smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

One of the strongest temperance men con-
nected with the Chicago press has a penchant
for mixing up "drinks" which cheer but not
inebriate. His latest discovery in this line is
plain soda slightly favored with aromatic
spirits of ammonia. While out on Madison
street at the extreme west end the other night,
our journalist felt the approach of head
ache, and stopped in convenient drug store
to indulge in his favorite tipple. A boy,
about knee high to toad, was in attendance
at the fountain.


''Give me plain soda and ammonia was
the request.


The boy assumed a knowing look, and re-
piled, "All right, sir"


And then placed glass under suspicious
looking tap, when the journalist, who didn't
understand this business, said, ''Hold on
there! What are you about! want soda
and ammonia!"


''Thats all right said the knowing urchin.
''Tm giving you little old bourbon; | know
what am about. That's the name they all
give it,"


Our journalist was with friend who was
also strongly temperance. 1t would be hard
to make the latter believe of just what stuff
soda and ammonia was composed.


On his way down this same temperance
Journalist stopped in at the same drug store,
laid five cent piece down on the counter
and told them to stop at the Times office
Chicago Tribune.
Year: 1873

Vulcan himself, with all the smart giants
who worked at his gods smithies under
Etna, never owned such an anvil as Will
soon be in use in new rolling mills in wool
wich, England. For long time past the
engineers have been busy ut the royal gun
factories of the arsenal in constructing this
Titanic piece of ironmongery, and they are
now depositing in its place the enormous
plate which is to form the bed OF the anvil
block. This plate weighs of Itself one hun
dred and seven tons, and had to be cast OF
necessity in an open mold. The surface
which is to receive the anvil block lay, tn ere
for, downward, and when, after many weeks,
the colossal casting grew c0ol it was needful
to turn the huge mass completely over. AT
the appointed time an army OF study smiths
undertook this task with hydraulic jacks
and combination of the strongest tackle.
Before night they had lifted the monstrous
lump of solid metal, twenty-five feet square,
and since then they have laid it on its bed
upon the rock like structure of concrete and
piles made to receive it.


The block. to be mounted On the huge
plate, will weigh only a trit1e short of two
hundred tons, and the steam hammer which
will trikc upon it is made of thirty-fve tons
Of solid metal, the blow at full force being,
of course, tremendous. In fact, it is rather
doubtful what VIII happen 10 NOOl"lcn ana
its vicinity when the mighty piece of mech
anism gets to work. That the earth around
will shake, and the air roll with measured
thunder, seems probable; for nothing like
this stupendous forge has ever been set to
work since the bolts of Joye were hammar
ed. Thor's famous weapon was driver of
tin tacks contrasted with it; and, indeed, the
old Morse god, for all his huge strength,
would be puzzled to throw this Woolwich
tool, which, taking all its metal work togeth-
er, weighs hard upon five hundred tons.-
Boston Globe.
Year: 1873

SOME six year age Charles F. Johnson, .
wel-known printer of this city, died and his
body was placed in vault4n Catholic Gene
terry. A few days ago party OF his reia,
tiyes visited the vault and opened the burial
casket. The change which dad taken place
was remarkable. At the time OF this death
the face was clean shaven. When the coffin
was opened it was found that the beard had
grown to an extraordinary length. One hand
which had been place over the breasl, was
covered with it, and the length was estimated
at least a foot and half. Singular to relate,
the growth of the hair upon the head had
not kept pace with that of the beard.-s r..
Csconicle.
Year: 1873

WiMsted.

 The regular" correspondent from this place was thrown into state of vulgar ex- citement last week over my article of the week before, and then very unkindly and inconsistently remarks that it is ''not worth noticing" He accuses me of calling the young ladies of Winsted the worst looking girls in the county, because I repeated, al- most verbatim, what one of them (who did not dress in calico) said about the calico ball. Any one who has read my article can see his mistake, and l have the confidence in the intelligence of the young ladies in question to believe they will not judge mo wrongly because of this misinterpretation. He is very sure that I am "a poor low bred specimen of humanity, not supplied with brains enough to be called half-witted." This I suppose he means for sarcasm but knowing his exact mental calibre as do I feel by comparison something as Gulliver did among the pigmies. and pre- sume might destroy him in the same way they were destroyed. His virtuous ire is particularly reused at my statement of the facts about "a poor fellow, supposed to be insane" &c., and he has come to the pro- found conclusion that this "poor fellow" must be Elder Miles Grant! He imagines the coat fits him perfectly. from beginning to end, and undoubtedly the Elder will thank him for placing it so squarely on his shoulders. It may be possible the lunatic referred to has occupied the Methodist pull pit, though was not aware that he belong cd to that order; still it is no more strange that lunatic should be allowed in the NJ. E. Church than that this correspon- dent should be allowed to write for an intel ligent and prosperous journal like the NEWS, as both institutions are intended to benefit humanity. He says the article 'smacks strongly of poor whiskey and stale tobacco smoke" Personal practice and experience have probably made him good judge of both, and bow meekly to confess my ig- norance of either. It is indeed fortunate for mo that the difference in the character of our communications Gudging from his lasD is so marked that no one can mistake the author; furthermore. jealousy lest l supercede him as correspondent should not excite in him revengeful feelings, as l bear him no ill-will, and request, MT. Edi- tor, that you give his articles precedence over mine, for his grey hairs, though they have not taught him the elements of polite ness entitle him to kind indulgence.

 CORRESPONDENT No. 2.
Year: 1873

Let us take the good the gods send us, with thanks. The great franking enormity seems to be dead. The exigencies of the presidential election are over, and there will not be another in four years. How many thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars would have been saved had this reform been inaugurated year ago. But the election of president was then ahead, and not behind, which makes all the differ. ence. ....

 Just now also the Congressional and Sen. atorial reputation is trife smirched, if not blackened, and this little sop may help make a trifing diversion What does it matter how much money is made in Con. gressional jobbery, Credit Mobiler, and all that, as long as they can't sell their franks any longer.

 On the whole this spirit of investigation into the abuses, and this little sop of re, form is some reward for the last searching political campaign.
Year: 1873

Sheffield.

 With the thermometer 32 degrees below zero, people care more for hot coal stoves than for the outside world, consequently just at present news from this place is quite below par. However, the moon is destin. ed to shine all the same, though it be re- flected light from Friend Sol. Complaints of the weather during the past week have been numerous, and people rejoice that Old Winter has but one month more in which to tyranize over us. Feb. 2d was Can dlemas Day. The old legends tell us that on this noted day all the feathered creation choose their mates. We presume that last Sunday evening many "lord of creation'' chose his mate also We don't know....... The Dramatic Association met with their usual success last week, and had crowded house to witne ss. The play was interest ing and all acted we'll their parts, but to Mrs. Dr. Grover especial tribute is due. She was pronounced the brightest star of the evening. Social visits among the older people seem to be in favor just now. Even the drifting snows cannot keep them at home when friendly visit is promised and bountiful supper made ready. Shef- field excels in these "old folks tea parties" and oysters are seldom missed in the bill of fare, unless they arc frozen in their ocean beds, as was the case few week since..,..
Year: 1873

Norfolk.

 It is not necessary for me to point ou, the geographical location of No folk. Tu' it occupies but small space on the map of the world, and yet it must act Its part in the drama of National life. There is to un active nature would be dsagreeable. They cling to all that is ar rcicnt toevery- thing that will have a tendency to carry them back to the days of their fathers by none, and yet with this advantage man. ufacturing is almost among the things tha, were, there being ut this lime but one establishment in operation, viz., the Hos iery Company under the management of F B. Porter; finishing ready for the market 300 dozen wrappers and drawers per month. The property formerly owned by the Elm pire Hoe Co. and Bushnell, of New Haven, located in this place, s said to be sold to parties that will set that mammoth wheel rolling. When it starts we will let you know. The Norfolk House, E. Y. Morehouse, proprietor, is doing good business. We will not boast of us large a house as the Miller House; nor as many stories high, but we have landlord that is over six feet high without boots, and il you doubt his ability 10 keep hotel, give him four hours notice and twenty couple Cor nlore) and come over and if you don't go hume satisfied we will own that we are mistaken this time at least.....W. E. and E. $. Beach are bound to sell goods in spite of hard times and we judge from the number of teams hitched at their store thai they do sell them too. c. M. Ryan is ready to wait on his customers and if they arc not ready to trade he will sit down ant have good time with them. Success to Charles. ......H. A. Stanard has purchased the house formerly occupied by Salmon Swift, and is ready to furnish beef for his numerous customers at low figures. Long may he live to enjoy his home on the hill

 ,.....No weddings, no fires this week, ant nothing but cold weather, and coal ter dollars ton. GUESS AGAIN.
Year: 1873

MAKE THEM lNTEREsT1NG.-"No one can remember what is entirely uninteresting to him." says George Mcdonald. This may seem a truism, 6 self-evident fact that needs no repetition; yet we find that peo, pie very often forget, especially in adver, Using. A merchant will write sober, stiff and uninteresting advertisement, when he might just as easily write clear, brisk, at- tractive one. He wlIl in short make dull advertisement and then wonder why people are not interested in it. He may even blame his newspaper because his bad style of advertising does not have good effect. Merchants should look after these things. They should have their advertisements at ractiYe and often changed, and should as much as possible keep their names before the public throughout the year. It does not pay to let people forget in tue dull sea son what you have expended money during the busy season to cause them to remem Der.
Year: 1873

THE JoLLIEsT ADVENTURE YEr.-Sever- all young men and ladies were storm stayed the other evening at Wawayauda lake, and had to stay out all night. No sleighs could reach them next day and the boys had to take the girls on their backs and wade though snow three feet deep in the Cedar Swamp. It is bad enough to fall through but what's that compared with thirty young men, each with big fat girl on his back, wading through snow three feet deep, in a dark and dismal swamp, during mid-win- ter day?
Year: 1873

The High School, taught by Miss Wake field, very competent instructress, is in a f1outishing condition We wish we might say us much for our common schools, but strict regard for the truth forbids. Their present condi,ionis truly deplorable. The town cxpcnds large sums each year for cd ucational purposes, and the schools should be frst-elass. Tho average attendance Is small, showing that one half the scholars in the town did not attend school. Whose fault is it that so few comparatively are qualified to enter our high school. They think their sons and daughters are fitted for teachers if they have ''been through the arithmetic and can parse noun ;" and then it is such an easy CD way to earn little money! The girls can be hired cheap, and for that reason they get schools readily, but the boys arc more scarce, therefore highly prized for "man-teacher" is worth double woman in tho estimation of the | ignorant. We are glad that the days when muscular strength was preferred to l mental cultivation in the teacher are passed. It strikes us that the Sheffield committees are sleeping at their post, else they would arouse and take note of the condition of their schools that the town may not fall so far below the standard of her sister towns There is one district in town where a t'mau teacher" was desired. and he is paid $2 a day for his services. His labors must be difficult we think, considering that fol many days his school has numbered but

 two small pupils. We are reminded of a gentleman hen" we once saw leading about two poor little chicks, which the mother hen had deserted, and we wonder which deserves the greatest commisera,ion l LUNA
Year: 1873

The post office department will put in practice in several large cities the new ar rangement of having newspaper mails made up and labeled in the publication office, and sent direct to. railroad depots, without going through the post office at all, each office being allowed to prepare its own mail
Year: 1873

A Western editor was recently requested to send his paper to distant patron, pro- vided he would take his pay in trade. At the end of the year he found that his sub scriber was Q coffin maker.
Year: 1873

Probably one half the residents of Bay
City are afflicted with colds, and it is
astonishing to see what trade is being
d ne in rum and molasses. SO says its
local.


A small sheet Ia issued in Baltimore
called The Baltimore Matrimonial Jour
nal and Real Estate Aduertiser. The
association between these two interests
Is unexplained.


Far western papers, as rule, spare
neither age nor sex when joke is want
ed. For instance q Carson City journal
says: "Our county clerk can boast Of q
wife with the biggest feet and the long,
est nose Of any female in the Territory


The st. Louis Democrat says: "Our
experience and the history of the past
eighteen centuries incline US to the be-
lief that no matter how well you treat a
shotgun, nor how you bring 1t up, It
will bang the stuffing out OF you the very
first time 1t gets chance
Year: 1873

AN exchange gives delinquent
subscribers gentle reminder
as follows. ''The average length
of a farmers life Is 65 years,
while that of q printer is but 99
hence the necessity of paying for
your paper promptly. We have
not long to live and would like
to have a little money bef,re We
de-"
Year: 1873

NO one OF them would bail
him, and he was forced to
make terms and submit, and re.
funded the money. His rela-
tions to Fisk were bitter, and
out OF the intensity of the evil
passions and criminalties OF
his position with Mansfield
grew murder. Turn to Solo
mon again, and there is no
mystery in the chain Of Sc.
quences. 1t is SAID that the
same steamer that took out to
Europe the news of the MUIR
der OF Fisk by Stokes carried a
divorce procured by her family
for his wife, who still remains
abroad.


The story of family grief
and reverses is not all told.
The senior Stokes, after thirty
years of retirement and enjoy
ment ofs luxurious home, is
bankrupt and homeless in his
old age. One of the daugh-
terS died two weeks after mar
riage. The second daughter,
the wife OF a Mr.. Sutton, at
tached herself so strongly to
the fortunes of her brother that
her husband discarded her, and
she is in refuge with her aged
parents. Tie second son, q
young man of great promise,
died about two months ago oil
grief and shame at the family
reverses, and the whole tale
of the innocent and suffering
victims by this complication
of crime and shame is not to
be fully told without inclu,
ding some of the best known
and esteemed of New York
families.


II young men in our commu
mites could only ride on ex
press trains to the devil, and
take no one with them there
would be less to be sd "a, since
aside from these considerations
it is every mans indivldua
right to barter away his life
and fortune and sacred homo
at his own price. Satan buys
a great many of these poor fs,
lows very cheap, and at short
option for sellers. But every
car is part of family train
The shock and crash of shame
and disgrace must fall on inno
cent as we'll as guilty. In be
half OF the fathers and mother
and sisters of the community
let general warning be made o
the case OF Edward S. Stokes
Where has romance woven
anything so sad? Where, in
modern communities, have
been given more abrupt ant
startling variations cf ligh
and shade, from the brightest
point Of promise and assured
happiness to the depths o
darkness and misery, thar
those on which the curtain
falls!
Year: 1873

This Is an import ant question which our people
can only answer at the polls. 1t is needless for us
to point to the fact that in every State that has
not been carried by the opposition, where there is


very large negro vote, the Radical party has only
been prevented from securing control by the COM
bination Of the white voters. This was the case
in Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and
Arkansas to a great extent.


Had the whites not have combined in Virginia.
that great State would have been in the same ter
rbe con ition to-day that South Carolina, Florida
and Louisiana are. Wherever there is large ne-
gro vote combined with whites IN power, ruin anu
debt sares the people in the face It's even so IN
the District OF Columbia, right under the nose OF
the Radical President aud the Radical Congress.


Once III power these people will rum the State
before they will let 80. Don't ask us Why it is So
1t is sufficient for us TO point 10 the fact They
commit such terrible excesses thst they fear TO al
low their opponents to get into power; hence laws
are made expressly to prevent this and TO retain
in their own hands the power they covet, and 1t
seems, Only to DO evil Csreing nothing tor the in-
terests OF postcrty, the practice of economy In
government. Deawareans will have to be careful
that the Diamond does not have its lustre dimmed
by the terrible shadow that now overEangs the
Radical States u the South which will require the
effulgence Of hall century of good management
under white men to dispcll
Year: 1873

THEIR QUEER EXPERIENCES UNDER THE SRA


Divers have strange life. Captain Sheridan


is the most experienced diver on the Coast Of No


va Scotia. II Is now enga ged on the wreck Of
the Atlantic The first time he went down for


bodies he met sight that would have appalled,


less stout-hearted men. He entered the cabin
In q corner stood almost straight the form OF a


woman in her nj ht dress. The hands were open


and the arms extended. As Sheridan opened the
saloon door the still water rippled, and the arms
of the dead woman moved up and down As be
moved forward, the water became more agitated,
and the dead body, still upright, slowly aDd with
waving hands, hoateG towards him. He moved
aside and let II pass and then passed a rope
around the middle, guided it through the cabin
door, gave the signal, and, it was hoistCd. One
OF the divers ON the Atlantic told me Hs he was
passing along ia the steerage he was struck twice
ON the helmet Looking up he saw dead body.
The agitation Of the water had caused the corpse
to move. The vessel is full of broken timber, OF
twisted and jagged iron plates, and Of bales and
boxes and beds, scattered among which lie the bo-
dies OF men and women. The work is a dangerous
one, even for experienced divers for the securing
OF a body or a bale raises a liquid mass OF NTH,
which obscures the vision and makes search dlfh-
cult. The atter-hatch is still nearly full OF female
bodies that section of the steerage being set apart
Tor single women. The divers have never, except
on Sunday last endeavored TO get at the bodies,
when they could just as easily send up bale OF
goods


Capt Sheridan has been working for 40 per
cent of the net value Of goods saved, and his men
must, of course look to his interests A body IS
worth nothing, while bale of silk may be worth
thousands of dollars. There is, therefore, no in
ducement for diver to send up body. Person
al effects aTe exempt from salvage, so that body
with half dozen gold watches and thousands OF
dollars in bank notes and gold is worth as little to
the diver as that of the poorest stowaway.
Year: 1873

TUESDAY EvENISG, March 4.


Taking into consideration the unfavorab1e
weather prevalent during the greater part OF
the week under royiew, the aggregate distribu-
ton Of goods has been much larger than could
reasonably be expected. Not only has there
been liberal attendance Of buyers in person,
any previous week Of the presoat season, aud
also larger than for the corresponding week last
year. This would seem to fully justify our job
bers in the opinion, for some time past enter
tanned by them, that the To1u1ae Of
business for the season Of 1873 will
greatly exceed that Of any former year. In an
ticipation OF the largo demands that arc to be
made upon them. our merchants arc putting
Year: 1873

THE MANIA FOR PoIsoNING.-That is q
singular view which is taken by Baltimore


lawyer of a mania for poisoning. He thinks
that when man or woman poisons human
being without detection, in nnety-nine cases
out Of hundred the poisoner becomes insane.


His reasoning is that one successful crime of
this sort begets such Q sense Of power and Of
ability to remove at will every human obstacle,


90 bunting at the same time, the sympathies,


"that in nearly every case the mind become
warped, and the prisoner is ready with the
deadly draught to avenge the most triding dis:
respect or wrong" Let those who think OF
poisoning anybody take warning. wi s
Year: 1873

A TOUCHING INCIDENTAL short time
since. in this city, a brilliant and much ad-
mired lady. who had been suffering for some
time with a trouble Of the eyes, was led to
fear speedy change for the worse, and inme-
diateiy consulted her physician. An examina-
ton discovered a sudden and fatal falling in
the optic nerve, and the information was inn
parted AS gently as possible, that the patient
could not retain her sight more than few
days at most, and was liable to be totally de-
prived OF it at any moment. The afflicted
mother returned TO her home. quietly made
such arrangements as would occur to ono
about to commerce 50 dark journey in life,
and then had her two little children, attired IN
their brightest and sweetest costumes, brought
before herr and so. with their little faces lifted
to hers, and tears gathering for some great
misfortune that they hardly realized, the light
faded out Of the mothers eyes, leaving an in
effaceable picture of those dearest to her on
carth-a memory Of bright faces that will con-
sole her in many dark hour.-Coringto1
(Ky.j Journal.