smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

Harper's Weekly of this week gives in a four page supplement, an unbiased resume of the charges and evidence against the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher in the great tri- al closing with the following comments, which are it's conclusions in regard to the matter:

 Thus far we have endeavored simply to tell the story of the case without interject- ing into the narrative our own person al sympathies, prejudices or judgment. Those sympathies are nevertheless very strong, that judgment is very clear. Under care full analysis the evidence against MT. Beech CT utterly fails. It would not suffice against man much less strongly intrenched in public esteem than he: against his pure life and noble character it breaks in vain, as the foam of the angry ocean against the | cliff which it can obscure but can not de stroy. The case is one of conspiracy against a great, though careless man, but 6 conspiracy which grew rather than was formed, which was the natural product Oi the jealousy of self-conceit rather than the deliberate contrivance of greed. On the one side is man the greatness of whose heart and the credulity of whose sympa. tines are at once his genius and his weak ness on the other is a man whose insane jealousy is the natural though deadly fruit of an insane self-conceit, imbittered by a spirit of personal and fell revenge. He is aided unconsciously by the idolatrous af- lection and the too implicit obedience of g weak. morbid and suffering wife, and by the sbrewd devices of s ''heathen" friend.

 "The key to the comprehension of this whole case is MT. Titon's frank declara tion, "I resolve to smite Mir. Beecher tO the heart" The arrow was we'll fashioned, the bow we'll bent, but the destroyer has failed of his purpose; and when posterity, wiser than we, reads the history Of this case, it will honor, not less than the noble achievements of Henry Ward Beecher's noble life, the no less noble failure of the patience and magnapimity of his only too chivalric and unhappilyRunsuccessful en- deavor to shield ''ali the other hearts that would ache" from the publication of the famous Brooklyn scandal"
Year: 1875

Sheffield.

 The spelling match which took place last Friday evening between fifteen of our High school pupils and an equal number of ladies and gentlemen from the town crea- ted quite an interest here. Dictionaries that had long been dust covered were brought to light and studied diligently by many who wished to be posted for the oc- casion. The hall was we'll filled, and the receipts at the door were $25; these funds 'are to be appropriated for the use of the F. U. library. The contest in spelling was long and difficult. and resulted in victory to the High school, as four of the pupils could not be spelled down. These young ladies were the Misses Train, Hess, Decker and Kellogg, and we think MT. Hall may justly feel proud of this spelling class. s.... One of the enterprising farmers of Western Sheffield has an excellent receipt for ma king corn beer which he wished to make known for the benefit of the public, there fore he presented it to the agent at the de- pot instead of the regular milk ticket which he was accustomed to present, and drove home unconscious of his mistake. Now 1t is useless for this farmer to try to teach the village people how to make corn beer, for as long as the present free rum privi- leges exist here, no one cares for small beer. The beneficial effect of the license was seen the other day when two of the citizens went reeling through our public streets. JOHN.
Year: 1875

During the breakup of tho Housatonie river in March. the ice was piled so high and so firmly packed upon road which runs along it's banks, that until the begin ming of last week it was impossible to force passage.
Year: 1875

Two CHURCH GOERs.-l. The
mda rhO came late. lie had no time
to ask blessiI g on the service for
himself or his neighbOrs. He missed
the opening exercises. He disturbed
others who had come in time. He
disturbed the minister. He showed
pretty plainly that he did not consid-
er as much respect due to Gods house
as to his own place Of business. lie
set a bad example to others. lie
missed blessing for himself.


9. The man rhO cdn,e early. He
had time to take his seat quietly and
get comfortably warm or cool as the
case might be. lie had time for a
quiet and refreshing season of prayer
before the service began. He dis
turbed nobody. lie showed due
respect for the time and place, and
also for Him who has promised al
ways to meet those who gather in his
nsme. He was able to join in the
whole service, and TO be in time for
it. lie set good example to others.
lie won a blessing for himself.
Year: 1875

n day or two ago, while crossing
the ice, we overheard two ladies talk
ing about new dress, and one of the
ladies remarked that, when | tried
it on, | asked Bob if il was a good fit


about the waist, and he replied, We'll,
| should say no. 1t fits about as well
as q homemade shirt" There was


volume in Bob's reply. AS a rule.
homemade shirts don't fit at all.
They will draw in at the back and
over the shoulder to that extent a
fellow don't know whether he is en-
cased in shoulder brace or straight
jacket. The neckband may not go
around and tuck in behind, but it
usually laps about three inches, or
else it is cut so low in the neck that
twenty-:Our inch collar is required


to reach the collar button. In lean
ing forward when sitting the bosom
crushes in at the sides and projects
in the middle. looking more like a
demoralized dust-pan than anything
else. Tie sleeves are SO short that
the large, twenty-five cent pair OF
cuf-buttOns, selected with great care,
either tickle fellows elbows or dan.
gle around his finger nails, never ar
riving at compromise between the
two. The skirts are generally of an
abbreviated character, making the
affair resemble an overgrown round
about. Men do not like to lind fault


knowing that their wives meant well
enough, aud worked hard in making
the garments, but when away from
the house. do not hesitate to say that
the desire of their hearts is that theil
wives should go out of the business
Year: 1875

An exchange furnishes the follow
ing account of national iniquity
engineered by Russia and Germany


Russia, backed by Prussia, has
been very oflicious of late in getting
up Congress for ihe preparation of
new laws of warfare between nations.
The principal aim underlying these
diplomatic and military maneuvers is
to have it decreed that any nation
whose army may be routed shall be
a lawful prize to its conqueror. An
argument in behalf of colossal pow
ers keeping up the largest armies to
eat up those of smaller States the
whales after the minnOws. ANY
minnow without q regular ticket
caught in voluntary act of defend
ing its pond is to be duly strung up
according to the new Russia code.
England, France and the smaller
powers have refused to sanction and
join it.
Year: 1875

A letter was received Yesterday by
a prominent col red statesman in this
city, of the Pinchback wing, in which
the rejected Senator gave vent in a
most unmista takable manner to his
feelings, and disclosed a portion Of
the programme which be contemplates
pursuing His rage aud Indignation
against Kellogg have no earthly
bounds; he brea;heS a fire and
vengeance which no mundane appli-
auccs are calculated to allav, and
there is only a gloomy prospect of
his unloading his burden Of revenge
even in crossing the Styy.


The reluctance of Kellogg to re-
appoint George Paris as Tax Asses
sor receives particular mention in this
letter. Pinch says that Kellogg will
not dare to refuse, and if he does he
must render a terrible accout. He
expects to return to the city by the
latter part of next week, and though
coming as a defeated man, he will
assume the panoply OF conqucror
and make a triumphal entry.


He wants his friends to get him up
a public reception, and conduct him
from the railroad depot to his home
in all the pomp aud circumstance Of
brass banls, torchlights and an
enthusiastic body of processionists
who must receive particular instruc-
TONS to hang their hats on the horns
of the moon, and shout, regardless of
cost or consequences Ali this being
done, he will foot the bill himself.


Then he proposes to devote himself
to the work of creating new party
a parry whose oath of fidelity shall
be to swallow Packard raw, and toast
Kellogg over a slow fire and cut him
up into little slices as an especially
dainty dish. lie still thinks he cal
unite the colored element on his sid,
throughout the State, and force al
disafiected carpct-baggers Of the
kellogg-Packard stamp into an un
conditional surrender.


In addition to all this, he proposes
to unfold a number of tales. and make
things howl generalIy.-N. D. Pic
N9,UuUp
Year: 1875

The disappearance of Wm. M. Tweed directs attention to his companions who disappeared when the New York ring suits were first commenced. Awriter says: Peter B. Sweeny's lse has been of the quiet sort. When in Paris he spends most of his time at homo, and rarely-almost never-visits that part of the city frequented by Americans, the region around the Grand Hotel Very few persons call upon him, and his ac- quaintances are in very small number, as he seeks no new ones, and the old are limited to the stray New Workers who knew him in his days of power and are willing to know him now. No doubt Sweeny is willing to entertain anybody who will endure his society and pass over the scandal attached to his name. Evidently he does not wish to absent himself altogether from the world, one may judge by visiting card that was visible quite recently in the window of an engraver in the Palais Royal. It bore the name Piter B. Sweeny in neatly-en. graved letters. Whether the plan of spelling the first syllable with an "i" was the design of the ex-magnate or he blunder of the engraver I am unable to say. can hardly think it was an en- graver's blunder, as saw the card dis played there among other specimens of work for more than month. It IS not more than a week or ten days since 1t disappeared from the showcase.
Year: 1875

The winter comes in with appropriate ly cold weather. Now is the time to put on your thickest armor of flannel underclothing, and to see to it that the deserving poor within your knowledge have such assistance as you can give to fortify them against the indictment weather. Whatever nay be said against our winters, says the. New York Stu1, it should be remembered to their credit that our death rate is lower in winter than in summer, spite of the bitterness of the weather. In London the reverse is the case. Last winter was an uncom- monly severe season in England, and the death rate in December, January and February went up ar.a startling ratio. The last week in November, like the preceding one, was exceptionally healthy in New York. For the week ending November 27 the deaths were but 492, against 521 last year; for the week ending November 20, 475, against 548 last year. Diarrhea and acute pull monary diseases are fewer, and diph- theria, which carried off in the two weeks last year 122 persons, this year slew but ninety-two. The present death rate, of New York is lower than the average of thirty of the chief cities of Europe.

 One thing to remember good fan nels are vastly better protection against the cold than hot rum, and they cost far less. In fact, they keep you warm, while the rum units you to bear the cold. Put your warmth on the outside rather than the inside.
Year: 1875

The following is the full text of the letter of Don Carlos to King Alfonso, few items of which have been before published The attitude of the Presi- dent of the American republic may be considered as the prelude of war if you do not recognize the independence of Cuba. The revolution which you represent is responsible for the depth of ignominy at which Spain has arrived. But for the revolution this parricidal re- bellion would never, have been born. Had I been reigning it would never have gathered strength. The legitimate right of him who commands can alone reform without constraint, yield with out weakness, repress without anger, govern without passion. But the in tegrity of the country is in question, and all it's children ought to defend 1t.

 When the country is in danger, parties disappear; there remains only Span iards. If war breaks out I offer you a truce as long as the struggle with the United States lasts. Be it quite under stood, however, that foreign war is the only motive of the truce I propose, and that firmly maintain my rights to the crown, just as retain the certainty of oaO NoJ SAooPhS Aos DcyoAN tuo ScA | have no territory governed by my arms, and cannot send my loyal volunteers to Cuba, but will defend these prov inces and the Can abrian coast. will arm ss privateers the, mdomitable sons of those shores which gave birth to Ell Cano, Legarpi and Churruca! ' I will pursue the maritime commerce oof our enemies by going to seek them perhaps even in their own ports. In the event of foreign war do you accept the truce l offer youl Let us, then, appoint the delegates who must arrange it. Do you reject it The world will be witness that Catholic Spain has nobly performed it's duty. Do you prefer to ask it of the enemy who menaces youa Humble yourself if you have the heart to do it. You will, perhaps, obtain 8 momentary respite, but there will soon be an at tempt to excite fresh conflicts, and Cuba will be lost to the country. For you will remain the dishonor of having humbled yourself, and the shame of having humbled yourself in vain. a'
Year: 1875

Miss Wilhelmina Townsend, young lady, died suddenly while dancing at a party in Boston. A party of young ladies and gentlemen, numbering about forty couple, held a sociable in Pythian Hall, and were having O merry time None were enjoying themselves more than Miss Townsend. She had during the evening danced several times, and while waltzing, after having passed around the hall few times, she sudden ly feIl from the arms of her partner upon settee corpse. At first it was supposed that she had only tainted. Medical aid was summoned, but too late. Her father, who was present, con- veyed the body to his home. She was little moro than sixteen years old The physicians pronounced it case of heart disease. The event so worked upon the nerves of another one of the dancers, named Sarah Pollard, that she swooned, and was taken to the police station and placed upon a cot, where she lay in a deathlike stupor for nearly two hours, at the end of which time 1t was deemed best to convey her to her home, she then showing but slight symptoms of re- turning to her former self.
Year: 1875

changed the strain of his rude music from the wild discordant sound which had marked it to rather plaintive air, which thought his instrument incap. able of producing judging from the previous performance. -'' - Every one now noticed that the snakes were, in military phraseology, :" chang. ing front to the rear upon the center '' by turning round upon their tails, with heads down, and on their bellies winding back as if intent on reaching their holes as fast as they had come from them. In so doing their mouths came, or seemed to come in contact with the powder which Mungul Deen had previously scattered and, as it seemed, on tasting it they immediately gave up the ghost in whatever part of the field they chanced to be. t'.

 The snake charmer continued his pip ing for some time, after which he per formed dance that would have done honor to the Dervishes. This dance lasted about fifteen minutes, during which Mungul kept at first slowly nov. ing his body in @ circle, until the move ment and excitement of the dancer seem- ed to grow intense. His arms were ralseo ana lowered hlS head swayed to and fro as if it would come off, and at last he fell to the ground, apparently in state of complete exhaustion. This was not so, however, for upon an attend ant administering some potion from a cup, he stood up and declared the bat tie won and himself unscathed. z

 The spectators then descended from their rostrum, and can testify as one of the party that on inspection that ground was found to be we'll covered with the carcasses of dead cobras, the most deadly of the genus hydra. I learned some time afterwards that the owner of tho land, Mean Raj, was no more troubled by his former plague; in fact, was so well content that he had re- warded Mungul Deen literally, while llis servants no more refused to till. the ground where the Indian snake charmer had charmed 50 wisely and so well.
Year: 1875

Of all small vices, tobacco chewing is about the most offensive and it is as- tonishing that people will tolerate it. Here is an amusing embarrassment, that the man deserved A young Hartford merchant called on a young lady few evenings since, and was shown into the parlor to await her appearance, when, the lamps being unlit, he removed a large quid of tobacee from his mouth and threw it out of the window, as he supposed. When the lady appeared with light, the most prominent object in the room was that young man staring in very embarrassed way at big chunk of tobacco pinning the lace curtain to the unopened window.
Year: 1875

Robert Collyer saws the children must
have less study and more fun. lie 10
right. There is tho boy In tho family
across the way. Last THURSDAY alter
noon he nut dead mouss in bis moth
er's work basket, attached split stick 10
the tail Of the Dex;-door cat, eet the
vinegar faucet up in business. palm him
self of as a ghost ON the hired girl when
she went down cellar after the butter,
fbesmeared his fathers choice bantam
rooster with blue ink, and finally wound
up the entertainment by tyisg the boiler
10 strange dogs tail. and slipping down
in the slush and hurting his back. His
father hardly knows which
10 hunt up fret The strange dog with
the boiler or Robert Collyer.
Year: 1875

The story is told of a woman who
freely used her tongue to the scandal
of others, and made confession to
the priest of what she had done. He
gave her ripe thistle-top, and told
her to so out in various directions and
scatter the seeds one by one. Won
dering at the penance, she obeyed,
and then returned and told her con-
fessor. TO her ama2einent he babe
her go back and gather the scattered
seeds and when she objected that it
would be impossible, he replied that it
would be still more difficult to gather
upand destroy all the evil reports
which she had cirulated about others.


Any thoughtless, careless child can
scatter handful of thistle-seed before
the wind in moment, but the strong
est and wisest man cannot gather
them again,
Year: 1875




On the shores of the Adriatic sea the
wives of fishermen whose husbands
have gone far out upon the deep are
in the habit, at eventide, of going
down to the sea-shore, and singing, as
female voices only can, the first STAN
"a of a beautiful hymn. After they
have sung it they listen till they hear
borne by the wind across the desert
sea, the second stanza, sung by their
gallant husbands as they are tossed by
thegale upon the waves; and both are
happy. Perhaps if we could listen, we
too, might hear on this desert world
of ours, some sound, some whisper
borne from afar, to remind us that
there is a heaven and o home; and
when we sing the hymn upon the
shores of earth, perhaps we shall hear
Its sweet echo breaking in music up
on the sands of time, and cheering the
hearts of them that are pilgrims and
strangers and look for city that hath
foundations,-Dr. Cummings.
Year: 1875

We must be content to stoop to con.
quer. They say that an eagle, when
contemplating a higher flight than
usual, suddenly bends her career
downward, and pushes her whole
strength into a swoop directly toward
the earth; but by the impetus thus
gained she is certain to rise with ac-
celebrated velocity as she passes peer
lessly on up toward the sun. Thus
with all greatness, it begins with self
abasement. The chief becomes first q
servant.-C S. Robinson.
Year: 1875

LADDIN SECURITY O1L-Another sup
n ply just received. This Oil has proved it
self fully equal to the representations made con-
cerning it, and is founL in actual use to be near
" as cheap as the ordinary Coal Oil, as the same
quantity will last for SO much longer time we
earnestly invite a trial of it, feeling assured of
our customers obtaining perfect satisfaction, as
we'll as freedom from all danger by its use.
Shipped to the country in any quantities desired.


fob JANNEY s. CO.. l45 King ST.
Year: 1875

We learn from reliable gentleman OF
this city, who is just back from q trip up
the river, the particulars of rather ex
traordinary case of experience in the last
awful blizzard. An Indian and his squaw
ere caught out in the storm while jour
neying from Fort Kendall to the For,
Thompson Agency, and becoming bewil-
dered took refuge in small ravine. They
wrapped their blankets about them AID
sa, down under the bank. The snow
soon covered them, but the Indian kept
hole through the rapidly forming drift with
hrs gun, which he void poke up occasion
ally. They remained there all night. and
the drift became 90 high in the meantime
that he was obliged to splice the ram rod
70 the end of his rifle in order to reach
The top Of It and keep up the ventilation.
During their cherries imprisonment tht
.quaw was delivered of child, and it war
.'Snow Drift" This paragraph
will no doubt seem little Il shy to persons
unscqua nted with the wild Indian life,
but no persons who have been among the
reds it will not by any means appear i'm


probable. City Journal
Year: 1875

The following description of the
snow plains OF Central Asia is taken
from campaigning on the Oxns: :"
"The days pass-some in wild, fierce
storms of snow and sleet, that howl
around us as though all the demons of
the steppe were up in arms, some in
bright sunshine, whose intolerable
glare blinds us and blisters our faces.
From time to time we drive down into
darksome underground holes, hot and
reeking, hover around the steaming
samovar, pouring down oceans OF boil
ing tea then out on the silent steppe
again to continue the weary struggle.
There are nights when we awaken from
a half-frozen sleep, and remember we
are in the heart of the mysterious re-
gions of Asia, and sac nothing but the
wide, snowy steppe, silent and ghostly
in the spectral moonlight. For miles
and miles there is no human habitation,
but the burrow-like stations somewhere
far ahead, buried under the snow, as
though crushed into flatness by the
grim uniformity above. There is some
thing strangely oppressive and awful in
the changeless monotony of these wide,
snowy plains, level as floor, where for
days and weeks you SEQ nothing but
snow and sky, where you are the NOV
ing center Of horizon-bounded plain
that seems to move with you, and hang
upon you, and weigh you down like
monstrous milestone. There is the
breadth and loneliness of the ocean with
out it's movement, the cold and icy
silence of the arctic regions without
the glory of the arctic nights or the
grandeur of the arctic mOuntain-the
silent desolation of an unpeoplod world.
Those broad, level, snowy plains, over
which the icy winds from northern
Siberia como rushing down in furious
blasts with an uninterrupted sweep OF
o thousand miles, and drive the snow
about in whirlwinds that go scudding
over the plain like giant spectres; the
short days of sunshine, when the glHre
ON the snow dazzles and burns though
the long, cold nights passed in half.
frozen, half.somnolent state. with tired
beast trudging wearily forward; !
shiver now at the bare remembrance oi
it all"