smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

On Sunday last says the Lexington
lky.) Iress. as the venerable Chief JUS
tice Robertson. stricken by the hand of
death, lay almost insensible to the world
which he seemed fast leaving forever,
while the gigantic brain which for go
many years has throbbed grandiy to the
inspirations of bis genius, barely futter-
ed with the consciousness of life, be ex-
pressed desire to hear Miss Csry sing
the ballad of odd Folks at Home" as
if the strains Of his favorite melody
would have power to call back his soul
from the portals of the grave which he
was 50 fast nearing. The wish was at
once communicated to Miss. Cary, who
willingly consented to do anything in
her power to rouse the ebbing current of
life in one who as statesman or jurist,
has known but few rivals during the
course of long and eventtul life.


On reaching the residence of Robert
son, Miss Cary was at once ushered into
the chamber where so much of intellect
and learning was fast Pickering out
into the darkness of the unknown here
after. without accompaniment of any
kind, raised her rich contralto voice in
the touching words WAY down the Su.
vance river" but before she had sung
three line. broke down in the intensity
Of her emotion. Calming herself, che
again essaycd the ballad. and while the
venerable and stricken man lay drinking
her glorious melody. poured out her
whole soul in the simple utterances which
gave so much pleasure to one whose
giant intellect had, in days agone, fasci
mated the most talented of the land
When che had ceased. Judge Robertson
could scarcely express his qualification
by signs, yet signi6ed desire that Miss
Cary should sing for him Home Sweet
Home Twice did the gifted artist at
tempt to comply with the request, but
her emotion was too great. and, choked
with feeling, she was compelled to leave
the room. The whole incident was one
Of the most touching and efecting
episodes that ever marked the deathbed
Of departing greatness
Year: 1871

A new machine for taking OF the hide
of dead cattle will shortly be tried at
Buenos Ayers. The operation ia sharp,
short and decisive, requiring only a
minute for each hide. Gold air ie forced
by pump between the flesh and the
hide, and the thing is done.
Year: 1871

In our local columns will be found a
notice of the arrangement entered into by
the Fredericksburg railroad company with
the Allan line of steamers, to enable farmers
and employers of all kinds to secure skilled
labor from Europe by paying the passage
money to the home company.


One great need of Virginia is intelligent
skilled labor, and all accession, must come
from the North or Europe. The North has
none to spare, but the crowded countries
of the Old World can send us there surplus,
IL we will send means to bring them. The
price of passage is merely nominal, and we
trust that this sagacious arrangement of
responsible corporation, which benefits
every citizen of the State, will
be generally seconded by farmers and
others. The transaction is attended with
no possible risk and will enable thousands
of valuable laborers to come to our State.
to enjoy its advantages and help elevate the
standard of labor and develope all varied in
dustries here.
Year: 1871

SOME OF OUR TROUBLEs,-In the
prosecution OF our duties as reporter. VIC


oiteh encounter strange and unaccounta-


pie reluctance on the part of some, and in


many cases positive refusal, to give us in


formation concerning matters which could


not 1all to interest the general reader. 1t
rs our~practice to visit our manufacturing


establishments, and lay before our people


such accounts of their operations as would


seem likely TO attract trade to them. and


also to encourage the establishment of
others in our midst. We have, in some of
these cases, been denied such information
as we desired, for the alleged reason that
the management did not desire any pub
hclty given to their business, which they
regard as entirely 'private."


We have no desire whatever, to lug any
mans private affairs before the public.
All we wish is to make the STATE JOUR-
NAL reflect the business life and energy of
our people, In order TO show to the world
what we are doing here, what we expect to
do, and that we have the nucleus of a much
larger and more prosperous community.
II gentlemen who control Richmond bus
mess establishments, which are of course
dependent upon our population and the
trade ccntering here for what they are and
expect to be in the future, desire the
greatness which we are proud to predict for
our city and State, it seems to us that they
would gladly avail themselves of every
opportunity to show to the rest of mankind
that we are all on the high road to still
greater wealth and prosperity.


The peculiarity of which, we complain is
!. serious drawback, and works damage to
The manufacturing and business interests of
The city. Whether it arises from false
notion that business dependent upon the
public for success is ''privatc,o or in reality
rom political prejudice, it is unworthy of
he spirit of the age; and we hope to see
laid aside, in order that we may all labor
effectively for that general growth and
prosperity which our natural advantages
'lace within our reach.
Year: 1871

MATTAPoNI AND PAMUNKEY STEAM


NAVIGATION NCOMPANY.-We have alrea-


dy referred several times to the organiza-


tion OF this company, and have congratu-


lated the farmers living along the Malta


POM, that the company had already secured


suitable vessel to ply between Dunkirls


and West Point but we have a duty to


perform to our city, which we do most


cheerfully.


Although sufficient amount of stock


has been subscribed to purchase q steamer


the company want money to make the de-


ferred payments, and have appointed Mr..


John l.. Slaughter, of this city, agent. to
solicit subscriptions and sell the remaining
stock of the company.


Those wishing to contribute their means
to aid in building up and increasing the
trade of Richmond, may consult Mr..
Slaughter at the office of VIM. Wallace
Sons. One of the members of this firm is
we believe, treasurer of the company,


Mr.. Slaughter will cheerfully furnish all
necessary information concerning the terms
of subscription and the prospects of the
company he represents.


This enterprise is an important one to
Richmond, because nearly the whole of the
trade OF that productive region will pour
in upon us here. A number of our largest
and ablest business firms have already
taken so much of the stock of the COM
pany, as will give them the power to say,
to what point the trade of the Mattaponi
counties shall go.


The tariff of prices of freight and passen-
ger rates has already been fixed so as to
give Richmond the benefit of the lowest
figures. Every bushel of wheat grown in
that section must come here, because diff
ference of three cents bushel has b7el |
made in the cost of shipment of this GER /
in favor of this point as against Baltimore /:
and as ours has been conceded to be a BET
ter wheat market than the latter city, we
have no doubt every bushel of wheat grown
along the Mattaponi will find its way here.
Wheat is but an unimportant product COM
paired to the others of that section.


We arc pleased to note the disposition of
our business men to take hold and invite
the trade Of the State to this city, and we
only need little more sagacity and liberal
ty among them to build up here such
trade as will put us in fair competition
with our Northern cities.


We appeal to the business men of Rich
nond to 60 forward and subscribe to the
'est of the stock of this young but promis-
ng enterprise, taking it, and the trade it
will control, from the hands of Baltimore.
where it will go unless secured to us.


Ten dollars will purchase share of stock
n this company, and we think the amount
mall, when compared with the benefits to
'e derived, and the increased prosperity it
will bring to the trade of Richmond.
The officers ofthis company have been cho-
en-, and we feel assured their regulations,
$ first-class business men, will not suffer,
energy and a determination to succeed,
Til save them.
Year: 1871

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT. = The
chairman and secretary of the State Central
Committee officially announce the willing
ness OF several OF the railroads of the State,
to convey delegates TO the Convention on
the 27th, upon the same terms given the
delegates to the Democratic Convention.


The attention of delegates is called to the
official notice.
Year: 1871

It is curious fact illustrating the necessi-
ty of cleanliness, and of keeping the pores of
the skin open, that if coit of varnish or
other substance impervious to moisture be
applied to the exterior of the body, death will
ensue in about six hours. The experiment
was once tried on child at Florence. On
the occasion Ct Pope Leo the Tenth's acces-
sion to the papal chair, 1t was desired to have
living figure to represent the Golden Age,
and so child was gllded all over with warm
ish and gold leaf. The child died in a few
hours. If the fur of rabbit or the skin of a
pig be covered with solution of India rub.
ber in naptha, the animal ceases to breathe
in couple of hours.
Year: 1871




But 1t is eminently proper that the local county
legislature, In any mode Just to our resources,
advised be not seected OF scrutnizlng the accounts
and put to confusion the evident partisan conspi-
racy which has been formed against the credit OF
the city and county at home as well as abroad.


A. Oakley HALL Mayor.
Year: 1871

James Kelly, twenty years OF age and employed in
removing an embankment at the Sackett street
boulevard, was crushed to death yesterday by the
caving in Of quantity Of earth. When dug out his
body was shOckingly mutlated, the 1esh being torn
erom his face his arms ammed into his side and the
bones pr0trudtng from his legs.
Year: 1871

1t was expeoted by few OF the City Hall folks
yesterday that there would be an anxious crowd on
hand at the sessions OF the Boards of Supervisors
and Aldermen at which it had become known the
Mayor would submit the city and county accounts;
but there was nothing OF the kind. Wnen the
Supervisors met there was not single "outsider''
present The Mayors message to the Aldermen
was referred to O committee composed OF Super
visors Hacket Jerome and Schlchting and that sent
to the Supervisors was referred to Aldermen Irving,
Dimond and Plunkett. These committees are to
examine the city and county accounts, and to CO.
operate with any committee body Of citizens who
may manifest desire to wade through


THE SEA OF FIGURES


contained in the accounts. Owing to the hue and
cry that has been made to have them hurried up,
the Printing Company did their best to get through
with their work In time satisfy tpe public clam0r,
but the work has turned out to be such herculean
task that they were unable to "come up to time"
In order, however, TO have something to show for
the exertions made, ana In compliance with letter
from the Mayor, asking for whatever sheets they
had already printed ana the manuscript Of all the
accounts sent 10 be printed. the company sent


THE CITY ACCOUNTS


Tor 1869; but they are as yet not suf1ciently ar.
ranged in order to Gull from accurately 1t IL said
that when the entire accounts shall have been all
printed they Will cover 5000 closely printed octave
pages. 1t wiz thus be seen. to quote from them.
rather from that portion already completed would
be Of little benefit to the general public. When the
big bundle OF accounts marked "Quarterly, '60,"
was laid upon the Presidents desk. one of the old
clerks in the Comptrollers once remarked, 'Well,
declare I've seen our accounts for the past twenty
years open for inspection. and this is the first time
ever heard anybody cared to look at them.' There
may have been great deal of truth in the clerks
remarks. The following are the messages.
Year: 1871

the bag. 1t at once turned green, grew
greener and greener every second, and
at length was an intense dark green.


Here JIM" said the old farmer to
his tow-headed son, take in this basket
and empty it, and bring it out agin'. ="
Then turning to his honest neighbor, he
said:


You hooked them tomatoes from my
patch not half an hour ago. Three or
four Of the top ones | knew in a minute
Here your basket"


If any reader of the Evening Post in
the country would test this discovery of
theft, let him pick one or two tomatoes,
separating the vines with his naked
hand, and then wash it. There is mys-
terious something about the plant, per-
fectly colorless, that instantly imparts
the green, which cannot be seen until
water removes it.
Year: 1871

From the New York POST a.,


Where did you get them tomatoes
asked an old Long Island farmer the
other morning of a neighbor whose real
estate yielded a product of nal, and OF
which there was not tomato vine.


His basket was full Of very fine, ripe
specimens, which the farmer thought he
recognized. II wasn't the first time that
suspicion Of his impecuniOus neighbor' s
honesty had arisen in his mind.


Where did you get emp "


Bought EN-.


"Who did you buy EN- of


"Bill Van Brunt, on Crow Hill.


"Ahl let us look at your hands.


With his basket on his arm he held out
both hands for examination. What do
you want to look at my hands fort There
amt nothing on to EN-.


The old farmer was washing his own
hands at the time in a tin basin Of rain
water, with a wooden bowl Of curdled
brown soft soap before him.


No: there amt nothing on EN- that
YOU can see; but look ahere, set down
your basket and wash EN-. It's very
coolin, and your face and hands looks
hot" So saying he emptied the basin,
filed Il with cold water, pointed to the
soap dish, and relieved the bearer of his
basket


The first immersion and friction Of
the hands in the water let the cat out Of
Year: 1871

AN Injured Husband's PrOtest.
From the Virginia Enterprise.l


An outraged husband at Cheyenne,
Wyoming Territory where female suf-
frage and the political and social appur-
tenances thereto appertaining are recog-
nized ,denounces the female jnry business
through the Cheyenne Leader, and in
justification offers personal scrap from
his domestic history His wife was sum-
moned and impaneled as juror in an
important case When night came, the
case not being concluded, the husband
applied to the court to have his wife
sent home, as there we're several small
children there requiring her attention
the smallest, in fact, being in starving
condition, owing to the fact that it had
not been habituated to the use of the
bottle. But the husbands request was
denied. The judge said the jury could
not be separated. The husband then re-
quested permission to send the infant to
the mother. This was also refused, on
the ground that the law does not permit
thirteenth person in a jury room, and
there is no statute to show that an infant
in arms is not a person within the
intent and meaning of the law.


The desperate husband then attempted
to induce the court to send all the jurors
to his house for the night, but the effort
was failure, and the husband was in
formed that quarters had been provided
for his wife at the hotel, and that if he
wished to speak to her for a moment he
would have to take the place of the cook.


The husband went home. How he got
through the night is not told; but when
he learned the next day that the trial was
likely to last a week, he straightway pro-
ceeded to employ the best looking house
keeper and cook in the country. At
last accounts his wife was still on the
jury, but he was becoming resigned to
the situation-in fact, it may be said that
he was quite happy. The " brute con-
cludes his communication to the Leader
as follows:


II don't know how the ladies felt, but
| was perfectly satisfied with not only
the law of equal rights, but its practical
workings, as laid down to me. | most
respectfully and cordially invite any,
and all persons, those in favor of
WOluhu SuHTdRt anu thOoO OppOoSui w
call at my house and see for themselves
the practical workings of woman's suf-
frage. 1t is having fair trial. am
lord of all / survey; my right there is
none to dispute My cook is perfect
success; children are happy; and when
asked how they like home without a
mother say It's nice P. S.-A ca
nary bird, which had faithfully and pa
tiently sat on her nest until yesterday,
got off and left, with one just hatched
and another egg pipped, and steadily re-
fused to come for her brood. If any one
can suggest any way to arrange canary
matter, the cook and ourselves can get
along in the domestic business.


All of which is significant. Should
the gentleman's wife ever get off that
jury, however, she will make it very
troublesome for the cook, with whom he
is getting along so we'll But, perhaps,
the story is fiction. Nevertheless, it
might all be true under the laws of Wy
oming, and the lesson remains.
Year: 1871




In August last a young lady, a resi-
dent of San Francisco, died. During
the following October a lock Of the de-
ceased's hair, together with two rings,
were placed in a registered letter and
dispatched toward the East During
the mail robbery on the 22d Of that
month, the letter in question vas opened,
and one of the rings appropriated When
postal agent Barstow took possession Of
the debris in the mail car, he found the
lock Of hair, one ring and several pieces
Of the letter. After considerable trouble,
he managed to decipher the name Of the
party forwarding the letter, and that of
the party for whom it was intended. The
writer Of the letter, a lady, furnished
him with a minute description of the
missing ring, mentioning that its princi-
pal feature consisted Of a heart crossed
BY two clasped hands. This clue was
furnished TO the detectives, and through
Year: 1871


Terrible Adventure with a Rattle.


snake ON ChiIhOwee Mountain.


From the Athens Post.


1t was stated in this paper last week
that a citizen of Polk county, named
Paul Parks, had been bitten by large
raotlesnake. 1t seems Mr.. Parks was
hunting cattle, and had ascended some
distance up the mountain, when he came
upon the snake so suddenly that he did
not see it until it was in the act of
striking and there was no chance to re-
treat or to avoid the blow. He was
struck in the leg with both fangs, few
inches above the ancle-joint. He made
an effort to kill his enemy, but the venom
circulated so rapidly that he became
sick and dizzy and turned away from
the place. After proceeding short
distance partial blindness and extreme
nausea and dizziness ensued, and
selecting as level a place as he could,
the poor fellow stretched himself
upon the ground, as he thought, to
die, helpless and alone, almost within
sight of his humble home. But reviving
a little in few minutes, he determined
to make another effort, and being unable
to stand erect and walk, he commenced
rolling himself down the mountain and
succeeded in reaching a spot near the
Z" big road where his cries and means
attracted the attention of a passing
neighbor, who went to his assistance. A
vehicle was procured and the unfortu-
nate man was conveyed to his home-but
before reaching there he had become
blind and speechless and his tongue was
protruding from his mouth At last ac-
counts Parks was still alive, and some
faint hopes we're entertained of his re-
covery. He told the neighbor who first
reached him that the snake was much
the largest he had ever seen, being, as
he expressed it, as big as my leg"
Year: 1871

Feats of strength performed with the
teeth are absurd; those who indulge in
them ought to be punished like that
youth who, says DR.. Lemartie, broke all
his front teeth, who bet he would throw
over his head chair, which he held with
his teeth by the upper part of the back
board to achieve that noble feat. An
other fellow, more imprudent, caused
himself to be hoisfed up from the ground
to a window by means of a rope, which
he held in his teeth. When he reached
a certain hight he lost his four incisors,
and broke one of his legs in the fall.
Some others, says the doctor, find plea
sure in grinding drinking-glasses between
their teeth, and wounding their mouths
grievously in the attempt. One would
suppose that the life Of these maniacs is
a perpetual challenge to the Almighty
who gave it 20 them. The loss Of tooth
is a real misfortune, since it cannot be
repaired A tooth is worth diamond,
says one of our authors. Remember
these few words and try to get them in
practice. Herald Of Health.
Year: 1871

its aid they captured one Of the leading
spirits of the robbery. But for the ring,
which he had devoted to the adornment
of his own clumsy hand, he might have
escaped unscathed. He has taken up
his abode at the Nevada State prison,
and the ring was returned to its owner
one day last month.
Year: 1871

Be A MAN.-Foolish spending is the
father of poverty. Be not ashamed
of work. Work for the best salary or
wages you can get, but work for half
price rather than be idle. Be your
own master, and do not let society or
fashion swallow up your individuality
hat, coat and boots DO not eat up
or wear out all you can earn, compel
selfish body to spare something for
profits saved. Be stingy toyour own
appetite, but merclul to others ne
cessities. Help others and ask not
help for yourself. Sec that you are
proud Let your pride be OF the
right kind. BE too proud to be lazy ;
too proud to give up without conquer
ing every difficulty, too proud to
wear coat you cannot afford to buy ;
too proud to be in company that you
cannot keep up with in expenses, too
proud to lie, or steal, or cheat too
proud to be slingy.
Year: 1871

STUDY To study successfully, the
body must be healthy, the mind at
case, aud timc managed with great
economy Persons who study many
hours in the day, should perhaps
have two separate pursuits going on
at the same timc--one for one part of
the day,and the other for the other and
these of as opposite nature as posi-
blo-that tho mind may be refreshed
by change, and all the bad effects OF
lassituda avoided There is one piece
of advice, in lifo of study, wo think
no one will object and that is, every
now and then to. be completely idle,
TO do nothing at all indeed, this part
of life of study is commonly consid.
cred as 80 decidedly superior to tho
rest, that 1t has almost obtained an
exclusive preference over those other
parts Of tho system, with which we
wish TO see II connected.
Year: 1871

INDUSTRY Man must have occupa.
ton, or be miserable. Toll is the
price Of sleep and appetite, Of health
and enjoyment. The very necessity
which ovorcomes our natural sloth is
a blessing. The whole world does
not contain even briar or a thorn
whicL Nature could have spared. We
are happier with the sterlity, which
we can overcome by industry, than
we could have been with spontaneous
plenty and unbounded prolusion.
The body and the mind are improved
by the toll that fatiguos them. The
toll is thousand times rewarded by
the pleasure which il bestows It's
enioymtnts arc peculiar No wealth
can purchase them, no Incidence can
taste them. They flow only from
tho exertions which repay the laborer.
Year: 1871

Infinite toll would not enable you
to sweep away mist, but by ascend.
ing a little you may often look over
it altogether. So it is with moral
improvements; We wrcstlo with a vi.
cious habit, or with n slandcrous re.
port, which would have no hold upon
us II we asccnded into higher moral
atmosphere.