smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

Saratoga letter to the Daily Graphic.l


The fashion of dancing is not at
all cosmopolite-not even National.
In Saratoga the different styles
make a medley.


If you see 2O0-pound man and
woman perspiring around, with their
pompous bodies tossed lightly and
springily in the air. arms swaying
and keeping good time and making
grand Persian salaams for a bow in
the Lancers, you can set them down
as belonging to the old Tweed
Fisk-Le-land- -Amerieus Club school.


Ifyou see two heated young peo-
pie tripping fast way ahead of the
music, taking short steps, and jerk
ing through a square dance as if the
house was on FIRE and the set must
be completed before any one could
take to the fire escapes, you can set
them down as from the plantation
districts of the South or the rural
districts of Pennsylvania and the
West. 1t is the steamboat quick
step.


If you see a black-eyed youth
with long hair, and a young lady
with liquid black eyes, and she has
her two hands on the young mans
shoulders at full length, and she
stands directly in front of him, and
they both go hopping around like
Siamese twins with wire springs un-
der them, you can wager they are
from Louisville, Memphis or Little
Rock. They have the squaretoed,
wrestling step.


If you see young fellow grasp a
young lady firmly around the waist,
seize her wrist, stick her hand out
like the howsprit of a Sound yacht,
and cast on a door-yard fence, and
then go sliding slam bang against
people, over people, through people,
up and down the room, sidewise,
backward, and up and down like a
saw-mill gate, you can bet on them
having learned their dancing from
the Morristown, Riverdale and Yon-
kers sociable. It is the suburban,
New York saw-mill jump-up.


If you see>a couple sliding gen
tly and slowly and lazily through
the Lancers, just half as fast as the
time, but keeping step with the
music, quietly sauntering through
the "grand chain,'' too languid to
whirl partners, talking sweetly all
the time, as If they were strolling in
graveyard, you can rest assured
that they are from New York, and
from the fashionable section be-
tween Madison Square and the park.
This is the graveyard saunter step.


If you see a fellow clasp a girl
meltingly in his arms, squeeze her
hand warmly, hold her swelling bos-
ON to his, and they both go floating
down the room locked in each 9th
er's embrace, looking like one per-
son, his feet only now and then pro
truding from a profussion of lllu-
sion and lace and so on, rely upon
it, you can set the two down as be
longing to the intense Boston
school. It is the melting Harvard
jacket-race embrace.


Massachusetts,, take our hat!
Year: 1875

The great difficulty in this eoun-
try is, that We have no time for any
thing. The very walk of an Ameri-
can shows that he is in hurry. An
EngIshman buttons his coat and
goes to business as deliberately as
he goes to church. An American
business man flies after the car.
struggling with his coat sleeves as
he runs, plunges in head -formost,
and plunges out at the other erd
without regard to his neck. Chief
among our accidents stand those
which occur because people jump
upon flying trains or after departing
boats. To wait ten minutes is some
think not to be thought Of Dinner
is not eaten, it is swallowed whole;
and when one comes to the dessert
he finds the fruit was picked before
it was ripe. Everything is hurried
through from the building of a
house to the curing Of ham. The
women who work on sewing ma
chimes stop before they come to
the end of the seam. The dress
maker sends home your dress with
basting threads in it. and no loops
to hang it up by. There is none Of
the slow, sure com mpleteness of the
old world about anything, and even
fortunes are generally made in a
hurry, and lost in the same way. If
any man we know is getting rich by
the slow and patient process of
saying, be sure that he was not born
upon this continent. Yet people
live as long here as they do any
where else, and the days are the
same length. Why is it that we have
no time for anything.-N Y. Ledger
Year: 1875

That all the girls used "a be in
love with him.


That all the widows are now.
That if he were q widower he
could maFiy again whenever he
chose.


That all the other fellows are
fools.


That he wouldn't introduce any
other fellow he knows IN the world
to his sister or his daughter.


That his wife is little jealous.
That she used to be a pretty girl
Tha: his mother could make good
bread, that his wife cannot.


That he wouldn't trust most wo-
men.


That if he should ever speculate
he would make his fortune.


That he would enjoy a country
life.


That bis girls will never be so
silly as to marry.


That his mother-in-law may be a
fine old lady, but


That smoking never hurt man
yet.


That with little management
the servants would do well, and
never give warning.


That his shirt buttons are grossly



That he is going to make his for
tune some day.


That he despises old bachelors.
Times A MARRID WOMAN CANNor


HELP THINKING.


That she was very pretty at six
teen.


That she had, or would have had,
a great many good offers.


That all her lady friends are five
years older than they say they are.
That she has very fine mind.


That if her husband had acted on
her advice, be would be a rich man
TO day.


That people think too much of
the looks of that Miss, who
would not be called handsome If she
didn't make hevselfup.


That her mother-in- law is a very
trying woman.


That her sisterin law Aakes airs,
and ought to be pnt down.


That her girls are prettier than
Mrs. AS girls.


That she would like to know
where her husband spends his even
ings when he stays out.


That her oldest son takes after
him.


That he is going to throw himself
away on Miss Scraggs.
That Miss Scraggs set her cap for
him, and did all the courting.


That her servant girls are the
worst ever known.


That she mas taste in dress.


That she has a good temper.


That she pities old maids.
i
Year: 1875

The worst case Of selfshness that
we have ever been permitted to
present to the public emanated from
a youth who complained because
his mother put a bigger mustard
plaster on his younger brother than
she did on him, after they had par
taken a little 100 freely OF melons
and hard apples.
Year: 1875

Not laugh was heard, nor a Joyous note E,
As our friend to the bridal we hurried T;
Not wit discharged his farewell shot,
AS the bachelor went to be married.
We marched him quietly to save his fright,
Our head from the sad sight turning
And we sighed as we stood by the lamps


dim hight,


To think he was not more discerning,
To think that bachelor, free and bright,
And shy of the sex we foand him,
Should there at Che altar, in the shades OF


Dight,


Be caught in the snare that bound him
Few and, short were the words he said
Though of cake and wine partaking;
And he hastened home from the scene of


dread,


While his knees were awfully shaking.
Slowly and sadly we marched him down
From the first to the lowermOsr story ;
And little We'll hear or see the poor man
That vent home alone in his glory.
Year: 1875

A LEGAL MIND. A young law
yer in indianapolis has recently
given evidence of sublimity Of
impudence before which the
cheek of a lightning-rod peddler
is the veriest modesty. Having
asked a young lady to appoint a
day when she would like to go
driving, he added: "In this con-
nection l will say that L am only
poor young lawyer, who has eX-
pended his all to get an education
to fit himself for the pratice of his
chosen profession. Were l stu
ated as I once was l would pro-
ceed differently, but as it is 1
hesitate not to say that my purse
will not allow me to eXpend
money for pleasure, and knowing
you to have ample means, l have
no doubt you will be pleased to
bear the expenses of the proposed
buggy ride"
Year: 1875

THE FOURTH STREET CLUB.--The entertain
ments OF the Fourtb-Street Clue, to be given
at Assembly Hall on Tuesday and Wednes-
day evenings next, promise TO be among the
most interesting and amusing ever given in
10 this city. There will be fun, there will
be music, and there will be everything cal.
culated 10 make the evening pass of very
pleasantly,
Year: 1875

Never be idle. II your hands can
not be usefnlly employed attend to
the cultivation OF your mind.


Always speak the trnth.


Keep good company or none.


Make few promises.


Live up to your engagements.


Keep yonr own secrets If yon have
any.


When you speak to person look
him in the face.


Good company and good convcrsa-
ton arc the very sinews of virtue.


Good character is above all things
else.


Never listen to loose or idlc CONVEX
sation.


Yonr character cannot be essentially
injured except by your own acts.


Ii any one speaks evil Of you lot
your life be 90 virtnous that none will
believe him.


Drink no Intoxicating liquors.


Ever live, mistortnnes excepted,
within your income.
When you retire to bod think over
what yon have done during the day.
Never speak lightly Of religion.
Make no haste to be rich If you
would prosper.


Small and steady gains give compe.
tency with tranquility of mind.
Mover play at any kind OF game.
Avoid temptation through fear that
you may not Withstand it.
Earn your money before you spend
IL.

Never run in debt unless You soc q
way to get out again.
Mover borrow II you can possibly
avoid IL.
Be just before yon are generous.
Keep yourself innocent IL you
would be happy.
Save whom you are young, to spend
whom yon ARD old.
Never think that which yor
do for religion is timo or money mis-
spent.
Read some portions OF the Bible
every C0unsels for Life.
Year: 1875

This is the ninth day Of the session
of Congress, and there are yet no


committees appointed in the House.


Report has it that Speaker Kerr will
not be able to announce the commit


tees before the Goth inst. Should this


be SO, two full weeks will have passed,


and legislation virtually blocked be-


cause of the incapacity or Incidence


Of a Democratic Speaker. The Senate


was ready for business Immediately


following the reception Of the Presi-


dents message. Never before, in the


history of the country, to our remem-


brance---certainly not since the Re-


publican party gained power, unless


it occurred during protractcd con-


test in the election of Speaker--has
there been such q delay Of legislation


by the failure Of the speaker to
make up the committees. Should the
committees not be announced until
the Goth, it will precede the holidays
by SO short time that no legislation
will be effected until after the first Of
January next. I'm the meantime hun


dreds OF thousands Of dollars will
have been expended in the payment
of Congress and It's officers, for doing
nothing, or next to nothing, and all
because the Democratic party, which
is SO horrified by Republican corrup-
tion and want of economy, fails, thro'
it's Speaker, to appoint the commit
tees. Had any such inexcusable delay
ever happened in the Republican
party, the country would never had
any cessation of the howl from the
Democracy. 1t is, indeed, a shameful
sqnandering of the time and money
which belongs to the people. The
Democratic members of the House,
while drawing their pay from the
people, are now chiefly occupied in
holding caucuses, to shape a. line of
policy for legislation, which they as
sumo to call such as will best conduce
to the interests of the country, though
in fact they arc seeking that policy
which will best conduce to their par
ty interest. They are trying to head
the ex-rcbel element so that IL will
not iniure The party. These caucuses
are TO tone this element down 10
proper state of exercising caution,
lest they kick the fat into the fire, and
to give ample time for this school Of
correction and advice to operate, the
Speaker withholds the appointment
of the committees.-Daily Of The 18Th
Year: 1875

THAT dapper little gentleman, Geo.
r. Pendleton, OF Cincinnati, Ohio, is
swinging around the circle in the
South. He meets with applause from
his southern Democratic friends. He
deserves this, for few men of the
North were better friends of the
Democratic rebellion than was PEN
dleton. II is hardly probable that
George can win the Democratic nom-
nation. He may, however, be i'm the
business of selking the Western and
Southern Democratic rag money
nomination, on the plan of the De-
mocracy running two candidates for
the Presidency, for the purpose OF
throwing the election into the hands
Of The Democratic Lower House OF
Congress. III this policy shall seem
best to the Democratic party, the
knocking Of their trotters from under
them is assured from the moment OF
its adoption.
Year: 1875

THE Democrats nthe Lower House
of Congress, in order to kill time
while waiting for the making up OF
the committees, resurrected the corpse
of their favorite bugaboo, the third
term, and had a vote upon it, Only
eighteen voted against it, and these
did so, we doubt not, for reasons 9TH
er than because they were third term
men, probably because they thought
the resolution wholly cxiraneous
and out Of place in the House.
Year: 1875

THAT report in regard to Bishop
Haven declaring for Grant for third
term at meeting of the Methodist
Tract Society in Boston, turns out to
be a canard. While uncontradicted
it received very severe comments
from the Republican press, and was a
nice dish for Democratic journals to
feed upon. From the very nature Of
things it ought never to have received
any credence, for it was not a sup
posable case that the Bishop would
do anything Of the kind. Its having
SO great a run, however, has forced
before the public fiat denial of the
report.
Year: 1875

THE Democratic portion of the
House were very anxious to tell the
world, or rather, profess that they
were opposed to land grants and all
species OF subsidies. Men and legis-
iative bodies are best judged by their
deeds; the biggest rascals are always
very profuse with professions of hon
esty. BY the way, it would not be a
bad move to sandwich in among the
Democratic resolutions one declaring
that they win never again rebel
against the will of the people, ex-
pressed at the polls in the election of
President.
Year: 1875

AN exchange notes that President
Grant, in his last and longest message,
does not have single word touching
the condition of the South. A special
message in regard TO this subject and
including the outrage in Mississippi
tho news ofwhich probably reached
Washington just before the message
was. sent to Congress--is expected TO
be soon sent in. This may account
for nothing appearing in the message
upon this subject.
Year: 1875

The Senate, yesterday, concuwed in the
House amendment to the Wages Attachment
Repeal bill, restricting its operations to New
Castle county, and the bill became law taking
effect at once. We have not seen the bill, but
understand that its provisions only forbid tho
attachment of wages for debts contracted after
tho passage of the act
Year: 1875

A DRIED CHINAMAN.-Th Portland
Oregonian tells this CHASTITY story: eyes
terday, while Chief Happens was walking
leisurely up Alder street, in the vicinity
of some Chinese quarters, he was sur
prised to observe the somewhat ghastly
spectacle of a pair of human hands dan
Cling from string from the second story
window of Chinese tenement. The
officer entered the building and ordered
the occupants to take the hands in, out
of the gaze of the public. He then de-
manded an explanation of the affair, and
was told that the hands belonged to the
body of Chinaman who died some time
ago at Lewiston. According to an
established custom, the body was sent
down to Portland for the purpose of
shipping it back to China. When the
body reached here it became necessary
to cut it up into pieces to-day so that it
might occupy the least possible space.
The hands after being severed from the
arms at the wrists. were hung up in the
sun to dry."
Year: 1875

We are apt to be very severe upon
flies when they settle on our noses at
some inconvenient moment, or On the
fruit we are about to eat ana yet they
do us very valuable service. If we
watch one of these insects at the mo-
ment they alight after an excursion in
the air, we shall see it perform q series
OF evolutions not unlike those OF O cat
engaged i'll making her toilet. The fly
will rub his hind legs against each other,
then brush his wings with them next
comes the turn of the fore legs, and
lastly, the probocis is applied to every
part it can reach. Ali this is not work
of mere cleanliness, as might at first sight
be supposed in reality, the insect is in
the act of preparing its dinner. Mr..
Emerson, having placed fly he had
just caught under the microscope, saw
that its body was covered with an i'm
mense number of extremely minute par
asites /; and the observation was repeat
edly confirmed on other subjects. He
next perceived that the insect touched
with its probiscis all those parts where
there were such lice, and that the various
operations performed with the legs had
no other object but that of collecting all
the parasites into one heap, in order to
devour them more easily. At first our
naturalists thought that the latter were
its progeny, it being well known that
flies carry their progeny about with them;
but he soon convinced himself that he
WAS mistaken. Having placed under the
microscope a bit of white paper, on
which two flies had been seen intent
upon eating something, he ascertained
that their meal consisted of the same
parasites. He then wiped the paper
clean, and put it away in place which
flies could not get to, and after some
time put it again under the instrument,
when to his surprise he found it covered
with the same animalcules. This ex-
pertinent being repeated in various
ways, it turned out that flies are the
scavengers of vitiated air, where they
fatten on the parasites that settle upon
them in myriads while on the contrary
they grow lean and starve in pure at
mosphere where their favorite game is
scarce
Year: 1875

THE terrible rains that have been fall
ing almost continuously for the last two
months in some parts of the country are
a puzzle to the meteorologists. The dis
trict covered with this immense water
fall extends from the Alleghaney noun
tains to the Rockies, taking in the Ohio
valley, the Missouri valley. and a con-
siderable portion of the valley (proper)
of the Mississippi. In southern Ohio
and southern Indiana the down pour has
been almost incessant. In that region
the farmers have long been warned that
they were rendering their fields arid by
denuding the land of trees, and the
drouths of some previous seasons seem
ed to justify the assumption. But the
experience of the presence year seems to
indicate that the amount of rain fall is
not dependent in {. very large degree on
forests, and the farmers will hereafter
place little confidence in counselors who
advise the preservation of the trees. In
Colorado and Wyoming, in districts that
have been arid ever since the country
was first occupied, the rains have been
as copious as in the Ohio valley. The
plains Just at the foot of the Rocky
mountains are flooded, and all along the
Pacific railways the rains have fallen.
1t is claimed by some that the building
of railroads in these arid regions is the
cause of the change that the dashing
of trains through the mountains, and
the influence of the telegraph lines on
the electric current, have brought about
meteorological revolution. This is
scarcely credible, for railroads and tsle-
graphs have been built elsewhere with
out affecting the climate. Nevertheless,
if it could be demonstrated that such is
the fact, and that railroads and telegraphs
make arid countries rainy, there is grand
field opened for the enterprise of civil
lied men. All that the reclaimers of the
Sahara need to do, if the supposition is
correct, is to run railroad or two across
the vast sandy waste, and scatter about
few telegraph lines, and the desert will
blossom like rose. It is likely, how
ever. that all this is mere guesswork.
The cause of excessive rainfall in Amer
lea, in England, and in France must be
sought in some influences which affect
the whole planet. It must be confessed
in view of the widespread storm disas-
ters of the present season, that Professor
Iice's arguments appear reasonable. If
it isn't Mars and Venus and Jupiter and
tho rest of them that are disturbing the
equibility of our little planet, who in
the world is it?
Year: 1875

A DEAD WHALE AT TRoCKAwAY.-The
body of whale, minus the head, was
washed ashore during the storm of
Wednesday night at Rockaway Beach,
about two miles below the Neptune
House and near Barren Island. The
body is forty five feet long, and fishermen
who profess to know say that at least
fifteen feet of it has been eaten off or
rotted away, as the body is badly decay
ed. AS soon as it was known that a
whales body was on the beach all sorts
of rumers gained currency, and people
from all parts of the island came flock
ing to see it, including goodly number
of New Workers. Many peaple were in
clined to believe it was not the body of
whale at all, but such it certainly is,
although even th ose who profess to know
the habits of this leviathan are at a loss
to account for its being found on this
coast. The supposition Is that IL this
whale must have been killed elsewhere
and has been drifted to our shores by
the currents. It was so much decom-
posed that only part of its outlines could
be distinctly made out, and no one cared
to hazard an opinion as to what species
it belonged to.
Year: 1875

A few days since, while q young man
of the vicinity of Middle Grove, whom
wa shall designate as Jeemes, was shrub
ing in field, he ran upon black snake
III a cluster of bushes, and, calling his
dog Zip, set him after the snake. While
he was intently watching the progress of
the fight between his snakeship and his
favorlte canine, something from behind
took him ''whack' upon the seat of his
trousers, and, turning quickly, he dis
covered to his horror tremendous
horse-racer, full six feet in length, with
head erect kissing tongue and glaring
eyes, curling himself in the fullest atti-
tude of battle, and before Jeemes could
comprehend the terrible character of the
situation, "whack" the snake took him
again. He then looked for tree, but
there was none to climb-for stick, but
there was none at hand. He then drew
his jack-knife with the determination of
selling his life as dearly as possible, and
the most terrible battle between man and
snake then occurred that has ever trans
pi, led in the history of Monroe County.
The snake was very strong and active,
and, cnrling himself around one of his
victims legs, he struck his terrible fangs
into him with marvellous rapidity-tight-
ening his hold and crawling up all the
time, while Jeemes piled his jack knife
with a rapidity never equalled by the
savage Modoc. The snake was getting
the best of it, and had twisted himself
up nearly to Jeemes' face, and was about
to coil his Shiny length about his sue
cumbing antagonists swan-like throat,
when Zip, the faithful servant, having
finished snake No. l, came yelping to
the rescue, and taking in at glance the
hazardous position of the master, he
sprang and grappled the monster by the
neck, and held on with vice-ike grip
until Jeemes, by the use of his knife,
extricated himself from his terrible pre-
dicament, and from an untimely and
premature grave. The snake was killed
and the trustY dog was the life -preserver
OF his master.-P07'is (AIO.) Appeal.
Year: 1875

A MAINE girl left her clothing in an
open boat and hid herself, and when
her parents were crying and saying that
if they only had her back they would
obey her slightest wish, she appeared and
said she wanted to marry Jake.
Year: 1875

s'JEssIE, what was Joe's arm doing
around your waist when you were at the
front gate last night p asked precocious
boy of his sister. His arm wasn't around
my waist. I won belt from him, and
he was taking my measure, :" replied the
indignant young lady.