smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876




On one Of the many bridges in Ghent
stand two large brazen images OF father
and son, who obtained this distinguished
mark of admiration of their fellow citi-
zens by the following incidents


Both the father and son were, for some
offence against the State, condemned Ia
die. Some favorable circumstances ap-
pearing on the side of the son, he was
granted a remission of his sentence under
certain provisions in short he was offered
a pardon, on most cruel and barbarous
condition-that be would become the ex-
ecutioner of his father He at first reso-
lutely refused to preserve his life by
means so fatal and detestabe. This Is
not TO be wondered at for let us hope,
for the honor of our nature, that there are
few sons who would not have spurned
with adherence life sustained on a con-
though long inAexible, was at length
overcome by the tears and entreaties ol
a fond father, who represents TO him that
at all events his (the father's) life was
forfeited, and that it would be the great
est possible consolation for him in his
last moments that in his death ne was an
instrumental his sons preservation. The
youth consented TO adopt the horrible
means of recovering his life and liberty,
he lifted the axe-but as it was about to
fall, his arm sunk neryeless, and the axe
dropped from his hand Had he as many
lives as hairs, he could readily have yield
ed them all, one after another, rather than
again conceive, much less perpetuate,
such an act. Life, liberty, everything
vanished before the dearer interests of
filial affection; he fell upon his fathers
neck, and embsacing him, triumphantly
exclaimed


My father we die together !" and
then called for another executioner to
fulfill the sentence of the law.


Hard must their hearts indeed be-be-
reft Of every sentiment of virtue, every
sensation OF humanity-who could stand
insensible spectators of such scene. A
sudden peal of involuntary applause,
mixed with moans and sighs, rent the
air. The execution was suspended and
on a simple report of the transaction to
the authorities, both were pardoned.-
High rewards and honors were conferred
on tho son ; and finally these two admira-
memorate a transaction So honorable to
human nature, and transmit it to the in
struction and emulation of posterity.-
The statue represents the son in the very
act of letting fall the axe.
Year: 1876

A NATURAL curiosity attracts the at.
tention Of the passer-by on the road be-
tween Lansing, Michigan, and the agri
cultural college. 1t is cherry tree sil
inches in diameter, growing up through
the crevice in a large rock, which crevice
at the time the seed fell in it was an open.
ing not much larger than pipe STEM
The heavy rock is gradually opening
year by year, to make room for the ex.
panding trunk.
Year: 1876

THERE has been separation between
an uptown lover and his sweetheart. She
presented him with her photograph.
which he on his bended knees, swore he
would always wear it next to his heart.
Last Sunday evening he pulled out his
handkerchief from his back pants pocket,
when 10 the photograph fell at his la
dy's feet. She says he is either liar or
else his heart is not in the right place.
Year: 1876

A BoARDER the other day, after vainly
endeayoring to masticate piece Of fowl,
laid down his knife and fork, saying :
'All the trainings traditions and teachings
of my youth, my sense Of propriety, and
the commands of holy writ, compel me to
respect old age but I'll be bowed if |
can bring myself to stomach it when
roasted or boiled"
Year: 1876

RURAL EDUCATION.


Has not education much to do with the
discomfort of people in general? While not
attempting to answer this question, it may
be well to look at some of the various phases
of society and see if solution of what is
sometimes considered mystery cannot be
discovered. We are, as a whole, an ambi-
tious people, striving to obtain objects and
positions which are tar too frequently be-
yond our reach, and failures, bring cor
responding disappontments and unhapp-
ness. This popularity Of Americans is not
confined to those engaged in any particular
line of trade Or profession, nor IS it more
apparent among the rich than the poor. but
it pervades all classes of society, scarcely
an individual who is not seeking something
which he does not possess, but would obtain
through the aid of wealth or other means.


Now ambition is a laudable attribute in
person or people, but even this may be en-
ployed for base purposes. Men and women
NAV strive tor that which will work their
ruin. as we'll as that whiclH brings honors
and happiness, but it is only those who are
born with good common sense, or have had
the deficiency made good by proper educa-
ton, who are qualified to obtain the greatest
amount of pleasure from their own immedi-
ate surroundings whatever they may be. A
man NAV toll for dollar per day and enjoy
more of this world, and be far happier and
greater than king surrounded by wealth
and thousands of cringing vassals, for true
fn
from position or wealth, although both OF
these il properly directed, contribute largely
towards the possessors of happiness.


It is this mistaken idea of what constitutes
greatness, nobility, and exalted human ma
ture, which makes so many of our rural
population discontented with their lot, as
well as envious of the supposed happiness
and prosperity of the residents of cities, but
misery is no respecter of position or locality
and like parasitic plants or insects, it seeks
nourishment wherever it can be found Leav
ing the residents of cities and villages t(
themselves, we have a word to say to oul
rural readers, residing in the country Wht
are farmers. or in some way cultivate tn
earth for livelihood. for it is from such a
those that the most frequent and bitter com
plants come Of discomfort and hardships
Now we hold that of all places where ma
or woman should be able to enjoy life in tn
fullest sense of the term, the country rank
first and foremost, but it must be admitte
that person who can see no beauty, an
takes no interest in natural objects as the
are found outside of city limits, will be yer
likely to find the country both dreary an
uninteresting. All these luguberous phase
of rural life, however, will disappear befol
judicious system of education, one whie


points out the way tor reaching the highe


planes of intellectual training and enjo


ment The principal objection, which douh


less would be urged against higher stan


ard and more thorough education is tt
Year: 1876

Ex-senator Brownlow says in late is
sue of the Knoxville (Tenn.) Chronicle ::
Gov Tilden lays great stress upon the
burdens of taxation we are compelled to en-
dure, and the weight of them we are not
disposed to controyert. They are heavy
and grievous, and every time We are pressed
with their weight we feel like hurling anath-
emas at those reckless Democrats who i'm
posed them upon Us. The great republic
was getting along very well in 1860, in so
far as the prosperity of its citizens was con-
cerned and, although the government
credit was bad, it took but S60,000,000 a
of any consequence. Hence there was no
internal revenue necessary, and the great
army of office holders which have grown up
out of the war to fasten and fatten on the
people did not exist. But the Rebel De-
mocracy having failed to elect President
at the ballot-box, revolted and tried to de-
stroy the republic it had shown itself unfit
to govern. 1t waged rebellious war against
the union, to preserve which taxed the en-
ergies and resources of the loyal people for
more than four years of bloody war and ten
more of quarrelsome and laborious peace.
The national debt is, for the most part, a
Democratic debt; and if the principle of
indemnity insisted upon in the late Franco
German war had been carried out in clos
ing up their rebellion, it would not have
been the people of the United States but
the rebel democracy that would have had
to pay that debt. What right hare 7Hlden
and Hendricks, both sympathizers ,oith re-
bellion, to arraign the party ,ohich sared
the Union, for Ierying tares to pay the
interest on the National Debt and make an
utal reductions from the principalP 1t is
not those who pay, but those who make
debts that should be arraigned 2"
Year: 1876

One of the most useful and magnificent
productions of the vegetable kingdom that
enriches China, and more particularly the
provinces of Kiang-si and Canton, is the
camphor tree. This stupendous laurel,
which often adorns the banks of rivers, was
in several places found by Lord Ambert's S
embassy about fifty feet high with its stem
20 feet in circumference. The chinese
themselves affirm that it sometimes attains
the height of three hundred feet, and cir
cumference greater than the extended arms
of twenty men could embrace.


Champion is obtained from the branches
by stepping them, while fresh cut, in water
for two or three days, and then boiling
them ill the gum in the white forms of
Jelly adheres to stick which is used in
constantly stirring the branches. The fluid
is then poured into glazed vessel, where
it concentrates in few hours. To purify
it, the Chinese take a quantity of finely pow
dered earth which they lay at the bottom
of a copper basin, over this they place a
layer of camphor, and then another layer
of earth, and so on until the vessel is nearly
filled, the last or topmost layer being OF
earth They cover this last layer with the
leaves OF plant called po-ho, which seems
to be a species of Mentha (mint). They
now invert a second basin over the first
and make itair tight by luting. The whole
is then submitted to the action of a regu-
lated fire for certain length of time and
then left to cool gradually. On separating
the vessels the camphor is found to have
sublimed, and to have adhered to the upper
basin Repetitions of the same process
complete its refinement. Besides yielding
this valuable ingredient the camphor tree
is one of the principal timber trees of China,
and is used not only in building but in most
articles of furniture The wood is dry and
of light color, and although light and
easy to work, is durable and not liable to be
injured by insects
Year: 1876

"MARIER HAS GONE TO BED."-A
young man in the Sixth district had parted
his faxen locks in the most impartial man
ner if there was a hair more on one side
of his head than on the other, the differ
ence could not be observed. He had a
tolerable good tenor voice, and he had mas
tered new song. The moonlight shone
brightly down on the greensward In front
of the residence which held the maiden
of his heart The youth crept softly up
the sidewalk, and let out his soul in melody,
" Darling, I'm waiting for thee, waiting
for thee" He had hardly completed the
second chorus when a window blind was
cautiously opened, something white was
seen by the light of the moon, and an old
ish voice, not in harmony with the music,
said g It's all right, young man, but you
needn't wait any longer Marier has gone
to bed. ."-Baltimore Ne,cs.
Year: 1876

One of the most interested spectators of
the parade when the Boston Tigers passed
through the city, says New York CORES
pondent of the Boston Journal, was a
young man under thirty. He had been an
ardent military man for long time, genial,
liberal and popular Three mentbs ago he
was in robust health, and was of stout,
stocky, rugged build, capable of enduring
everything. He never knew days sick
ness until within a short time He has
been a generous liver, and had ample means
to crafty his TASTE Six months ago his
father died, and he took large business,
the fruit of twenty years industry, and was
of indomitable perseverance. The young
man threw off the aesceticism of his father,
and launched out generously. He was
just the young man to have hosts of friends.
He treated them like prince, and entered
on what is known as ''Est life" First his
business failed Then blow struck him
that crippled his health In three months,
from fiorid, energetic, robust frame, he
became a mere skeleton, and now his own
mother would not know him. He is around
| everywhere; among his old haunts and old
friends; for his doctors have told him that
there is no help for him that he has just
two months to enjoy himself in, to look on
the pleasant things of life and be as happy
as he may Then he will lie down to rise
not again "til the Heavens be no more. y
He talks cheerfully about the matter


counts the days as they run along and
when his young friends are in the midst Of
their hilarity he points to his attenuated
frame and says, Remember, boys, it was
| fast life that did this to me"
Year: 1876

An exchange says: eff the inside of
your teapot or coffee pot is black from long
use, fill it with water, throw in small
piece of hard soap, set on the stove and
let it boil from half an hour to an hour. 1t
will clean it bright as new dollar and costs
no work at ALL
Year: 1876

Still has his Office Main street in the second story
Of Dr. : WaItonS brick building, nearly opposite the
Strouisurg House and he faters himself that by elgh
wears practice and the most earnest ana
careful attention all pertaining 10 his pro-
f-s-on that h" is fully able perform all operations
in the dental line in the careful and skillful mani



Special attention given TO saving the Natural Teeth
also to insertion of Artificial Teeth on Rubber
Gold Silver Continuous Gums and perfect fits IN all
insured


Most persons know the great folly and danger of en-
trusting their work the perienccd TO those T
ing at a distance. april ~, ls74--tf.
Year: 1876

The religious press is more religious this
week than ordinarily. Religion in one phase
or another in the palpit and the pew is
commented upon and kindly advice given to
all whom it may concern. Dr. Talmage
thinks the pews are exceedingly dull, and
that dulness in the pulpit is due to that fact.
The occupants of pews look dull and stupid
and sleepy; they listen with an inanimate
look, and he calls on them to arouse and
meet the preacher at least half way. DIR.
Wheeler offers some excellent suggestions to
Methodist ministers who complain of their
system of church government which debars
them from promotion and good appointments.
AS water finds its own level so ministerial
talent and ability will find its level Pass
ing from ministerial piety and usefulness to
prayer and everyday religion, the Church
Journal thinks it is mistake for the churches
to pray for health, wealth and long life
for the President and those in authority,
when what he and they want is wisdom and
honesty to govern wisely and well. The
He6relc Leader takes a practical, everyday
life view of religion, and declares that what
the world is looking at is mems lives, and
not their professions If the world sees
man with the Ten Commandments on his lips
and something quite different written all
over his life it will be apt to point to the
discrepancy and utter some harsh criticisms.
DR.. Patten makes distinction between the
Church and religion, and insists that while
there should be no union or alliance between
the Church and the State there ought to be
a recognized relation of mutual interaction
or Interpretation between religion and the
State. DR.. Curry, having an eye to the
multiplication of lay preachers, male and
called of God to minister, but denies them
the right to administer the sacraments of the
Church OF to lay down and take up the Office
of the ministry at pleasure. DIR. Bright
gives a recipe for the cure of dull
PRAYER meetings. 1t is that each one
make special prayer and preparation
of heart before going to the meetings. Dr.


Prime opposes the taxing of church property
and gives several reasons therefor, and calls
upon the several churches Of this State to
petition the Legislature not to repeal the
present law. The Reformed Church Messenger,
with the examples of Tweed, Winslow, Pond
and Others before it, easily proves the inefi-
cheney of education TO make men honest, and
the NorthsreSt,rn Christian Advocate, with the
same parties in view, thinks there is very
little cause for one denomination to glory
over another in this respect, for a stigma
of some sort rests upon them all. The Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher defends the preach
ing Of Mr.. Moody against the many objec-
tions made to it both in its matter and man.
ner. and indorses his earnestness and direct
ness as something worthy of imitation by
other preachers. DR.. Ward and Mr. Bowen
think the Congregational Council was a very
nice. discreet, intelligent body of men, but
, that they we're hardly capable under all the
Year: 1876

The Tribune in an able article sums up the
whiskey cases, and alludes to the efforts Of
the .'rings" and their methods of escaping
justice. But it is not accurate in its history.
"The Whiskey Ring conspiracy it says,
s'began in 1871, and continued without ins
terruption till the seizures were made last
May" The ;Whiskey Ring has a much
older history. The efforts to defraud the
revenue in whiskey began when Congress-,
for the purposes of taxation to carry on the
war; imposed the high tax. When this
measure was passed there was an amend
ment exempting from the tax all whiskey
that at the time OF its passage was in bond.
This was passed under the pressure of q
powerful lobby, and was really as nefarious
a piece of business as the act creating the
Credit Mobilier Ring. From that time to this
the Whiskey Ring, with more or less assiduity,
according as the Secretaries of the Treasury
were vigilant in their duties, has fourished.
1t had power under Lincoln, an administra-
ton which, notwithstanding the war, was as
corrupt in many phases of subordinate duty
as any we have ever had, which sent generals
to the field who were utterly incompetent,
and began the horrible work of reconstruct
ton by appointing men without character or
ability to administer Justice in the South.
Then came the saturnalia of corruption in
the time of Johnson, when leading whiskey
thieves were in the confidence of the admin
istration, and when whiskey was sold in the
open market for less than the tax. We trust
to see this whole business torn up by the
roots. But the way to do is to begin at the be-
ginning and deal with it, not as a nero
party expedient, but as a momentous and
degrading crime, which has cost us millions
of money and deadened the public sense.
Year: 1876

Until Paris has allowed its storm cloud
of politics to drift to the horizon the re-
ports from the gay capital must display
more or less of the pervading political
electricity. Just now. with the Assembly
elections unconcluded and the Minis
terial future in an ocean of uncer-
tainty, Paris is watching the wrestling of
the party athletes and not occupying itself
particularly about the artistic pirouettings
that generally engage its attention. The
luxury of non-explosive republic is some
thing it has yet to accustom itself to, and
the old ladies who look out of their windows
every night in the Faubourg st. German to
see if the old Faubourg ST Antoine is not
in flames must be given o week or
two to get over their attacks of nerves. :"
just at the proper mom-nt will come the
production of the two prize Centennial
pieces, one of which is to see the footlights
at the Ambigu and the other at the Od6on
We hope that the Father of his Country will
be presented to republican France in
a manner worthy of his great name,
and that his influence will be as
reassuring to the neophytes of repub-
icanism lately won from the monarchy
as it will be cooling to the ardor of the fiery
blue blouses that dream of social equality
over their petit bleu around the site of the old
Bastile. We have before remarked the ex-
traordinary capacity of lyric artists for per-
forming in the law courts, and our Paris let
ter furnishes US with trio this week that
would win the hearts of any jury if they
were only to sing their causes instead of hiring
cacophonous tongued lawyers to plead them.
Here is gratuitous suggestion to Offenbach
and Lecocq They could make splendid
opera boufe out of it. Minnie Hauck, after
her Berlin triumphs, we are glad to learn, is
coming to America, thanks to the enterprise
of Mr.. Strakosch, who has engaged her for a
hundred nights. American artists are doing
well in Europe, to judge of the list of good
engagements and substantial triumphs re-
ported of them from week to week in our
cable letters.
Year: 1876

City pastors of the Baptist faith to-day will
instil some of their own peculiarities into
the minds of their congregations on heart
unity in Gods service to insure success and
Christ's mission to the world on the birth
of John the Baptist and Christ and their hu-
man relationship to each other and the con-
fession of the divine origin of the latter on
the distinguishing characteristics of the
Christian and Gods goodness and care for
His own on the proper disposal of Christ
by every man and His reception by every
one, as little children receive Him without
questioning and doubling on the peculiar
principles of Baptists, which have proved a
safeguard and pillar of this Republic and
on the duty of Christians toward Plymouth
church, based on the findings of the Council.
The Methodist pastors will consider the
character of heaven and of its unseen Guest
and His invitation Ito the burdened and
weary to come to Him and find rest; the in
terview between Saul and the Spiritualist
medium at Endor and the moral quality of
this government, whether it is heather or
Christian, with particular reference to the
school question now agitating the commu-
nifty. The Presbyterian pastors will con-
slider the glory and JOY of the Church and
the personal claim of the Gospel upon every
man. The Episcopalian pulpit will discuss
the recognition of friends in heaven and the
character of the midnight mission work of
the Established Church in London The
Reformed, hearing the sound of a
going in the mulberry trees, will
urge this as the convenient season
for repentance toward God and faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ The Congregationalist
will offer redemption to all applicants, and
indicate who the modern Balaams are and
what their prophesying meaneth. The Uni
versalist pulpit will look at religion merely
as a means of culture; will discuss the Scrip
tural authority and reasonableness of the
orthodox belief in personal devil and the
true way to see Jesus, and the Unitarian will
take nothingarianism in hand. The Sweden
borgian pulpit will explain the curse of the
serpent to mean the sensual principle in
man, and which suggested to his free will
lower plane of life than that on which he
existed and which man accepted. The miscel-
laneous preachers and teachers will discuss
marriage and the scientific reconstruction of
the individual and the time and manner of
the last Judgment.