smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

The President Of the United States has
quite recently taken active interest in
the question of civil service reform. By
singular coincidence certain right
minded senators have quite recently inau.
rated q movement for an investigation of
the manner in which the civil service of
the government has been, and is being
conducted These senators have been
able to carry their project as far as the
raising Of q committee of inquiry. despite
the persistent and some what offensive
opposition Of the republican party claim.
ing 70 reflect the real sentiments of Gen.
Grant. Now, iuasmuch as this committee
has been raised, aud tho President, by a
recent proclamation, has placed himself
on record in favor Of q reform in the
administration Of the public affairs, it is
presumed that he is in favor of making
the investigation thorough and searching.
In order that the committee have no
obstacles in the way Of their enquiries,
their attention is heraby called to the
following case to show how appropriately
the President of the United States may
come forward and pronounce in favor Of
an honest administration.


When President Grant was Lieutenant
Grant. of the United States army, he
served as commissary and quartermaster
in the Mexican war. He was at that time
attached to the infantry branch of the
service. During that time he was the
recipient Of funds from other quarter
masters. for which he gave vouchers.
From the close Of that war for years his
account with the government was not set
tied. 1t not yet settled. Tho account
ing officer Of the treasury caused innu.
merable dunning letters to be addressed
to him, Of which he never took the
slightest notice. Year after year passed
by and that account was not settled, and
year after year the auditor caused notices
to be served on the late quartcrmaster to
come up and account for that balance
against him ON the treasury books.
Year after year that account was regu-
larly brought forward from the old ledger
to the new, and NO credits made to close
it. Finally q third auditor gave the late
quartermaster up as bad bargain and
lot him alone, But the recent war
brought that officer forward again In q
new capacity before the public, and with
that event, the attention Of the auditor
was again called to that unsettled account.
In 1862, just aftes the battle of Shiloh,
congress passed on act giving General
Grant the sum Of 81 900 in compensation
Of . sum equal to that amount, alleged 70
have been stolen Mow him in lS49, when
q quartermasser Of the army 10 Mexico
The act is ss follows:


That in the settlement a the account
sith the treasury Of Lieeteaaut Ulysses
8. Grant, as soHwisssry and fsgimesial
Year: 1872




ring"


"Ah! and pray what we're they p


"The words engraved on the inside
we're Empress Of Russia This ring b ad
undoubtedly been presented by an En-.
press Of Russia to the relatives of Nine.
Wildermutt, for 1 was told that both this
lady and her mother had formerly be
longed to the household Of Czarina, your
august grandmother.


"This is really remarkable" said the
Grand Duke, thoughtfully. II am quite
euperstitious, and am really inclined to
regard this ring, it | shou d be happy
enough to receive it from you as pledge
Of your love, as an omen Of very auspi.
cious significance.


In answer to this second and even more
direct appeal to her heart, the Princess
took small piece Of bread, played care
lessly with il, aud managed to press the
ring deeply into the soft crumbs. Then
she dropped it playfully on the table
quite close to the plate Of her neighbor
And after this adroit exhibition of her
skill as an actress, she continued to eat as
unconcerned as If she had performed the
most Insignificant action of her ,fe


With the same apparent GOODNESS and
indifference the Grand Duke picked up
the bread inclosing the ring. took the
latter out of its ingenious envelope. and
concealed it in his breast, for it was too
small to fit any of his fingers. 1t was
this rinc-both the pledge Of Charlotte's s
love and the auspicious omen Of his own
elevation to the Imperial dignity which
Nicholas wore on q golden chain around
his neck to the very last days of his life,
and which, it is said, has even descended
with him into the vault of his ancestors


Three years after, in 1917, Princess
Charlotte, then only nineteen years of
age, and in the full splendor Of beauty and
happiness made her entry into St. Peters
burg by the side of her husband, whose
eye had never looked prouder, and whose
noble brow had never been more serene
than at this happiest moment Of his life.
AS he looked down upon the great multi
tude who had locked from all parts Of the
vast empire to greet the young Princess
with shouts and rejoicings, and then again
upon tho fair young bride, perhaps the
inscription Of the ring recurred to his
mind, for, bending his head quite close to
the ear of Charlotte he whispered, Now
empress Of the hearts, and perhaps some
day empress of the realms -


At this moment the procession reached
the main entrance Of the Winter Palace
Alexander l., the Emperor. surrounded
by brilliant suite Of generals and
courtiers, came to meet his beautifuI sis
ter rin.law, and conduct her to the sumpt.
uous drawing rooms of the magnificent
palace Of tho Gear. Who would have
credited it that eight years afterwards the
brilliant young Emperor would have
breathed his last, and that Nicholas and
Charlotte would have succeed him on thu
throne of Russia? Verify, the inscrip
tion upon the Grand Dukes engagement
ring had proved prophetic.
Year: 1872

PYRAMID OF CHEoPs.-A man who has
lately visited the grand pyramid OF Cheops,
wading in the sand fourteen Eunured feet
before he had passed one Of its sides, and
between five and six thousand feet before
he had made its circuit, gives trlte Illus
traton of it's vast bulk. He says, that
taking one hundred city churches Of the
ordinary width, and arranging them in a
hollow square, twenty-five on side, you
would have scarcely the basement OF the
pyramid. Take another hundred, and
throw the material in the hollow square,
and it would not be full; pile on all the
bricks and mortar in the city Of New York,
and the structure would not be so high and
solid as this great work OF man. One
laver of bricks was long since removed
to Cairo for building purposes, and enough
remains to supply the demands OF city o.
half million OF people for century to
come, ii permitted to use it with perfect
freedom. Chcops was built two thousand
ore hundred and twenty-three years be-
fore the Christian era.
Year: 1872

DIsAsTERs.-OnC year ago the great
Northwest was sited by Il series of the
most disasterous fires which are known
to history indeed, for extent and clean
ness of sweep they are unparalleled in
this or any other country. Disasters Of
this sort in a country of such immense
resources as this, il not reiterated too
frequently, do not work irreparable
damage, and in one year most of the de-
stroyed cities and towns have grown up
again more vigorous than before the
fire. A new danger now threatens them
from the fierce tornadoes which have
lately done and may continue to do a
great amount of material evil along the
borders of and upon the lakes. Huron
Michigan, and Erie, have thus been
visited by almost unheardo of storms
which have caused great disasters to
property and life.
Year: 1872

FACTS ABOUT DYsPEPsIA.-Dyspepsia
is a weak stomach made weak by over
work, and, like man made weak by
overwork, it needs rest, needs repoSe
but, as we cannot live without eating, the
necessity must be met by giving the
stomach as little work to do as possible
and that work should be easy, just as we
ourselves, in the weakness of recovery
from disease, invite our strength back
by doing but little work and that which
can be easily done. The cure Of most
cases of Dyspepsia becomes extremely
simple and very certain, if these few
first principles are judiclously applied in
any given case-to wit: give the stomach
but little to do; let that little be of kind
which is easily done, and let both be so
arranged that the stomach may do its
work easily and speedily and Lave
abundant time for rest. The work Of
the stomach is called 'digestion,' and
means the process of preparing the food
for yielding it's nutrient portions to the
system, to give it warmth, growth and
strength. As general thing, dyspep-
tics should not drink anything at meals,
because there is liquid in the stomach
which dlssolves the food-in sense,
melts it. If cold water is drunk, it cools
this stomach-Iiquid, and it loses its pow
er of melting the food, so to speak; as
the cooler the water is, the less is it able
to melt the ice in it. OF course, every
physiologist knows that this comparison
is not critically true; but it conveys the
essential practical idea to the minds OF
tha masses
Year: 1872

PINK SNow.-Dr. Cholen in a letter
from Norway, says: One day, after
travelling long distance over the snow,
he suddenly saw large patch of pink
snow, and afterwards came upon two
other patches. He remembered then
that pink snow is often seen on the Alps,
and that it has been found that the
cause of it is little insect, which can
only be seen by the help Of the micro
scope.
Year: 1872

WOMAN IN SICKNESS. In no situation,


and under no circumstances, does the


female character, appear to such adj.


vantage as when watching beside the


bedside of sickness. The chamber of
disease may indeed be said to be woman's


home. We there behold her in her


loveliest, most attractive point of view
firm, without being harsh tender, not


weak !; active, yet not quiet gentle,
patient, accomplishing, vigilant. Every
sympathetic feeling that so peculiarly
graces the feminine character, is there
called forth while the native strength
of mind which has hitherto slumbered
in inactivity, is reused to its fullest en-
ergy. With noiseless step she moves
about the chamber of the invalid her
listening ear ever ready to catch the
slightest murmur her quick, kind
glance to interpret the unuttered wish,
and supply the half-formed want. She
smooths with careful hand the uneasy
pillow which supports the aching head,
or with cool hand soothes the fevered
brow, or proffers to the glazed and
parching lip the grateful draught, happy
if she meets one kind glance in payment


for her labor of love. Hers, too, is the
whispered voice, which breathes of
life and hope-of health in store for
happy days to come or tells Of better
and of heavenly rest, where neither
sorrow nor disease can come-where the
dark power of death no more shall have
dominion over the frail, suffering, per-
ishing clay. Through the dim, silent
watches of the night, when all around
are hushed in sleep, it is hers to keep
lone vigils, and to hold communion with
her God, and silently lift up her heart
in fervent prayer, for the prolongment of
a life for which she would cheerfally sac
riice her own. And even when, exhaust
ed, she sinks to brief repose, forgetful-
ness is denied. Even in sleep she seems
awake to this one great subject of her
care. She starts and rises from her
slumbers, raises her dropping head, and
watches with dreamy eyes the face she
loves, then sinks again to rest, to start
with every chime of clock or distant
sound, which formerly had passed un-
heard, or only served as lullaby to her
sweet sleep.
Year: 1872

OUTRAGEOUS CRUELTy.-The South


African diamond diggers, in their anger at
the continued thieving, are very violent il


their punisnments, and some brutal cases
are heard Of A Kafir laid a com plaint
before the magistrate at New Rush on
Thursday, that his master, after accusing
MIN of stealing diamonds, of which he was
innocent, had held him down whilst pair
of carpenters pinchers were fetched. On
the pinchers being brought the complain
ant was told that If he did not confess
every one of his teeth would be drawn out.
The complainant said he had nothing to
confess, and his master instantly set to
work and took out his teeth. As the
mans teeth were gone and his gums and
lips dreadfulIy lacerated there appeared to
be no doubt about the fact. John Creed
Harley and James Craig have been COM
mitted for trial on charge Of numbering
a native. AS the case now stands the ac
cused are alleged to have tied the bands
and feet of the deceased together, and
then beat him with rope until be was
exhausted, and that they then took a
knife and cut him about the head until, as
is believed, he was quite dead. They
went to DR.. Thorne and reported to him
that the unfortunate man b id been drink
ing hard, and that ne had died OF injuries
and exposure arising from falling and ly-
ing out IN the cold. The prisoners are to
be tried at Kilpdrift.
Year: 1872

INVENTIONS. - The greatest inventions
seem to have been almost simultaneously
duplicated. Faust and Guttenburg still
divide the honor or discovering the art of
printing and of the rival claimants of dis
covering the invaluable use of ether.
either may receive the praise. When
Watt cudgeled the steam engine out of
his brain, it was found that mad French
man had projected the whole thing on
paper long before, and oeen imprisoned
for boring people with his diagrams.
When Morse threw off the magnetic tele-
graph as spark from his electric mind, it
was only to find that Ampere was already
familiar with the affair. And poor Elias
Howe could not be allowed to have the
glory of making the sewing machine all
to himself, but Thimonnier disputed his
claim, and made all France believe he had
actually designed the thing, even though
the cunning Yankee had got the start in
the small matter of execution. Thimon-
nie1's widow died few weeks ago, and
was buried in great pomp, the sewing
machine manufacturers turningeut in great
number to pay their respect to the mem
ory of the inventor Of their craft, and
after the funeral they dined together and
subscribed two thousand dollars for
monument to "The Inventor of Sewing
machines"
Year: 1872

BY ROBERT q. FRANKS.
Mid the pomp and wealth that surround her



Diamonds flashing upon her brow,


The beau monde at her feet,
Does She ever remember the days OF old.
When her heart met mine, and her warm lips


told


Her love in kisses sweet
Does she ever remember that Christmas eve
When helped her the bright holly-berries 10


weave.


Tn her fathers ancient hall;
And we decked the oak parlor in scarlet and


green.
Till the quaint old pictures smiled, ween,
From their frames on the paneied WALTZ
Does she think of that night when silent and


slow, 49,
We walked. hand in hand. Ger the crystalline


snow,


In the moonlight cold and clear?
Are they all forgotten, those vows she MADE,
AS we stood that night in the old halls shade,
To watch for the glad New fearf
Does she think-But, ah! no. In her wealth and
yyhy sbouId she think of the love thrown aside
In the vanished days of oldY
So smile and bow and my lady greet
With courteous Difference when we meet,


For my heart. like her own is cold.
Year: 1872

bl VI CAhI1.


Some people think, perhaps, that the
regular old conventional uncle of the
comic novel and drama is mere artistic
fgment. like Clown and Pantaloon. or
faded anachronism as unsuited to our
time as a Saracen or Knight Templar.
But Paul Middlemist, barrster at law.
of the Temple, London, had just such
an uncle-testy, rich, snobbish, vulgar.
and at bottom good-natured the uncle
whom you may see at the Adelph, in
London, or Wallack's, in New York.
Mr.. Theophilus Middlemist, the ell Ter,
did not exactly wear a blue coat with
brass buttons, and yellow nankeen
trowsers, as the dramatic uncle always
does, for even Theophilus Middlemist
would have seen that such garments
were little out Of date; but he did
carry a thick stick, and he lived in the
country, and his money was the object
OF his nephew's great expectations--all
just as IN some pleasant old comedy.


Theophilus Middlemist had been a
chandler in London, and had made a
fortune, and retired to the country. He
had been fond, in sort of way, of his
brother, Paul Middlemist's father, long
since dead; and he brought up young
Paul as though the boy were his own
son. He resolved that Paul should be
a professional man and a gentleman.
and therefore sent him to study law in
the Temple. Above all things else.
Theophilus Middlemist was an honest
old British snob. He revered respecta-
bility he fell down and worshiped
rank. He would not knowingly have
done It mean thing for all the world ;
but TO pay homage to man or woman
of rank seemed TO him la noble privilege
and sacred duty. To have title was,
in his mind, much the same as being
canonized. He gave Paul to under
stand that he must seek, beyond every
thing else, the companionship of his
social superiors. Money should not fail
any ambition of Paul's so long as it
could help him to mix with rank and
fashion. But the uncle always declared
that if Paul did not make himself a
gentleman, he would find himself q
beggar, so far as the honest earnings of
his elderly relative were concerned.


Now it may be that had another course
of training been followed with Paul, he
too might have turned out worshiper
of rank and snob. Perhaps the in.
herent manhood of his nature would
have kept him all right in any case.
Let us hope it would. But whatever
may be the possibilities, it is certain
that his uncle's simple and naked snob-
berry had the effect of opening Paul's
eyes, from very early age, to the
meanness and vulgarity of all such sen.
tments. He WINGED under his uncle's
weakness, and was sorry and ashamed
because Of the British foible which dis
figured character so honest and, on
on the whole, so deserving of respect.


In due time Paul was called to the
Year: 1872

THAT paltcr with us in double sense. ."-Shaks-


pedre.


The river flowed lazily on and on.
The boatmens labor was oar
But the Farmers boy still at work
For the Farmer was no mower,
The Farmer he used to drink in his day.
And he kept himself all the time fool
But the boy knew liquor would fly TO his head.
And wisely he kept his cool.
The Farmer liked nothing better than drink,
His drinking IL would be gin
At early dawn while at dewy eve
lie would freely indulge in his inn.
He would leave his boys to see to the work.
And two of them went to sea
And never came back. and thus compelled
Their brother to busy be.
The boy understood the bad place he was in
The place who can know-hotel?
But he kept up his courage and bought him some


hives,


And his bees brought honey to cell.
He sold his honey all out by the pound
But was not very stiff in his weigh,
Except when II came to cutting his grass
When he always would have his hay.
He'd go back from market in cheerful mood
To enjoy the sweet. sweet hum
OF his busy bees which kept at work.
Though little he cares for 'um.
He cares not for rum; he's temperate man.
But he cannot give up his swine
He likes good pork-but not from hedgehogs,
lis not for such pork you pine.
He had lots of fat cattle, which beloved quite


loud,


And of course they were all of them herd
And he made large profit from getting up
For which small expense was in curd.
Although his horse had never yet laughed,
He can easily do his smile
But still his young master rarely rides,
For his saddles not good nor his tile.
What he knows about farming, he's quite proud


To tell


For his crops have been never yet beet.
And his beans and potatoes are all of the best
Though his white corn don't equal his wheat.
He keeps in his kitchen the very best cooks,
For there all the good things are maid
And the dinners are sure to be always well


dressed,


When served up by persons so stayed.
He liked good meat in his house to eat,
And if he should ever miss steak
lie would be IN great pain until all was eX-
Or something was done for his ache.
He'd eat like glutton of terrapin soup.
OF chickens and oysters too:
And then he would pull at his pipe or cigars
Till the smoke up the chimney flew.
ii likes in summer plenty of air
For his comfort he is often in tent.
But so selfish is he if one asks for relief
He never will give assent.
Sometimes in hammock he'd lie and enjoy
A little son and heir,
And would make his plans for a roast next day.
When he hoped that the wetherd be fare.
Now. time rolled on and he grew very old
Though his laugh was almost as high
And when his black halr began 10 turn gray,
He then was prepared to dye.
And now he has gone to his long, long home,
His many grave faults W no may write?
But we think that has virtues will be kept in


mind


And we all know that the ,cido,c's might.


-Boston Daily AdUerfiser.
Year: 1872

INDUSTRIAL PRoGRESs.-Horace Greeley closed
his admirable address at the Newark, New Jer-
sey, exposition as follows BY means OF the tele-
graph the world is becoming one commonwealth.
What is known in one land is known almost ST.
multaneously in all others, and the interests as
pirations, and conceptions of the people of ali
countries are becoming closely interviewer. About
twenty one years ago groped my way up dark
stairs in Fulton street, New York, to see sew
ing machine. Elias Howe, Jr., the inventor, sat
there, wild and seedyooking, frightened at the
approach of a stranger. He thought had come
to steal his idea from him. When l told him
had not come to take his sewing machine, but to
tell the people there was a sewing machine, be
became communicative, and told me what he had
hoped from his wonderful combination of the
needle and the shuttle Now, there are million
sewing machines in use, and six immense fac
tories are busy turning out more to meet the de-
mand. | believe that as we improve in our light
ening of human labor by deputing the heaviest
muscular work to that faithful servant, steam,
that we will also improve the conditions of wa
ges for labor; that the system of weekly pay
now in vogue will give way to even better sys-
TEN, where the laborer will have personal and
drec: interest, not only in the quantity but the
quality of his work, and that he will have CO.
operative interest in the work which capital now
commands. Thus labor and capital will be brought
gradually and quietly into better and nObler ac-
cord.
Year: 1872

THK rate of upheaval of the Swedish coast IS
shown by large block, ten feet high and fifteen
feet broad, on the shore near Morup, which in
1916 was four feet above high-water mark, as is
proyed by an Inscription to that effect During
the past summer this block was one hundred and
twenty.feet from the shore.
Year: 1872

While the House was in committee Of
the whole on the Deficiency Appropria.
ton bill question arose Oh which d.
vision of the House was demanded, and
the chairman, Stevenson, Of Ohio, ap.
pointed General Butler and General
Farnsworth tellers. Butler and Farms
worth are not on speaking terms, and
when they met in front of the clerk desk
they did not observe the usual custom of
shaking hands, whereupon some mem
Der, wishing to carry ON the joke, in
sisted upon introducing them. Butler
was unwilling to look at FarnsWorth,
while the latter refused to recognize
Butler. They stood looking away from
each ether, without speaking, to the greet
amusement of the members who are IA
miliar with their peculiar relations. Each
tried to ignore the presence Of the other,
and each announced the count of his
side without consultation or agreement,
Fortunately for Farnsworth, he could not
tell whether Butler was looking at him
or not. He has an Impression that oc-
casionally Butler went one eye on him,
but he is not sure of this, for sometimes
i seemed as if Butler was looking in two
or three different directions at once. The
affair passed of without any personal
collision. = Wash Cor.