smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

It seems somehow to be in the nature OF
democracies to run to over-legislation. With
the law-making power resident in the people,
or in O Legislature but one remove from them.
and of their direct creation, it is perhaps natural
that the individual citizen should feel that the
machinery Of government and the function of
legislation arc in some measure his personally.
He owns stock in it, is part of it, a member
of it, and of course proud of his influence in
it, lie goes to the polls and elects his man TO
represent him in the making of the laws. In
theory, he lays his hand upon the shoulder of
his representative, calls him-as the airy dema-
gogue in proud humility calls himself-a pub
lie servant and directs him what laws to make or
unmake, alter OF amend. This is his machinery,
for the doing of his work, and he would much
rather have it shine in use than rust unburn-
ished. So, no matter what his grievance
whether it be personal or political, local or
general, his first impulse is to apply the pam
acea Of legislation and go at it with the inevi-
table "Be it enacted" Something must be
"done about this" he cries impatiently, and
that something" Is of course law upon the
subject. The result is statute upon statute,
laws defining Other laws, laws imposing addi-
tional penalties, laws remedial, punitive, and
declaratory, until tho statute books in all the
States are filed up with half-digested com
pilations which bother courts, make bust
ness for lawyers and confuse the people.


A queer illustration of this disposition on
the part of the average American citizen and
his average representative in the Lcgis-
latrro was furnished in Connecticut the other
day. Near one of the stations on the Nor
wich and Worcester Railroad some scoundrel
had obstructed tho track in two or three
places, 80 that an early passenger train was
thrown of. with considerable damage TO
Year: 1873

ApOplexy is supposed to be absolutely un-
known in tho Arctic regions, and when the
fist stories of Capt Halls death reached this
country it was the general opinion that there
was some mistake, or else falsehood, i'll the
reports. The suspicious Of foul play are now adj
mitted to have had no other foundation than the
rawlings of delirious and dying man. More
than this, the testimony of Sergeant Meyer
(who is an educated and competent observerh
confirmed as it is by the evidence of Joe, and
Hannah, and all the other witnesses, leaves no
reasonable doubt as to the precise cause Of
Halls death.


1t appears that he returned from his last
sedge journey in tolerably good health, though
his strength had perhaps been ovcrstrained.
Almost Immediately after entering the close
cabin, where the air was foul and the temper
aturo very much higher than he had been
used TO for the previous fortnight, he was
attacked by illness. He became suddenly
drowsy He was put to bed ate nothing,
but drank some coffee, which apparently pro-
duced vomiting. The next morning he was
found to be paralyzed on the left side. In
three days he grew better and recovered the
use of his limbs but delirium afterwards set
in. and two weeks after the first attack he
died. Now that he was not poisoned by the
coffee is evident from three circumstances /;
he was taken sick before he drank the coffee !;
several Others partook of the same brewing
without suffering any bad effects; and finally
poison would have affected his whole system,
and not have spared the right side. What
then was tho attack A physician recOg-
nizes the symptoms at once as those of con-
gestion Of the brain. The dr0wsiness is one
indication the sickness at the stomach is an
other. An affection of one lobe of the brain
is followed by paralysis of the opposite side of
the body. Sometimes the congestion Is re-
lieved, and the patient improves, as Hall did !;
but there was undoubtedly second attack,
and that proved fatal. Vomiting is naturally
attributed by ignorant persons to poison
or some other deleterious substance taken
into the stomach; but it is very common
result of brain affection, and all medical men
know that n violent blow on the head almost
always produces nausea,
Year: 1873

The Philadelphia Ring will probably exert
themselves to count up heavy adverse ma
jcrity in the city, though they have fewer OPP
portunihes than would naturally he theirs at u
general election. In the country districts thc
necessity for change is not so koenly appre-
ciatcd, and tho vote may consequently DC
small. Tho obvious duty of the ReiormerS
will, therefore, bo to arouse public opinion
throughout the State, and get for the consli-
tuition an honest country vote which false
counting in Philadelphia cannot overcome.
Year: 1873

Itisnot hard to believe that Dickenss early hard
oxperiepce was q grief even in memory. The despair
Of children - keen-as keen their innate sense OF
ius,ice Here is sad little story from Germany
the moral of which is applicable to any civilized
country In Murenburg a boy only ten years Old
lately hung himself in his school-room, leaving a
letter in which he placed his death at his teacher
door bequeathed his small property to his sister, and
asked pardon Of his father and mother for the sin
he was about to commit. Inquiry showed that
during the mornings lessons the boy was inatten-
tive and his teacher instead OF suspectlng fatigue
could think of no better remedy for this than CEN
suring and punishng him, in spite of his beng
usually a willing and industrious scholar, and OF
a constitution not strong. Taking exhaustion for
laziness the master struck threatened. and at last
locked him alone in the school-room, where the un-
happy and tired little fellow utterly hopeless, scrb-
bed his pathetic letter and went out of the world
School and family discipline has changed It's
methods much in late years, but there Is still
enough of the old obtuse system left to make this
incident suggestive.
Year: 1873

Always marvellous stories will be told to support
impossible theories. At Ironton, Ohio, Young per-
son was drowned. Search was going on for the
body, when an old woman appeared and asked that
Nh unwashed shirt of the boy should be thrown into
the river declaring that it would disappear directly
over tho place whero the body was. Need we say
that it was thrown in; that it did disappear, and
that the body was brought up just in that spot with
a graphing hooki Hero is tale told by trust
worthy witnesses" Of which we feel bound TO say
that wo do not believe one word.
Year: 1873

Two Temperance Conventions were held III
Albany, Yesterday; one was called the Temper
ance and Sabbath Convention, nnd the other
that of the Radical PrOhibitiOniSts. The latter
which is a third party movement, consisted OF
only eighteen OF twenty persons, and was of
little importance. The other numbered one
hundred and fifty delegates, who came IN
response to call, issued May q, inviting
every church, Sabbath school, Young Mems
Christian Association, and Temperance Society,"
in favor of maintaining the sanctity of
the Christian Sabbath and the suppress
sion of the liquor traffic, to send
one representative. The action of this
Convention was distinguished by great mod
Grafton and worldly good sense. 1t was de-
cided not to make separate nominations fer
the Legislature or State offices, unless the
candidates of both the great parties should be
men from whom Temperance measures would
receive no support. At the same time the
Convention appeared to be fully impressed
with the deceitfulness of all politicians. Not
the least quarter was given to Gov. Dix. The
Temperance men, however, seemed to think
the Civil Damages bill was worth quite as much
TO them as the Local Option bill. The idea
that any distinction should be made by the
Governor or the Legislature between ale,
lager beer, and cider. and the stronger liquors
was utterly secuted. In their resolutions,
Total Prohibition was laid down as the object
of their labors and the only result with which
they would be content. At the same time it
was noticeable, from the remarks of the dele
gates, that the Temperance cause is less VigOr-
ously supported than formerly. 1t is doubtful
if the Temperance men pursue any course in
this campaign which will differ from that
therefore, chosen by them. They will support
the candidates who are willing to show an
outward respect for the Prohibition move
ment. But their experience this Winter will
make them moro wary hereafter of mere pro-
feSsiOns,
Year: 1873

The most marked and the pleasantest difference
between tho medical practice of this and the last
century lies in the growing agreeability Of modern
doses. The indescribably awful potions which used
to DO in fashion have given place to those for which
the average child might cry without being rdica-
lals One Of the most excellent medicines has been
latoly announced to be asparagus. This is said TO
be a cure for rheumatsm-a sure cure for
slight cases of the disease 1t is dose which can
certainly be taken with patience and equanimlty.
Year: 1873

After the days Of dry weather which have tor
mented tho souls of the farmer and OF the idle
lover of fresh turf and green leaves, the Weather
Department will, perhaps, allow us to repeat the
encouraging French provcrb that "a st. Johu's
Day ram continues.long." Yesterday was ST. Johns
Day and probably the country is ready to have the
proyerb proved true for week at least.
Year: 1873

Newt Orleans dispatch says that some
of the Kellogg Republicans are much disgusted
with certain late appointments in that city


They declare that the appointees are imported
from Washington for the purpose of filling
the Offices When the vlctors begin to quarrel
over the spOils, there is some hope that honest
men will come by their own again. The same
malconteDts declare that they look with
"decp suspicion on the new party move
"mcnt" Apparently, these gentlemen have
the same sort of suspicion of the new organi-
zation that fugitive thief has of constable
Year: 1873

Reports from the temporary seat Of Govern
ment at Long Branch signify proposed
change in the Cabinet and some important
notifications in the diplomatic service. The
apparent reason why Secretary Richardson is to
be displaced is that Wall Street demands the
sacrifice; and the reason why Minister Jay is
not at once recalled from Vienna is that he is
specially useful there. If Mr.. Jay should be
recalled, in spite of his usefulness, the later
traditions of our foreign diplomacy would be
admirably observed. As for the reported
change in the Treasury Department, we prefer
to believe that the Administration Will be
able to give some better excuse for the step,
should it be taken, than that which is now
suggested for its action.
Year: 1873

OF course everybody has heard, says
a Knoxville paper, of the old cistern
dug many years ago in the yard of the
Lamar House in this city, the bottom
of which fell out, carrying the tools of
the workmen, as was popularity sup
posed, to China. 1t was afterward
found that there was yawning cavern
of unknown dimensions, whose bottom
no man had the courage to find out.
The practical sense of the proprietor of
the Lamar House determined him to
use the bottomless abyss as drain,
seeing it wasa broken cistern that could
hold no water, and for many years it
has been thus used. But there being
no solid foundation to the impromptu
drain, the sides have regularly fallen in
time and again, and the workmen,
being fearful of their lives, have hither-
to repaired tho drain very flimsily in
deed. There was another cave las}
week, and Mr.. Guthrie, the proprietor,
determined to have the old thing fixed
once for ALL The work has been pro-
crossing now for several days. The re-
pairs promise to be permanent. Thirty
five feet below the surface the work
men came to the cavernous opening
about which much has been said and
more written. The mouth of the cavern
is very large, and the cavern itself is
supposed to extend many thousand feet
downward and to cross the city dag
onally from southeast to northwest. The
workmen found great difficulty in max
ing the excavation, the stencil being al
most intolerable. Five dollars day was
paid for their work, and a number of
them were compelled to cease their la
Dor, having been overcome with the
foul exhalations, arising from the de-
composed matter turned up by their
shovels. They talk with bated breath
of the mysterious sounds they heard
coming from the cavern, and will not
tell of the many odd and uncanny
things they found accumulated at the
bottom. One of the workmen narrowly
escaped being buried alive. He was
ascending the ladder, following his
comrades, who were going to dinner
when a mass of earth and rocks, weigh
ing several tons, caved in just opposite
the round of the ladder on which he
stood at the moment. The mouth of
the cavern has been arched over in a
substantial manner, and the drain will
be made more secure and stronger than
ever before.
Year: 1873

dictnient Against the Accused Wife Oi


the Clergyman.


The story of the killing of Mrs.


Hedges at Eureka, ILL.,, is one of the
most shocking of recent occurrences.


Mrs. Hedges was n widow residing in
Eureka, who devoted a large share OF
her time and energies to the church of
which she was member. One day, a
few weeks ago, her dead body was found
behind school-house, half eaten by
hogs, but bearing unmistakable evi-
dence that she had been murdered. On
examination two letters were found pin
ned to her under clothing, which be-
trayed an improper, though perhaps not
criminal, intimacy between the deceased
and clergyman of the town, man
named Workman. This gave the first
clue to the commission of the crime.
Workman was produced, but he denied
any criminal intimacy with the woman,
and also denied any knowledge Of the
cause or manner of her death. Sus-
picion at once attached to Workman's S
wife, who had the reputation of being a
high-tempered woman, and she was
arrested. Subsequent investigation
showed that Mrs. Workman had made
an appointment to meet Mrs. Hedges !;
that scuffiing and outcries had been
heard in the quarter where the meeting
occurred; that Mrs. Workman had af-
terward declared that she was ruined
for life, and requested prayers for her
soul, though she had never before been
religiously inclined that there were
bruises on her body, which showed that
she had been in a fight; and that the
dress she wore on the evening of the
murder had been hidden, and when
found was covered with mud, blood, and
hair, the hair being the same as that of
the murdered woman. In one word,
the circumstances were as conclusive as
circumstances can be that Mrs Hedges
had been murdered by Mrs. Workman
in fit of jealousy.


The letters which passed between the
Rev. Mr.. Workman and the murdered
woman, and which have since been
made public, give evidence that Mrs.
Workman jealousy was pretty well
founded. Mrs. Hedges seems to have
ences than her reverend lover, though
ueT letteTS ulsciOSt tnat SIG WAS more
strongly attached to him than she should
have been. Both parties concluded,
their letters with prayers. Unalloyed
love and piety are strangely mixed up
in the frequent exchange of letters, the
inference from which is that Workman
used his position to secure the love of a
woman who had no right to love him,
and was beyond the age when such
passion might be considered difficult to
repress. The case appears to have been
one of a dangerous class, in which re-
ligious intercourse on the one side and
hypocrisy on the other either lead to a
violation of moral rectitude or bring the
parties upon very slippery ground.


The most dangerous phase of the casey
however, has been developed in the ac-
ton of the Grand Jury of Woodford
County, ip which the murder was COM
mitted. In spite of the proofs that Mrs.
Workman was the murderess of Mrs.
Hedges, the Grand Jury refused to find
a bill of indictment, and the guilty
woman has been released. This decis
ion was evidently as much surprise to
the people of Eureka, where the murder
occurred, as it will be wherever the his
tory of the case is known. Chicago
Tribune.
Year: 1873

Damask- figured, lace striped, and
polka-dotted suits of grenadine are i'm
ported almost to the exclusion of plain
grenadines, says fashion journal,
though the small square -meshed canvas
grenadines will be worn again. They
are made usually with a silk lined tight
basque, half over r-skirt, and a silk skirt
on which the grenadine founces are
mounted Sometimes silk flounces are
put like lining under the grenadine
hounces but this seems useless and
heavy. The Partisan fancy is to use
Jet, watered ribbon bows, and French
laces on these dresses but jets are
heavy on thin goods, and American la
dies can not reconcile themselves to
wearing imitation laces. For a polka
dotted grenadine, trim the silk skirt
with two straight hounces of grenadine
held in three side pleats at intervals,
with gathers between, and headed by a
wide bias puff, with ruffie at each side
edged with lace, the fullness laid in
three tiny side pleats reversed at top and
bottom. Put an apron over-skirt in
front, with a pleated puff around it, a
row of pleated putting up the whole Of
the second side seam, panier puff and
watered sash behind, and add a simple
Jockey basque with coat sleeves, and
yo'l have stylish summer suit. Black
satin sash ribbons with bright blue or
else mustard color yellow green) on the
reverse side are much used with black
grenadines.
Year: 1873

Henri III" was written by Alex
ander Dumas and accepted by the the
strical manager, but Dumas had neg
ected his official duties in his applica-
ton to the piece, and was threatened
with the loss of his post. At this his
poor mother broke down, and was seized
with a fit, at the very moment when
success was dawning upon him. He
spent his time rushing from the theatre
to her bedside, and back again. On
the day before the performance "he
ventured on bold coup, which he had
reserved for the last. He asked for an
audience with the Duke of Orleans, and
was received with some graciousness.
He submitted an humble request that
his Royal Highness would honor the
performance tomorrow night by attend
ing it, The Duke was not little
astonished by this demand. But it was
impossible for him to comply; he had a
large party to dinner-some twenty or
thirty persons of the highest rank, ssin-
cluding prince. The young author
was not discouraged by this difficulty.
With surprising readiness and boldness
he suggested that His Highness should
bring the whole party on to the theatre
The Duke was not displeased, and
merely suggested another difficulty.
His dinner was to be at six, while the
play began at seven. The petitioner
had another suggestion ready the play
could be put an hour later and the din
ner an hour earlier Strange to say,
the Duke inclined to the idea. But
x,-.N,,11 h., xhaatra and vx,1 a
was such a party to be placed q? The
theatre Would agree, and the author
had already reserved the grand gallery,
hoping that the Duke might consent.
The latter smiled, and agreed, and from
that day Dumas dates the commence
ment of his success in life.
Year: 1873

Of oil kinds neatly executed at the lowest living
nrIces. Onr Office In well furnished with mate
rial and stock for this department., and we now
have experienced and competent workmen to
use them. II you want any printing done you
need not 20 TO tho city or out OF the county,
Tor you can got ~ good work and - low prices
At this Office "a any other.
Year: 1873

nation given CHEAPLY and with dispatch.


We are fully convinced that the time 10 at
hand when old things are to be done away,
and nearly all things are to become new. Con-
sequently, many changes Will become neces-
sary, and TO facilitate this object is our ppr-
pose In our present business capacity. From
our extensive acquaintance with the people Of
the Eastern States, as we'll as our knowledge
Of this country and it, people-which we have
worked diligently and hard to learn--and the
large amount of
Year: 1873

Will it pay? With the great share of liberal and progressive men, who are enterprising and thrifty in their busi- ness, this query has been settled in the most practical way. They adver- tise and get rich by it; but there is right and a wrong way to advertise. If man is to advertise in paper he wants to know several things: Is the paper read. It is material what class of peo- pie read paper as well as how many. Many man who wants to advertise fails to see this point clearly, and there fore, misapprehends the economical or profitable aspects of the case. If 8 man says to dry goods dealer, What do you ask for broadcloth? and the an- swer is six dollars, the inquirer proves nothing by saying, "It is too much; I can. buy cloth for four-and-a-half dollars" What is the quality? That is the test. Very likely the six dollar cloth is the cheapest. A lady goes into store and wishes to see silks; they are three, four or ten dollars yard. "I can buy them cheaper" she says. Is it any reason why the seller should reduce his prices? There is very likely to be great difference in value, as we'll as price, between dealers. It is just so in advertising.
Year: 1873

BLEACHING LINEN.-The best method of bleaching or restoring whiteness to discolored linen is to let it lie on the grass, day and nig Int, so long as it is necessary, exposed to the dews and winds. There may occur cases, how ever, when this will be difficult to ac- complish, and when quicker process may be desirable. In these cases the linen must be first steeped for twelve hours in ley formed of one pound of soda to @ gallon of soft boiling water :; it must then be boiled for half an hour in the same liquid. A mixture must then be made of chloride of lime with eight times it's quantity of water, which must be we'll shaken in stone jar for three days, then allowed to settle; and being drawn off clear, the linen must be steeped in it for thirty-six hours, and then washed out in the ordinary man. ner. To expedite the whitening of lin en in ordinary cases, @ little of the same solution of chloride of lime may be put into the water in which the clothes are steeped but in the employment of this powerful agent great care must be ex- ercised, otherwise the linen will be in jured.
Year: 1873

No estimate can be made of the value of human life. Itis beyond appraisement. The wealth of the world weighed against it would kick the beam. Yet how many precious lives are thrown away unwit- tingly. The laws of health are simple enough, but they are not generally understood and even when understood are too often disregarded. At this season. for example, when it is expedient that tho physical system should be toned, regulated and purified to enable it to endure without injury the intense heats of summer, how many thousands, even of the feeble and delicate neglect to fortify themselve in this way against a known danger. Who is ignorant not. to be aware that Hostel ters Stomach Bitters, if when taken regularly, a protection against intermittents, remit tents, and all epidemics engendered by the vapor- laden atmosphere of springP Who does not know that the same wholesome tonic and alterative, if taken at proper intervals throughout the summer will prevent levers, bilious attacks, headache, collie, nervous debility, indi gestion, and all tn

 long catalogue of ills to which heat and malaria give rise Whoever wants clean bill of health for the most enervating of the year. should take time by the foreock and commence Q course of this uneQualed vegetable invigorant now.
Year: 1873

As the expense of wintering dry stock, or COWS, is a subject of general interest to the farming community, give you the daily allowance and cost of feed used by some members of the Pioneer Farmers Club of Westerly, R. I. The calculations are made on the basis of corn at 85 cents per bushel, and hay at $30 per ton: