smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

cemetery, two and Q quarter miles. The


fall across the cutoff, from water to water,


is twenty.one inches. From the water in


front of Delta Depot to the water ON the


In 1870 Major Suter made several borinas


on the point opposite. showing the follow.


ing results: From nothing to 25 feet deep,


alluvial soil yellow sand and loam); 25 feet


to q feet, quiekeand; q feet to % feet, blue


clay; q feet to 80 feet, mixture of blue clav


and quicksand; 80 feet to 40 feet coarse


yellow sand; at 80 feet 8 inches, level of


water at the time of taking boringe; ct Al


feet met water; from 49 feet to SO feet, hard
feet to 80 feet, white clay;. 80 feet to ITO feet
qulckssnd; At llS feet struck rock.


On the upper side of the cutoff, in low
water, there is q depth Of As feet: at hiph
water, 96 feet On the lower side, at low
water, there is q depth of % feet; at high


From the data given, there can be little
doubt but the cutoff will be made, and in
order to judge what the river will do in the
future, we must examine what it has done
before. During the last twenty-five wears
five cut-otfs have been made. Each of these
was over eighteen milea around the bend,
and having fall across the neck from five
to six feet. The Vicksburg cutoff will be
five miles round the bend, and q fall of
twentyone inches across the neck. Look
ct the lakes that have once been the bed of
the river. They are from fifteen to twenty
miles long, and we have NO record for the
last nifty years where . lake has been
formed 20 small ss the one to be made at
Vicksburg.


And the distinguished engineer goes on to
say:


There is every reason to believe that the
cut will break through nearly opposite the
elevator, and the river can not leave us
that distance without it wears away the
point toward Delta, and the river runs
over the ground where Delta now stands,
Assuming that the river breaks throagh q
distance of three-quarters of mile wide.
it would then have two miles to wear away
from the point. From the data given above
we see that it was fifty years in wearing
away one mile. so that at the same rate 1t
would be 100 years before the river would
be two miles Oft, but the probability is,
that in short time it would cease wearing
away the point and form sand bar, the
same as We see at the extreme point of the
peninsula. From a short distance to
the cutoff, and only twenty-one inches
fall to be distributed, the changes will
be extremely slow, and sufficient current
will pass around the bend for the next
twenty years to keep it open for naviga.
tion, but it will gradually ill up with sand
bars. The current through the cutoff will
strike the low land near the railroad depot,
and give US deep and permanent haS bor
The river will endeavor to regain it's own
length and wash away the low land until
it strikes the bluffs and washes out the
main channel on the east side of the island
below and throws up sand bar in front of
Delta.


Now that the cutoff is made We recall
these predictions based upon close study
and scientific examination, and they are
with the reader for reflection. Tomorrow
We will probably be able to speak definitely
the new course of the river.
Year: 1876

A Wisconsin paper contains the fol-
lowing: AS the head of family in
Utica was engaged in family prayers the
other morning, pa ct Of the family still
sitting at the breakfast table, discus
sion arose between grown up son and a
daughter of the household regarding the
merits of young granger who had kept
the young lady up to a late hour the
previous night. The young lady, get
ting somewhat worsted in the discussion,
aud at the same time losing her temper,
resorted to more convenient line Of
argument by play yfully emptyiug her
cup Of tea down the inside of her broth
er's shirt collar. The brother resolving
to fight it out on the same line if it took
two hours, deliberately got up from the
table, and tatiuga teapot full Of boiling
hot tea from TIE stove, turned the entire
contents over the girls head and face
The proceeding brought the discussion
to an abrupt close, and also the devotieDs
of that happy household. For several
days The gil has suffered untold agony
from the efie IFS of The scald, the hot tea
penetrating both eyes,and erysipelas set
ting in. The young lady will recover,
but stands good chance of losing one of
her eyes, and has already lost the greater
part of beautiful head of hair. The
old gent, in order to remove all occasion
for further bostilities and at the same
time insure immunity from interruption
of family devotions, has sent word to
the young man, who indirectly IVES the
cause of the little unpleas1utness, to
come apajn no more forever
Year: 1876




The following heartrending particu-
lars of the treatment received by two
helpless children at the hands of wo-
man, the wife of painter, in whose care
the children had been placed, is presented
by the Lancaster PA Intelligence, which
gives the name of the accused, in that
city. Persons who were eye and ear
witnesses, and who lived upon the spot,
received the information from the lips of
one of the children:


The children were confined for more
than year, for the NEST part in cellar;
where hogs were kept, and employed
there in doing work for their master; their
only food was piece of bread day with
out even water to drink, they supplying
that want from the hogs trough. They
had not lain in bed during the whole
time. Their mistress, who practiced
nursing, used frequently, without any
cause, to tie them up by the hands,
stretched out, to staple fixed in the
ceiling, after stripping them stark naked,
and whip them till her strength was ex-
hausted and they were covered with
wounds; after which she fastened their
bodices upon them, which, cleaving to
their lacerated flesh, eat into their bodies
till the human tigress renewed her
cruelties, which, we may naturally suppose
were every time more intolerable than
the preceding. The eldest, who is seven.
teen years of age, she scourged no less
than six times the Friday before the dis
covery, whereby, and by her former
usage, she was one continued sore, COW
cred with gashes from head to feet; her
flesh seemed purified and she appeared
rather as if cut with knives than whips !;
her head was swelled TO an enormous
size, her eyes imperceptible, and her
speech gone. An iron collar that WAS
about her neck had torn that and her
shoulders in a terrible manner. The
youngest, who is thirteen years old, is
likewise miserable spectacle. She de-
clared to an acquaintance of the writer
of this that sometimes after they had
been whipped, the blood which streamed
from their wounds formed puddles un-
derneath them where they sat in the
cellar. The man is said not To have
whipped them, but was only accessory as
knowing and permitting IL. When the
mistress went away she caused them 10
he chained up in that filthy place Till
her return, which they dreaded more
than death, which. would have put a
period to their sufferiugs. The eldest
son Is said to have assisted the mother in
whipping and insulting them.
Year: 1876

The Wilmington IN. C.) Journal says:
A Young mau named Elias, who resided
with his mother on Campbell between
Fourth and Fifth streets, brought him
self to the most excruciating death that
can possibly be imagined. The young
man has been demented for some time
past, but even under the influence of
this mania, which would be worse at
times, and then again almost disappear,
he was usually tractable, and apparently
harmless to himself and others. On
Tuesday, however, he threatened the life
of his mother, but as night came on his
passions became pacified, and he retired
to bed as usual. About midnight his
mother, who slept in an adjoining room,
heard him moving about in his room,
and although the circumstance, once
caused her considerable uneasiness of
mind, she thought it best to remain
quiet herself, hoping that her son would
soon retire to his bed. But this was far
thest from his thoughts. He was then
making the awful preparations Tor MS
self destruction. The sequel showed that
he rose from bed, dressed himself, and
then saturated his clothing, hair, and
entire person with kerosene oil. Having
done this, he lighted match and ignited
his saturated clothing. Instantly he be-
came a pillar of flame. His mother, hear
inc him strike the match, arose also,
fearing that in crazy mood he might
set fire to the house. Her terror was in
describable when she beheld her son rush
out of his room enveloped in column
of seething fire, and she fled from him,
believing that he intended to carry out
his threat against her life of the previous
day, and end the existence of both OF
them together. 1T took but moment,
however, for the tortures of the flames
to exhaust him, as in his wild delirium
he ran around the house, and he fell to
the ground a blackened, charred mass ol
lifeless, broiling flesh.
Year: 1876

MAY is skim milk month";


When feebly does the pulse stir
'Taint warm enough for calico coat,
And you feel like a fool In an Ulster


The greatest parts, without discretion,
as observed by an elegant writer, may be
fatal to their owners; as Polyphemus,
deprived of his eyes, was only the more
exposed on account of his enormous
strength and STANDARDIZATION.


A QUARLEsoME husband and wife in
Iowa decided to separate and divide
their property evenly. The land was
measured off into two farms, and the
house and barn were cut in halves, and
each half removed a short distance.


BASE BALL INTELLIGENCE.


Cincinnati had little club,


And each one had red legs,


And every time they played game


They were sure to get goose-eggs.


-Ensuirer Laureate.


A REALLY happy marriage of love and
judgment between noble man and wO-
man is one of the things so very hand
some that if the sun were, as the Greek
poets fabled, god, he might stop the
world, in order to feast his eyes on such
a spectacle Theodore Parker.


A MASSACHUSETTS father has brought
about the arrest Of female teacher for
Aogging his precious little George
Washington. George had only defaced
an ornamental tree in the school-house
yard, and having been caught in the act,
had no opportunity of initiating the first
President.


The philosophers have said that every
act of virtue or friendship was attended
with a secret pleasure; whence they con-
cluded that friendship and virtue would
not be disinterested. But the fallacy of
this is obvious. The virtuous sentiment
or passion produces the pleasure, and
does not arise from it. l feel pleasure
in doing good to my friend, because l
love him but do not love him for the
sake of that pleasure. Hume.


To me there never has been higher
source of earthly distinction than that
connected with advances in science. l
have not possessed enough of the eagle
in my character to make direct flight
to the loftiest attitudes in the social
world and certainly never endeavOred
to reach those heights by using the creep
ing powers of the reptiles who, in ascend
ing, generally choose the dirtiest path,
becase it is the easiest.-Sr H. Dacy.


CHAREs MATTHEWS, the comedian,
was served by green grocer named
Berry, and generally settled his bill once
quarter. At one time the account was
sent in before it was due, and Matthews,
laboring under an idea that his credit
was doubted, said: "Here's pretty
null, Berry. You've sent in your bill,
Berry, before it was due, Berry. Your
father, the elder Berry, would not have
been such goose, Berry. But you need
not look so black, Berry, for ] don't care
a straw, Berry, and shan't pay you till
Christmas. Berry,"
Year: 1876

am looking up aud down,
Up and down, through the town,
For little house to dwell in
A shelter and q nest;
But though the buds are swelling
And the springs from earth are yelling,
can not find place for my rest.
There are no walls to hold us,
Not home TO enfold us,
Not a hearth for fire,
Not a chamber for our sleep;
In vain my questI keep,
None answer my desire,


Up and down,


Through the Town.
Then suddenly / hear
A whisper I'm my ear
Turn aside from thy seeking,
Listen to my speaking:
There Is house for thee
There are trees 10 shade the SUMMER
There Is room for every conner,
And broad the gateways he
To this home that waits for thee.


"Up and down,


Through the town.
Thou needest not To wander;
Thy house Is ready yonder.
The roof is smooth and green,
And the chamber is SO still
Thou canst slumber there thy fill.
And thy house shall no man borrow
To-day nor tomorrow,
Nor vexed with joy or sorrow,
Is that dwelling place serene.
"There is no price to pay,
No need to move away,
Noevil eye can harm thee,
Nor man nor beast alarm thee;
Thy flowers grow very fair
In the summer-scented air,
And the SHOWS lie still and soft,


Up aloft.
Thy house is ready here,
Ready this many year;


Seek no more,


For the door
Is opening to thy feet,
Ana the wide and silent street
Is ready for thy tread
In the city OF the dead.
Seek no longer here is rest for heart and head


Come in here"


Chris ian Union.
Year: 1876

SOME time ago Congress passed joint
resolution recommending the people to
assemble in county or town meetings all
over the land, on the next Fourth of
July, and listen to addresses commence
rative of the occasion and prepared with
special reference to local history, copies
of the same to be filed in the Congress.
sional Library. Such addresses, pre-
pared with care, might be made very
interesting, and source of valuable
information to the future historian.
Year: 1876

And now invite all here who de-
sire it to remain and partake with us
in the sacrament of the Lords supper,
whether they belong to this church or
to any other; to Catholic or Prot
estant church, or whether they belong
to church or not. 1t is said that l
thus invite the whole world. | do no
such thing. l simply refuse the de-
nominational test. This ordinance
does not belong to any church, it is an
individual right-as much so as the
right of an individual to read the
scriptures or to talk upon religious
subiects-and you are invited because
in your own soul you feel the need Of
Christ the Saviour. If there are ary
here that are sinful and know it, and
are determined to overcome their sins


if there are any willing u accept help,
and if they thiuk that to partake o
this ordinance will give them that
help, them invite, because they are
sinful, and because they need help.
Year: 1876

The author of "Achsah," speaking
of friends, says: "When we need a
certain kind OF friend, we 60 out into
the world, and if we subject ourselves
wholly to his guidance, we may be
quite sure that we shall soon find
walking beside us the very being most
calculated to keep us erect in our pur


poses, to lead US where we should talt-
er, to be to US second loving self
Year: 1876

Possessing large fonts Of NewaType and fine
Book Presses, the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN BOOK
AND JOB PRINTING OFFICE can print Briefs in a
much shorter time than is required in Offices with
lessample facilities. Call and..get estimates and
you will find that we print fifteen per cent
cheaper than any other Office in the District 9
Columbia. Southwest corner Of Pennsylvania
avenue and Thirteenth street, second floor.
Year: 1876

In the biography of the late Rev DR..
IGoodell, veteran missionary and orien.
tai scholar, this picture is given Of the
way they won't to church in Templeton,
Mass, at the beginning Of the century


The old puritanical horse seemed to
know as we'll as the. most pious of as
that it was holy time, and he stood at
the door, saddled and bridled, with bis
head bowed reverently down, as if in
solemn meditation upon the duties he
was expected to perform. My father,
with one of the children in his arms,
rode before; my mother sat behind on
a pillien, and carried enc of the chill
dren in her arms, and still another child
rode behind, clinging as closely to her
as she did to her husband.


/ recollect on one occasion, in ascen.
ding steep, sandy Hill, the girth OF the
saddle gave waysand there was an ava
lanche of the whole load, father and
mother and three children, with saddle
and pillion, over the horses tail, plump
into a sand-bank The old rheumatic
horse never seemed amazed at anything
that might happen, but this time he sim.
ply opened his large eyes wider than
usual, and wheeling half round, looked
to see whether he could help US. in any
way.
Year: 1876

Have the courage to cut the most agreed ble acquaintance you have when you are convinced that he lacks principle; a friend should bear friends infrmities, but not his vices.

 Have the courage to show your respect for honesty, in whatever guise it appears, and your contempt for dishonesty and duplicity, by whomsoever exhibited.
Year: 1876

"Ephraim Sleek" in the willamette
Farmer, INDUCES in little pleasant
irony concerning abuses in horse train
ing. He gives the following rules for
breaking a colt: Get him into large
corral. throw a running moose on him,
get on the outside and draw him up to
a post, make the rope fast, poke him
with sticks, spit on his nose, and yell
like a Comanche. Never mind if he
chokes and beats his head against the
fence, he can't feel he ought to have
more sense, anyhow. Keep this up
till he won't jump. Then get on the
inside ; take blanket and throw it un.
der his heels, on his back or anywhere
to frighten him. Don't forget your
yell good pair of lungs goes a great
ways toward tanning a wild horse.
Should you get hoarse, set your dogs
on him. Tell your son to bring you
some old tin cans bang him with these
till you think you have conquered him.
Then scream whoa !" Go up to him
and give him a good familiar slap on the
back. If he gets frightened, and treads
on your toes, curse like a sailor; pum-
mel him with fence rail, and tell him
you'll learn him who he is fooling with.
He'll understand you. Go for him till
you are completely exhausted then sit
down, and tell your son to bring your
saddle. and the briddle with Spanish
bit. Don't forget, to. curse. Then get
up, throw him down and put on your
saddle and briddle. Draw the cinch
tight enough to cut him half in two !;
new one is the best, as it tickles most.
Put on a big pair of bell spurs besides
being good thing to frighten your
horse with, gives you the appearance of
good horseman. Let him up get on;
and if he promises to go along quietly
give him good dig with the spurs
this will cause him to buck and yeu will
have an opportunity to show your fami-
ly what a good rider you are. If he
don't succeed in getting you off, run
him about ten miles and backs Put
him up, and don't feed or water him
for a week. If he isn't broke by that
time give it up as bad job.
Year: 1876

Take away our improved Machine and ma
chinery and the articles Of utility, comfort and
elegance which emanate therefrom, and what
would be the result? The reply Is obvious and
the contemplation not at al pleasant The
prosperity OF our country is in measure largely
due TO invention; directly but indirectly our
people as q whole are entitled TO q large share
Of credit, as the hberality Of our patent laws


compared with those Of European Government


and the eagerness with which we receive new


articles and invest money in their purchase hAl
called to the shore Of America the finest inveu.


tive genius Of the age. The principle Of sewing


by machinery has been in practical operation ol
over quarter OF . century, but the proper ap-
plieation Of that principle has been a subject
which has engrossed the attention Of the whole
people as well as the master mechanical mind,
and vast amounts Of money have been lavishly
expended in the constant anticipation that ere
long the acme Of perfection might be attained


That such is the case we cannot deny when we
witness the croWning points Of mechanical ge-
MUS as developed in the New American Sewing
Machine, q few Of which are the self.threadin0
shuttle, the first and only one the world has
ever seen; selt-setting needle points Of superior
excellence which save time and annoyance to
the operator, being especially favorable to those
whose eyesight Is impaired; unusual lightness
and ease OF motion, natural result Of the SIM
plicity Of Its action durable, being made from
the best material the country can produce and
one that will last you q lifetime For the past
ten years the New American Sewing Machine
has withstood the tests Of the severest criticism
and malignant abuse from rival agents who
have done their utmost to prevent the introduc-
ton Of a machine so superior in all its parts
and which possesses so many valuable and i'm
portant improvements. The rapidly increasing
demand for the American wherever IL is known,
fully demonstrates the popularity and efficiency
Of this unparalleled invention. The American
Sewing Machine Company have recently opened
q Branch Office in San Francisco at i24 Fifth
street. TO supply want long felt on the Pacific
Coast All those who contemplate purchasing
Sewing Machine will consult their own inter.
ests in examining this latest and eminently su-
perior invention, which surpasses in points Of
excellence any Sewing Machine Manufactured.
Year: 1876




Coon MANNERs.-A good anecdote is
told Of Lord Palmeston, which cannot
be reprinted too often for the benefit of
hotel clerks, car conductors and other
public servants. A railroad watchman
saw Lord Palmeston smoking his cioar
at the end Of the station. The venera-
BILE statesman was in deep thought and
did not know that he was violating the
rules, and when the watchman told him
he was, he did not hear him, upon
which the watchman pulled the cigar
out Of the old mans mouth and threw
Il into the track. The train came DASH
ing by directly afterward, and Just as
Palmerston was getting in, q brother
workman remarked, "There goes the
old chief Of the cabinet r. The watch
man, frightened to death, rushed up TO
London the next day. forced his way
into the Premiere presence, and begged
his pardon. $50, sir, was the reply.
you would not have been 30 rude to me
IN obedience 10 your orders il had
bean other than ami You are q snob.
and 4 I treated you as you deserve, /
would have you removed I" We repeat
the moral, that politeness is the best
and cheapest currency in the world, but
to be OF any value il must be univer-
sal, respecting rich and poor alike.
Year: 1876

CHILD Trust. = The apostle made
courageous answer to the Sanhedrim,
but it was courage born of faith that
trusted God in storm as well as in sun
shine. The frightened child of sch
captain once, rushed out Of the cabin in
the night, and cried out


i'Where j. father? where is father9"


Then they told her. "Father is on
deck guiding the vessel and Watching
the stormSasdT a3ct esc.o-,, ,


The little child Immediately returned
to her berth and said


'tItsall right for fathers on deck."


Let all the Lords people who are in
danger or trial, or sorrow or direct need,
know that God is on the throne always,
and knowing this, be brave and conf
dent in great extremity. He careth for
His own; and is able and willing to do
for them Just what they need-exceed-
ing abundantly, more than they ask or
thlpk9De III uflAa 1'ii1ssf
Year: 1876

In speaking of the Massachusetts
law making it necessary that a dozen
eggs weigh one and one-half pounds, y
Max Adder says: 1--WE approve of
this. The hens have too long had
their own way in this business Of lay
ing eggs, and they Lave constantly
the public. 1t is high time
that this outrage was crushed, and
we are glad that the legislature Of
Massachusetts, is going to do IT,
Year: 1876

effectually conceal the tailess body
of a pheasant, and the corpses Of
woodcocks, mipes and quails might
be cunningly veiled in the unsus-
pected covering of some sort of
pigeon. The smUggler, who had
grown careless BY prolonged inn
munity, had on the occasion in
question wrapped up a fine wood
cock in the skin of a blue-rook.
The disguise was as good as usual,
except in one small particular, He
had forgotten to cut off the long
bill of his victim, which was seen
protruding in a most inexplicable
manner from the mouth of the
pigeon. The police agent, refusing
to credit nature with the freakis6
trick of thus arming the emblem Of
innocence, instituted an inquiry,
which resulted in the unyeiling Of
several other prOtean birds. 1t was
found that even ground game had
been treated in a similar manner,
and that hares had been constantly
brought through the gates of Paris
in woolly disguise Of lambkins.