smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

Throughout the whole country. the
vice of opium eating is becoming fear
fully prevalent, particularly in those
sections which are supposed to be most
exempt from this and kindred social
scourges. In the crusades against the


liquor traffic and the spasmodic efforts
that are periodically made to promote
and advance the cause of temperance.


our phllanthropists appear entirely to


have lost sight of the monster evil that


IS growing up in our midst. and that is


year after year assuming svch terrible


and alarming proportions. Only the


medical faculty have the means of ascer-
tanning the extent to which the practice


prevails, and even they can only approx


innate the actual figures by a rough esti-


mate. 1t is estimated that of the whole


amount Of opium consumed i'll the United


States, only about one-third is EMPLOYED


In its various forms for medical purposes.


while it is maintained that not more. than


one-fifth is so used. What becomes of
tLe other four fifths ? This question is


fratlght with serious import. There is


not physician or druggist i'll the
country who is not conversant with more
than one case of individual ruin caused


by this insidious and almost ineradicable


habit. There is hardly a village in the


and that does not number among its pop


ulatlon its proportion OF opium eaters,


laudanum drinkers, or morphine con


sumers, and the sale of these articles is
not confined to the village drug store Or
the apothecary's shop, but even the gro


GERS have-a supply of the coveted stimu-
liant for their regular customers. The
familiar sign displayed in some shop
windows, eff you don't see what Won


want, ask for it, has for the initiated a
meaning that is we'll understood. Many
women OF fashion, and literary men,


become the slaves of opium and con-
corning the working classes many tale


OF woe and suffering, mental and physi-
cal, Is to be found in the medical records
of our great cities. Occasionally they
lind their way into the public journals,


but they fail to do more than elicit a
passing remark, while the great and
growing evil which threatens eventually


to r1val IN its proportions and the num-


Der of its victims the prevailing vice of
intemperanee, is hardly deemed worthy
of the slightest consideration at the
hands-of our so-called philanthropists.
Not few OF the inmates of our lunatic
asyluns have been deprived of their
reason by a long and excessive indulgence
In the use Of opium, for insanity is some
times the result, and the unhappy vic
tim finds only in death release from his
srtferlng5. Three hundred thousand
pounds OF opium, independent of the sup
ply used for medicine, is annually con
sumed in the United States compari-
son with China shows that we consume
more opium than the CelestiaIs in pro-
portion to our population. There is
certainly wide field presented here for
great movement of the benevolent
against the ruin wrought among thou
sands of our population by this terrible
vice.
Year: 1875

AT Sun Prairie, few days since, Mr..
J. G. Egberton picked up a sound plump
apple, from under a tree in his garden.
where it fell last fail, and had lain ever
since. During the long cold winter it
had lain covered with leaves and snow,
and came forth. as fresh and green as
when dropped.
Year: 1875

RETURNED.-Mr. M. Karsky of the
firm of Karsky IL Abrahms this week
returned from the city, has completed the
selection of goods for the Winter trade
here. In the Dry Goods and Clothing
line the store in Weaver is well stocked,
while at Junction City and Indian Greek
any thing that can be- desired in the way
General Merchandise will be found.
Year: 1875

Judge Spence, Assistant Attorney Gen,
cral FOR the Postofiice Department, has
given an opinion to u'e effect that post,
masters arc liable on their bonds for losses
of Government property while in their pos
session. This opinion is IN response to a
communication from the Pos tmaater Gen
eral enclosing letter from Postmaster
Burt, of Boston, demurring to charge for
the sum of $500 entered against him, being
the value of a package Of postage stamps
which was lost in his office This is the
first timean opinion has been given making
poStmastcrs responsible on their bond for
property lost in their offices
Year: 1875

Present appearances indicate that the
strike is at an end throughout the entire
mining region Of Pennsylvania. The ex-
ample of the men who have heretofore
gone to work has so far encouraged others
that at meeting on Wednesday evening
at IIazelton it unanimously resolved to go
to work on the terms offered by the opera
tors in January last
Year: 1875

WHAT THE "CoLoRADo PoTATo BUG"
MEANs.-A single Colorado potato beetle"
is an insignificant thing 70 look at, but he
illustrates the power of numbers in thevast
amount of damage done by the countless
millions of millions of them that are now
ravaging the potato crops in various sec
tions of the United States. lie has been
the subject of numerous jokes, but III his
aggregate capacity as destroyer, he is any
thing but a subject for jocularity. The
destruction of any considerable proportion
of one of the staple food crops of a nation
may be terrible calamity, as we all know
from what happened in Ireland in lS47-4S
by the "potato rot" there, and in India,
from the damage to the rice crop by
drought year or two ago. 1t means, i'll
such cases, not only the loss Of vast
amount of money value, but dire distress
from the rangs of famine and the perishing
of thousands from hunger. In our highly
favored country, however, with its broad
spread of titled land, its diversified climate
and abundant food products of all kinds,
famine, in its ordinary sense, is not likely
to occur. Still, material damage to one
of the great food clOps is a severe national
loss. independently of the embarrassment
from scarcity, the money loss can be
measured only by millions of dollars, and,
in order that our readers may have a cor
lcct idea of what the destruction of the
potato crop of the United States means, in
Il money point of view, we have prepared a
table from the census Of 1870, by States and
in the aggregate. 1t will be seen from the
table referred to, which is printed III another
column this morning, that the aggregate
potato crop for that year amounted to more
than a hundred and eleven millions OF
bushels. Averaging this production at
seventy-five cents a bushels the money
value was more than eighty millions q
] dollars. OF course the Colorado beetle is
not expected to eat up the whole of the
crop Of this year, or of any other year, but
he will eat up, or rather destroy the plants
from which many millions of bushels ought
10 have been produced; and every time he
destroys 100000 Of bushels, he causes the
loss to somebody of $2,000,000. This, il
the concrete, is what the ravages Of the
Colorado potato bugmeans,' and furnishes
at glance OF the eye, strong reason fol
annihilating the whole race.
Year: 1875

OF course to do this we
" must figure closely,
or we wouldlose ourtradc
but we always were will
ing to sell cheap.


This IS the complaint
other houses makcagainst
US, but we do not care,
and therefore mark the
price on the tickets, for
that is the only way peo-
pie can be certain they
buy at like rates with
their nciGhbors,
Year: 1875

"I WISH, John, you would drive few
nails for me in the wood-house out here"
said Maggie to her brother. 81 have
been wanting them this long time, but
always forget to ask you"


"Why not drive them yourself, Mag
gie?" asked her father.


"Why, don't know how, father" she
said in some surprise.


"Thirteen years old is none too young
to learn" said her father. 81 guess the
boys could drive one by the time they
were seven. You are certainly as capable
as they were at that age?" he added with
| a smile.


"But l don't believe l could do boys
| work." she said doubtfully.
You have two good hands and ten
plump fingers just the same as they, and
it is all mistake that girls can't learn
| these little arts just as well as their
brothers. Come, my girl, l will show
you in minute how it is done, and half
| a dozen times practice will enable you to
beat the boys l have observed that you
are much quicker to learn anything than
they are. Go on mending your harness,
| John, we will attend to the nails"


Encouraged and minutely instructed
by her father Maggie drove in all the
nails successfully, and so pleased was
she with her success that she would
have set a double row around the shed,
| 7 CO. loI ,Dnnln1nl hot
these would answer for the present.


"There, that little lesson helps to
make you ;more independent, my girl.
If you want nail put in you will not be
obliged to wait for any of the men folks
| to do it. That is a comfortable sort OF
independence which l wish the woman's-
rights folks would inculcate more than
they do Now / will teach you some
day to catch and harness up horse.
You have already learned to drive a
gentle horse. l don't want you to try
your hand on Lion OF Billy, for they
might cut up, and you are not strong
enough to hold them. But it is very
handy for woman to know how to drive
a gentle horse. She can, many time,
do little errand to the village if she has
some knowledge of this sort when she
would have to wait long time before
man was at leisure to go. Learn to
sharper a knife and whittle, too, without
cutting your fingers.


Don't let the doors creak for want of
an oiled feather, or little children's boots
get hard in winter for want of little
grease Be handy about these little
things and you will be twice as indie
pendent and comfortable all the rest OF
your life.


"You too, boys, might learn to advan-
tage how to make your beds and sweep
room and sew up bag on the sewing
machine Don't ask anyone TO sew on a
button for you when there hangs
cushion with needles in it and mothers
| thread-basket so handy.


GA little cooking will never hurt you.
Many beefsteak and fresh fish have
cooked in my day, and mother says l
can beat any girl making pot OF coffee.
| don't often get chance to try nowa-
days, but have seen the time when my
knowledge of the business came just in
play.


"No telling where you may be cast
away some time in your life.. The most
helpless folks have ever met are those
who can do only one sort of work Learn
to do some one thing very well indeed
and make that your dependence for
living, then add to it just as much skill
and knowledge as you can. 1t costs
nothing to carry knowledge"
Year: 1875

On winters night,
As the moon shone bright,
Two foxes went out for prey.
AS they trotted along,
With froIc and song
They cheered the lonely way.
Through the wood they went,
But they could not scent
A rabbit or goose astray;
But at length they came
To some better game
In farmers barn by the way.
On a roOst there sat
Some chickens us fat
As foxes could wish for their dinners,
And the prowlers found
A hole near the ground,
And they both went in-the sinners.
They both went in,


With n squeeze and a grin,
And the chickens were quickly killed;
And one of them lunchcd,
And fcasted, and munchcd,
Till his stomach was fairly filed
The other, more wise,
Looked about with both eyes,
And scarcely would eat at all:
For, as he came in,
With a squeeze and grin,
He remarked that the hole was small.
And the cunning elf
Said to himself
"If | eat too much, it is plain,
As the hole is small,
shall stick in the wall
And never get out again
Thus matters went on
Till the night was gone,
And the farmer came out with pole;
The foxes both few,
And one went through,
But the greedy one stuck in the hole.
In the hole stuck he,
As stuffed as could be
With the chickens he had been eating.
He could not get out,
Nor turn about,
And so he was killed by beating.
Thus the fox, you see,
So greedy was he,
Lost his life for single dinner.
Now hope that you
Will believe it true,
And never be such sinner.


". Y. OJScf7tr.
Year: 1875

The San Francisco Bulletin predicts
that the time will soon come when every
farmer will cure his own fruit and store
it away as he does his hay, the drying
apparatus forming part Of every we'll
regulated farm outfit,
Year: 1875

Many persons arc in the habit offresh~
ening mackerel or other salt fish, and
never dream that there is a right and
wrong way t, do it. Any person who
has seen the process Of evaporating going.
on at the sat works knows that the salt
falls to the bottom. Just 50 il is in the
pan where your mackerel or white fish lies
soaking; and, as it lies with its skim
side down the salt will fall 10 the skin
and there remain, when, if placed with
the flesh side down the salt falls to the
bottom Of the pan, and the fish comes
out freshened as it should be. In the
other case, it is nearly as salt as when
put in. If you do not believe this, test
the matter for Yourself Planter and
Farmer. Ft.e4srrr
Year: 1875

The ventriloquist's art is easy to learn
as rolling off a log We maintain that
there is no difficulty in acquiring the
power. In the GrSt place, ,spead any word
or sentence in your natural tone :'hen open
your mouth AMI fix your jaws fast as
though trying to hrder any one from opens
ing them further or shutting them; draw
the tongue back in ball speak the same
words,and the sound instead of be ns
formed in the mouth will be formed in
the pharynx, Great attention must be
paid to holding the jaws rigid. The sound
will then be found to initiate voice from
the other side Ofthe door when it is closed,
or under floor, or through a wall. To
initiate sound behind door partly open,
the voic. must not be altcrcu from the
original note or pitch, but be made 10
another part of the mouth. This is dons
by closing the lips tight ssd drawing one
corner OF the mouth downward or toward
the ear. Then le; the lips open at the
corner only, the other pant to remain
closed. Next. breathe, as it were, the
words out of the oriace formed. Do not
speak the words distinctly. but expsl the
breath in short puifs at each word, and
as loud as possible. By so doing you
produce the illusion in the minds Of your
listeners that they bear the same voice
which they heard when the door was
aloseds, but more distinctly, and nearer
on account of the door being open. The
lips n ust always be used when the ven-
triloquist wishes it to appear that the
sound comes through an obstacle but
from some Que close at hlnd.-Sctcted
Year: 1875

The good people OF certain country
village in Indiana buugercd and thirsted
for an organ to assist in the church ser
vices; but as they could not afford to hire
an organist, they brought self operating
instrument warranted to grind out forty
tunes of a religious cast, The musical
instrument was placed in position for the
next Sunday. The sexton was instructed
how to set il going, and how to stop it,
but unfortunately forgot the latter part
of his business and after singing the
hrst four verses Of a hymn before the
sermon, the organ could not be stopped,
but continued playing two verses more /;
then just as the clergyman completed the
words. Let us pray the organ again
clicked and started another tune. The
sexton and others continued their exer-
tions to find the spring, but no one could
put stop to it; so they got four of the
stouest men in tho church to shoulder
the pcrversc instrument, and they carried
it down the aisle of the church, PLAYING
away, into the churchyard, where it con-
tinued clicking and playing until the
whole forty tunes were finished.
Year: 1875

over their oonsiencos that is indispen-
sable te success, and consequently
they very frequently land on corrupt
ground, and not on te,ra frma, as
hose do who have been allowed a
reasonable portion Of life's enjoyments
while at home. And another evil is;
\ great many parents deprive their
children of necessary edn.ation--in
fact, some of them will see their child
rem grow up in total ignorance,
rather than allow them little time
and money to prepare themselves
for future usefulness. This being the
case, they cannot be admitted into the
Lest society, and consequently they
lose all ambition for anything til It is
noble and grand, and they thus very
frequently g down to ruin and ever
lasting destruction.


There is no excuse whatever for
any one to grow up iguorant in this
enlightened age Of the world. There
are free institutions scattered all over
this broad land, and the parent who
i, 100 stingy to pay board for his child
ren, 50 they can prepare themselves
for becoming useful men and women
in the world, could not be called n
kind parent. Perhaps this is saying
4 good deal, but it will be acknowl-
edged rs the truth.


R0cL Rtrcr I.tywcy'.
Year: 1875

The EDUCAIIUN OF IHh MASSES.


Under such form of Government, it is vf
the greatest importance that all should be pos
sessed of education and Intelligence enough to
cast vote with right understanding of lis
meaning. Large associations of Ignorant men
cannot, for any considerable period, oppose a
successful resistance to tyranny or oppression
from the educated few, and will inevitably
sink into acquiescence to the will of intelli-
gence, whether directed by the demegogue or
by priestcraft. Hence the education of the
mass becomes of the first necessity, for the
preservation of our institutions. They are
worth preserving, because they have secured
the greatest good to the greatest proportion of
population of any form of government yet de-
vised All other forms of government ap-
proach it just in proportion to the general diff
fusion of education and independence of tho't
and action
Year: 1875

Our relations with most of the Foreign Pow
ers continue on satisfactory and friendly foot
ing. Increased intercourse, the extension OF
commerce and cultivation of mutual interests,
have steadily improved our relations with the
large majority of powers of the world render
ing practicable the peaceful solution of ques-
tions which, from time to time, necessarily
arise, leaving few which demand extended or
particular notice.
Year: 1875

The correspondence of the Department OF
State with our diplomatic relations abroad is
transmitted herewith. ! am happy to announce
the passage of an act by the General Cortes OF
Portugal, since the adjournment OF Congress,
for the abolition of seryi.ude in the Portuguese
colonies 1t is to be hoped that such lcgisla-
tion may be another step toward the great con-
summation to be reached, when no man shall
be permitted, directly or indirectly, under any
guise, excuse or fancy of a law, hold his fellow
Year: 1875

SwEAaIsG BT AN UrA.IFrgD HA&p.- -" An


old friend from Montgomery county drepped


iato our office a few days since whoa we


kaow to be strict Lutheran and always


swears by the |upliited hand We called


his attention TO the action of Mr.. Beecker,


and expressed some surprise thereat. He


rejoined that it did not surprise him, for ne
also entertained conscientious scrupics
against swearing upon the Bible. We asked
him to explain what they were. His answer


vas in effect that the Bible was simply
book composed OF paper upon which let
ters were printed representing the word OF
God; that simply as book be attached
no more importance to 1t than he did to any
other piece Of mans mechanism; that
swearing upon it and kissing it was
giving TO it. a superstitious importance
which he was conseientiously opposed to;
upon the same principle be would be COZ
opposed to making oathupoD aj
Year: 1875

crucifiX made of wood or other material
representing Christ upon the cross; that bis
religion was opposed to anything like super.
stitiop, and hence declined to give the Bible
any supersti.ious importance by kissing it /;
shat God was spirit; that when men raise
their hands heavenward and solemnly swear
by and In the name Of that great spirit to tell
the truth, &C., 1t was infinitely more solemn
and oppressive than kissing an. inanimate
bundle of paper and Ink. We at once con-
feSsed the correctness Of the distinction, an
likewise realized its full weight and impor-
tapce. but which had not previously occurred
to u.s. Vest Chester american Republi
ctJn
Year: 1875

A LAWYER CALLED UPON TO REFUND
Yesterday, in the bankruptcy case OF II. A.
HiIIyard, on rule upon counsel of the as.
signee to show cause why a fee of 800 paid
to said counsel should not be refunded, the
court being of opinion that the fee ought not
to have been paid out OF funds arising from
the sale of real estate bound by lien with
out personal notice to the ien-creditor and a
day in court given him to show cause against
the payment, Judge Hughes ordered that
the counsel who received the said fee should
deposit the amount of the same in bank to
the credit of the cause.
Year: 1875

FIRE IN THE CoUSTY.-A small wooden
dwelling at the front gate of Walnut Lodge,
the residence of DR.. /. j. Hawas, on the
Nine.mile road, one and half miles from


the city, was totally destroyed by fire yester-
day morning, together with most OF its con.
tents. It was occupied by negro man and
his family who are employed by the Doctor.
The man was at work on the farm, and his
wife, having to go to the residence of the
Doctors family, locked the door, leaving The


children in the house. While she was absent


the children got hold OF some matches, and


while playing with them set the bed on fire,
and it was soon communicated 10 the house.


The smell OF smoke attracted the attention


of persons Oh the place, who hurried to the


house in time to get the children out, but not


until they were all more or less injured by


fire and smoke. One of them was so badly


burned thatit is hardly possible for it TO re-


cover,
Year: 1875

REUNION OF MEMBERS OF THE OLD FIRST
VIRGINIA REGIMENT.-In accordance with
the expressed wish Of many Of the member;
of the old First Virgiuia regiment Of in
fantry meeting of these veterans will be
held at the Virginia Opera House (Which has
been kindly rendered by Mr. James D.
Browne) tomorrow night at O'clock. The
objects of the meeting are the formation of a
resimental association which will serve TO
revive the friendships and memories of
army-lile, and also to make arrangements for
an appropriate observance on the part OF
the members Of the old First of memorial
day. A complete rol! of the regiment VIII,


it is said, be produced, the calling Of which
will of course be very interesting to the sur
vivors. The galleries will be reserved for
the many lady friends Of the regiment. The
surviving members of the old First Reg
ment band who reside in this city will also
be in attendance.
Year: 1875

Richmond PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION
The members OF this Association are TO meet
tonight to wind up the business incident TO
the recent very successful concerts which
they gave at Assembly Hall and 10 discus.
the propriety of giving another before the
summer SelSon sets In.
Year: 1875

in his mind had in some way be-
come united, and now to separate
them seemed rather hard matter.
If his wife would not work, he had
got to work the harder, and was, in
condsequence of this thought, quite
unamiable.


ITO be continued.)