smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

Last Saturday a party Of about


seventy young men end ladies'


left this city on a special train,


for the purpose of enjoying a quiet
picnic i'll the woods. The party


took with them an abundance of


the choicest edibles, wines, etc.


and full string band, and spent


the day right royalty. During a


lull in tae festivities a bevy of


young ladies, about fifteen IN num-


Der, withdrew to quiet nook and


formed secret society, and then


called for candidates for initiation


from among the young men. The


ceremony of initiation, the only


degree that was conferred on that


day, consisted of blindfolding the


candidate, leading him into the


center of the magic circle, formed
OF young ladies; and after causing


him to kneel, a sweet kiss was irn-
printed on his lips, and he was
made to guess who kissed him
Quite q number were initiated,
and growled because they could
not take "a few more degrees
One young man, quite ladies'
man, who has an immense opin-
ion of his own Individual sweet
ness, after much coaxing, consent
ed to take the degree, and allow
one of the ladies the privilege of
kissing him. He was blindfoIded,
led into the circle, and assuming
his most fascinating expression,
knelt upon the ground, although
he knew he was about to cause
the breaking up of the society,
owing to the row that would oc-
cur among the young ladies in
their eagerness to press his cherry
lips. The secret of the initiation
was, that instead of being kissed
by one of the ladies, a young man
was let into the secret, who did
the kissing, but in the case of this
the master of ceremo-
MES substituted for himself swar.
thy negro who had been taken a.
long to wait on the party, and
just as his india rubber lips touch
ed those of the young man the
loodwink was removed. His look
IF astonishment was greeted with
1 roar of laughter. Of course he
vas indignant, but when he dis
covered that all the other initiates
lad been kissed By a white man.
lis wrath rose to a fever heat, and
le determined to have satisfac.
ion. We learn that notes have
passed between the two young
nen, and a duel is imminent
Having an eye to business, and
believing that a sensation may
yrow out of it, our reporter with
holds names, for fear the police
nay interfere and spoil the pros
,ective item-MemphiS AUa-
dncbe,
Year: 1875

A day or two since clerk in
one of the telegraph Offices in
town, being the last to leave for
his dinner, found the door locked
as is usual, but, as is not usual,
discovered that he had left his key
in another coat pocket two or
three blocks away at his hotel.-
The windows were two stories up,
and he did not exactly see the
point of an exit that way. And
every minute his dinner was grow
ing cold and his temper cores
pondingly hot. He ratified the
door, tried to pick the lock with a
shingle nail, and repeated softly
to himself choice extracts from
profane history. bu. there he
staid, and relief seemed appalling
~ remote. Did he wait there
till his brother clerks returned
from their seven courses, from
soup to doughnuts, to let him out?
Not he. Not he. An idea struck
him and the impression left bore
its fruits. He telegraphed to St.
Thomas, Canada, had it repeated
in Detroit, Mich, whence it was
returned, according to accompa
nying instruction, to the Atlantic
and Pacific office here on Main
street, the resHlt of which was to
send boy up to his room after
the key and down to his Office to
release him He was in time for
ner.-BufaIO Courier.
Year: 1875

The festivities incident to a
marriage at Christianburg, Va,
were somewhat peculiar. A
venerable preacher Of that place
recently married a couple, when,
upon the conclusion of the GER
emony, the bride challenged the
preacher to a foot race. The
old man Of sixty years accep-
ted the challenge at once, and
preparations were made for the
contest. At the dropping Of a
hat, parson and bride started off
together at a tremendous rate
Of speed, amid the enthusiastic
applause Of the bystanders. AT
first the young woman fairly
flew, leaving the veteran consid-
erably in the rear, but later in
the race the old gentleman's
staying qualities told in his fa-
vor. He passed the bride on
the home stretch and came III a
clean winner.
Year: 1875

Grant says that he won't take
a third. term nomination unless it
comes in such form as to make
it san imperative duty" That is
just exactly what will occult
His cflice- holders will pack tie
Convention for his nomination,
and then he will consider it his
imperative duty to accept. He
has powerful sense of duty, and
could be easily persuaded that it
was his duty to take the fifty
thousand dollars year Presiden'
tial salary for life.
Year: 1875

If any one wishes to grow feshy
a pint of milk taken before retir
ing at night will cover the scraw.


niest. Although nowadays we


see a great many feshy females,
yet there are many lean and lank
ones who sigh for the fashionable


measure Of plumpness, and who
would be vastly improved in
health and appearance could
their figure be rounded with good
solid flesh. Nothing is more COW
eted by thin women than a full
figure, and nothing will so rouse
the ire and provoke the scandal
of one of the "clipper-builds' rs
the consciousness of plumpness in
a rival. In cases of fever and
simmer complaint milk is now
given with excellent results
The idea that milk is 'feverish" "
has exploded, and it is now the
physicians great reliance in bring
ing through typhoid patients, or
those in too low q state to be
nourished by solid food. Itis a
great mistake to scriInp the milk
pitcher. Take more milk and
buy less meat. Look to your
miIkmen. Have large-sized, we'll
filled milk pitchers on the table
each meal, aud you will also have
sound flesh aud light doctors
bills.
Year: 1875

A tramp entered a hotel in
Wheatland CAL, sat down at the
breakfast table, and speedily de-
molished a hearty meal. He then
ordered another beef-steak, and on
its being placed before him, he
suddenly covered his nasal organ
with his hands and started for the
door, apparently taken with bleed
ing at the nose. He passed
through the hotel and across the
street to a pump, from whence he
soon boIted down the track and
made of.
Year: 1875

A Delaware man married a
woman because she was deaf, and
he thought she'd keep her tongue
still. So she did, bat when he
fell into the we'll and yelled him
self hoaIse trying to make her
hear. he wished that she had ears
a foot long and could hear a whis-
per a mile away.
Year: 1875

A candidate for Treasurer in
Mississippi announced that in
case he was elected he would pay
all his debts. AS majority Of
bis constituents were deeply In.
terested in the paying part of the
matter, he was triumphantly elect
a1
Year: 1875

At recent trial of Il colored
man in Detroit, for the murder
of his wife and stepdaughter.
the skulls Of the two murdered
women were produced in court,
for the purpose of showing to
the jury that a blood-stained ak
found IN the defendants shed
exactly fitted into tho holes in
the skulls. The defense stoutly
protested against the produc-
ton of these relics Of mortality,
but the court allowed them, and
an exception was entered a.
gainst them. If these crushed
skulls are to be filed as evidence
in the case, and carried up to
the Supreme Court on a bill of
exceptions, their history will be
peculiar, rather than pleasant.
Year: 1875

In comfortless tenement hous-
es of New York many scenes
of pitiful sorrow are every day
enacted. Often they are never
known outside the miserable
room in which they occur, but
sometimes there is by chance a
witness. A short time ago a
visitor of St. Johns Guild dis
covered in a tenement in Six
teenth street, two aged women
-one seventy-one and the other
eighty-nine years old. They
were sisters and held in their
arms two grandchildren of one
of them, both Of whom were sick
with fever, and the mother dead.
a son and a son-in-laW were
both out searching for work.
There was not even a crust of
bread in the place-nothing but
a dish half full Of water from
which the children drank eager
ly. The visitor asked if they
had any one whom they could
send to the Guild office for food,
and the younger of the women
said her son would gladly go
when he returned home. The
elder woman asked if the visitor
would be kind enough to send
a bone to make some soup.


II dreamed Of soup last
night" she said.


While the visitor was MAX
ing arrangements for relief there
was an authoritative knock at
the door. A police officer en-
tered, inquiring,


care you Mrs.


"Yes," said the old woman.


"Your son." said the officer,
was found drowned III the
East river to-day at noon."


The shock produced by this
sudden announcement may be
better imagined than described.
The starving women thought
no more of food, but sObbcd in
each others arms. When at
length the policeman asked
what should be done with the
body, the answer came with Bit
ter agony, eve must let you
take our boy to the MOrgue."
There was not even a clean shirt
in the house in which to
dress the corpse. Every article
had been paWncd for food.
Year: 1875

THE Platteville fair, both in point
of display and attendance, was one
of the most successful of the season.
There were many things that be-
trayed that public spirit for which
the citizens of that village have
long been famed. Among these,
Gpone reflect more credit on the peo-
pie, than a well arranged fire COM
pany, which appeared under the
leadership of Mr.. Virgin, and was
one of the most attractive features
of the fair. The display of stock
was far above the average of county
fairs. There were present some of
the best stock of Mr.. Matthews, and
other stock raisers in La Fayette
and other counties, the greatest
number being exhibited by Mr..
Brown of Galena. 1t was said by



old stock raisers, that the collection
of swine was the best ever exhibited
in this part of the State. The rae
ing was interesting, and engrossed
largely as it usually does, the atten-
ton Of the people, rather to the
Encouragement of those who had
given their time and attention to
better things.


Platteville lays some claim to
being the Athens of the west, an d
we expected to see display of fine
art, that would 60 beyond anything
we had seen in the vicinity. In this
to some extent we We're disappointed,
though in all probability the lack of
adornment was no fiuIt of the
people, for the early frost had with
cred the flowers to which halls
for fine art, usually owe their
splendor. There was on exhibition
large amount of needle work and
embroidery, that would have done
honor to the ladies of any city.
There were also many objects show
ing skill in cookery, that betrayed
a spirit of practical industry, which
in this age of pianos and organs, is
certainly commendable.
Year: 1875

Mr.. john STARKs has fitted up
his barber shop in a convenient
manner. He is prepared to do
shaving and hair cutting, with every
thing clean and neat. He respect
fully invites those needing work in
his line, to give him a call.
Year: 1875

BLANCuARDyILIE has q club of
female basel -ballists, who have started
on the war-path. They have pub
lie spirit and enough respect for an
tiquity to initiate the Amazons in
exercise and in warfare. We hope
they will not follow their example
in physical Disagreement.
Year: 1875

WHEN you see a young man going
"of hunting with quart bottle in
his pocket, do not be surprised if
the event be chronicled in a few
days, and the newspapers say moth
ing has benzine of him since
Chicago Journal.


Mineral Point sports, take notice
Year: 1875

--Bencvolence Is one Of the noblest attri-
butes that is possessed by man. The literal
meaning of the word is good will. Think Of
II good willed person. one who Is kind to eve
ry one and whose hand Is ever open to ease
the woe, and stay the tide of want that Is
surging around him. Watch the face of the
benevolent man, and look down into his eyes
and see if you do not discover the presence
of an indescribable happiness. The features
are ever habited in smiles, and the eyes speak
Of heavenly tranquility existent In the
mind. Kindness is the child of benevolence,
and Is its spontaneous ontgrowth. Who ever
heard of a good.willed person who was not
kind, who did not have smile or word of
cheer for every one? 1t is pleasurablc to be
IN such persons secicty. The atmosphere
about them seems light and easy to breathe.
Society is better for their presence, and hui
manity Is noblcr because Of its contact with
them. But we must make no mistake rs to
the nature of beneyolence. The mere mat
ter of giving Of our goods to feed the poor
or of our means to clothe them, does not al
ways constitute benevolencc. Some persons
give to these objects to render tLcmscl, cs
popular; others with the hope of increasing
their business. Now, any one who is actua-
ted by spirit of setishncss. is not n bcncvo-
lent person, because a feeling Of GOODWILL
was not the prime cause which led to the
performance of the act. If the aims that we
give, and the assistance Of any Kind which
we may render, are prompted by our love for
our suffering fellow beings. then We have r,s-
en- far above any s"rdid or interested influcn-
ces, and are truly benevolent. 1t were bet
ter we never gave of our means to feed and
aid the poor, tian that we should do so under
the prompiings Of self-intercst. Again, be-
neyolence Is not measured by the amount Civ
en- so much AS by the ability OF the givcr and
the motive prompting the gift. The rich man
who places his name to a paper with $4,000
written opposite to It, does nothing In COM
parison with the humble and unobtrusive la
borer, who, quietly and without ostentation,
sends, without even his name, $l,0O of his
hard earned wages to some poor family who
is suffering. On the great judgment day,
when the books are open, that act OF that
poor man will be written in letters of gold
The suffering In our county affords everyone
Of us an ample opportunity to be benevolent
in the highest, holiest, noblest and strictest
sense Of the term. II you are not able to
contribute largely, do what you can, but let
1t be done through the influence of proper
motives. Private charity Is balm to the
soul. while that which is trump,cd abroad


and Is performed fer the commentator of
the world, brings shadowy JOY which is un-


real. unsubstantial and leaves the heart more


more empty than ever.
Year: 1875

A GREC,AN LEGEYp,-When Bacchus
was boy he journeyed through Hellas
to go to Naxia and, as the way was very
long, he grew tired, and sat down upon
stone to rest. AS he sat there, with
his eyes upon the ground, he saw little
plant spring up between his feet, and he
was 50 much pleased with it that he de.
termined to take it with him and plant it
in Naxia. He took it up and carried it
away with him; but, as the sun was very


hot, he feared it might wither before he


reached his destination. He found a
birds skeleton, into which he thrust it,
and went on. But in his hand the plant
sprouted so fast that it started out of the
bones above and below This gave him
fresh fear of its withering, and he cast


about for Il remedy. He found lions
bone, which was thicker than the birds
skeleton, and he stuck the skeleton, with
the plant in it, into the bone of the lion.
Ere long, however, the plant grew out of
the lion bone likewise. Then he found
the bone of a. ass, larger still than that
ofthc lion; SO he put it into the ass bsne'
and thus he made his way to Naxla.
When about to set the plant he found
that the roots had entwined themselves
around the bird skeleton and the lions
bone and the ass bone and, as he could
not take it ont without damaging the
roots, he planted it as it was 1t came
up speedily and bore, to his great joy,
the most delicious grapes. from which he
made the first wine and gave it to men to
drink. But behold miracle When
mel first drank of it they sang like birds;
next. after drinking little more, they
became vigorous and gallant like lions;
but, when they drank more still, they be.
gan to behave like asses.
Year: 1875

Judgement is necessary and highly
commendable virtue. Learning wit and in
telligcnce are Invaluable to their possessor,
but he must have judgment to enable him to
bring these properties into requistion. The
persons who lack this quality. are forever in
trouble They allow their impulses to carry
them beyond the limits of prudence and dis
cretion. because their judgment was not cor
rect In the matter. We all to more or less
degree. are doing things that leave nothing
behind bit unpleasant memories and all be-
cause we did not exercise that Judgment
which.wond prevent the performance of the
act. If we world be successful in business
we must not only possess but exercise judy.
mcut.
Year: 1875

The Independent says that because the
Pierce City mail now goes to Fort Smith In
stead Of stopping here, that therefore there
Is a great decrease in the business in Van Bu-
rem" Who Is your authority? Old man.
that is a falsehood. Business is NOT dccreas-
ing But the string of empty stores on Gar
rson Avenue, and the dilapidated condition
of the town, show that business at Fort
Smith is decreasing
Year: 1875

The Weekly State Is the title OF new
paper just issued at Lewisburg. Rev. W. C.
Stout Is its editor, and is a gentleman every
way capable Of making an able and interest
ing paper. We wish The State and its editor
success, and with pleasure extend the courtc-
sy Of an exchange.
Year: 1875

VVANTED-THE ADDRESS OF BENJAMIN JOHN
man NJ Locust Valley Long Island and later employed
palace car of the New York Central road get
srabIe situation by applying
M CORNELIUS, Locust Valley depot
Year: 1875

Few tragedies better deserve the


name of horror" than that which
transpised bat y few DAYS ago on the
railroad near Gopfritz, Austria. At
few minutes past one in the morning
as train of fourteen carriages with
12S passengers, was crossing n bridge
some forty feet in height, the engine
ran from the rails and plunged into the
chasm, dragging all but orc car with
il. About dozen passengers were
killed and rs many more seriously in
jured the others, wonderful to relate


for the cars were heaped upon each
other and smashed TO fragments) escap-
ing with but slight wounds or bruises
The engineer and stoker were crushed
to jelly and the chief guard decapita-
ted. \ mail clerk was fatally scalded
though death did not release him for
several hours, during which he lay
beneath the ruin, audibly lamentinr
the fate of his family and entreating
for water, which could not be convey
ed TO him. A pregnant woman, whose
mothers brains were dashed out by an
iron bar by her side, escaped uninjured,
and gave birth to her child while yet
entangled in the wreck. Examination
showed that the slaughter was not the
result of an accident, for hands ac-
customed to railroad work had removed
the nuts and bolts from five rails on
one side of the curve, and then placed
the rails back upon the track So that it
appeared safe and untouched. The
affair is all the more horrible because
but little while before three attempts
had been made in precisely similar
manaer to wrech trains on another
rOal
Year: 1875

If you want to commit slow sui
eide, lead perfectly quiet life !;
shun you neighbors, do not go to
church, lecture or theater. After
trying this plan for year you will
be quite ready to court death. One
of the reasons why so many of the
socialistic communities have sue
ceeded is the insufferable and grow
ing dullness OF family life as it ex-
lists among people of average means
and intelligence, not on farms only,
nor in country towns, but even in
cities. This dullness is due in a
large part to the absence of social
Intercourse. The days follow and
resemble each other in most homes
at least in Anglo-S Saxon countries
with almost killing regularity.
The husband comes back after a
hard days work to dinner or tea,
which he eats in silence or in COM
pany with his wife, whose stock of
ideas he has long ago exhausted,
as, indeed, she has his. Social re-
lations between the household and
the outer world can harly be said
to exist. He sees business men on
business matters she at most ex-
changes a dry and barren "call'
at long intervals with other women
of her acquaintance. Except, per-
laps, the affairs Of the church to
which they belong, the couple have
no external object of interest. No
current of thought or feeling ever
reaches them except through the
newspaper or magazine. In fact, it
might be said without much ex-
aggeration that the only time they
take any formal notice of their
neighbors' existence or their neigh
bors' affairs is when somebody hap
pens to fall ILL., The influences of
such monotonoas life, are of
course, unhealthy and depressing.
Year: 1875

The Baltimore AmeFicda says: at
is estimated that the Federal Gov
ernment loses over a million dollars
year by the second using of post
age stamps that after being once used
were detaced by the Post Office Off
cials and subsequently restored to
their original appearance. So serious
is this loss that the Government is
very desirous OF finding AN ink that
can be used with pen or otherwise
to deface stamps that cannot be OBJ
liberated. ,ver four thousand spec


linens ct inks have been submitted,
aud a large numb r of stamps de-


faced by these various inks have
been sent to Prof. Tony, Of this city


to determine whether he could erase


the marks. Thus far not u single one
of the defaced stamps has stood the
test. Prof. Tonry can wash the de


faced marks from thirty of the ten
cent postal stamps in an hour. Most
of the inks whose markings have
thus far been tested have had ami
line colors mixed with them. Some
had iron as their base. Those that
were most difficult OF erasure had
carbon for their base. Many of the
inks would come off with the mere
'use of soap and water. A defacing
ank composed of the same chemical
ingredients as the face of The stamp,
or new carbon ink, or some me-
'chanical DETACHMENT of the postage
stamp when it is used, would seem
to be the only means for securing
the Post Office Department from
losses whose aggregate is large"
Year: 1875

A TEXAS judge is credited with the
following neat decision: "The fact
is, Jones, the jail.is an old rickety af-
fair, as cold as an iron wedge. You
applied to this court for release on
bail, giving it as your opinion that
you would freeze to death there. The
weather has not moderated, and to
keep you from freezing l will direct
the Sheriff to hang you at 4 o'clock
this afternoon"
Year: 1875

victim Of singular incident the
sother night. While passing along
the street boy exploded common
cracker just behind him, while at the
same instant rotten banana, thrown
from neighboring fruit store, struck
him ON the back Of the head. "I'm
shot! I'm shotw and taking hand
*ll of the decayed fruit from his
head, he exhibited it to the horror
stricken bystanders as a specimen of
his brains.
Year: 1875

TUCSON, February 5, 1875. EDITOR CIT ZEN: A Philanthropist addressed the public in THE CITIZEN of January 30, about the unclean condition of the open spring just above the louring mill, out of which so many people of Tucson get water for family use. A Philanthropist'' must be good mana self-sacrihcing one in fact. l have heard people say that one of these good men could have cleaned the spring in about the same time it took this one to write that communication, and had he cleaned it in quiet and thorough manner, he would have given practical proof of his philanthropy. The dirt in this spring very likely tenderly stirred this Philanthropist's soul to it's depths, and possibly the work of cleaning the spring would have torn up the very bot tom of it-hence an excuse for only call ing attention to work for others to per form. Next to the capital question, the condition of this Tucson spring is becom- ing the absorbing one, and possibly pa triot would join your PhilanthrOpist, and together firsG ascertainif the spring

 has been "cle91ed out within the recollec-

 tion of the present generation" and if

 not, then join hands and clean itin both Ia philanthropic and patriotic manner. In the meantime, the theoretical philanthro- Ipists and patriots can agitate the subject If not the spring itself PATRIOT