smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875




The report of the commanding
General of the Department of Texas
contains detailed information con-
cerning the difficulties which have
created such excitement on the Lower
Rio Grande, where some of the most
prominent officers and wealthy mer-
chants of that part of Mexico appear
to be regularly engaged in fitting out
parties to plunder the stock ranches
on this side OF the river. Reports of
the murder in open daylight of sever
al Influential citizens, including Uni
ted States officials and soldiers, and
other dastardly outrages on the part
of these vagrant Mexicans, were made
to the division commander, who in
vites attention to the grave character
of the invasions, and the importance
of prompt and decisive measures on
the part Of the government for their
suppression. Many OF the reports
from that locality are probably sensa-
tional in character, and are believed
to have been instigsted by parties
whose personal interests would be OBJ
served by the presence of more troops
on the borders of Texas but many
others are of undoubted reliability,
and measures have been instituted by
the department commander, under
others FROM superior authority, to
preserve the integrity OF and enforce a
proper regard for the territory of the
United States.


OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE REBEL


LION.


Good progress has been made dur
ing the year in the preparation of the
official records of the war of the re-
bellion, both in the Federal and Con-
federate branches. have placed the
general compilation of the records in
the hands of the Chief ClerK OF the
Department, who, under my direc-
ton, has organized q sufficient force
OF assistants, selected from those
clerks who are best acquainted with
the arrangement Os the official paper
on hand and who are well adapted to
the work for the purpose by expert
enee with department and army rec
Ords.


PURCHASE OF CONFEDERATE DOCU-
MENTS.


Information has been received from
different sources that many private
individuals have in their possession
important official records, principally
of the late Confederate Government,
which they are willing to dispose of
for consideration, but for the pur-
chase of which there are no funds
available at the disposal of this de-
partment. OF course, these records
are properly the property of the Gov
ernment, but it seems impossible to
obtain the information necessary to
their recovery through the courts or
Year: 1875

In connection with the progress OF
work in the Army Medical Museum,
the attention is invited to the efforts
that have been made in previous
years to place its catalogue before the
scientific world, where its usefulness
would be very great. In two pre-
vious reports its publication was
recommended, and at the last ses-
sion of Congress an appropriation to
that end was voted in the House OF
Representatives and favorably consid-
cred by the Senate, but without final
action.


Authority having been granted by
Congress for the Congressional prin-
ter TO print and bind 5000 additional
copies OF the Medical and Surgical
History of the War, the illustrations
and compositions for the second issue
of the first part have been completed,
and the press work and binding will
doubtless be finished before the as
sembling OF the next Congress. The
progress upon other works in prepara.
ton is fully stated in the Surgeon
Generals report.


ARMY LIFE INSURANCE.
Year: 1875

Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug. 26.-Gustave
Hunter, of jamestown, while intoxi-
Gated last evening, attempted to kill
his wife. She fled across the street to
the house of neighbor. Hunter fol-
lowed, and made an unsuccessful
effort to get into the house by break
ing a window. He then threatened to
return to the house and kill the child,
which was about eighteen months old.
thinking this threat would induce his
wife to come out, but it failing to have
the desired effect, he returned to the
house, procured table knife, sharp
eued it on the stove, took the infant
from the arms of his little girl, twelve
years of age, laid it upon the floor. and
deliberately cut its throat from ear to
ear. He then threw the child and
knife upon the bed and went back
and told his wife what he had done.
He was afterwards arrested. He still
regrets that he did not kill his wife.


On Tuesday evening, three masked
horsemen visited the residence of
VIM. Mains, farmer, living near
New Haven, Indiana. Mains was
absent from the house, aud the
masked men, who were under the in
fiuence of liquor, took possession of
tie house and appropriated such arti-
cles of value as they desired for their
own use. They then set fire to the
house, entirely destroying it with its
contents. Mrs. Mains fled from the
house for fear she should be murdered.
Year: 1875




There is a general feeling about
town tonight of rather a blue natur re-
The Cashier of the National Gold
Bank and Trust Co. stated to gentle
man in an interview this evening,
that the bank would open this morn
ing, but might have to suspend during
the day. This bank paid out all its
gold this afternoon and good deal of
silver. If it can make arrangements
tonight for coin, it may be able to
tide over tomorrow. A run is ex-
pected on the San Francisco and Mer
chants Exchange banks tomorrow
A meeting of the bank presidents has
been called for this evening, to concoct
measures for their relief The Board
of Brokers have also called meeting.
Year: 1875

Over the outer coat of the plum
and apricot grows bloom more
beautiful than the fruit itself-a soft,
delicate powder that overspreads its
rich cofors. Now if you strike your
hand over that, and it is once gone,
it is gone forever-it only appears
once. The flower that hangs in the
morning impearled with dew-array-
ed with jewels-once shake it, so
that the beads roll off, and yoW may
sprinkle water over it as long as you
please. yet it can never be made
again what it was when the dew fell
gently on it from heaven.


On frosty morning you may see
the panes of glass covered with land
scapes, mountains. lakes and trees,
blended into a beautiful fantastic
picture. Now lay your hand upon
i the glass. and by the least scratch
of your finger, or by the warmth of
the palm, all the delicate tracery
will be obliterated.


SO there is in youth a beauty and
purity of character, which when once
touched and defiled, can never be
restored-a fringe more delicate
than frost-worll, which when torn and
broken, will never be repaired.
When young lad or gill leaves the
parents house, with The blessings
of mothers tears still wet upon
her cheek, if early purity of charac-
ter be once lost, it is loss that can
never be made up again. Such is
the consequences of crime.-Home
Journal.
Year: 1875

Some months ago | met n young
English woman who came TO the city
to marry young man to whom she
was affianced In England, and who
had come to this country two years
previous to engage in business. She
was to marry him at the home of a
friend of her mothers with whom
she was stopping. During the time
she was making up her wedding out
fit, he came to see her one evening
when he was just drunk enough TO
be foolish. She was shocked and
panied beyond measure. She then
learned for the first time that lie was
in the habit Of drinking to excess.


She stopped her preparations
and told him she could not marry
him. He protested that she would
drive him to destruction promised
never to drink another drop, etc.


No" she said, Il dare not trust
my future happiness to man who
has formed such a habit. / came
three thousand miles to marry the
man | loved, and now, rather than
marry drunkard. | will 20 three
thousand miles back again" And
back she went.-Selected.
Year: 1875

The following cure for balky horses


may do in some cases. Mr.. j. S.


Bardwell. NJ. D.. Pennsylvania, says


My former treatment. when horse


baked, was to take a piece of board
or barrel stave and so at him as if


intended to kill, yet would not mar
or iniure, but would scare him so
that he would 90. But this treat
ment would fail sometimes, and it
was always very unpleasant. Three
years ago l bought three-year-oid
mare of a neighbor. with recon-
mend that she was sound and true.
One Sunday morning | hitched her
up to q buggy to visit patient, but
was surprised to find her halky. i
whipped her and forced her to go,
but the defect grew upon her until
she would stand a severe fleecing.-
Last summer l made up my mind
that | never would beat her again !;
that she was too nice a beast to be
whipped, and that there must be
some other plan. / was on my way
to blacksmith shop to have some
kind of snap made to snap in the
nose to lead her with, but in stop
ping in a hardware store | saw
snap that suited me, and upon inqui-
ry found it to be a cattle snap to
lead vicious cattle. l tied it to
few feet of cord and threw it in my
buggy, and the first time she stopped
/ got out and snapped it in her nose,
and pulled on the cord in front Of
her. OF course she settled back, but
finding she could not pull much that
way, began to walk up. l led her
around little and tied one end of
the cord to the harness and got in,
and finding her disposed to go all
right. removed the snap. and never
had to apply it but once thereafter.
and now she has no disposition to
want nose piece. I think the most
vicious horse can be handled with
the snap, and il does no injury but
the snap should, l believe, be made
about one third larger than the COM
mon snap.
Year: 1875

]


Saratoga Correspondence of the N. Y. World.
One of the most curious speci-


mems 7 have met so far is Deacon


Parker, of Nevada, who is travelling


for health and pleasure, and seems
quite likely to get his fair share of
both those desirable commodities,


as well as a goodly portion of all


creature comforts which may be
floating around. The Deacon is an
admirable type of certain class of
Western men, abounding in quaint
speeches and picturesque language.


He piques himself on being a self
made man. though why he left the
top of his head in almost unfinished
state, and rooted it over with a few
struggling hairs. have as yet been
unable to discover. / made the
Deacon's acquaintance at party
at the lake given by his friend and
travelling companion, Colonel,
editor of leading Neveda paper.
After dinner we whiled away the
time in game of cards, commonly
known as draw poker. The Deacon
watched our game with apparent in
terest Finally we asked him if he
understood the game. Yes. he had
played it in his younger days
Wouldn't he take a hand? We'll,
yes; he didn't want to seem onso-
cial like He took a seat at the
table and handled the pasteboards
in a masterly manner. to say moth
ing of wonderful run of luck which
soon declared itself in his favor.
Victory perched itself on the Dea-
cons bald head, or rather on the
gray felt hat which surmounted and
embellished his person; our dollars
all found their way to the Deacon's
side. Finally, when it became time
to break up, the Deacon counted his
gains, and modestly announced that
he had won six hundred and seven.
teen dollars. Deacon Parker is
what the Germans call many sided
man. He makes stiff speech, takes
his whisky clear. is powerful at pray
er, and plays stiff game of draw
poker, as we found to our grief.
Year: 1875

"Here, friend, can you lend me
one of your loose sticks? Ny nest
wants repairing. and Eve no time
this morning." said magpje to her
neighbor.


by all Means said the ueighbor;
and the magpie, promising TO return
it the next day, flew off with the
stick.


Gould you lend me another
stick p SHE said the next morning
''the wind has damaged me in the
night. l am not safe. and have-so
much work to do in repairing that /
have no time to look for timber"


The neighbor looked dubious, but
after little besitation lent her an
other stick, which the magpie We
hemently protested she would bring
back with the other the next morn
ing


Il am really ashamed to come -
she said the third morning.; "but
could you lend me another stick?
Some how have got out of order
at home, and what with one thing
and another, l haven't time TO look
for timber"


Take it" said the neighbor, in
no satisfied tone, and directly after
the magpic had flown off, declaring
louder than ever that she would re-
pay all she owed with interest the
next day, the neighbor began to
prepare for moving TO far distant
tree. Its all very fne," she said,
"a stick is but a stick, but, if | don't
cut this connection, shall soon have
to go about begging for sticks my
self.''
Year: 1875

This simple little word of four let
ters contains a world of wisdom.
Push means business and energy and
goaheadativeness. 1t means strict
attention to business, let that bust
ness be whate'er it may. 1t does
not mean crowding and jostling, and
unfair advantage taken of your fell
low beings, but it means wide-awake
looking after every opportunity to
better yourself in an honorable way.


The boy or girl who has push"
in them, is bound to succeed. For
tune smiles on such, for they do not
loiter on the way, but keeping their
eyes steadily on the goal, push on.


The scholar who resolves to push
his studies, wins his way TO the
front rank. The girl who pushes on,
is never left behind.


Push is valuable watchword-a
stirring incentive TO enterprise.
Then do not let this word be merely
an empty sound but push onward
and upward the steep. hard hill Of
life. And do not forget TO push on
in the better way, SO that when life
is almost over, you will be found
still in the upward way-pushing on
to the better land.
Year: 1875




After due deliberation. the New
York Democratic Convention adopt
ed a platform, in which they utter
no word of disapprovaI of the sys-
tenn of national banks, and have no
reproof for the forced resumption
act passed by the last Radical Con-
gress. That system OF banking aud
that act Of Congress have been in
cessant and prominent topics of dis
cussion before the American people
for more than six months The ac-
ton OF the New York Convention
cannot be construed otherwise than
into an emphatic approval of both.


New York has given to the Dem
ocracy Of the Union, their last two
candidates for the Presidency, both
of whom were defeated, although
they received the hearty support of
the Democracy of the South. She
proposes to give us another Presi-
Dental candidate. He too would
meet with q defeat more inglorious
than either Of his predecessors, if he
should stand upon the platform which
the Democracy of his State has
adopted. The South can suffer no
longer, in order that Wall street may
be strong.
Year: 1875

Education, to accomplish the ends
of good government. should be uni
versalIy different. Open the doors
of the school house to all the chill
dren in the land. Let no man have
the excuse of poverty for not edu-
eating his own offspring. Place the
means of education within his reach,
and if they remain in ignorance, be
it his own reproach. If one object
of the expenditure of your revenue
be protection against crime, you
could not devise a better or cheaper
means of retaining it. Other ma
tions spend their money in provid-
ing means for its detection and pun
ishment, but it is the principle Of our
government to provide for it's never
occurring. The one acts by coercion.
the other by preUention. On the
difference of education among the
people, rest the preservation and.
perpetuation of our free institutions
| apprehend no danger to our coun-
try from a foreign foe. There is no
nation on earth powerful enough to
accomplish our overthrow. Our de-
struction. If it come at all. will be
from the inattention of the people
to The concerns of government;
from their carelessness, negligence
or ignorance they may be made the
dupes of designing men and become
the instruments OF their own undo
ing. Make them intelligent and
they viii be vigilant; give them the
means Of detecting the wrong, and
they will apply the remedy.-DdnieI
Webster.
Year: 1875




Many persons have doubted the
existence in this province of man
who is 135 years of age, but there is
nothing more certain, as is proved
by the particulars obtained by the
census collectors. His name is Fe-
lix Rojas, and be was horn in 174O.
and under the Spaniards held the
position OF sergeant-major in a line
regiment. When Carlos the Third
issuev the celebrated order 10 expel
the Jesuits, Rojas took i 4 charge two
members of the order snd carried
them from Linares to Santiago
This venerable man remembers with
great tclearness all the events of those
timess and to converse with him about
Chill is to listen to the minute his.
tory Of nearly century and half.
He passes our printing office every
day in a portable chair which is car
ried by two servants, and our read
ers can see him whenever they please
in his place at the church hearing
mass.
Year: 1875

None but a lazy teamster will al
low the harness or yoke to remain on
teams while they eat their midday
meal. Teams viii perform more la
bor on the same feed in a given time
by giving them water every two or
three hours. The water should stand
in the sun if practicable. 1t should
not be cold on any account.
Year: 1875

Vienna Letter to n. Y Herald,


The Turkish peasant has a great affec-
ton for the few coins which he saves to
bury in the ground, and here is a story
which was told me ny an eye witness,
illustrative of the obstinacy with which
he keeps possession of them. My in
formant, an English Consul General,
was on a visit to Pacha when peasant
was brought to Judgment for refusing to
pay his taxes. The Pacha nodded to his
guards, and the peasant was thrown
down and beaten, though he cried pite-
ously that he was poor man who had
not plaster, and could not find one to
save his life. This man, said the
Paeha, n'has to be beaten thus every
year" " God bless my soulr' replied
the horrifed Consul General, let me
intercede for him" By all means, !"
regIied the Pacha, politely. The Pacha
waved his hand, and his guards. who
We're thwacking the man as though he
were a carpet, stopped in their work, the
peasants screams ceased and he got up.
But on rising to his feet he made false
step, knocked his head against the floor,
and the precise amount Of taxes due from
him rolled suddenly out Of his mouth.
He had resolved to bear as much beat
ing as he could rather than pay; but If
brought to the last extremity he had his
money in readiness
Year: 1875

In Alabama last year one Perrin,
who held at the same time the offices
of Deputy United States Marshal,
United States supervisor of elections
and distributor of government bacon.
was also a candidate for the Legis-
lature, Fearing that the election
would go against him, he went out
into the woods one evening and shot
a hole through his own hat, and
thereupon rushed 20 headquarters
and ordered a squad of Federal
troops to scOur the county in search
Of Kuklux, who. he asserted, had
shot at him. He gave to the troops
blank warrants to arrest such Demo-
Gratis as should seem to them suspi-
eious characters, and in his sworn
testimony on this matter he remark
ed that in fact number of planters
left the county for fear of arrest.


1t looks q little as though Gov.
Ames had been firing a hole through
his own hat. He calls for United
States troops, on the ground that he
is not able to maintain the peace of
the State. It is, unfortunately for
him, an old trick of his. and it looks
little as though he had now tried
1t once too often.
Year: 1875

A woman marries the first time
for love, the second time for home.
and she is in favor Of the third term
if the man is eligible financially
[ TaasOale Herald. That may do
well enough to tell the Pennsylva-
mans. but it will scarcely answer
fos general circulation. The truth
is that a woman marries, first. last,
and all the time. because she knows
marrying is customary.
Year: 1875

The story of a Buffalo operator who
was locked in the office at dinner time,
and who had to telegraph to various
cities to get out, is surpassed by sim
liar occurance which happened in this
city not long since. An operator was
on one Chicago wire, and feeling a de-
sire for toothful of the weed, quietly
interrupted the report he was sending
to instruct the gentleman who was tax
ing from him in Chicago to ask the
the other gentlemen on the Detroit
wire TO tell Powers, who worked about
six feet from him, 30 hand him chew
of tobacco. The instructions were fol-
lowed out, and in about half minute
Powers tossed over his tobaco-box, as
he could not fail to respond to trend
who had sent for the favor SO great q
distance.
Year: 1875

Governor Ames of Mississippi has beer
notified that he must exhaust the resource:
of the State government to keep the peace
before he calls upon the general govern
ment for troops. If after this notice he
fails to keep the peace without aid from
Washington. 1t will not be, we are confl-
dent. on account OF lack OF pluck or effort
on his part, unless he is very much
cban9ed from what he was when he COM
manded Maine regiment in the war and
faced the rebels on the field OF battle.
Governor Ames will not ask government
aid unless it is absolutely necessary. II
he is forced to fight he has the fight in
him. Z
Year: 1875

The Chicago Tribune says: The great
problem before the next Democratic Ma
tional Convention will therefore be IL
unite on q man who can harmonize the
two contes,ing factions.-tliat is. find a
man who can ride two horses at once
be in two places at the same time. advo
bate irredeemable sound money and
specie payment with rags. They cannot
bs neutral. They cannot dodge the only
question which is destined to figure in the
campaign. They must accept the issue in
one form or the other. They must either
be for hard money or for rags. There is
Lo such thing as riding two horses 60
ing two different ways. Meanwhile. the
republicans are consolidating their forces
for sound money. and they will go into
the fight united. compact. and harmonious,
with common purpose. under common
leader"
Year: 1875

The Eastern Railroad Company promises
a statement in short time of its condi'
ton. The reports abroad and the huc'"a-
tons Of its stock in the market Indicate
yery- decidedly the necessity OF u state
ment and such an one as shall explain
satisfactorily to tbe stockholders the con
dition and standing of the company.