smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

The PUBLIC SCHOOL INSTITUTE, at Middle
town last week tended to the giving of q
new impetus to our school system. So all
said who attended it. Though a new
feature in this State, these institutes are an
old organized feature of nearly every
Northern and Western State that has an
avowedly good school system, and they
have been held for years under the sanction
OF the school laws of the respective States
In which they are held. This one at
Middletown was the first well-defned indi-
cation of the States new awakening to this
branch of its public trusts, and seemed to
put new spirit in the people. The citi-
zens OF that town throwed open their doors
70 the seventy or eighty teachers who
composed the body; entertained them
gladly and took common cause with them
IN the sessions of the Institute, thus mani
Testing their interest in the most practical
manner in the hitherto dormant system.


1t will be seen by the published proceed
ings, in another column, that most of the
leading educators of the State took part in
the exercises, while two or three from other
States gave valuable assistance. Professor
Woodruff, of Pennsylvania, was especially
an acquisition, as he added so much to the
life and vim of the sessions. He is an
experienced Institute manager. and was
particularly useful here where such institu.
tlons are so new.


The advantages to the teachers were
these; Most of them are young; many of
them are inexperienced. They had the
opportunity of hearing discussed the very
best plans now employed in the theory and
practice of teaching. They heard those
plans discussed by men all fresh in the
business OF education; men who have made
1t life work and know no other calling.
That was the object, and that object was
fully accomplished. Therefore new ideas
and plans must have been opened up to
the minds of all. The ideas were in many
cases put to a practical illustration. that
they might be fully taken in and acted
upon by the teachers present. 1t was a
concentration of practical ideas given out
for the benefit of all.


The Superintendent was warmly endorsed
by the reporters for his manner of conduc-
ting the Institute and the completeness of
all his arrangements in the matter. This
was to be expected, however, as he was not
novice in the Institute feature. He had
had experience in them whilst teaching in
Pennsylvania.
Year: 1875

cd out Of them The Thaumaturgsts and
Rosicrucans pretended TO magical powers;
There is not an age IN the worlds recorded
past hardly year even, that some prCsttdt9'
itateur has not figured on the scene, either as
a Court appendage, religious leader, or an
actor performing for the amusement OF the
populace. Let the Davenport Brothers or DR.,
Slade do more than is related here, and then
they will have right to ask us to consider II
the phenomena they show are the work OF
Spirits
Year: 1875

Under the title, "a Vison of Death" the st.
Louis Republican publishes the following strange
narrative:


Sheriff Ramsey, at Ellis, on the Kansas and
Pacific railroad, got after thief with deter
minatio.s 20 catch him or perish In the attempt
The desperate character Of the hunted man was
well known. he was daring nsraudsr, and
was pretty certain that he would not allow him
self to be taken alive. Mrs. Ramsey, the wife Of
Of her husband, and dreamed . bad dream one
night. She was terribly distressed about 1t and
expressed the conviction that her husband was
O'Brien, Of Ellis, and the two started out toward
Hays, where the sheriff was supposed to be In
quest of bis game. On the journey the Doctor
and Mrs. Ramsey met o wagon ten miles south of
Stockton containing the corpse Of the sheriff. shot
through the body in his encounter with the thief.
The sight Of her dead husband dethroned Mrs.
Her dream was fulfilled in every particular.
Many miles away she saw her husband fire the
first Shot at the thief, hitting him. Then both
fired simultaneously. The thief fell dead with q
bullet IN his heart. Ramsey fell also, mortslly
wounded, the ball having passed entirely through
things happened in reality. Then the woman
saw the wagon starting with her husbands ltie-
less body in it. When Mrs. Ramsey, travelling
with the Doctor, saw the wagon on the road she
knew 1t afar of. 1t was all very like dream,
even to the Doctor, rs he drove along with the
whose VsSh Was sb ntsread IN 'nS ns,g
Her eyes are still looking for the coming Of her
husband, and they will look on forever. To her
he is not dead but coming. She stumbled over
his corpse and in her mind he rose from the dead.


Upon which the Territorial Enterprise says:


Every now and then such q story as the above
comes to confuse mankind. Is there an electric
alphabet which can be operated by the affections,
and which can be read by sleep bound eyes? Nor
tails in this latter day have little faith and before
believing demand proof-some proof tangible to
at least one of the senses. They go to bed at
night firm in their belief, but suddenly, though
all the windows of their apartment are barred,
and all the doors are bolted beside their bed is
palpable presence of some enc who is thousands
Of miles away, and by the phantom Of an sssas-
sims knife, or by spectral ocean storm, they
know that one who In life was dear to them is
dead. How many men carry a letter in their
pockets for hours, dreGdng to open 1t, feeling
sure that it is the bearer Of sorrowful neWsi We
look upon some speck In nature, and It is nothing
We turn q magnffyipg glass upon 1t, and 1t Is al
most miniature world. Suppose our eyes were
cleared Of films, and we could see all that there
may be In the world around US, would we ever
weary of gazing? And, If the waves Of death
can wash away the darkness, would not the awak-
ening vision be worth the anguish OF going to
sleep2 There Is but one consolation In all these
thoughts, and that Is, It will not be long TO wait
before the dusky doors will swing back, and the
mystery will be explained.
Year: 1875

The following Communication, written in
feminine hand, indicates rather clearly that the
mode Of gathering garbage in the West End does
not meet the approval Of the entire people Of that
section. They are hard to please, but the CON-
plaint is given as 1t was written:


WEST END, July7, 1876.
To the Editor Of the National Republican:


SIR: write to say that the residents Of the
First ward have been very much annoyed by the
miserable ''slop man" knocking at their gates at
six O'Clock in the morning and alarming the
whole neighborhood, and, then, at five O'Clock in
the evening screaming through the streets "Slop
man going away, now; slop man going.n In
what other city would this be allowed7 It is
nuisance, and must be stopped.


know that for days these miserable slop men
have not collected the slops that have been wait
ing for them in gentlemen's cellars, and when
there are poor men who would gladly collect them
every day for their own use. This is an abuse,
and must be stopped. i, for one, will give my
slops, or order my servants to give them to any
one who comes for them; and unless these said
men arc more prompt and more quiet, there will
be general outcry against the garbage carts and
loud men. These men should come quietly to q
gentleman's house and collect the garbage and
not annoy young ladies and gentlemen with their
screams for slop.


Imagine this in New York. Poor old WASH
tngton SUBSCRIBER.
Year: 1875

The excursion on the Jane Moseley 20 Cobb
Island starts this afternoon, and promises 70 be
decided success. All the arrangoments necessary
to secure the comfort and pleasure Of the excur-
trip is in store for all who can spare time and
money to 90. See Advertisement
Year: 1875

No community, state or nation can be prosperous which only produces the raw material, and then hires some other to mann- facture it. Let the man grow the wheat for his bread, pay the freight to a New York mill to make it into four and then the freight back again, and see if that would be profitable to him. The same is true of everything else. Only that community or section is prosperous which manufactures a9 well as produces raw material. The operatives in the factories, being consumers, also give home markets for products. If we can manufacture all we need, the op- eratives will use here at home such of our products as they now consume away off somewhere else where we now have to ship this produce, and pay high freights on it to them. What we furnish them has this freight added, and they are in turn compelled to add this difference to the price of the goods they manufacture, ship and sell back to us. We pay three freights, one on raw material, one on manufactured goods sent back to us, and one on the food we send them for their workmen.

 Communities which only pro duce and sell raw material, have alternate flush and lean business periods. When the annual pro luction is being sold, they flour ish, but that is soon past, and they are compelled to buy and ship back the goods maEutactur ed out of what they sold, and then they have leanness Tn bust ness. Production by home man ufacturing equal to demand mak as home markets, saves freights, and keeps something constantly or hand to exchange for money Indiana Farmer.
Year: 1875

Through the kindness of Judge L. ". Davis we are permitted to publish the following letter, which will show that our state is now fast becoming the chief attraction towaId which hundreds are turn ing their eyes. There is no two ways about it; our state is going to take rapid stride forward and we warn the present population to spur up and get out of the old ruts before the state fills up with lightning acting Yankees who will make times lively when they come among us:

 CHIcAGo, Nov. 9th. 1875.

 MR. LEWIS ". DAVIS. EsQ. Dear Sir, Your kind letter of the 2lst of Oct. came to hand in due time with money returned for which I thank you. l have read your book all through carefully and with a great deal ofinterest and confirms me in my former opinion of the State of Arkansas. Its central location, Its navigable rivers, it's productive soil, it's nat ural productions of mineral, tim Der, its abundant water power, its salubrious climate, it's adaptation to raising fruits of almost everj' kind make it one of the most in- teresting States of the union. When its natural resources are properly developed wealth must flow into the state by millions. The difficulties in the govern mental affairs of the last three years has deterred many from going there but those things will regulate themselves after a little. Inclosed I send 13 cents in pos tage stamps and would like to have you send me two more of your books and will use them to the best advantage 1 can. The copy you sent me l sent to Mich igan. 1 have two nephews living in Michigan, one has sold his farm and the other is about sell ing with the view of going to north western Iowa. I sent them the book with my advice in stead of going further north and west to go south and west where they will not have to use the pitch fork eight months in the ear and where it will not take every third bushel of their crops to get the rest to market. Ac- companying this letter l send you q copy of the Christian Instructor and Western United Presbyterian, published at Philadelphia, George $. Ferguson, editor, the same paper from which I took the notice 1 sent to you in my former letter. 1 have noth- ing further to communicate to you at this time; it is ms present purpose to visit yoUr state some time this winter. Yours with much respect, D. SINCLAIR.

 Wilcox Av. 1924, Chicago.
Year: 1875

Certainly, no exhibition has ever taken place in Chicago that can compare to Cooper, Bailey d Co.'S. Museum, Menagerie, Hippo drome and Travelling World s Fair. It would require more space than the Post can give to describe or mention in detail the cnriosities of the Museum, and the monster array of specimens of the animal kingdom contained in the Menagerie. The illuminated posters, though profuse, contain but a faint idea. The reality is better than the colored represent ations.-Chicago Post.
Year: 1875

Respect old age. Ifyou have a maiden aunt B years old and she is passing her self off for young girl of 20 there is no excuse for you to expose her. The more you respect her and keep still about it the more she will respect you'
Year: 1875

A recent incident on the Ogdensburg
road is thus described by the st. Adams


Vt.) Messenger, of the 9TH instant:
"A cage of tigers, which was on its
way to a menagerie now exhibiting south
of here, was placed in one end of the
car, and a zebra was tied in the other
end. The watchman lay down on box
and fell asleep. When he awoke he
discovered that one of the tigers had
bent the iron bars of its cage, forced its
way out, and was crouching in the Op-
posite corner. The regular keeper of
the animals was in the sleeping car at
the rear end of the train, and there was
no chance to communicate with him or
with any one outside. The poor watch
man was frightened into mOtiOnless ST.
Ience, and in that awful suspense he
made the long and weary journey to St.
Albans. After the train came to a halt
here, one of the train men, in passing
the car, saw q large, cat-like nose
thrust out of an opening, and not know
ing that any ones life was endangered
in the car, but fearing lest the animal
should escape, ran to the sleeping-car
and aroused the keeper, who soon ap-
peared, raw-hide in hand, and laShed
the beast back into his den, to the inn
measurable relief of the poor fellow
who had been curled up for hours on
the box
Year: 1875

The Greenville (Tenn J Intelligencer,
edited by Andrew johnson, Jr., has
following:


In John Savage's ''Life of Andrew
Johnson the reader is given the belief
that Mr.. johnson loved and was disap-
pointed in his affections by their object.
Such is not the case, so far as the con-
clusion is stated. He did fall in love
with a young lady of good family
and estimable character. She respond
ed in the fullest degree, and both anti
cipated great felicity in future life to-
gether. The parents of the young lady,
however, objected to the marriage upon
the grounds of Mr.. Johnson's youth Che
was vet in his minor years. and lack of
means. Upon hearing this Mr.. John
son sought an interview with the young
lady told her of the decision of her par
ents and of the course he himself had
resolved upon. With his native high
principle he said there was nothing left
to them but to part and forget what
they had been to each other. The lady
felt otherwise and frankly told him that
she would 90 with him wherever he
might lead, and that she would not hes
itate to trust her life and its keeping in
to his hands. The strong pride and
love of fair dealing of Mr.. johnson
could not permit this, and nOtwith-
standing his love he denied the prOpO-
sition and left the place, only returning
long years after, when the lady was
married and mother of a family. Thus,
it will be understood that the lady did
not prove faithless and cause any
wounded feelings to the subject of this
sketch
Year: 1875

The workmen in Pompeii, while pur-
suing their researches in the house
where the wooden writing tablets were
lately discovered, came on two ink
stands and the pen which had been used
in inseribing. The pen is of metal,
1t is something of the form of goose
Quill.
Year: 1875

Rescuing a Child from an AIiIgas


Tor.


Handsboro (Miss.l Democrat.


Last Saturday, about sundown, four
miles east OF this place, ON Biloxi Bay,
occurred a scene calculated to send
thrill of horror through every human
heart and to make even the boldest
tremble with fear Two little girls,
daughters of Mr.. Elan R, Blackwell,
living on the back Bay of Biloxi, while
bathing in the bay Immediately in front
of his dwelling, we're attacked by an
enormous alligator. The eldest girl
of about seven years Of age, was holding
the youngest, an infant Of two years, in
her hands, and was quietly enjoying her
bath, when suddenly her little sister was
snatcbed from her and borne swiftly
from the shore. Terrified beyond meas
ure, and unable to render any assistance
to her unfortunate sister, the elder girl
uttered a scream, which was quickly
caught by the ear Of the father, who hap
pened accidentally to be passing within
thirty or forty yards OF the spot where
his daughters were bathing. Realizing
instantly, from the tone of the voice,
that his children were in some peril, but
unable to conjecture its exact nature,
Mr.. Blackwell, who is an active and
athletic man, rushed rapidly to their as
sistanee, and arrived at the spot Just in
time to discover his little daughter being
borne out into the bay by an alligator.
Comprehending the scene at once, and
nerved to almost superhuman effort by
the desperate situation Of his little child,
the agonized father leaped madly into
the water in pursuit of the woud-be de.
stroyer of his daughter, which was then
some twenty-five or thirty yards from the
shore. The water for distance of forty
or fifty yards out into the bay from the
point where the children were bathing
ranges in depth from one and half to
two feet and then suddenly attains a
depth of forty Of fifty feet, and both the
animal (which by this time had discov-
cred the pursuit) and the father seemed
to realized that the deep water immdi-
ately in front of them once reached pur-
SUIT and recovery would be alike impos-
sible; both, therefore, redoubled their
efforts, the one to reach the point, the
other to prevent it. In this struggle, al.
though sinking to his waist in the soft
mud at the bottom at each bound, the
father was successful. He succeeded in
grasping his child by the arm about ten
feet from. deep water. The alligator,
which all the while held the child's foot
in its mouth perceiving itself overtaken,
and alarmed ard confused by the bold
ness Of the assault, released its hold and
made it way rapidly into the deep water
in front Of it. The father, completely
exhausted, raised his child out of the
water, and perceiving that it still lived
by desperate effort succeeded in regain
ing the shore and deposting the child
safely in the arms Of its mother. The
little girl is unhurt, with the exception
of couple of bruises on its foot made
| by the teeth of the monster.
Year: 1875

came. "Ohl he was there, was he2' the
driver merely exclaimed. 1t turned out
that this lean and unkempt pariah had
drawn near the cab few nights before,
had received less churlish greeting than
what he was accustomed to, and had at
tached himself to the cab in this mystic
riOus way, and was now actually to be
seen lowering in the shadow afar off.
There wasSomething ghostly in the fash
ion in which he came out Of the night
and appeared upon the iootboard.
Again: | was once acquainted with
dog that had no less singular penchant
for seeing train pass under an arch. at
particular hour each day. Punctual-
ly at five O clock he would rouse himself
and set off at full speed to keep his ap-
pointment, using cunning devices when
he suspected he might be detained.
Having seen his train 60 by and locked
down with wary and critical air to see
that the passage was performed proper.
ly, he logged home with contented
mind. How did he know the hour so
exactly2 Again: Every morning there
comes to the door one Of the neatest,
lightest, best-appointed little traps con.
ceivable, in the service of our butter man.
1t is drawn by a frisky, waggish little
pony, evidently pet; and on the pony s
back rides vivacious little terrier, who
from practice can balance himself in d
secure and dashing style. Both pony
and terrier understand each other, though
terrier capers about the pony'G neck in
an inconveuient fashion On cold days
pohy has his cloth, while terrier has a
miniature covering of the same kind, Sc
cureiy fitted to his person. When the
butter man comes up the area, the sly
pair are watching him, and if in his hur-
ry he incautiously slams the back door
Of his cart, a pretence is made of accept
ing the noise as a signal, and off starts
pony galloping, terrier barking and al
most erect on pony's neck, while driver
is running along, francticallY striving to
climb into his vehicle as it goes. Another
dog, red Irish retriever, whose acquain-
tance | made lately, was sent down forty
miles into Kent, shut up in dog box.
On his first days sport he took offence
at the keeper using aswhip to him, free.
dom he perhaps thought was not justified
by so short an acquaintance. The fol-
lowing morning he was at the door OF his
house in Victoria street. How was this
accomplished He must have come
straight across the country, guided by
some faculty that his two-legged supe-
riors have not.-London Society.
Year: 1875

FITz-JoHN PoRTER's CASE Gen.
eral Fitz John Porter, who during the
civil war was accused by General Pope
Of disobedienee Of orders. arrested,
tried by military court and dismissed
from the army, has been trying for
several years to have his case opened
for re,hesring. Up to the date Of
the second battle of Bull Run, Porter
had distinguished himself for general
ship and bravery. His delay to bring
up his division in time to take part in
that battle, was alleged to have been
the cause Of Pope's defeat. General
Porter sought to Justify his conduct
for a number of reasons which he as
signed to the Court, but they were
not deemed satisfactory to remove a
suspicion of his disIoyalty. He has
since greatly fortified his defence, and
thinks if he had another opportunity
he could prove his innocence. This
the War Department denies him, for
the annexed reasons:


" No irregnlarity appears in the original
proceedings; he cannot, under the Constitu-
tion, be put second time in jeopardy of
his life, as he was by his first trial being
now civilian, he cannot ask court of in
qniry; and board of investigation would
be an unauthorized body, with no power to
vlndleate. and only capable Of criticising |
Judicial proceeding sanctioned by the highest |
law Of the land, the Supreme Court having
decided that the decision of the court-martisI |
Is final