smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

When Tom Paine was writing his "Age
of Reason" he submitted a part of bis
manuscript to the celebrated DR.. Frank
lin, for his opinion respecting it. The
following is the answer of that great phil
osopher and patriot:


DEAR SIR Il have read your man
uscript with some attention. BY the ar
gument it contains against particular
Providence. you strike at the foundation
of all religion--for without the belief of
Providence that takes cognizance of,
and guards and guides, as far as particu-
lar persons, there is no motive to worship
Deity, to fear his displeasure, or to pray
for his protection | will not enter into
any discussion Of your principles, though
you seem to desire it At present. shall
only give my opinion, that though your
reasoning are subtle and may perhaps
prevail with some readers, You will not
succeed SO as to change the general sen
timents of mankind upon that subject.
and the consequences of printing this
piece will be great deal of odium drawn
upon yourself, mischief to you, and no
benefit to others. He that spits against
the wind spits in his own face. But were
you to succeed. do you imagine any good
will be done by it? You yourself may
find it easy to live a virtuous life without
the assistance afforded by religion-you
have clear perception of the advantages
of virtue and the disadvantages of vice
and possess strength of resolution suf-
fcient to enable you to resist common
temptation. But think how great a por
ton of mankind consists of weak and
! ignorant men and women, and inexperi
enced youth of both sexes, who have
need of the motives of religion to restrain
them from vice, to support virtue. and re-
tain them in the practice of it till 1t be
comes habitual, which is the great point of
its security. And perhaps You are in
debted originally to religious education,
for the habits of virtue upon which you
value yourself Iou might easily dis
play your excellent talent of reasoning
upon less hazardous subject, and there
bv obtain rank with our most distin-
guished authors. For among Us, it is not
necessary, as among the Hottentots, that
youth to be raised into the company of
men should prove his manhood by beat
his mo,her. If men are SO wicked with
rel gion, what would they be without it ;
| intend this letter itself as a proof of
my friendship, and therefore add no pro-
fession to it, but simply subscribe,


Yours, b. Franklin"
Year: 1871

There exists considerable excitement
in Warren cohnty, New Jersey, over a
curious phenomenon. A few days since
as a boat on the Morris and Essex Canal
was passing over the seven-miie level,
between New Village and Broadway, in
that county, the driver of the boat heard
an unusual rumbling noise, like that OF
muffled thunder, and looking ahead he
saw in the canal, about a hundred yards
beyond the water seething aud boiling
like whirlpool Though with fear he
crossed in safety the dangerous eddy, but
had no: gone many yards when he was
startled by an unusual noise and turning
discovered that the bottom of the canal
had given way, and in short time his
his boat was on dry land The water in
the canal for a distance of mile and a
half had in a wonderful short time dis
appeared in a cavity Careful investiga-
,ions were made of the neighboring
streams and the surrounding country,
but no outlet for the water was discov er-
ed. About the canal, in the wood, three
apertures were made, averaging in diam
eter twenty by twenty-five feet In
these holes or cavities rocks and trees
were swallowed up. The tops of the
trees were visible TO the eye, while the
trunks were entirely buried in the earth.
Fissures were made on the surface below
the canal. to the extent of hundreds of
yards. The cause of this phenomenon
is mystery. Some think that there is
cave in the hill, and that this immense
volume of water has been deposited there
by a breakage in, the upper layer OF
earth surrounding the cave. Others are
of the opinion that this being limestone
region, a spontaneous combustion of the
lime has been going on for years, and a
vacuum or cavity necessarily produced,
into which these waters have been pre-
cipitated. Again it is said that an earth
quake on Sunday night, the 18th, was
the occasion of the mystery. Which of
these opinions is the right one. will be
made manifest by further developments.
The loss to the Morriss and Essex Ca
nal Company Y by this accident is calcn-
lated to be abont $4,000.
Year: 1871

We have noticed that a number of
our exchanges mention the fact that
farmers have lost i'm some instances,
as high as four or five head OF cattle
In one night after turning them into
u stalk field, and attribute 1t To smut.
We have heard several farmers talk
about this smut business, aud have
also seen IL mentioned In two or
three of our exchanges, that smut Is
not the canse Of this fatality among
the bovines but that IL was caused
by founder-that they eat too much
of the dry fodder aud corn left In
the field. This looks reasonable to
us, and Wellington Nossaman, who
Ia never far out OF the way about
such things, tells us that If they will
let them In only an hour or two the
first few days, and let them have
plenty OF water, none Of their cattle
will die. The experiment 10 worth a
trial, at least. - PekLa Blade.
Year: 1871

A Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Sun
day school Superintendent last spring
distributed to each member of the
school four kernels Of corn, with the
request that all plant the grain Civ
en- them, attend the growing stalks,
aud bring the product to the Sabbath
school ON a day In autumn, to be des-
ignated some time during the corn
husking season. The time was fixed.
The result was the bringing in OF
several bushels of the finest and lar
gest specimens OF corn raised in
this county this year and notifica
ton that nearly all the balance of
the corn raised by the members
would he forthcoming on the sue.
ceeding Sabbath. The corn Is to be
sold at an early day, and the proceeds
set apart for missionary purposes.
One OF the beneficial effects of this
corn enterprise has been 10 practi.
caIly instruct the members of tho
school In the pleasures and blessings
OF giving to charitable and religious
objects from means raised through
their own personal exerliOus.
Year: 1871

SYMPATHY SPOILED. Some DAYS
since story was current among the
newspapers Of Iowa that Gen. n. u.
Baker had slipped and fallen upon
the Court House steps at Fort Dodge,
and was severely injured. or course
everybody who recorded the item.
aud everybody who read it, synipa-
thized with the General In his aiIlic-
tion. But now comes the State Reg
fster saying the report IL all bosh
and although Ii is true the General
did sit down little heavy on the
steps, further than the jarring Off Of
a few MISUNDERSTANDING those for
both ends of his suspenders, and
the sudden explosion of few army
phrases, he received no injury.
Year: 1871

~ RAINER, HOUSE, CARRIAGE AND
N Sign Painter, has taken r. Wid's place at
Cedar Falls and viii give entire satisfaction to all
who entrust him with work in his line of business
Shop over Fosdick's wagon shop. Paper hanging
neatly done on short notice.
Year: 1871

The Cedar Falls Library Association has II
brary of about one thousand Volumes Any per
son can have the privilege of drawing books foi
the period OF one year by paying the SUM of two
collars.
Year: 1871

THE Overland Monthly for January has been re-
celVed ana contains its usual amount of valuable
and interesting reading matter. So much has
already been said in praise of this magazine that
we know OF no new terms with which to express
our appreciation of its contents. With the num-
Der now before us, commences the sixth volume
and we would advise all who waut good pub
hcatlon to go forthwith to Barnickel's and sub
scribe for the Overland.
Year: 1871

Believing that wW be better for advertisers
as peH as for ourselves lpe hare decided to here
after make all accounts for advertising in tie
JOURNAL payable quarterly. Three months is long
enough for any account to run, and if those oho
are indebted to as wM pay promptly, me shall
be able to " play the same joke oar creditors." p"
Year: 1871

LOCAL ADVERTISERS DRECToRY We have COM
menced the publication of list of our local
advertisers, so that when any of our numerous
readers, within the county, want to buy any
thing or want anything done, all they will have
TO do will be to refer to this list to know who to
Patronze. Remember the men who advertise
are always the most liberal tradesmen.
Year: 1871

VIsIToR.-Mr, j. F. Gross of Junction City,
was in town one day this week and paid our office
visit. He reports all well at Junction and
nothing but water wanted to make the people
there happy and contented.
Year: 1871

Nor YET.-We have been informed that the
quartz mill of Mr. Silcox, at Indian creek, al
though ready for work, will not be put in opera
ton until Spring, owing to the fact that the
extent
Year: 1871

THE weather is clear and preasant-more like
Spring than Winter. Some of the miners have
already given up hopes of good mining season,
while others predict that we may yet have
storm enough to make an average year work
If we doa't boys we IL all go together.
Year: 1871

Mrs. Brown, an old lady living alone
in apartments in Barnes building, on
the Public Square, Hudson, \. Y, was
found dead on the floor of her room
Yesterday evening. She had 10 all ap-
pearances been dead ior several days
and the body, which had lain there
during that time, was in an advanced
stage Of decomposition when discovered
Much excitement and anxiety prevails
as to the cause by which she met her
death, which as yet appears to he some
what a mystery.
Year: 1871

In the fall the body struck the edge
Of the scaffold and a finger that was
prominent had the skin scratched of It.
With the fall there was a wild cry. fol.
lowed by the weeping and shrieking Of
a number Of women close BY. The
body heaved convulsively for few mo-
ments and the lower limbs were drawn
ND three times in succession. After
this the commotion in the crowd ceased.
Pulsation was over in seven minutes,
and life was declared extinct in ten min
utes. After hanging thirty minutes
the body was cut down. The neck was
broken. The body was consigned TO
the coffin already prepared for t.
Year: 1871

WARMERS VINUM WIFE, or WINE OF LIFE, is free from any poisonous drugs or impurities, being prepared for those who require stimulant. It is

 splendid appetizer and tonic, and the finest thing most p pleasant and delicious article V eVer offered to the publ!c far superior to brandy, whiskey, wine, bitters, or any other article. It is more healthy, and cheaper. Both male or female, young or old, can take the Wine of Life. It is, in fact, a life preserver. Those who wish to enjoy good health and free flow of lively spirits will do well to take the Wine of Life. It is different from anything ever before in use. It is sold by all druggists. Price $1, in quart bottles
Year: 1871

PATIENT CoNTINUANCE.--It is not often
that needed lesson is more happily illustrat-
ed than this by the National Teacher: eve
remember very pleasant visit to Prano,s
celebrated chrome establishment, in Boston
Those unacquainted with the process o.
chromo-lithography do not know the slow


tedious, almost imperceptib.e steps that ar,
taken in printing each picture. The different


colors and shades of colors are separately
printed, and require each its own stone
Some twenty impressions, and frequently
more, are required to produce single chrome
The first impression looks very much as
some careless hand had accidentally spille'
Year: 1871

A large Touring mill recently


burned at Columbus, Ohio, entalled
loss of $4,000. The fire when first
discovered was slight, aud could


easily have been extinguished had q
patent Are extinguisher belonging to
the establishment been In its usual
place. A party after the fire were


standing around the ruins when the
fact was announced, aud the wonder
expressed as to what could have be-
come Of the extinguisher. Just az
they had settled upon the theory
that an incondiary had carried IL Off
and then fired the mill, a German
who had been among tho first to
reach the building when the alarm
was given, asked what they meant
by the extinguisher--"vas 1t dot lee
tie red machine?n Being answered
in the affirmative, he hurried to q
pile of boards near by, and broughs
out the missing extinguishsr. He
had seen the article. not knowing its
use, and, determined TO save as much
as possible, gathered ID up in his
arms and carried II 10 q safe place.
Year: 1871

THERE is a good story told In
Washington about a Chinese servant
employed by Admiral Porter, that
on reception day the duty of attend.
ing the door was assigned to Alb Sin.
Accustomed TO the social usages oi
his own land, where visitors card
Ii indicated by the size of the card
and where huge yellow one meant
the presence OF prince, he treated
the little bits Of pasteboard with con-
tempt. While noddiDg his head
and tossing the bits of paper nneere-
monionsly In the basket, the gas
collector happened to present his
bill. The long. yellow slip took All


Sing. With profrund saIaams he
bowed the astounded gas man into
the presence OF the amazed family.
Year: 1871

Nor GoNE YET.-Reports frequently
come floating to us. that We are about to
sell ont and leave White Clcud, sure.
II We were offered sufficiently liberal
price for our foothold here. we might be
induced to sell but We are not ct oil
anxious for it. We have come to regard
this place % our home, and shall not
leave until we are sure We can do much
better. The nub of these reports is, that
several persons became indignant. and
discontinued their papers: and they
have ever since been watching to see us
go TO smash. The wisk that we may do
so. has taken the foum Of whispers thai
we are going 10 do SO. But we have re-
ceived more new subscribers within the
last M onth than We ever did 10 the same
length of time. and are now contempla
ting material improvements in our busi-
ness arrangements. AT any rate, when
we are resdy-to pack mp and leave, we
shah let the public know it.
Year: 1871




First, Mrs. McGinty came over to know


If a pailfull of coal she could borrow,
Her husband had ordered ton from the yard


Shed return it by tomorrow.
Then tatne Mrs: Martin, from over the way.


Who said she stepped over to see
If would oblige her till that afternoon


With only drawing of tea
Next came Mrs johnson, who liksa very much


Ia lend her, for an hour or two,
A couple of irons. as she had on hand


Some work so hurried to do.
Then came Mrs. Thomas, neighbor next door,


A troublesome, cranky old dame,
Who wanted to borrow, for that afternoon,


The loan of my large quilting frame.
Scarce had she gone, when old widow Jones,


Who said she was going to scrub.
Came into the room and wanted to know


If I'd lend her the use of my tub.
Then Mrs. Wilson came over in haste,


In her hand pitcher she bore;
Her molasses fell short, she hadn't enough,


And would like to borrow some moro.
Next came Mrs. Kerando, who wanted to know
If the late paper I had read through,
And would feel much obliged to me if 1 would


But loan it an hour or two
And even at night, when going to bed,


There came to my door Mrs. Doyle,
Who had to sit up-her daughter was sick


And wanted some kerosene OIL
With patience exhausted I'm forced to declare


That in future I'll lesson my labors
By refusing to lend everything possess


To improvident, troublesome neighbors
Year: 1871

Bring him not here, where our sainted feet
Are treading the path to glory;
Bring him not here, where our Savior sweet
Repeats for as. His story.
Go, take him where such things are done,
For he sat in the seat of the scorner,)
To where they have room, for we have none,
To that little church round the corner"
So spake the holy man of God
Of another man. his brother
Whose cold remains, ere they sought the sod,
Had only asked that a Christian rite
Might be read above them by one whose light
Was, Brethren love another"
Had only asked that a prayer be read
Ere his flesh went down to join the dead;
Whilst his spirit looked, with suppliant eyes,
Searching for God throughout the skies.
But the priest frowned NO." and his brow wa;


bare


Of love in the sight of the mourner.
And they looked fer Christ, and found him


where


In that little church round the corner!
All! well, God grant when, with aching feet,
We tread life's last few PAGES,
That We may hear some accents sweet,
And kiss, to the end, fond faces.
God grant that this tired flesh may rest
cMid many a musing mournerl
While the sermon is preached and the rites are


read,
In no church where the heart of love is dead.
And the pastor pious prig at best,
But in some small nook where Gods confessed
Some little church round the corher.


N. Y. Standard
Year: 1871

Why is the first chicken of a brood
like the main mast of vessel? Because
it is little forward of the main hatch.


Why can the pail bearers at young
lady's funeral never be dry? Because
they have gall on bier between them.


What fish has its eyes nearest togeth-
er? The smallest.


How many dog days are there? AS
many as dogs, as 'every dog has his
day"


When is a beau's arm like the Cos
pei? When it maketh glad the waist
places.


Why is an ear of wheat and an oak
similar in origin? Because they both
spring from corn.


Why is pleasure trip to Egypt fit
only for very old gentlemen Because
it is a see-Nile thing to do.


In what condition is beer barrel
when it resembles old fashioned cur
tains? When it's tap is dry tapestry }


Why is waiter like a horse p
Because he runs tor plates and cups.
Apropos of a ktchen-what is the
hest day for making pan cakes? Fry
day.


TOf course; and allow us to add that
pancakes should always be made on
Chegs- day, and washed down on a
Thirst-day.
Year: 1871

The following recipe for polishing
furniture is said to be better than the or.
dinary varnish Melt over a moderate are
in very clean vessel Two ounces OF
white or yellow wax, and when liquifed,
add four ounces of good essence Of
turpentine; stir the whole until it is en-
tirely coolsRGd the result will be kind
of pomade AQal to varnish, without
any of its inad epiences.
Year: 1871

~ The Chinese are the most jealous
people in the world. They consider it
sacrilege for man to look with any
thing like steady gaze at their wives.
When a Chinaman's wife is so sick as
to require a physician, she must no:
look at him. Around her wrist is fas.
tehed a silken cord, one end of which is
held by the physician, who must not
touch her hand or person, but ascertain
the state Of his patients health from the
almost imperceptible tremble of the pul:
sations as indicated by the cord.
Year: 1871

Es-A 'clefsysmas* once preached a
very long sermoAerom the text:


Thou art weighed in balance and
found wanting


After the congregation had listened
about an hour some began to grow
weary and went out, Others soon follow
ed, greatly to the annoyance of the min
lister. Whereupon he stopped in bis
sermon and said:


That is right, genHemeu. as fast Is
You are weighed, pass out


No one else passed out.
Year: 1871

SAD EXPERIENCE OF GERMAN FMr-
GRANT.-Abont two years ago German by
the Name of Eugene Kuhn was induced to
settle on colony in Henrico county. He
bought small farm, but shortly afterwards
found out that the man OF whom he bad
bought the property could not give him a
good title, and that he had been completely
swindled. The loss Of his small and hard
earned savings preyed upon his mind, and
within short time he showed unmistaka-
BILE signs of insanity. During one of his
insane spells he resisted some officers Of the
law. who had come to see him on official
business and for that offence was arrested,
and in default Of bail committed to the
Jail OF Henrco county. There he grew daily
worse, aud his lucid intervals became less
and less. For about eight weeks the un-
fortunate man was kept in Jail, until at last,
on motion OF Mr.. Schircowitz, who appear
ed as his next friend, commission in
lunacy was appointed, who declared that
Kuhn was insane, and thereupon warrant
for his reception into the Williamsburg
Asylum was made out.
Year: 1871

In A STRANGE CITY WITH No MONEY. -
A white woman, giving her name as Mar
tha Williams, having q beautiful little
child about three years old, was picked up
by The police last night at the Petersburg
depot and kindly cared for at one of the
station.houses. She says that she is from
North Carolina, and has been to the White
Sulphur Springs visiting her only brother,
and is now on her way to her birthplace.
She had no money, but said she would try
and get back to her home in some way,
and that her husband had died of fever
some eighteen months since, leaving her
without Il cent.
Year: 1871

CARNIVAL ON sHATEs.-To-nigtt will bc
the last opportunity our citizens will have
to enjoy roller-skating. In order to add as
much interest to the occasion as possible.
the proprietors have determined TO wind
up with grand fancy dress carnival on
skates. These entertainments have ALWAYS
been received with favor, and we have no
doubt our citizens will turn out tonight in
full force.
Year: 1871

FIRE ALARMs.-During the month of
May there were only three alarms of fire.
There was one slight fire in Rockets, but
it was extinguished without giving an
alarm and once during the month the hour
which was being sounded on the gongs in
the engine-houses was mistaken for sure
enough fire, and the bell at the truck house
was ring,
Year: 1871

GONE TO WORK AGAIN.-rbe ho(l-carriers
who were engaged in strike some time
since for an increase of their wages from 81
to Sl.25, have concluded that it Is be tier to
carry bricks and mortar for dollar a day
than to be idle and receive no cornpcnsatior,,
and have accordingly gone back to work
again, satisfied with their fun.
Year: 1871

AN ALABAMA internal revenue collector.
being afraid of kukluX in the mountains OF
that State. asks the commissioner at Wash
ington tor authority to sell out property Of
delinQuents ut the county court-houses in
stead of ON the premises of delnquents, to
which the commissioner replies that he
will allow no such thing that he will col
lect the taxes in Alabama as he does in Mas
sachuSetts, and ii there is resistance he will
ask for troops to insure the execution Of
I,al
Year: 1871

LOOKING AFTER THE WEATuER.-Madame
Granger's door, on Broad street, was left
unlocked at an early hour Wednesday morn-
ing by her husband, who had gotten up TO
look after the weather. There was no dan
ger Of robbery, as he was close at hand.
Year: 1871

KEEP CooL,-To do this at q little expense go
to h. B SPENCE & SON and buy linen coat for
one dollar and a gauze undershirt for seyenty-tYe
CENTS and then get one of those nice white or buff
sun umbrellas, and you can then keep cool.
Year: 1871

FREcKLEs AND BLEMIsHEs on the face do not
appear in the new style OF pictures now taken at


the Lee Gallery. Life Pictures.-f You wasn't an
excellent picture, executed by good artists and
life-like, call at the Lee Gallery.
Year: 1871

We are glad to say that the excellent quality and
low price at which Messrs. W. d. BLAZE q Co.
are selling their 'B Select" Whiskey has CAUSE
it to become the most popular brand In this mar
ket. Price, $2.50 per gallon.
Year: 1871

In conclusion, Coy. Walker again ex-
pressed his pleasure at seeing before him
SO many of the trainers of public opinion
IN three of the great northern States, and
hoped that they would carry with them to
their homes the most pleasant recollections
Of the Old Dominion. He then proposed:
New Jersey-Onee out of the Union, but
now supporting the Keystone of the arch
In making the Federal Union what 1t ought