smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

Our fashionable people, whether they


have set up to be nothing if not" fash


ionable, or have been born into the posi-


tion without particular effort on their


part, are really nothing except fashion


able. Beyond that and their wealth they


have no substance and standiag Mr..


Schuyler Stuyvesant Van Rensselaer,


may be as great swell as the Duke of


Omnium. He may have as proposes


sing presence, as nice sense of the


proprieties, may understand and prac-


tice all the minor arts of life as we'll


But the Duke is something besides a
swell. He is a political power; latent,
perhaps, but always potential and pos
sible statesman When the Duke emits
positive opinion on q public question,


he almost creates political event. Mr..
Schuyler Stuyvesant Van Rensselaer, s
opinion and vote are of about as much
public consequence as those of his coach.
man. We'll, what of it2" the reader
may ask. This much, at any rate: the
country at large feels an interest in the
one which it cannot feel in the other
The whole English nation has share, so
to speak, in the English Duke. The
Knickerhocker gentleman belongs only
to his own set, which is rather his society
than society in a generally recognized
sense. But the reader may object again:
This is q very narrow view to take of
good society, which does not mean fash
ionable society, but the society of intelli-
gent men, scholars, artists, professors,
literary ladies, brains, etc. Just so but
either these people with brains are mixed
in among the swells Gas they are in most
of our cties) and form a subsection of
them, or they are so broken up and scat
tered that they do not afford coherent
society material. Their very amuse-
ments, too, are of most unsocial So
and what a European would be
apt to call work. Hearing lectures, for
instance, is not society, though it may be
made an apology and substitute for it.
Barren as our fashionable set or sets may
be Of matter available for the novelist, he
is still worse off if he turns to other sets
and classes Take the horsey element Of
society, for instance what field it
opens to the student of character IT.
has actually produced not only litera-
ture of its own, but an ancillary school of
art. 1t has given us Leach as well as
a Soapy Sponge. We are almost as
horsey people latter our fashion, as the
English, but what American writer ever
put the trotting track into fiction or i'm
an owner Of fast crabs2"
Year: 1873

A man was hanged the other day at
San Francisco for murder with weapon
of peculiarly dangerous and for long
time mysterious nature. This is sand
club, formed by filing sn eel skin with
sand. When this instrument was first
brought into use the authorities were
greatly puzzled by deaths, apparently
from violence, yet no marks could be
found OF tie outside of the body. A
burglar was finally captured with sand
club in his possession made out Of an eel
skim stuffed with stand. Being closely
questioned, he explained its use. When
the victim is struck, for instance, on the
head. be drops insensible and soon dies
from congestion of the brain. Often the
skull suffers no injury from the stFoke,
and if the person struck reoovers sensl-
bility he gradually relapses into acondi-
ton of idioey. Sometimes a man struck
in the body will be knocked down by the
peculiar force OF the blow, and feel no
Immediate results from It. IN a few
weeks, however, the flesh will begin to
mortify under the line Of the blow, and
rot down to the bone. Heller, the cele-
brated pianist, is supposed to have met
his death in Mexico from a stroke Of this
diabolical weapon.
Year: 1873

In st. Petersburg recently the editor
Of daily newspaper, being much inn
pressed with the prevalence of drunken
ness, determined to instruct the public
mind on the subject, and with this view
took an excursion into the country TO
collect facts on the subject. There he
found two typical villages-one, where
there was no tavern, all order and thrift;
the other, where the tavern was con-
spicuous object, all poverty, misery, dis
ease and dirt. On this he wrote a pow
erful article, making an appeal to right
minded persons to do what they could to
mitigate this evil, but he unfortunately
brought it to close by asking, Where
are the clergy, and why do they not
preach against drunkenness2" The pc
lice authorities, being unable to answer
this home question. gave it up, aud set
tied the difficulty summarily by sup
pressing the edition of the paper in which
the article was to appear.
Year: 1873

CHAMPLAIN CANAL-TuE Business DIR
ING OCToBER.-There were weighed at the
Waterford weigh lock during the month ol
October. 1853 boats, a falling off in the
number of boats from last wears record fo-
the same month of Az. The receipts al
the collectors Office during the month were
Ills IS exceeding the receipts of the cor
responding month Of last year S2f3. This
anomaly Of q falling off OF the number of
boats ana an increase in the amount of
tolls received Is easily explained. The
greater proportion OF boats weighed at the
weigh lock this year have been upward
bound, or boats that clear and pay the full
amount Of their tolls at the Waterford
weigh lock, while in other years the pro-
portion has been the other way, the greater
number Of boats clearing at Whitehall and
leay ing but margin to pay at the Water.
ford weigh lock. The falling Off in the
number OF boats bound for tide water i.
more noticeable in the lumber trade than in
anything else, there being decrease Of
over four .nndred Troy Times.
Year: 1873

AMERICAN SoCuV.-Thcre l. really
growingt to he something watch may be strict
ly called society in America. We are dis
covering that society does not mean collec-
tion Of rich people. whose possessions permit
to them any sort Of extravagance; bat that it
means all sorts of people: those who have
much money and those who have little,
those who are clever and those who are dull
those whose mansions hold hundreds and
those whose parlors are crowded with fifty
And the last Is the most important discovery.
The left out feeling that many persons of
moderate means have had is passing away.
They fird they can take a graceful part in
social life without too great outlay Of time
and money, and they embrace the opportu-
nifty with cordiality Society mus. always
be 50 different in this country from what it
i anywhere else that no comparison Is pos
sible, But it cannot fail to have a freedom
and variety very attractive. Sfritner 5
for NOrcB,ber.
Year: 1873

Affecting SCENE IN CouRr.-The Bridge
port Comm S'qadard relates the follow
ing -


Two brothers named Adams, of West
r1rt. have been on unlriendly terms for n
number Of years, and a short time ago they
came to blows. Each of them complained to
a Justice and each of them was found guilty
of a breach Of the peace. Both appealed.
Their cases came before the supreme court
last week and one of them was found guilty,
and in the case of the other the jury could
not agree. Friday morning. Judge Foster
called both of them before him and talked to
them in a most serious manner, and after
short review Of the affair, told them that 1t
was shameful for them to conduct in such
manner toward each other. Even strangers
live in peace and why not You. You have
not even the excuse OF youth and hot blood,
but have arrived at an age when the passions
should he under control. lie then appealed
70 them in a Slightly sarcastic manner: You
have always used yourbrothcr well p es
and he has always abused You ?'-'l leS.
lie then turned to the other with the same
questions. and received similar answers
Then. -aid he. you arc both to blame.
There Is fault on both sides, and don I
know which is the worse lie then showed
them .be folly Of their present dispute and
admoui-hcd them if they had any grievance
in the future about property to either settle
it anon. themselves, or TO call in their
ncighbare to help them. but do not 90 to
law law is an expensive luxury. Then
he appealed to them both to be friends here
after and turning to one of them he put the
question s3lemnly as in marriage service ::
'lou-Adams, do promise on your part that
You viii DE friendly in the future with your
brother. The res ponse came ringing out,
i will. Then to the other the Judge put
the same question, 'you-Adams, do prom
ise. &c. to which came an equally prompt
I will Then shake hands, said the
Judge, and as they did 50 there was not a
dry eye in the cougt room. One of the. broth
ers s6bbel out by the blessing of God |
will try and live peacoably with my brother.
The other signifed the same, Then said
the Judge, addressing the one who had been
found guilty, I impose upon you the light
est sentence of the court, one dollar, and |
discharge your bond During the closing
scenes Of this remarkable address Of the
Judge, the States attorney and the mem
bers of the bar were affected to tears.
Year: 1873

There IS ~a4otaing pleasing in the way
the English people speak OF the Queen At
a resent banquet the Earl OF Derby, in pro-
posing '' Thc Health of Her Majesty the
Queen, said


' Ia this country. except for q very short
time and very long a-o, the existence of
monarchy never has been party question.
We preserve it a. a link which connects Us
with our long historical past, as check
upon individual ambition and upon the vio-
lence Of party spirit, and as the symbol
visible 20 all and Ineligible to all of the
commuuity-of the unity, the power and
the dignity of the State. Applause J The
reign Of her present Majesty has been long
and prosperous; and it is bare justice to her
TO say that no sovereign has ever kept more
strictly within the limits Of her or his con
stitGtionai duty that. none has held the
balance with a more impartial hand betw wecr,
politicians Of eonteuding parties and that
none has ever shown 70 this country bet
ter example Of the performance Of all Pri-
vate and domestic duties
Year: 1873

Young menwith excellent purposes some.


times make great mistake 10 thinking they
ought to give up every moment fther time
To business, and TO neglect everything else


This is sad error. Every young man en-.


tering life ought to give some portion Of his


time regularly don't care lift is only half
an hour a dsy--to the development of his


mind, to the gaining of useful information.
10 the cultivation of some innocent and en-
nobling taste. Why, man who has no
soul except for his business is "poor stick -
a meSe machine A taste for reading is
worth more than hundred thousand dol
lars to him who has it-nay, worth more
than any sum | could name. A rich man,
without that or some similar taste, does
not know how to enjoy his money. His
only resource is to keep on making money.
unless he prefers to spend it; and mind
that is not well developed does not know
how to spend it wisely. A man worth his
two millions used to tell me he would
gladly give it all if he could only have the
education which his lazy and stupid boy re-
fused to 'quire. If you will pardon the
advice, would say; Make it rule, never
to be broken, to devote at least half an
hour dav to the reading Of some useful
book not stories chiefly, neither Stories
are good in their places; but every man
needs knowledge of history, the ele-
mcnts of science and other useful subjects
aud, If he has only half an hour ia give to
reading, he will be very foolish to give it all
to novels. BE hungry and thirsty after
of all kinds and he sure you
vii he none the worse, but all the better,
as business meu-F Il. AJJon
Year: 1873

A merchant, going home elevated, stag.
aered against telegraph pole. beg your
pardon" said he, " | hope no offence. It's
rather dark, aud the streets are so narrow,
you see"


Again he ran against a pole, this time
with force that sent him backward to the
ground. " Look here, neighbor, you need
not push fellow down because he happens
10 touch you; the road is as much mine as
yours, and have as much right TO be
hero as you have, you old stick'in.the-
mud"


He picked himself up, aud made another
fort to reach home. but he soon came
plump against another pole. Il shan't
make any more apologies, said he; "ify you
get into the middle of the street and stand
IN my way, that's your lookout, and not
mae."


Proceeding on his Journey again, and bo-
coming dizzy, he seemed to he entangled in
an inextricahle labyrinth of telegraph poles,
which led him 10 make a general speech
Is Gentlemen. you are not doing the fair
hing. You do not give man a chance.
You run from one side Of the street to the
other, right in my way


just then he met friend, and, taking
him by the hand, said "Therc is pro-
cession going along the street, and every
man is drunk; they have been running
against me all the way. knocked one Of
tho fellows down, aud then lot of them
got around me. aud believe they would
have whipped me within an inch Of my life,
if you had not come to the rescue. Let us
90 out of this street before the procession
,omes back, for they are oil drunk"
Year: 1873

How sad to disentomb Egyptian and As.
syrian monuments, and gaze on endless
trains of miserable captives and insulting
conquerors, and to see events writing simi.
lar subjects for history even now. Is this
all If the thought of God comes, there
is some security Of progress, some hope
wen of retrieval. With all the mystery
there is not despair. The past is not utterly
past. The ruins Of nations become like
the strata which are platforms for new
world, and their ruins have had life in
them which is still capable Of reconstruc.
'ion. Take away our hope in God, and
history becomes a sea Of tumultuous bill
lows, dark and shoreless; nations rising
only to fall great souls shooting across the
horizon like dying meteors and all the
spiritual longings of the past are written
down but to tell us of the vanity of our
efforts. We could bear to study history
only as we forget all the higher ends it
might serve as a SCHOOL Of training for an
immortal state, as the steps of Divine
Architect through the broken scaffolding
and scattered stonework upward to a fin.
ished structure. The very glimpse of this
is revivng, hut to give it up at once, Ar
chitect and end, and see human lives shat
tered and strewn across weary ages, and hui
man hearts torn and bleeding, with no
abiding result, this surely would Gil a
thoughtful mind with pain. The more of
such history, the more Of sorrow.
Year: 1873

All indebted to us for subscriptions and
other work will oblige us greatly and please
those we owe more, by calling and settling
their accounts We know that money Is
scarce and hard to get-bu we trust our
friends will make an effort in our behalf
Year: 1873

Ey Victoria Woodruff is out with a
fresh threat against Henry Ward Beecher,
and says she will follow him on his
western lecturiug tour, and speak where
ever he does on the evening following
his lecture 1t is doubtful if she executes
her threat, which is probably piece of
bravado with hope of obtaining black
mail from Becchers agent,
Year: 1873

LECTURE on MoRNoNs.- have
our citizens enjoyed higher intellect
ual entertainment than in the lecture
delivered by Rev. Norman Mcleod, at
the Pavilion on Monday evening, on
the Great Conflict in Utah. With an
earnestness and eloquence which carried
o INJECTION of his sincerity, the lecturer
prefaced his facts with broad dis
claimer against any interference with
the rights of conscience, any desire to
prescribe any form of religion or regu-
late religion of any people by civil law.
He then arraigned the Mormon leaders
upon their own record and showed by
indisputable facts that they were faith
less to their religious professions and
used their religion only as cloak to the
most lawless designs and the most hor-
rible outrages against humanity.


He showed how Brigham Young and
his associates had become power in
land, not only dominating in Utah, but
controlling legislation in Congress thro'
their commercial relations, and that in
stead of diminishing by the introduction
of railroads and the influx of immigra-
tion, it was by those very means en-
hanced, by the augmentation Of theil
wealth. He drew a fearful picture ol
the social condition of the Mormons,
among whom he had lived for eight
years, and gave but little hope of any
immediate remedy for this monstrouf
plague spot upon our country.
Year: 1873

Amy was dear good girl in many things;
bu, she had one bad habit she was too
apt to waste time in dreaming of doing, in-
stead Of doing.


In the village where she lived Mr..
Thornton kept a small shop, where be sold
fruit Of all kinds, including berries in their
season.


One day he said to Amy, Would you
like to make some money 2'


OF course would 20 said Amy; for
my dear mother often has to deprive her
self Of things she needs, SO that she may
buy shoes or clothes for me"


Well, Amy, noticed some fine ripe
blackberries along by the stone wall in Mr..
Green's five acre lot and he said that or
anybody else was welcome to them. Now,
if you will pick the ripest and best, l
will pay you sixteen cents quart for
them


Amy was delighted at the thought, and
ran home aud got her basket, aud called
her little dog Quilp, with the intention of
going at once to pick the blackberries.


Then she thought she would like to find
out, with the aid of her slate and pencil,
how much money she should make if she
were to pick five quarts She found she
should make eighty cents almost enough
to buy a new calico dress.


But supposiug should pick dozen
quarts how much should [ earn then p"
So she stopped and figured that out. Dear
me 1t would come to dollar and ninety
two cents"


Amy then wanted to know how much ff.
ty, hundred, two hundred quarts would
give her; and then how much she could
get if she were to put thirty-two dollars in
the savings bank, and receive six per cent.
interest on it.


Quilp grew very impatient, but Amy did
not heed his barking; and when she was
at last ready to start, she found it was SO
near to dinner-time that she must put Of
her enterprise till the afternoon.


As soon as dinner was over, she took her
basket, and hurried to the iye-acre lot /;
but whole troop Of boys from the public
school was there before her. 1t was Sat.
urday afternoon. School did not keep ;
and they we're out with their baskets.


Amy soon found that all the large ripe
berries had been gathered. Not enough to
make up single quart could she find the
boys had swept the bushes clean. All
Amy's grand dreams of making fortune
by picking blackberries were at an end
Slowly and sadly she made her way home,
recalling on the way the words of her
teacher, who once said to her, zone doer is
better than hundred drsamers. Anna
Lirinqston, in Nursery.
Year: 1873

ny HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.


There are two striking cases--one in the
Old Testament and the other in the New
of men beloved of God, praying persever-
ingy and with the utmost intensity and
feryor for something which was denied
them. An answer to a prayer is not ne
cessarily an affirmative answer. tmay be
an answer in the negative-an answer Of
the wiser love that sees further than we do
and refuses in mercy. Yet there are some
people who talk as though, if prayer were
not always and of course answered in the
affirmative, and the thing we ask given,
there were no use in praying. "Who is
the Lord, that we should serve Him, and
what profit shall we have to pray to Him p
But prayers are often answered in the af.
firmative The voice of Christian expert
ence, through all time, has united in calling
our God "a very present help in time of
trouble" Very present, either to remove
the trouble or help us to rise above it, The
true doctrine is, that God our Father is n
reality--a living, loving presence-throb.
bing with sympathy, but with plans and
purposes, and knowledge of the situation
infinitely transcending ours; that lie is
near to us, hears our prayer, considers it
tenderly and patiently, aud does for us
the very best that is possible consistently
with the best good Of all. That it is not
always possible for God to grant what we
ask is made certain by the most interesting
and most awful prayer ever left on record
the prayer offered in extreme anguish by
His only and well beloved Son. 1t was to
attain tbe sympathetic insight Of person.
al experience that our Lord passed through
depths so deep that no son or daughter Of
Adam ever could sink below Him. In the
awful passage He felt the same agonized
inability to endure that we feel, and called
out as we do for relief but with the con-
trolling sense Of a uober purpose which lie
preferred even to that present relief. And
in this sense every true prayeris answered


For when we pray truly we always do in
our deepest heart, in our higher and better
nature, so con6de in our Heavenly Father
that we prefer His will even to the most
important camor of our own wild desires.
Year: 1873

The inquest in relation to the death OF
Councilman George Mclean and william Barclay.
killed by the fall OF speers building in Passac
Dee T. continued last night before Coroner sproull
AT the new Public School. Andrew Bode q carpenter
and builder testified that he had regarded the structure
as unusually light one and thought IL 80 unsafe that
he afraid to work it, The witness mentioned the
Deficiencies Of the structure


John McGregor, builder, had also observed that the
building unsafe. T. j. VI. Derrick an architect,
gave interesting testimony In relation TO the proper
construction OF buildings. lie claimed that the fallen
building was strong enough In some respects though
weak and defective IN Others. The inquest was
finally adjourned until tonight.


Alfred speer, the OF the building. published
card In local journal, Tuesday appealing to the
town residents TO withhold their judgment his
sponslby for the sad accident until the COroners
yestgaton on the cause OF the fall OF the building
concluded He affirmed that the lumber for the build
ing was ordered by his builder according the speci-
hcatons and that In all the details Of the work gave
him full authority 10 build substantial structure He
himself Intended TO occupy the upper story print
ing ONCE, and no one could believe that he would risk
his life In al unsafe building In conclusion he said
that he was sick and confined to his house the time
the accident. which. IN his opinion caused by the
high wind blowing at the time aud not from any inner
ent weakness In the building itself.
Year: 1873

The initiative faculty of monkeys
seems to exceed everything short of hui
man. A sailor, having a number of
woolen caps, &C., to dispose of among
the natives, went on shore for that pur-
pose; his way to settlement lying
through a wood very plentifully in
habited by the species above mention
ed, and it being at midday, he put n
cap on his head, laying the others by
his side, and determined upon little
repose under the shade of plantain
tree. To his utter astonishment, when
he awoke, from the specimen he had
given his initiative observers of the use
of his caps, he beheld anumber of them
upon the heads of the monkeys in the
trees round him, while the wearers were
chattering in an unusual manner. Find
ing every attempt to regain them fruit
less, he at length, in a fit of rage and
disappointment, and under the suppose
tion that the one he retained was not
worth taking away, &C., pulled the same
from his head, and throwing it upon
the ground, exclaimed, "Here, confound
you take it amongst ye" which he had
no sooner done than, to his great sur
prise, the observant monkeys did the
same-by which means he regained the
greatest part of his property.