smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

A Watchmaker at Florence, Alabama, once told us how he managed to get into business there. He settled in the place stranger. just after the people had started a new town-clock in the tower of the court house, but nobody came to give him job. A week or two passed on without improving his prospects, when in kind of despera- tion he determined to make bold strike for business. Everybody swore by the town. clock, of course, fact which our watchmaker- knew, so after night he made his way into the tower and changed the hands few minutes. Heard nothing of it on the day follow ing, and so changed them the next night. On the morning after the second change had been made, man called on the watchmaker and spoke of en- ploying him to regulate the town clock; but the matchmaker told him he thought no regulation was necessary, as he had noticed that the clock was running exactly with his time, and drawing forth his watch. he compared it with the clock, and, sure enough, they were exactly together. Next morning the town-clock and the watches of the place were further apart than usual, and the gentleman who, had called at the watch shop the day before now again presented himself, accom- panied by several friends. To their great surprise they found the watch makers regulator and watch still ex- actly with the clock, and that settled the question. They all left their watch es to be cleaned, remarking that they would rather have no watches at all than watches that did not keep time. The news spread other irregular watches came in by the score until, be- fore the day was over, the watchmaker had the windows hung entirely full of work.

 How THEY DIED.-A letter from Havana gives the following account of the execution of the Yirginiuss prison CTS at Santiago de Cuba: The four prisoners were shot at the place made famous by previous executions. and in the usual manner, kneeling close to the slaughter house wall. All marched to the spot with frmness. Bembetta and Ryan showed marked courage, although the former was slightly affected toward the last. The two others quite broke down before they were bandaged; but Ryan kept up to the last, never finched moment, and died without fear or re- gret. Bembetta and Ryan were killed at the first discharge.
Year: 1873

\ volcano having discharged few million
tons of stones upon a small village, asked the
mayor if he thought that tolerably good
supply for building purposes.


Il think" replied that functionary. .if
You give Us another dash of granite, and Just
pinch of old red sandstone, we could man
age with what You have already done for us
We would, however, be grateful for the loan
of your crater to bake brick.


"0h! certainly; parties served at their
residences Then. after the man had gone,
the mountain added, with mingled lava and
contempt, The most Unsuitable people |
ever contracted to supply. They shall not
have another pebble 80


He banked his fires, and in six weeks was
as cold as neglected pudding Then might
YOU have seen the heaying of the surface and
powders as the people began stirring, forty
iathomS beneath.


When You have got quite enough Of any
thing, make it manifest by asking for some
more loa won't get it.-LondoH Fun.


An Indian tribe in Wisconsin las organ
lied brass band, and as the >ayages are pro-
tectcd by the government, the white people
have no redress. There is great deal Of
hard feeling among the citizens toward the
young aborisine who plays the cymbals. He
performs with such earucstnesS and vigor
that a vigilance committee has been organized
to waylay him and take him apart, in order
To ascertain whether he is q real Indian or i
merely riyeted together and run by steam.
The manner in which he wakes the echoes
amid the everlasting hills would make deaf
and dumb asylum nervous. When the band
has screnaded a man he succumbs. lie goes
around among his family, and removes their
hair, and scalIs the hired girl and colored
boy, and after taking up the collection. he
hands the whole lot of bunches TO the band.
which goes off happy to sweet strains from
the harmonic young cymbal player. If we
lived there we would bathe his cymbal~ in
nitro-glycerinc. and lift him ont to Lake
Michigan at the ir-; clash
Year: 1873

any one of her quarters, and that so near the
truth as to seldom or never be found to fail
Our readers can easily decide as to the worth
of the reverend doctors weather guide they
have only to note the time of the moons en-
trance upon new quarter, and compare the
actual result with that anticipated by the
prognosticator 1t would be useless to quote
his formulated observations, for, like all other
prophecies concerning the lunar phenomena,
there is total neglect ofthe fact that wealth
er is local and not universal. In other words,
the change in the moon that is supposed to
have given good weathcr in thesoath of Eng
land, has probably bec1 attended wife ex-
ceedingly bad weather IL Scotland Cham
ber'S Journal
Year: 1873

LAW OF THE RAIL.-A list of decisions
has lately beenI ublished by paper devoted
to railroad subjects, which may be of in
terest to those who travel by rail.


The legal definition of passenger is n
person who undertakes with the consent of
the carrier, to travel in the conveyance
provided by the latter, otherwise in the ser
vice of the carrier as such.


Railway companies are bound to carry all
who offer themselves unless they are often
siye in person or conduct or the cars are
already full.


. Good for this day only printed upon
n ticket, has been decided by the courts
to be of no effect. The passenger has paid
his money and Is entitled to transportation.


1t has also been decided by a New York
court that ticket between any two points
is good either way, but the decision is a
doubtful one.


Any injury to the person of the passenger
through the negligence of the agents Of the
railway, subjects the latter to damages, and
any loss of baggage-it must be only such
as is necessary to the comfort of a traveller
can be recovered by civil process and the
contents of trunk can be proved by the
oath ofa bailiif.
Year: 1873

The New York Assembly has refused to
pass the new local option bill Apparently
it wanted a bill which Gov. Dix would veto.
or nothing, in the shape of prohibitory
legislation. In lieu of that it took up end
passed the excise bill known as the Civil
Damage bill. which holds liquor sellers re-
sponsible in damages for acts committed by
persons who are made drunk in their
establishments, and forbids sales to minors
or drunkards. 1t is stringent law, and
would be an improvement on anything they
have had in New York. Its fate in the
Senate remains to be seen.
Year: 1873

Some months ago, while going down Broad
way in an omnibus. as was looking at the
| people on the sidewalk. | felt hand very
softly and gently making its way behind me,
evidently progressing toward the pockets in
the skirts Of my coat. Recollecting tina.
there was nothing but n handkerchief in one
pocket and pair of gloves in the other, !
knew that | could not lose much, and there
fore sat still to enjoy this new sensation.
The hand was moved very gently andsteadily
along, and had very nearly reached my pock-
ct, when | turned to study the artist.
He was a man about forty years of age
rlainly and neatly dressed, and looked like a
very respectable citizen.


The instant began to turn toward him
his hand was swiftly but quietly withdraw
and when faced him he was 10 )king grayely
at something on the sidewalk As | con
tinued to study him he turned is head, and
we had good, ''square" look az one anoth-
er for moment, without a word being said
by either. He then pulled the rap and left
the stage, TO seek some othe sphere Of
action.


A Young friend told the wri ter recently
that his mother was sitting not bong ago in
an omnibus. when she became aware that
tue - gentleman on nt1 Tl1Hi WIS lttl-He
for her pocket under her cloak For mo-
ment cold shiyer passed through her. but.
as it vas broad daylight, and as there were
evidently many persons in the omnibus to
whom she might apply for prot ection, she
took courage, and recollecting chat in the
dress she wore her pocket had, n luch to her
previous annoyance, been sewe on the
wrong side of the skirt, concluded to sit still
and await the course of events. tlfter hav-
ing been sufficient entertained by the vain
efforts of her neighbor to find the pocket
she turned to him and said quietly, g My
pocket is on the other side, sir The man
Immediately jumped up, pulled the strap
and disappeared with NEST amusing rapidity
the eontemptuous cooln ess of the lad, y having
been too much for his artistic nerves


The passengers on one of our crowded
ierry-boats were mu ch amused on e day a
seeing a gentleman very deftly pick hi
friends pocket of his pocket book an trans
Ter 1t to his own. They were still. mor'
amused at seeing third " gentleman = taxi
the pocket book ven more deftly Fl ON th'
amateur and disapp ear in the crowd Th'
denouement soon ca me. Number two aske'
number one to let him see his pocket book
and, when his frier d could not find t, pro
ceeded with a smile to restore it to him. Hi
Year: 1873




TIE Moon AND THE WHTHER.-AlteI
testing the question again and again, modern
meteorol0gists have come to the conclusion
that the moon has no sort of influence over
the weather, agreeing with the Iron Duke
that it is nonsense to place any faith in hel
aS weather predictor. The time was when
she was thought absolute mistress of the sea
sons. Pliuy has the following lunar weather
wisdom Fine weather, wind, or rain may
be looked for according as the moon rises
with pure, white, red, or swarthy light.
If. at full moon, half the disc is clear, fine
weather is betokened fired, wind: if black
rain. If at the rising Of the new moon the
upper horn is obscured, there will be a pre-
valence Of wet when she Is on the wane il
the lower horn Is obscured, there viii be rain
before she attains her full if both horns ap-
pear obtuse, frightful tempest is near; il
they are sharp and erect, high winds may be
expected. Darwin declares it as a sure sign
of coming rain when the moons head is hid
des in haloes. \ correspondent of Notes
and Queries says 4 large circle round the
moon, with a north or northeast wind, pre-
dicates stormy weather; if the wind comes
from any other quarter there will still be
rain, but less of it. If, however, the moon
rise after sunset, the appearance of a ring
round her is not so significant as the Dutch
rhYme puts it
Year: 1873

Gen. George Crook, in report from his headquarters in Arizona has the following, concerning the recent operations of special agents to the Indians in his Department :- :" Having in view the great and earnest de- sire of the Government to find peaceable solution of this problem, I have earnestly and honestly supported the agents sent out for this work, and the long and bloody list of murders and robberies committed during the year by the very Indians who at one time or another have been fed at the public expense IS ghastly commentary upon the result. append herewith list of the outrages, which does not by any means comprise all, but such as officially vouch for think, therefore. am justified in saying that have fully car reid out that portion my instructions which required me to cooperate with the agents re- ierred to, and believe that humanity demands that l should now proceed to carry out the re- mander of my instructions. which require me to punish the incorrigible hostile. In doing this shall ask and expect from the civil agents of the Indian Department that cooperation in the future which have not failed to extend to them in tue past"
Year: 1873

Not long since, soldiers and citizens of this Territory were under the necessity of guarding against tue Apaches, but, thanks to Crook, it is now the turn of the Apaches to dodge and guard against surprise.
Year: 1873

TIE LAUGH OF WoMAN.--A woman
has no natural gift more bewitching' than
sweet laugh. 1t is like the sweet Sounds
Of flutes upon the water. 1T pours from
her in a clear sparkling rill, and the heart
that hears it feels as if bathed in the cool,


exhilarating spring. Have you ever pnr7
sued an unseen fugitive through trees,
led on by q fairy laugh, now here, now
there, now lost, now found? We have,


and we are pursuing that wandering voice
to this day. SometimesIt comes to us in


the midst of care, or sorrow, or irksome


business, and then VIC turn away and lis.


ten, and hear it ringing through the room


like silver bell, with power to scare
away the evil spirits of mind. How much
We owe to that sweet laugh 1t turns
prose into poetry it filings showers of sun
shine over the darksome wood in which,
we are travelling, it touches with light even
our sleep, which is no more the image Of
death, but is consumed with dreams that
arc the shadows of Immortality. s..
Year: 1873

ToBACCo.-The farmers on the line Of
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad have cut
a good deal of their tobacco, but they are
letting much of it stay to get the benefit Of
the present fine growing weather. They
will be all right if frost don't pounce down
and catch them unawares. ~
Year: 1873

MARKED FEATURE OF THE TIMES. -
The Petersburg Appeal. and Index says;
One of the marked features of the times
is the general thirst for official position.''
Another feature of the times is the unde-
waiting regularity with which some people
imbibe their matutinal cocktail.
Year: 1873

CHURCH HILL TUNNEL.-The work of
removing the fallen debris from near shaft
No. 8 is proceeding briskly. The distance
from the main track, where the road
branches off to the tunnel, to the end of
the track at the wharves, is about three
miles and quarter. The length OF the
tunnel proper ls about 4, ,450 feet
Year: 1873

the railway lines, show that the guam
tity of wheat back in farmers hands is
now greater than it has ever been before
at this season. The warehouses and
elevators of all the railroads are full OF
wheat awaiting transportation. In many
instances farmers have been obliged to
b iul their wheat back from the stations,
a. buyers had no storage for it. Re-
ports also say that large quantities still
main unthTeshed. 1t Is estimated
that there are from ten to twelve million
bushels surplus in Minnesota yet to go
forward.


salt Lake Items.


SALT LAKE, February 28.-The Union
Pacific trains were on time this after
noon, and the road is reported all clear
its entire length. The snow completely
hides the track of the Utah Northern,
and the Utah Southern is partially
blocked.


The Frelinghuysen bill still monopo-
Lies public interest, and among all
classes there is great anxiety as to its
treatment by the House. Leading
Mormons claim that they are satisfied
for two reasons: First-The amend
ments are a triumph over the Gentle
ring. Second-If passed it will bring to
a final test all questions Of difference
between the Mormon Church and the
Government. The NetU Endowment
says if this bill becomes a law Utah will
witness a reign of order and recognition
of law which will be a certain precursor
Of an era Of peace and business revival,
which will make the desert blossom,
and none of the dreaded violence and
disorder will ensue.


Brigham Young's organ reports the
Prophet in excellent health and spirits.


Hemetite iron ore has been found in
great abundance within convenient
reach Of the railroad.


The blockade at Lite Cottonwood
was broken yesterday, and the canon is
alive with teams, despite the constant
danger Of frightful slides.
Year: 1873

who were glad TO escape an exposure
of their sins, and amid the confusion
the congregation broke up and passed
out.


/ fingered and saw the good man
fall on his knees and with his stream
ing eyes turned to heaven murmur,
"Father forgive them for they know
not what they do" He was roughly
collared by two ushers and hurried
away. 1 followed but lost sight of
him and all my questions failed to
elicit any information concerning him;
no one knew who he was or whence he
came Cor. Oil City Derrick.
Year: 1873

Fishing teaches perseverance. The man
in Punch, who on Friday, did not know
whether he had good sport, because he
only began on Wednesday morning, is a
caricature, but. like all caricatsres, has
an element of truth in it. To succeed as
fisher, whether Of the kingly salmon or
the diminutive gudgeon, an ardor is ne
cessary which Is not damped by repeated
want of success; and he who is hope
less because he has no sport at first,
will never fully appreciate fishing. So,
too, the tyro who catches the line in rock,
or twists it in an apparently inexplicable
manner in tree, soon finds that steady
patience will set him right far sooner than
impetuous vigor or ruthless strength.


The skilled angler does not abuse the
weather or the water in impotent despair
but makes the most of the recources which
he has, and patiently hopes for an im-
provement therein. Delicacy and gentle.
ness are also taught by fishing. Look at
the thin link OF gut and slight rod with
which the huge trout or ''never-ending
monster of salmon"is to be caught. No
brute force will do there; every struggle
OF the prey must be met by judicious
yielding on the part of the captor who
watches carefully every motion. and tests
its weight 10y giving line, knowing at the
same time-none better-when the full
force of the but is to be unflinchly applied.
Does not this sort of training have an
effect on the character? Will not man
educated in fly fishing find developed in
him the tendency to be patient, to be per-
severing. and to know how to adapt him
self to circumstances Whatever be the
fish he is playing, whatever be his line, be
will know when to yield and when to
hold fast. But fishing. like hunting. is
solitary


The zealot among fishmen will general


y prefer his own company to that of look
ers-on, whose advice may worry him, and
whose presence may spoil his sport. The
salmon-fisher does not make much of a
companion of the gille who goes with him
and the trOuter does best when absolutely
alone, and nothing is so apt to prove
tyrant and an evil one as the love Of soli-
tude. On the other had, the fisher is al
ways under the influence and able to ad-
mire the beauties OF Nature. Whether he
be upon the Greyhound loch, or by the
side of the laughing burn of highland
countries, or prefers the green banks of
Southern rivers, he can enjoy to the full
the many pleasures which existence can
alone present to thosewho admire Nature
All this exercises soltening influence on
his character Read the work of those
who wrote on fshing-Scrope, Walton
Davy as instances Is there not a very
gentle spirit breathing through them !?
What is there rude, or coarse, or harsh, in
the true fisher? Is he not light and deli
cate, and do not his words and actions fall
as softly as he flies?
Year: 1873




We quote elsewhere from fair and intelligent
article in the Smyrna Times, OF the 22d lust, on
the subject of giving increased representation
to the people of New Castle County. 1t is very
gratifying, indeed, to find the Republi-
can press, throughout the State, taking position
in favor OF the great Reform. The Milford Nc~s
and Advertiser has heretofore spoken strongly
in favor Of it, while insisting that when the
change is made it must be established on the
District system, and there is not single Repub-
lican newspaper in the State that is not outspok-
en- for Equal Representation. When there shall
be a majority of Republicans in the Legislature,
Justice will be claimed, and as certainly accorded.
Whether there will be any approach toward JUS
tice at the hands of the Democratic controllers,
who are now responsible, remains to be seer.
Taey are in decisive majority now, in both
b 1uses of the Legislature and the question Is
brought to the test before them, whether they
will take the position of continuing to outrage
what all admit is sound Democratic principle.
They are on trial, and shall be held accountable
to the uttermost for the failure to perform the
duty demanded at their hands.


The Times, in considering the means to be
adopted to equalizs representation, regards the
proposed division of the county as IAN expen-
sve, roundabout way" requiring an Amend
ment to the Constitution, and putting upon the
people the expense of two sets of county build
ings. Ii prefers the proposition of districting
the State, and says


"By this plan the voters of each district would
vote for only one representative = the one as
signed to his district-instead of all seven, as is
now the CAGE This is after the Congressional
plan, and meets with marked favor"
Year: 1873

The Divorce business is now thoroughly un-
dor way, at Dover What has become of the
resolution to check the evil, we are not informed,
but every day, new petitions are presented
new bills reported, read first or second time,
and go trained along over the routine course.
Yesterday, the House passed three bills, and
how many more will be hurried through in the
course of the session, no one should risk al
Year: 1873

JOHN PEARCE, man Of color, was
30 unfortunate as to horde up out
of his hard earnings the snug little
sum of fifteen hundred dollars, and
which in the absence of a Savings
bank. he kept at home wrapped up
in a bolt of domestic. The other
day, Johns better half hired a wo.
man to cut this identical bolt of do
mestic into patterns for childron's
wearing apparel, and without a
thought for the money threw tho
piece Of "cotton truck to her and
went about her work. Late in the
day, she thought OF the money, and
as may be imagined lost no time in
searching for it; but, alas no mon
oy was to be found. "A search war;
rant, an arrest and investigation
failed to discover the whereabouts
of the missing treasure. John re-
turned to his home sadder if not
a wiser man, and now says "Ho
would like TO sell himself"
Year: 1873

Our old friend, Col. Dan. Dick,
son, of Mill Bayou, last Monday
brought in a wagon load of as fine,
largo watcr-mollOns as it has eve,
been our lot to look at. AS his
rout lay by our Office he did not fail
TO stop, and with the assistance OF
our entire corps, succeeded in roll
ing one of the largest in our sane
tum. Thank ye, Colonel.
Year: 1873

The Savannah Advertiser says There
is a curious monomaniac on st. Cathe-
rine's Island. An old negro woman
named Mary Jane, who has been sitting
on the wharf at that place from morning
till night, and from night till morning
for the last two years, during which time


it is said by those living there that she


has never left the spot. Her food is
carried to her by couple Of little me-
gro children. She eats what she fancies
and sends the tin kettle back for the
next meal. She does not have any
comforts for sleeping around her. and it
is not known whether she sleeps to any
considerable extent or not. She always
seems wide awake upon the approach OF
any one, and is never caught mapping.
Year: 1873

A method has been discovered by
which leather scraps can be dissolved
into a pulp and pressed into various
articles. When taken out of the mould
it is hard and tough. Its surface is then
polished, and it is ready for SALE We
may yet comb our hair with skate straps,
button our clothes with old boots, and
drink out of an old harness.