smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

weather at any given time and place-or
more certain than that there will be con-
slant variation in the weather at such
place as compared with any other point
either on the same latitude, longitude, or
in the same hemisphere. And while the
weather is the most uncertain and vari-
able of all natural events or conditions,
the moon in its movements and relations
to the earth is the emblem of precision
and punctuality; yet large part of man.
kind persist in believing there is con-
nection between the most unvarying of
possible causes and the most variable of
(supposed) resultsl


AS to vegetation, there is the same in
congruity between cause and effect-the
extremes of certainty and uncertainty;
the same teachings of individual expert
ence and the same perennial faith, which
in its details tends more to the absurd.


There is another popular belief, very
much in conflict with the teachings of
science, which still retains-though SEEM
iHgly with failing strength hold on the
rural mind; it is that of the transmuta-
tion of plsnts-now, in this country, mar
rowed down to the change of wheat into
cheat or chess. Though unsustained by a
single established instance, and in con-
hict with all the known laws of vegetable
life, il is not logically so preposterous as
the delusions regarding the moon-it fails
for want of affirmative proof; but as it
lacks the absurdity, go it wants the vital
ity of other beliefs, and the moon will
hold her sway over the ignorant mind
long after transmutation has gone into
oblivion. A certain mystery surround.
ing the moon, with the uneducated, will
aid greatly in perpetuatipg the supersti-
tious beliefs in regard 10 its influence.


There is, or was, rather, one popular
belief prevalent at the opening of the
present century, which Is now dead it
was in the Information of swallows in the
mud of swamps like snakes. This was
too tangible matter, however, to long
stand the test of observation, and it had
no element of superstition or mystery to
give it vitality. Hence its early disap-
pearance into limbo


The study of the natural sciences is
the best antidote to superstition, and will
better aid in protecting the mind from an
inherited tendency to delusive beliefs
than any other branch of education. 1t
inculcates and requires habits of close OBJ
servation, careful comparison and eau
tious deduction. There is no better way
of Strengthening and developing the
reasoning and perceptive faculties than
by pursuing these studies, which are
closely connected with, and in fact form
part of, the wide scope of agricultural
science.-C0untrg Gentleman.
Year: 1873

1t is strange indeed that mems self
condemnation of their coarseness and
vices should be interpreted as delicacy
and chivalry toward women. "We are
SO vulgar and vile," they seem to say,
'that we must continue to be vulgar and
vile, to show how tenderly we cherish,
how fully we appreciate the dear crea-
lures who are our better angels" If we
are not fitted to be women's companions,
if we go where we should not, so much
the worse for us. If women are too good
for US, it is our duty TO be better We
require reformation, and the best reform
alton will come to US by admitting wo-
men to what we call, euphemistically
enough, our recreations and our plea
sures. That these are unworthy and
rude, if not gross, for the most part, few
of us will deny. By making women our
partial partners, our associates on occa-
sion, we admit our .inferiority and our
fear lest they should know of US what we
know of ourselves. We have not ad-
and Eastern indulgences as we would
fain believe, while we hold our wives
and daughters in the prisons of ignorance
and the seraglios of restraint.


1t is not consideration for women that
induces US to keep them in the border
land of acquaintance with our real lives
1t is consideration for ourselves; it is su-
preme selfishness; it is engrossing ego
tism. We shrink from the thought that
the gentler and purer beings who love US,
and whom we love-when we have naught
else to do-should have perfect un-
derstanding, clear revelation of
what we are. 1t is an article of
our social creed that they prefer pleasant
illusions to disagreeable facts. This is
not without its verify; but it evinces the
false education of women, and one of
their weaknesses that should be removed.
In this age we live, or ought to live, above
everything else, for truth. Whatever
leads thereto should be followed, though
the following dispel every deception
which, from the first, has been our most
grateful food.


The men are precious few that would
be willing their lives should be unrolled
panorama-like before their nearest and
dearest feminine friends. The thing that
they are vain of, even TO boasting, they
would hide from their wives or mothers at
imminent peril to themselves. The wor-
ship most of us receive is a species of
sentimental fetishism offered under the
delusiOn that the Idol is far more than it
seems; that it possesses powers and in
fuences linking it to the divine. Trans
parent as we may be to our own sex, we
are opaque to the opposite. Genuine to
the one, we are shams to the other, and
we exercise constant care that we shall
continue such. In respect, esteem, ad-
miration, and affection, we are actually
obtainers of goods by false pretences, and
are amenable to spiritual law which
we always evade. Is it fiattering to our
manhood, to our sense of integrity, to
know that to those we reverence most we
are miserable fctions and animated lies i?
:" Women as Companions," By Junius
Henri Broao7ae, IN February Gal1ry.
Year: 1873

The following was told to a Sentinel
reporter night or two ago: Some years
ago, there was a well-known engineer,
whose name is not given, for good and
sufficient reasons, ran passenger train
on one of the most popular and most
travelled roads that runs out of Indianapo-
lis. At certain place on the road, every
night for about a week, as the passenger
train ran by this engineer came thunder
ing along. it was certain to be thrown
from the track by distractions placed
there. Several of these mishaps to the
train caused loss oflife, and the Company
was becoming considerably alarmed, and
the ability of the engineer was being
seriously questioned. One night as the
unfortunate train was nearing the fatal
spot, the engineer, who had been sitting
glum and silent at the throttle, turned to
his fireman and said: ''If this train
Jumps the track at that place tonight,
you follow me; don't stop for anything,
but keep close after me- Somebody has
been throwing the train on the track,
and I'm going to catch him."


When the train arrived at the usual
place it struck misplaced rail and was
banked. The engineer, closely followed
by the fireman, jumped from the engine
and ran into corn-field, and started up
man that lay concealed there. Upon
bringing the culprit back to the wreck,
the enraged passengers wanted 10 lynch
him, but the engineer, stern, cold, de-
termined man, prevented them, saying
that he would take charge of him, and
through the intercessi3n of the conductor
the trembling wretch was left in charge
of the engineer. The train was righted,
and was soon speeding on its way. The
prisoner, who had confessed his iendish-
ness, had been seated on the engine and
the fireman placed beside him as guard.
When the train was on a smooth piece of
track, bowling along at a speed of twen-
ty-five miles an hour, the engineer beck
oned the fireman to stand out of the way
The fireman stepped aside, and the en-
gineer picked up q round stick of wood
and struck the criminal such a blow upon
the head that il stunned him. He then
caught the quivering form of the poor
wretch, and, opening the furnace doors,
threw his body into the hot, seething hell
of flame. The doors were shut, the train
ratified along, and never, until upon his
death-bed the engineer confessed the act,
was it ascertained what had been the fate
of the iend who had been in the habit of
the train off the track--Indi-
annapolis Sentinel.
Year: 1873

WE HAVE from Troy, N. Y, the story
of a remarkably bold case of abduction,
the heroine of which is young married
lady named Mrs. Williams While stand
ing in the public street, in the daytime,
she was approached by gentleman hold
ing pocket handkerchief in his hand who
asked her if she had dropped it, at the
same time thrusting it quickly into her
face. She became partially unconscious
in moment, when another man Joined
the first, and the two lifted her into
close carriage standing near by, and drove
quietly to the depot, where they got on
the train for New York. When near
Poughkeepsie, a gentleman who sat near
the lady observed an occasional applica-
ton of handkerchief to her face, and to
his inquiries as to the cause the reply was
made that she was being taken to the asy-
lum. The suspicious stranger kept such
a sharp eye on the abductors that they left
the cars at Poughkeepsie station. The
lady soon recovered, and told her story,
saying that she was all the while sufficient.
ly conscious to know what was going on,
but unable to speak. Upon reaching New
York she at once telegraphed to her
friends in Troy, who came on and restored
her to her home.
Year: 1873

NEW JERSEY JUsTIcE Several servant
girls in New Jersey had the power of the
Supreme Court of that State brought to
bear upon them to compel amiability and
obedience under any and all circum-
stances That Court has affirmed the
following doctrine: "Where a servant
whose wages are due and payable period
1cally, as quarterly. monthly or weekly,
refuses to serve in the manner contracted
for, or is rightfully discharged at any in
tervening period between the days when
his or her wages are due, he or she can
recover nothing for that portion of TIME
during which he or she has served since
the last periodical payment of wages"
Year: 1873

With many the inability to sleep. as n
growing habit, is the first step toward GER
I in madness in every disease it is an omen
Of ill., Hence, to cultivate sound sleep, do
not sleep moment in the day time Go to
bed at a regular hour, and never take 4 sec
ond nap after waking of yourself in the
morning. Take nothing after dinner but a
piece Of bread and butter and a cup of hot
drink-not China tea, as it makes many
wakeful. Never 20 to bed with cold feet.
Read nothing after supper, Listen to nothing
talk about nothing of a very exciting char


acter avoid carefully every domestic un-
pleasantness, as to child, servant, hus band or
wife. Let no angry word be spoken or
thought harbored for single instance after
tea time or sleep may not come before the
morning light. Grown p srsons require about
seven hours sleep in summer, and eight in
winter. Few indeed, except invalidsi, will
fail to sleep well who 90 to bed at regular
early hour on light Supper, in alarge room,
Year: 1873

MAJOR GENERAL ~ TIE CUTTER


To-day there is a man going about the
streets of this city. ragged. dirty and pen
nileSs, subsisting on free lunches and the
charities of gamers, and has not slept in %
bed for months, who. during the war, was
one of the most dashing cavalry officers in
the Union army, and was promoted from the
rank of first Lieutenant To lull Brigadier
and Breyet-Najor General for brilliant eX-
PLOTS on the field of battle, and who for 4
long time had a large and important com
mand


He has been for two or three months uu-
der an assumed name, being ashamed to dim
the brilliancy of his record in the service of
his country by am exhibition of his degrade
tionrnder his former honored name lie IS
generally very reticent. having little to do
with any one, or talking but little, save
when - engineering for drink, at which
he is remarkably successful.


Night before last. while living helplessly
drunk in the rear part of Third street 81
loon, some men thought TO play joke on
him by stealing his shirt, and proceeded to
strip him Underneath his shirt, and sus-
pended bya string around his neck, was a
small canvass bag. which the men opened
and found it TO contain his commission as
| Brcyet-Nlajor General, two congratulatory
letters-one from Grant and one from preSi-
dent Lincoln photograph of little girl
and curl of hair-a - chestnut shadow
that doubtless one day crcpt over the brow
Of some loved one.


When these things were discovered, even
! the half-drunken men who found them felt q
respect for the mans former greatness, and
pity for his fallen condition. and quietly re-
turned the bag and contents to where they
found them, and replaced the sleeper clothes
upon him. Yesterday Nars reporter tried
to interview the man and endeavor to learn
something Of his life in the past few years,
! but he declined to communicate anything.
| lie cried like a child when told how his right
name and former position were ascertained.
and with tears trickling down his cheeks
said :" For mercy's sake, sir, don't publish
my degradation, or my name at least. if YOU
are determined to say something about IT,
1t Is enough that know myself how low
have become VIII YOU promise that much
1t will do no good. bat will do my friends a
great deal of harm, a., fortunately, they
think died in SouthAmerica, where | went
at the close of the war


Intempennce and the gaming table, he
said, had wrought his ruin.
Year: 1873

Speaking of house cleaning, the philoso-
pher of the Providence Journol says:


IL is lnooted question whether one des
perate dash. and uninterrupted charge
upon all accustomed habits and arrange
mentS, or gradual diSarray which leaves
one for weeks between ''the devil and the
deep sea, Is most endurable. Our own ex-
periencc i, that, when we have tried the
one plan. we have wished that We had re-
sorted to the other; and that, when We have
asSented t. the other, we vowed that there
after we would only indulge in the one. If
anybody Is disposed to he in a hurry, we
can only say, as Punch said about marrying,
Don't The plants We ventured to put
out upon the yorandah have all had to be
brought in again; the air Is cold the
ground Is cold there will yet be northeast
winds; in short, there are reasons enough
anything ought to be reason enough-for
putting off house-cleaning.
Year: 1873

a LOT of minstrols went to town not
far from Boston and advertised to give
performance for the benefit of the poor
tickets reduced to ten cents" The hall
was crammed full. The next morning n
committee of the poor called upon the
treasurer of the concern for the amount
said benefit had netted. The treasurer
expressed astonshment at the demand.-
d" thought" said the chairman Of the
committee, "you advertised this concert
for the benefit of the poor ?" Replied
the treasurer, Didn't We put the tickets
down to ten cents, so that the poor could
all come ?" The committee vanished.
Year: 1873

A PHILOSOPHER remarks that there is
something instructive in standing on
street corner in a large city and watching
the men all running around trying to
make money and the women all floating
around trying to spend it.
Year: 1873

MAST says he has been often asked by
friends to draw a caricature Of them Just
for fun. Sometimes he complied, aud
they would at first appear to enjoy the
joke, but shade Of veXation would steal
over their faces and they would generally
60 off in huff.
Year: 1873

IT is now announced, on the authority
Of that eminent physician" that it is
not healthy to rise before eight o'clock in
the morning. This applies only to men.
Wives can rise at seven and start the
fire as heretofore.
Year: 1873

The illustrations of THE ALDINE have
won n worldwide reputation, and in the art
centers of Europe it is an admitted fact that
its wood-cuts are examples of the highest per-
fection ever attained. The common prejudice
more educated and discriminating taste which
recognizes the advantages of superior artistic
quality with greater facility of production
The wood-cuts of THE ALDINE possess all
the delcacy and elaborate finish Of the most
costly steelplate, while they afford better
rendering of the artists original.


The popular feature of copiously illus
trated Christmas number of THE ALDINE
will be continued
Year: 1873

A Washington special TO the Cincinnati
Gazette says:


An interesting decision IN contiscated
property case was made here yesterday in
the Supreme Court of the district. in the
case of the heirs of C. S. Wallach, agent of
Van Rswick. The facts are that the prop.
erty of the late G. S. WaIlach was libeled
under the cOnfscation act, and his life es-
tate was purchased by the defendant in
1866. After the return Of Mr.. Wallach he
and his wife conveyed the property to Van
Riswick in fee simple. Two years there
after Wallach was restored to the full en-
jOyment of citizenship, and he died in 1872.
Suit was brought by heirs to recover pos
session of the property, mainly on the
ground that the estate therein Of the de-
fendant was determined upon the death of
their ancestor, and that by reason of his
share in the late rebellion their ancestor
was disabled by the provisions of the act OF
Congress and che decree of cOnfscatiOn
above referred to from doing any act which
could legally affect the reversionary fee in
said property. To this bill the defendant
demurred generally. and to the question of
the ancestors competency the court decided
that at the time of making the above men,
toned conveyance to Mr.. Van Riswick. Dir.
Wallach possessed reversiOnary interest
in the property: that he was competent 10
make valid conveyance, and the bill being
brought upon insufficient grounds must be
dismissed.
Year: 1873




This is an important crop, not only for
home use, bat pays well for its cultivation.
and should be more generally looked after
than it is. 1t will paT to grow it as feed
crop, for it bears two cuttings year below
800 north latitude. and makes hay which
sheep, horses and cattle prefer to the best
grass product known. The fact that A rice
huller has been invented that will cost little
more than coffee mill, and enable the
good woman of the house to grind out
mess of rice with as much ease as she would
grind her mess of coffee. and always have
rice, or rice batter cakes or rice pudding on
the table, will make it greater inducement
than ever for every family to plant patch
of rice. which can be done now on to the
twentieth of April. Sandy land, level and
fertilized is best for upland rice. Land
that will yield twenty-five or thirty bushels
of cern per acre will produce fifty bushels
Of rough grain, that WILL when hulled,
leave twenty-five bushels OF clean rice. say
1900 0pounds, that at ten cents pound would
be worth $50. and thestraw is worth one
t ird more.
Year: 1873

Postmaster Jones, of New York city,
insists that his resignation is not due to
political causes, as ne was in perfect accord
with the President, but arose from desue
20 be free from the responsibility to which
he is subjected by detalcGtio2s among
subordina.es,
Year: 1873




After careful survey of the Governors
Messages, at tho opening and closing of the
Legislature, with the action of that body
in regard to the financial affairs of the State,
we are convinced that the Lower House
committed quite blunder in falling to
pass the Revenue bill as reported from
the Senate. We mus believe, however,
that the measure was lost, not because the
Lower House was opposed 10 sufficient
Revenue being levied and paid, but having
The original N 'ssage of the Gov'rnor Ee-
fore them, in which he stated that forty
cents would be ample, they acted upon
it, forgetting In the meanwhile, that extra
ordinary appropriations had bsen made by
them, of which the Governor could know
nothing at the time of sending in bis first
message. The deficiency caused by the
failure to provide for these extraordinary
appropriations will fall directly upon the
most unfortunate Of our State-the blind
and insane-and in view of this condition
OF affairs, we earn silly appeal to his excel
lency, the Governor, to convene the Lecis-
lature at an early day, that they Ir.av pro.
vide for this deficiency, and in making this
appeal we feel we but ecE,o The Charitable
sentiment Of the entire people of our coun-
ty. Heretofore, we oroossd the idea of calling
an extra ssion of the Legislature, but cir
cumstances alter cases. We did not fore
see that it would become necessary in ord
er 70 sustain re charitable institutions of
the State.
Year: 1873

be Collected.


The New Orleans PjcGgune, in an article
upon the question OF paying taxes to the
Kellogg usurpadon, has the following:


Are the taxpayers of this city who are
In any do ubt whether they will combine
with their fellow citizens to resist the at4
Senpts, by the most outrageous and shame
Eul modes ever proposed in a country pro
Tossing to De free and republican, upon
our people by Usurping government,
aware of the amount OF taxes which
1t Is proposed to collect. this wear?
Many Of these fatter themselves
with the idea thai they will pet
off with tax Of five per cent. State and
city. This is a grieyous error. Besides
the regular State and city tax for the past
year, the act of the bayonet Leg stature TO
enforce the collection Oftaxes, which our
res ier3 will find in our columns to-day,
gives the State officers the same power and
authority to collect all antecedent unpaid
taxes for the years preceding the last as are
conferred in regard to the taxes of last
year. The taxes will amount for the State,
we learn, to S7,000,000, which, added to
the $5,000,000 colectabls for
1872, will swell the grand
total to say SI2,000,0O0, which can be col
iected by the same processes provided in
the Infamous enforcement act passed by
the Kellogg Legislature. Add TO this the
city taxes uncollected, and we have the
enormous sum, say Of S20,000,0OO, or over
twenty per cent of the assessed value Of the
property of this city, which is to be collected
according TO Kellogg's proclamation by civil
OF criminal process out of the people. 1t
would be well for those timid or over
prudent people who now propose to pay
their taxes for last year, to bear in mind
the effect of their submission to such de-
mands--whch is simply an acquiescence in
the spoliation and confscation of the prop
ertJ Of this people for the emolument of
J3bbers, adventures, rings and the agents
of foreign holders of bonds, prominent
among whom is the present fraudulent and
Usurping so-cslled Governor of Louisiana.
Year: 1873

The inventive genius of woman certainly
cannot be denied, even though wise men
maintain that it is not her gift or province
to make scientific discoveries, or invent any
thing Of worldwide importance. q Massa-
chusetts woman some time since invented
that most unique and useful article, a ma
chine for making paper bags with sstchel
bottom, which is attracting attention for its
remarkable mechanism and extraordinary
ingenuity, not only in this country, but also
in Europe and Canada, and for the patent
of which the fortunate inventor has, it is
stated, already refused fifty thousand dol
lars. Another Massachusetts woman has
also distinguished herself in this line, hav-
ing recently received patent for a self
fastening button, which needs no button
hole, holds fast, and unbuttons at touch.
This novel arrangement can, it is represen-
tet, be easily applied to buttons of all the
various sizes now in use.
Year: 1873

SOME one very sensibly remarks that a
trade is always a comfortable companion to
travel, something that a man can fail
back upon in time Of need, and yet it does
not preclude him from entering upon some
profession, if his inclinations or genius de-
velope the proper capacity. In fact, our
most successful business men in almost
every capacity are from the workshops and
farms.
Year: 1873

Peter E. Blow, nephew of Hon. Henry T,
Blow, late United States Minister to Bra
zil. was shot three times and severely woun-
ded at the School of Mines in Rolla yester-
day by John W. MCGOWAN. Both the
Young men are students at the School OF
Mines, and the affair grew out of an alter
cation about the taking of a gun from the
armory of the school, of which young Blow
had charge.