smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

1t was one of the follies of Robert
Burns to imagine that saving was a sor-
did and small occupation. The poor
cleaner of his bread from the sterile
Scottish glebe might be pardoned that
weakness and despair if anybody could.
1t was the apparent hopelessness of
making headway against his cruel for
tune which made Burns affect to des-
pise the painstaking thrift of his neigh
bors, not sense that it was mean and
inferior. He must have admired their
stern courage, their heroic poverty
His shiftlessness was not due to the
possession of genius, but his self-in
diligence and irresolution. We, who
have milder difficulties and more leni-
ent fortunes, are without the excuse of
his unhappy circumstances, and must
not make the mistake of attributing that
to his greater qualities which is really
due to those human weaknesses which
he shared in common with his kind.


The truth is that economy is always a
necessary and noble quality, is often a
heroic one. 1t is especially fine in
those men who care little for money in
itself. Thrift may become a passion
just as self-indulgence may become a
passion; it is the duty of reason to curb
and regulate both. The man who has
once began to save soon finds it great
er pleasure to add fifty dollars to his
little pile than to spend the sum upon
tailor or caterer. AS soon as he be-
gins to confuse the means with the
ends, reason should demonstrate that
the present has its demands as surely
as the future has its exigencies. So,
when long habits of self-pampering have
taught one to think that he must have
everything he wants, it is good to learn
to deny himself. 1t is odd to see the
tricks and deceptions we play upon our
selves. We judge of our needs by our
habits. "We used to pay so much for
our dinner " eve used to go to such a
place for our summer vacation :"
whether we need such dinner, or to
go to such a hotel, does not occur to us.
The great virtue of economy, we may
remark, is to economize to-day and not
tomorrow, for in the future virtue looks
attractive, and then it has none of those
prosaic difficulties which beset it just
now. 1t makes not the least difference
about the triviality of the economy.
Truth and wisdom are qualities which
ennoble any action they may touch,
however sordid and common these
actions may seem to our prejudiced and
uneducated eyes.
Year: 1873

At present the distance from the
earth to the sun is reckoned at ninety
two millions of miles, with a margin of
miles. 1t is for the main purpose of
reducing this margin, by at least one
half, that the observations of the coming
transit of Venus are to be undertaken.
In recent lecture on "The Constitu-
tion of the Sum-" Professor Young made
use of the following curious illustra-
tion, in order to aid his hearers in form
ing an idea of the suns distance. "You
know" he states, "that, if you touch a
part of the body, one does not feel it
instantly. If you touch the hand of
any one with pin, it will be an appre-
ciable part of second before he will
feel it and draw his hand back. Now,
if I had an arm long enough to reach to
the sun, and should put my fingers into
the solar fame, and burn them there, it
would be a hundred years before /
would find it out, and another hundred
years before / could remove my hand.
Such is the distance of the sun, and
yet, across that space, the earth re-
spends to every impulse of the solar
surface" An illustration of this char
acter, while it elected the applause of
the audience, failed, we doubt not, to
convey to many any more definite idea
of this immense distance than that OBJ
tanned from the simple statement of
that distance in English miles. That
the idea may be rendered more clear, it
may be stated that all external impress
sions, that is, impressions conveyed to
the brain from the organs of touch,
hearing, or sight, travel along the
nerves at the comparatively slow rate OF
from sixty to seventy feet per second.
For instance, if man of average height
receives an injury in the foot, there will
be lapse of rather less than one-tenth
of second before any sensation of
pain will be felt, and twice that time
before the injured member, in obedi-
ence to a return signal from the brain,
can be withdrawn or removed from
danger. 1t has been noticed, more
over, that the nerve-currents travel
more slowly at low temperatures than
at high ones, and that the speed is not
the same along the whole length of the
nerve. Thus, as has been stated by q
late writer, we find that thought does
not spring instantaneously-it is phe-
nomenon subject to natural laws of time
and space. In different observers, the
time lost is not alike one perceives,
reflects, and acts more briskly than an
other-it is o matter of temperament
and of accidental circumstances. This
explains the differences always remark
ed between astronomers busted in OBJ
serving the same phenomenon. Two
persons never saw at the same instant
the passage of star across thread
this difference in the speed of the nerve
currents is known as the personal eqata-
tjon of the individual, and, in the more
delicate astronomical observations, al
lowance for this difference in time en-
ters into the final calculations.
Year: 1873

In New York city Coroner Young was
notified at his residence recently by
Mr.. Depew, that a colored servant of
his, named Carrie johnson, was found
dead that morning in her bed, at his
residence, 33 Morton street, and per-
nit was given to him to remove the
body to the Morgue the gentleman
was so certain that the girl was dead,
that he did not deem it necessary to
send for physician, and he took the
permit to station house, and the war
den of Bellevue Hospital was telegraph
ed to send the .dead-wagon. 1t arrived
at the house about half-past 2 o'clock
p. M, when on proceeding to the room
it was discovered that the girls head
was leaning over the side of the bed,
but it was supposed that some one had
moved it in the meantime. When the
driver of the wagon, however, took hold
of the body to place it in the coffin, he
felt warmth about the stomach and
loins, which he thought could not be
the case if the person were dead. Mr..
Depew Immediately sent for a physi-
clan, but before his arrival the driver
had forced open the teeth and placed
some salt in the mouth.


The physician decided that life was
not extinct, and applied the usual means
to restore animation, but it was not un-
til Saturday afternoon that she was fully
restored, aud at o'clock on that day
she took Sixth avenue car and went
to West 18th street, where she is al
present residing with friend. f


The girl was similarly affected some
time since, and then narrowly escaped
burial.
Year: 1873

Here is rather nice tale of careful
banking, which comes to us from an
Eastern city Some years ago friend
of its cashier brought to suburban
bank Government bond valued. at
81, ,000 He was in the habit of receiv-
ing the coupons regularly, but last
January no coupon came. Upon inquiry
it was found that his bond was missing,
and he was told that it had probably
been dropped in waste-basket and sold
for old paper He was further told that
he had no redress, as the bank was not
responsible for individual securities left
in its care--a great mistake, if we know
anything of common law. Still further
research develops the fact that other Sc
curities lodged in the same bank are
missing to the value of 100000. These
probably were also dropped into the
waste-paper basket.
Year: 1873

It's about an ancient cannibal man,
Who came from an island near Japan
A cannibal man who was tough and old
When Barnum bought him and paid in gold;
And whether the man or Barnum was sold


You will learn in this solemn story.
His teeth were sharp as the teeth OF saw,
And he had two rows in his lower jaw,
Filed and polished and ready for use
On any customer full of juice,
Or the first baby that lay around loose,


For babies were all his glory.
sad mistake for a cannibal hand
To come to an almost babyless land,
For babies are strangely out of style;
You may travel the country many mile
Without the light Of baby-smile
Unless with the Dutch and Irish.
But Barnum kept his man in a cage,
Though he felt quite sure, at the fellows age,
That his cannibalistic feats were done,
Unless he should eat man for fun;
And once, on the sly, he fed him one,


Which wasn't wise proceeding.
For, haVlag tasted white mans meat,
He was always ready to kill and eat
And he looked with longing at rosy gir,s,
Who came to the show in shining curls,
With cheeks like peaches and teeth like pearls,


And he wondered how they tasted.
1t happened once when the flesh was weak,
That he snatched a bite from rosy cheek;
When Barnum entered the cage to beat him,
The cannibal thought he had come to treat him,
And straightway began to eat him


Without even salt or pepper.
And though he was stingy and awful tough,
For good square meal he proved enough;
Alas alack what terrible omen
1t teaches to women as well as to showmen,
That whether a cannibal, Greek or Roman,


Be ever so old you can't trust no man.
Year: 1873

Journeying to Boston from Washing
ton the authoress had her berth made
into bed, and, divesting herself of her
outer garments, retired behind the cur
tain and slept until daybreak. L
knew" she proceeds, "that at each end
of the car there was toilet room, with
marble basins and washing parapher-
MALTA. I put my head out between the
opening of the curtain to see if the
place was unoccupied, when, to my
amazement, what should meet my eye,
all the way up and down the narrow
corridor, but stockinged-no, I mean
socked-feet struggling into boots of
the most decidedly masculine persua-
sion. AS I was contemplating the pos
sibility of threading my way through
this novel living hedge, I came to the
knowledge that was the only lady in
the car, and that, unknown and unpro-
tected, L had been passing the night in
the most ignorant and helpless security
with about twenty menl In any other
country this discovery would have been
horrifying in itself and extremely dis
agreeable in its results /; but short as
my experience of American chivalry had
been, it was quite sufficient for me to
know that I had absolutely nothing to
feel uncomfortable about. Most of the
gentlemen did me the honor to ignore
my presence completely, thereby ma
king me feel very much assured. Those
that did not neither stared nor spoke ;
but as the train slackened at the Jersey
City station two of them helped me
down the steps of the platform, and
one, taking my shawls and the other
my nd-bag said, ALLOW me, madam,
to see you to the ferry p whittier they
accompanied me and bowed themselves
oHe IL Z . IL IL -
Year: 1873

Muskrats have q curious method of
travelling long distances under the ice.
In their winter excursions to their feed
ing grounds, which are frequently at
great distances from their abodes, they
take in breath at starting, and remain
under the water as long as they can.
They then rise up to the ice and breathe
out the air in their lungs, which remain
in bubbles against the lower surface of
the ice. They wait till this air RECEIVERS
oxygen from the water and the ice, and
then take it in again, and go on till the
operation has to be repeated. In this
way they can travel almost any distance,
and live any length of time under the
ice. The hunter sometimes takes ad-
vantage of this habit of the muskrat in
the following manner When the
marshes and ponds, where the muskrats
abound, are first frozen over, and the
ice is thin and clear, on striking into
their houses with his hatchet, for the
purpose of setting his traps, he fire.
quently sees a whole family plunge into
the water and swim under the ice.
Following one of them for some dis
tance, he sees him come up to renew his
breath in the manner above described.
After the animal has breathed against
the ice, and before he has time to take
his bubble in again, the hunter strikes
with his hatchet directly over him and
drives him away from his breath. In
this case he browns in swimming few
rods, and the hunter, cutting hole in
the ice, takes him out. Mink, otter
and beaver travel under the ice in the
same way, and hunters have frequently
told us. of taking otter in the manner
we have described when these animals
visit the houses of the muskrat.
Year: 1873

The manufacture of rails by a new
system which does away with manual
labor to great extent, is to be carried
on in o rail mill which is now being
erected at Louisville, KY, at cost Of
100000. In the process of making
the rail, the iron passes through thirteen
sets of rolls, without halt, and is
turned over five times for side-rolling
The iron is taken from the heating fur
mace, and transformed into rail in half
q minute.
Year: 1873

A young Japanese law student, who
is about to leave Washington for his
native country, will take with him a
handsome black walnut model, com
plete, of the gallows recently used in
the execution of Jenkins, johnson, and
Woods. We wonder if it is the youth s
intention to apply for the position of
prosecuting attorney, in case of the
Japanese Government adopting our
method of furnishing crime?
Year: 1873

Misunderstanding should never be
washed with anything but salt and wa
ter-a pint of salt to half pailful of
soft water, moderately warm. Dry
quickly with soft cloth. Twice during
the season will probably be sufficient
washing for bedroom, but room
much used will require it somewhat
oftener.
Year: 1873

The situation, at Port Deposit is improved
and there is little danger remaining OF any
serious damage to the town. We join ia the
thankfulness appropriate for this condition OF
fhinna
Year: 1873

The season for taking down stoves
is here. A church-going man in Bridge
port believing that the winter was
over, took down his stove last week -
His wife assisted. AS it was necessary
to carry it ups flight of stairs, the
husband went first, and his !wife took
the roar hold and followed. The man
thought this was an admirable arrange
ment, for in case the stove slipped aud
journeyed down stairs, his wife might
possibly gel her ueck broken, and he
would be left to get new mother for
bis children. But was disappointed.


The noble woman struggled bravely
with her end Of the stove, and didn't
have to bend her back bit, whilst her
considerste husband was bent nearly
double al the time, and just as the lat
Joint in his spinal column WIS shout to
snap, his wife crowded him little, and
he put his end down on his best toe and
yelled. Then the woman excitedly,
lifteud ber end as high Us sho could,
throwing abont fourteen more tons on
his toe. Then he yelled louder and
swore. And before that stove was put
away, that chdrch.going man was set
back at least ten years in his religion
N0rriSt0Ua Herald.
Year: 1873

How GRAPHIC PIcTUREs ARE MADE.
A correspondent of the Boston Transcript
describes visit to the Graphic establish
ment. The art department, in which
consists the peculiar excellence Of the
Graphic, is especially worthy Of note.
OF this the writer says: "Some of the
sketches which appear in the Graphic
are first drawn by hand on paper with n
pen and ink. They are finished up Just
as they are to appear in the paper. The
sketch is then copied upon glass plate
through the instrumentality of camera


This plate is called a negative, and from
it by the aid of the sun, or powerful
artificial light n copy of the picture is OBJ
tanned on transfer paper. Tho transfer
paper is very thin, and so made that it
will readily yield ink to lthographc
stone. After having been properly pre-
pared, the transfer paper is laid face
downward upon the stone, from which
the Graphic is to be printed, and trans
fer is made. The result is, the picture
which was originally drawn with pen,
appears upon the surface of the litho-
graphic stone, and is an exact fac stmiie
of the original. 1t looks rs if printed on
stone and to all intents and purposes is so
printed in what is known as lithographic
ink. The transfer, as all lithographers
know, is made in n hand-press. Thus it
will be seen that the engraver's tool has
been entirely dispensed with. Having
once got a copy Of the picture, the rest Of
the process is mechanical. The whole
outside Of the Graphic or that part which
is illustrated, is printed from ltho-
graphic stone as large rs the newspaper.
The letter press is autographed as well as
the pictures, by the aid Of camera and
the transfer process. The stone is placed
in II fat bed steam press, and printed
from exactly as il 1t was so much type,
with this difference; the surface OF the
stone is perfectly smooth, the ink from
the rollers adhering only to to the linked
surface of the stones, which represents
the pictures and the type. Tho blank
spaces OF the stone which appear white
on the paper, are kept wet by boys who
sponge over the surface this prevents
the ink from sticking, and tho result is
exactly as if the paper had been printed
from the type and cuts dug out by the
tools Of an artist. After a lithographc
stone has been used for one edition Of the
Graphic, the pictures on its surface are
rubbed off, and it is ready to have others
transferred for the next days paper.
Thirty thousand impressions can be taken
from one stone, and six, eight, ten or as
many presses as desired can bc running
at the same time with duplicate stone.
Year: 1873

THE EFFECT OF MARRIAGE.-Doubt-
less you have remarked with satisfaction,
how the little oddities of men who marry
rather late in life are pruned away speed
lily after marriage. You have found n
man, who used to be shabbily dressed
with huge shirt collar frayed at the
edges, and glaring, yellow silk pocket
handkerchief, broken of these things, and
become pattern of neatness. You have
seen man whose hair and whiskors were
ridiculously cut, speedily become like a
human being. You have seen a clergy
man, who wore a long beard, in a little
while without one. You have seen man
who used to sing ridiculous sentimental
songs, leave them off. A wife is the
grand wielder of the moral pruning knife.
Whenever you find a man, whom you
know little about, oddly dressed, or talk
ing ridiculously, or exhibiting eccentricity
Of manner, you may be tolerably sure
that he is not married man. For the
little corners are rounded off, the little
shoots are pruned away in married men.
Wives generally have more sense than
their husbands, especially when the hus-
bands clever man. The wife's advices
are like the ballast that keeps the ship
steady. They are like the wholesome,
though painful shears, nipping off little
growths Of self-conceit and folly.
Year: 1873

A DEsPICABLE MULE. - The negro
and mule are inseparable companions in
the Southern cotton fields, and like the
Hawaiian string and bow, useless each
without the other. The lazy Indifference
and careless cruelty Of the one, and won
deriul powers Of endurance Of severe la
Dor, bad treatment, and neglect of the
other, complete tho compatibility Of the
two races necessary for the production of
four millions Of bales. A characteristic
anecdote may be rolished by those who
have had experience of the two. The
spectator had taken refuge from the SUMS
perpendicular rays under the shade of a
spreading beach Sub teGmine fu0i, and
lay recumbent, enjoying the itful breeze
and the somber frothiness Of the country
newspaper. Along the dusty road which
passed by this retreat, came jogging a
negro, mounted on mule, both appar-
emily fast asleep. AS the somnolent pair
approached the spot, some wicked sprite
of the place gave the paper flrt, which
was no sooner seen and heard than the
mule, as mules only know how, instantly
"swapped ends" and leaving the negro
sprawling in the dirt, took his departure
under full sail. The negro, half raising
himself, and wiping the dust from his
eyes and mouth, watched the retreating
mule for some time in silence, but at
length, unconscious of an auditor, gave
expression to this philosophic soliloquy /:
Dat's what makes me 'spise a mule. y
Hd1per'S Md1dzine.
Year: 1873

Must | put them on him?


| hardly think l can,
Twill make the darling look


So very much a man.
And | must put away


Those dainty little dresses,
And take the cruel shears


To golden, struggling tresses
I've tried so hard to keep him
In these little clothes
Saying every day I'll wait
Till he older grows.
For l know I'll sadly miss


His winsome, baby ways,
And look back with regret


To his sunny, baby days.
Only see those little shoes,


With pink toes peeping through !
l remember we'll the day,


When they were bright and new,
And how l coaxed and petted,
And sang some angel song,
To make him sit quite still,


While | should try them on.
III put them with the treasures
I've garnered of the past,
In remembrance of u childhood
All too bright to last;
OF a guileless, happy boyhood
That disappeared as soon
As he stepped from little dresses
Into pantaloons,
Year: 1873

The ANGEL OF THE HEART" Come
to me, darling; papa's cross tonight"
said young mother, as she extended
he" arms atfectionately to a little girl of
three years, who left her toys and play
things to climb upon her fathers knee.


The child hazarded a puzzled look at
the dark, stern countenance, and without
glance Of reinsurance, stole softly to
his side. Not a word was spoken, and
the gloomy man sat sad and sullen, his
mind wholly absorbed with the busy
worlds excitements. Although a hus-
band and father, he was evidently in
no humor to participate in the delights Of
the "home circle"


The child, not at all discouraged by the
forbidding look of her parent, crept gently
upon his knee, and placing one tiny arm
about his neck, the other glided over the
opposite cheek, while her innocent lips
pressed the troubled brow. In asubdued
breath she whispered, "Nellie loves papa
so much," and drew her little soft hands
carelessly down the careworn face until
they met beneath the heavily bearded
chin.


Observe the effect Twas electrical I!
The stern features relaxed, the sullen
gloom disappeared, and the whole coun-
tenance assumed lively animated ex-
preston.


The scene was most touching. Words
fail to express the exquisite beauty Of
such picture, as the transformed parent
drew the little girl to his bosom and
pressed kiss upon her innocent upturned
face, the finer feelings of his manly nature
We're in his voice, as as he said


No, my child, papa never could be
cross with loving daughter to calm the
heart the world has tortured into despair"


The moral is too palpable to be misun-
Observation-Disclosures Journal.
Year: 1873

TIE Cleveland girl who declared she
would never be married by man, sent
all the way to Terro Haute for Rev. Miss
Ballou to perform the ceremony. Wo-
men have more skill and taste in tying
loveknots than men seem to possess, but
it remains to be seen whether the knot is
any stronger, or less likely to ehafe. But
it is strange the Cleveland girl did not go
one step fulther and declare she would
never marry man.
Year: 1873

A Word TO MoTHERs.-Why will not
mothers know that to invite and possess
the confidence of their daughters is to
secure them from evil? Never make
them afraid to tell you anything never
make them ashamed of the natural desire
to have attention from the othersex. Ad-
init the liking for it as belonging to youth
to your past youth-but at the same
time, enforce the judicious timing Of it +;
and above all encourage frank avowal
of, and sympathy with, their youthful
preferences. Many young girl now lost
TO herself and society, might have been
saved by such course. Harsh rebuke
of these natural feelings is like pruning
all the leaves and buds and blossoms
from young plant lest stray insects
should light upon it.-Fanny Fern.
Year: 1873

LOOK at the bright side Of everything.
1t don't pay to go through life with a
tear in your eye and sigh upon your
lips. If your friend has a fault don't
dwell upon it SO long as to forget mis- vir-
tues. 1t is folly to look for perfection in
anything. Accept the best you can get
and be thankful for it. Humanity is not
half as black as some people would paint
it. Its faults are like the spots on the
suns surface-apparent enough to those
who seek them, but unnoticed by those
who are satisfied with the sunshine of ev.
ery-day life.
Year: 1873

SOME tradesmen think it would be a
good plan for them to send in their little
bills on postal cards to customers who
are dilatory in coming down with the
cash. Such a game of cards as that
would cause some people to cut, others
to shuttle, and would not be popular by a
good deal.