smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

A LADY in Fairfield, Mass, discovered
that her daughter was about to elope. She
didn't make any fuss about it, but the
night on which the elopement was to take
place, gave her daughter an opiate in her
tea, so that the giIl did MT wake up till
morning. Meanwhile the lover had grown
tired OF waiting, and left in disgust.
Year: 1873

though in the present case the cooking
was rarely for more than two, living
modestly yet fully up to the average of
people in moderate circumstances, and
having two meals always, generally three
meals, a day. Biscuits were baked occa-
sionally but not bread, which, however,
was almost always toasted in the roasting
chamber under a full sheet of flame.
During the three months just past the
gas onsumed-measured by standard
meter officially sealed-amounted to a
trihe short of one thousand feet costing,
even at the high rate charged by our
metropolitan gas companies, two dollars
and half, and averaging not more than
one cent a meal. Had coal been used
for the same cooking, it would have cost
more to hire boy to fetch it FROM the
cellar and carry away the ashes.


The secret of the economical cooking
can be told in few words There was no
fuel wasted. Its full heating power was
scientifically developed, where it was
wanted, and just so much as was wanted
and no more. There was no waiting half
an hour for the fire to kindle and heat
up the stove; there was no high degree
of heat maintained when lower degree
would suffice; and the instant any por-
ton of the heat was no longer required,
that moment, generally speaking, the
flow of gas was stopped Was a certain
temperature required at given point
for ten minutes, half an hour or any
other interval, the gage could be set to
maintain it uniformly and trustily. 1t
was certain the fire would not get too
hot, or go out, or vary in the least. This
divested the cooking of half its trouble
and nine-tenths of its anxiety; and there
was no food spoiled by accidental causes
1t is true that such economical cooking
involves more than ordinary care, intel
ligence, foresight and conscientiousness
on the part of the cook, still it is not
more than the majority of women are
capable of; and when cooking is thus
made light, cleAnly, and free from uncer-
tainty and worry, there will be less re-
pugnance on the part of well-to-do wives
to this most important domestic duty.


If costly Illuminating gas can be used
economically for fuel, there can be no
question of the feasibility of warming
our rooms and cooking our food with
gas less highly refined and consequently
much cheaper.
Year: 1873

It is as well to remind our readers that
the Island of Cuba belongs to Spain and
is governed by an officer appointed by
the Mother Country; that for nearly
seven years there has been constant
civil war going on there with varying
success; that band of rebels have been
striving to seize the government of the
Island, that Spain has in vain endeavored
to wholly suppress them, and that this
country has never yet recognized the
rebels so far as to accord to them bellig-
erent rights


1t is as well also to remember another
fact, viz that Colon is on the Isthmus of
Darien and is due south of Jamaica, while
Cuba is due north of the same Isthmus.


Recently the Virginius, notorious
blockade runner, cleared from U S. port
ostensibly bound for Colon but she left
Jamaica steering due north, directly op-
posite therefore to her proper course,
with the avowed intention of carrying
aid and comfort to the rebels in Cuba.
When nearing Cuba she was chased by
the Spanish man of war, the Tornado.


The Virginius during her fight hoisted
the American flag which the Tornado
disregarded and finally captured her.


The Spanish authorities found on
board the Virginius many recognized
leaders in the rebellion and others dis
guised as railroad laborers, fremen, &c,
&c They were all tried by court-martial,
Sentenced to death and executed.


In consequence of this great clamor
has arisen. The capture of the Virginius
while flying American colors and having
cleared from an American port, is by
some declared to be grievous insult to
our national honor which demands to be
avenged.


We recognize an insult to our flag but
not in the act of the Tornado or of the
Cuban authorities. That q parcel of
rebel adventurers, should fraudulently
obtain clearance for a port to which
there was no intention to go, and that
under the cover of our flag they should
use the vessel thus fraudulently cleared
and fraudulently manned, to aid and
abet a rebellion in progress in the colony
of friendly power, this is indeed an in
suit to our flag which might call upon
our government in the strongest terms
for redress, but that the Cubans have
put them beyond the reach of any gov
ernment to avenge any insult to its flag
committed by such villains.


That Spain or the Spanish officer has
insulted our flag is absurd. Even had
the Virginius been clean of fraud the
Tornado would have had the right to
learn her destination and TO stop her if
she were bound to port held by the
rebels And with the known fact that
she was destined to aid the rebels, the
commander of the Tornado would have
been right in chasing and taking her,
even if she had been United States
man of war, instead of quasi pirate,
making fraudulent use of our national
flag to aid and abet rebellion against
friendly power.


Whatever regret on the score of hu-
manity may be felt at the severe fate
that the captives have experienced, as
an American citizen we should have 20
regret that the insult to our flag commit
ted by these fillabusters has been most
summarily avenged
Year: 1873

1t has been estimated that the proper
ton of successes to failures in mercan-
tile affairs is only three per cent. That
is, ninety-seven out of every hundred
fail; sometimes once, twice, and even
thrice, before succeeding, Why is this ?
Success has its laws, and it becomes al
most certainty if they are only followed
out. The reason why people fail in bust
ness is because they will not adhere to
the plainest and most simple laws of sue
cess. In the first place, it is not wise to
engage in any business when one is in
nowise fitted for it; yet this is daily
done. The first law of success is, to
educate for the duties of whatever calling
or life that one wishes to adopt. Again,
reckless adventures and foolish specula-
tions are a frightful cause of failures.
People are not content to get rich gradu-
ally; they wish to do it in day. Hence,
they, en- luckless moment ruin not
only their present interests, but also all
chances of their future prosperity. 1t
takes a long time to learn that it is best
to make haste slowly, Another frequent
cause of failure-the saddest cause of all
is loose morality in business. This is
often fatal to the interests of the edu-
Gated, industrious and persevering as
pirant for success. 1t is sad to contem-
plate what large proportion of men
have been proved to be either outand-out
dishonest, or the willing victims of legal
temptation. 1t is often hard to learn
that honesty is the best policy" when
our own interests seem to stand in the
way. Foolish mortals we cover our
eyes with dimes, and cannot see the
golden eagles that lie beyond, almost
within our grasp.
Year: 1873

In Virginia City, Nevada, a gentleman
has placed on each side of the gravel
walk leading from his front seat to his
door, handsome iron fence, the top rail
of which is made of gas pipes filled with
small holes. Before he thus fenced his
walk he was much troubled by book
agents, map peddlers, and other persist
ent people, but now all is lovely with
him When he sees a man enter his
gate with books under his arm, he
simply turns cock and instantly thou
sand streams of water dart across the
whole length of the walk from side to
side The book peddler retreats to the
gate, gazes wistfully up the walk for
time, concludes the man of the house
does not want to see him, and then trav-
els, wondering what sort of internal ma
chimes people will next invent for the
discouragement Of honest industry. This
beautiful and useful invention is not
patented.
Year: 1873

A country paper says that, in reply to
a question from the lecture committee of
the chief town of the district, as to the
subject of lecture to be given at the
institution, the lecturer telegraphed, "A
Taste of Naples and Rome" The tele-
graph made it read, "a Taste of Apples
and Rum"
Year: 1873

Vicksburg offers a reward for the re-
covery of an old lady, aged one hundred
and eleven, who, it is supposed had been
kidnapped by some felonious journalist
from rival city, desirous to secure her
obituary for his own local items
Year: 1873

A SCENE FROM LIFE.-An exchange
says A young man entered the bar room
of a village tavern, and called for drink.
"No," said landlord; f" you have had too
much already. You have had delirium
tremens once, and | cannot sell you any
more" We stepped aside to make room
for couple of young men who had just
entered, and the landlord waited upon
them very politely. The other had stood
by silently and sullen and when they had
finished he walked up to tho landlord, and
thus addressed him; "Six years ago, at
their age, stood where those young men
now are. | was a man with fair pros
poets. Now at the age Of twenty.eighl
| am wreck, body and mind. You lcd
me to drink In this room | formed the
habit that has been my ruin. Now sell
me few glasses more, and your work
will be done! shall soon be out of thu
way; there is no hope for me. But thcy
can be saved they may be men again.
Do not sell it to them. Sell to me and
let me die. and the world will be rid OF
me.
Year: 1873

A young woman applicant for school
in Ulster county, sent to the committee a
composition" beginning; Looking from
the window, / see the beautiful hills,
mountains clothed in snow, the spire Of
the church steeple pointing toward heaven
and people, all strange to me, yet with a
smile they seem to say, al think you
know your business, Miss"
Year: 1873

SHORT OF MEAr-A Deacon being in 4
neighborng town on Saturday, fell in with
a travelling minister and invited him to
come to his town and preach next Sunday
and to his house to dinner So Sunday
uorn;ns tho deacon told his family that
the minister would be there to dinner,
and, as they were out of meat told his
hired boy to 60 to a certain place by the
side ofthe road, and dig out woodchuck
that was spposed to have burrowed there
and they would have him for dinner.
While the boy was digging away at the
woodchuck hole, the minister came along
on his way to preach On seeing the
boy thus digging, he hauled up and ac
costed him with Well, my son, what
are you doing there? Digging out 4
woodchuck, Sir said the boy.


Why, but don't you know that it is
very wicked ? and besides, you won't get
him if you dig for him on Sunday


Get i'm !" said the boy. Thunder
I've got to get i'm the minister's coming
to our house to dinner, and we amt got
any meat"
Year: 1873

! We have been handed the following
for publication, by young gentleman
of this city who knows how it is him
self:


EDITOR DEMOCRAT:


It is remarkable, but nevertheless
true, that. as rule, hirts, both male
and female, do not marry quickly. The
chances are that flirt who becomes
engaged at eighteen. and disengages
herself, as is the custom for firts to do,
ultimately settles down into an infrm
old maid IF she does wed, as a gem
eralrule, she develops into a virulent
wasp; makes her husband miserable,
and brings up her children badly.


It is not very difficult to find reasons
why firts do not marry. Sensible men
admire in woman something besides a
pretty face and engaging manners.
They love intellect, common sense, and
heart qualifications, which the firt does
not possess. The true womsa allows
her affections full play and is not
ashamed of them. She will not lead
man to believe that she cares for him,
when she does no such thing she will
not hirt with him for the sake of firta
ton; she has trner conception of
what is right, and possesses a great deal
more common sense; she has derived
her education from something else than
three volume novels and the society of
the empty pated; she can be thorougly
merry without being idiotic. She may
attract less attention in drawing-room
than the hirt does, because she is less
noisy and obtrusive, but for all that she
will get married sooner, and make her
husband better and truer wife.


A true woman does not care for the
spoony young man. She dislikes his
the vapid compliments he
pays her, and his effeminacy. He quick
Iy finds this out and leaves her in peace
Thus. if he ultimately gets married it is
20 flirt, and the happy pair lead the
olliest cat-and-dog life imaginable


BILL KELLER.
Year: 1873

A CONVENTION of farmers was re-


Gently held in Illinois, to lock over the


situation and find out how it happens


that with constant growing demand


for their corn and everything they raise,


prices have fallen below the actual cost
of production. 1t was agreed that farm


ing in the West is in a bad way. Pow
erty, if rot bankruptcy, it is said, stares
farmers in the face generally. Accord
ing to one Of their spokesmen, sIn the
midst of such overfowing abundanceas as
to choke the marts of trade, and while
the consumers on the seaboard and
across the waters are hungry for our
products, we cannot realize enough to
pay our taxes and labor" It would ap-
pear that more than one cause has been
instrumental in bringing on this state of
things, but the sentiment of the gather
ing was unanimous in laying the chief
blame on the exorbitant charges of the
railroads. 1t was shown that in ten
years, Notwithstanding the increase of
railroads and consequently of competi-
tion and of business, passenger fares
had been raised nearly forty per cent.
with corresponding advance in freight
charges. With corn selling in New
York at 65 cents bushel, it costs AZ
cents to pay the freight from Illinois,
leaving only % cents for the producer.
One speaker stated that the actual cost
for transporting bushel of corn for
that distance did not exceed six cents.
Year: 1873

Here is an article from the New I OF


Journal of Commerce, one of the ables


newspapers of the United States, t


which we respectfully call the attention


of our business men. What is said il


it of theatrical advertising applies witt


more than two-fold force to all CONNER


cial and transient advertising: eth


theatrical managers of New York ar


not the pioneers in the movemen


against advertising by placards ant


hand bills, but their combined attach


upon that absurdity and nuisance is the


most important yet attempted. The


shrewder merchants long ago found out


that the only cheap and effective means


of advertising is in the newspapers


that ten dollarslwell spent in that way


is eqnal to hundred scattered aimlessly
in plastering dead-walls and cutters


When SO large body of men as the
association of theatrical mana gers give
their aid TO the work of reform, we may
expect soon to see the last of bill boards
and all other modes of attracting public
attention outsidesof newspaper columns.


The statistics of the waste on this
head by the New York theatres are
something curious. Each theater erects,
say two hundred bill boards at sigtly
points about town, and the cost of that
carpentry cannot be less than one thous-
aud dollars to begin with. To keep
these boards covered with snowy, and,
of course, expensive posters, is an out
lay of between thirty and forty dollars
day-for each theater remember. And
this is far from all. The worst remains
behind, in the form of free admissions
to the persons before whose premises
the bill boards are stuck up. AS those
nuisances stand there upon sufrance,
the gracious occupants of the premises
exact at least two free admissions to the
theater each week; and so there are
Ton the basis of two hundred bill -boards)
at least four hundred free admissions to
each theater floating about town. Prob
ably majority of the people who use
these tickets, would, if they were not
g dead headed, pay their way into the
ltres like others. If the theaters dis.
oensed with newspaper advertising, and
depended on posters alone, that would
,e a reasonable item of expense, but
hey are obliged to advertise in the
oapers all the same.


It is only newspaper advertising, we
naintain, that has done any good for
he theaters. II they drop that or cur
all it too ruch, they might as well shut
p their houses. When these bill boards
isappear the most powerful blow will
ave been given to the ancient, offensive
seless custom of defacing The streets
18th posters. And we hope that the
Common Council will pass an ordinance
the erection of all bill boards
. other framework for street adyertis-
g, the effect of which is to obstruct
sdestrians upon the sidewalks, without
oing any good to the advertiser which
; could not gain, at much less cost.
rough the legitimate agency of news
lpers."
Year: 1873

The State and County Assessors now
being ON the war path, our readers will be
interested in knowing what is thought
of the new law in Middle Tennessee.
The Franklin Revieao and journal says:


"The tax assessors are distributing their
assessment papers among the people. Ev-
cry man is befuddled in searching into the
mysteries more than when his vision first
lit on the multiplication table. 1t reminds
one of the dark days of the income tax
and the permit system. 1t comes around
like the Spanish inquisition, and prizes
into every mans private business. 1t is
the most terrible law in its operations, and
the most bungled one in its provisions any
State was ever cursed with. Our people
now see the terrible curse inflicted on
them by the funding and kindred bills.
This is step in advance of anything that
the Radicals have ever inflicted on this
people. The manner in which the people
curse the authors of this bill is a sin to Da-
Wy Crockett. rzss E-GR# MN}


We actually feel sorry for the poor fel-
lows. Wonder if any of them will ever
dare to offer for office again? We are all
to blame for this condition of affairs we
have let young bucks rule since the war,
who have neither senselner reason. We
have been led by the nose by men who
were unfit to follow us. The honest, sem
sible, hard-working men of the State have
been driven from public life, and at the
very season when we most need the SER
vices of good practical men, we are over
run 10y office-holders totally destitute of
everything except cheek and impudence.
There will be no escape from cruel and
oppressive laws until our best citizens
come to the front, and we elect them to
office. God knows, another Legislature
like the past will bankrupt the State and
impoverish her people. We know of no
measure of Importance passed by this de-
lectable body which is free from serious
defect; and take it all in all, we hope new
er to see Tennessee cursed by another such.
If we have heard good word spoken of it
we do not recollect it."
Year: 1873

Chester policemen towards the last of the
month; when they are little short, jerk up the
goats, and make their owners pay tribute for the
privilege their pets enjoy Of running at large
Year: 1873

Abduction was one of the barbarons
customs prevalent in Ireland from the
middle ages till late in the last century.
As the motive of abduction was nearly
always money, the savage practice had
not even tinge of romance or wild
chivalry to sanctify it. Apopular notion
prevailed that it was no abduction if the
girl rode on the saddle, and the man
behind her. In 1707 an Act was passed
rendering abduction by force a capital
offence. An Abduction Club existed at
one time in the South of Ireland. The
members drew lots for the heiresses of
the country, and the club hired ennis
saries to ascertain the habits of the
family, the houses the young lady was
likely to visit, and the best means of
carrying her off safely.


The saddest tragedy in connection
with this infamous crime occurred in
Derry in 1161. A reckless, dissipated
young merchant squireen, named
McNaghten, persuaded the daughter of
a Mr.. Knox, of Prehen, to plight herself
to him. The pretended marriage being
set aside in the spiritual court, McNagh-
ten threatened to lie in wait and murder
TIE Judge. The result was that the
rascal was obliged to flee to England,
whence, however, he returned to hide
himself in the woods at Prehen. Hear
ing that Mr.. Knox was about to take his
daughter to Dublin to wean her from
the love of such scoundrel, McNaghten
and three men lay in wait for the car
riage and stopped it. They first shot
and disabled blacksmith, who was the
husband of Miss Knox's nurse, and her
armed guard. The blinds being drawn,
McNaghten discharged a heavily loaded
blunderbuss into the carriage, killing
Miss Knox on the spot. A shot was
then fred from the carriage, which hit
the murderer, who was at the same time
wounded by shot from Mr. Knox's
servant, who had hidden himself behind
a turf-stack. The country was soon
alarmed, and five hundred pounds
offered for the culprit. A company of
light horse securing the country found
the wounded wretch hidden in q
farmers hayloft. He made desperate
resistance, but was lodged in Lifford
jail. At the trial McNaghten was
brought into court in a blanket, and
laid on table in the dock. The muir
derer was condemned to death, and was
hung on the road near Strabane and
Derry. McNaghten appeared on the
day of execution clothed in black.
Exerting all his remaining strength to
throw himself off the ladder, he did so
with such impetuosity that the rope
broke, and he fell groaning to the
ground. The crowd, pitying his cour-
age and misfortune, tried to induce him
to escape; but the man refused, saying
proudly "that he would never live to be
pointed at as the half-hanged man !"
He called to his servant, who was also
waiting to be hung, removed the rope
from his neck and placed it on his own.
He then collected his energies, mounted
the ladder, threw himself of, and died
without struggle.
Year: 1873

he was able, Addison made stout de-
fence, but his antagonist was the
stronger man; moreover, he was goaded
by the pent up revenge of years.


The scufiie was desperate, and all the
while the schoolmaster was appealing
to Long for mercy to his foe, but he
came not near the combatants. By an
almost superhumsn effort Long dragged
the struggling man to the edge OF the
precipice.


"Now die like a beast" he exclaimed,
fairly f1inging his foe out into the air.
There was heavy crash among the
bushes that grew down the side of the
cliff, and the next moment the mangled
body of Charles Addison was quivering
in death.


If Peter Horn stood rooted with hor-
TOR, he yet had to witness a sight that
would curdle his blood for the balance
of the years he might live. Drawing q
pistol from his breast. Long coelly
placed it to bis temple, and ere Horn
could spring forward to arrest his hand,
he had buried ball deep in his brain.
So died two men, and God must judge
whose motives deserve the greatest
mercy,