smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

A STATESMAN AT FAULT-A CORES
poudent furnishes the Denver Tribune
with the following anecdote of Henry Clay:
Formerly very large. well known and
somewhat noted billy goat roamed at large
in the streets Of Washington, and the news
paper boys, boot blacks and street imps
generally made common cause against him.
Clay never liked 10 see dumb animals
abused or worried, and on one occasion,
while lassing down the avenue, large
crowd of these mischievous urchins were
at their usual sport. Mr.. Clay, with his
walking stick drove them a away, giving
them sound lecture in the meanwhile
As they scampered off and scattered in ev-
cry direction, Billy, seeing no ore but Mr.
Clay within reach, made charge on him.
Clay dropped his cane and caught his
goatship by the horns. The goat reared
up, being nearly as high as the Kentuckiau
himself. aud the latter would pull him
down again. This sort of sport soon be
come tiresome, and he could conceive of nc
way by which he cou free himself from
the two horned dilemma, SO in his desper-
alton he called on the boys to know what
to do One of the smallest in the crowd
shouted out: "Let go and run, you id
fool!' Clay always maintained that though
he signed the treaty of peace a, Client
yet that ragged boy knew more than be
did
Year: 1872

How TO PIDE A CoLT.-The Inyo In
dependent of ebruary 18th relates this
story:


The following story of John Smith 1--WE
will sppose his name is Smith) and his son
Virgil is said to be "true bill" Smith
has very promising young horse, now for
the first time in training for the track, and
we suppose is intended to take part in the
races Lone Pine on the 22d. The other
day Virgil, bright little chap some ten
years Of age, was speeding the colt arouud
the tract. and was making the run in gal
lam style, when the colt suddenly SHE'D and
threw the boy of The cause OF tn s was
a young porker that had slowed himself
away in some brush close by the track, a
quiet spectator # the colts performances,
until the latter got almost opposite to him.
when, hog like, he made violent rush,
with the result mentioned. By the time his
anxious father reached the ground the boy
was on bis feet unhurt Said the father,
'.Virgil, you do not know how to ride colt.
to let little pig like that make him throw
You off 1 don't want the colt spoiled, |
want him to 90 around the track and I'll
show you that pig can't prevent him" +"
'.I'll bet you," said Virgil, "he'll throw
you, too, if pig make him jump like he
did with me "No he won't, Virgil; you
can get in the brush there, and when ride
him around you grunt likea pig; Tllshow
you how it's done," said the elder Smith
Accordingly the colt was caught and noun
ted by Smith the elder, the boy in the mean
time having taken his position in the brush
TO play the role of piS, in which he sue
ceeded to perfection, for when his sire, at
ter rattling run, had reached the proper
place be snorted like a young grizzly, and
tearing out of tie brush, caused the panic
struck colt to pile his rider ingloriously in
the dust. Gathering himself up he said,
savagely: "What the ID did you do
that for?" "Why, you told me to, father"
mo, didn't; I told you to grunt like a
little pig, not like id old hog"
Year: 1872

The RED RIVER RAFT.-Having heard
of the Great Raft in the Red river since
our geography days, we are all apt to sup
pose that we know all about it. We are
we'll aware that it is a mass of driftwood,
completely obstructing navigation at the
point where it covers the water with its
countless trunks of forest trees. We know
that the river passes under this mass as if
it were bridge; and we may remember
that in 1888, when the raft was one hund-
red and twenty-four miles long, the Geuer-
al Government began the work of removing
it, but after working at it for % wears,
abandoned the attempt as impracticable,
and confined its efforts to the opening up
Of the lateral channels or bayous. We
may know all this, but still be ignorant Of
one of the most curious characteristics Of
this great raft, which is that it. unlike
RATS in general, moves up the river against
the current, instead of down. This move
ment is very slow, being but mile or two
in year. The explanation of this retro.
grade pr 'gression Of an apparently station.
airy mass is simple enough The logs a,
the lower end of the raft are continually
broken away and carried of by the current
while the fresh driftwood is brought down
and added to the upper end by floods and
freshets. Thus the raft, always falling
away at one end and growing at the other
gradually moves up the river, and it is cal
culated that it has moved since its forming
about four hundred miles. Scientific wri
ters have suggested the idea that this vas
mass OF timber, after lying in the old bee
OF the river for quite number of ages
will become great coal-bed. But wher
the Red river country becomes thickly set
tied this enormous collection of driftwoot
may be utilized in some way or other; auc
thus incalculably distant generations ma,
be cheated out of many a good coal fire
Year: 1872

The Indiana gentleman who wanted
divorce on the plea that his wife's hair,
when first married, was beautiful black,
ard had changed to an infammatory red
shotly after, was denied it on the evidence
introduced that he had watched her so
closely that she had had no opportunity to
repeat the application of hair dye.
Year: 1872

A Missouriau, while journeying to
Louisville recently, took sleeping car for
convenience During the night he got up
and went out on the platform the door
closed with spring lock. The porter was
asleep, and the citizen enjoyed a fifty-mile
ride in his night clothes on the platform.
Year: 1872

The Northern Pacific Railroad Company
is organizing system of forest tree nurse.
ries, from which it is proposed to plant
large tracts of prairie land, and to furnish
settlers with young trees at slight cost
Year: 1872

The woo. produce of the Pacific States
is constantly increasing. In the pastoral
regions of the far West eight to ten million
sheep are now proftably kept in the place
of scarcely two millions in 1860.
Year: 1872

The raising OF improved stock is every
year attracting more and more the attention
of farmers, and very justly. Why should
not good stock on the farm be considered
as essential as good machinery in the shop?
Year: 1872

Uncle Sam, who should be an accom-
modatins public servant, is getting to
be very exactins and unpleasantly arbi-
trary in some of his rules. If he keeps
on, it will soon be necessary for each
person to take lawyer along to advise
concerning every little transaction that
he engages in.


Under the amended postoffice law,
new and more stringent regulations have
been adopted to secure the full prepay
ment of postage. Where this is not
done, double the required amount is to
be collected of the person receiving the
letter. For instance, if letter requires
two stamps, THAT is, weighs one half an
ounce) and but one is put on, the per
sen receiving it will be required to pay
six cents, if three stamps are required.
and two are left off, he will have to pay
twelve cents, and so on. The rule is
already being enforced.


| We consider this an unreasonable
rule, as everybody cannot carry pail
Of scales in their pockets, and very few
can guess exactly the weight of letter
in fractions of ounces. This new rule
is of piece with that stupid one re
quiringt the county to he put OH the ad
dress of all matter going by mail, will
the postollice and State, which we ad
vised-and still advsc--everyhody t.
disregard. The latter rule was not onl.
silly, but an imposition
Year: 1872

their own sustenance and for the up
building of their own families and for


tunes. That seems to me statesman
ship; | know it is humanity. / feel that
it is patriotism that we should all alike
remember no more harshly, bitterly, the
conflicts of the past, and we are hence
forth to he one American people, and
each shall have every chance SO far as
the Constitution and the laws give hin,


They say few are prescribed. But
the many are prescribed in the few -
Whenever you say to me: "Your cap
tain shall be punished 70" what you and
he did," ! am punished with him. |
feel the blows inflicted on him; the ring
that ties him to the dungeon, eats into
my heart as well as his. No part of that
great people who struggled against US
in the South now feel that they are en-
tircly pardoned and restored to citizen
ship, so long as any of their leaders or
chiefs in the struggle are punished for
the common sin or error, whatever it is.
SO then I stand before you as an advo
cate of the rights and principles of uni
versal amnesty. SO long as there was
any quarrel about impartial suffrage I
fought for it. Now there are none to
be enfranchised but some thousands who
are disfranchised


Four years ago the Republican Ma
tional Convention resolved that these
disabilities should speedily cease. l
have waited in patience four years, and
they don t cease. l now demand that
the people shall say "Let all disabilities
be abolished let disfranchisement pass
away; let us all he united; let amnesty
and good feeling be restored. because
we all stand Oh one common ground" "
This is all I would say to you.


have but little time to be among
you, but do appeal to Indiana, stand
ing now as she does, almost the leader
of the advanced hope of the free States
I appeal to her to let her voice be heard
in her coming election, on the side of
National reconciliation and universal
amnesty. Other States will hear her,
other States will heed her If that is
her judgment, let no false pride, let no
party attachment, let no devotion to
leaders, however able, however good,
let nothing stife that voice Let it echo
across the land, sign, note of peace
and gladness. Let the dsfranchised
hear it as token of good cheer and
good will. Let the people everywhere
read and learn that Indiana has declared
for the restoration of the last American
70 the common privilege of American
citizenship, and the country will rejoice
that the reign of prescription is over,
and that the people have declared that
all the people shall be free.
Year: 1872

An excellent cement for sealing up
cans is made of two ounces resin, one
ounce shelac, and one half ounce white
wax. If clean beeswax is substituted
for the sealing wax usually made use
of, 1t is much cleaner, and if it gets into
the fruit, does not affect its flavor.
Year: 1872

Mr.. Lincoln Decides on Emancipation.


Before reading the proclamation the Presi-
dent again said he felt the great responsibility
of the step he was taking, both to himself and
the country. 1t had oppressed him, and not
till all other measures and expedients failed
had he come to the conclusion that
this element, which was arbitrarily
used against us, must be brought into the
Union cause. Having reached that conclu-
sion, his decision was fixed and una terable.
The act and all its responsibilities were his
alone. He had prepared the paper which he
was again about to read without Gdvice or
assistance-had pondered over it for weeks,
and been more confirmed in the rectitude ei
the measure as time passed on. There had
been moments when he felt awed and over
whelmed by the gravity and magnitude of the
subject and of what might follow, but his
way was now clear-he knew he was right.
Among other thing, he said in subdued
tone, he had looked to Higher Power for
aid and direction. He had made VOW that
If God gave us the victory in the impending
battle he would receive it as an indication OF
the Divine Will that it was his duty to go
forward in the work of emancipation. In a
manner half apoogetic, he said this might
seem strange, but there were occasions when,
uncertain how to proceed-when 1t was not
clear to his mind what he should do-he had
in this way submitted the disposal OF a sub
ject to Higher Power, and abided by what
seemed the Supreme viii. Events at Sharps-
burg had confirmed and strengthened his
original purpose in regard to emancipation
and he had no hesitation in issuing this pre
liminary order; the States interested woul(
decide for themselves as to its consumma
ton.


This was not the only occasion when h,
manifested the peculiar faith or trait her,
exhibited 1t was doubtless to be attributed
IN great measure to the absence of early
rellglous culture-a want of educational adj
yantages in his youthful, frontier life. In the
wilderness OF Indiana fifty years ago there
were few churches, and only an occasional
wandering preacher furnished the sparse pop
ulation with rude religious instruction: Al
though his early opportunities for religious
improvement had been few, there was deep,
seated within him a feeling of dependence and
Year: 1872

An item is going the rounds stating that
Detroit sailor refused to ship ON board ves-
sci after seeing a rat swim ashore from her,
and that the vessel went down the very next
trip. The real facts of the case are that the
sailor saw a hundred rats, as well as pile of
snakes, and was taken to the hospital to re-
cover. The vessel went downtown to To-
ledo, making one Of the quickest trips on
record.


Mansard, whose roofs are the subject of so
much obloquy at present, was superintendent
of public buildings in the reign of Louis XIV.
1t is told of him that he possessed to re-
markable amount the power of subtle dattery,
which he used to practice with great ingenu-
ity upon the King. He would sometimes
submit plans, portions of which were pur-
posely made so impracticable, not to say alb
surd, that the King could not help detecting
and pointing out the inconsistencies, where
upon Mansard would declare that if His
Majesty had not been King he would have
made frst-class architect, blaming himself
the while for having made such blunders. 1t
is not stated whether the famous roof was
one of these latter, nor whether the King
took fire at it when it was shown to him.


A Detroit man wants to sell patent pistol
cane or promising Newfoundland pup, he
doesn't care which. He went home the
other night and set his cane, heavily charged,
behind the door, and started in for a little
romp with three bright little ones and the
sportive pup. They got along well enough
until pup spied the cane, and going for il
started on promiscuous run around chairs
and table legs with it between bis teeth. The
doting father remembered the fatal effect of a
slight pressure on spring, and with rare
presence Of mind succeeded in throwing the
children down the cellar stairs and placing
himself on top of the sideboard before the
thing went Off The ball only broke hun
dred-dolar mirror, and the pup got a few
slight scratches in jumping through plate
glass window. The doctor says the children
will all recover. No insurance.
Year: 1872

A travelling mountebank sold, from a dry
goods box on one of the streets of Pekin, Illi-
noi., one night last week, forty dollars worth
of what he represented to be salve possess
ing wonderful curative properties, which
proved on examination and investigation to
be lard, which he had purchased but few
hours previously from grocery store near
by.
Year: 1872

The remarkable collection OF lie Grand Lock
wood which has attracted so much attention at
the Leavitt Art Rooms, viii be disposed OF by auc
ton at Clinton Hall on Thursday ana Friday next.
Those who have not seen the collection ought TO do
50 before Is scattered forever for it possesses
usual interest to the student OF contemporary
native art. IL IL almost TO be regretted that the
more important works should become the property
el private iDdiyiduas ana 50 DC Lost W the pCVpe.
Year: 1872

Lake Michigan is just now indulG-
ing in one of its rare natural phe-
nomena. both itself and the river be-
ing fnllv fifteen inches below their
usual level. II is not unusual for
the lake and river to have these fits
of depression. but they are usually
of short duration, sometimes lasting
but few hours.
Year: 1872

in their management Of the elastic motive
agency, steam. They alsoNbuil most excellent
engines. 1t Is difficult to account for the
rapid recurrence of these alarming fatalities in
their large towns, taking their exact everyday
habits Of careful economy into account Per-
haps their familiarity with the cause of danger
breeds contempt for, or Indifference to, its
power. This should never be permitted. The
giant unseen force, which has been subdued to
do the work of man, must be watched by the
sleepless eye of science during the progress Of
its labor. If not it will etherealize too much
just as tasked humanity attempts to do now
and then-and burst the bonds which con-
fine it.
Year: 1872

BY telegram from Scotland we are informed
Of the occurrence of very melancholy and
fatal accident in Glasgow yesterday. An
explosion Of steam took place in -four mill


The shock was followed by fire, which destroyed
the building Eleven persons we're burned to
death In the ruins, and many others injured
severely. A very short time since we were
called on to report the bursting of steam
engine when it was traversing, for road-carriage
purposes, q crowded thoroughfare in one of the
Scotch cities. This accident was attended
with exceedingly sorrowful results number
of small children having been swept out
of life by the visitation. We are panied by
those recitals The Scotch people are most
careful. perhaps the most careful in Europe.
Year: 1872

We devote considerable of our space this
morning to record of what was done yester-
day at the meeting of the stockholders of the
Erie Railway, both in the matter ola choice of
o new board of directors and officers and in
the presentation of q report of the operations
of the company for the past nine months. The
election was peaceful and, considering the
supposed rivalry Of Legitimate and speculative
interests, quite tame affair. There was none
of the challenging and obstruction Of voting
that were anticipated by those who looked to
see an effort made to keep the conditions of the
election within the terms of the law. The con-
trolling parties had been too jealous Of their
success to omit any detail Of propriety,
and so the inspectors had pretty
nearly sinecure of their important
trust 1t was something, of course, to
see one man voting twenty-five millions
and another man fifteen millions of the share
capital, but in these days of big national debts
and syndicates we have lost our capacity for
wonderment at such concentration of wealth
in individuals, especially as in this case we
knew that McHenry was casting the vote for q
syndicate Of English capitalists. The election
has given us for the new President of Erie an
eminently American railroad man, and for
Vice President gentleman identified with the
earlier and brighter history of the enterprise
Scattered through the list Of directors is o sug-
gestion here and there of Atlantic and Great
Western influence, its extent being insignificant,
however, as contrasted With the power which
McHenry could have exerted in making the
new board. Indeed, the ticket will for this
reason puzzle every one who studies it. Out
side Of what is promised in the presidency,
speculation is at sea as to whether Erie is in
the hands of men who will guide its fortunes
solely in its own interest or whether it has
fallen into those who will make it half fish and
half flesh in some new combination Of railroad





enterprise
Year: 1872

In speaking of Horace Greeley as the
probable democratic candidate, Mr.. Bel
mont was in like manner truthful and
temperate In his remarks. He avoided
all fulsome praise of the proposed standard
bearer of the party; admitted his lifelong op-
position to democracy and accepted him as the
representative of sound constitutional princi-
Piles, who, by his admirable and manly letter,
had shown that he was fully alive to the spirit
of the Cincinnati platform, and intended, If
elected, to carry out its principles in honesty
and good faith. Senator Doolittle made
most stirring and effective political speech,
but in like manner he refrained from
abuse of General Grant, and avoided any
thing more than a passing allusion to the
charges brought against him by the opposi-
ton organs. Such course is in marked con-
trast to those partisan journals which on the
one side assail Horace Greeley as dishonest,
unprincipled and incapable, and on the other
side teem with personal abuse of General
Grant. The speeches of Mr.. Belmont and
Senator Doolittle will in this respect furnish
models for the orators Of the campaign
and it will be we'll for the credit of the nation
if they shall be closely and universally fol-
lowed.


The Convention seems now to have a clear
path before it, and unless some change should
unexpectedly occur in the programme it will,
no doubt finish up its labors to-day with the
nomination Of Greeley and Brown and the
adoption of the Cincinnati platform as agreed
upon by the Committee on Resolutions.
The friends of the administration have pro-
fessed an earnest desire that Greeley should
be endorsed or nominated at Baltimore, and
it now seems certain that their wish will be
gratifed The liberal republicans have also
been eager for the union now apparently Sc
cure, and hence we may presume that the ac
ton of the Democratic Convention will
afford general satisfaction oil round, if we
except the select party of free traders who held
the famous adjourned meeting at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, and the dozen or fifteen
straight-outs who are now making themselves
ridiculous somewhere in Baltimore. We
shall thus have general rejoicing
among all political circles tonight, and
shall enter upon the real, active business Of
the Presidential contest in good humor all
round. Under these circumstances it is to be
hoped that all low personal abuse will be dis
continued from this date, and that we shall no
longer lead foreign nations to believe. on our
own showing that our choice for next Presi-
dent lies between knave and fool.
Year: 1872

WASHINGTON, July 0, 1879.
terrible accident occurred here this morning 90
the new State Department building Notlong after
the men employed thereon had commenced work
a wire guy rope, one Of the supporters Of three
very heavy derricks, drew from the bolt
head, and with crash the derricks came
down, all falling In the direction OF Seventeenth
street and directly across the foundation OF the
building where all the workmen were engaged,
instantly killing two men, one stranger who
was passing at the time along seventeenth street,
and the other hod carrier named Jerry Derry,
who was struck by the cap piece OF the middle
derrick and was crushed almost to pulp. He
had his hOd on his shoulders at the time OF tho
accident, and 1t was smashed into splnters Tho
head of the stranger killed was completely crushed
and nattened


Is internally injured.


Jerry Bresnehan Is injured in the back ana
shoulder


colored teemster named Henson Dyson is fatally
cut In the head.


Robert Collins, deaf and dumb bricklayer, has
an arm broken In two or three places, and Is other
wise injured 49,,
AT the time OF the accident one man was on the
guy rope painting IL and three others were on tno
platform around the middle derrick, put they sh
escaped injury.
Year: 1872

average temperature Yesterday. SlB
Average temperature for corresponding date


last year 84x


Fortunately there was no case Of sun stroke In
the city yesterday. With the thermometer at
ninety-hv degrees In the shade however, IL would
be premature to conclude that the death record Is
finished for the season. Weatherwise people were
yesterday prOgnOsticatng that there Is certainly
before us much hotter time than we have yet ex-
perlenced. ~.