, and as much mechanical III
genuity is displayed in its construc'
ton. 1t is made rs quickly and in the
same way as spiders, by fastening
the thread at different points and going
back and forth until the web is finished.
The threads are not strong enough t.
hold the young trout after the umbili-
cal sac is absorbed, but the web will
stick to the fins and get around the head
and gills, and soon kills the fish. /
have often seen IL on the young trout,
and il has been great mystery, and
caused me many hours, days and weeks
of wonder to find out what was around
the heads and fins of my young trout
and killed them. / did not find out
until lately, while watching recently
Matched whitefish. These are much
smaller than the trout when they begin
to swim, and they were caught and held
by the web. l found ten small white
fish caught i'm one web in one night
The web was spun in little whitefisl
preserve, into which / had put one hun
dred young fish. The threads spun by
this worm seem TO be much finer thar
the common SPIDERS web, and they arr
not visible i'm the water until the sedi


ment collects upon them. They car
then be seen very plainly. These web:
can not be spun where there il mucf
current, and can be easily seen i'm stil
water bv close observer"
Year: 1870

Sir Walter Raleigh discOursing on the


virtues of tobacco to Queen Elizabeth,
said to her that among ifs other won
derful qualities, the smoke into which
it was converted in pipe could be ac-
curately weighed. The Queen being
incredulous, laid him wager of thirty
pieces of gold that he could not prove
his assertion; whereupon Sir Walter
calling for a pair of scales, weighed the
tobacco with which he charged his pipe,
and having smoked the contents be-
fore the court, weighed the ashes left In
the bowl, saying to the Queen, "y your
majesty can not deny that the differ
ence between the weight of the tobac-
co placed in the pine and that of the
ashes that remain, is the exact weight
of the portion which has teen turned
into smoke" The Queen readily adj
mitted the fact, and ordered the wager
to be paid, declaring to those who stood
by that Sir Walter had proved himself
to be the greatest of alchemists, for all
Others she had heard of only pretended
to change one metal into another, but
that De had actually changed smoke
into gold.
Year: 1870

What a saddening reflection it is,
that the following paragraphs reveal
the true history Of many young men
of the present day, who might have
been happy and prosperous, useful and
honored i'm the community, the pride
and support of parents and esteemed
by all, instead of leading the miserable
outeast life of drunkards. The thought
is inexpressibly saddening that the VIC
Tins of this terrible vice, intemperance,
are, for the most part, young men who
had 1t in their power to attain COM
manding positions i'm society. But we
desire, without any more remarks of
our own, to commend these significant
and truthful paragraphs to the atten-
ton OF our readers, as more eloquent
and impressive than anything we can
utter, for they are true.


i first saw him in social party he
took but single glass of wine, and
that at the earnest solicitation of a
young lady to whom he had been in
troduced.


/ next saw him, when he supposed
he was unseen, taking a glass to satisfy
the slight desire by his sordid indul-
gence, and thought there was no dan
ger. -..-t


next saw him, late in the evening,
i'm the street, unable to walk home. /
assisted him thither. and we parted.


/ next saw him reeling ont of a low
groggery; and a confused stare was on
his countenance, and words Of blasphe-
my were on his tongue, and shame was
gone. ttr-..


i saw him once more. He was cold
and motionless, and was carried by his
friends to his last resting place. In the
small procession that followed, every
head was cast down. His fathers gray
hairs were going to the grave with sor-
row; his mother wept that she had
ever given birth to such child.


/ returned home musing on his future
state. 1 opened the Bible and read:
Drunksrds shall not enter the King
dom of Heaven" When a boy, our
poor friend was as happy and bright as
any of you. More than once, when
students together, did he sneer at my
when / urged him to sign
the pledge, he laughed at me and
secuted at the bare suggestion of dan
ger. Poor Fred his father had the
glass on the table, and there the appe-
tite was formed. Beware of the first
glass.-Erchdngc.
Year: 1870

Arthur was looking with much in


terest at some tea-leaves in the bottom
of his mothers cup.


"How different they look after they


are cooked, don't they, mother?n he


said.


"Yes, dear, | think We may find


some perfect leaves in the teapot
She took a tablespoon and brought


up spoonful of fairgrounds from


the bottom of the pot and laid them
out ON a saucer. \ little examination


brought to light n very fair pointed
tea-leaf.


"How can they make them into
those hard, dry-looking grains?" he
asked.


"This is all done by taking the tea,
leaf by leaf, and rolling il up between
the thumb and finger. Just think of
the labor required to make up one
pound of tea; and then think of the
millions of pounds sold every year in
our country alone. How many people
it must employ, and how slowly the
work must seem to grow under their
hands Just think of it, leaf by leaf!
Yet every leaf helps swell the amount.
1t Is good lesson of the power of lit
ties. If all workers should say, the
little can do will never amount tn
anything, l might as well stop my
work. where would the millions Of
pounds come from? Just so with the
little atoms of good we may do In the
world. 1t seems as though you could
do very little, does it not Arthur? Yet,
remember these tea-leaves Do your
little and urge your next neighbor to
do his part. Littles fit into one ano-
ther wonderfully well, and if we could
keep the chain unbroken, what q hap
py world it would be! Far greater re-
suits would come of it than ever will
spring from the tea-worker's tasks
See how many good, kindly deeds you
can do every day; and, If you like,
you may say softly to yourself, as you
pass along, "There is another tea
leaf"


And mother gave her boy a kiss and
q smile as she rose from the table. /
wish all the little ones would reuem.
Der the tea-leaves.-Prcs5Werina
Year: 1870

gagged in these At the solicitation OF Dcno-
cratic leaders, but esen that most expensive
stupidity wns rational when compared with
this sense1css tirade against Ptussis, merely
because the Germans in the United States


vote the Republican ticket. 1s it not time
for the Irish-Americans to think and act for
thcmselves-to have an opinion and policy


Of their own, instead Of being blind follow


or Of the Democratic psrty7 Have they
not permitted that party to make 1shmae1-
ties of them quite long enoughY
Year: 1870

gHE VACANCY IN TIE sENATE--NO SPECIAL


ELECTION.


ALBANY, Dec. 20.-The Attorney General, in
response to inquiry from the Governor has rendered
an opinion that the latter is not empowered to MI the
vacancy in the Senate caused by the death of the Hon.
Inah Blood aud that the laws do not provide for hold
ing special election for that purpose Tie matter viii
Do left accordingly to the Legislature.
Year: 1870

Lovers of Shakespeare and of fine reading
will not forget that Miss Gyn, the noted English actress
whose name identified with the character OF Cleopatra
is to read the play Of Antony and Cleopatra tonight at
stenWay Hall.
Year: 1870

The Resort of tho "Indomitnbe'' Statesmen
of tho City-Where the Democratic Cabinet
CoBveaes-Personaiides and Reflections OF
Political Meaals-- Where nIen and Measures
Are Gut, Dried and Consumed.


condition OF armed neutrality, II not actually
provocauve Of open warfare, Is certainly no EVIL
dence Of a desire to keep the peace neither are
visits from one side or frontier line to the other
be regarded as more than the social comfy which
Is so often utilized into keen reconnaissance or
prospective enemy.


The triumph OF the State democracy last fall seems
to have led TO anything but friendly relations be-
tween the magnates OF that party, and with what
determination the several issues in dispute have
been upheld by their respective champions has been
manifested inside the Legislature as well as out


JEALOUSY OF THE BIG INDIANS
who rule Tammany has NJ last eliminated In an op-
position so formidable taat Cancellation seems TO
have been adopted rs the only measure to meet the
emergency. The rebellion was Short but very deci.
sive, and how long the compromise will last time
alone can tell.


COUNTER ORGANIZATIONS
to Tammany have been formed from time to time.
Year: 1870

There but few inventions discoveries
which produce a complete revolution in any de-
partment of labor. To have supposed, year ago,
that the dirtest garment could be washed clean,
in twenty or thirty minutes, by boiling alone,
would have been regarded as an indication of in
sanity. But it has been demonstrated beyond any
doubt that this process only cleans the clothes,
but that garments thus washed become whittier and
clearer the longer it is used. Some people suggest
that clothes will get yellow after awhile. by being
washed in this way but such a surposition has
foundation in fact, and is contradicted by the
perenee of every lady who has adopted this mode
of washing.


Everybody who has tried the machine in Shasta
have expressed themselves highly pleased with
its operations 1t must be seen to be fully appre-
cated, its full merits cannot be properly set
forth in ordinary advertisement


Public and private tests have been given of this
apparatus for the last six months, and more than
million of people have witnessed its success. Ten
thousand boilers sold in New York City in less
than five onths. from one stand, and at this time
the orders reach about hundred day. Nc
used it as directed that did not recommend
| it. 1t has been recommended by more than five
thousand persons in less than six months. Among
| the names those Of the most distinguished cit
| izens Of the United States ; but the best recommen-
daton is to take the boiler and it yourself Do
just you directed and you will be than
satisfied. 1t appeals to all as matter of econ
| omy, and can be shown to be the beS kind of an
investment. 1t viii return yearly dividend in
cash of TWO HUNDRED PER CENT on the
money invested. For instance, we will suppose
your white clothing such bed and table linen
ladies and gentcmens' wear. and childreus' cloth
ing, only cost you $40 year. They will last twice
as long washc in this way as by the od method.
! Thus YOU actually save $50 year by investing %
or 201 per cent annually. There is family
scarcely but spends than here stated but this
is taken very low average of this branch of
family expense Added to this is the great con-
venience and comfort of the thing, which, all taken
together, makes it luxury which no, family can
well afford to be without.


This Boiler sells the best of any article ever offer
ed to the public Anybody after try ing it fairly
will not let it go out of of the house.
Year: 1870

MAssACHUsETTs.-The old Bay State
establised the first school in the United
States, the first college; set up the first
newspaper, planted the first apple tree, and
caught the first whale; coined the first
money and hoisted the first national flag
shed the first blood of the revolution, and
also in our late civil war made the first
canal and the first Douse-tr trap, aud the first
washing machine sent the first ship to
discover the islands and continents of the
South Sea; produced the first philosopher,
and the first pin; gave John Bull his first
beating, aud put her hands first to the
Declaration of Independence