smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

only the machinery o. the horrd maserpiece The red
glare Of night had changed into blcak dawn and tho
dawn had oha9god into high noon before helpfn hand
broke into the back 0seotha. The barnmaster Bush,
before dawD took horse and attempted 10 make his way
TO Little Sturgeon; as wen try 70 ride through stone
wall Leaving his horse behind he strur0ed NV the
bright light Of the burning pinea and after
IN the way and out OF the way some time about
daylight he came upon the ruins or q Iumbermans
than two miles from the MIL. He had been hours
and agony Of the night, he sat down to
rest Presently the owner came and together the two
started back to the settlement They first TO
the wen. Merrill apparently quite dead taken out
crowded below a mother at the bottom Merrill sOon
gave feeble evidence OF be and cared for once
Bush ran 10 the TO aid the old voman the blankets
were rolled away The stone was bare and vestige
OF Mrs Williams could be found Then they came upon
the pit An gushabe heap OF arms, legs, and
bodfes perfectly still and wholly naked was all that
mained OF Che that came there In abundant Life


few hours before They all dead and few Of them
recognizable. Seven Wamsons perfshed In the group,
among others the young girl whose long black hair was
found clutched In masses In her uncharred hande.


The darkness OF night threw plying vail over
the scene when the hrst relief from outside had sue
ceeded In cutting way through. Tho WORK OF DurlN
fatal clearing The venerable mother was loud on the
road 10 Big Sturgeon the day after her terrible eh
posure, very feeble and worn out. She WAS tcnuery
cared and In fair way regain what she can COUNT
but ttle-her health. One out or three was spared
Her husband laid hs gray hairs in the terrible
deadly night To this day the woods are not clear OF
their dead Bodies In every stage OF decay are
brought In by the committees and until tnet ID ehueu
the grand total can only be matter OF conjecture
Year: 1871

A HINT TO OUR CITY FATHERs.-San Fran
cisco has been experimenting in sidewalks,
and has invented an elevated, peripatetic foot
way, but which does not appear to operate
satisfactorily, as the Common Council of that
city recently passed an ordinance that ''no
person shall carry basket or baskets upon
any sidewalk suspended from or attached to
poles across or upon the shoulders" We call
the attention of our own City Council TO this
novel plan for sidewalks. 1t offers splendid
chance for at least dozen first class '.jobs"
1t is about time TO squander another million or
two In experiments. From the present con-
dition of some of our public streets, numbered
as they are with piles Of dirtiiied ice and
slush hillock high, almost any experiment
tending to relief for pedestrians and teamsters,
to say nothing of the poor horses, would prove
blessing
Year: 1871

From the Annapolis tMd.l Gazette, Jan. 3ll


The NEW YORK HERALD continues to be the leading
newspaper of the United States-indeed of the whole
world-for enterprise and success In all its news
departments. II has had many competitors for the
leadership, ana thousands OF money have been
squandered In the effort to outstrip il In the
race for the latest and most reliable news from all
quarters or the globe. No prudent city merchant
broker or live business man would venture upon the
days operations before consulting the columns of
the HERALD and carefully considering the effect OF
its news from Ru quaiters-the latest and most re-
liable-may have upon the business Of trade, and
those who are not in the whirl Of trade and COM
columns, would find themselves a day behind in the
worlds doings. This leadership In the newspaper
business mas been earned by skill and enterprise
and the most liberal use OF money for correspon-
dence, for kilograms. for expresses and for ali the
appliances by which time and space may be annihi-
lated. May success continue TO crown with laurels
the unrlvalled newspaper OF the world-The NEW
YORK HERALD
Year: 1871

The compromise in regard to general am
nesty In the South, which abolishes the test
oath-that iron-clad that has kept upa mortar
fire on Southerners ever since Lee and Kirby
Smith surrendered-was passed in the House
on Wednesday, after an agonizing attempt
on the part of blinded radicals to stay it. We
have frequently been called upon to warn the
democracy Of their short-sightedness and
laundering, but that party has no such
instance Of mulishness on its record as the
radicals have exhibited in this matter of am
nesty.' Ben Butler and all his partisan
adherents see that general amnesty is
Inevitable, and yet they allow themselves to
be pushed toward ito be driven inch by
inch toward the inevtable-when they should
take time by the forolock (and, fguratively,
they would be taking the scalps of their
enemies at the same time) and declare in
enc generous measure full and free pardon to
all the South. They hold that it would be
giving the State governments over to the
rebels at once and that the rebels are full of
bitterness toward Union men; but, even if this
were 80, delay or niggardness would not help
it. The rebels will not love Union men any
the better for being themselves ground more
completely to earth by them, nor will they
seize the State governments with any less
avidity for being kept out Of them so much
longer. Even as an experiment it would be
well to try the effect of general amnesty
on the people of the South. They have
nothing else but disfranchisement to CON-
plain of now. They can find no fault with
the Union as it is, and have even had the
wind taken out of their sails regarding negro
suffrage. There would be no wrong of
which they could make political capital if
general amnesty were declared and carried
out. The question of reconstruction in the
South, on which the republican party has
made 80 many mistakes, would be a dead issue
in the campaign Of 1872, and the present ad-
ministraton could ride smoothly into Office on
some new and more satisfactory policy, such
as the Alabama claims, the payment Of the
debt, or the annexation of st. Domingo or
Cuba. We venture to say that the disfran-
chisement of the leading men of the South is
more satisfactory to the shyster democrats,
merely on the score of political capital, than
ever the ''nigger' was in the palmy old days
of slavery, or the ''iurriner" in the hot agita-
ton of the Know-Nothings.
Year: 1871

We invite the attention of our readers to
the elaborate report of a committee of the
Massachusetts Legislature, presenting nu-
merous points as to the propriety and ad-
vantage of the annexation of San Domingo.
The report is written with clearness, and is
one Of the most interesting documents yet
prepared on the subject of the resources of
San Domingo.
Year: 1871

Our readers will bear in mind that the
ladies' fair for St. Patrick's church will be
opened at Odd Fellows Hall next Friday
evening, the funds to be devoted to erecting
suitable building for a parochial female
school, under the charge of the Sisters of
Mercy
Year: 1871

American MILITARY LITERATURE. - The
Army and Nary Journal says We should
think that To a foreign observer one OF the
most remarkable peculiarities OF the Ameri-
can military service would be the absence Of
literary work Our officers are well educat-
ed. well trained in professional matters,
deeply interested in their calling, anttous
for It's improvement, and, to n fair exeby,
interested in literary labors. But in spite Of
all this they do exceedingly little work Of a
literary kind. 1t might be supposed that the
military service Of a republican country
would be noted for incessant discussion and
criticism Of military affairs But the truth
is that if discussion takes place it is almost
entirely confined to oral or to epistOlary chan
nels The explanation of this popularity is
simple and entirely commercial in character.
There is no market for military books. We
lack the large standing army Of some coun-
tries the national organization of others in
short, the purchasers Of military books. The
publishers cannot afford to publish such
works. We also lack the government aid
10 these valuable but commercially unproft-
able literary labors which more centralized
Governments are willing to give.


When we look at the periodical literature
of the country, we find it almost bare of
military topics. There is nothing in our
journalism which matches even in the least
decree the national anxiety with which
England discusses the organization of is
army; the possibility Of quarrel with
Prussia, the great terror of modern times;
the needs of infantry, cavalry, artillery,
railroad, telegraph, and dozen other ser
vices. There, members of Parliament
editors. and private men as well, make
these subjects their private study, and the
journals Of England bring weekly and almost
ia;Iv discussion of them. There the House
Of Commons, as guardian OF the nations
interests, has appointed numerous commis-
sions to inquire into the subject of great
guns, small arms, and almost all the military
Year: 1871

!. By rigidly ecouomizing the mauu.isl re-
sources If the farm. But very few of cur farm
ers seem to appreciate this necessity Of their
calling. Too many allow their manures to 20 10
waste by exposure TO the sun. winds and rains.
Others still do not see the Importance of saving
the liquid from their stock as OF equal value
with the solids The waste from the kitchen aud
the contents Of the water closet, if properly COM
posted, would he Of greater value than the same
amount OF many Of the commercial nanures that
are bought at high figure by our farmers


. By composing the muck and other vege-
table matter that has been accumulGting Tor
ages in our swamps and lowlands. By continual
washing the hillsides are being carried into our
swamps, where they are at present of no value to
the farm, ard never will be until they are re-
moved to the higher lands or mixed again with
the soil from whence they came. And here is
Just where we need the assistance Of the Hon
Board Of Agriculture. We want samples from
these swamps and lcwlands sufficiently analyzed
to enable us to know their value as fertilizers
with what they should be composted to the
greatest advantage how far they may be trans
ported with profit and how applied TO the soil
with the best results Many OF our farmers have
drawn out from their swsmps a large amount Of
muck. They have not had the necessary infor-
nation to enable them 10 work it to the best ad-
vantage, and concluding that it did not pay,
have ressrted to commercial manures only te
suffer greater disappointment as general rule


3. Another means Of restoring lost fertility is
by bringing back from the ocean salt, fish. and
other substances known to the farmer as COM
mercis fertilizers. And here again We wish 10
invoke the aid of the Hon. Board We have
paid thousands of dollars yearly for the last six
or eight years in this county alone, for these
commercial manures. Some brands have given
good satisfaction one year and the next they are
comparatively worthless. Other brands have
never given general satisfaction, aud we are
obliged to acknowledge, humb!ing as it may be,
that the majority of US who purchase these fer
tilizers are at loss after We have used them
whether or not they were good investment
Now if the Board o Agriculture have the means
at their command 10 procure an analysis Of the
leading fertilizers Offered for sale to the farmers
of the State, telling them just how much they
are worth as y manure. we shall be able, through
the assistance thus rendered, to buy the coed,
(if there be any, and reject the worthless. In
behslf of the working farmers, those who till
their lands with sher own hands, ask the Hon.
Board TO do all in this direction their means will
allow, with the assurance from US that we will
Just whisper in the ears Of our lawmakers, that
Year: 1871

One or Ma. GILLs JoKEs.-The late Mr.
Gill was noted for hs love Of good Joke. He
was reporting a dinner given On the 18th ami
versary Of the B4ttle Of Bunker Hill The din
ler was splendid affair, snd everybody Was
patriotic Gill, when the excitement was at
boiling point, Whispered to friend, one Of those
gentlemen who are always happy in speech
making, that his father was engaged in the Bat
tie of Bunker Hill. The orator rose, made a
speech-alluiing 70 ellis father and Gill, in the
highest terms, and proposed ellis health, which
was done with the usual h9nors, and one or two
more. There were loud shouts Of q Gill Gill 80
and he made speech, returned thanks in the
usual manner. and said - But my fciend
omitted one fact, one very important fact,
Of which he might have been unaware. My
father was in the Battle Of Bunker Hill, but be
unfortunately fought on the British site -
There was not much excitement after that
Pexfou V'rgvfIfer
Year: 1871

The Boston Traveller tells this
story: The pet Of a family residing
not far from LaGrauge street is a
hoy who has recently passed his
fifth year, and having just donned
his first jacket and trowsers, is at
tending primary school. The
other afternoon he failed. to come
home at the usual hour, much to
the alarm of the household, and af-
ter a long search he was found,
some time after dark, at the Prov
idencc depot. He was sent to bed
without much explanation, though


it is possible his treatment was
what Solomon would have recon-
mendcd in such an emergency. The
next morning he was down to the
breakfast table, evidently none the
worse for the lesson, and perhaps
the wiser. Taking advantage of a
lull in the conversation customary
at the morning meal, he turned his
grave countenancc toward the head
Of the table, and giving free vent to
his overchargcd mind, he exclaimed,
"I'll tell, you, mamma, how it hap
pened. After school l went part OF
the way home with Mary, and
at the corner Of a street where she
left me, kissed her, and she kissed
me, and then found l was lost
There was an explosion around the
table Just about that time. 1t is
suspected that this is not the first
young gentleman who has been lost
under similar circumstances.
Year: 1871

There are a great many people
who are subject to ''bilious at.
tack" every spring, and who expect
it as a matter of course. The Herald
Of Health says there is no more need
for people being thus sick in the
spring than at any other time Of the
year, it they only know how to live.
This periodical sickness can be pre-.
vented simply by regulating the
diet. Not that all persons who have
been subject to such attacks year af:
ter year, for long time, can always
overcome the difficulty at once. We
are all such creatures of habit that
when anything becomes established
in this way there is strong ten
dency to its return IT the regular
time, even after the producing cause
has ceased to operate; consequently
in bad cases it sometimes takes sew
eral years to overcome it entirely.
Under proper regimen the attacks
will grow less severe every year un-
til they entirely disappear.


During cold weather people eat
larger quantities than usual of car.
bonaccous food, such as fat meats,
sugar, butter, bread, cakes and 9TH
er preparations Of white or super.
fine flour, nuts, fats, syrups, etc. OF
course much larger quantity OF
carbonaccous food is required by
the system in cold weather than in
warm, but as a general thing people
eat too much Of it, clog up their sys-
TENS with the excess, and ovcrbur-
den the excrctory organs, particu-
larly the liver, in vain efforts to get
rid of it. Those who take a good
deal of outdoor exercise are usually
enabled to work it off, and seldom
suffer much in consequence, except
III hot weather; while those who
lead a scdendary indoor life suffer
most.


When warm weather comes on in
the spring, people require much less
carbonaceous food, but instead of
changing their diet as the weather
changes, they continue to eat the
same kinds Of food they have been
eating during the coolest weather
Of winter, and the consequence is
that the already overburdcned liver
is unable to bear up under this ex-
ira load, and utterly refuses to per-
form its function until it has had a
chance to rest and throw off it's ac-
cumulated burdens. Now, to pre-
vent this state of things two things
are necessary. FIRST, people must
eat less proportion Of carbonacc-
GUS food at all times. Second, as
the weather grows warmer in the
spring they must eat q much less
quantity of it than they do in cold
weather, and substitute instead more
vegetables and acid fruits. Every
family should have 4 large supply
ofcanned fruits and green vegeta-
bles to use at this time Of year. For
single article there is nothing so
good as tart apples, and they should
be used in unlimited quantities.
Year: 1871

for about four hours. Just before reaching
the top heard the sound of voices, and
upon rounding point Of rocks, who should
I sec but Benjamin p. Gum, seated on the
very edge Of the crater, explaining the en-
dowment plan to his guide, and stupefying
him with mortality table, while the doc
tor had the other guide few yards off, ex-
amining him to see II he was healthyl Mr.
Gum arose and said he was glad to see me,
because now we could talk over that busi-
ness about the policy without fear of inter
ruption. In paroxysm Of rage I pushed
him backwards into the crater, and he fell
thousand feet below with heavy thud.
As he struck the bottom heard a voice
screaming out something about "non-for-
feture;" but there was sudden convul-
sion of the mountain, a cloud of smoke, and
I heard no more.


know It was wrong. know had no
right to kill Gum in that manner; but he
forced me to do it In self-defense, and
hope his awful fate will be warming to
other insurance agents who remain among
PhiIddelDhid Dispatch.
Year: 1871

\ REMARKABLE RAT.-We often hear
and knowledge of the rat, but one is told.
says the Ogdensburg New York Journal,
of recent occurrence, in which real old
gray rat was the hero, aud the incident
whereof took place in that city, which is
equal to the best. A lady who has num-
ber of fine hens, to which she has devoted
a good deal of care and attention during
the winter, in hopes to obtain an early and
fair crop of fresh eggs, was surprised at the
meagre result actually reached. The hens
made noise, in singing and cackling
enough for everyday layers, and yet only
occasionally did she get an egg.


The lady at length determined to watch
operations, and ascertain If possible, the
cause of failure. She saw the hens go up
on the nest, but If she was not present
when they came Off no egg was found.
At length constant watching and waiting
solved the mystery. A day or two since,
while on the watch, hen came OFF the
nest and commenced cackling. Almost
instantly an old rat came out Of hole, and
running into barrel, which was thrown
down upon its side, and in which the hens
nest was, at once nosed the egg out upon
the ground, then laid down upon its back,
and getting the egg between its fore paws
and nose, commenced squealing, when two
other rats came out, and taking the rat with
the egg by the hind legs dragged it-egg
and all-into the hole. The lady atfirms
that she can subsiantiate the foregoing fact
by at least three living witnesses. If any
one can tell more remarkable rat story
than this we should like to hear 1t.
Year: 1871

The Great Falls are at the head of one OF
the most remarkable canons in the world
gorge through volcanic rocks fifty miles
long, and varying from 1000 to nearly 5000
feet in depth. In its descent through this
wonderful chasm the river falls almost 5000
feet. At one point, where the passage has
been worn through a mountain range, our
hunters assured US it was more than YER
teal mile in depth, and the river, broken
into rapids and cascades, appeared no wider
than ribbon. The brain reels as we gaze
into this profound and solemn solitude.
We shrink from the dizzy verge appalled,,
glad to feel the solid earth under our feet,
and venture no more, except with forms
extended, and faces barely protruding over
the edge Of the precipice. The stiffness is
horrible. Down, down, down, we see the
river attenuatad to thread, tossing its
miniature waves, and dashing, with puny
strength, the massive walls which mpris-
on it. All access to its margin is denied,
and the dark gray rocks hold it in dismal
shadow. Even the voice of its waters in
their convulsive agony cannot be heard.
Uncheered by plant or shrub, obstructed
with massive boulders and by jutting
points, 1t rushes madly on its solitary
course, deeper and deeper into the bowels
of the rocky armament. The solemn grand
eur Of the scene surpasses description. 1t
must be seen to be felt. The sense of dan
ger with which it impresses you is harrow
ing in the extreme. You feel the absence
of sound, the oppression of absolute silence.
If you could only hear that gurgling river,
if you could see living tree in the depth
beneath you, if a bird would fly past, if the
wind would move any object in the awful
chasm, to break for moment the solemn
silence that reigns there, it would relieve
that tension of the nerves which the scene
has excited, and you would rise from your
PROSTATE condition and thank God that he
had permitted you to gaze, unharmed, up
on this majestic display of natural archi-
lecture. As it is, sympathizing in spirit
with the deep gloom of the scene, you crawl
from the dreadful verge, scared lest the
firm rock give way beneath and precipitate
you into the horrid gulf-N p. Ldaqford
in ScTibner'S Monthly for May.
Year: 1871

How A JUDGE SLID DowN-uILL.-Judge
David IIibbard of West Concord is a digni-
fed, good looking man, and quite partcu-
lar in the matter of external appearance.
When away from his work he is generally
found in n black suit, silk hat, etc. Dirt
will not stick to him if he can prevent it.
Some dozen years ago, Wallace McGregor
proposed to the Judge to slide with him
down the steep hill near the foundry. The
Judges wife thought he was little too old
to mix with the boys in their sports, but
the judge was lover of air and exercise,
and concluded to unbend for once and have
good slide. SO in his silk hat and broad
cloth suit, he ascended the hill, straddled
the sled, and with Wallace on behind aimed
for the bottom. Now it SO happened that
the day before there had been thaw, and
Just at the bottom of the hill, where the
sled would be under the swiftest motion.
there had collected pond of slosh, consist
ing of water, mud, and the general wash OF
the road. A slight snow had covered this
pond, so that to the Judges unsuspecting
eyes it was unobserved. Just before the
sled reached the bottom, Wallace rolled of
to let the Judge explore the sea alone.
Those who witnessed his entry and exit
into that pond of filthy water describe it as
the most ludicrous scene which ever took
place in West Concord. Water and mud
flew in every direction, and presented the
appearance of a line of torpedoes exploding
in the mud. When the Judge came out he
was pretty well unbent; he was not neat
looking man, and made no pretensions to
dignity, but struck bee line for the house,
concluding to let the boys enjoy their
sports alone in the future Union.