smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873



 The rails are laid on the extension of the Duchess & Columbia railroad, and trains can now run regularly to the site of the future depot. MT. Reynolds, the veteran contractor, has completed the works in an almost incredibly short space of time. It is rumored that Mir. R. has received th. contract for filling in the marsh west of the Harlem track, as the foundation for the Union Depot which IS to be built by the Duchess 6 Columbia and Conn. Western railroad companies. The work will be commenced in the early spring, and when completed this now unproductiye marsbv region will be converted into substantial building lots......The panic has seriously affected the prosperity of our village. In all of the surrounding ore beds most of the men have been discharged, and business in consequence is very dull...... Thanksgiving night our colored friends held ball at Webotuck Hall, which was largely attend ed. During the evening some colored men from Lakeville created SO much disturb ance that the managers were obliged to call on the white people for assistance. A lead ing physician and prominent hotel keeper to the call, but on their arrival at the hall. they received such warm re- ception they were forced to beat hasty retreat. The physician complains of sore ness across the chest and the hotel keeper now walks with cane. Both men have resolved in the future to abstain from at lending colored balls. The lights were subsequently, extinguished, the ladies and musicians left for home, and at about II ?. N. the hall was deserted. We trust that he fair fame of our village will not again 'e tarnished by such disgracefu! occur ence.
Year: 1873

SHIRTs.-W. H. Porter of West Corn. wall is selling some of the very best made and best fitting shirts for gentlemen, and Tn doing so is supplying long felt want in that section. Only tell him the size of col lar you wear and he Il select a shirt for you that will fit "like duck foot in the mud"
Year: 1873

PHENOMENA OF THE BRAN.-0ne of the

 most inconceiyable things in the nature of the brain is that, although the organ of sensation, it should itself be insensible. To cut the brain gives no pain yet in the brain resides the power of feeling pain in any part of the body. If the nerve which leads to 1t from the injured part be divided, we become instantly unconscious of suf- fering' It is only by communication with the brain that any kind of sensation is pro- luced; yet the organ is itself insensible. But there is . circumstance more wonder ful still. A certain portion of the brain itself may be removed without destroying fife. The animal lives and performs all hose functions which are necessary to simple vitality, but has no longer mind It cannot think or feel. It requires that he food should be pushed into the stom- 'ch; once there it is digested, and the ami nal will even thrive and grow fat. We nfer. therefore, that part of the brain is

 imply intended for the exercise of the in- faculties, whether of the degree | 'alled instinct, or of that exalted kiLd be. l lowed on man, called reason.
Year: 1873

Tho River Improvement bill Inns boon favor
ably reported to tho House by tho Appropriation
Committee. They hayo amended It by striking
out tho appropriation OF s200,0O for the con-
etructlon Of dam at Copporas Crock, and pro-
V1ding that tho net earnings Of tho Illinois d
Michigan Canal shall bo devoted to that object.
Year: 1873

FALL FROM LADDER.-Mr. George Jep-
nings, the driver of the hook and ladder
truck, fell from one of the ladders at the fire
yesterday afternoon, and was hurt about the
back and head.
Year: 1873

Perhaps one Of the greatest triumphs of
manipulative skill on record was that of
transferring several of Raphael's pictures
from the wood on which they were origin
ally painted to canvas. This occurred
about seventy years ago. In the first place.
the wood, which was much warped. was
moistened and Strengthened. and held flat
while drying by Oaken clamps. Then gauze
was pasted upon the front or face, and upon
this two layers of paper, and the picture
laid face downward. About two-thirds of
the wood (which was three-eighths of an
inch thick) was removed by saws: af-
ter this jack plane cutting across
the grain was employed. Finally,
when the paint was almost reached the
woody flores were slightly wet and scraped
Oft with a plane iron, tOOthed like rasp:
the smaller particles icing taken off with
the rounded point OF knife. The back Of
the paint being thus exposed was coated
lightly with oil and received an application
OF white lead in Oil. This was allowed to
dry during a period of three months, after
which sheet of gauze was pasted upon it.
and over this another of fine canvas. thus
giving new back to the picture. The
paper and gauze on the face were then
softened with water and rubbed off. and a
little diluted paste being inserted under
the scales liable to be detached, these last
were pressed down with hot iron, piece
of paper being meantime interposed be-
tween.
Year: 1873

Last night, while seated at the sup
per table: at about eight o'clock, |
saw the front part of the hotel lighted
up in brilliant glare, as though some
enormous building was on fire. |
called waiter and asked him what
the matter Was. He said it was q
display of fireworks in honor of Presi-
dent Grant, who was coming in from
the North on the steamer, I cut
short my appetite and made out for
the front in order to get peep at


THE AMERICAN CESAR.


By the time I had got out he had
made his entrance into the main Of
fee of the hotel, from which he was
literally taken up and carried into the
ladies' parlor. Here scene was de-
pictcd which was ludicrous in the ex-
treme, and must have been seen to be
fully appreciated. Several thousand
men. women and children all forcing
and squeezing their way to see, shake
hands with, and some to kiss the
President of the United States! Ladies
as well as men mounted sofas, chairs,
bauister rails, windows, anything and
everything, just to get u glance if
| nothing more. I squeezed myself
through the multitude to within about
four feet of his august majesty, where
I saw his hand well shaken by several
hundred in real pump-handle style.
I saw him also kiss any quantity Of
children, and though l did not see
the operation performed. [ heard one
lady cxclaim in almost fit of exulta-
tion that she had been kissed by the
President Of the United States. Ano.
ther said, with emphatic pleasure and
delight, that she had shook his hand
to which still another replied that she
had had greater honor than that, fol
she had had two shakes. 1t seemed
to me that the people would go crazy,
if, in fact they were not so already
Talk about third term for Grant
Why l honestly believe that the
masses of Northern people are 50 in
fatuated with him that they would BE-
willing to See him made President for
life.
Year: 1873

was only 8 cloWn, q palhCeo,
grinning clown, attached, on 8
small salary. to a theatre in the
capital Of one of the little duchies
into which Germany was divided


before the genius and ambition OF
Bismarck had effected its consoli-
dation into the empire. Ny role
was popular because everybody
likes to laugh, and likes one who
pats thom in q laughing mood
Ny makeup was considered o
marvel of perfection. My songs
always took, and my gestures and
grimaces never failed to elicit the
most raptarous applause. 1t used
to be said that my face must be
made Of India-rubber, it could bo
twisted and distorted into such
strange expressions. But l hated
the life, ami my success made it
more and more distasteful.


One night L went home com
pletely worn ont in body and
mind. My little sister Ada, fifteen
years old, and light and graceful
as u sylph, who was engaged Us q
danseuse ut the same theatre, also
seemed disp,rised and worn. The
play had been running forty nights,
and the whole company was heart
ily sick of it. But it. was not this
alone which exersed u depressing
influence on my spirits that eve.
ming. For many weeks { had been
loosing my heart to FrauLein Dora,
the principal danseuse Of the the
stre, who was no less lovely IN
mind and heart than in her person.
She was the most beautiful wo'
man l had ever seen; tall, we'll
formed, graceful with a step like
a fairy queen; large, thoughtful
eyes and a sweet, winning smile.
What first drew me to her was
hor kindness to my sister, whom
she took every opportunity to be-
friend and assist in her profession.
This was the more surprising, be-
cause Ada promised to become a
dangerous rival and, in the thea
trical profession, jealousy IS the
rule, and generosity the exception;
So | learned to like Dora, and
then to love her. But so did ev,
erybody else. All the gentry OF
the place fell in love with her, and
raved about her beauty and her
dancing, in a way that nearly
drove ne wild with jealousy. l
was in love in the old-fashlon way
we read of in noyels-I am not
ashamed to confess it-eager to
kiss the ground on which she trod'
and would not believe that any
one else could love and worship
her with the same devotion. l
must not omit to say that Dora
in the midst Of al this adulatlon
displayed the most discreet ano
modest behavior. She was always
Year: 1873

The Goldsboro Standard says farmers
in the immediate neighborhood com
plain bitterly of the sad havoc made
by the cotton worm. Many fields
have been entirely stripped, and no
thing but the stalk and matured boil
remains to be seen. With corn pros
poets blighted. and the cotton crop cut
off at least onc-third. what will be-
come Of Us!
Year: 1873

The officers Of the New York and Bra
I'll line Of steamships have received
communications concerning the burn
ing Of the steamer Erie. The steamship
was discovered to be on fire at about ten
o'clock at night, and every exertion
made to subdue the flames, but it was of
no avail. The fire, which originated In
the hold, spread rapidly, and at twelve
O'Clock, finding ali hope of saving the
vessel gone, the passengers and crew
got into the boats, and the vessel sunk
In less than half an hour after she was
deserted. The cargo consisted Of coffee,
and with the mails and vessel all were
lost.
Year: 1873

The Federal Council of Switzerland
have addressed letter to the Papal
Charge d'Affairs, denying in a sharp
manner the right of the Pope to dis
member the Bishoprics of Switzerland


The Council also requires Bishop Mer-
millos to decide quickly if he intends to
obey the Pope or the Swiss Government.
Year: 1873

gers from the primary processes. His theo-
ry is that a small constituency OF voters,
assembled by lot from among the citizens Of
q ward or town, and Immediately shut up
like jury to appoint such on electcr, must
necessarily be governed in their selection
by personal acquaintance or general repute,
and therefore hit upon man pre- eminent
in his community for ability or worth. 1t
would be impossible to bring together at
haphazard hundred men who would not a.
gree upon some such man to represent them,
left entirely to their own judgment, There
fore We should obtain for the foundation
stone of our new fabric body Of repre-
sentative electors possessed of character
and standing in the communities, body Of
men who would be presumably imperyious
to all the evil Influences which the poit.
clans could bring against them. The high
er grades Of electoral bodies would natu-
rally be composed Of still more prominent
and more truly representative citizens. At
every step q motive would exist for select
ing the best men instead of the worst, as
so often happens under the present system.


Neither can it be objected that because
the electoral colleges wisely interposed by
the fathers in the election Of President and
Vice-President have been captured by the
party carcus, and completely nullifed, SO
would be the proposed electoral bodies to
be substituted for popular elections. The
plan IS designed TO do away entirely with
the present party caucus and convention,
with their "set up machinery aud facility
for overriding the will Of the honest citi-
zens, and would likely accomplish that re-
suit. Regularly organized political parties,
with complete machinery and armies Of
mercenaries aQd whippers in would no long
er exist, and only great, living, urgent po-
litical issues would be considered by the
voters in appointing their representative
electors
Year: 1873

SIZE OF NAILS The following table will
show any one at glance the length Of tho
various sizes and number Of nails to pound.
They are rated from 3 nenny up to 20 penny.
The first column gives the number, tho
second the length in inches, and the third
the number per pound--that is:
Year: 1873

Yesterday afternoon female child OF Michael
Mccarty, two years Of age, was run over by Ninth
avenue car, driven by Hugh N. Constable. She
was fatally injured and soon Afterwards died


Constable was arrested and taken before Justice
Fowler at the Jefferson Market Police Court, who
committed him to await the action OF the Coroner
Year: 1873

oS iifk ItE.- marie Ann went I'D tnc
front door. last evening, to see it The
afternoon paper had come. She had been
delivering "A short address concerning
what she pleased to term - cold molas>
Is STYLE : of moving around. As she
opened the door she remarked. " like
to see u body move quickly. prompt, IN
phutic that was all !; but heard some
one humping down the stairs in a most
prompt and emphatic manner, aud |
reached the door just in time to see my
better half sliding across the sidewalk in
sitting posture. l Isuggested, as she
limped back to the door, their might be
such thing as too much CELEBRITY; but
she did not seem inclined to carry on
the conversation, and started for nv
office.


Right in front ofme, on the slippery
sidewalk strobe two independent
knights of St. Crispin. They were talk
ing over their plans for the future, and,
as l overlook them, heard one of them
say" have only nv two hands to de.
pend upon, but that is fortune enough
for any man who is not afraid to work
intend to paddle my own canoe-I be-
lieve can make my way through the
| world his feet slid out from under
him, and he came down in the shape of
aV. told him he could never make
his way through the world in that direc-
ton, unless he came down harder, and
that if he did he would go through
among the hesthen Chinee," and he
was really grateful for the interes
manifested. He invited me to place
where ice never forms on the sidewalk


Then l slid along behind loving
couple on their way to hear Madame
Anna Bishop. Their hands were frozen
together. Said he: Ny own, l shall
think nOthin of hard work, if l can make
you happy. 1t shall be my only aim to
surround you with comfort; my svmpa-
thy shall tighten every sorrow, and
through the path Of life l will be your
stay and your support; your "-he stop
ped. Ills speech was too flowery for
this climate; and as passed. the IN she
was trying to lift him up.


Two lawyers coming from the court
house next attracted my attention.
All, said one, Judge Foster would rule
that out. We must concede the first
points. We can afford to do it if the eyi
dence sustains us in the third, but OF
this position we must take our firm
stand-his time was up. left hin
moving for new trial.


| unused. What q lesson the ice teach
es us. dow easily is humanity control
led by circumstanccs--and the attrac
ton Of grsvitati0n What a sermo,
might be based-I got up and took tn,
middle of the street 70 prevent furthe
accidents.
Year: 1873

ing exclusive jurisdiction over all
assaults endangering life or resulting
in death? Such Court might consist
Of five Justices, holding office for
seven years, with Grand Jury devoted
entirely to his business, meeting once
week to consider and report indict-
ments. Two of these Justices might
sit every day in separate courts to
hear and try cases, and the whole
Court could sit once q week, on
stated day, to hear appeals from the
rulings of single Judge. When four
o: the five Judges agree, their dicision
should be final sand without appeal,
except to the Governor of the Stsee.
All our courts should be prohibited
from any interference with either the
process or the action Of the Criminal
Court, and execution should follow
conviction in that court within twenty
uavs or even shorter period.


BY such summary procee dings
almost all criminal cases would be set
tied within fifty or sixty days, and tine
great defects Of uncertainty of punish
ment and delay Of trial under the pres
cnt system, be remedicd. The moral
influence upon the minds of all classes.
cannot, we think, be questioned.


We do not, of course, mean to saw
that the remedy we propose is the
only one, or that better one cannot
be found. But it is useless 10 90 into
spasms of horror and indignation over
every fresh murder, and cry out at the
deprayity of human nature and the
want of protection TO human life.
What we do want is practical sugges-
tions to meet state of things that
has become appalling, and we make
this one, believing that the root of the
evil is in the laxity OF the law that
provides neither certainty nor prompt
ness in the punishment of crime
(Evening Post.
Year: 1873

man whose election, likewise, was
decided by one vote. That decisive
ballot was cast by person who was
enraged by the trespass Of his neighbor's
oxen, and for that reason voted for the
candidate favoring the war, which he
would not otherwise have done; and
thus trifling accident precipitated a
war between two great nations. ."-TThe
Orient.
Year: 1873

wander through desert vast and wide,
And turn with longing gaze to either side;
fain would stop and rest my weary feet


Hot, burning sands alone my vision meet.
The heavens above me are as burning glass,
The simoons scorch and burn me as they pass /;
Through all this trackless waste there is no life
BY God forgotten, let me cease the strife!
The weary day again glides into night


The darkness slowly mslts, and it is night.
With mornings golden beam distant sound
The sleeper's dull ear reaches, on the ground.
Arouse thee, faint heart Listl tits Memnon's call
Throw off tn gloom that shrouds thee like pail!
The fresh oasis green thou soon shalt see:


High palms are waving, fountains flow for thee
No wilderness so vast but in 1t glows


The life of God His love, which ever flows;
1t bids the desert blossom like the rose,
And brings to weary hearts its sweet repose.
As Memnon guideth to goal at last,


Where pain remembered is q dream that's pas I,
The soul once dead through love is newly born,
And wakes from darkness into brighter morn.
ELLIS GRAY. in Harper's Magazine for october.
Year: 1873

AN ANOMALY IN LAVA
boy eleven years old was re-
Gently convicted in the New
York Court Of Special Sessions
of TIE crime Of petit larceny.
for which he was sentenced to
the House of Correction till he
became twenty-one years Of
age. His counsel took the case
by ccrtiorari to the upper Court,
where he proved that the boy
Eai picked a lady's pocket, tax
il 9 twenty dollars and a gold
ring, which is an Oflense known
to the law as larceny from the
person. This was Il felony if
anything, and it was contended
that the court below had no
right to try j, its jurisdiction
being confined by statute to
misdcmeanors. On this show
ing counsel moved the discharge
Of the prisoner, which the court
ordered. Thus the youthful
Pickpockct escapes punishment
because he was guilty Ola high
er olense than that for which he
was convicted.
Year: 1873

A Hartford man thinks if it
wasn't for newspapers man
might get along in this world
A letter advertised for him was ia
ken out by his wife, who happen
ed to read the advertisement first.
and as it was a communication to
him from a yOung woman living
in Springfield, and gave him u
blowing up for not meeting her on
the train at Worcester last week, ,
little family difficulty has arisen.
But for the confounded newspaper
the situation would have been diff
icTent.
Year: 1873

A St. Louis paper has some OBJ
~tions upon party journalism
worthy Of note. 1t says:


Party journalism is based on the
idea that d million of men, acting
as political organization, are not
apt to be either fools or knaves.
Independent journalism, as now
boas ed of, is based upon The idea
that II single individual, who may
be il great mutton head or a great
rascal, Is Il better advisor than he
million, acting in unison us the
party. A dictatorship would be
the best form Of government, if
we were sure of the best kind Of
"a dictator, and if we knew some
body who was wiser aud better
than all the rest of mankind, we
should be in favor of independent
journalism, with that particular
individual ior that independent
journalist.
Year: 1873

Nineteen Years Chained to Log.


From the Grant county Wis., :onsin) Herald


We learn rom Mr.. Robert


Glenn OF the death, on the 20th
ult., of Lewis Flint, at his home
in WyaIusing. The deceased
was torty.Gve years Of age. From
the same source we learn some
particulars of the late unfortunate.
Mr.. Flint was an old resident of
Grant county.


About nineteen years ago it be-
came plainly manifest that insan-
ity was rapidly developing itself
a log cabin was built near the
one in which the family lived,
where the demented man was
placed for better security. Con
linemeut seemed to aggravate his
disease and increase his violence,
which was hard for his poor moth
er to bear; but all efforts on the
part Of his friends to have him
removed to Some safe place were
unavaiIing. The physicians called
10 examine the case pronounced
him hopelessly insane, therefore
no room for him could be found
in the hospital for the insane, and
to any other place they feared to
have him SO. Another plan, how
ever, was adopted, which seemed
to have II better effect.


A large block Of solid wood
was obtained, too heavy to car
ry, to which was attached a
chain, and the chain fastened
around his ankle SO as to pro-
duco no injury, This arrange
ment allowed him some freedom,
and he would divert himself by
rolling his block around in and
out of doors at pleasure, but it
was always necessary to watch
his movements. 1t was many
times necessary for his brother,
who had charge Of him, to be
absent from home, to which the
invalid mother never objected.
Strange as it may seem, she felt.
safe to be left alone with her
insane son, who, never during
his long insanity, when laboring
under his strongest pnroXysm,
seemed to forget the sacred name
of mother.


His sickness was Of short du-
ration. 4 few days before his
death he was attacked with
violent pain in his head, which
50 prostrated him that he made
no resistance to being laid upon
his bed. His reason now for.
the first time for many years,
seemed partially restored. He
told his brother that he was a.
going to die; asked for what he
wanted, and discovering his
block at some distance from
his couch asked that it might
be rolled to his bedside. With
his own hand he wrapped the
chain once more around his an
kIe, and there kept it until Iife'S
fitiul dream was over.