smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

A YOUNG man named Melvin Craver
narrowly escaped being carried over the
Rock bottom dam on a cake of floating
ice yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Crave1
was amusing himself watching the ice
near the water works and he resolved tG
have a short ride. Equipping himself
with piece CT board he stepped upon a
cake of ice. He intended to keep his
slippery craft near the shore, but the
swift current was too much for him and
he drifted toward the middle of the
river. The piece of ice on which the
young man stood was small, and the
waves occasionally dashed over it, max.
ing its surface very slippery. Young
Craver wore pair of rubber boots and
the exertions he had to make to keep
himself from slipping into the river were
tremendous.


As the ice upon which he was floating
neared the Rock bottom bridge the cur.
rent moved him toward the north shore.
The bridge was covered with people
watching him, and the angry roar of the
dam about twenty rods below sounded
very unpleasantly i'll his ears. just be-
low the bridge the ice came quite near
the shore, and some one held out a pike
pole toward HIM. In attempting to reach
it he slipped and fell into the water. He
grabbed the ice with both hands and
with extraordinary agility managed to
climb upon it again. Another attempt
to reach the pole proved successful, and
Melvin was brought to shore, much ex-
hausted, thoroughly drenched, but happy
in his rescue at the end of his perilous
ride.-Binghamton IN. ~ Republican,
.4pr5L /.
Year: 1875

ALL those who have watched the hab-
its of animals must have remarked how
widely spread among them is this species
of hunor, namely: annoying and insult
ing stronger being than themselves
whenever they think that they can do
so with impunity. And SO strong is the
impulse to crafty their sense of humor
that they do not hesitate to do so at the
risk of their lives. NJ. MouhOt, in his
work on "India- China and Cambodia," /"
mentions that he has often witnessed
very amusing scenes between the monk
ey and the crocodile.
The latter animal is lying half asleep
on the bank, and is espied by the monk
eys. They seem to consult together,
approach, draw back, and at last proceed
to overt acts of annoyance. If monkey
can find a convenient branch he goes
along it, swings himself down, hangs by
hand OF foot, slaps the crocodile on
the nose, and instantly scrambles up the
branch out of the reptiles reach. Some
times when no branch is sufficiently near
several monkeys will hang to each other
so as to make chain, and, swinging
backward and forward over the croco-
dile's head, the lowermost monkey will
torment the reptile to his hearts con-
tent. The cream OF the joke is when the
crocodile is at last so irritated that it
opens its enormous jaws, makes vicious
snap at the monkey, and just misses
him. Whenever this happy event oc-
ours there are screams and gatherings
of exultation from the monkeys and a
vast number of joyful gambols executed
among the branches


OF course, according to the old proverb,
tine pitcher may go too often to the well ;
and it does occasionally happen that the
monkey does not escape in time and is
inguifed in the crocodile's jaws. Where
upon the cries of exultation are changed
into groans and shrieks of terror, and
the whole assembly make off as fast as
they can. But experience does not teach
them discretion, and in two or three days
they will be at the same game again.
am personally acquainted with a
heron in which this form. of humor il
largely developed.


The bird was in one sense tame, for il
was allowed to run loose in garden, and
was ON the most affectionate terms Of
Year: 1875

A FLORENCE correspondent of the Phil
adelphia Press writes: Gas two elegant
equipages passed US, each occupied by a
fine-looking gentleman, my companion
said: In the first of these carriages is
the principal of a fatal duel which took
place two years ago, and in the next the
young man who acted as his brave Sec
ond. They are both of noble descent,
and were involved in this affair one night
at the opera upon the debut of young
ballet danseuse A lot of men had been
employed by her friends to applaud her,
and in the midst of their effort several
Kisses proceeded from the box occupied
by the young nobleman and his asso-
ciates. A noted leader of what are called
the roughs of Florence, very prosper
Gus man, with many workmen under him,
a famous swordsman, formerlya fencing
master, took great otfense at what he
called an insult to his special party, and
walked to the box or loge whence the
kissing proceeded AS he broke in, full
of threats, the young robleman raised a
chair to defend himself, and his friends
and the police came to the rescue. A
challenge ensued from the swordsman
which was instantly accepted by the
other man, who knew nothing of fencing
Everybody believed he was doomed, and
great efforts were made to stop the fight
because the challenger was admitted to
be invincible with the small sword the
chosen weapon of the French and the
Italians, but in vain. The leader of the
roughs boasted that by a particular de-
scending blow he would cut his adver
sary in twain. At the appointed hour
the parties met, and the swordsman
rushed upon his antagonist with elevated
sword, while the latter presented his
weapon so steadily straight before him
that he pierced his assailant through and
killed him, even while his glittering
blade was whirling over his head. A
great excitement followed. The parti-
sans of the dead man swore to take the
life of the nobleman, who had to leave
the country to escape assassination, and
remained in Switzerland for long time
When saw him he looked very pale and
sad, as if regretting the fatal occurrence,
or fearing that the hour of retribution
would come. He is only twenty-five
years of age and much esteemed by peo-
pie of al parties in Florence"
Year: 1875

British manners and customs ever
prove fertile source of amusement to
Gallo critics, and French contempo-
rary has now been chatting what he calls
the English g sixth sense the bump of
travelling. He maintains, however, that
they do not travel always for the love of
the thing, and tells the following story
as proof: Twenty years ago Liver
pool steamer packet company wanted to
extend its premises, and resolved to buy
a piece of land belonging to maiden
lady of can uncertain age." The spin
ster sold her land at very low price,
and rs set-off requested that clause
should be put in the agreement to the
effect that during her whole life she and
a companion should at any time travel
free in the company's vessels. The day
after the agreement was signed she sold
her furniture, let her house, and went
on board the first outward bound vessel
belonging to the company, without
troubling herself about the destination.
Since then the lady has always lived on
one ship or other, accompanied by some
lady traveller for whom she advertises,
and whose passage-money she pockets.
She is reckoned to have made over ten
thousand dollars by the transaction, and
the company have offered her upward OF
this sum for her privilege, but cannot
get quit of her at any price.
Year: 1875

When in Albania Olive Harper went
to visit robber chief, dined with him,
and tells the story as follows: After the
meal was concluded, Vasile Carabas rose
to go, and making low bow to me, and
taking fold on my linen travelling dress
and pressing it to his lips, he begged
would not think quite SO hardly of him
as others did, and he begged me to ac-
cept, as a slight token of his pleasure in
having seen me, beautiful diamond
ring. Isomehow could not make up my
mind to do so (or perhaps required a
little more urging), and so 1 coupled my
refusal with request for one of the sill
yer buttons he had on his jacket. He
cut it off and gave it tome with apleased
smile, and, with the other hand, threw
the ring away as far as he could. l will
confess that was Just a little sorry L
hadn't taken it, for it is pity to waste
diamonds like tears. ...-. .....


We were soon on our way again, and
it was dark. The old captain told me
the history of the robber chief. Some
years ago he had position in society as
the only son of wealthy and respectable
father, and was himself respected as a
young man of courage and intellect.
He had one sister, lovely young girl of
fourteen and half years. A certain
man of high position in Athens stole the
maiden and kept her hidden from her
people for two weeks. Vasile loved this
sister tenderly, and he searched for her
far and wide, and at last succeeded in
finding her in the retreat in which this
man had confined her, and on learning
the story of outrage and disgrace, he
became almost beside himself with rage
against the cowardly villain who had
perpetrated it, and swore vengeance
against him to the death. He embraced
his sister tenderly, and said "My sis
ter is dishonored, and my sister dis
honored must die, that the fruit of that
dread disgrace may not rest forever q
reproach to all of her kin, and with
these words he plunged his knife in her
heart. That same day saw the death of
the wretch who had caused this sorrow
and death, and as the man was of high
position the story was hushed as much
as possible. The young man threw him
self upon the mercy of the government,
relating the story and what he had done
and demanding justice-that he should
be acquitted of crime in what he had
done. But, instead of that, the utmost
/ rigor of the law was enforced, and he
was placed in prison, from whence, by
, the aid of two trusty friends, he escaped
and took to the mountains, after one
years imprisonment
Year: 1875

A windmill is a very pretty pictur
esque object sitting upon high bluff,
with it's figure outlined against the sky
tanning itself on.a warm evening. The
further off it is within the range of vision
the prettier. George Wells, wealthy
citizen of Monona county, Iowa, lives
next door to a very high windmill. Mrs.
Wells has little eight-year old daugh-
ter, whose curiositythe monster wind
mill excited. She wanted to get the
nearest possible view of it, so she climb
ed and climbed, and never thought how
far above the ground she was getting.
That evening, when her father came
home from q journey to a neighboring
town, hislittle pet daughter did not run
out to the gate,to meet him as usual,
and at this he wondered. 81, He, feared
something must be the matter. with her,
but was not left long in doubt, for lit
tie musical voice which he well knew
came to him from afar, and it seemed
from on high. 1t was as if an angel had
spoken, and the father was almost afraid
to look up lest he should see his darling
daughter floating away from him on an


gelic wings. But he did look in the di-
rection of the sound, and, to his con-
sternation, beheld his little girl away up
on the other side of the windmill,
standing on ladder just under the
vanes, and evidently at some loss how to
get down. The top of the ladder look
ed not much wider than the tines of q
table fork, and a slip would have occa.
stoned her a fall of one hundred and
twelve feet to the ground. The huge
vanes were revolving rapidly enough tc
make one dizzy, just above her tiny
head. The father summoned all his
presence of mind and treated the situa
ton lightly. He shouted to his child
bravo" to give her confidence. A
CHEEKY little "hlGrah " came down from
above. The father then shouted


"Nellie, haven'tyou got it about fixed2'
"Oh, yes, papa" came floating from tn,
dizzy height. "Well, then, come down
DEAR" The child commenced the de
scent. 1t was critical moment. A few
rods of the ladder made would give he,
confidence. The father stood breathles
as nearly under his child as he coulc
get, thinking that he might save her i
she were to lose her grasp and footing
She made it in safety, and acknowledged
she was just little bit scared away VI
there toward heaven, and nobody nea
to pull her in. Nellie's father and moth
er told her never to go SO near the wind
mill again, and especially not to max


herself little tomboy by climbing lad
ders. '--~s- rssA-.'.
Year: 1875

A gentleman deposited a package in
the safe this morning, says Long
Branch hotel correspondent, and asked
for a check for it. Our affable and
obliging clerk gave him check which
he himself invented and put in. vogue at
Saratoga fifteen years ago. Hastily
writing the gentleman's name on a
square of paper, the clerk as hastily tore
it in two. He gave the gentleman one
part and pinned the other part to the
package. This was the check, and an
enforceable one at that. For observe
often as you may do this thing to dupli-
cate it is impossible. You might sue
ceed, perhaps. though with extreme
difficulty, in making an exact reproduc-
tion of your own writing but to tear
apart two pieces of paper in the same
way so that a fragment of one will hit 9
fragment of another is something you
can't do, but you have my permission tc
amuse yourself by trying.
Year: 1875

The heavy sentence of twelve months
Imprisonment and $1,000 fine passed on
Col. Valentine Baker, of the English
army, for brutal assault on young
lady In the cars, at Croydon, will in
crease the respect for the administration
of British justice. 1t shows that his
high social position, and reputation as
the best strategist in the British army,
have not been allowed to screen Inn
from the consequences of his miscon-
duct. COL Baker is one of the best tao
ticians in the English army, an intimate
friend of the Prince of Wales, and a
tremendous influence was brought to
bear to secure his acquittal.
Year: 1875

The farmer sat in his old arm chair,


Rosy and fair,


Contented there.


Kate, declare"
He said to his wife, who was knitting near,
We need not fear


The hard times here,
Though the leaf of life is yellow and sere.
" I'm the king, and you are the queen


OF this fair scene


These fields of green,
Aud gold between, ......r....
These cattle grazing upon the hill,


Take their fill,


And sheep so still,
Like many held by single will @ tt fY
I" These barnyard fowls are our subjects all;
They heed the call,
And like squall ....
On fast wings fall,
Whenever we scatter for them the grain.
'Tis not in vain


We live and reign
In this our happy and calm domain.
And whether the days be dim or fine,


In rain and shine,


These lands of mine,


These fields of thine,
In cloudy shade and in sunset glow,
Will overflow


With crops that grow
When gold is high and when it is low.
Unvexed with shifting Of stocks and shares
And bulls and bears,


Strikes and cares,


and the affairs -tg.
OF speculation in mart and street,


In this retreat


Sweet peace can meet
With plenty on her rural beat" ...
Year: 1875

A FRENCH SMUaGLER. With most
cadaverous countenance and Grape on
his hat he waited at Paris station for
the coffin to be lifted out of the train /;
but it was heavy, for it was lined with
lead. And while the people looked on
with sympathy and wondered if it was
his wife, his mother or his father, the
well informed police invited him into n
private room, where they opened the
coffin and emptied it of its contents of
Brussels lace go
Year: 1875

An account of some experiments made
with the view to determine the organic
matter of the human breath in health
and disease presents some facts of
peculiarly interesting nature. The
breath of eleven healthy persons and of
seventeen affected by different disorders
was examined, the persons being of
different sexes and ages, and the time of
day at which the breath was condensed
varying. The vapor of the breath was
condensedin large glass flask surround
ed by ice and salt, at temperature of
several degrees below zero, the fluid
thus collected being then analysed for
free ammonia, urea, and kindred sub
stances, also for organic ammonia
Among the various results of this ex-
animation may be mentioned the fact
that, in both health and disease, the free
ammonia varied considerably, the varia-
ton, however, could not be connected
with the time of the day, the fasting, or
full condition. Urea was sought for
in fifteen instances three healthy per-
sons and twelve cases of disease; but it
was only found in two cases Of kidney
disease, in one case of diphtheria and a
faint indication of its presence occurred
in female suffering from catarrh. The
quantity of ammonia arising from the
destruction of organic matter also varied,
possibly from the oxidation of albumin
GUS particles by the process of respira-
ton but in the healthy persons there
was a remarkable uniformity in the total
quantity of ammonia obtained by the
| process.
Year: 1875

THE RESULT. of the terrible re-
suits of drinking is thus told in a few
words A man slid down pillar out
side the Laclede hotel, st. Louis, in his
night shirt, thus attracting large and
amused assembly, He was sure that
several rattlesnakes were writhing down
after him, and that monkey was sitting
on his back and making faces.
Year: 1875

this end, great and important are the


tasks before this and kindred associa


tons. 1t is with them to say defeat or


victory, In our State nowhere is there
a more promising field, hore inviting
harvest than right here in your county


The report Of your assessor already
spoken Of BY me, shows your crops this
year to BE- worth 1000, 900 Who can
help adlniring that exhibit You have
kept up your fairs through all troubles
and 'itissitades. To-day you are pre-.
pared to present an appearance in every
way most cheering and encouraging
Your county is always ready and on
hand no hour is so dark and trying as
to prevent her from doing her duty in all
things-she never faters. Then with
your thousand gratifying and magnifi-
cent surroundings, when the proud rec.
ord for our State is made up-and hope
to see and read it before great while
there should bet, here can be, there must
be no brighter chapter in that assigned
to Woodruff county.
Year: 1875

These are the days when the usually
careless and sportive turkey becomes 50
Der and meditative, and may be seen on
the sunny side Of the barn with the Gov
enor's proclamation under one foot and
an almanac under the other, reckoning up
the number of days in the remainder of
his natural existence.
Year: 1875

Probably the most remarkable order
that was ever given to a railroad official,
was sent last week to the statiOn-agent
at Tarrytewn, on the Hudson river rail
road. The telegraph message was
"Open the switch and throw SO into
the river" The agent was amazed.
He knew that 80" was an extra freight
train bound south. To throw it into
the river seemed to him a crime. Yet
there was no mistake about the order.
The message was plain and unmistaka-
bic. So the switch was turned, and
everything was prepared to give g 80" a
a cold bath whatever might be the con-
sequences to the occupants of the train,
or the damage TO the property of the
company. But, for some reason, ''S9 "
did not come. When it was several
hours behind time, the people became
anxious. A search was instituted, and the
missing train was found three miles north,
10 a disabled condition. The eXplapa-
ton of the mysterious order soon came
out. h appears that when "89 was
passing Sing Sing, five cOnvicts boarded
the engine, drove off Il e engineer and
fireman, and opened the Unbelievable
to its fullest extent. They were not
quick enough, however, to prevent the
engineer from slyly turning on the
pumps. AS a consequence, the boiler
filed with water, the cylinder heads
were blown out, and the train stopped.
This was a fortunate end to the esca-
pade, for, If the train had continued Oh
its way, the railroad authorities would
have been compelled to throw it into
the river In order to save a passenger
train which occupied the track soutE OF
TarrytoWn,
Year: 1875

On Saturday night the pursuers OF
Dave Land, the murderer Of Craig
came up with him while asleep at a
friends house. He was taken and
bound across his horse, feet and neck
being tied together, both oXtremitIe5
downward, carried about ten miles
from the place where captured, and
asked his choice jail or die ?" He
chose the latter, and got handsome
send off. He was left in the woods
completely riddled with buckshot. de
was 10 have preached a sermon on sun
day. He remarked that if he had been
awake he would have made two more
bite the dust.
Year: 1875

It rose and fell in the dusky room


And died on the purple night outside,
Like the tremulOus swell Of the oceans calm
And the steady sweep of the coming tide.
And we-stoOd there together, hand in hand,
With faces a-smile but with hearts a-quiveT,
With love that rebelled at masters law,
As We moved to the strains Of " The BeautitJ


River"


What if for once your cheek touched mine
And felt the play Of your breath on my face?
Love caUnOt always be fettered down


Nor rise to a sin in a last embrace.
For held you then but as others may


But held you to wake with terrible shiver-
And the air grew faint and the world grew dim
As we flOated along 90 The Beautiful River"
On the swelling flow of its fervid tide


We buried the past with bitter pleasure;
Forgetting the fUtuTe-a hopeless love


And a life burned out to its golden measure.
touch of the hand and look of the eye,
One burning word, and we parted forever:
Parted to sight, but still heart to heart


In passionate clasp which naught can sever.
Year: 1875

The colonel proceeded to tie himself
on. Through some mistake the rope
that went round his back slipped down
too low. He dropped from the crag,


still weak from the suffering he had ex-
perienced in the ascent. Everything
went we'll until he got to the place
where the precipice bulges ont. Here
disaster overlook him. A clOud Of gas
laden vapor envelopPd him, and he
tainted away with yet 700 feet to de
scend. Carehado and Stevens saw him
let go of the rope, throw biz arms out
grasping at the air, and fall back until
Year: 1875

CARDINAL MANNING, in answer to an
address of the Irish members of Par
Lament, took occasion to say "The
material prosperity of Ireland was never
greater than now. The people of Ireland
never possessed so wide an extent of its
soil since the day in which they pos
sessed it all. They never yet possessed
such abundant wealth" "
Year: 1875

The postmaster general has issued an
order modifying postal regulations by
striking out that part providing that no
subscription to newspapers for less
than three months should be considered
regular subscription as the written
meaning of the law. The effect of this
order is to allow newspaper offices to
send papers to subscribers at regular
rates whether for one week or three
months who have had to pay transient