smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

The San Francisco Alta says some time ago novel rejoinder was made by distinguished attorney in that city to suit brought to recover money, and for which he had given three notes. Like many others in those days, he at times had passion to "buck the tiger" in the old "El Dorado" One night he made large winning at the game and had stacked up Def re him large piles of twenty-dollar pieces. Among those who were present in the room was the party to whom the attorney had given his promissory notes. You have got more money there than you owe me, so pay me, said the holder of the notes The attorney, without saying word, placed all the money before him on one card and lost, then turning around to the man he said: "I'n never pay you cent" On the following day suit was commenced against the attorney, to which he made the following answer, filed on March 3, 1858:

 L'e tue District Court of the Fourth Juoliciol District of the State of Col6- fogmio.-John Doe, defendant, Jobn Roe, plaintiff: The said defendant, for plea and answer to the complaint of the said plaintiff in this behalf, says that he never intends to pay the said plaintiff "a red of the sum of money claimed in said complaint or of two other notes held by said plaintiff unless and until (should such unlocked for event ever happen) the said defendant shall have more money than he knows what to do with or how to dispose of otherwise and should the said plaintiff succeed in getting said money otherwise or sooner the said defendant will be glad to be advised thereof. Therefore the said defendant Gin lieu of the usual prayer fol judgment in such cases) says "lst hel rip"

 JOHN DOE Gin proper person..

 A few years after the attorney Jeff San Francisco for trip to the East, anc met his death on the il1-fated steamer Central America.
Year: 1876

HARD ON THE MEN.-Under 8 new ruling of the Buffalo school board, says an exchange, no married women are hereafter to be employed as teachers. This rule will work great hardship to men whose wivea are unable to support them except by teaching.
Year: 1876

While sitting around good warm fire at a hotel, few evenings since, 8 social party amused themselves by cracking jokes and telling stories. One gentleman of the party, whose silver locks had seen the frosts of eighty win ters. related the following: His father bought pair of boots, and wore them on Sundays, holidays, and once week to prayer me- tings, and on general training days for forty years. Then gave them to his eldest son, who wore them all one winter; they then de- scended to himself, and he wore them constantly for two years. The represen- tative of the press who was present thought he would reduce the actual wear of that pair of boots to days, which he has done with the following result:

 Worn by the father ffty-two Sundays forty

 Worn by the father dfty-two days each

 Worn by the father five holidays year

 for forty years. s........................ 200 Worn one winter by eldest son (say five

 months) ......... 15O Worn constantly by the other son two

 years. ........... ...................... 73O

 Making fourteen years, four months and ten days of constant wear for one pair of boots. The reporter left. He has not been seen in that part of the town since, while his ancient friend still sticks to his original statement, and says that he finally gave the boots to colored man to finish.
Year: 1876

Thus talks. an old farmer about his
boys: From sixteen to twenty they
knew more than did; at twenty five
they knew as much; at thirty they were
willing to hear what l had to say; at
thirty-five they asked my advice; and 1
think when they get to forty they will
acknowledge that the old man does
know something.
Year: 1876

Partisan ladies who do their own
needlework have adopted thimbles with
pebble inserted at the top. The agate,
cairngorm, onyx and crystal are the
the most popular, as they look very pref
ty in their setting OF silver.
Year: 1876

A Centennial Temperance Association has
been formed IN this city, and large number
have signed the centennial Pledge" to alb
stain from all Intoxicating drinks during 1876.
A good thing for ''the year OF jarnboree'
Year: 1876

NOT NEEpED.-It is probable that no
further action Will be taken on the Dill
introduced a couple of months since by
Senator Tinnin, defining the rights oil
children of part white and part Indian
blood, and granting them the privilege
of the elective franchise, the Senate judi
ciary Committee, comprising the best
legal talent of that body, being unani-
mously of the opinion that no action Is
needed. This opinion must be based up
on the assumed operation Of the 1Ith and
18th amendments. Senator Tinnin has
earned for himself the gratitude of that
class of people by his prompt action IN
bringing their cause before the Legisla-
ture of the State, for we presume that
henceforth there will be no cavil against
admitting this people to the same politi-
cal rights enjoyed by their fathers. 1t
was held by their friends that some lcgls-
lation was necessary, declaratory ut least,
in consequence of the opinion of Attor-
nev General Love, who held, last Sum
mer, that half-breeds must be classed
as Indians, and therefore not entitled to
vote. Mr.. Tinnn, in letter to a gentle
man of this place informs him that he
has held a conversation with Attorney
General Hamilton upon the subject, and
that that officer stated that his opinion
differed from that Of his predecessor,
and that where half-breed child was
"acknowledged by his father, or had
shown by his mode Of life that he had
severed his tribal relation from his mo-
theirs people" he should rule him to be
entitled to registration and citizenship.
This is certainly as liberal construction Of
the situation as the most Jealous friends
of the boys could ask, for if they choose
to be Indians in their mode Of life, they
must expect to have no greater political
rights than Indians have. We now hope
the boys will bear in mind that they
stand upon footing Of political and civil
equality with those by whom they are
surrounded, and show themselves to be
as worthy of the hon)r Of citizenship as
those from whom they have received it..
Year: 1876

FREIGHT AND FARES The Assembly
has passed Mr.. Archer's bill regulating
freights and fares and it now goes to the
Senate for action. Three months of the
session have been consumed in the Lower
House and now the Senate, already with
full files are called upon TO act on one of
the most important measures of the ses-
ion. That it can give the bill the consid :
era i'm it deserves is simply impossible.
The Seuate will have to take the respon-
s,b lity now rs two years ago, of defeat
ing the crude legislation Oft the Assem- bly,
and we do not question but many who
voted for the bill in the Lower House did
S with the expectation that it would be


killed in the Senate in fact the Maripo
sa bully, in ''eXplainng his vote admit
/ ted rs much.


We are not familiar with the features
of the bill and would probably not know
whether they were Just or not if we were.
Railtoad matters is subject which has
put to fault wiser heads than can be found
IN the Assembly of California. And
that one branch of our lawmakers should
rush through such a measure in blind
ignorance of its probable effects, does not
speak well Of the material of which it is
composed. 1t does not mend the matter
to say that the evils of the bill will be cor
rected in the Senate. That body may, in
turn refuse to accept the responsibility Of
defeating it, and shift it to the shoulders
of Governor Irwin. Even allowing the
Senate is Of the same temper of tbs As
sembly and passes the bill what time is
given to the Governor to consider it. 1t
VIII be referred to appropriate committees
in that body, will hang FIRE, when up for
passage will doubtless be amended and
then 81 to the other house for concurrence
By that time the session will be within
few days of its close, and the Governor
must consider the bill at the same time
with hundred others. This kind of
legislation is wrong and the State suffers
hylt "A bill to regulate fares and frciphts
is no doubt demanded by the people, but
they want one which will do Justice to all
the parties in interest. They do not de-
sire to cripple railroad communication,
nor pu. a stop to railway building. But
the kind of anti-raiIroad legislation which
one man ofacltnowledged ability has the
power to force through the House of
which he is member merely by saying
the pc pie want some thing of the sort.
Is not the kind to meet the emergency,
and SO we fear ;he people will find.
Year: 1876

A CLOSE CALL. = The Downieviile
Messenge, of last week relates the fol-
lowing: "a few days since j. Lewis, Of
Monte Cristo, while carrying some giant
powder accidently dropped a portion Of it
and it naturally started for the valley
In attempting to recover it he slipped on
the crust and started for the river at rail
road speed. Fortunately for him, some
oak bushes stood in the line of his de-
scent, and he grabbed the first one, but
was under such rapid Roadway he was
unable to hold on, but succeeded in check
ing his motion so that he caught the
next one and stopped. The only DANA
ges sustained was a considerably abradcd
skin and good scare. Had he not
stopped rs he did he would have gone
down several thousand feet and to newt
able Destruction"
Year: 1876

1t would seem that there is a degree OF
fatalism in the lives of some men. which
prompts them, at or near the close Of a
life spent in honorable pursuits, to COM
nit some act which destroys the fair
fame of a lifetime, and go down to dis
honored grave. There is scarcely day
passes but we see in the columns of the
press, some notice of breach of trust by
one in high station, who must hence
forth sink below the level of bis race dur
ing the remainder of life of misery, or
else, perhaps, driven to desperation as
he realizes his future position, seeks re-
lief from the scorn of the world by TAX
ing the life which God had given for Il
nobler purpose. LEAD US not into
temptation, how much Of human mis-
cry, how many wrecked lives would
have been saved to honor and usefulness
but for the yielding in an unguarded mo-
ment, tempted by the display of wealth
which had been entrusted to their care.
But sin brings its own punishment even
If it comes not in the form of discovery
and arraignment at the bar of justice.
The possession of ill-gottcn wealth does
not always bring happiness and content
ment, for to the mind Of one who has
been instructed in the principles of vir-
tue there must be that gnawing of the
conscience, that Gliding of the spirit of
honor which dctracts from all pleasure
and contentmcnt of mind.


Last week we mentioned the robbery
of the Kern County Bank. The cashier
was said to have been called to the door,
struck over the head with n club, and
while he lay there insensible the robbers
made off with the treasure. 1t was a
strange affair, to which no apparent clue
could be found. But there were parties
who were heavy losers by the affair, and
they could not afford to let the matter
pass by in silence. The keenest detec-
tives Of the State were sent to the spot
and for a while, they, too, were apparent
/ lyat FAULT. But now the matter is all
up, the treasure discovered and the thief
driven forth dishonored and beggared
How this discovery was made we are not
told lit is one of the secrets of the de-
tcctives. But they had not been long on
the grounds before they came to the con-
clusion that the cashier had robbed him
SELF and 50 it proved. He had been up
10 that time a man Of the strictcst integ-
ii;y. lie came to Bakersfield bearing n
high reputation, was placed in various
p sitions of trust and always acquitted
him self with honor, yet when the temp
tation vas put in his way he proved too
weak to resist it.


The world is not lcnicnt in its judg-
ments. Honor, justice, law and religion
unite to condemn the one who betrays
the confidence Of those who have reposed
trust in his honesty. This he well knows
will happen-yet he does the deed and
trusts to the chance of escaping discov-
cry. OF what value is such life, when,
after all the cunning devices to throw the
pursuer of the track discovery comes at
last. OF none whatever. The best thing
that can happen him and his is to die and
with his crime be forgotten.
Year: 1876

FIRE AT SAN QUENTIN.-Th The work.
shops at the State prison were distroycd bv
lire or Monday. The loss falls heavy on
the State as there was no insurance. A
heavy force Of police and military were
sent over from San Francisco, while
the fire was raging, an outbreak among
the convicts being apprchended.
Year: 1876

The Constitutional Convention ques-
ton still drags its way along in both
branches of the Legislature. Each house
has separate bill to consider, and be-
twlx the two it is to be hoped That the
attempt to force Convention on the peo-
pie after their refusal to call one will fall
to the ground.
Year: 1876

The LAST THE BEsT.-For fifty cents
a Detroit astrologist predicts one husband
and a moderately happy life; for dollar
she predicts a second husband worth n
million dollars anda house full of love
and tecility. And that woman is fool
who doesn't pa one dollar and take the
second husband first.
Year: 1876

Is addition to Presidential electors to
be voted for under The Code at the next
general election there will be four Con-
pressmen, and Controller of State, to
i'll tie vacancy occasion by the death
of G nj MAJ d vile.
Year: 1876

OF course this does not effect present
holding officers. But we are led here to
the belief that the Assembly will not pass
this rctrenching measure, or at least not
in the form in which it left the Senate.
Year: 1876

Another surprising act was the passage
IN the Senate the past week of bill re.
ducng tho salaries of State Officers. l
know not how you may feel regarding it
personally, judge it unW;so and believe
Year: 1876

The Patrons ofHusbandry of this
county do not intend that their or
ganlzation shall be behind in the
Fourth of July celebration in Red
Wing. The committee of arrange
ments for the Order are preparing
large canopied platform, to be
placed upon. wagon, to be drawn
by four horses. This will be pro-
f11sely decorated with flowers and
foliage, and on a raised dais in front
will be the three goddesses: Ceres,
the goddess of grain, in the centre,
on her right, Pomona, goddess Of
fruit, and on her left, Flora, goddess
Of flowers.


Suspended from the uprights of
the platform will be the spade, hoe
and scythe, and behind them
sheaves Of grain will be displayed.
On the rear end Of the platform it is
proposed to have a representation
Israel Putnam, at the moment he
was startled by the sound of distant
firing. The driver of this wagon
will be representation of General
Green.


This equipage will precede the
Patrons who will follow in wagons,
each grange carrying its own banner
and such other insignia Of the Or
ler as it may determine, and clos
ing this portion Of the procession it
is proposed to have threshing ma
chine, surmounted by sheaves of
grain, the driver Of which and an at
tendant are to be Goodhue county
farmers in modern attire.


1t is hoped by the committee that
every Patron in the county will
come, and make such a display on
this Centennial Anniversary as will
dlssipate the too prevalent notion
that the Order is declining in num-
bers and influence.


Remember, Patrons, that those of
no other calling had as much to do
with establishing this free govern
1nent as the farmers Of 1916, and no
other class Of citizens has greater
interest in maintaining it than the
farmeas of 1876. Let us, therefore,
make a prominent place for those of
that calling in the celebration of this
tooth independence Anniversary.
Year: 1876

They have everything on grand
scale in California. There is hive
on the eastern slope of the San
Fernando range, in Los Angeles
county, which men have tried sew
eral times to capture, and have as
often failed. 1t is in a rift which
penetrates the rock to a depth Of
one hundred and sixty feet. The
opening is thirty feet long and sew
.enteen feet wide, with two pass
ages. The bees come and go in
solid columns about one foot in di.
ameter. Efforts have been made to
descend to the store of honey in
the rock, but the men were invaria.
bly, driven back, and one man lost
his life. The hive has been known
four years, and it is estimated that
there cannot be less than eight OF
ten tons of honey in it. A man
who lives in a cabin not far from
the spot gets more honey than his
family can use from the leakage
1t flows out of a small aperature in
the rock like a spring. He has a
honey fountain at his door.
Year: 1876

sion. This apparatus consists of
four horizontal aluminium branches,
one bearing a vertical vane polished
on one side and blackened on the
other, the whole system, which does
not exceed a mans fist in size,
being contained in a small glass
balloon. When a vacuum has been
made in the latter, the four
branhes begin to move round on a
delicate pivot, under the influence
of diffused light, and faster in
proportion to the vividness of the
latter, the rotation being in the
direction Of the polished sides GO
ing toward the black ones. OF
course if this motion is owing to
luminous rays impinging on the
vanes, there is an end of the undu-
latory theory of light, and the
opinion having been expressed, NJ.
Fizeau rose to oppose it. He said
that the existence of i'm impulsive
force in the rays of light was an
argument to be received with
the greatest circumspection. He
thought Mr.. Crookes' instrument
was a thermic apparatus, in which
the rotation should be attributed
to nothing more than, first, a Sigh
excess of temperature acquired by
the vanes over the ambient medi-
um; second, to the inequality of the
emissiye and absorbing qualities o
the two faces of each vane, one
polished and the other blackened
and, third, to the presence of a lit
tie elastic fluid in the interior, not
withstanding the vacuum made
which is never perfect. But NJ
Fizeau also made a curious expert
ment before the academy. Having
limited the rays by means of
screen, SO as to let in only a small
pencil of sunlight, which was mad,
to fall on the polished surface o
the vanes, the rotation began again
but going against the light. Thi
is really a singular phenomenon


we only regret NJ. Fizeau' did no
explain it. We hope he will do S
at a future sitting.
Year: 1876

Speaking of the House of Com
mons as a most difficult and mex
plicable audience to please, Macau-
lay asks, "What are you to think
of an assembly where Peel is always
accepted and Macintosh is not
listened to? where even Burke and
Erskine were regarded as dinner
bells?" Now, what on more min
ute investigation does this, which
appears at first sight so smart and
telling, prove really to mean ?
What is the estimate thus epigram-
matically recorded worth ? Mack
intosh was, of course, man, of
great ability and requirements, but
he was pre-eminent in nothing,
and Lord Dalling, in his portraits
of eminent men, has very Justly
styled him the Disappointing
man." A Scotch Medico, with a
good deal Of legal, literary and
metaphysical knowledge, and a
good deal of Scotch brogue, has
not in him the elements of parlia-
mentary success. But no man
was ever more perfectly fitted for
the command Of the House of Com
mons than Peel. With a knowl-
edge of finance which was unsur-
passed, with q power Of debate
which every one was compelled to
respect, with courageous spirit
which enabled him to discard the
errors Of his party when he found
they were'errors, a minister whose
government fixed forever the COM
mercial policy of England on the
broad, just and immovable basis OF
free trade-such a statesman had a
paramount and indefeasible claim
to the consideration Of the House
of Commons. That Erskine failed
in the House of Commons is true,
as it is true of very many lawyers
At the bar he was pre-eminent and
Incompatible, but a jury is an au
dience very different from the
House Of Commons, and mar
may be admirable with the one who
could not obtain a hearing from the
other. That Burke failed in the
House of Commons is not true
though there can be no doubt. thai
he was often injudicious and en-
deayored to address the House
when it was in no humor to lister
to his sage and profound senti
ments. He was, as Goldsmith pu
it, one who,


"TOo deep for his hearers. still went on re
And Thought of convincing while the,


thought of dining"
Year: 1876

the street; let me see if l can make
any impression on him. l took
out my handkerchief, wiped my
face, and calculated in low tone
of voice the word, Fizz! Fizzr and
moved my fingers conyulsiyely in
the direction Of the opposite side
of the street. Instantly Wolf
began to stagger; he reeled from
side to side, and finally, miscalcu-
lating the resisting quality of the
plate-glass in the shop-window, he
plunged at it head foremost and
broke it in shiverS. My reputation
as a mesmerist was established, but
l had to pay for the plate-glass."
Year: 1876

IT is reported that Gov. Connor will again
nominate Mr.. Burleigh for Land Agent. He
does not do this because Ms. Burleigh is a
favorite of his, but simply because such a
course is dictated by common-sense. For
eight years Mr.. Burleigh has managed the
affairs of the land office. 1t has been his only
business. Now that the greater part of the
public land has been sold, it is proposed to
close up the affairs Of the Office. There is
of course great deal of unfinished business
A large number of deeds are to be given.
Hundreds Of settlers have not CO implied with
the conditions of the contract by which they
are to have their land. The Governor is re
quested to appoint Land Agent to close up
the business of the Office. Shall Mr.. Burliegh,
who is familiar with the details of every mat
ter connected with the office, be selected or
sop,e one who knows nothing about it? We
cannot see how so sensible gentlemen as the
executive councillors can hesitate a momen
about the matter. If they or any other pru-
dent men had business OF their own like the
land office to close up, is it reasonable to sup
pose that they would begin their work by dis
missiag the only man who is familiarwith the
matter? Isn't just reasonable to suppose that
they would take that course. No man brings
any charge of dishonesty or any thing of the
sort against Mr. Burleigh-no man who will
put his name to his accusations and furnish
proofs. 1t is true that Mr.. Burleigh has in
CURED the dispeasure of parties who have
had vague notions respecting the proprietor
ship of the public lands. He isn't the sort of
man who would be persuaded to do favor
for friend at the expense of the state. All
the ysars he has been connected with the
land office he has been hard-working, faith
full and intelligent officer. In view of all the
facts it would appear worse than frivolous TO
refuse to confirm the Governors appoint
ment. At present the business of the office
is neglected. Several cases of trespass on
state and school lands are reported; there are
no local agents TO look after settlers lands
and everything is at a stand-still. 1t must
appear to every unprejudiced man that the
Governor is right in this matter and if delay
loss or inconvenience should result it cannot
be charged to him.
Year: 1876

THE Argus thinks the Connecticut Demo.
cratic financial policy success. That policy
consists in neglect 10 pay debts. In six
years of Republican control the state debt of
Connecticut was reduced one-half, making
an annual saving in interest to the State of
three hundred thousand dollars. Since the
Democrats have been in power the debt has
not been reduced one cent, the state expenses
have exceeded the receipts, and the cash in
the treasury has been reduced nearly three
hundred thousand dollars. The Democrats
have reduced taxation it is true, but in order
to do it have been compelled to cease the
payment of the debt. The argus SAYS sit
is just the kind of success that Democrats
wish and mean to have" No doubt. They
desire to apply the same policy to national
affairs, to stop the payment of the debt, and
to drain the treasury.