smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

The vesper bells were ringing sweet


In the sultry Summer weather,
When THEY climbed the mount with tired fee
To kneel and to pray together:
To kneel and to pray where the tender skies
Bent low to the pine trees signing;
With only heaven to hear their cries,


And heaven to make replying.
"Our hearts, o fatherl are one" they said,
"But we go two ways tomorrow
And life will lnger, and lovers will wed,


And what can We beg or borrow
OF earth or heaven to bridge the years
Drearier than dreariest night is
Lying between the Valley of Tears


And the city where Fhy delight is ?"
Over their cold, cross'd palms alight


Struck sharp through coal-black shadow ;
And silences not of the day nor night


And sweets not of moor nor meadow,
Folded them fast, while voice sung clear
From the soul of the silvery arches:
"They are true soldiers who feel no fear;
God knoweth how hard the march isl"
Only dimming of patient eyes,


A smiling of lips that quiyer,
And blue behind them the mountain lies
Blue before them the river.
Burdens for both of them-battles for each,
And the wild and the wearying weather;
But-further away-a Paradise beach


And two ways winding together.
Year: 1872

lNpIANs.-The Pi-Ute Indians are a
practical people. One of their medicine
men said that when he died, if the Indians
would cut him to pieces the pieces would
unite again Immediately, and he would
ascend into the heavens in cloud of
smoke. This was too much for Indian
curiosity to stand, and bystancer dis
patched the doctor with a blow of his
knife. The body was then cut to pieces,
but, much to the disgust of all present, the
remains of the poor wretch refused to
move, and were left on the ground as foed
for the wolves,
Year: 1872

How attentively, and with what pruri-
ent eagerness, the fair sex adorn them
selves after the fashion Of the day. The
greater the absurdity of dress, the more
gigantic the innovation, and the greater
conspicuousness involved, the more fervent
the desire to adopt it. One and all follow
with a rapidity as incredible as amazing.
Should the adoption of the dress have
ludicrous effect, verify the more precise its
observance. Compare the dress of young
lady nowadays with that of one twenty
years ago. What remarkable change!
Bonnets as now worn are simply strips Of
ribbon, bristling with variegated flowers
and artificial ornaments, devoid OF use.
r. it were not for the abundant profusou
of hair with which the fair ladies are
favored, we are disposed to think that
their liability to take cold would be con-
sidcrably increased, as the article upon
which they bestow the title of bonnet is
most inadequate covering for the head.
Of course we are aware there are wheels
within wheels. In like manner there is
hair beneath hair-or some other material
to represent it-though it is not at all
necessary the former should have been
planted, nourished and perfected upon the
same Uranium as tue latter. The rule is
the reverse. Perhaps the internal substl-
tute obviates the necessity of conforming
with usage and wearing covering to the
head, as for hats, they are not made to
wear upon the head but upon the hair.
Size is immaterial. In some Instances
they are affixed upon the hair in nearly
perpendicular position. Perhaps we are
in error. 1t may be the shape of the lady's
head which involves the unnatural position
in which the ornament is placed. The
absurdites exhibited by ladies in their
style of dress is apparently illimitable.
nothing is too outrageous to appear in II
it be authorized by fashion.-7insIevS
Magazine.
Year: 1872

AN EXPERIMENT WITH RIFLE.-
Alexander Hammil, OF Silver City, per-
formed q most ingenious experiment
with a United States breech loading
rifle with which he had previously
been practising by firing at target. 1t
appears that he in some manner got two
sets Of cartridges into the gun, and dis
covering this to be the situation, be did
not care to fire off the double charge.
Having duly studied over the matter, he
took the gun to blacksmith's shop,
screwed the barrel fast in a vice, and
then opening the breech, he picked out
all the powder till he came to the lower
ball. Then he heated an iron rod red
hot and with it commenced to melt the
ball out. BY frequently heating the
rod he succeeded admirably till he
melted a hole clear through the ball and
touched the powder of the cartridge
beyond, when there was sharp and un-
expected explosion. 1t slot both ways,
one ball going out at the muzzle and
the other at the rear. The ball which
came out at the rear took but small
piece out of Alexis cheek, and DIR. Kir-
by has every confidence that the poultice
in which Mr.. Alexis head is now bound
ND will draw out the ounce or two OF
powder blown into his face.
Year: 1872

A KNOWING SHEEP. In a slaughter
house in one of or cities, pet sheep
has been trained so that on the arrival
of a fresh flock this sheep goes out
meekly to meet the new comers, and
then, taking the lead, makes directly for
the slaughter pen the poor dupes follow
ing. The decoy sheep then slips out by
a secret door, and repeats the operation
an arrival of the next victims. She saves
much labor of driving to her owner and
1er own mutton, but she destroys all the
romance Of the lamb character.
Year: 1872

SUPPOSE A CAsE.-Suppose some cold
morning you should go into neighbor's
house and find him busy at work on his
windows, scratching away, and should
ask him what he was up to, and he
should reply: "Why, I am trying to
remove the frost; but as fast as 1 get it
off one square it comes on another"
would you not say, "Why, man, let
your windows alone, and kindle your
fire, and tine frost will soon come off. "
And have you not seen people who try
to break off their bad habits, one after
another, without avail ? Well, they are
like the man who tried to scratch the
frost from his windows. Let the fire of
love of God and men, kindled at the
altar OF prayer, burn in their hearts, and
bad habits will soon melt away,-Schost-
day Visitor,
Year: 1872

A country merchant went to Chicago
a few days ago to purchase a bill OF
goods. The last that was heard of him
he was in his room, surrounded by seven
teen drummers, who had crawled throu ID
the transom. while an energetic reporter
was below stairs pumping the clerk for
the age Of the unfortunate man, and the
probable circumstances of his family.
Year: 1872

HEROIC OBEDIENCE TO DUTY.-Many
can still recollect when tidings came OF
the silent heroism with which more than
FIVE hundred soldiers, in the wreck OF
the Birkenhead, met death in the spirit
of obedience to duty and that, too,
when there was none Of the excitement
of battle and Of victory to cheer them
on. The soldiers stood in their ranks
on the deck of the sinking ship while
the women and children were quietly
put into one If the boats. Every one
did as he was directed" says Captain
Wright, one of the few who escaped to
tell the tale "and there was not a
murmur or cry among them till the
vessel made her final plunge. All the
officers received their orders, and had
them carried out, as if the men were
embarking instead of going to the bot
tom. There was only this difference,
that never saw any embarkation con-
Quoted with so little noise and confusion.
When the vessel was just going down,
the commando" of the soldiers,
but of the ship" called out, All those
who can swim jump overheard, and
make for the boats The officer begged
the men not to 90 as the commander
said, as the boat with the women must
be swamped. Not more tfan three
made the attempt. And SO they sank
among the waves, carrying the habits OF
duty, which they had learnt as soldiers.
INTO that last act of self-sacrifice. y Sir
EAtcard Strarhty III Good Words.
Year: 1872

PoINTS OF THE PRESIDENTS FORTHCOMING
MEssAGE-The President on Monday read to
the Cabinet complete draft of his message
The N. Y. Herald says: He has yielded this
year, as he did last year, to the advice of ex-
perienced politicians, and changed its tenor so
far as IL relates to the South. He gives that
section passing MENTION praises the wisdom
OF the enforcement laws, alIudes to the disap-
pearance Of lawessness in the South, as well as
the good behavior at the polls at the general
election in November, and hopes that this con-
dltion OF affairs will continue without limit


He has no special recommendation to make in
behalf of the South, leaving Congress TO do
whatever its wisdom dictates, and reiterates his
sentiment that he has no policy to enforce
against the wishes OF the people. The country
Is felcltated on TIE bloodles victories achieved
under the Treaty of Washington. and attention
Is called To the fact that legislation is only


f-.y now to practically efface all that is
lett OF the treaty-that the two great nations OF
the earth have presented to the other nations
an example which it is hoped will be enulated
10 all future international disputes. Respecting
Caba aud the struggle OF the insurgents less is
said than in the Message OF last year. and far
less asperity will appear in the few paragraph
devoted to this subject. The effort of the
United States to protect its citizens the release
OF DIR. Houard and the existence Of the
Spanish Claims Commission will be passed
over with brief comment and doubtful com


pliment. Our credit at b ,me and abroad, th,


efficiency of the management OF the foreign ant


home policy, the peaceful and prosperous caree


Of the nation during the past year. the return


OF departmental business practically to the basi
OF ante bettum days make up the substance o


the Presidents forthcoming annual report.
Year: 1872

The Legislature of Pennsylvania last
winter passed the following Act, securing
to married women their separate earnings,
which has been approved by the Governor,
and is now the law Of the land:


That the separate earnings of any mar
ried woman of the State Of Pennsylvania,
whether said earnings shall be as wages
for labor, salary, property, business or
otherwise, shall accrue to and inure to
separate benefit and use of said married
woman, and be under the control of such
married woman independently Of her
husband, and so as not to be subject to
any legal claim of such husband, or to the
| claims Of any creditor or creditors of such
husband, the same as if such married wo-
man were feme sole: Provided, that iu
any suit at law or in equity in which the
ownership of such property shall be in
dispute, the person claiming such pro-
perty, under this act, shall be compelled,
IN the first instance, to show title and
ownership in the same.


SEC. 2. That to prevent any frauduleet
practices under this act, before any mar
ried woman shall be entitled to its benefits,
she shall first present her petition, under
oath or affirmation, to the court Of COM
mon pleas Of the sity, or county where
she resides, stating her intention Of there
after claiming the benefits of this act,
whereupon the said court shall direct her
petition aforesaid to be marked fled, aud
TO be recorded in the Office for recording
deeds Of such city and county; and such
record shall be conclusive evidence of the
right of such married woman to the bcne-
tit Of the first section Of this act.
Year: 1872

The astronomers of these latter days
talk about planetary distances and spaces
with as much confidence as a surveyor
gives the Dimensions of city lot, or the
metes and boundaries of farm In our
schoolboy days the astronomers said the
sun was about 90 900, 900 miles from the
earth. but now the exact distance is laid
down at 81 100000 miles This cuts off
trtie OF $780, goo miles still the dis
tance, even as that astronomers now foot
1t up, wound be a long way to travel. If
our Puritan fathers had set out from the
sun, instead of from England, on that
eventful day which witnessed their en-
barkation, and had travelled by an air line
continuously at the rate of forty miles an
hour, which is good deal faster than
Dexter can 90, they would not be due az
Plymouth Rock till late in the year 1888,
which would be seven years too late for
them to take part in our grand centennial
celebration on the 4th of July, 1876.


The astronomers tell us the gravity is
so increased at the sun that bodies would
weigh twenty eight times as much there
as here. What lift she would be for
lover seeking to rescue her from her
papa's burning dwelling! Then just con-
slider the avoirdupois of man heavy Oh
earth-say three hundred pounder-at
the sun. There be would weigh eight
thousand four hundred pounds Imagine
such man falling from the 9Th story
window upon the head of an uususpecs-
ing passer-by The coming down thous-
and Of brick on earth would be nothing
to the impact of such creature on the
sidewalk in front of his sunny home.


But the astronomers are unanimous In
the belief that the sun is without inhab-
| itants and we agree with them, if it be
true, as they say, that the temperature of
that orb is ten million degrees Fahren
heit.
Year: 1872

"a young Farmer" inquiries if seed of
the different kinds of grain year or more
old, will grow as well as fresh seed Our
answer would be, always SOW seed as fresh
as it can be had, for although some seed
will germinate after it has been kept for
years yet these are exceptions. We do
not know of any distinct experiments ON
old and new grain, except it be single
trial which we made in pots. Fresh seed
wheat was sown in pots in autumn, one
inch deep, aud kept properly moist. In
another pot, subjected to the same tenn
perature and the same degree of mois-
ture, was sown wheat kept over one year.
In other pots, seed five years old, was
swOn under similar circumstances. The
first or fresh seed came up in eleven days,
the weather being rather cool the second
seed, one year old, came up in thirteen
days. The five year seed in the other
pots came up irregularly, the first in eigh-
teen days, aud afterwards for nearly
month. The grains of all were counted
when placed in the earth, and the result
was that all the fresh seed grew all or
nearly all the one year but not one half
the five year seed ever grew at all From
these limited experiments, we may infer
that fresh seed is always the best if on
ly year old it may do well, although the
pauts will hardly have the vigor of the
first; but seed several years old should be
employed only for preserving or securing
some desirable variety. We hope some
OF our readers will repeat the experiment
on oats, barley, &c, by accurately count
ing, measuring depth, recording dates,
&c.- Country Geatiemaa
Year: 1872

Look most to your spending. No mat
ter what comes in, if more goes out, you
will always be poor. The art is not in
making money, but in keeping it; little
expenses, like mice in a barn, when they
are many, make great waste. Hairb hair,
heads get bald straw, by straw, the thatch
off the cottage and drop by drop, the
rain comes in the chamber \ barrel is
soon empty, if the tap leaks but drop "a
minute. When you begin to save, begin
with your mouth many thieves pass
down the red lane. The ale jug is great
waste. In all other things keep within
compass. Never stretch your legs fur
ther than the blankets will reach, or you
will soon be cold. la clothes, choose
suitable and lasting stuff, and not tawdry
fineries. TO be warm is the main thing
never mind the looks. a fool may make
money, but it needs wise man to spend
it, Remember it is easier to build two
chimneys than to keep one going. If
you give all to back and board, there is
nothing left for the savings bank. Fare
hard aud work hard while you are young,
and you will have chance to rest when
you are old.
Year: 1872

BY the testimony of medical men and
of the press all over the world this has
been an exceptional year for the prevail
enee of diseases of malignant type.
What peculiar state Of the atmosphere
causes this spread Of disease is not settled,
but there is deficiency or uperabundance
of some element to occasion it. The nan
ner in which conAuent small pox has
travelled in this country; the steady ad-
vance Of cholera over the world from It's
Asiatic lair the alarming development
of the spotted fever, or ecrebro spinal
meningitis the unprecedented spread of
malisnaut scarlet fever, diptheria, black
measles aud like diseases in their worst
typo, are Illustrations Of this unpleasant
fact
Year: 1872

CoULEE CRoCHE, La, June 20, 1872.
To The Editor of The Courier:


s$S1R-The Opelousas Journal of the Sth June
gives notice Of the killing of Willis jackson,
and says that said jackson was killed at Cou-
lee CrOehe. l can inform the Editor of the
journal that Jackson was not killed in Coul6e
Croche. l cannot inform him who did kill him.
or l wonld do so with pleasure. l will take
occasion to remark tnat this is not the first
time the Editor of the Journal has misrepre-
sented Coulee Croche in his paper. | think
that hereafter he had better wait till he can
hear the truth before he fires his gun.


Some two years since the Lake Charles
Echo said: "you may take five tooth comb
and rake He'll and re-rake it, and you can
find no such stock there as lives ON Coul6e
Croche.' Who was the editor of the Echo
at that time If he is the man am informed
l consider him as disreputable character as
l ever met on Coulee Croche.


AS to the Editor of the Journal, we would
advise him to stick to the truth, the whole
TRUTH and nothing but the truth, and partic-
ularly in regard to Coulee Croche. We may
have black sheep in our flock, but with the
assistance of the District Attorney G. w.
Hudspeth, we hope in a short time to rid our
selves of their unwelcome society.


Very Respectfully, j: p. s.
Year: 1872

AN DENOMINATION may warm fence
around winters supply of summer weather,
skim the clouds from the sky with a teaspoon,
catch thunderbolt in bladder, break a
hurricane to harness, lasso an avalanche, pin a
a diaper on the crater of an active volcano,
hive all the stars in nailkeg hang the ocean
on rail fence to dry, put the sky to soak in
goard' unbuckle thebelly band of eternity,
and paste ITO let" on the sun and moon ;but
never for one mement, delude yourself with
the idea that you can escape that place on the
other side of purgatory and get to heaven
unless you pay the printer promptly.-Er b.
Year: 1872

4


Na1ab mode of notifying the public
- .aaS that he is now in readiness to
e@@GssE e@@GsE receive all those whose pleas


ure it may be to seek the above


as place ofpleasure and recre-
alton, as we'll as those who may be lmpelied
from indisposition to have recourse to them
for the remedial agen cy of its waters. These
Springs are situated ON the Bayou des Canes,
distant about 81 miles Southwest of the town
of OpelOusas. Among the numerous springs,
there to be found, may be had such as are
found abouuding with Sulphur and prepara-
tions of Iron. The springs are very abundant,
and in one instance three Of the streams form
large basin which affords a magnificent bath
ing place. The waters of the said basin can
be entirely renewed every hour, clrcun-
stance which is certainly calculated to add
much to its purity. At the distance OF some
five hundred yards from the principal bathing
place there is, besides this, another which is
furnished with an abundant stream of water,
the coldness of which can almost be compared
to that of ice.


In announcing the opening of his Establish
ment, the undersigned does not pretend to offer
the same to the public as fashionable watering
place. where fine dressing may be exhibited
with the other general Accomplishments. His
object, on the contrary, is to offer to the
afflicted means through which shackled
constitution may be restored to health. The
remedial agency of these waters i'll the relief
of Dyspepsia and i'll the permanent cure OF
cutaneous eruptions, from past experience,
now stands uncontradicted.


The establishment consists of comfortable
dwellings, with all the necessary furniture
which may be required at such place, and the
table will be always amply furnished with
whatever edibles may seem best to suit the
tastes of visitors An excellent pasture in
which horses may be kept with safety, will
be at the disposition Of such as may desire it,
as we'll as corn, fodder, &c,


The charges Of the undersigned will be mod
crate, and he feels satisfied that his visitors will
not only be satisfied with the accommodations
which they may receive, but that they will be
also equally contented with the degree of
health which they may obtain from the
healhful use of the waters of the different
Springs.


June Is 1872
Year: 1872

OF Barbarism.''


From Knoxville exchange of the 18th
inst, we take the subloined article which
may prove a valuable suggestion to the
official authorities in other places than the
one above designated


''ln the Supreme Court, the other day,
Rebecca Self, the alleged accessory before
the fact to the Mason murder, sometime
since, committed in Greeneville, and ot 1er-
wise known as The Triple Tragedy was
brought frOm the jail to have hearing be-
fore the Supreme Court. When about
entering upon the case, counsel for the
accused asked the court to permit her to
retire, as she had suddenly taken sick,
and so seemed, the counsel going on to
say that she had not been well since she
had reathed the noxious Yapors Of the
"knoyille JAIL" and gave him occasion TO re
mark further that if the Court could, he
hoped they would not remand her 10 that
place again, reeking as It was with stencil
which was a shame TO civilized eOmmL-
nifty. In this saAe connection the AttOr-
ney General remarked that he thought
if there was any way that the Court could
that they should give their attention 10 this
jail-Duisance. That was not merely relic
OF baIbarism, but the very resurrection OF
it. That the County Court Of Knox coun-
ty ought to be indicted for allowing such a
nuisance.


Thus it seen by the people at home and
from abroad. 1t is an odium under which
we must rest until reformed. Let the
County Court look at II. If not, let the
people move them to action. No reflection
was cast upon the keeping of the jail.
There's no complaint on that score. Con-
ira, is not commended. No! It's hOrrid,
unciyilized structure is the matter for re-
form, and nothing more"
Year: 1872


Well, wife. we've had a meetin' AT the school
house on the hill.
And WAS chosen Chairman to keep the old men
still.
But found couldn't d" it each down his
would plant,
And shout with all the voice he had. I'm gon in
for Grant.
We talked about the past four years what great
things had been done;
How the nations debt had melted like the SHOWS
before the sun;
We said to keep it mrtin'. do a better thing We
cant
Than t" stick and hang together and all 90 in for
Grant.
We all looked through our spectacles upon the
naked facts
Then drew the veil of charity Ger giant summers
acts.
We said We like you, Sumner. but 20 your way
can't
Then made the school house ech" with rousing
shout for Grant.
We didn't have much charity for 'rrumbull or Tor
Schurz;
They stand around the party gate. pair of
linz ours;
Their speeches cannot harm us make Grant toe
the mark.
He's old Gaena tanner and knows how 10 han
die bark
We talked about Grants smokn-we thought it
no great sim
To vote that out of office We might vote a worse
one in;
And scen We were smokers twuuldnt do for us
to rant
81 We lit pipes together and smoked the health
of Grant
In the days of the rebellion none of MS could 20 To
fight.
But We read from morn till evening how he hattled
for the right
He has been the nations servant i'll the days of
peace and war.
And treason m-ts before, him like the smoke from
his cigar.
After l adjourned the meetin l gave each the
friendly grip;
We every one determined to stand by the war-tried
ship;
We will not toppe over will not slant,
But put our canes down firm and strong and ST. and
up straight for Grant.