smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

KENTUCKY, the land of big caves, big
bones and big bonanzas. reports another
wonder in the shape of an immense
cave, in which there was pile of stones
in the form of a cube, covered with
moss. On being broken open this was
found to contain a gigantic skeleton.
Beside it lay copper sword four and
half feet long, a copper bowl, stone ak
and seven arrow-heads and other objects
of interest to the archeologist.
Year: 1876

A LIVELY ToRPEDo.-Congress adj


journed early on Saturday afternoon,


and large number of members, accom-
panied by distinguished officials, went
to the navy yard to witness experiments
to be made with the Lay torpedo. This
is one of the most formidable torpedoes
yet invented. It carries its own motive
power, and is guided through the water
by electricity, acting through small
cable following it. By this same means
it can also be guided to right or left,
made to go fast or slow, as the engineer
shall direct. In case Of an engagement
at sea this engine of death can be launch
ed and sent out in any direction at a
rate of speed equaling Is knots an hour
and can be controlled with accuracy to a
distance of five miles. If this new tor
pedo proves to be all that is claimed for
it, it will revolutionize sea warfare. With


it vessels attacking a torpedo boat could
never get within range before they
| would be destroyed. The experiment
of this afternoon was a very beautiful
| and successful one. The torpedo, when
launched, carried smaller torpedo up
on its toward point, for the purpose OF
| illustrating what would be done without
| destroying the entire machine in the
water. This iron-clad, round, cigar


shaped torpedo looked every inch like
some sea monster. It would dash here
| and there as if it were imbued with 6
life peculiarly its own. Finally it was
recalled from great distance and sem


to explode a small raft stationed a quar-
| ter of mile from the directing engl


neer. The torpedo dashed for this plat
form with vim and directness tha. sur
| prised everyone. Some thought tha
| the raft was too small to be hit at frs
venture, but the aim of the engineer


was unerring, the torpedo striking The
raft directly in the centre and in sec


ond afterward the whole raft was flying


upward, blown into thousand pieces
Year: 1876

Coop MoLAssEs CANDY.-2 pounds
white coffee sugar, 1 quart molasses
sirup, 8 tablespoonfuls of vinegar; put
in a small piece of butser. You can tell
when it is. boiled enough by dipping
your finger into a cup of cold water,
then into the candy, quickly back into
the water, and if that which sticks to
your finger is hard and snaps, the candy
is done, and should be poured upon a
essence of lemon, then pull it till ii
becomes white.
Year: 1876

A FAMILY JoURNAb.-In certain
farm house twenty years ago great
blank book was kept, and tabled Home
Journal. Every night some one made an
entry in it. Father set down the sale OF
calves, or mother the cut of the baby s
eye-tooth or, perhaps, Jenny wrote q
full description of the sleighing party
last night; or Bob the proceedings of
the Phi Beta club /; or Tom scrawled
''Tried my new gun. Bully. Shot into
the fence and Johnson's old cat


On toward the middle of the book
there was an entry of Jenny's marriage
and one Of the younger girls had added
q description of the bridesmaids dresses
and long afterward there was written,
'This day father died." in Bob's trem-
bling hand. There WAS blank of many
months after that.


But nothing could have served better
to bind that family of hcadstrong boys
and girls together than the keeping of
this book. They come back to tie old
homestead now, men and women with
grizzled hair, to see their mother who is
still living, and turn over its pages rev.
erently with many hearty laugh, or
the tears coming into their eyes. It
is their childhood come back again in
visible eshape.-Sc1i6ners's Monthly.
Year: 1876

til May half q years interest is lost on the value of the field. It might be sown to turnips, and if three roots weighing four pounds each were raised on the square yard, there would be nearly thirty tons, or 900 bushels of roots, to every acre. A peck ot rape might be sown in August on an cat stubble, and enough feed raised in two months on each acre to feed ten sheep or two COWS till after snow falls. There would likewise be mass of roots and refuse left on the ground that would pay all the cost of the crop. In this way, a farm may be made to carry more stock, produce more manure, aud increase the regular crops yearly. The soil ought always to be kept produc- ing, and i, is q mistake to sup pose that ''catch crops" are not beneficial.
Year: 1876

Hot Springs Telegraph: A guest of the Avenue hotel, while walking near the embankment near Major Wittington's residence Saturday night, fell and broke one of his legs just above the ankle joint. He was carried into the house and his wound dressed. He will have long and painful time of it before he will be able to 'xalk. The cmbankment where he fell Is not over two feet high, and how man could break his leg from such fall is rather cu- rious. But such was the case.

 Des Are Citizen: Last Thurs day night two men, named Doxey and Kilgore, stopped on MT. Perec's place on Bayou Des Arc to camp. During the night they visited negro cabin and raised a row. when MT. Pearce went out and inquired what they were do ing there. They answered him with a pistol shot. Mr. Pearce left the scene and came to town. When the officers of the law went to search for them they were in. formed that they had armed them selves we'll and lsft home, saying they would not De taken. They are probably under the impress sion they had killed Pearce.

 Hot Springs Telegraph: A man named Copeland was burned in such q terrible manner last Tues day night that his life is despair ed of. It seems that he had been to town during the day, and was on his way home when night overlook. him.. He campel near the house of a cslored man named Peter Henderson, living some three miles from town on the Cedar Glades road. He was un- der the influence of drink, and went to sleep near fire which lie had kindled and during the night, in rolling about, got into the fire, and when found his boots were burned off and his legs roasted to crisp. It is said that he cannot possibly live.
Year: 1876

This little sentence should be written on every heart and stamp ed on every memory. It should be the golden rule of every house hold throughout the world. By helping one another we not only remove therns from the pathway and anxiety from the mind but we feel a sense of pleasure in our hearts knowing we arc doing a duty to q fellow creature. A helping hand. or an encouraging word, is no loss to us, yet is a benefit to others. Who has not felt the power of this little sen tencc? How soothing when per plcXed with some task that is mysterious and burthcnsomc, to feel a gentle hand on the shoul- der and to hear a voice whisper ing, Do rot feel discouraged. l see you're troubl ed--let us help you" What strength is inspired, what hope created, what sweet gratitude is felt and the great difficulty is dissolved as dew be- meath the sunshine. Yes, let us help one another by ondeayoring to strengthen and encourage the weak, and lifting the buden of care from the weary and oppress- cd, that life may glide smoothly on, and the iount of bitterness yield sweet waters; and He, whose willing hands arc ever ready to aid us. will reward our humble endeayors, and every good deed will be a3 thread east upon the waters to return aster many days

 if not to us, to those we love"
Year: 1876

kXpercnce shows that crops known as catch crops may often be most valuable. When a field is idle the farmers money is not at interest When the rye or oat stubbIes lie idle from August un
Year: 1876

We do not read anonymous letters and communi-
cations The name and address of the writer are in
all cases Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty Of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or reserve commu-
nications that are not used.
Year: 1876

like that of a Canary bird. At various and


uncertain hours of the day and night. and


in different localities in the house. the


mysterious melody would break out, puzzling


and delighting the inmates. After awhile


the mystery was spartially solved-at least It


was discovered that the sweet singer was a


mouse and straightway plans were adopted


Tor the capture of his mouseship. A trap
6i did the work, and few mornings ago Mr..
Stevens family awoke to find their SINGING
mouse prisoner. This minstrel mouse
is not unlike Others of its species except in
the item of color, it being of a light brown.
Though in durance vile, the little animal is
apparently contented and happy. and con.
tlnues to warble as cheerily as ever. Tie
has been transferred toa neat little cage and
entertains the family, and numerous
visitors who are attracted by the curiosity.
with almost constant warbling. Our in,
torment says that the singing is precisely
ike that OF Canary bird, and that no one
would imagine otherwise than that he was
listening to fine specimen of this pon,,lar
ieathered choristef. Is there no sell or no
toy in this wonder. -'0
Year: 1876

OF COURSE NoT.-To defy the law re


quiring an appropriation to be made for tn,


construction of bridge over Smyrna Creek


at or near Deakyne's Landing, seems to be


prerogative that the Levy Court of this


county has taken upon ITSELF To shirk


such laws as it does not want to obey


causes it regret only when it fails in the


Sinking; as the dog law, for instance. If


to be law-abiding is a virtue, it is virtue


that our jerrymandering Levy Court does


not covit. 1t seems to be wholly in the


Interests of a clique-the majority, we


mean.


The law requiring the appropriation above


mentioned was passed in 1873. The Levy
/. Court OF New Castle county obeyed the


law and made its share of the appropriation.
The Levy Court of this county defied the
law for two years and then tried to induce
the last Legislature to repeal it. They
falled, however, and now they propose to
go on as usual with the defiance. The
question was brought up lasfweek, when
the body refused to make the appropria.


lon by majority of one-5 to A. Mr..
Register, the member from this Hundred.
desired the question to be decided by
rising vote, but the majority covered up
their tracks by carrying it through bv
ballot. Ballots didn't require them to show
their hands. The ostensible grounds upon
which the appropriation was voted down
was that of expense to the county that
the county, being already in debt, would
nave to borrow the money. To offset this
objection Mr.. Register informs us that he |
agreed to take off portion of the road an. |
preparation awarded to his Hundred. so |
that not cent would have to be borrowed |
Out the majority saw that if Mr.. RS plan
was accepted the bridge could be provided
1or, and as that was just what they were
trying to avoid, they went on with the vote
that carried their point. Mr.. R. further
states that the records show that for
years past Duck Creek Hundred has not
used Its proportional share of the appro.
priatlons for roads and bridges, and that
ne called the attention of the majority to
Lhe TACT, but they were none the less deter. i
mined to kill the measure by reason of I
mat TACT. The cost of the bridge, we be- t
leVe was to be about $1,000, which ex. L
'ense was to be shared equally by the two
counties.


just why the majority of the Levy Court y y
re so Indignantly determined to violate =
hls law is hard to determine. Some saw = =
hey want to spite Smyrna. We do not u
nink that. But they certainly have
etter conception of the place they fill than at
neglect their sworn duty for the luxury ea
being spiteful. The bridge will be no to
enett to this town. 1t will be six miles vi
way from here.
Year: 1876

4 naturalist. while investigating the
causes and effects of the poison Of a
wasp sting, noply determined to make
Of himself martyr to science, and ac-
cordingly handed his thumb to an i'm
patient insect be had Gagged in bottle.
The wasp entered into the martyr bust
ness with . great deal Of spirit. and
backed up to the thumb with an ab-
ruptness which took the scientist by
surprise He was % deeply absorbed
in the study OF remedies that he forgot
to make any notes, but his wife wrote .
paragraphs In his note book. for the bs1-
eli, of science. that the primary effect
of wasp sting is abrupt and terrific.
and such words"
Year: 1876

A Nebraska Journal invitin.ly says ;
"Who says people cannot get rich in
this State: Fifteen years ego . young
man came into this State without dol
lar in the world Last week he went
out Of the State. carrying with him the
sum of one dollar and thirty eight cents,
the savings Of fifteen years Of frugal
life Come West. young man, come
West "
Year: 1876

SIGNS OF YOUNG FowLs.-A
young turkey has smooth.
black leg in All old one the legs
are rongh and reddish. In domes
tic fowls the combs and LEGS are
smooth when the bird is young
aud rough when it is old. The
bills and the feet Of a geese are
yellow and few hairs upon them
when the bird is young 4; they
are red if it be old. The feet Of a
goose are pliable when the bird
is fresh killed, and dry and stiff
when it has been some time kill.
ed. Geese are called green till
they are two or three months old.
Ducks should be chosen by the
feet, which should be supple, and
they should also have a plump
hard breast. The feet of a tame
duck are yellOwish, those of a
wild one reddish. If the rear end
OF the keel bone of u dressed
fowl be elastic, so that you can
bend 1t trifle, it is a certain sign
the bird is not over a year old.
Year: 1876

man, Conkling, Edmunds, Frelinghuy-
sen, Jones, Christiancy, and Burnside,
not to speak of others, owe the country a
duty in this relation. No false sense of
their Senatorial dignity, and no dread of
Il rebuff, can excuse them from speedy
and earnest effort to recall President
Grant to his former and better self.


We especially urge this lofty duty upon
Senator Conkling. His personal rela-
tons to the White House enable him to
undertake it with an assurance of sue
cess. He enjoys such u measure of the
Presidents esteem that he was his favorite
for the succession. He has held himself
aloof from all the acrimony of the politi-
cal campaign. Often before this occasion
he has shown keen sense of honor, n
high degree of independence and a warm
spirit of patriotisminIpublic emergencies.
In his Instance opportunity now waits
upon capacity. 1t is the crisis of his
public career. If he will rise to its re-
Iuirements, if he will speak the words
his country yearns to hear-words to
allay passion, soothe animosity and COM
mand the union of all moderate men-we
shall not mourn as now we do that the
great political leaders of our fathers-the
Websters and Clays and Bentons-have


mounted to the skies; for we shall know
that the prophets mantle has fallen upon
as great successor. Elijah has gone for
ever, but Elisha will remain to Israel.
Year: 1876

The Wesleyan Union seniors have
left the poetess out in the cold. The
young lady who was fairly elected class
poet has been forced TO resign, and
Young man has been chosen in her place.
Year: 1876

This is world full Of trouble, full Of
disappointment, as we all know; but
there is, after all, no folly so great as
that Of ceasing to invite the smiles of
Hope, not only because her smiles are
SO sweet, but because while we live,
there must always be some good, as
well as some sorrow, awaiting us.


We can no more stand still in life
than We can turn back. When we have
no desire to 60 on, invisible forces are
at work to compel US to do so. There
are things we must do; people we must
meet; events that will accrue to u.s.
We cannot believe that the deeds will
all be such as we must regret, the
events all sorrowful ones, the new ac-
quaintances all enemies.


And since we may do good, and
have good done to us-since true hearts
may meet ours, though we to-day do
not SO much as know that they beat
what may we not hope?


Your home may be cold and dark,
but it is not because the sun does not
shine. 1t only needs hand to open
the door. and put aside the curtain, to
let in warmth and light. So, any mo-
ment the shut doors Of your life may
open, and earth's sunshine. fall across
your heart Wait and hope it is only
that the angel whose mission it is to do
this deed tarries on the road.
Year: 1876

Like buds of spring,
Sweet words are born from darkness ano
despair,
And watt new fragrance through the sunny
air;


Glad spirits sing.


All ! ye who fought,
And nobly fought as warriors fit to die,
Shall ye the power of brotherhood defy,


By death untaught?


The right and wrong
Are buried with the dust of those who sleep
In the warm stiffness of earth's bosom deep,


And life is strong.


Forgive Forgivel
Thus sings the sunlight as it gently glides
Into each burdened heart that doubt divides


Forgive and live


Forgive Forgive
Oh /! ye to whom the plying Heaven had
deigned
Mans sovereign rights by tyrant power dis
dalned,


Forgive and livel


o love divine
Arise. arise, that souls may worship thee,
That souls may glorify thy name, and see


Their strength in thine


Men, ye are kings
But strife will make ye brutes, unfit to sway
The kingdom of the future, formed to-day


The least of things


Eternal God !
Fill these great hearts with Thine eternity
Let union strew with flowers of liberty


The aching sod
Year: 1876

The following is said to be one Of


Dom Podro's letters home, intercepted


by the Cincinnati Saturday Night


PHILADELPHIA, May 8, '76.-I must


write you of the peculiar treatment of


idiots in the United States. In Brazil,


as you know, we confne that unfortu-


nate class in the asylums and submit


them to such humane treatment as will


mitigate their calamity if it does not


improve their mental condition, but in


this country asylums have been abol-


ished and idiots are treated to an exer-


else called ''base ball." All do not


play at once, of course. A great body


Of them 60 into some open lot. and


mine" are selected to play against


another so-called "nine," while the re-


naming idiots sit and stand around,


uttering incoherent gibberish meanwhile
and indulging in idiotis yells at frequent
intervals went out to what they called
the ''base ball grounds" the other day,
and found at least 10000 people con-
gregated there. They were of all ages,
sizes, sexes. and conditions, and all
more or less demented. From my OBJ
servations that day, I cannot say that I
was favorably impressed with base ball
treatment for the feeble minded. I
think the, old fashioned asylum, with its
attendant discipline, is better for them
would like to describe "base ball' if
1 could, but it so foolish performance
that it is difficult for a sensible man to
convey an ineligible idea of it to read
ers in the full possession Of their intel
lects. Suffice it to say that it consists
mainly in one man flinging a ball at
another, who makes wild and ofttimes
fruitless effort to hit it with club. The
former is called pitcher" He takes
the ball in his hand, scrutinizes it care
fully to make sure that it isn't Goldfish
ball, then glances up at the clouds to
see if it is likely to rain, then casts his
eye around at the infirm intellects who
are watching him SO intensely from the
benches, looks intently at the ground
as if selecting some good spot to sit down
then wheeling suddenly on his heel he
spins the ball with swift jerking mo-
ton towards the man with the bat. You
cannot imagine the frantic yells that
crowd of impaired mental constitutions
sends up if the latter hits it and sends
it spinning long distance, particular
ly if it isn't captured by the nimble
idiots who run after it before he can
run around given circle. l was
curious to know whether or not this
exercise was pecuniarily profitable to
those who participated in it, and asked
the aforementioned base ball reporter,
"Do these unfortunate creatures who
play base ball ever make anything?"
and he replied, "Oh, yes, they make
their home base occasionally" Poor
fellows, should think they weuld make
home base enough, but Of course they
can't help it. They were born SO for
The most part. though I am told that
base ball idiocy is contagious and on the
increase,
Year: 1876

for the occasion and Elder Van h
was with him, engaged to perform tht
service which would follow the meeting


STRAIT was not astonished to find Lins
there-he had expected it-but he wat
now more surprised to find every young
girl in the village there. all dressed in
their best, and all looking at him in the
most mysterious manner.
I'll never trust woman with another
secret while I live, said STRAIT to him.
self when he heard some of the girls
giggliDg.
And as the train had not yet arrived
he called Lima one side and said re.
proachfully:


You've told my secret.


On my word 1t has neuer passed my
lips said Lima, and she spoke the
truth.


But now the whistle of the locomo-
tive was heard, and in thundered the
train. There we're but few passengers
on board and only one stopped at the
depot She was of African descent,
weighed every pound of two hundred
and behind her came three little woody
headed young ones.


Whar's dat man dat wanted cook
and housekeeper she exclaimed. He
was to meet me at the depot, and Use
here!


Talk of Comanche yelling! A band
Of fifty never could outscream that bevy
of young girls, who looked at the wo-
man first and STRAIT next.


The latter smelt mouse larger than
mountain He looked around one
minute, and if be had seen man laugh
ing that man would have gone down
like an OK beneath the butchers mallet.


Some one had played the poor bache-
lor rascally trick, but who it was he
knew not. Something left his lips
which so shocked the elder that he
turned away without word, and left
the depot.


STRAIT jumped into his hired carriage
and told the driver to whip up his
horses and drive to--a very hot
place was named


The last thing STRAIT heard was:


Whar's dat man dat was to meet me
at the depot?


A peal Of ringing laughter, with
Lina's voice the loudest and merriest of
all, was the refrain that followed.


Poor STRAIT isn't married yet


Moral.-Don't answer matrimonial
advertisements, or you may rue it.