smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

DANGERS OF THE ALPs.-A correspon.


d mt from Switzerland writes of recent fa-


tai disasters in the vicinity Of Mont Blanc


"a gentleman, with his bride and lady


friend, made the ascension to the Grands


Muets, which is six thousand five hun


DR. feet above the Valley of Chamounix.


The day was so fine that when there, urged


by the ladies, whom, with the guide, be
| left behind him, he started to make the


ascension of Mont Blanc. Shortly after


he left them, becoming cold, all three went


out for a walk, tied together as they al


ways are, for greater security in the


mountain excursions. Walking upon


the ice and snow crust the guide offered


his arm to the wife, who had hardly


accepted it when, owing either to the
softening of the crust by the heat,
or cracking from the weight or the


formation of creyasse, both the guide
and wife disappeared, the friend only es-
Gaping their fate by the breaking of the
rope. Disappearing thus instantly in


place which did not seem dangerous, they


have never been seen nor found, though
eight of the guides, at the risk Of their
lives, went down into the crevasse sixty
feet--in fact, made attempts until the gov
ernment forbade any more-as the lives
of others were perilled for those that had
been lost. The lady who was left, scream
ed and remained ON the spot till the gen.
tleman returned to find that he had lost
wife and bride in the enjoyment of full
health only half an hour previously. Such
are the dangers of ascending Mont Blanc,
where no amount of foresight Or experience
can foretel the accidents which may hap
pen at any time with loss of life to some
or all of those engaged.


"Other accidents have happened-in-
deed, every year one or more persons lose
their lives upon this mountain. Captain |
Albright and four guides were lost in 1866. |
A bride in going across the Tete Noire-
one of the direct routes to Martiny-slip- |
ped from her horse, unknown to the guide |
who was leading him, and falling down a
steep precipice, was never found. An |
American who sat next me at table gave |
me an account Of crossing the Glacier des
Boissons, where the glacier having changed |
so much since the guide had been there
necessitated leaving him constantly to go |
ahead and discover the way that might be
the safest. While he was gone some FIVE
or ten minutes at time, if anything had
happened to the guide the gentleman must
have been lost, for he had neither tools
for making or assisting his way, nor ex-
perience."
Year: 1871

DR.. L. CoNGDoN the Indian physician, claims to
have successfully treated quite number of patients


in this city, and hear of those who testify TO the
fact. 1t IS fortunate that there many physicians
with different systems of practice for the of
almost endless diseases The Doctor is confident Of
the merits OF his mode Of treating the sick, and
invites those afflicted to consult him and Judge for
themselves of his ability to cure he can be found
at his office in Manchester, next to the post-oice,
and may be "intsrviewedn during the day OF eyep-
Year: 1871

poor people and force them to feel their in
feriority There are enough engaged in
that business, regularly enlisted, and there
IS, therefore, no necessity for gentlemen
volunteering in cause which, to say the
least, is of very doubtful gentility.
Year: 1871

Absem,-We understand that the mem
ber from Surry county, whose eccentric con-
duct caused the House to take some action in
regard to him at its last session, has not put
in an appearance during the present session
at all
Year: 1871

The sweetest songs are those
That few men ever hear,
And no men ever sing.
The clcarcst skies arc those


That farthcst Off appear
To birds Of strongest wing.
The dearest loves are those


That no man can come near
With his best following.
Year: 1871

You may get through the world, but twill bt


very slow,
If you listen to all that IS said as you go,
You'll be worried, and fretted, and kept in q


stew,
For meddlesone tongues will hare something


For people will talk.
If quiet and modest, you'll have it presumed
That your humble position is only assumed;
You re wolfin sleeps clothing, or else your II


fool,
But don't be excited, keep perfectly cool,


Forpeople will talk.
If generess and noble they'll vent oat their
spleen,
You'll hear some loud hiats that you're selfish


and mean,
Ifzpright, honest and fair as the day
They II call you rogue in sly, sneaking way;


For people will talk.
Aud tten, if you show the least boldaess Of


heart,
They will call you an upstart conceited and
But keep straight ahead, don't stop to explain,


For people will talk.
If threadbare your dress, or old fashioned
your hat,
Some one will surely take notice of that,
And hint rather strong that you CAM pay your
way;
But don't get excited, whgtsysr they sat,


For people Will talk.
If you dress in the fashion don't think to es-
cape
For they criticise then in O different shape;
You're head of your means, or your tailor's


unpaid;
But mind your own business, there's naught


to be made,


For people will talk.
Now the best way to do, is to do as you please,
For your mind, if you have one, will then be
at ease,
lOf course you will meet with all sorts of abuse,
Year: 1871

An agent for a large life insurance
company in New York called some


time since on q gentleman with the
hope of insuring his life. On asking
whether the gentleman was not de.
sirous of taking ont life policy, he
was met with the reply that if the
company could insure him in the fu-
ture state, he was perfectly willing.
This seemed to be a poser; but the
agent promptly replied that he was
sorry to say his company was pre-
vented by it's charter from issuing
any fire risks. :. " /
Year: 1871

Never try to keep out of n mans way
when you are owing him any thing, un-
less it is thrashing. 1t is bad enough,
in all conscience, to be in debt, but do
not make your condition worse by grow
ing meaner under its pressure. When
you absolutely cannot pay up at the ap-
pointed time, don't make him believe you
are sick don't skulk abOutin any of the
way-streets to avoid meeting your. credi-
tors; don't sneak around the first corner
when you catch sight of him before he
has seen you. All such conduct is I'M
manly. No doubt you're averse to stand
face to face with man to whom you are
debtor, payday past and you a
debtor still-it is Notifying, very, but
it is only one OF the natural consequences
of borrowing; and as you have incurred
the penalty, why meet it like a man.
Face your creditor, let him know you
neither forget the debt nor underrate his
patience to you. Say frankly that you
are very sorry to keep him so long out OF
his money, and that you will pay up us
fast and as soon as you cam *-


This is the only way to conduct your
self in the case. There is no respect due
to men or women who, failing to be able
to meet their payments at the proper
time, instead of going at once and ex-
planning the reason why they fail, and
be and say all they can to assure theiI
creditors that they mean no dishonesty
just sneak about carefully, an&iously
only to shun the creditors sight. BE
manly.
Year: 1871

The example of the late General Lee,
in refusing all gifts, and declining to re-
ceive compensation for services not rem
dered, is worth more to his country and
to all who follow it, than millions in
gold. The facts here stated Will not be
forgotten:
of Richmond rendered General Lee an
elegant mansion as some small token OF
the high estimation in which he was held
by the city which he had so long defend
ed. But the grand old man replied: 81
do not expect to be in Richmond during
the continuance of the war, apd my fam
lily are as comfortable as they have q
right to expect to be in these times. ]
must, therefore, with my thanks for your
consideration, most respectfully decline
your offer. If you have money to give
1 hope you will bestow it upon my pri-
vate soldiers. ,.who are more in need and
more deserving than myself"


At the close of the war offers OF pc
cuniary assistance poured in upon him
from all sides, but he steadfastly refused
to receive them.


An English nobleman, thinking he
would rejoice in some place of retreat
from his affections, wrote to offer him
splendid country seat and handsome
annuity He EobIy replied: 81 am deep





sert my native State in the dark hour OF
her advcrsity. L must abide her fortune c
and share her fate"


Soon after he took charge of Washing
ton College he was visited by the agent
of an insurance company, who offered
him the presidency at a salary of ter
thousand dollars. He told the agent thai
he could not properly attend to both
'sBut, General,' said the agent, "we dc
not want you to discharge any duties
We simply wish the use of your name
That will abundantly compensate u.s."


FEXcuse me, sir" was the prompt and
decided rejoinder, 81 cannot consent tc
receive pay for services do not render


He received many offers of this sort
and just short time before his death
large manufacturing company in New
York offered him salary of fifty thou.
sand dollars a year if he would become
their president. But to all such offers he
had the same reply-his duty in the col
lege fully occupied his time, and he
would not receive pay where he did no
render service.


He refused to receive from the college
anything like so large a salary as they
desired to pay him, and when, in 1863
the trustees decreed to Mrs. Lee a house
and annuity of three thousand dollars
the General respectfully declined, ol
Mrs. Lees behalf, to accept it.


He declined all gratuities, and though
loving people, for whom he had toileC
so heroically, would most joyously hav'
settled on him handsome property, HI
preferred to earn his daily bread by hi
personal exertions, and to set his people
an example of honest industry.-Chris
| tidn Observer.
Year: 1871

the grain, keeping it moist with water :;
let the work dry; then, if you wet it
again, you will find the surface perfectly
smooth, and the texture of the wood


much hardened; by this means, common
soft Honduras mahogany will have face
equal to fine Hispaniola. If this does
not succeed to your satisfaction, you may


improve the surface by using the pumice
stone with cold drawn linseed oil, in the


same manner as you proceeded with


water; this will be found to put a most


beautiful, as well as durable lace to your
work, which may then be polished or


varnished.-Cd6inet Maker.


CLEANSING STONE FRoNTs.-It is usual
to perform this operation by the erection


of scaffold, and the rubbing-down of
the face by hand-labor with sand and


water. 1t has been found, however, that
this course was open to the objection
that it removed what masons called the
weather 'sskin'' of the stone--the thin,


indurated surface produced blythe action
of rainwater with the SCOT upon the cal
careous matter which enters into the
composition of some of the London


building stones, Portland more especial
ly. 1t has been ascertained that the jet
of water thrown from steam tire-engine
has the power of removing the discolora-
ton produced by the smoke, without in
JurlnS The lace OF Ilie stohe ala, acCoru-
ingly, arrangements have beensmade for


the cleansing, in this way, ofthree we'll


known buildings in the city. The work
is done from the ground, the force of


the stream thrown by the steam fire en-
gine being sufficient to effect the neces-
sary cleansing. To give an idea of its
power, we may say that it is no uncom-
mon experience for man to be knocked


down by the blow of the water, if he


happens to be in its way. We may add,


that the approximate cestof cleansing the
fronts of all three buildings will not
probably exceed $500; whereas, under the


old system, the outlay for each separate


building would probably exceed that
Year: 1871

The series of acts of self-destruction
still runs on with pitiless iteration. Our
exchanges explain the recent suicide of
Miss Laura Shanks at South Washington,
d. c., by the statement that she had been
apparently engaged to a young man of
the neighborhood who had broken faith
with her. 1t is not without bearing on
the facts that, in the same paragraph, in
the mention of her relations, it is indi-
rectly limited that the girl, though anna
bic and beautiful, was probably OF OBJ
scure station and presumably of limited
or deficient education.


1t is a noticeable fact in the sadly mo-
notonous details of such cases of self
slaughter from disappointed affection
that the victim is usually of the lower, or
at most the middle class, in social station.
While Rosalind's malicious epigram that


Men have de- and worms have eaten them,


But not for love,


is clearly untrue of women, it might not
be so unfair if predicated of the upper
classes. The reason is not far to seek.
Looking only to the lower and more
selfish elements in matters matrimonial,
it is plain that the brilliant woman in
society, in the average case, has far
better chance to fill the vacant place in
her facile affections than her humble,
less beautiful or less wealthy sister.
The cynical old proverb about Gas good
fish in the sea as ever yet was caught
has especial application to those who
might, by an easy figure, be said to live
ON the sea-coast and own the best of nets
and lines.


But deeper influence is that of cult
vation. Without assuming, What no
one has right to claim, that the wealthy
and well-born have any superiority in
moral and religious principles, it is plain
that in the majority of cases the woman
of the upper class will be likely to have
an intellectual and aesthetic training
which, while it cnlarges her views and
confirms her will, supplies a mental
stimulus and consolation which the girl
of less culture must bitterly need. The
woman of the lower classes, when ell
dowed by nature by a strong nature and
warm feeling; is too likely, if we may sc
express it, to run to heart in default OF
that restraining counterpoise which only
the enlightened brain can supply. To
such nature wound to the affections
may often prove fatal. That narrowness
of view which heightens the intensity o.
Its one concentrated attachment makes
the world but one hopeless and helpless
blank when its object is removed. 1t i:
not the least blessing of high culture fol
| women that il may, without destroying
the original richness and depth of theil
nature, lift them above this limitation
and even amid the ruin of their tender
est hopes, enable them still to see in hu
manity its wide relations and boundlesE
possibilities.
Year: 1871

Not a few, adopting the maXims we
are about to promulgate as rules for con-
Quoting a manufacturing business, have
succeeded in being conspiclously unsuc-
cessful. If any others wish to follow in
their iIlustrious footsteps, let them adj
here strictly to the advice we shall give,
and we will guarantee the desired re-
suit.


Let them branch off into many kinds
of manufacturing, or, if manufacturing
any particular class of goods, confine
themselves as closely as possible to max
ing as many different varieties of wares
as the class will permit of. The first is a
better and more rapid road to ruin, but
the latter will do, provided that:


They so keep their books that they can
not tell how much or little they are max
ing or losing upon each variety of arti-
cles they produce, or whether there is
either profit OF loss on their entire busi-
ness except when the annual balance
sheet is made up. We have known per-
sons who were so foolish as to employ
skilled bookkeepers to keep them in
formed as to the state of their liabilities
and assets. 1t is rare that such men tail
so conspiciously as to acquire public
fame. Their example should be avoided
by those ambitious to become noted
bankruptS.


Let those who wish to fail, also hire as
much by the day or week as possible, and
eschew the system of ''piece work" 1t
is astonishing how much this will grease
the wheels of financial disaster, especial
| ly if,


They leave everything in charge of a
salaried superintendent, not above hav-
ing his favorites among the employees
who becomes favorites by seeing that he
does not want for gold watch at Christ
mas, or cigars to regale himself with dur
ing the rest of the year.


Finally, having got things in this way
well in trim, be sure and take no care OF
remnants. Let them take care of them
selves. To become bankrupt, one mus
not respect economy. Economy ha;
stood between many a man and the debt
| or's prison OF the aims house. Therefore
have nothing to do with it. Let scrap:
rot, and material run to waste. Spend as
much time as you can with fast horses
in shooting, fishing, ETC., leaving busi
ness to the superintendent. When &;


pinch comes, borrow morrow, having
full faith that it will be easy to pay i


when due. So shall you find smooth sail
ing and fair brcezes to watt you swiftly
to port where you will find no lack o
; congenial society," Scientific american
Year: 1871

The Sun gives n history, obtained
from an authentic source, of the boiler
of the ferry boat Westfeld, which ex-
ploded and caused such fearful havoc at
New York some time since. 1t was
made in 1861, of the best Pennsylvania
iron, for Commodore Vanderbildt, at a
cost of 1000 to $12 700. 1t was twelve
feet front, ten feet in diameter, twenty
five feet long, with two furnaces,
weighed thirty-five tons, and was made
to stand pressure of forty pounds. One
of the mechanics engaged in its con-
struction, from whom the information
given was obtained, being asked his
opinion as to the cause of the explosion,
said the boiler was worn out; he had
handled hundreds of the same kind, and
never knew one to last over seven years,
with the greatest care; ordinary usage
would unfit them for service inside of
five years. He said further, that the
place at which the boiler gave way had
not been repaired in ten years, and must
have been worn as thin as a wafer.
Giving the whole story din a nutshell,''
the San informant said: SIT would cost
about ten to fifteen thousand dollars to


purchase a new boiler, and about five
thousand more to put it in and take the
old one out" The whole thing may be
summed up in one sentence ''grasping
capital.'' Another boiler-maker, with
much experience in the business, eX-
pressed his belief that the Westfield
boiler was made of common Philadelphia
puddled iron. He could buy iron at
four cents pound and he could also buy
it at ten, and it would cost $4,000 more
to build a boiler that would stand 300
pounds pressure than one which would
stand 40 pounds, the difference being in
the material and the bracing. This gen
tleman made the rather frightening
statement that he was pretty well ac-
quainted with the boilers in the ferry
boats running around New York, and he
knew of but one that was safe. That
one was made to stand pressure of 300
pounds. He added: ''They are all float
ing magazines, every one of them, liable
TO burst at any moment. Whenever 1
have occasion to cross Oh the ferry boats,
l always stand at the point which is
farthest away from the boiler. 1 tell
you L know the danger, and I'm afraid
of my life''
Year: 1871

To DRIVE AWAY BEDBUGs.-Take
green tomato vines, put them into a basin
or tray, pound them to pieces as fine as
possible; then stain the bedstead they
inhabit with the juice, fill the cTevices
with the pieces of the vine, lay leaves
under the ends of the stats. If this is
practiced twice a year, not bug will re-
main in the bedstead.
Year: 1871

Discovery OF COFFEE Toward the mid.
die of the fifteenth century, poor Arab was
travelling in Abyssinia, and, finding himself
weak and weary from fatigue, he stopped near
a grove. Being in want of fuel to cook his
rice, he cut down tree which happened to be
covered with dried berries. His meal being
cooked and eaten, the traveller discovered that
the half burned berries were fragrant He col.
lected a number of these, and on crushing them
with stone, he found that their aroma in
creased to great extent. While wondering
at this, he accidenty let fall the substance in
to can which contained his scanty supply of
water Lo, what miracle the almost putrid
liquid was instantly purified he brought it to
his lips it was fresh and agreeable and in a
moment after the traveller had so far recovered
his strength and energy as to be able to resume
his journey. The lucky Arab gathered as many
berries as he could and having arrived at Alden
in Arabia, he informed the Mufti of his dis
covery. That worthy divine was an inveterate
opium smoker, who had been suffering for years
from the influence of the poisonous drug. He
tried an infusion of the roasted berries, and
was SO delighted at the recovery of his former
vigor that in gratitude to the tree he called it
Cannah, which, in Arabic signifies force And
this is the manner in which coffee was discov-
ered
Year: 1871

From Adam Smith down to Anna Dicki nson,
theorists as TO the issues between capltai ana
labor have given themselves an unnecessary de-
gree of bother The greatest remedy that we
know of for half the Ills that labor is heir to
rests entirely with laborers themselves Capl-
tai will always take advantage OF the necessities
of every situatioo. 1t will never inquire Into
any other considerations than those aHectlngi It's
own interests 1t will hire where 1t can hire
the cheapest, aud sell where it can sell to the


best advantage.


Labor is unfortunate n that it is lmprovl-
dent, and hence always necessious. Ii york
ingmen saved th cir wages they would soon pc
independent Of the fluctuations Of the labor
market. But SO long as laborers spend as they
20, their necessities will always be immediate,


and in proportion to their necessities will they


be at the mescy Of capital.


When the worker demands greater reward


for his services, it is rarely ever that the capl-


tallst listens to the merit OF the plea. The ste


reotyped reply is, You can work for so much


or you can go. There are plenty to fill your


place, even at much cheaper rates than you


now receive" The re medy of the laborer Is


to make this plea impossible. That can only


be done by so aceumulaslng the means ot sub
sistence that the laborer will never be entirely
dependent upon the daily work he may receive
for his daily bread. With years wag ss saved


laborer would be independent for that length
of time, and to he same extent would the cap
italist be at his mercy
Human dependence is really expressed In hu'
xasa mprovldence. Tue poor spend entirely
too iauch money There is but limited peri
cd In which workers can be employed to advan-
tage, whether they labor by brain, craft or
muscle. The apprentice becomes a Journey
man, the student practitioner, and self-sup-
port is an easy problem But these marry
Then come the complicated and unceaslng ex-
penses of a family Work must be had, and
the family eat up the wages before they are
earned With sickness comes debt, and debt
is mortgage upon all future efforts. Death
itself is even an expense, aud the children OF
these iluprovidents inherit the burden which
has descended upon their shoulders, and work
out their lives as did their fathers. Thus the
present system OK crates Work is demanded
for daily bread, and we behold the spectacle of
capital conferriDg favor when 1t gives employ
ment. The improvident Workmen cannot stop


working for day. IdIeness with him is star
vation, and recreation Iun And he tolls on,
at whatever terms capital may see fit to allow
him, as much the slave Of his employer thro'
his necessities, as though there could be pro-
perty in human flesh and blood.


When workiugmen can point to their bank


accounts aud say that they have money enough


to be independent for one single year, the la


Dor market will not show that crowded ccndi-


tiou wherein three are always ready to do the


work OF one, at just enough recompense to re-


lieve their naked, actual necessities. If this is


only the part of truth, it is at least that fun
damental part of it which labor reformers can
af<,v