smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

AppropoS to the question that we have
been discussing in these columS Of late,
viz the question OF pauperiSm and vug.
taucy, comes the question Of compulsory
education-a subject that is at this time
receiving an unusual amount Of attention
At the hands Of the press and OF those in
authority. We observe that Governor
Hartruntt, Of Pennsylvania, discusses the
question carefully in his late message to
the Legislature, and presents the case in
a strong light as regards the duty OF the
State, in case OF the neglect Of the parent,
to compel the attendance Of children at
school. He shows that ignorance has an
intimate relation to paupcrism and crime,
by statistics that cannot be questioned.


Eighty per cent OF all the crime com.
mitted u chargGablO to those who cannot
read or write, while the statistics Of pau.
pcrism show that the illiteFate md ig.
norant crowd our poor houses, and that
very small proportion Of the inmates
have had any educational advantages
But there is even a higher reason than
this, in the admitted fact that education
is the nursery Of the good citizen, and in
government controlled by universal
suffrage, it is all important that suffrage
should be regulated by intelligence, 1t
ism! probable that we will have an edu-
cational test, excluding the ignorant from
the right to vote, hence the greater ncces.
sity that they should be educated to the
moderate standard that will enable them
to discharge their duties uS citizens with
some degree Of discrimination and intel.
ligencc.


1t Is believed from the bcst sources Of
information that there are now in the
State Of Pennsylvania not less than 3jO,-
900 persons above ten years Of age who
are unable to rend or write, Of which from
10000 to 100000 are under the age Of 81
and over 10 years, and are growing up vir-
tually ignorant. We have no statistics
at hand to show the number Of persons
in West Virginia between the snmc ages
who can neither read nor write, but in
the nature Of things we expect that the
proportion Is larger thNn in Pennsyl.
yania. These uneducated people furnish
eighty per cent Of the criminals who prey
upon society. They furnish perhaps an
equal II not greater per cent Of the pau
pers that burden society with their sup
port. The great question is therefore
how to compel the education Of the
young.


Our Legislature il now in session, and
this is u fitting time to call attention to
this oil important subject. The states
on either side Of US are giving the matter
their serious consideration, and the State
Of New York has just pu! in force a com.
pulsory law The tendency Of tue timtB
|, to deal with the problems that concern
the well being Of society in such way US
to get at the root Of evils that threaten
US. And now that statistics show that no
large a proportion Of criminals and patti
psrs come from those who are without
education, 1t becomes a matter Of pressing
moment to 80 extend tho benefits Of the
common schools Ns to include far larger
number Of children than now attend
them.
Year: 1875

The sun sets on some retired
meadow, where no house is visible,
with all the glory and splendor that
it avisbes on the cities, and perchance,
as it has never set before-where there
is but solitary marsh hawk to have
his wings gilded by it, or only a
musqush looks out from his cabin,
and there is only some little black
veined brook in the midst of the
marsh, just beginning to meander,
winding slowly round decaying
stump. We walked in so pure and
bright a light, gliding the withered
grass and leaves, so softly and serene
" bright, | thought | had never
bathed in such a golden food, without
ripple or murmur in it. The west
! side of every wood and rising ground
cleaned like the boundary of elysium
aud the sun on our backs seemed like
gentle herdsman driving Us home a
evening. So we saunter toward tht
Holy Land, till, one day, the sui
shall shine more brightly than eve
be has done: shall perchance shin'
into our minds and hearts, and ligh
up our whole lives with grea
awakening light, as warm and sercn
anti golden as on a bankside in sum
mer.-ThOredu
Year: 1875

1t is fact not generally known that
the galleries and drifts of most of the
Comstock silver mines are tenanted by
thousands of rats, which the miners will
not attempt to kill under any circumstan-
ces. A history Of this branch of the ro-
dent family and their rapid spread over
the face of the earth, wherever the hui
man race has gone, would prove intensely
interesting, and might fill large volume.
When the Mormons first pitched their
tents in Salt Lake Valley there was not
rat in the country, and yet in couple of
years the whole territory was overrun
with them. In the days of railroads it is
easy to account for their introduction,
but how they could have been transport
ed over l, 500 miles of desert country, on
journey of several month s duration, is
q mystery. They also made their appear
ance here soon after the country was set
tied, and when the mines were opened
Immediately made them their abode. The
Belcher mine absolutely swarms with
rats, who hold high carnival in the de-
serted drifts and among the decayed tim
bers. They live on the refuse of the
miners lunches. Where several hundred
men are employed and eat their dinners
from their lunch buckets which they
carry down into the levels with them,
the pieces of meat, bread and other ar
ticles thrown away would soon become
offensive were they not removed or de-
stroyed. Here the rat steps in, and
like the vulture which walks about
the streets of a tropical city unharmed
and feeds on carrion, he soon removes
all traces of the feast, even the bones
being picked clean. For this reason the
miners do not modest the rats, and they
have free license to run mp and down
the shafts, scale the timbers and hold
court in the very center of the big bonan-
Ia. A big mine, 1,500 or 1000 feet in
depth. is very paradise for the rat In
the dead of Winter, when the thermom-
eter on the surface is below zero and his
brethren above crouched under the corner
of some building half frozen to death, he
is luxuriating in an equable temperature
of ITO or lis degrees. In the heat of
Summer he can seek the upper drifts
where the air is fresh and cool. He has
no fear of traps. nor of cats or other
enemies. He feeds regularly and is
never molested. and as long as the Com
stock is worked he and his descendants
are sure of an abode. unequaled for ease,
comfort and security Virginia CIa7oe-
icle.
Year: 1875

The hosting machinery now being


manufactured for the Savage Mining
Company is intended for a depth of
over four thousand feet. This is greater
depth than has yet been obtained upon
the Comstock. The experience of the
past five years has taught mining capi-
talists that large bodies of ore lie long
distances from the surface and that in
order to obtain results which will COM
pensate for large outlay of capital, the
miner must often bore deeply. Many
geologists are of the opinion that the
lodges, ore veins and bonanza now known
and worked are but the indications of a
more solid and uninterrupted lode lying
beneath. through which no wild porphyry
" horses rise up and spread terror
through the weakened stockholders.
Aside from the views of theoretical geolo-
gists, experienced mineralogists and prac-
tical miners share the same opinion, and
there are capitalists who are willing to
prove their abiding faith in this theory
by liberal outlay of coin. The tapping
of big ledge at five thousand feet be-
low the surface and finding better ore
than any already mined is not by any
means an improbability. Let us bore
until we get through the bottom of the
Comstock, or reach the limit of penetrat-
ing capacity of our powerful machinery.
IS. +. Stoclc Report.
Year: 1875

Sam Marble is a tall, slender young
fellow, who wears nobby clothes, side
whiskers, glasses, and very self-satis-
fed expression. Last Summer Sam went
on visit to his country cousins. Every
thing he saw there was great wonder
ment to Sam, who had never been on
farm before. In fact, he was in the
country what his cousins would have
been in the city decidedly verdant. To
be sure Sam had been to college, and in
the " feasts of reason" to which the JAM
itor's bell had summoned him had sue
ceeded in digesting a moderate quantity
of Greek and Latin roots, metaphysical
pie, and other light and elegant trifes


But whether buckwheat cakes were cult
yated or grew wild, or whether a Gran
ger was a new variety of sheep or po-
tato-bug. he was totally unable to say.
To his anxious inquiries he was informed
that potatoes were not ripe enough to
pick in fact, that they didn't pick pota-
toes anyway. The first time he saw his
cousin Zeke milk he declared that milk
ing was easy enough. All you had to do
was to close your fingers and the milk
squirted right out, just as nice as could
be. Zeke, good-naturedly, let him try
his hand on the next COW. When Sam
had finally got over the slight difficulty
of making his one-legged stool and the
milk-pail stay where they were put, the
COW bothered him little, slapping him
violently in the face with her muddy tail.
AS soon as he had got it all out of his
eyes. and the obnoxious tail was tied up.
Sam seized teat with confident air and
gave it a vigorous squeeze. To his aston
ishment not drop of milk came. An
other energetic squeeze. No milk. but
the COW evidently attentive A third and
then fourth squeeze. Still no milk,
and the COW decidedly anxious about
something. The fifth squeeze, accom-
panied by strong pull, as he had seen
Zeke do, succeeded in bringing some
thing at last. 1t was the cows hoof. 1t
was long time after Sam had been got
into the house, and his nose bound up in
a rag, before he could be convinced that
he had not been to Fourth of July eel
ebration. Nearly week after his eyes
still emitted few feeble sparks, and it
still puzzles him to see how so many tons
could have been crowded into that cows
hoof without hurting her.
Year: 1875

A LITTLE boy was sad, talking Of the
death of his father. The minister said :
Cheer up, my boy your father was
good man you should remember him
always, and strive to be like him, what
was his last word r. g Nothing, sir !;
nothing. You should know that while
he had strength father was talking with
my stepmother, and he was not allowed to
have the last word. -
Year: 1875

And the fitting and the rocking,
Up and down the splendid stocking,
Gartered by blush ribbon


That he chanced to see she wore,
Showed him-'twas sight for weeping
That pair of calves were creeping
Out of place as she was sweeping


Like sanity queen before;
Calves that she had lately purchased
From fancy dry goods store;
Patent calves, and not much more"
Bustles are but aeeting show,


To vex mans calm reflection;
Whether of wire, rags or tow,
How they are made, he may not know


Without minute inspection,
They're worn to churches and to balls,
To dinners and to evening calls
And if the wearer slips and falls,


We s'pose they're some protection"
Year: 1875

Bound TO BE IN FASHION. N.-During the
great collapse of 1857, a gentleman of
color kept bank in a Western city. His
institution was apparently in sound
condition, but to be in fashion with the
white folks, he concluded to fail. Next
morning man came and shook the door,
but voice inside responded that /" de
bank is closed" But the man replied
that he had left new pair of boots there
the day before, and wanted them. The
sable financier opened the door softly,
and throwing out one boot, remarked,
" We is paying fifty cents on de dollar. ;"
Year: 1875

WILD FowL.-A bill is pending in the
State Senate to amend. certain sections of the
Code of Virginia to prevent the destruction
of wild fowl The protection is extended
to the county of Henrico and other counties,
and the bill, if passed, will provide that if
any person Except from the land) shall shoot
at or kill wild fowl during the night within
this State, or if any person shall from skif,
float, or battery, (the word battery being one
of the amendments,) or by the aid thereof,
within the jurisdiction of the county Of
Henl1eo, Tor other counties named in the
bill,) whether in the night or daytime, shoot
at or kill wild fowl, be may be convicted
thereof and fined not less than $50 nor more
thar 500, and shall surrender his gun and
any such skitf, float, or battery, and the same
shall be forfeited to the Common wealth. II
he fail to surrender them he shall be com.
mitted to Jail for thirty days. If any non
resident of this State shall in like manner
violate said act he may be convicted, fined
not less than $50 nor more than 5000, and
shall surrender his gun, &c. If he fails to
surrender them he may be imprisoned thirty
days. The penalty in the present law IN
case of nonresident or resident is not SO
severe as is proposed in the bill now before
the Senate.
Year: 1875

A BABY's FIRST EXPERIENCE OF THE
WoRLD.-Mrs. Martini, the proprietor OF a
confectionery on Broad street between Third
and Fourth, bad laid at her door on
Saturday morning female babe about
two or three weeks old, warmly clad,
and labelled "a present for Mrs. Martini"
Not desiring to accept the generous gift, she
turned it over TO the police, by whom it was
taken in charge and conveyed to the aims.
house. About year ago Mrs. Martini had
a similar experience, and she kept the babe
then left and cared for it with the utmost
tenderness, but it died. The party who left
the last one doubtless presumed it would
also have a home with her, but is disap-
nninted.
Year: 1875

ADDRESS PRINTED AND CIRCULATED.-The
address to the people of Virginia in behalf
OF the State Agricultural Society prepared
by Colonel W: C. knight, president, has been
neatly printed in pamphlet form and circu.
lated among the members of the Genera! As
sembly and sent out to the farmers and
Others of the State generally. 1t is quite an
interesting paper, and will no doubt be read
with pleasure by all.
Year: 1875

NEEDS ATTENTION condition OF
Brook avenue is such as to need the atten.
ton of the proper authorities at once. A
culvert was laid upon this thoroughfare last
wear, and the earth which was taken from
the excavation was piled up when the cul-
vert was filled in, and the street is now SO
bad that vehicles passing along the avenue
are liable TO be seriously injured.
Year: 1875

How TO PRONOUNCE Ir.-As the Senate
committee have fixed upon "Pembina as
the name Of the new Territory proposed to
be formed out of the northern part Of Dako-
Ia, on account of its euphony, it may be in
teresting to the public to know that the word
is pronounced as, if spelled Pembi-maU.
There is nothing like starting right Wash
ington Star.


, That's to say, Pem'by-naw.
Year: 1875

The SCHEME OF THE ANTI.FUNDERs.-It has
trauspired that the antifunders at their last
conference, in addition to the business al
ready reported by US, resolved that the pre-
sent rate of taxation ought not to be IN
creased, and that they would support mea'
sure to allow taxpayers who pay their bills
in currency a deduction of twenty per cent
Year: 1875

Captain Disney ordered him into cell,
where be was allowed to sober off. He is
now thankful for the care taken of him by
the officers, and will no doubt appreciate the
kindness of our reporter in withholding his
pop,o
Year: 1875

MoHAvE Co, April 70, 1875.

 EDITOR MINER Are we the old pioneer prospectors and miners of Arizona, who have together withstood the blunt of many an h. dian fight, slept on our rifles night after night and run the risk of our lives by day while prospecting the rough mountains and deep canons of this our adopted land, going to tamely submit to have our mines and other property taken from us by those who have been too lazy to prospect for themselves, and by uniting with roughs, gamblers and drones from other places, now that we have fought the way clear, are coming in upon us like the locusts of Egypt, and jumping some of our most valuable mines, claiming that we have no law here except the bowie-knife and six shooter! For one, l say no but with req son and justice to direct us, let us rise at once, and with bold and determined front assert our rights and be prepared to main tain them.

 l deplore, as much as any one, the necessi- ty which compels us to protect ourselves, but they have left us no other alternative. 4 few examples now will save many lives and much future trouble. KY.
Year: 1875

THE HUALPAIs.-Dan O'Leary has returned from his mission and reports having met be- tween 300 and 400 HualDais near Greenwood and had free talk with them. He saw two of theIr Chiefs and several other head men. all of whom are anxious to be Set alone"

 They say they left the Colorado reserva- tion because their people were dying in that hot country. They want to be allowed, to take care of themselves and promise not to commit any depredations. Say they will hunt and work like the Mohaves and do any, thing the whites require of them, to be al- lowed to remain in the mountains during the Summer months, and rather than fight they will even return to the Colorado which one of the Chiefs said was all the same to an h. dian as being put in the guard house is to the white man.

 Dan has reported the result of his inter- view to Genl. Kautz and Dr. Tonner, who are now in consultation at head quarters, but have arrived at no definite conclusion as yet. General J. A. Hardie, Inspector General of the |. $. Army, is also here and will be con suited in the matter.
Year: 1875

f GENERAL CRooK's SPEEcH.-General

 Crook made the following remarks at ban lquet given him in San Francisco

 | Gentlemen: While 1 thank you for the ! compliment l cannot but feel that this high honor you have extended me is far above my

 merits; but 1t Is more fully appreciated from the fact that most of you gentlemen here

 have been on the frontier, and have come in | contact more or less with Indians. You have seen for yourselves the hardships and dangers incident to an Indian campaign While have tried to discharge my duties as have conceived 1t to be, have met with

 many difficulties in Arizona which the peo- pie on the outside have but little idea of {; the strong prejudice of the Eastern people against trOniersmeu and in favor of the h.

 dian would doubtless have made al! my ef-

 forts in Arizona futile but for the strong and hearty support that the Pacific Coast ever

 gave me. Applause. have also to thank

 General Schofeld applausel for his strong

 support. and for his instructions from time

 to time in regard to Indian matters in Ari-

 zona, and to which that success was in a

 great measure due. Applause.

 Apropos of Arizona, do not think there

 IS worse belied country in the United

 States than that. The common impression

 Is that Arizona is desert waste-worse

 than Sahara; but while there are wild

 places in Arizona, there is much that is very

 beautiful; a majority of it is fine grazing

 land very healthy, and perfect net work of mines. As we were coming out of the Ter ritory We met some of the old pioneers, who have done so much to develop this country. and Nevada and Idaho and Washington. who had just been in, and they assured me that there are no prospects on the coast as good as that of Arizona; and have but little doubt that when tho railroad pierces Arizona, so that transportation is cheap. it will develop into one of the richest mineral countries on the coast

 When left Arizona my heart thrilled | with pride when 1 saw the land which q few | years ago was a barren waste, upon which it was thought that nothing would grow. and | now It Is one flower garden, made so bv the | energy Of our people. And as We came this | way, of course, the Improvements were of | more substantial character, and particularly | Tn San Francisco. beg 10 be permitted to | you on the material prosperity of the city. 1 remember it when the tide came up to where the Cosmopolitan Hotel stands now and where We sit now. q vast sand hill great city, growing and rich. bidding fair soon to be one of the greatest in the world. Loud and prolonged applause three cheers and tiger.
Year: 1875

ARIzoSA.-0n the outside of the MINER we print somewhat lengthy historical sketch of Arizona, embracing abou, all that is known to be true, and some of the more plausible speculations with reference to prehistoric race that once occupied this land. The paper is written by Hon. Charles D. PoSton who has had access to many sources of information on account of his official po- sition not vouchsafed to others. It is thought fully written, and well worth reading by those who care to know anything of the past history of the land they live in.
Year: 1875

OUR OLD HONE, Red Bluff, although one Of the most fourishing towns in northern California has changed its character since the advent of the railroad. For instance, blacksmithing which was once one of its chief industries is now entirely abandoned so far as We can learn by an examination of the advertising colums of both the local pa pers of the place. A gentleman applied to US few dsys since for information on that point and after thorough search we were reluctantly compelled to inform him that if there were any blaeksmiths or wagon-ma kers in Red Bluff, the papers failed 10 show if
Year: 1875

Miss RAY invites the ladies of Prescott and vicinity to call and examine the stock of Millinery and Fancy Ar cles 10 be opened the first of weel at her new store Gurlsy street north side plaza, next to Dr McCandess
Year: 1875

trouble of last year, of last month, of to-
day, to the expected failure of a crop which
has not been harvested, and the increase OF
exportations which could not be made until
next fall, or winter, or spring? About these
days the republicans quote with great tre-
duency, and with great commendation of It's
merits 8 speech made in congress against
the issue of legal tender notes.
am fiattered by the notice; and, if it
will commend me to them. / de-
sire to say that 1 adhere to-day, after
thirteen years reflection, to every word OF
that speech. / believed then the law was
unconstitutional, aud the policy was bad.
But congress passed the law. The Supreme
Court has sustained it. The policy has en-
tered into our system. 1 am in no degree
folly, it would be criminal, not to
get out of the policy all the
good there is in it in behalf of the people
who have suffered its evil. will not be
guilty of the folly. will not commit the
crime. / believed then in currency of
1 believe in it now. Iwould be glad to re-
turn to it at once. Against my earnest pro-
test you


ABANDONED SPECIE PAYMENTS


and inflated the currency to the infinite loss
of the creditor. make my equally earnest
protest now against forcing contraction and
resumption to the prostration of all business
and the ruin of all debtors. An enthuslas
tic democrat, suffering from the effect of
zweio-lsger, gradually backed himself up on
the stand, getting directly in front of Mr..
Pendleton, and almost on mis- feet. Mr.. PEN
dleton gently took him by the shoulders and
slipped him off the stand and on to his feet.
Now as irate as enthusiastic. he turned
around and looked full at MIR. p:


What for the hell you ppt me
off the stand? am better
looking man than you are"


Mr.. Pendleton-"Yes, my friend, know
you are a better looking man than am, and
that is the reason did not wish you to have
your handsome face between me and those
ladies who are looking at me-" Laughter
and applause.]


After a while the enthusiastic democrat
had got upon the stand, and stood close be-
side Mr.. Pendleton, and finally touched
him on the elbow. "Are you tbrough~


Mr.. "There, gentlemen, you
see what persistent democrat can do. He
would not stay down. Neither will the
democratic party in October, If they will
work to climb up as hard and as steadily,
and against such rebufs as this worthy
friend of mine has done."