smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

Seldom in those dramas in real life
that in tragic pathos surpass all that
ever was writ by playwright, has been
brought to light anything more touching
than the few lines, in schoolgirl scrawl,
addressed her parents and sisters by
Julia Sichel, a beautiful young Jewess
of San Francisco, who a few days since
committed suicide. Hers was simply
the story of unrequited love. There was
no taint of guilt about it to awaken re-
morse, nor broken vows to be reproached,
but only blank despair. As in those few
lines she unwittingly betrays, her love
was unsought, but so all-compassing was
it that, with unmaidenly boldness, she
sued for love in return, and finding that
hopeless, the light went out of her life
and she sought refuge in death. Her
letters tell it all with that transparent
simplicity which no art can simulate.
To her parents she wrote:


DEAR MOTHER AND FATHER: l pray you
will forgive the sorrow l cause by my rash
act, but life is one dull blank to me now.
Do not blame Ben, for he has tried to reason
with me, but all in vain. He can give me
no hope that l shall ever be more to him
than q friend, and, rather than live without
his love, have determined to take my life.
There are few requests l would ask OF
you, and then / am ready to die. First OF
all, promise me, dear father, that you will
hold Ben entirely blameless, and for the
love bore him treat him ever as friend
/ do not want mother, Annie, or Mollie to
wear mourning for me, for the black gar
ments would only be reminder of my sac
end. Let me be buried where the sur
shines, and try to keep my grave green
Say died for love. That is all 1 want the
world to know. Try to bear my deatf
bravely, and take comfort from my sister
and brothers. Dear parents, forgive ant
pray for your poor daughter, JULIA.


More tenderly girlish is a note to he
sister:


DEAR MoLLIE: would ask of you few
favors. They are these: When 1 am dea'
give my mother my gold set, Annie my tur
quoise ring, keep my watch and chain ant
pearl ring for yourself, and give to Fanni
that set Of fancy work / had commenced
Let me be buried with my plain ring on m.
finger, and put the buttons Ben gave. me II
my coffin. Keep on with your music an
play often, for always dearly loved to hea
you. Now, dear Eugene, Fannie, Jake, an
Annie, Maurice and Mollie, all goodbye
Kiss me before am laid in my grave.
Year: 1876

Says the Florida Press: We witnessed
novel and beautiful sight a few days
ago at the farm of Mrs. Hildreth on the
North River, about two miles above the
city. Mrs. Hildreth, in the course of a
few months, has succeeded in tanning the
wild birds that fly about the place.
While we were in the house Mrs.
Hildreth went out to the door and called
to the birds, which were then, in the
middle of the day, in the adjoining
forest. In a few moments dozen or
more blue-birds and mocking-birds came
flying around her. She then came into
the house and handed each of our party
a raisin, which we were requested to hold
out in our fingers. We remained still
for few minutes, when the birds hoped
in at the door, flew upon our hands and
picked the rasins from our fingers. We
were astonished, and could not help
wondering the more when we were in
formed that none of these birds had been
Gagged, but were thus tanned by the
gentleness and art of this lady.
Year: 1876

When her lord has killed buffalo the
woman's work begins. She has to skin it
to secure the meat, and all to pack upon
ponies and mules, and carry to camps
where the meat must be cured. This is
done by cutting it into thin sheets and
hanging it over poles in the hot sunshine,
where it is soon dried thoroughly; then
it is packed fresh in packages of about
one hundred pounds each, and inclosed
in nice folding sack of thick buffalo
skin, prepared especially for the purpose.
This is not dressed down thin after being
fieshed, but we'll tanned and of the full
thickness of the skin, the hair side nicely
ornamented with paint for the outside
of the sack. This is cut out like huge
envelope, 80 that the ends and sides may
fold over whatever is put in them, and
secured by strong buckskin strings. By
being thick it retains its form, and is
very useful for carrying other things be-
sides meat and tallOw. After the meat
is taken care of the skin must be looked
after. Those taken at this season of the
year are mostly dressed for lodges.
They are first staked on smooth spot of
ground and water put upon them, when
they are ready for feshing. This con-
sists in removing the flesh with an instru-
ment made of straight bar of iron,
about foot in length, fattened at one
end and filed to an edge. This being
grasped in the hand, and succession OF
blows given, the work slowly proceeds
The skin is then dried, after which the
hair is removed in a dry state, and the
skin reduced to the proper thickness by
dressing down on the hair side. This is
done with an instrument made by firm.
ly tying a fat piece of steel, filed to a
beveled edge at one end, and with the
corners rounded, to large prong of q
deer's horn. This is so trimmed, in con
nection with the body of the horn, as to
form an elbow, and is used little as q
carpenter uses his adze. This work il
usually done in the cool of the morning
The brains of the animal, having beer
properly taken care of for the purpose
are now soaked and squeezed by th'
hand until reduced to a paste, and ap


piled to both sides of the skin, which j


afterward worked and rubbed unit


flexible. The preparation of robes i
from winter skins, and differs from TIN


foregoing only in being dressed down Of
the flesh side, 80 as to leave the wool an
hair upon the robe, and is more thorough
ly worked and secured by means of


sharp-gritted stone.
Year: 1876

An event of extraordinary interest
occurred here recently. A wagon came
in from the mission and stopped in front
of the court house, and in a few minutes
an old lady seated in the bed OF the
wagon became the object OF general at,
tention. An immense crowd gathered
around the vehicle to witness perhaps
the oldest living woman in the world.
Eulalia Perez CULLEN, who, according to
the records of her family, has reached
the great age of one hundred and thirty
eight years and some months, was the
rare object of this curiosity. She sat
there wrapped up in rebosa, and con-
versed freely with all who spoke to her.
The lady seemed to greatly enjoy the
attraction she provoked, and evinced an
animation of juvenility contrasting Curl
Ously with her great age. Her features
are hardly discernable beneath the heavy
wrinkles of her face. Her eyes, which
have not lost their vision, peer out from
beneath two red circles of lids. Her
mouth is sunken, and although her
speech is mumbling, yet it comes out
toletably clear. The old lady was great
ly amused with the interest she excited,
and spoke pleasantly to all who addressed
her. In the same wagon, sitting beside
her was another old woman, who was one
of her daughters, and on the drivers
box were two of her great great-grand-
children. The old lady was brought TO
the city on All application made by Mrs.
de White, one of her daughters, for let
ters of guardianship. 1t seems that the
old lady is living with Mariana Anto-
MIA Higuera, one of her daughters, who
has formed the idea of taking her mother
to the Centennial, under the idea that
there is money in it. Mrs. de White
objects to this, and in order to restrain
her sister from taking the old lady out OF
the county filed an application for letters
of guardianship. The case came before
Judge O'Melveny in the Supervisor
room, and Mr.. T. p. Ramirez appeared
for the applicant and Mr.. S. M. White
for the contestant. Mrs. de White testi
fed that she had been told by her sister
that she would take the old lady to Sar
Francisco and thence to Philadelphia i
she could make the necessary arrange
ments. Mr.. de White, the husband o
this witness, testified that the old lady
was in her dotage and not a fit person t
decide as to q matter of this kind. H'
said he had means and wished to provide
for the wants of his mother-in-law, ant
believed that she would not live If takel
away from the county. Mariana sale
she had no means beyond her house a
the Mission, but that she could provide
for her mother by her work; that sh'
had lived with her twenty years, ant
that her mother was willing to 60 any
where she had a mind 10 take her
When the testimony was all in, tn
Judge said that he was perfectly agrees
with the daughter who opposed the re
moval of the mother from the county, an
he should forbid it. But he would leav
the old lady at liberty to live with eithe
of her children, as she elected, in tn
meantime requiring Mariana to furnis


a bond in five hundred dollars that sh
would not take her mother out of tn
| county,
Year: 1876

A gang of boys peeped through the
cracks in the high board fence that sur
rounds the unfinished walls of the great
aquarium that Mr.. w. @. Coup is build
ing at Thirty-fifth street and Broadway,
and strove to look through the sheath
ing of pine building that stands in the
center of the grounds. In that building
is large tank, and in the tank are two
genuine white whales that arrived in
New York from Labrador yesterday.
The tank, which is only the temporary
home of the great fish, is circular In
form, about twenty-five feet in diameter,
and has nine feet of water, made salt
enough to suit the taste of the average
whale. The two fish are about fifteen
feet in length, and of grayish white on
the back and soft snowy color under
meath. They splashed about their mar
row home yesterday, and frolicked as
contentedly as though it was an icy bay
of the north. They frequently rose to
blow, and the water bubbled and frothed
as their huge heads rose above the sur.
face. One of them had wounded his
Huke against jagged edge Of the tank
walls early in the day, and the flow of
blood had dyed the water crimson:
These whales are the first of the kind
that were ever taken alive, and many
people know not that such creatures
exist.


Mr.. Coup has long been anxious to
secure specimens of the white whale,
and to that end he kept men along the
Labrador coast for several years, but
without success. At length he dis
patched his brother, Il. F. Coup, late last
winter to the north, with instructions
not to return until he had captured a
white whale. Mr.. Coup reached a
French fishing village on the island OF
Aux Coudres, off the coast, fitted out,
and started with schooner and thirty
fishermen. They sailed two hundred
miles along the coast. At first the fish
erffAen looked upon the strangers with
suspicion, and said that the yankees
had brought bad luck, as the good fish
ing that had existed up to the time oi
their arrival had ceased" They wished
the party to leave, but as there soon
followed wonderful flow of luck, the
Frenchmen ascribed the change to Mr.
Coup and his men, and were thereafter
ready to do anything to help on the un
dertaking.


On the coast of Labrador the tide rises
about fifty or sixty feet, and so quickly
that fish are often left high and dry or
the shore before they can return. White
whales run up to the coast in this way
and are harpooned by the Frenchmen
Mr.. Coup sank large box in the sand.
of the shore. When the whales had
swan with the tide, and then found the
water suddenly leaving them, they nat
urally made break for the deeper water
of the pond, and were thus penned there
whom the sea had gone back.


The female of the two beasts died yes
terday afternoon by slowly bleeding t
death. She rose to the surface, and
after many struggles, rolled over on one
side and was dead. Her body was takel
from the tank with derrick, and las
evening it lay in the path about tn,
little pond. There was long deep gasl
in the throat, and it is believed that al
artery was cut. 1t is intended that tn
skin shall be stuffed.
Year: 1876

In purchasing tools and implements
those that are lightest, other things be-
ing equal, should be chosen. 10 handle
a hcayv tool is waste of muscle, now
that steel is in universal use for the best
kinds. Even a hoe should be sharp and
bright TO be most effective, and in a
mower a dull knife will double the draft.
This is equally true of horsepower ma
chimes and of hand tools.
Year: 1876

Nor long since billiard player in
London in lighting cigar accidentally
let his match fall upon billiard-ball,
which at once burst into fame. Efforts
were made to extinguish it, unavailingly,
and it had to be left until it was COM
pletely consumed, which process took a
quarter of an hour. The explanation of
this strange phenomenon was sought,
this being the first time billiard-ball
had been known to act in such marvel
Gus manner, the curiosity of the specta-
ters being naturally excited. A chemist
explained the secret of the unexpected
combustion: The substance with which
the new ivory is made is called cellu-
loid, and is mixture of gun. cotton and
camphor, compressed and dried. 1t forms
a hard, elastic material, which, when
polished, has an absolute resemblance to
ivory.
Year: 1876

Two Virginians sent David Howard,
of New York, five hundred dollars,
thinking they would get counterfeit
money in return for it. They got only
sawdsst, and David is now on trial for
sending swindling circulars through the
mails. His lawyers urge that his kind
of villainy does more to suppress coun-
terfeiting than the officers of the Gov
ernment. This is their argument:
"The men who were defrauded in this
manner were men who, if dealing with
genuine counterfeiters, would food the
country with counterfeit money; but
after being once bitten by one of these
sharpers it would be impossible for a
genuine counterfeiter to have any deal
ings with them. Instead of being sent
to the State prison, the Government
ought to pay Howard to continue in the
business"
Year: 1876

ticket, at this time, is simply to in
crease the chances of democratic
success is too palpable for any con-
siderable proportion of the people
to be won over to second it, and
that those who have assumed leader
ship 1--WE may say ownership of the
new party, are not the right men to
lead it to success. is so apparent
that we are surprised that they pre-
sist in retaining positions in which
they are evidently doing the cause
they profess to advocate more harm
than good. It's this fact that causes
their sincerity to be suspected. Per-
sons will not believe that they can
not see what it is impossible for 9TH
ers to escape noticing.
Year: 1876

and, by doing this, may make a
smaller amount of capital available
in securing more profitable trade
than that which we are in danger of
losing. We are able, likewise, to
improve the crossing IF the Missis-
sippi river, so as to make the city
accessible to our Wisconsin neigh
bors at all seasons of the year, and
thus draw trade thence almost suhi-
cient to compensate for what we
can expect to lose.


Experience teaches us that manu-
featuring establishments will pay
here. We are close to large body
Of splendid hard wood timber, have
an abundant supply of soft wood
timber near at hand, are within easy
reach of the pineries, and have the
river on which to import cheaply
supplies of iron and coal and send
off manufactured products. In these
respects there is no other small city
in Minnesota as eligibly situated as
Red Wing. With such advantages
at their command, if the property
holders of this city fold their hands
and quietly permit the fate which
the croakers predict to overtake
them, all we have to say is: they will
deserve the evils they may have to
suffer. To make these advantages
useful we must be alive to their im-
portance and active to seize upon
and apply them; and if this is done
the time is not far distant when Red
Wing will take fresh start and grow
so rapidly in wealth, influence and
extent, that even the Jeremiahs
amongst us will have to become
cheerful and consent to a postpone
ment of the calamities which now
af1ict their desponding souls.
Year: 1876

Red Wing, like every other city,
has its croakers who predict its early
decline and ultimate desertion.
They point to the fact that the town.
ships along the line of the proposed
Midland railroad are subscribing lib-
eral bonuses to that road, and that,
therefore, the road will be built
and the trade of that region diverted
from this city. That another road
will probably be built from St. Paul
to Davenport, Iowa, in the early
future, running through this county
form Cannon Falls to Pine Island,
and depriving us of the trade from
another slice of territory now trib-
utary to Red Wing.


Looking across the river, they be.
hold in the future, the West Wiscon-
sin road sending a branch from Eau
Clair to Wabasha and attracting the
entire trade of Pierce county from
this doomed locality. After sur
rounding the city with a network of
railroads, all carrying trade that for
merly came hither to rival towns,
they announce their determination
of abandoning us to our fate and
clearing out for Texas, Oregon or
Stevens county. They cannot be-
lieve that their predictions may not
come true, SO terribly in earnest are
they, and they seem to regard those
of su who hesitate about accepting
their statements as objects of pro-
foundest pity. They remind us of
what must have been the appearance
of Lot when he traversed the streets
of Sodom, just previous to the great
fire.


1t is true that our croakers have
some ground for their gloomy appre-
tensions; and while it may not be
necessary to '.jump out of the frying
pan into the fire" by going to Texas,
Oregon or Stevens county, it will be
we'll enough for us to look at the cir
cumstances which have alarmed
them, and seek something to coun-
terbalance such contemplated draw
backs on our prosperity.


1t is true that the railroads which
have frightened them are not and
may not be built; but it is possible
that they may be. Hence, the nec-
essity exists for at once taking steps
to prevent injury resulting there
from.


What can be done to keep the
amount of ftrade we have and attract
more ? is the question we should ask
ourselves. We are not able to build
railroads, and have no friends to
build them for us. We are able,
however. to build factories and to
foster and encourage those we have,
Year: 1876

From the New York Herald of Sunday.


For several days past there have been
in circulation tickets bearing the startling
heading Go to Hell Gate on Sunday
next, September 2l, 1876. Grand dyna-
mite and nitro 6 lycerine excursion. No
return tickets necessary. Mothers-in-la law
free n. B The steamer, with the usual
enterprise OF her owners, viii 90 nearer
the blast than any other boat, her anchor
age being directly over the excavation" -"
1t is said that the idea originated with a
few newly married young men, and the
demand for tickets was such as to startle
even the most sanguine OF its projectors,
the entire lot being sold in a single day,
| and fabulous prices being offered for them
by youths who have recently married into
New ork families. Application was made
to General Newton to permit the vessel to
pass within his lines, and although that
gentleman was not personally in sympa-
| thy with the object of the excursion, he
gave the desired permission The tickets
were printed upon embossed paper and
bore within wreath at the top the mot
TO, Hit Him Again p Altogether they
were very tasteful and attractive About
1000 of them were distributed and not
| one-tenth OF the demand was supplied
Much to the surprise of the enthusiastic
young men, many of the ladies refused to
90 at all, and those who did not refuse re-
ceved the tickets very coolIy Fora time
it looked as though the affair would be 4
failure, until one of the y n. NJ M. sug.
| gested to his wife's maternal relative that
after all he thought she should not go, as
| the excitement might prove injurious to
elderly people. That settled it. The lady
remarked that "she generally ruled hel
own affairs, and was not aware that she
was in need of sympathy" She immedi
arely announced to the other matrons o


her acquaintance that she was going tt
manage the craft, whereupon every wife:
mother of them declared that none but sht
knew how to handle it, and the controver


sy is still in progress. The young mcr
spent last night in prayer that the weather
would not be such as to prevent the sue


cess Of the excursion, and that the invited
ladies may not determine to stay at home
Year: 1876

The Communications Of those who have been
its guests, is the best advertisement for the
American House of Boston. This great hotel is
centrally and most conveniently located, is sup
piled with all modern improvements, and is
most desirable home for the visitor to Boston.
Year: 1876

A parent, unlike n poet, is not born
l,e is made. There are certain things
which he has at onc0 to learn, or he will
have no more influence over his child
than il hc were common stranger. To
gain obedience, you must first set your
sell to deserve it. Whatever you
promise your little one, however small
the thing may seem to you, and what.
over trouble it costs you, perform it.
Never let the doubt once enter that in.
nocent mind that you say what you do
not mean, or will not act up to what
you say. Make as few prohibitory laws
as You possibly can, but once made,
keep them. Iu what is granted, M in
what is denied, compel yourself, how
ever weary, or worried, or impatient, to
administer always even.handed Justice.
Year: 1876

The nomination of Hayes and
Wheeler appears everywhere to have
been received with much greater
favor than could reasonably have
been anticipated for any ticket. The
leading Independent journals of the
country endorse it with rare unan-
unity, and we see that many promi-
nent politicians who have been ir-
reconcilably opposed to the present
National Administration are taking
an active part in ratification meet
ings, while there is not q murmur of
disappointment or dissatisfaction to
be heard from any section OF the
Republican party. 1t will take q
very strong nomination at st. Louis
to make anything like an equal con-
test, and of that there is very little
hope in the present aspect of affairs.
Our lifelong party sympathies
naturally incline us to wish for a
Democratic victory, if the best in
terests of the country could be pro-
NOTED thereby; but it seems now as
if there is very small hope of any
such result. The rascal element
in the Democratic party, as repre-
sented by the. Tammany ring in the
East and the repudiators Of the
West will defeat the nomination or
election of any candidate honestly
and sincerely devoted to reform.
Year: 1876

SINGULAR FAsCINATIoN.-Some people
find it impossible to stand at the edge
of a precipice, or on an elevated site.
without experiencing a singular desire to
spring over. A gentleman who recently
travelled in Europe communicated some
singular facts about his experience in
this regard. Ie says Last summer
l talked with tGe guardian of the s:eep!e
of the cathedral ut Strasbnrg, and he
informed me that but few visitors were
free from a feeling of fright ou reaching
.he first terrace, which is of great alti-
tude, and that it was SO rronounced MS
to refuse to 90 higher. = metimes the
women tainted. There - really Lo
danger. the terrace being securely gaard-
ed by stron. iron rails. This mau of
the upper air. guardian or guide, inform
ed me that the summer before, an Eng
lishman tainted but he determined to
overcome his fright. and continued to
ascend every day for a week, until he
could look out in the direction of the
Black Forest, from the lantern. with
equanimity. During the summer man
had jumped into the air through altitude
fascination. He was probably deau
before reaching the ground, on account
of the immense height from which he
hurled himself. Formerly the vendome
column was the scene of so many deaths
of this kind that decree was issued
to prevent visitors from ascending it
unless accompanied by a guardian. A
year ago yourg man jumped from the
dome of the capital at Washington. fell
on the roof below. and was instantly
killed. His was another instance of
fatal altitude fascination.