smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

THE following singular instance of
eccentricity, illustrating the close connec-
ton of this condition of the mind with
insanity, is related by Professor Ham,
mond in his work on diseases Of the nerv-
GUS system.


A lady had since her childhood shown
siDgularity of conduct as regarded her
table furniture, which she would have of
no other material than copper. She
carried this fancy TO such an extent that
even the knives were made of copper.
People laughed at her. and tried TO reason
her out of her whim, but in vain. In no
other respect v as there any evidence of
mental alteration. She WAS intelligent,
by no means exciIable, and in the enjoy
ment of excellent health. An uncle had =,
however. died in ane- A trifiing circum-
stance started in her new train of
thought, and excited emotions which she
could not control. She read in the morn
ing paper that Mr.. Kopperman had ar
rived at one of the hotels, and she an
nounced her determination to call on him.
Her friends endeavored to dissuade her,
but without avail. She went to the h'tel
and was told that he had iu>t left for Chi
cago Without returning to her home,
she bought ticket for Chicago. and
actually started on the next train for that
CITY. The telegraph. however, overlook
her, and she was brought back from Ro-
chester raving of he- love for man
whom she bad never seen, and whose
name alone had been associated in her
mind with her fancy for copper table
furniture She died of acute mania with
in a month -Scri6Ber's for August.
Year: 1872

fidence in him, probably on account of
his neglect to collect the New York Cen
tral scrip tax. Pleasanton took his walk
ing papers very hard, and has ever sitice
been hungry fer revenge.


But the letter itself is more remarkable
than its author. SchurZ made his speech
OH the 22d of July The Pleasanton let
ter, as published in the Tribune of this
morning, bears date of July 25, 1872 Was
it received at st Louis three days in ad-
vance of its existence We get a clue to
the explanation from the fact that Carl is
now in New York. We believe that no
such letter as he claimed to have had has
ever been written to him. Hethought he
could brass the charge through. The ex-
plicit denial by Presidential authority was
doubtless surprise to him. Compelled
by that denial to either stand convicted of
barefaced lying or to trump up some
show of proof, he FASTENED to New York.
Of course PleasantOn was very glad of
any chance, however trivial, to feed his
grudge against President Grant, and
Schurz had no difficulty in securing from
him the letter now published. 1t is
strange that they did not date the letter
back, at least few days but it is often
the case that rogues leave some bar down
by which they can be detected


1t is notable that Pleasanton's letter
does not assert point blank that the Pres
ident said Schura could have ''patron-
age" to his hearts content if he would
support the treaty. He only says, THAT
was the distinct impression the Presi-
dents conversation made upon my mind"
No court of justice would accept any
such testimony, especially as against the
direct denial of the President. Even if
Pleasanton were a disinterested and trust
worthy witness, it would still be true that
his ''distinct impression" would be ruled
out as against the positive assertion of
the President himself Impressions are
often erroneous, and wrong differences
are frequently drawn. In this case, how
ever, no credence would be given to the
SANDER, on the score that an officer re-
moved ''for cause is not credible wit
ness against his late superior, especially
when one is the man Pleasanton and the
other General Grant, whose personal hon
esty even his enemies admit.-ChicdgO
Journal.
Year: 1872

Is WEST. INsANE?-That is the question
now before the public, and the debate is kept
up with more or less warmth as interest in the
case lags or quickens. That such will be the
pleadiDgs in the case is clearly foreshadowed-
such would seem to be the premonitory verdict.


1t is thoroughly believed that he had def
mite plan in view, and that he worked ration
ally to the cOnSummation of that plan. That
he secured victim, not such as he desired,
but such as he could get, and then worked his
plans to meet the emergency, with as clear a
method as sane man could devise. For two
days after he had slain his victim, and while
he was executing his plans upon the lfeess
remains, he went in and out among the
people with all the coolness of a medical
student pursuing his labors at the dissecting
table. No one detected in him other than the
clear-headed, good -humored gentleman that
he had always seemed So far from suspicion
was he, that for hours after that midnight
horror was revealed by the consummation of
his plans, the citizen. were lamenting his un-
timely end and the " explosion " that had
c used it. His plot, with all the drawbacks
he, had to encounter, was so well executed n.
to succeed fra time, and only cooler judgment
detected his blunders, and pointed out the
failure.


"Alps we'll that ends we'll " is familiar
adage. Had he succeeded in his plans he
would evidently have been regarded as one Of
the shrewdest villains in the land, and would
doubtless, have figured as the hero of some
blood and thunder novel of the "yaller-
kvered y literature. But he failed, and the
failure entities him to the charge of insanity.


lie was insane, therefore, not because he
committed the crime, but because he failed in
his object. The Phila North Amcrtcan, in
discussing this case, says:


1t would not be a very difficult work to re-
move all crime beyond the realm OF reason.
Crime is never reasonable from the high
ground of virtue. 1t is a distorted monster.
tearing away at the defences of society with
teeth and claws. The tendency to crime is an
evidence OF some sort of unsoundness. When
II Is said that no man in his right mind would
do such or such an act, the speech is partly
true and partly false. right-minded man
will not violate the law; but all men are not
right-minded. A man may be in his right
mind, yet not be in right mind. And man
may be in wrong mind. yet not be irrespon.
slble. The common saying--it is difficult to
draw the line between sanity and insanity-is
altogether too elastic for the good of the world.
Insanity is of two kinds. Iu one kind the man
Is the subject Of the disease which demoraIzes
the body, and so destroys or perverts the
agencies of the mind. In the other, insanity
Is the subject OF the man, and is as much
habit as swearing and lying. 1t is not very
difficult to draw the line between these two
varieties of insanity
Year: 1872

JUSTICE VS.. LAw.-The man Platter, of
Easton, Md, who stands accused before the
law of deserting his vile, and numbering her
on the public highway when she went to seek
shelter under his roof, has been admitted to
bail in the sum of $4,000 (See Maryland
Items). The people of Easton were surprised
on learning that the man under such serious
Indictment should have been allowed his
liberty. Ill health, caused by the bad condi-
ton of the jail, Is the cause assigned for re-
leasing him. The Easton Gazette draws the
following comparison between his case and
that of another man, also accused of murder
who is awaiting trial in the same Jail. The
Gazette says:


" In the case under consideration, though
the crimes are equal, when compared with one
who Is now awaiting in the slme prison for the
law to take its course, the former stands far
above the latter in receiving favOrs and is now
into the world to recruit his health and enjoy
himself the best he can, while the man who
has neither money or friends will be compelled
to remain in his uncomfortable quarters until
the day Of trial, without an appeal in his
behalf"
Year: 1872

MusIc.-The salesroom of tho Academy of
Music will be opened on next Wednesday, March
9th. A cordial invitation 10 extended to all TO
call and examine the rich display of fine instru.
ments


The department for instruction will be put in
operation as soon as an organization can be ef.
fected. The proposition 10 unite with the Acad-
emJ of Music in Chicago is now under consider
alton.


OF course the support and encouragement of
the people will be necessary 70 make an institu-
tion of this kind success
Year: 1872

GONE TO New YoRK.-Mr. Hull, the we'll
known dry goods and fancy dress goods dealer
of Ottawa, has gone to New York for his spring
stock. He will begin sending goods at once
and next week they will commence to arrive
He promises to show the people of this section
the finest stock of fancy dress goods ever seen
in Ottawa
Year: 1872

WANNED-A large amount OF good scrap cast
iron at Ottawa Machine Shops and Foundry.


Two or three good wood worku.en can find
work at the Ottawa Machine Shops and Foundry
If they apply Mt once.
Year: 1872

1t is believed that the ex.
treme cold weather Of last


winter killed all the fish in


Walkers Lake, Indiana.-
Since the ice thawed out, the
banks of the lake are lined
with fish, and in many places
they could be picked up by
the wagon load. 1t is believed
that there Is not a live fish left
in the entire lake. 1t is said
that an occurrence similar to
this happened some five or six
years ago, but since that time
the lake has become well stocks
ed with nearly all kinds of fish,
some of them very large,
Year: 1872

One Tom Mosely, of Stock.
ton, Gal, is responsible for this
story: Up in the vicinity of
Grayson, on the west side of
the river, since the storm, wild
geese become so numerous as
to do serious damage in the
way of picking up wheat
lately sown. A farmer friend
OF Toms, who resides in that
locality, hit upon a novel but
effective plan of freeing him
self of the ravages of the mill.
ions of wild fowls that swarm
that region. He poured whis-
ky over quantity Of wheat
until -it4absorbed about a gal
len; he then scattered the
wheat over his fields and await
ed the result.


The geese came in focks
they alighted and devoured
the wheat, and in alittle while
the fields were filled with
drunken geese, tumbling about
ndfgbting for all the world
like drunken men. Now was
the time for the farmer, and
with a club he killed no less
than 600 of the drunken
crowd. He gathered up the
slain and set lot Of Cinnamon
to pluck their feathers, from
the sale of which he expects to
realize the value of the whisky
used if not of wheat eaten.
Year: 1872

The origin of this month is
disputed. Some authorities claim
that April is derived from tho Latin
apperio, signifying to open, and
because in this month buds begin to
appear and some flowers blossom.
Others consider this a far fetched
deviation and argue that tho name
was formerly Aphrilis, derived from
Aprodite, the Greek name Of Venus
and that the month was SO called
because the first day used to be set
apart as festival Of that goddess.


In the Alban calandor April was
the first month and had SO days,
Year: 1872

At his reception on March
18th, M. Theirs said "He
would not resort to plebiscite,
but that he was not afraid of a
direct appeal to the people,.
The Bonapartists he was not
afraid; he was sure that they
could not muster a million and
a half of votes. The country
was prosperous and happy, and
only too glad of the continu-
ance of the present regime
The relations with Prussia and
Italy were most satisfactory; if
he were only let alone all would
be WE'LL"
Year: 1872

Democrats will have nothing to do with
voting, because they are disfranchised and
many of the younger fry think it clocks
well" to have nothing to do with the politi-
cal parties, save to "d-n the Republicans"
and to belong to the knights of the White
Brotherhood" or something Of that sort.
In many counties they have prevented the
cOlOred men from registering, and keep
them in perpetual terror by threats of deato
in case they vote or register. This will ac-
count for the fact that at the last election
llS70) there were not quite 81, 600 votes cast.


The condition OF the State is healthy.
migration comes IT gradually. The rail
roads are building as rapidly as could be
expected, while the large yield Of cotton
has brought an ample supply of money into
the State.


Even the bitter Democracy concede the
fact that republicanism is the true policy
for the material benefit of the State, but
they are chronic sore-heads, and growl for
the sake of growing. They acknowledge,
however, that the State has better name
that her credit is better, and the prospects
are brighter than ever before or since the
State was admitted into the Union.


A certain calamity is predicted here, as
well as along the banks of every river in
the South, on account of the immense fall OF
snow in the mountains and to the north
ward. One of the best informed gentlemen
in this State Ia resident of forty years in the
South informs me that the levees from our
State to New Orleans are not high enough
by three feet, and that certain crevasse
may be looked for on one side or the other
of the Mississippi, and that it will be pro-
ductive of far more damage than the Bon
net Carre crevasse of last year. give you
this "prediction" for what it is worth.
PETER PITTS.
Year: 1872

BAD RoADs.-The roads leading into the
city were never in Il worse condition than at
present A gentleman who had occasion to
70 six miles below the city on Sunday says
that it was full days journey to go there and
return. The same may I've said of almost
every other road leading into the city, the
turnpikeS alone excepted.
Year: 1872

AS for Zsbrskie, he is also doing we'll.
lie was, forty hours after the accident.
transported to the prison hospital at
Schwyz. His eyeSiaht seems irretrievably
lost, the ball having penetrated the cra-
mum in the temporal region, near the left
eye. The course of the ball could not be
ascertaincd, and no exit of the same be
found. His case is less hopeful than that
of the Young lady, and yet I found him
in a cheerful mood, opparenilr not realiz-
ing the fact that a criminal charge is
pending over him, ard that the case will
be brought to tial If found guilty, the
laws of the Canton Schwyz may send him
to the gallowS.
Year: 1872

ONE OF CoRwIN's JoKEs.-The death
of Tom Corw.n, which gave all sorrow,
served to revive many good stories concern
ing him. When quite young man he
was elected a member of the General
Assembly. of the State of Ohio, and early
in the session he brought in a bill for
the abolishmcnt of the punishment of
whipping aud for the destruction Of the
public whipping post. He made an ca, nest
speech 10 favor of the measure, to which
an elderly member replied as follows
"Mr. Speaker, the gentleman ie not MS cid
as am, and has not seen as much of the
practical operation of the system Of punish
ment which he desires to abolish When
l lived in Connecticut, if a fellow stole
horse, or cut up any antics, we used to tie
him up and give real good thrashing !;
and he always cleared right out, and we
never saw anything more of him. It's the
best way Of getting rid of the rogues that
ever was tried, and without expense to the
State" Mr.. Corwin. who never failed to
carry his point BY joke, if the argument
was against him, only made the brief reply
"Mr. Speaker, / have often been puzzled
to account for the vast emigration from
Connecticut to the West, but the gentleman
last up has explained it to my satisfaction. y
It is almost needless to say that Mr.. Cor
wins bill passed BY an overwhelming
majority.
Year: 1872

A good joke is told of an Elmira grocer.
One Of the ministers of the place was having
donation prrty the other evening. when
Mr.. ambitious to appear liberal, marked
a four dollar eastor up to twelve dollars,
and took it as his donation, getting much
credit tor his liberality The next day the
minister called at the store with his twelve
dollar castor, stating that as they could not
afford so expensive an article, ne would be
pleased to exchange it for its marked value
in other needed goods, and the minister
was soon vending his way homeward. load:
ed down with dozen dollars worth of
selected groceries
Year: 1872

SAVE US THE DIsGRACE.-A dispatch
from Philadelphia announces that two in
human bruisers, Mace and O'Baldwin,
have arranged for combat to come off in
Virginia on the 10th Of July next. This
affords an excellent opportunity for the ex-
ercse of little wholesome state rights,
and we sincerely trust that if these bullies
should dare to desecrate the soil of the
State by entering it for the purpose men
toned they may be made to feel the
righteous indignation of an outraged people.
There should be no spot of earth within
the bounds of civilization open to the brutal
practices of the prize ring. We pray that
our good old State, covered all over as she
is with marks of terrible yet honorable con-
Rict, may, through the prompt use of of
ficial authority, be saved from the disgrace
Of the contemplated prize fight.
Year: 1872

REPORTED AND PUT ON CALENDAR.


From Committee House bill: To amend
an act to appropriate the revenue arising
from the proceeds of the landscrip.


Under suspension of rules-House bill,
with Senate amendments, to authorize the
voters of certain counties and townships to
vote on the repeal of the fence law. The
House took up this bill, and insisted on its
amendment to the Senate amendment to
strike out the clause requiring a majority of
the freeholders voting.
Year: 1872

A VERY FOOLISH YOUNG COUNTRYMAN.
There IS no room among the crowded
columns of the HERALD to re-bash mat
ters of local character after they have
been once fairly told, as the story about
the robbery of Charles w. Lambert was
this morning. To put the whole thing
into nutshell this man Lambert is
not only a greenhorn. but fool, in ev-
cry sense of the word, including the
pungent description that generally goes
with a certain profane adjective that be-
gins with SD and ends with an "n."
He came to Boston from that beautiful
suburban place known as Jamaica Plain,
where most of the people are right on
ulIeiI Suoa -pcnayIoI, wnoro ounudy
schools and other institutions are in full
operation to make people do as they
should do. Sometimes they do it and
sometimes they don't do it, and this is
one of those times when they DON'T
Some time during Friday, the 10Th of
April this chap Lambert came to the
Hub. Up on Washington street. young
woman named Jennie Whitcomb, who is
mighty naughty, and is often in court
to answer for her frivolities, picked him
up. She put this greenhorn through
the usual course of sprouts, and finally
got him into Pleasant street, to the house
Of Thomas and Emily Watson, where he
was both pelted and robbed. They got
a pistol from him, valued at SIS. and
attempted to take his gold watch, val
ued at $50. The watch arrangement
did not go off very satisfactorily. But
Lambert wanted to get even some way,
so he went down into Lagrange street,
saw Capt. Meyers and told him what had
happened. Here it was that he learned
for the first time that he made a big
mistake as he did not care particularly
about the loss, but was very anxious not
to have his name in the papers, as it
might tell against him among the good
folks at Jamaica Plain. SO he all at
once became very reticent about the mat
ter, and when an examination was had
in Municipal Court to-day it was hard
to learn just how rough Jennie and this
Watson woman had used him. But af-
ter fashion, enough was learned to
satisfy Judge Churchill that Jennie
Whitcomb and Thomas and Emily Wat
son had tried to rob young Lombert, so
they were held in $500 for trial at the
May term Of the Supreme Court. And
then Lambert was trotted round into the
dock and required to give bonds in the
sum of 800 to appear as witness in
the case. As he could not do this he
Jumped into the Black Maria and rode
down to Charles street That's what
becomes of very foolish young men from
the country-Boston Herald.
Year: 1872

WHAT CANE OF ANSWERING AN AD-
vERTIsEMENT FOR WIFE.-The Rondout
Freeman says that very respectable
young lady of Saugerties, New York, has
had her reason completely restored, late
ly, as the following incident shows: She
discovered in some paper an advertise
ment purporting to have come from a
highly respectable (worthy and hand
some, of course) christian young man,
desiring some young lady to correspond
with him. probably with view toward
matrimony. Now, as she was a plain
country lass, although her folks were
well-to-do people, she was by no means
one who should waste her sweetness on
the desert air. so she concluded to an
swer In due time reply came, and as
time passed on the letters became more
and more afectionate. At last affairs
came to a crisis, and the young gallant
was invited to come and see her. He
did come. But alas for her hopes and
fancies of delight he came dead-drunk.
But the joke of it was, he had to go two
or three miles out of the village, and ev-
cry house he went to be inquired if Miss


- lived there. Being very tight he
would generally state the object of his
visit to her, and would read her last let
ter. and then pass on to the next house.
He made out to arrive at her house
at ten o'clock at night. The
old folks were absent, but two sisters
were there. The meeting can better be
imagined than described suffice it to say
that the correspondence ceased.
Year: 1872

EQUAL TO ENCHANTMENT.-When the
passenger trains escaped from their thirty
days snow blockade on the Pacific Rail-
way, and the engines, still glistening
with ice, ran into the delicious atmos-
phere of the western slope of the noun
tains, the California settlements testified
their hospitality by bearing to the un-
fortunate passengers fresh fruits and
flowers grown in the open air only few
miles from the scene of that terrible lev
storm. The gilt was symbolical of the
extraordinary country, in which the
fruits of August are laid in the lap
of winter, the blossoms of spring perfume
the whole year, and the sower and reap
er walk the fields together.
Year: 1872

aunt George could know how much her
bequest has done for us, [ think it would
do her kind heart good.


And to this day | never take a piano
apart without a serious peep into the
hollow repository lest perchance it con-
talns some concealed mystery. But |
have never found anything since, and
probably never shall. People seldom
have more than one romance in the
course Of their lives.
Year: 1872




ENAMELING THE FACE AND THE RESULT.
A lady in Louisville paid s75, we are
told, for having her face enameled for
the ball given at the Gait House to the
Grand Duke Alexis. The enamel was
warranted to last three days, and SO it
did. The lady was taken i'll upon her
return home from tho ball, her face be-
came greatly swollen, the most acute
pain succeeded, and it was only by the
employment of the best medical skill
that her life was saved. This statement
we have from an undoubted source.


But the case of this lady is not so bad
as that of another Louisville lady who
became enamored of the odious fashion
of enameling the face. She visited an
other city, far to the eastward, some
months ago, for the sole purpose of hav-
ing her face enameled according to the
latest Partisan mode She had heard
that noted Partisan was engaged in the
enameling business at the city in ques-
ton, and to him she went upon her arri-
val. For the sum of $500 he agreed to
enamel her face so scientifically that the
enamel would remain undamaged for
three years, and year or two longer if
extra care was taken in washing the face
according to its prescribed method
The devotee of fashion concluded the
bargain. and $500 of the sum named,
the balance to be paid in yearly install
ments divided into three years.


The lady received the enamel and re-
turned to her home in this city. Since
her return she has disappeared from So
ciety. There was so much poison in the
enamel that its effect was almost imme-
diately developed in the almost total
paralysis of the facial nerves, and what
was once truly beautiful face is to-day
distorted. disfgured and ulcerous one.


The lady's beauty has disappeared
forever, and if her physicians succeed in
saving her life they will have accom-
plished more than they had a right to
hope for. Her eyes are terribly inham-
ed and disfgured, and the sight of them
fast failing.-LomsUiNe Ledger.