smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

NoWSs

 The city man who goes into the coun-

 try to spend the summer must make up

 his mind to learn something of the rou-

 tine of rural life. A New York man

 who is spending the hot weather season

 with family on Pine street, was asked

 by the lady of the house if he would

 take hen off the nest, as it wanted to set, and she didn't want it to. Ger

 tainly," said he, and immediately start

 ed out to the barn where the hens were kept, to crush out the maternal pros- poets of this particular one. He went

 straight to the nest to lift her off, and reached out his hand for that purpose,

 but immediately drew it back aga1n, and tucked it up under the other arm, and squeezed it little, while he drew up his lips as if about to whistle some thing. Then he stood there and stared at the hen, and she lifted up her head, and stared back at him, winking her eyes with singular velocity. "Get off, won't you?" said he, after pause. She made no response. He drew out his hand and looked at red spot on one of the knuckles, and then put the knuckle in his mouth to cool it, looking all the while at the hen, and wondering how on earth she moved so quickly. The longer he eyed her, the less inclined he felt to touch her, and finally he climbed up post to beam which ran over the nest, and working his way out on it till he got just above the hen, took off his hat and shook it at her, and ad- vised her to get. But she only looked up at him, one eye at time, and cluck- ed omniously. He told her if she didn't leave he would come down there and kick her through the barn, but inn mediately gave up the blood-thirsty design when he reflected that it was a dumb animal, and couldn't reason like a human being. Then he happened to think of his pants, which were white linen, and rubbed his fingers on the beam to find them full of black dust, which led him to work his body around to look at the pants, and while making this very natural move, he suddenly slipped, made plunge to renew his hold, shrieked for help, slipped again, and then came down on top of the hen and the nest, smashing them both to the floor, upsetting barrel, and filling the air with dust, feathers, hen noises, and shrieks. When the family reached the barn, the unfortunate man, looking something like circus poster on legs, had got on his feet, and was turning around, and rubbing his head in an ab- stracted manner, and every time he turned, an omelette on white linen base came to view, while the hen stood up in the further est corner on one leg, with a look of mingled astonishment and reproach on her countenance. After five minutes of industrious application with chip, the gentleman was escort ed into the. house, where his head was bathed with spirits, and his comfort generally attended to.
Year: 1873

My presence at an English prison, says correspondent, gave me an ample opportunity of becoming familiar with prison punishment It was simply brutish treatment The prison CTS were treated exactly like so many dumb brutes. They were never per mitted to speak until first addressed by keeper. If they opened their mouths to say casual word it was violation of the rules of the prison, and they would be punished. Each one of the keepers had complete power to castigate any of the prisoners who mighthappen to offend against this system. The punish ment in those days was something bar barous. Each of the keepers, besides being armed, carried whip of fine hemp cord, consisting of nine lashes, each one of which was knotted at the end. With this instrument the keeper would retaliate upon prisoner when. ever detected talking. I have seen six-foot keeper put the whip in his hand, and, carefully spreading out the lashes so that every one of them would strike, bring the lash down On little puny stripling who would not have the strength to stand, simply for the crime of speaking. This was done before all the prison. After the first few times I would never see it done. would turn away. It was too brutal. Frequently they would give a prisoner thousand lashes for certain offences. They would not be given all at the same time, but were continued along for several days. The prisoners backs, which soon be- came sore and lacerated, would then be washed off in stiff brine.

 Another punishment under the silent system was carrying rough yoke weighing from forty to sixty pounds, d. though that most frequently resorted to was the lash. It was an everyday occurrence to see keeper call prisoner up, make him take off his shirt, and bring the lash down upon him, leaving marks which he carried with him to his grave. l can tell you little instance of this. -.,a

 There was man here who had served his time out. He had conducted him. self we'll, and by industry soon became comfortably situated. He married and lived very happily. Soon afterward his wife happened to discover the lash marks upon his body, and she then learned for the first time that her hus- band had been in prison. She became insane, and he became 8 breken-hearted man, when but for these marks all would have been we'll.
Year: 1873

BROOK TRoUT.-This delicious fish is permitted to be caught on and after September 15. Brook trout are abun- dant in the State of New York and in other places. They are at least as good as the much-extolled trout of Switzer- land, and certainly deserve odes as well as their European kin.
Year: 1873

BUSINESS Never in the history of
this Vall"y has business been so poor
as so far this season. Many causes have
combined to produce this, which we
have heretofore mentioned, and it is not
now necessary for us 10 repeat them. or
waste time in useless repinings over the
good time past. but try and profit by ex-
perience. Lavish expenditures Of mon
ey aud time have been made for things
that brought forth no Particular good.
during the past few years, when all sup
posed that trade would continue Tor all
time to flow into our city and valley.
But change came, snd with it failures.
as matter of course followed, causing
depression in all branches of business,
naturally making business men suspi-
cious, thus Fastening on the c;,lamitles
that might possibly have been averted.
-Wattd Wultd Record.
Year: 1873

Il was obliged" says Mr.. Ruskin
Ito write too young. when knew cnly
half-truths, and was t)o eager to set
them o.th by what thought fine words
People used to call me good writer
then; now they say l can't write at all
because. for instance, if I think any
body's house on fire, I OF ly say, sir,
your house is on fire. whereas formerly
1 used to say. Sir, the abode in which
you probably passed the delightful days
of youth is in a state of confagration,
and everybody used to like the effect OF
the two p's in probably passed, and OF
the two DIS in delightful days
Year: 1873

The Danbury Nesos says: Among the
large number gathered at the horse sale,
Friday, was Col. H., who is, as our DAN
bury readers well know, very deaf


Alongside of him stood a young man,
stranger, engaged as was the Colonel, in
watching the sale. During a lull he
turned to the Colonel and politely OBJ
served: "A pleasant day" The Colonel
saw the movement of his lips, but of
course heard no sound, and not wishing
to lose what might be matter of vital
interest, he said, Whats thatT at is
a pleasant day" repeated the young man,
suddenly realizing the dreadful insignifi-
canoe of the statement. 81 did not quite
hear you," explained the Colonel, lean
forward with anxiety. The young man
turned very red, and looked as if he was
about to descend into the bowels of the
earth. II said it was a pleasant day."
he again stammered, raising his voice
and shivering at the sound. The Coloners
hand went up to his ear, Really. sir"
he said in bland manner, II am afraid
you will have to speak little louder"
The young man grew redder than ever.


How gladly he would have turned and
fed how bitterly he regretted not keep
ing the information to himself. But the
Colonel stood waiting; and raising him.
self by his toes, the old man shrilly
screamed: at is pleasant day" The
Colonel heard this, and promptly coin
cided, and the young man retreated amid
the encouraging smiles of the populace.
Year: 1873

The stupidity against which even the


gods war unvictorious has apparently es-


tablished itself for the session upoh the


Democratic side of the House of Repre-
sentatives. They began by indorslng the
Salary Grab in caucus and allowing the


Republicans to take the start in denounc-
ing it. Yesterday they followed up thelr
first blunder by another OF equai ma
grancy Mr. Cox offered resolution Ior
the recognition of the billigerency OF tne
Cubans and ask that the rules De suspend
ed for its consideration. The motion
was lost by strict party vote, the Dem
ocrats voting unanimously with Mr..
Cox. They made 4 grave mistake when
they acted on the belief that their con-
stituents cared nothing for the Salary
Theft They make another when they
think their supporter desire recognition
of Cuban belligerency.


There is a small but very noisy portion
of the Democratic party in New York
who are always in favor of war and every
measure which can lead to it. They rely
for expression upon few gentlemen VINO
are in favor of anything they can make
a speech about. But the masses OF the
Democratic party no more desire to IN
terfere in this Cuban matter than the
masses of the Republican. Most people
everywhere, of both parties, wish our
flag respected on the seas, and the lives
of our citizens guarded upon land. They
would much rather see this accomplished
without war than with it. They do not
care to see our Government putting its
fingers into the cogs of a machine which
will end by taking in the whole body.
The only people who could logically, de-
mand interference at any cost. are those
sincere abolitionists who think that the
destruction of slavery in Cuba is an
object SO desirable as to justify any, iiie-
gaiity or sacrifice by which it might be
accomplished. But these considerations
are hardly such as would commend
themselves to Mr.. Cox and his friends
They simply imagine that Cuba Libre
is a popular issue to make with the State
If they knew a little more
of popular sentiment, they would see
they are running before they are sent.
and if they had not utterly lost all poiltl-
cal sense they would discover that they
are playing directly into the hands OF
Gen. Grant-Ne,o York Tribune.
Year: 1873

How tenderly and sweetly falls the
gentle "goed night" into loving hearts:
as members of the family separate and
retire for the night What myriads OF
hasty words and thoughtless acts, engen-
dered in the hurry and business OF the
day, are forever blotted out by its benign
influence. Small token indeed; but IT Is
the little courtesies that make up the
sun of a happy home. 1t is only the Ut
tie courtesies that can so beautifully
round off the corners in the homes of Ia
boring men and women. The simple II
thank YOU for q favor received Will NIL
with happiness the heart OF the giver.
True wealth is not counted by dollars
and cents, but by the gratitude ana afiec-
ton of the heart. If q home be haPpy,
it is of Heaven the truest earthly SYMBOL
If home be happy, whether the owners
possess patch of ground OF one or one
thousand acres, they are indeed wealthy
beyond mathematical calculations. Then
how much more lovingly are the sable
folds of night gathered around the happy
homes; how much more confdlngly do
its members repose their weary bodies in
the care of Divine goodness, soothing
their over-taxed minds to the livng e re-
alities of beautiful dreamland; awaken
ed, refreshed and invigorated for the
coming days labor. by their having bid
their loved ones an affectionate good
night" And if, during this life, we have
faithfully attended to all these little
courtesies, these little soul-needs, if we
have guarded carefully all Gods hearts
placed in our keeping, at the close of its
brief, yet eventful day, how much the
easier to bid all our dearly beloved ones
a final good night"
Year: 1873

Taking ailments into the stomach is


only a preliminary process. There it is


mixed with peculiar fluid, which oozes


from the inner walls OF that organ, which


is a powerful solvent. Meats or vegeta-


bles are quickly melted down, as it were,


the product always appearing within
about an hour as grayish, pultaceous
mass Next, it passes from the stomach
(on the right side. just under the ribs)
into a membranous tube. which is thickly
studded with glands. each pouring out a
fluid peculiar to itself, to combine with
the onward moving ingesta. At the dis
tance of twelve inches on the route. bile
from the liver is added; and then bland
secretion from the pancreas, or sweet
bread, which alone, of all Others in the
system, dissolves butter, oils, and lard,
converting them into an emulsion. Mil
lions of tubes, smaller than hairs, open
within the tube, sucking up milky
fluid (chyle), the product of the food and
the admixture since it arrived at the
stomach. Then it is conveyed by the
distal extremities of the lymphatics (the
small tubes above mentioned) into
tube the size of a wheat straw. Once in
there, it ascends up the whole length of
the abdomen through the chest direct.
Thence, mixing with impure venous
blood it goes to the right chamber of the
heart, and thence is sent to the lungs.
By drawing in breath, the oxygen in
the air is united to the new fluid and the
returned old blood; it revivifies one and
vitalizes the other. From the food, the
solid parts of the body are not only
made, but kept in epair.-Scientlfc Amer
Year: 1873

We are not thinking. now. of the Inter
nal Revenue tax-which so many manage
to evade-nor of our State, county, town
and road taxes, which we cannot avoid
These are comparatively moderate, and
still the world moves on.


There is however another tax, though
it is not called by that name, from which
few of us can hope to escape, and which
is entitled to the gravest consideration.
1t is cutting into our substance like a
two-edged sword-on one side is idleness
on the other extravaganza Worst of all,
the sword is welded by our own flesh
and blood, by those who love US, and
whom we love--by our own daughters.


The reader will please notice that we
make no assertions in the heading of
this article; we only ask question.
We are not, ourselves, prepared to give
a definite answer; but we think there is
at least grave cause for an xiety in the
habits and tastes of farmers daughters.
On our drive to town this afternoon, we
met three young women, daughters of
ordinary farmers-men who have the
usual struggle to make both ends meet,
and who practice the usual economies in
their households and on their farms.
These damsels were so dressed that, at a
little distance, they looked like the
daughters of the rich city people who
board in our neighborhood in the sum-
mer. AS they came near, it was plain to
see that they had economical in material
as they had squandered in form and color,
and this marked wide difference be-
tween their brighter examplers. Yes,
save as they might, there was not one of
them who had not on her person-count-
ing everything from bottom CATERS, to
what Mr.. Punch calls "Chig-non-sense,"
and hat feathers-the value of a first-class
moving machine, with reaper attach
ment. If this were the end, it would
not be so bad but it is only the bad be-
ginning. 1t is not the capital invested
in fnery that tells on our fortunes, but
the awful interest in the shape of renew
ais first-class two-dollar "black hair"
we might stand and be done with it, but
the fashion changes. and black hair wears
out, and the next style is worse yet, and
costs three dollars. And SO it goes from
the crown of the head to the soles of the
feet; there is the same eternal grind
that wears away clothing and finery alike.


The more it costs, the more we must
spend in repairs; and your modern
country Miss, with her attire, is apt to be
well-dressed mortgage upon their
fathers farm, and to become a sort of or
namental milestone about the neck of
the man who marries her.-Land and
Ld,U Adviser.
Year: 1873

Twenty clerks in a store, twenty hands
in a printing Office, twenty apprentices
in a shipyard, twenty young men in a
want to get on in the world,
and expect to do so. One of the clerks
will become a partner, and make a for
tune; one of the compositors will own
and become an influential
citizen; one of the young villagers will
get handsome farm. and live like
patriarch-but which one is the lucky
Lucky There is no luck
about it. The thing is almost as certain
as the rule of three. The young fellow
who distances his competitors is he who
masters his business, who preserves his
integrity, who devotes his leisure to the
acquisition of knowledge, who gains
friends by deserving them, and who saves
his spare money. There are some ways
to fortune shorter than this old duty
highway, but the staunch men of the
the men who achieve some
thing really worth having. good name
and serene old age, all go in this road.
Year: 1873

Be brisk, energetic and prompt. The
world is full of boys, and men too, who
drawl through life, and decide on no.
thing for themselves, but just draggle
one leg after the other, and let things
take their own way. Such people are
the dull stuff of the earth. They hardly
deserve as much credit as the wooden
trees, for trees do all they can, in merely
growing, and bearing only leaves and
seed. But these poor drawling, drag
Cling boys do not turn their capabilities
to profit half as far as they might be
turned they are Improbable, like
rainy day in harvest time Now the
brisk, energetic boy will be continually
awake, not merely with his bodily eyes,
but with his mind and attention during
the hours of business. After he learns
what he has to do, he will take pride
in doing it punctually and well, and
would be ashamed to be told what he
ought to do without telling. The drawl-
ing boy loses in FIVE minutes the most
important advice, the prompt, wide
awake boy never has to be taught twice,
but strains hard to make himself up to
the mark, rs possible, out of his own en-
ergies. Third-rate boys. are always de-
pending on others, but first-rate boys
depend upon themselves, and after lit
tie teaching, just enough to know what
is to be done, they ask no further favors
of anybody. Besides, it is glorious
thing for boy to get this noble way OF
selfreliance. activity and energy. Such
one is worth hundred of the poor
dragging creatures who can hardly wash
their own hands without being told each
Ene bow - q done.
Year: 1873

All the world over the men who work
are the men who win. 1t has always
been SO, and always will be. They who
despise labor despise themselves. The
drones in the hive of humanity are stung
to death by the consciousness of their
own folly Still. in the face of selfen-
forced morals. of indisputable facts, there
have been, and there are, men and wo-
men claiming distinction because they
do nothing-imagining idleness to be an
honor. Because they are zeros they fancy
they make figure in the world, forget
full that zeros add naught to the sum of
progress and prosperity. Fortunately,
and fitly in this era of uncommon sense,
rarer than genius always, the conceited
do-nothings are disappearing fast; by
normal law. too. since Nature does not
keep what che does not need The days
of Show and Sham, of Title and Theory.
are rapidly passing. Civilization has
come to mean reason, truth, practica.
bility. This generation says to every
man: 81 care not what you are; but
what can you do? If idle or inefficient,
stand aside for your betters; for they are
your betters who can and will work. /
judge each and all by their labor and its
fruits II
Year: 1873

Children hunger perpetually for new
ideas, and the most pleasant way of re-
ception is by the voice and ear, not the
eye and the printed page. The one
mode is natural, the other artificial.
Who would not rather listen than
read? An audience will listen closely
from the beginning to the end of an
address, which not one in twenty Of
those present would read with the
same attention. This is emphatically
true Of children. They will learn with
pleasure from the Ii ps Of parents what
they deem it a drudgery to study in
books; and even if they have the mis-
fortune to be deprived of the educa-
tional advantages which they desire,
they cannot fail to grow up intelligent
if they enjoy in childhood and youth
the privilege Of listening daily to the
conversation of intelligent people.


Let parents, then, talk much and
talk well at home. A father who is
habitualIy silent in his own home may
be in many respects Il wise man; but
he is not wise in his silence. We
sometimes see parents who are the life
Of every company which they enter,
dull, silent and uninteresting at home
among their children. II they have
not mental activity and mental stores
sufficient for both, let them first pro-
vide for their own household.
Year: 1873

A young lady tripped lightly
across the street, and was in the act of
speaking to male acquaintance, when
a rude boy ran up and holding up a
bundle of papers, cried out, "Nliss,
you've dropped your reading room, y
and SHE'D Immediately around the
corner.
Year: 1873

a TRYING PosrTIoN.-A gentleman
ly conductor was collecting tickets
from his passengers. All handed over
their tickets promptly except one fat
old lady who sat next the door, and
who seemed to be reaching down to
get something she had droped on the
floor When her time came to pay,
she raised her head and thus addressed
the blushing conductor: Il allms,
when | travels, carry my money in my
stockin, for you see nothin' can Get at
it thar, and Id just thank you, young
man, Just to reach it to me, as I'm so
jammed in can't Get ut it. forgot
to Get ticket at the depot The
conductor glanced at the other passen-
gers, some of whom were laughing at
his plight; one or two young ladies
among them blushed scarlet, and he
beat a sudden retreat, muttering some
thing about not charging old ladies,
etc. His cash was short that trip the
fare OF one passenger
Year: 1873

How TO BREAK OFF BAD HABITS
Understand the reason and all the rea-
sons, why the habit is injurious, Study
the subject till there IS no lingering
doubt in your mind. Avoid the places,
the persons and thoughts that lead to
the temptation. Frequent the places,
associate with the persons, indulge the
thoughts thatlea away tromthe temp
tation Keep busy; idleness is the
strength of bad habits. Do not give
up the struggle when you have broken
your resolution once, twice, athousand
times That only shows how much
need there is for you to strive. When
you have broken your resolution, just
think the matter over, and el deavor
to understand why it is you failed, so
that YOU may be on your guard
against a recurrence Of the same cir
cumstances. DO not think it is an
easy thing that you have undertaken.
1t is folly to expect to break off hab-
it in a day which may have been gath
ering strength i'll you for years.
Year: 1873

From the Steubenvie (OhO) Herald, March AL


The dangerous Captain General of the Span sh
forces in Cuba has rec0nsdered his threat to shoot
Mr.. O'Key. the NEW YORK HERALD's spunky cor
respondent. If Captain CeballOs wants to shoot
there are plenty OF those termed rebels ON the
seem OF the Antilles" lighting for their freedom
to draw triggers upon without threatening
death to man in discharge OF his pro.
fessiOnal duties. IL is ridiculous and ig-
nOrant notion that press correspondent cannot
report to the world what history must inevitably
do 1T later date. The HERALD anticipates his
tory by spreading reporters like bres in all direc-
tOns grasping all that is OF interest with lightning
rapidity and giving the worlds doings in such an
incredibly short space Of time that the Old World
looks on with amazement American journalism
is too far in advance of the Old World
fer slow thinkers, the stupid threat of the
doughty Captain General CeballOs to shoot the
HERALD's correspondent must in a measure be
excused CebaOs should have lived in the past
century gone back to Europe. American news
papers too far in the future for him to compre
hend CeballOs has already been ordered heme by
the Spanish government, and general OF less
antiquity is to succeed him. 1t Is expected the
Captain General will go in a sail vessel.