smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

The snow which falls upon the
earth is a tender mantle to infant
food plants which would otherwise
perish of frost. In what is called an


'open winter" you may see whole
fields of young rye and wheat, and
clover, all pulled up by the frost and
laid on the top of the ground to
wither and die in the spring sun
shine The frost heaves up the
earth, and with it the plants slight
thaws permit the earth to settle and
renew its hold, and so successive
freezings and thawings gradually
uproOt entire crops. "Winter kill
ed'' is the sad verdict of the farmer,
as he contempIates the loss of his Ia
Dor and seed in the spring; and'win-
ter killed. might be appropriately
spoken of the suffering and dying
victims of starvation prices which
follow the destruction of crops.


+ True, Nature sometimes in her
zeal to protect covers too deep and
smothers the plants ; tucks in the
coverlid so tight that the unseason-
able warmth of the earth stimulates
their vitality into an attempt at
growth, which fails for want of air
and light. But such disasters are
comparatively rare and open winters
are the most deadly to grain crops.
It is also true that in the large ter
ritories devoted to grain growing in
the United States, when crop fails
in one section it succeeds in another,
and so the food supply keeps pretty
steady pace with the demand, but
it is none the less true that in many
sections of the country winter wheat
or rye could not be successfully
grown without snow to protect these
crops from frost.


But snow has another important
Office to perform. 1t is fertilizer.
Ask the experienced farmer, and he
will tell you that the late SHOWS of
spring falling upon the springing
crops make them look green and
vigorous, and really nourish them.
It is the bearer of ammonia, an i'm
portant element of the food plants,
which it collects from the air. We
have known thrifty farmers to rise
early to plow in the light snow be-
fore it melted, being aware of its
value, though perhaps not realizing
in what it's virtue consisted. 1t is
also without doubt true that open
winters are more favorable to the
spread of disease than the contrary


It is an old proverb that "greer
Christmases fill churchyards. p
Scientific American.
Year: 1870

THE FARMERS SHoP.-Every
farmer should have shop fitted up
with such tools as are used by the
carpenter, Joiner, ,machinist andIblack-
smith, or with those that would be
valuable in making repairs. Above
1--we consider good foot lathe very
desirable. 1t would be impossible
within the limits of a newspaper
article, 10 merely notice the. ,advan-
tage of this machine and it's varied
uses. A very good foot lathe costs
from so to 100 dollars, and the money
is well expended in the purchase.
Articles of use and ornament made of
wood ivory and metal may be turned
out by the foot lathe convenient for
use in the house or on the farm.
The pratice on the lathe is one of
the most fascinating pastimes for a
stormy day or an unemployed eve
ming. A part from its use in making
and repairing, the foot lathe is a
pleasant companion Tor the business
haunted and brain weary. One who
adopts it as companion of his lei
sure hours will become an adept,
and the more he uses and becom es
acquainted with his machine the


better he will like it. He will be
surprised at the number and ele-
! gance of the little articles of use and


ornament he can produce from the
rough material, and at the pleasure


that the practice ofa mechanical art


can aftord.-[S Scientific American.
Year: 1870

five were to choose from all the
periodicals just one to be bound in
book form for family library, we
should without the least hesitation
take Appletor's Journal. 1t is rich
in information, brilliant with the
jewels of miscellaneous literature,
and adorned with admirably execut-
ed Illustrations. Children would
pore over the pictures, and in de
clphering them pick up no incon-
siderable amount of valuable in
formation.& Every class of readers
will be sure to find in lit something
to his liking, If only he seek nothing
unworthy place in a first-olass
magazine. We are glad to see that
the publishers are not content with
issuing weekly and then monthly
edition, of the Journal, but are also
binding each volume in book form
The second volume has just made its
appearance.
Year: 1870

The popular author, Ned Buntline,-no less
famous as a temperance orator than n writer
is at present writing for that great story and
sketch paper the NEW YoRK WEEKLY, q thrill
ing story Of real life entitled ''The shadowed
Altar This is story that cannot fan to
deeply interest not only all who are already
married, but all who contemplate marriage.
Every young man, every young woman, every
oldman, every child, in fact, who is capable
Of sober thought, viii find food for reflection
In the mysteries and Incidents which hang
around ''The shadowed Altar" We advise
our readers to peruse it without fail.
Year: 1870

AT an inquest over the body of a
man in st. Louis, last week, the cor
wash table and proceeded to hold a
post zaoTten1 examination, resulting
In finding piece Of ham apparently
half cooked stuck tight and fast in
the rear of the larynx, about two
inches aud half long, an inch and
a half wide, and about one-fourth of
an inch thick. The man had choked
to death in the haste of eating, land
not one Of the party" says the st.
Louis Republican, chad sense enough
to relieve him by few well directed
thumps upon the back"
Year: 1870

NEW WAY OF 1GHURNING.-The
good offices Of motheE earth do not
seem to be half known yet. Her lat
est discovered service Is TO- dc our
churning. This is the story as a
trustworthy writer gives it I: ilg
A singular method of making but
ter has lately come into quite ex-
tensive use in France, based upon
the observed fact, that cream is cham
ged into butter by being simply buried
In the earth. The theory of this result
is not very ineligible, though the
fact is stated to be beyond question !;
and in Normandy and other parts of
Francs, butter is actually prepared on
q large scale in this way. ,..J A.,


E The process consists in placing the
cream in q linen bag of moderate
thickness, which is carefully closed
then burying the bag about a foot
and q half deep in the earth, and
allowing it to remain from twenty
four to totwenty-five hours After the
Expiration of this period the cream
is found to have become hard, and
it is then broken up by means of a
wooden beater into small pieces and
enough water poured upon it to
wash out the buttermilk. il -


-Tosprevent any mixture of earth,
it is advisable to enclose the bag IN a
second one of larger SIRE and -eoarser
quality. The method of making
butter saves a great deal of labor, and
separates the butter more perfectly
than the ordinary process and we
are assured that butter thus prepar-
ed is of the most excellent quality. 3
Year: 1870

=.


NIGHT AIR.--An extraordinary fall
lacy is the dread of night air. What
air can we breathe at night but
night air ? The choice is between
pure nightair from without and foul
air from within. Most people prefer
the latter. An unaccountable choice.
What will they say, ifit is prov
ed to be true that fully one-half of
all the diseases we suffer from are
occasioned by people sleeping with
their windows shut ? An opened
window, most nights in the year,
can never hurt any one. This is not to
say that light is not necessary for re-
coVery. In great cities, night air
is often the best and purest air
to be had in twenty-four ahours.
I could better, understand shutting
the windows in town during the day
than during the night; for the sake
of the sick. The absence of smoke,
the quiet, all tend to make night the
best time for airing the patient.


One of our highest medical author
tiles on consumption and climate,
has told me that the air in London is
never so good as after ten O'Clock at
night. Always air you room then
from the outside air, if possible.
Windows are made to open, doors
are made to shut-a ruth which
seems extremely difficult, of ap-
prehension. Every room must be
aired from without-eVery passage
from within. But the fewer pas
sages there are in hospital the bet
ter.-TFlorence Nightingale.
Year: 1870

Some rash fellow says that the Civ
ing of the ballot to women would not.
amount to much, for none of them
would admit that they were old
enough to vote until they were too
old to take any interest IN politics u
Year: 1870

RFcovERING.-The Chinaman that
barely escaped death at the hands of his
partner at Whiskytown recently, is recov-
ering. He received severe cut on the
back of his head with hatchet, and was
stabbed through and through, just above
the left hip, with dagger All the fingers
of his right hand were almost severed, he
having clutched the dagger at the moment
his assailant withdrew it from his side
The recovery of this Celestial is a matter
ofsurprise, and illustrates the efficacy of
the Chinese mode of medical treatment
The principal medicine used on this fel
lows wounds was wash made up of warm
soap suds, burnt alum, lizard oil, and bear S
gall.
Year: 1870

LAND 0FFIcE.--The interest of
Northern California imperatively call for
the establishment of land Office in this
portion of the State, and we believe it is
universally conceded that Shasta is the
proper place for such ar office to be located
We trust our representatives at Washing
ton will lose no time in urging this matter
forward.
Year: 1870

The Colusa Sun says: "If the weather
continues as favorable to the end of March
as it has been, there will be nearly as
much wheat grown in Colusa county as
there was in the State FIVE years ago
Grain everywhere looks splendid"
Year: 1870

WASHING MADE EAsY.-Attentiou is
selected to the Advertisement of the An.
tomatic Clothes Washer and Boiler. These
machines are coming into general use
and appear to give universal satisfaction.
Send for one, or more.
Year: 1870

CHINAMAN SHoT.-Last Sunday q
brother of the Chinaman who was murder
ed at Whiskytown on the End, procured
the assistance of several friends and started
in pursuit of the slayer of his brother. At
Chinese camp in the neighborhood of
French Gulch, they singled out China


man said to be the murderer, and the BROTH
er of the aforesaid defunct Celestial waited
until favorable opportunity occurred and
fred couple of shots atthe alleged culprit.
The first shot entered the Chinaman's back
little to the left of his back bone and
passed out at his left side, inficting dan


gerous wound The second shot inflicted
flesh wound in the right arm. The
Sheriff has since taken the wounded China
man into custody and placed him in Jail to
await an examination on charge of murder.
Year: 1870

Death on the Bottom of the Deep.


In 1864 the fleet of Admiral Far
ragut was blockading Mobile, while
heavy land and naval attack was
directed against Charleston.


During our long defensive war a
great deal of ingenuity had been ex-
pended by the Confederates upon
torpedoes and torpedo boats.
The most remarkable Of these
boats was constructed in Mobile by
Messrs. Hundley & McClintock, and
launched in 1864; and nothing which
has gone down into the sea vas
more wonderfully or more fearfully
contrived to wreak vengeance upon
friend and foe.


She was built of boiler iron, and
impervious to water or air. Her ex-
treme length was about thirty feet,
with five or six feet depth of hold.
In general contour she resembled a
cigar, sharp at both ends. She was
propelled by a screw, the shapt of
which ran horizontally along her
hold almost from stem to stern, and
was turned by the manual force Of
eight men, seated along it on either
side.


The only hatchway was circular,
about two feet in diameter, with a
low combing around it, which was
placed well forward, and when de-
sired could be closed by an iron cab
working on hinges and made air
tight.


In the forward part of this cap
was inserted a clear glass bulls eye,
through which the pilot could see.
She was provided with water-tight
compartments, by filling or emptying
which she would sink or rise, and to
enable her to rise instantly her bal
lasting Of railroad bars was placed
on her bottom, outside of her hull,
and by means of keys accessible to
her crew could be detached in a mo
ment, so that she would rise quickly
to the surface.


Besides her rudder, which was OF
the usual form, this vessel was
equipped with side paddles or tina,
which, like those of q fish, served to
guide itup or down with reference
to the surface of the water.


To prepare for action a floating
torpedo was secured to her stern by
a line more than one hundred feet
long, and her crew having embarked,
the water tanks were filed until the
boat was IN epuilibrio, and almost
submerged. The hatchway was
closed, the men revolved the shaft,
the captain or pilot, standing under
the hatch, ,steered the boat, regulating
a. the same time, by the action Of
her lateral fins, the depth at which
Year: 1870

A Suggestive Bit of History.


The following account of the events
preceding and leading to the resigna-
ton of Secretary Cox has been
telegraphed from Washington:


Below will be found the correspond
ence which passed between Secretary
Cox and the President, in relation
to the resignation of the former.
Various statements Of the causes
which led to the step on the part of
the Secretary, and also Of the rea-
sons which he assigned in the re-
signation, have been authorized at
the White House. The letters them
selves now set at rest all controversy
in regard to their real contents and
character. The following may be
relied upon as a correct statement of
some Of the causes which forced pre-
sentation Of the issues set before
the President by the Secretary:


Throughout the summer, General


Cox had been aware of vigorous eff
forts on the part ofpoliticians, and
many whose schemes he would not
forward in his department, to induce
the President to remove him. Pre-
vious to leaving in September for a
short vacation, there were unmis-
taxable signs that the President was
yielding to the concerted attack up
on General Cox. Shortly after the
latter left the city, an order to which
he had called the attention of the
clerks in his department, regulating
the absences for voting, was per-
emptorily revoked by the President
at the instance of Chandler and
Cameron, without any consultation
whatever with the Secretary, or any
subsequent communication with him
on the subject, further than the bare
order of revocation. The order thus
set aside was not a new one, and
has been already referred to in these
dispatches; but its history should be
briefly given here. A year ago the
Secretary, in his efforts to render his
department efficient, was greatly
embarrassed by the long absence OF
the clerks. Most took the usual
vacation, of one month, and sub
sequently ten days, and more fire.
quently two weeks, in addition, to-
90 home and vote. The Secretary
then gave notice that, in future,
clerks must arrange their vacations
so as to include the time Of election,
or reserve enough from the month
allowed to enable them to vote, or,
at their option, to take the full extra
time given for election and have it
deducted from their pay,
Year: 1870

DIsINFEcTANTs.-The best and most
simple disinfecting agent known is chlO-
ride of zinc. 1t is easily made by dissolvI
ing zinc in muriatic acid, and can be apl
piled in a diluted state to cess pools, togi
and offensive drains, etc. Suiphate OF
zinc is also an excellent disinfectant and
can be purchased at almost any drug
store in the form of salt. A half pound
dissolved in pail of warm water ana
thrown into cesspool not remarkably Of
fensiye will deodorize it at once. We adj
wise our city readers to apply this agent
freely, during the month OF August es-
pecially. Copperas is another agent that
may be applied in the same manner and
for the same purpose, and either of these
will accomplish, if freely used, all that -
needed.-HeGrth and Home. "a i,'a =
Year: 1870

walt Tor the coming team, or should try


and gain the next house. just beyond was


the brow of the hill and at the foot of the


hill farmhouse. / struck NV horse with


the whip, and as he leaped from under the


blow the ruffian caught the reins with one


hand grasped my throat with the other


the pistol falling upon the footboard as he


did So AS soon as he had given NV crayat


twist or two that stopped my breath. he
let go the reins and made grasp for nv
pocket book, thinking, no doubt, to seize
IT. then leap from the wagon and make for
the woods. And this he might have done


but for an accident, for he was perfect


Hercules IN comparison with me.


When my assailant let 60 the reins had
sense enough to catch one of them-the
near remand gave it a smart pull, which
movement brought the horse SO suddenly
to the left that the wagon overturned. and
We split out into muddy ditch-I upon
the top of the robber. In the course of
my struggles my cravat gave way, and I
was for moment free; but the burly ras-
cal caught me by the leg, and had brought
me to the earth, when the team that had
followed us drove up, and I recognized
Sumner Burnham and his son-two of the
best detective officers in the State.


My friend had not thought of the an
preaching wagon; but he saw it now, and
when he observed it had stopped, be
would have ieaped away; but nov it was
my turn to try the leg game; and caught
him BY the ankle and trlpped him up; and
before he could regain his feet Otho was
upon him. and very shortly afterward old
summer himself with his two hundred and
eighty pounds OF compact leviathan COR
porosity, laid his huge hand upon the VIII
ain shoulder.


well, well, my boy" said Burnham.
when be looked into my hero's face, sI'm
AFRAID I've interrupted another of your lit
lie games. What were you up to herep"
As he spoke he snapped pair of handouts
apon my war worn veterans wrists.


Ihe latter gave one more look into the
,uddy face of the Cyclopean officer, and
hen subsidized.


told my stery in very few words. af- |
er which Mr.. Burnham Informed me that |
ny nero was a notorious rogue. He had |
lever been TO the war, but had enlisted |
our several times, and, jumped" a big
county each time. He had also robbed a \
utter at Augusta, and done various other
wicked things. A telegram had been sent |
rom fortiand to Norway, informing Burn
am the rascal was on the outward. bound
rain.


Ihe telegram did not reach me" said
liz. Burnham, until after the train had
stt South Paris. telegnphed to Bryant's
ond ana TO Bethel, and was thinking to
'ait for the next freight train. when Dun
EN-, the baggage master, told me of the
han who had ridden off with you. When
e had described him knew you had nv +
IAN; SO ! had only to find your track in
rder to be sure of his"


viii only add that my wagon was not
sriously damaged. and while the officers
lrned back with the Notwithstanding. sut-
r-robbing hero, I drove on, and delivered
le money-package safely to its owner: and
rthermore, that from that day to this L
I'VE made it a rule never to allow a stran-
a sseat by my side upon my express
agOn.
Year: 1870

The game of squalls is social and jolly.
and very pleasant family amusement
People can talk as much as shey choose
while playing, and any number from three
to eight can engage in it All that is need
cd Is dlning-table-a round one whose
edge is not beveled is the b.st-and the
squalls, which are thus described in Work
and Play: -.l.


The implements of the game are sixteen
discs of wood or other suitable material.
target, which is small metallic disc.
and measure about three inches lone.
The players being seated round .be
table, place their suqails near the edge.
and projecting over it about half
an inch; then with the palm of the hand.
strike the squal towards the target The
players strike In turn round the table, until
all the squalls are played, at which time the
game is decided by the greatest number of
hight or dark squalls that are within the
length OF the measure from the target. As
the squalls play alternately, and each play
may entirely change the relation of the
squalls and target to each other, the inter-
est towards the end of the game becomes
intense. The squalls may be made of any
material, but as weight is desirable, box
wood is superior to a any other wood, and
a material heavier than box-wood is still
better. -, f...4.s., 80


Most of the book stores now keep the
material for the game for sale-the same as
croquet SETS The box costs about two
dollars, an extravagant price, considering
ths cost of making the set.
Year: 1870

A Queer FEILow.-Many years ago. in
France, laborer by the name of Douselle,
died while attempting to fast forty days.
He was for long time a curious sort of
fellow, and very headstrong and peevish.
His barber died sevsn years before him.
and from that time Douselle would never
let q razor come near his face. There was
bridge built over the brook which flowed
through the village. Douselle Complain
ed of the style of this bridge, declared
that the place where it was pat vas unsuit-
able for bridge. and swore that he would
never tread upon it He kept his word,
and whenever he had to cross the brook he
waded through it, even in the autumn
when it was swollen When he left his
house in the morning to go to work, he
was accustomed to take particular foot
path. When this footpath became shut up
ON account of house built upon it, he
persisted In going this way the same as be-
fore, aud climbed every morning through
the basement window of the house. and
then went on again on the other side.
Year: 1870

WHO would not exchange the dry, brash
ana Iaded locks caused by humors of the
scalp, for the dark, glossy ones of youthp II
any one Is In doubt as to which VI the Hair
Preparations now in the market Is best. let
him at once procure bottle OF Rings yege-
table Ambrosia, and thereby save precious
time which would otherwise be Loaf :
Year: 1870

The Hearth and Home gives the follow
ing recipe for making mineral manure
that is especially adapted to potatoes: Take
one cask of lime and slack it with water.
and then stir in il one bushel of fine salt.
and .hen mix in loam or ashes enough that
1t Will not become mortar; it will make
about five barrels. Put half pint in a hill
at planting. All manures Containing pot
ash are suitable for thepotato. Ashes con-
tain more than any other natural fertilizer,
and should be freely used and carefully
saved.
Year: 1870

ES- An evening contemporary is ap-
parently surprised at the fact that Mont
gomery and his sons, of Hurricane land
ing, Miss, the colored men who carried
off the premium of five hunrcd dollars for
the best bale of New Orleans or long sta
pie cotton, should be now working the
Joe Davis plantation, and that they could
formerly have been owned as slaves by
Joe Davis himself, who was a nephew OF
jeff. Davis" But we see no cause what
ever for wonder. The Montgomerys,
having been brought up on one of the
best plantations and by one Of the best
plantations and by one of the best fami-
lies in the South, ought certainly to have
pretty thorough knowledge Of cotton
raising Their instructors were not men
who did things by haIves-whether run
ming farm or Confederacy-.M Louis
Times
Year: 1870

The Board of Registrars will also meet
on Saturday the 22d day of October and
continue in session SIX DAYS to add
the names Of any persons that may not
heretofore have been Registered. Let
not vote be missing on the day of
election.
Year: 1870

cB- In the active pursuits of pleasure or
gain. the nestimable blessing OF health Is TOO
often forgotten. until disease Is firmly seated
and the fact only realized by great bodily ana
mental suffering. The Liver Is the vulnerable
point in most persons. and the disarrangee-
ment of that organ involves almost the whole
system; hence the reason why under Liver
disease there is enumerated such number
OF Affections. and we claim the Simmons Liver
Regulator to be IA remedy for them ALL