smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

The Philadelphia Telegram says, a
writer or publisher in Pennsylvania who
undertakes to discuss the doings of
public officials is entirely Mt the mercy
of any judge who may happen to be on
the bench, and any twelve men who
may happen to beput into the jury-box,
in case exception is taken to his utter
ances by the person or persons criti-
cized. Unfortunately Judges are some
times uenal, and are oftener prejudiced,
while, especially in cases in which
prominent politicians are interested,
the .jury-bor is frequently packed with
men who go into it with their minds
already made up with regard to the YER
dict to be rendered. The present status
of the law of libel is, therefore, most
unjust ard most injurious to the public
interests. No matter how outrageous
may be the conduct of man in public
station, the newspapers cannot de-
nounce him without risking libel suit;
and that justice does not always rule in
the issue of such suits is fact too we'll
known to need demonstration. In the
matter of libel, journalists do not ask
for any other privileges than are granted
to other citizens, but they do ask that
it shall be allowable to prove, as a JUS
tification, the truths of an alleged libel,
and that it Was published from proper
motives and in the public interests, and
not from private spite.
Year: 1873

Joseph johnson, for a long time a
school teacher in Sacramento, Califor-
mia, now lives on large ranch in Sur
prise Valley, in Siskivou county, near
Eaglesville. On the night of Jan. 6
last, he, with his wife, was sitting by a
roaring stove in the lower room to their
story and half house, and listening
with serenity to the storm that was
roaring along the valley on the outside.
Two boys, brothers of Mrs. johnson,
were snugly abed up stairs.


Suddenly, John and his wife heard q
sound Of wilder tempest than had
been blowing all the night. 1t was like
the hoarse roar of the ocean on q lee
shore, and increased with frightful
speed. With presentiment of coming
evil, johnson grasped his wife in his
arms, and ut that very moment the
whirlwind swooped down on the build
ing. 1t lifted it high in the air, car
ried it many feet, turned it completely
upside down, and threw its roof to the
ground with an awful crash. The cell.
ing fell on the roof, the boys being
saved from death only by the bed, now
turned bottom up. Mr.. Johnson and
his wife lit on their heads among the
debris on the roof.


The floor was torn ont and blown
many rods away, one wall was torn out
and blown forty yards one way, and an
other sixty yards in an exactly opposite
direction. A can of coal oil was burst,
and spoiled the winters provisions.
The fire from the stove fell into trunk
and burned the clothing and papers
therein. In fact, the house and its
contents were an utter wreck, and that
all should escape unhurt except Mr..
Johnson, whose left hand was very bad
ly burned in keeping the stove off his
wife, is miraculous.


The frightened people e1tricated
themselves from the ruins, and through
the awful tempest felt their way to q
neighbor's. The next dny the wind
having abaited, the residents turned to
and Temporarily rebuilt the broken
house. Mr.. Johnson took account OF
stock, and found that of household
furniture wherewith to commence the
winter anew, the hurricane had left him
unbroken three teacups and lamp
chimney.
Year: 1873

When the New York apprentice ship
was in the Gulf Stream on its way
home from voyage, singular circum-
stance occurred to the vessel. The
position of the ship at the time was
latitude Sc degrees 10 minutes north,
longitude "a degrees II minutes west,
heading north, with fresh breeze from
the east northeast. About 10a o'clock
A. N several large whales, of the species
known rs fnbacks, were observed pass
ing toward the southwest, appearing
above the water to blow at regular
intervals. A few minutes later, while
several persons, including the captain,
were on the poop observing them, a
severe shock was felt, as though the
ship had struck bottom, and Immediate
ly an enormous whale passed the
port-auarter, the water about him being
red with his blood, and showing by his
furious movements that he had been
injured. The shock was felt by all on
board, and so distinctly that the ship
was hove to to ascertain if any injury
had been done. 1t was then discovered
that our cut-water had struck the whale,
carrying away the false stem from the
water line to the depth of about twelve
feet, and stripping the copper from
each side for some distance. The cop
per bolts, abont al inch in diameter,
which secured the false stem to the ves-
sci were bent double, and showed plain
ly how violent must have been the con-
tact. Whales are in general very shy,
and the circumstance can only be ac-
counted for on the supposition that the
animal was moving but slowly, and that
the ripples and constant agitation of
the water usual on the Gulf Stream
prevented it hearing our approach. The
animal that caused this damage was at
least fifty feet in length, with a proper
tionate girth, and when he threw up
his fukes as he sunk below they appear
to measure at least twenty-five or thirty
feet across. To Judge from the writhing
of the animal, he must have been
severely injured, but if the force with
which the ship struck him can be
Judged from the damage she sustained,
he must have subsequently died. The
ship was going at the rate of nine knots
an hour, and the force with which she
struck the monster must have been
fatal to him.
Year: 1873

A Posr AND RAIL FENcE.-Set row
of posts about foot nearer together
than the length of your rails; then
spike on rail to the post, nsar the
ground, with forty-penny spikes, then
drive a stake outside the rail and bind
it to the post with No. 9 wire near
the top; then lay in your rails between
post and stake, end over end. The
height of rail from the ground will de-
pend on the kind of stock kept therein.
Five rails to the panel make a good
fence for so small amount of material
Posts may be sharpened and driven
down with heavy maui, in the spring
when the ground is soft.
Year: 1873

The Minneapolis Tribune thinks the
only objection to Nebraska is that there
are fully six weeks in midsummer wher
the sleighing is poor.


A young man who was caught strain
ing his sweetheart to his bosom the
other night, justifes himself in that be
has a right to strain his own honey.


A man who had his new hat exchan.
ged for an old one in barbar's shop
advertised that unless it was returned
he would forward to the wife of the
person who took it the letter found con.
cealed in the lining of the old one. The
hat was returned. [.e


Chicago has gone back to inquisition
days, and tortures her jurors into agree.
ment. At least, sheriff of that city
placed hand-organist at the door OF
the jury room, recently, with instruc.
tons to play on indefinitely No tongue
can tell what those jurors suffered, but
they didn't agree
Year: 1873

/ ncn hoy can carry everything at
one load he will not 60 twice after IT.
This was the case with boy who was
working his way through Elm street,
the other day, with, twenty bean poles
on his shoulder. Now one bean pole Is
about all an ordinary mortal can safely
carry. and nobody but a hoy would un.
dertake to carry twenty OF them. He
had tied them together at the middle,
leaving the ends loose, and had thought
on starting, without doubt, that he was
boy of remarkable promise. Bean
poles are naturally uneasy. When they
can't move one way they will another;
but they will move and in spite OF all
precautions, These did BE had them
on bis shoulder at first, but some OF
them got to dropping down behind5 and
striking egainst people, and Others fell
down In front, and stuck into the side.
walk and made him stumble, Then
again some of them,lay horizontally.
Not but that they preferred to drop as
the others did. but laying horizontally
willie the others were il opposite posi-.
tioEs, gave pleasing variety to thp
performance. When the boy stoppeG
as he was frequently obliged totdo, some
one in the rear would step on the p9lts
or in among them, and swear at him
Finally he turned around to see whab
the matter was, and knocked out The
face Of q clock a man was carrying in
his arms This so excited him that he
dropped the poles entirely 5. The ownes
of the clock cuffed him over the head;
and then took down his fathers name,
and swore he would have damages =.
The unfortunate youth next took tie
awful things up in his arms, but they
wouldn't lay sill. They kept together
at the middle, but were demoralixed at
the ends, and whirled about SO rapidly
as to scare him Hsalooked like wind
mill, and presented such an awful spccs
tacie that people precipitately took to
the street, and several, horses attempted
to climb up into their wagons. He had
to drop the load again or be shot down
in his tracks by. the infuriated drivers.
Finally he made two bundles OF item,
and took one nnder each arm. Some
OF the ends commenced to tangle with
the opposites, and get in front of bis
eyes, and shut out his vision. Others
dropped down in front and behind, and
one of those which went down ia front
caught so firmly in the walk as 10 CON-
pletelv upset the unhappy youth, aud be
c1me down on bis back-having turned
a complete somersault.+ with poles IN.
der hum, and over him. and on all sides
OF him, while just back Of where be vent
down, ood a woman picking the
wrecks of bonnet out OF her hair, and;
looking in the pilo for the largest pole,
was midde-aged man with cut. nose
and a rnptured shirt front The boy
Iamped up and fed = DaAbdry Ne,es.
Year: 1873

The House committee on Postofices
will grant hearing tomorrow, to rep
resentatives of local newspaper interests
affected by the Second Section of the
new Postal bill. This section imposes
prepayment of all papers sent through
mail, except upon such weekly papers
as are actually and wholly printed in
the county in which they are published.
There are nearly 1900 County news
papers which have one side of their is
sne printed at the larger cities, and to
make these prepay on papers sent to
their subscribers, would result in the
suspension of majority of them.
Year: 1873

DIR. LIBBEY-


Dear Sir: I feel it a duty I owe you as well
as the afflicted, to acknowledge the wonderful
cure you have made in my case. The long
continued sore throat and bronchitis was a
source of great annoyance and alarm TO NE
for number of years, but since you prescrib-
ed for me feel no trouble there, and have no
fear of return of the complaint The dispo-
sition was strong to scrofula consumption
that, I think, entirely changed. My other
difficulties are entirely cured. Ifpeople only
would give your remedies fair trial, feel
confident you would benefit all you say you
can. Yours truly,


MRS. MARTHA PARKS
Year: 1873

The dangerous illness Of Pope Plus
has caused the revival of many al
most forgotten stories about his
early youth. In those days, it is
SAID, he was noted for his dandy
dress, appearing always in "semi-
military uniform, wearing boots and
spurs" and like President Grant,
seldom seen without cirgar in his
mouth. Being handsome, a tolerable


poet and a good musician, he was
very popular with the ladies, many
of whom fell in love with him. He
had higher and more ambitious aims
and sought the hand Of princess,
daughter of Prince Albani. She en-
couraged his addresses for time,


but finally threw him of'and married
a colonel in the army. Young Mas


tai felt this disappointment keenly,


and plunged into wild dissipation in


order to drown his sorrows. To Sc


cure his reform, his parents sent


him to Rome, allowing him but a few


pounds per month on which to live.


Success at the card table, however,
enabled him to live luXuriously.


Fascinating in manners and of hand
some person, he soon became one of
the most fashionable young men in
Rome, and some of his love adYen-
lures are yet remembered by the
older inhabitants. His friends en-
Ideayored to secure him O commits
sion in the military service, but
this was denied him on account Of
representations made to the author
tiles that he was subject to epileptie
fits. The intelligence of this over


whelmed young Mastal with grief,
causing long and severe illness. his


recovery from which is ascribed by


his biegraphers to the direct inter


Yention of the blessed Virgin. He


then determined to devote his life to
the priesthood at the age of twenty


four, and rose by gradual steps to
be the head of the Roman Catholic


Church. L-l
Year: 1873

hEAONls Us Apill Isl, 4ot~.
DIR. LIBBEY-


DEAR SIR: should be ungrateful indeed
it, did not make some acknowledgment to
you, of the wonderful change you have work
ea in my physical condition during the past
three months treatment Ihaye received from
you. My heart and lungs were in fearful
condition. 1 was generally Frustrated and
completely broken down. 1 feel now as we'll
as nine-tenths of the women of my age lam
sure that your treatmentwas the cause of so
wonderful change. My friends and neigh
bors are loud in your praise. There arc many
in this place and vicinity that are anxious to
avail themselves of your skill, and look for
ward with great anxiety to your next visit.
That you may live to do more of the good
work you have begun, is the constant prayer
of Yours,
Year: 1873

Nn, EDIToR:-Tbe anniversary of the
birth of our dear Redeemer is approach
ing. How fitting is the occasion to cal
to mind our great indebtedness to Hin
Who is the author of all the blessings
which we enjoy. and to contribute por-
ton of our abundance for the glory of
His name and the honor of His cause!
We love to give presents to our friends
on their birth days, and It's we'll, tits
joyous to be reminded on these occa
sions Of the treasures which we possess
in them.


It has bscome very popular to plant
Christmas trees in the Churches, and to
ornament them with gifts for old ana
young-with articles of value, and with
trifles; the remembrance of the name be
ing the principal object. Jealousies
sometimes occur at these gatherings,
and it has been thought that family resi-
dences would be more fitting place for
xhese festivals, while the Churches
might more appropriately be made the
scenes for contributions to the blessed
Savior for the great gift of His life to
redeem mankind from their sins and
open the way for their admittance to
heaven.


What spectacle more gloriously sub
lime than such an offering! How ex-
cee dinghy would the heart expand and
be uplifted in view of such active graft
tude Our Christmas trees in the
Churches borne down with the weight
of the offerings to Him who died
for Us, while songs of praise shall re-
sound through His temple!


And when they had opened their
treasures, they presented unto Him gifts,
gold, and frankiHcense, myrrh." W.
Year: 1873

Danbury News Mans Almanac Tor 1874


l shall not say anything here about
the importance of this subject.


We all know how unbearab BILE society
would be without it-how tame sud
commonplace would become heaven
and earth in its absence.


Imerely wish to call the atteition of
the reader to the care that has been
taken in selecting the weather for this
book.


Being warned by last season, L have
pue in plenty of rain, which will be
found to arrive Just in the nick oftime.


Ihave dealt lightly in thun Ter storms
I find they are not pOpular-and l
have such an antiphathy to lightning
rod men that lose no opportunity to
injure them.


L have been rather liberal with snow,
for the sake of the young and livery
stables, and have put in some extraor-
dinary hail, for the encouragement of
the Oldest inhabitant, and little frost
to stir up the amateur in tobacco and
other varieties of cabbage.


But accuracy is the strong point of
the volume. When it says, "Look out
for rain," then is the time for you to
''hump yourself' for the house. And
when it says Frost" any delay in get
ting your wife's fathers coat over the
tomatoes and dahlias will prove emil
nently disastrous to those articles. Yes,
have aimed to be accurate, looking
more to the personal comfort and gem
eral information of my patrons than to
the plaudits ofa wicked world and gold, ,
which perish in day, l am told.
have not lost sight of the fict that l
have a formidable and INSCRIPTIONS OPP
position at Washington. But trusting
to an honest purpose, discriminating
public, and eight years of promiscuOus
trusting as the editor Of country
newspaper, shall press steadily on and
hurt that Washington chap.
Year: 1873

TOUCHING OCCURRENcE.-The pref
ty plsyfulness win which little children
charm away the cares Of their parents
is illustrated by touching Occurrences
in Indiana. A boy of six years, after
watching the laundry proceedings. and
especially the way in which tho wrin-
kles in the linen disappeared before the
fiat-iron, retired to mediate In the
room where his father was taking his
afternoon-nap. There gazing upon the
furrows which years of struggle had
made uron the marble brow OF his par
ent, he was seized by beautiful idea.
In less than a minute that devoted lit
tie boy was smoothing out those marks
of time and sorrow with very hot fat
iron. Life doesn't seem so happy to his
young heart how as it used to.
Year: 1873




Wespeak of this continent as theNew
World, but it had inhabitants that
were dead and buried untold ages be-
fore the people who conceived the
most ancient ruins of the Old World
had ever an existence. The forth
coming annual report of the Govern
mental Geological Survey of the Terri
tories will contain descriptions and il
lustratiOns of a very extensive and re-
markable collection of fossil remains OF
beasts, discovered by Professor Cope,
in the barren and treeless tracts known
as the ''Bad Lands" of Colorado, of to-
tally different species, and even orders,
from those of the latter age and region.
Prof. Cope has proved the existence of
more than hundred species, some of
them represented By thousands OF in
diSidvalS. OF these at least seventy
species are new to science, and they
range from the size of the mole to that
of the elephant. Of fcl0ven-footed quad
rupeds great many specimens, some
of which were nearly intermediate be-
tween the deer and the hog, have been
found; while no less than seven dis
tinct species of rhinOceri were discover
ed. But the most remarkable mon
sters whose existence has been dis
closed by the survey are q series of
horned species related to the rhinoce-
rOs, but possessing some features in
which they resemble the elephant.
They stood high on the legs and had
short feet, but possessed osseus horns
in pairs on different parts of the head.
One of the largest had huge horn over
each eye, while another had one on
each side of the nose, mere than foot
in length. A third had rudimsntal
horns on the nose. Still another was
as large as the elephant, its cheek
bones being enormously expanded, and
its horns fiat; while fifth species had
triangular horns, turned outward.
Many carnivOrOus species were also un-
earthed; one of which resembled dog,
but was as large as the black bear, and
much more carnivOrOus in its propen-
stiles. Some of the cats had remarka-
bly, long canine or eye teeth. In new
species, the size of a panther, these
teeth almost exactly resemble those of
a shark. 1t is the province of the
geolOgist to reconstruct past worlds
and re-peOple them with their ancient
inhabitants; and in these curious, ex-
tinct forms of life thus brought to light,
the history of the succession of life on
this continent will be made much clear
er by the number of missing links, they
will help to supply, and the light
which their discovery will tend to shed
on the modern theory of evolution.
Year: 1873

THE ALDINE, while issued with all the
regularity has none of the temporary time
ly interest characteristic of ordinary perlodi-
Gals IL is an elegant miscellany of pure, light
and graceful literatI re; and a collection of
pictures the raresJ specimens Of artistic skill.
in black AID white. Alth, ugh each succeed
ing number affords a fresh pleasure to its
friends, the real val e and beauty of THE AL
DINE will be most appreciated after it nas
been bound up at the close OF the year While
ness as compared with rivals OF a similar class
The Aldine is a unique and original concep-
without competition In price or character
The possessor of complete volume cannot
duplicate the quoDtity OF fine paper and en-
cravings in any other shape or number OF VOL
1mes for ten tim, It's cost; and then, there are
the chromos, besidesi
Year: 1873

s


The New York Times, which is
regarded as peculiarly Grants or
gan. omits no opportunity to give
the Congressman who voted them
selves back pay a sharp dig. In
its issue Of the 22d ult. that paper
says


Cur exchanges are some Of them
engaged in lively discussion as to
whether aCongressman who cannet
conscientionsly keep the hack pay
recently voted. can properly take it
and give it away. The only argu-
ment we have seen advanced in IA
vor Of this. method of disposing of
other peoples money. is that it don't
hurt the feelings Of other Congress
men who are willing to pocket the
money. But why save the feelings
Of these gentlemen2 IF they can be
made ashamed of themselves, the
sooner it is done the better
Another suggestion is made that
Congressmen may omit to take the
money without making the fact pub
lie. This might be done from pure
modesty, but the modesty is mis-
placed. The country is entitled to
know the name Of every man who
refuses to touch this plunder called
back pay. It is not fair that those
who refuse it and those who take it
should be indistingaishabIe From
such confusion the innocent might
suffer, while the guilty would stand
some chance of escaping public con,
tempt"
Year: 1873

IMPORTANT RAILROAD CAsE.-A case of
great importance to the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company was argued In the Supreme
Court few days ago. 1t involved the right
OF the plaintiff to recover damages for the
killing of man on q crossing at public high
way where the plaintiff proved aiHrmatiVely
that the person killed had not stopped, looked
or listened before he drove ON the crossing
Counsel for the company cOntended that this
was negligence in law, and this was doai ed
on the other side. The question was fairly
raised by counsel, and the court seemed duly
impressed with his arguments Great interest
ia felt in the case everywhere, as it is thought
to involve the safety Of passengers and tray
eleFs, and Is an entirely new point. The case
Is Of great Importance to the railroad company
las 1t would hold them responsible In every
case Of injury at public crossing il decided
against them. 1t Is thought that the decision
OF the c0uFt below will be reversed.
Year: 1873

II is not often thought that we owe all
our habits and institutions to winter. We
do not bear in mind that the reason whv
northern nations are more manly than
southern, is that there is winter 10 the north,
and no winter in the south Winter makes
nations manly by driving men into social
unities, and obliging them to live with each
other, and devise ways for their instruction.
In mild climate where there is no necessi.


ty for men to dwell under a roof, they
wander abroad, and in great measure dis
pense with each others society, so that
although they may have certain amount
of cursory enjoyment, they are compare
lively uninstructed. Bat in a severe eli
mate like this, when the cold season shuts
men out from the field, and they retreat
from their ordinary avocations, and the
days are short and the evenings are long,
the dwellings become a castle aud a school
house, and there must be not only abvrs,
but conversations and readings. Under
such circumstances the family is centre
Of knowledge and, if there be any leaven
in it, center Of Christianization. The
shortening of days and the lengthening Of
evenings make great difference in the
civilization Of nations; and | think it may
be said that New England and all the north.
srn states owe as much to the fact that
they have long winter, as to any of their
laws or institutions it gives rise to such
household education, such domestic culture