smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

Constructor.


From the Kansas City MALL


Sam Johnson, of this city, formerly a
Deputy Constable, came very near los
ing his life lately, and If he had there
would have been q general expression
that he tempted his fate by an exhibi-
ton of singular foolhardinesz, and a
strange contempt of the most ordinary
prudence. For some time johnson had
the care of an immense snake of the
boa constructor species. This sweet
boon was left in Johnson's charge by
the proprietor of one of the side shows
that was with Howe's circus on its late
visit to this place. The snake had been
sick, and, fearing that it would die If it
was carted about from place to place,
its owner made an arrangement with
johnson to take care of it until such
time as il should be sent for to again ap-
pear in the exhibition. Sam he's paid
all needed attention TO his snakeship,
and the huge boa has quite recovered
from his illness under his considerate
and careful attention. Johnson had
tried to establish friendly relations with
the snake, and fiattered himself that he
had succeeded very well. Two or three
nights ago, when the weather turned so
suddenly and severely cold, Johnson
found that the boa was benumbed with
cold, and apparently half dead. With q
strange disregard Of consequences he
took the half frozen snake from its box,
and placed it in his own warm bed, from
which he had risen. He then returned
to bed, intending when the snake should
revive from its chilled and benumbed
condition to replace il in the box. Un-
fortunately johnson fell into a doze, and
then into deep sleep. From his sound
slumber he was awakened by horrible
sense of sIffocation about his cheat.
He awoke to find himself in the terrible
coils of the boa constructor, which had
been warmed into life and fury in John
sons bed. The unfortunate man COM
pretended in an instant his fearful dan
ger. Great drops of sweat started to
dis brow as in an agony of horror he
realized the nature of his peril. With
the energy of despair he grasped the
snake with both hands, and with almost
superhuman strength, and in manner
he can scarcely recall, succeeded at last
in uncoiling its hateful folds from his
body a.~ssal- Aha stru0cling boa to its
box, and safely secured it in its ola
quarters. A severe nervous attack sue
ceeded the fright and horror the strange
combat had occasioned, and not another
wink did johnson sleep that night. He
can congratulate himself that he escaped
so easily, and that his senseless temeri-
ty did not receive the fatal punishment
II invited.
Year: 1876

A farmer of York, Pa, recently set q
trap 10 catch cunning fox which had
been annoying him considerably by lis
midnight visits among the poultry. Al
fourteen successive visits to it he found
the trap sprung, a stick of wood between
its jaws, and the bait eaten up. The
circumstance. so often repeated, sur
prised him. There were no other tracks
to be seen but his own and those OF thu
fox, and who sprung the trap was ques
ton that puzzled him sorely. By con
tinuing to rebait the trap he hoped tc
catch the author of the mischief. On
the fifteenth night he found fine old
fox hung to it by the nose, and in his
mouth was q stick of wood
Year: 1876

An Iowa correspondent of the Inter
Ocean writes: "Your readers are no
doubt familiar with the anecdote of the
poet Coleridge's father, who was a
clergyman of the primmest class. His
wife was like hi-u in neatness and prim-
ness. On one) ,asion he was going to
attend a convocaCion of white necker-
chiefs, to be absent a week 40 his wife
put six or seven shirts in his valise, and
charged him TO put on a clean one every
morning. He promised to do so. At
the end of the week ne returned, and on
examining his valise his wife found it
empty. But the good man had obeyed
her. He had put on a clean one every
morning, and forgotten to take any of.


Judge M. is equally as thoughtless.
A short time ago, he had occasion to
visit Des Moines, to attend court and,
as he was to be absent from ten TO
twelve days, his good wife put no two
or three clean shirts, thinking that num-
ber would suffice, as the Judge usually
makes about two q week suffice him, es-
pecially when at home. He was absent
eleven days had very exciting case
became thoroughly absorbed in it for.
got self entirely, and with one excep-
ton, brought his shirts back clean and
unruffied. He had forgotten to make
any change
Year: 1876

community, the best trained thinkers,
and most useful workers, is incalcula-
BILE. Work and worry, though not pro-
porhonal, are closely connected, and an
excess of the former soon entails an in
crease in the latter beyond the limits
which the nervous system can bear with
impunity, especially under the condi-
tons under which the work has to be
done. The machinery and organizing
the work of q community had to be
rigid and inhexible, and in the strain
involved in bringing changing organ
ism into harmony with n machine, the
former must inevitably suffer.
Year: 1876

That the corn Of Vermont will be husked
by horse power in 1886 is more than proba-
bic. 1t may seem incredible to those who
do not remember that only few years since,
the cutting of grass in any other way than
with the scythe was regarded rs the fancy
of diseased brain. That corn can be
husked perfectly at the rate Of 40 to go
bushels to the hour is an established fact
1t does not pay farmers to hire hand labor
to perform what machinery aud horses can
do just as we'll, and at a greatly reduced
cost. They cannot afford to do it. The ac-
ceptance Of all these labor.saving improve
ments is not only matter of economy, but
a necessity which we cannot escape. When
q man has set on an old milking stool day
after day for a couple of weeks, husking
corn until his legs are cramped so that he
can't stand erect, his fingers raw and bleed
ing, and his wrists lame, he ought to be in a
proper frame Of mind to listen with respect
to a statement Of the applicability of horse
power to the work. When the readers Of
the FARMER have reached that condition OF
mind we shall call their attention to the ad.


vertisement of Carr's Corn Husker. in an.
other column, and suffer the proprietors to


use their own power Of persuasion.
Year: 1876

Among the peculiar features Of the exhibit
OF Iowa at the Centennial, is sample Of
her soils. She has long glass cylinders over
a loot in width and many feet IN length, and
in this is placed earth, Just as il exists. On
the top is the black soil, then the subsoil,
and 50 on deep down to "hard pan." "soid
bottom" or whatever the end is called. This
enables the stranger to see how deep is the
rich black soil, and is very attractive to the
visitors. There is q glass pillar for each
county, and the soil Of each county, just as
il is, is represented each by itself. There is
no doubt it is one Of the very best methods
Of showing how deep is the soil of Iowa,
and that the fact will have at least its due
weight to those who are seeking homes in
the west.


3 Bot after all we must remember that IL is
not alone deep soil that is to make good
farm land. Though rich black soil is hun
dred feet deep, it is, only the first foot or
so that is Of any material value to good
crop. Some roots go deep, but the chief
feeding roots are near the surface, and 10
time thoy will exhaust the soil, aud, unless
the lower strata are brought to the surface,
at some expense, the crops will be poor.
This has been found the case in Ohio. Here
was deep, rich soil, as deep as any one could
wish, but in q quarter Of a century it gave
out and many a wheat-feld has, been laid
down again to grass, and cattle now Craze
over land which was once the gran-raisers
pride. The subsoil might be brought up to
the top, but that is too expensive. No way
is like the old way in many things, and no
way Of keeping up the fertility Of the soil is
like the old way Of feeding it annually with
manure. Soil may be as deep as one chooses
aud laughter may be bestowed upon our
western journals and eastern farmers who
talk about manuring, but the richest western
soils are no exception, and the time will be
when these deep Iowa soils, as represented
in these Centennial glass collections, will
have to be annually manured like all the
rest.


Even the deep plowing, the turning up Of
this rich subsoil, is not always the best plan,
even when the expense Of turning it up is
not so great an object, for, notwithstanding
the advice of the great farmer Of Chappa.
| qua to "plow Deep" prairie men never ap.
preciated it. The universal testimony is,
that in breaking prairie for cultivation the
shallow plowed land yields the best crops
There is reason for it, but we need not give
it here, where only the undoubted fact is o.
of consequence.


We are glad to know that Iowa soil is
deep and rich, and see the evidences thereof
at this great Centennial exhibition. 1t doe:
no harm whatever, and in many ways the
exhibition does good. But IN the name o
good farming we must point out that for per
maueut and genuine agriculture it is of littl'
account. The English have no virgin soil
no black, deep bottoms to their land, but b,
judicious aud cheap management it yield
to-day crops of which the black lands o
Iowa might be proud.-Germanto'cn Tcle


graph.
Year: 1876

In no other class of farm machinery has
there been more active and intelligent COM
petition, nor more radical advance in gen.
uine merit, during the last dozen years, than
in plows. The swivel plow which turns a
perfect furrow on levsl land, is of itself an
achievement of which plow-makers may
well be proud. Among the claimants for
the patronage of farmers is the Hakes'
plow, advertised 10 the FARMER. While we
have no personal knowledge of its operation,
and can only speak of it as recommended
by others, we do not hesitate to say that the
character given it by those who have tried il
is very high. Brother Witherell OF the
Boston Cultivator says sit turns aud pulver-
ICES better than any other pillow we haV,
ever tried"
Year: 1876

Mr.. Geo. Haskell of Ipswich, Mass, who
writes to the Country Gentleman on the sub
ject of draining, advances the opinion lin con-
Aict with the best authorities on the subject
and with common seAse) that the tile for
the whole length of the drain may be below
the level of water at the outlet and yet op-
crate as an effectual drain. He has such
drains FIVE hundred feet in length, two and


one-half to three feet deep, and with only
two feet fall, and all the tile are more than a
foot below the surface of the water at the
outlet. Yet "the water is kept from the
surface just as effectually as if the outlet
were above the surface of the water, though
the water does not drain of so quickly il
the spring Of the year or after heavy rains.
Year: 1876

PLANT Strawberries IN AUTUMN.-The
Germantown Telegraph good authority in
such matters, says; The question of
whether fall or spring is the better time to
set out strawberry.beds is raised in certain
quarters, when they run out Of topics for
discussion and are bound to discuss some.
thing. In this region of country nobody, we
believe, thinks Of setting out new beds of
strawberry at any other time than in the
fall aud during the month Of September,
With some care 10 planting firmly, aud COW
ering slightly when cold weather comes on,
with some light stuff, there need be little fear
of good crop the following season--bettor,
in many instances, than if planted four or
five months previously. A gentleman near
here took FIRST premium Al the Centennial
Exhibition for strawberries planted last Sep.
tember We had ourselves an excellent
crop from plants set out in that month.
Year: 1876

We give Mr.. Bliss appeal to the dairy
men and farmers Of Vermont in full, be-
cause there is deal of truth in the impor.
tance of the Investigations he urges. Pco-
pie of less sauguine temperament than friend
Bliss would suppose that he ought to
know by this time that he cannot raise
money enough in Vermont for the good pur-
pose he designates, to pay for one farrow
COW to stock his experimental dairy farm.
Year: 1876

Mr.. J. w. Ssnborn of the New Hampshire
boad ofagriculture who makes special study
of the subject of fertilizers, is of the opinion
that hay is the poorest crop to sell from the
farm, and should never be disposed of for
less than SIS per ton at the barn. He says
in the Mirror and Farmer, that it is far bet
ter to sell corn, as the manurial value of
corn is comparatively low.
Year: 1876

Now that the autumn days have come, the
boys and girls and everybody else, will long
for a sip Of new cider. Who does not re-
member going to the old cider mill, built up
against bank, with wide door in the ga.
Bile, with bins full of apples under the low
roof, and the wedge shaped hopper full Of
all sorts Of apples, too often including large
percentage of rotten ones, all rolling aud
pushing together towards the jaws Of the
grinding rollers turned by an old horse
hitchcd to heavy sweep, with his head tied
to pole that kept just so far ahead, no
matter how fast or slow he walked around
the long vat which caught the pumice as it
fell. The apples seemed to scream as they
yielded up their life-bloOd to this squealing
concern. Then there was the press with its
'cheese" laid up in clean rye.straw and
nicely trimmed. As the great wooden screws
came slowly down, giving groan at every
pull on the long lever, two or three men put
ting forth their utmost strength, tho limpid
fluid trickled down into the half.hogshead
tub, ready to be bailcd out and strained
through a nest of straw into the newly
hooped barrels. Two or three neighbors
would join in the labor and divide the prod
uct. 1t was hard job. The apples must
be hauled to the mill, sometimes two or
three miles, aud wait their turn. The old
mills are, some of them, still in use, but
many are rotting down, and their places are
filed by
Year: 1876

There are two thousand deserted home-
steads in New Hampshire. The Mirror and
Farmer is Of the opinion that the soil Of half of
them is fruitful, and from which intelligent
care and labor would coax beautiful crops.
Year: 1876

SECRET OF HAPPINESS. An Italian
bishop, who had struggled through
many difficulties without repining, and
been much opposed without manifest
ing impatience, being asked to COM
municate the secret of being always SO
happy, replied: sit consists in single
thing, and that is making right use
ofmy eyes.


''In whatsoever state l am, I first of
all look up to heaven and remember
that my great business is to get there.
/ then look down on earth, and call to
mind how small space l shall soon fill
in it. then look abroad in the world,
and see multitudes less happy than
myself.


"And thus l learn where true hap
piness is placed, where all my cares
must end, and how little reason l ever
had to murmur or to be otherwise than
thankful. To live in this spirit is to
be always happy. ."-Bow Bells.
Year: 1876

FLowERs.-The sole fashion which
should never change is the fashion set
by good taste. A fashion that is not
so set is the fashion of using artificial
flowers where natural ones can be sub.
stituted. On hats or bonnets the
former are, of course, indispensable;
but they should never be worn in any
other way upon the person, or employ
ed in the decoration of rooms.-Serib-
ner.
Year: 1876

GENERAL GRANT sent spunky mes
sagc to tho House OF Representatives
yesterday in answer to their inquiry as
to when and where he had exercised the
functions OF his Office away from the seat
Of government. We are Of the opinion
that he rather gets the best Of tue House
in his answer. lie treats them to a dish
OF history that no doubt is new to not a
few OF them. Some Of the Confederate
brigadicrs" in the Housc were not prob.
ably aware that the immaculate author
Of "states' Rights" used to spend months
ut Monticello, just Ms Grant spends weeks
at Long Branch.
Year: 1876

TEE COniedcrates in Congress will not
want to stir McrtOn's record as Governor
Of Indiana during the war, very soon
agaim He gave the "Sons OF Liberty, the
dKnighb Of the Golden Circle" and the
Democracy generally, such review Of
his record as made them sick. Morton's
war record is an Illuminated page in the
history OF the country.
Year: 1876

The suckers are small leaves that star
from the base OF the larger ones aft~I
The plaut has been topped. They make
their appearance at the top first, aud
should be continually nipped Off as fast
as they become large enough to get hold
OF; otherwise they will retard the
growth and prevent the early maturing
of the plant.
Year: 1876

This evening we hope to see our ever
charitable "elite assemble in full num-
bers at the Opera House to hear the
concert and witness the tableaux. Tho
entertainment, which promises to be
something grand, is given under the
auspices OF Mrs. r. J. Semmes, MIS-
DYER. Mrs. Thornhill and others, for the
benefit Of the old and infirm in charge
of the Little Sisters Of the Poor. This
alone will. we rest assured, enlist the
public sympathies and bring forth the


consequential material results. Out
side. however, Of this purely moral at
traction, we understand that the sight
will be full, worth an investment, as
great pains have been taken to make
the tableaux perfect success. Do nop
hesitate, therefore, and Cast your
bread upon The waters"
Year: 1876

The HABIT OF READNG.-''I have no
time to read" is the common complaint
of those whose occupations are such as
to prevent continuous book perusal.
They seem to think because they cannot
devote as much attention to books as
they are compelled to devote to their
avocations, that they cannot read any
thing. But this is a great mistake. 1t
isn't the books we finish at sitting that
always does us the most good. Those
we devour in the odd moments, half a
dozen pages at time, often give
us more satisfaction, and are more
thoroughly digested than those we make
q particular effort to read. The men
who have made their mark in the world
have generally been the men who have
in boyhood formed the habit Of read
ing at every available moment, whether
for five minutes or for five hours.
Year: 1876

IT is said that hot water will restore
flowers that are faded by being worn on
the dress or carried in the hand. Cut
half an inch from the end of the stem,
and put it directly into hot water; the
petals will smooth and resume their
beauty in few minutes. Colored how.
ers will revive most perfectly, but white
flowers are inclined to curl and turn
yellow. The thickest textured flowers
will keep fresh after this treatment al
most as long as they would if freshly
gathered.
Year: 1876

ABOUT CARPErs.-If the corner of o
carpet gets loose and prevents the door
opening, or trips every one that enters
the room, nail it down at once. A dogs
cared carpet marks the sloven as well as
the dog's-eared book. An English gen.
tleman, travelling some years ago, took
a hammer and tacks with him, because
he found dog's-eared carpets at all the
inns where he stopped. At one Of these
inns he tackled down the carpet, which,
as usual, was loose about the door, and
soon afterward rang for his dinner.
While the carpet was loose the door
could not be opened without a hard
push; so when the waiter came up he
Just unlatched the door, and then, 60
ing back couple Of yards. he rushed
against it, as his habit was, with a sud-
den spring to force it open. But the
wrinkles of the carpet were no longer
there to stop it, and, not meeting with
the expected resistance, the unfortunate
waiter fell sprawling into the room. It
had never entered his head that so much
trouble might be saved by means of a
hammer and half q dozen tacks, until
MS fall taught him that make-shift is q
very Improbable kind of shift. There
are good many houses in the United
states where q similar practical lesson
might be of service.


Beat carpet on the wrong side first,
and then more gently on the other side.
be careful not to use sticks with sharp
points, as they are liable to tear the. car
pet.
Year: 1876

'hH ~ Appleton q Co.


The number opens with the recent discourse
n, Professor Tynda before the Glasgow Science Asso


t, -, which he treats OF the phenomena OF fermenta
,ion and their bearing the theory oil disease In
Professor Tyndas opinion, fermentation Is always the
product of living germ. OF spontaneous generation Tic
srms there 10 proof whatever The evidence hthero
adduced in favor cannot stand the slightest STRAIN OF
scientific crtcisA At the time of the vintage minute
microscopic particles found attached to the outer
nrface of the grape and to the twgs which support H.
These particles. examined by the microscope pre-
sent tine appearance of organized cehs' IL pr"sHou
into the pure inert juice Of the grape inc presence
OF the yeast plant is detected within forty-egh hous
Fvcry sign OF active fermentation Is observed Inc III
ference is unavoidable that the particles on the grape


are the germs O! the life which is exhibited in the JUICE
The ferment Of tho grape Is in fact parasite OF INC
crane and the art of the winemaker consists III prhg
ing the parasite and the fruit into actual contact Is
is the origin Of the alcoholic ferment In ike manner,
putrefactye fermentation is due to the presence OF
bacteria the minute vegetable organisms which are
seen only with the microscope If meat is preserved
from these organic germs 1t Will remain forever
sweet. This explains the common practices OF the
household. Heat kills the bacteria; cold oenunios
them. When the cook has partridges in charge
which threaten to spoil in the hot weather. she
partially cooks the Birds kills the infant bacteria ana
Tins puts off the evil day The active life Of the bacteria
is suspended by cold Hence the fishmonger when he
surronds his fish with stops the process OF purefac
ton by benumbng the organisms which produce IT, and
without which both fish and flesh would remain sweet
for an indefinite period 1t is the wonderful activity
into which the bacteria are pushed by warmth that
makes single Summers day sometimes so disastrous 10


market men, Tie bodies guides lost in the Alps have
been discovered after forty without any sign OF
putrefacton The hairy elephant Of Siberia was found
ircased in ice where it had been buried for ages But
when laid bare its flesh was sweet, and ior
come time Afforded food 10 the wild beasts py
whehit eagerly devOured Facts Ike these Whlch
Illustrate the theory Of fermentation are applied with
great force 10 the surgical treatment of wounds and the
doctrine of contSgiOn Professor Tyndalls mastery
analysis throws fresh light these obscure points and
cannot fail to Of immense practical value-The second
chapter Of What American biologists have done Tor
Evolution is also paper Of deep interest ana so Is e
biographical sketch OF Professor Alfred Mayer the emil
nent hysicst of the Stevens Institute of Technology"