smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

Another modern tendency that seems
TO have nearly run the length Of its
tether, is toward what is generally
spoke en- of as mdssire furniture. We
have been making our furniture so
heavy of late, that the amount of solid
wood in 1t, added to the carving, inlay
ing, and veneering with different woods,
has made it very expensive. OF course
the BOwery and Canal street have fol-
lowed Broadway and Fifth Avenue,
and we can hardly tell cheap furniture
from dear, by the price. The so-cailed
"Eastlake" furniture has much to do
with keeping up the tendency we speak
of. The one thing the designers of it
seem to be after is to make it look
"solid," and the one thing they seem
In constant dread of is that it shall be
graceful or elegant. Some of the pro-
ductions of the mills that turn out this
uncomfortable lumber are wonderful to
behold. One is not surprised TO hea-
of people being killed by such furni-
ture falling on them. Most of it would
look clumsy in an Italian palace. In
our American parlors and bed rooms it
is not at home. Many persons, how
ever, " no do not like 1t in a parlor
think it is just the thing for dining
room. Why We should consider that
the furniture of the dining-room ought
to be so much heavier than that of the
parlor, do no: know.-ScFibner's
Year: 1876

Women have their own place both in
nature and society; place beautiful,


important, ennobling. and delightful,
if they would but think so, if they would
but care to make it so. But with the
curse of discomfort resting on them


from the beginning, they prefer to spoil
the work of men rather than to try and
perfect their own. Say, of their own


special work, what is perfected to such


high degree of excellence as warrants


their leaving it to take care of itself


while they go to manipulate something
else? The servant question in all its
branches annoys and harasses every
one; but this, essentially a wOman's
question, circumstance of that part of
life which is organized, administered,


and for the larger proportion fulfilled
by women, is confessedly in state of
chaos and disorder, paralleled by none
other Of our social arrangements. The
extravaganza of living, Of dress, of ap-
poiutments, which is one part of the
servant disorder-because maids, being
women, will trick themselves out in f.
merry to attract as much admiration as
their mistresses; and men, being ami
mails. will gorge where their masters
feast-whence do these come save from


women, rulers of society, regulators of


modes and fashions as they are? Do
the husbands order the dinners or de-
eide the length of the train, and the
fashion of the dress? If ladies choose
that the rule of life should be one Of no
BILE simplicity, beautiful, artistic, full of
meaning and delight, tie false Orna-


nient and meretricious excess with


which We are over weighted now would


fall from us, and the servant question


among others would get itself straight.


1t Is matter of fashion, not necessity,
and the mot d. ordre comes from above.


But where is the spirit Of organization,
the resolution to meet difficulties, the
courage Of self-control, through which


alone great movements are made and
great reforms ledr The women who
want to influence the councils Of the
empire, to have voice In the making OF
laws which are to touch and reconcile
Year: 1876

An English periodical, Al The Year
Round, contains an article on a kind Of
rats which infest ships. The following
is an extract:


When the East India Company had
ships of their own they employed a rat
catcher, who sometimes caught 500 rats
in one ship just returned from Calcutta.
The rat is the black species. Sometimes
black and brown inhabit the same yes.
sci, and, unless they carry on perpetual
hostilities, the one party will keep to
the head of the vessel and the other to
the stern. A captain of an American
ship is credited Tor discredited) with an
ingenious bit ofsharp practice as ameans
of clearing his ship from rats. Having
discharged his cargo at port in Hol-
land. he found his ship in juxtaposition
to another which had just taken In a
cargo of Dutch cheese. He laid plank
at night from one vessel to the other.
The rats, tempted by the odor, trooped
along the plank and began their feast.
He took care that the plank should not
be there to serve them as a pathway
back again; and so the cheeseladen ship
had cruel addition to its outward car
Year: 1876

Agentleman connected with the New
fouDdland fishery was once possessed of
dog of singular fidelity and sagacity.
On one occasion a boat and crew in
his employ were in circumstances of
considerable peril, just outside line of
breakers. which-owing to some change
in wind or weather-had, since the de-
parture Of the boat, rendered the re-
turn passage through them most hazar-
dous. The spectators on shore were
quite unable to render any assistance to
their friends afloat. Much time had
been spent, and the danger seemed to
increase rather than diminish. Our
friend, the dog, looked on for length
of time, evidently aware Of their being
great cause for anxiety in those around.
Presently, however, he took to the wa
ter, and made his way through to the
boat. The crew supposed he wished to
join them, and made various attempts
to induce him to come aboard, but no !!
he would not 60 within their reach, but
continued swimming about short dis
lance from them. After while, and
several comments on the peculiar con-
duct of the dog, one of the hands sud
denly OWNED his apparent meaning ::
Give him the end of rope" he said !;
'that is what he wants." The rope
was thrown-the dog seIzed the end in
an instant, turned round, and made
straight for the shore; where few min
utes afterwards boat and crew-thanks
to the intelligence Of their four footed
friend-were placed safe and undam-
aged. Was there no reasoning here? No
acting with a view to an end, or for
given motive? Or was it nothing but
ordinary instinct.-The Zoologist.
Year: 1876

The latest investigation into deep sea
life shows that the vast area lying be-
meath the ocean Is covered with sim
pie animal life, boundless in extent, and
infinite in variety. Under conditions
too rigid and severe to permit the
growth of the humble sea-weed, these
creatures live, and multiply, and die.
Far beyound the reach of light, in q
glacial temperature and under enormous
pressure, exists this wonderful fauna.


AS we strip the mystery of vitality of
garment after garment, as Its conditions
become fewer and its mode of existence
less complex, the wonder, instead of be-
coming less, constantly grows upon the
mind. The human intellect longs to
find a commensurate physical cause for
the effect which we call life. When, as
In the higher organic beings. the con-
ditions are many and the process COM
plicated, and the phenomenon of vitality
does not seem so puzzling, antecedent
seems to bear some sort of proposition
to consequent. The mind rarely trou-
bles itself to make some distinctions
between complicated machinery and
motive power. A liberal display of
wheel-wOrk is adequate to account for
results without any reference to the
initial force. But as we contemplate
the life of the protozOa, which reign
supreme in the oceans depths, we see
the awful and mysterious problem pre-
sented in its simplest terms; forms of
existence which are fOrmless, organisms
possessing no organs, life contradicting
the very definitions of life and yet per-
forming all its essential proportions.
The conditions, complex and multitu
dinous, under which we live are here
reduced TO two or three; the elements,
many and bewildering, which enter
into ordinary statements of the problem
are here eliminated, and yet we are
forced to recognize the same principle
giving functional activity to a mass of
structureless jelly which animates the
highest organic beings.


When we see this fOrmless life
governed by laws, each in itself as in
exorable as that which guides the roll
ing planets, and all in their various
as flexible as those which
control our human existence, We feel
the sense of awe which a whisper from
the unseen world would send thrilling
our nerves. We are standing
face to face with life stripped Of its
conditions. 1t looks us in the
eyes as the disembOdied ghost of the
life now so familiar to us.
Year: 1876

With the first day Of September the
oyster comes again into favor and ia.
vor, and as he is to associate with the
men and women of tfis land upon
terms OF the closest intimacy during
the whole of the next eight months, II
is worth while perhaps to inquire re
specting his condition of life and his
moral character.


AS to his fortune, a punster has al.
ready said of him that his case Is most
uncommonly hard; that it is his fate,
peaceful as he is, to perish in many a
foreign broil; and it be added that he is
often in hot water and perpetually in
stew of one Kind or another.


In temper he is even mild to placid
iry, although he is sometimes slightly
ruffled, on his edges at least. He is
quiet always, and usually well behav-
ing, and yet he participates in nearly
every scene of debauch and revelry. He
frequents midnight suppers, and is the
ompanion (the bosom companion We
may say) Of wild fellows of every de-
gree. He makes no noise, does no quar-
reling, but he is present in well nigh
every riotous company, aud is found
at the table with wines and liquors of
every kind, name and quality.


In himself, so far as his personal be-
havior is concerned, the oyster is per-
fectly respectable, and the gentlemen
have him at the table without scruple I;
but there can be no doubt that his name
is suggestive of dissoluteness and dissi-
patton, precisely as the horse, noble as
he is, is indissOlubly associated in our
minds with certain forms Of kravery
and jockeyism sin al! its branches" as
the street signs say. Dickens. We be-
lieve il was, who pointed out the fact
that the moment that any man falls
into the poverty which comes of drunk
enness and idlenrss he begins to eat
oysters as regular diet, and, notwith-
standing the high estimation in which
most of us hold this mollusk, his name
somehow suggests tsirregularity of ofliving,
late hours, unwholesome haunts and
potations of gin.


Nevertheless he is fine fellew, and
we csnnot spare him from the list of
friends whom We are always glad to see
at dinner. There is placidity in his
bearing, decOrum in his conduct,
which give us confidence in him,
and wherever he is met he is sure of a
hearty welcome.
Year: 1876

A correspondent Of the Tyrone Qre-
land) Constitution states that a young


white shark was captured by the crew
of post boat between Bofiin Island and
the mainland. Notwithstanding lis
small size flour feet 1t proved on the
narrow space astern to be most unman-
ageable and dangerously active. In
dropping upon the stern sheets it seized
female passenger by the leg, infiicting
bad wound. Fortunately the grip had
not been fairly taken, and the woman In
her fright freed the limb. 1t was evil
dent there could be no truce now, and
the boatman, planting both feet upon
the sharks back, held the gaff firmly in
the left hand. and, plying his knife with
a will, severed the head and body. Dur
ing this operation, with native fierce
ness, the shark held on by the woman,
retaining a mouthful of her petticoats,
and only after the body had been tossed
overheard were the jaws pried open TO
free her from the savage death-grip.
Year: 1876

No people are such thorough nuisances
As those who are perpetually meddling


with the business of their neighbors-
who are always on the alert for any
thing suspicious-always ready to be


lieve the worst of everybody. Reader,
IL you belong to that unfortunate class,


we pity you. AS it is impossible that you
can find out anything that is going on


in your vicinity, you must be in a state
OF continual torture. A prying mind
needs food, and, without it, suffers.
Then try to conquer the unhappy pc


lisrity. What is it to you if your
neighbOr does bring home brown pa
per package and covered basket? You


will live just as long if you never know


what they contain. 1t is none of your


business. And If your flighty neighbor,


Mrs. Lightfoot, indulges herself in her
new bonnet, while her devoted husband


wears patched boots. you need not fret
about it-he is the only sufferer, not
you; no need of making hue and a cry
over her supposed extravaganza. The
money did not come out of your pocket,
and consequently is none of your busi


ness. What If the minister does call
on Ann Smith twice a week? Why
exercise your brain for it? Let him
court away. Suppose she has an awe.
full temper and powders her face, as
you say she does, her temper will not
trouble you. Mind your own concerns


What difference does it make to you If
bold Maria '.cut out" modest Mary?
You need not torture Mary by long
stories Of what you have heard concern
ing the matter. 81 thought l would
tell you my dear; 1 speak for your
good; somebody should put you on
your guard against that treacherous
girl" As natural consequence, mod
est Mary, her womanly pride aroused,
shrinks into the background, leaving
the field open to her victorious rival.
So you crush good girls heart because
you will not mind your own business.
What if they do have three pairs of
stockings over at Squire Hills. Haven't
they got right to? As long as you
don't do the washing, it need not trouble
you at all. What right have you to
watch their clothes line? Employ your
time better. 1t may be perfectly true
that dashing Mrs. Gay signals to young
DIR. Wilde from her back windows; but
who gave you the privilege of watch
ing lady in her own home, where, if
at any place, her privacy should be
sacred? Her disgrace is nothing to
you; it is none of your business. If we
had our way, meddlers should be pun
ished like any other offenders against
the rights of others.
Year: 1876

There are two kinds of sleep, the in
complete and the complete. Complete
sleep is atempOrary metaphy steal death,
though not an organic one. The heart
and lungs perform their offices with
their accustomed regularity. 1t is cha
racterized by torpor of the organs Of
the brain, of the external senses, and
of voluntary motions. Incomplete sleep
is the activity of one or more of the ce-
rebral organs, while the others are in
repose this occasions dreaming. Sleep
is variously effected by health and di-
sease. Man in time of health sleeps in
tranquility. He arises in the morning
refreshed and prepared to go forth to
his daily labor. New strength is given
him; languor has gone, and all the IA
culties, both mental and corporal, are re-
cruited. But the sleep of disease is far
different. 1t is short and unrefreshing I;
disturbed by fearful sights and fright


full dreams. StupOr and sleep are
different, though supposed by some to
be Synonymous. In both there is in
sensibility; but it is easy TO awaken a
person from sleep, while it is sometimes
almost impossible to arouse one from
stupor. 1t is frequently the case in
sickness that the person lies for several
days in stupOr, totally insensible.
Though sleep be natural and necessary
to the languid mental and corpOreal ia
ulties, yet it is often brought on by
some external cause. Heat produces
sleep. We witness it in the Summer
season; it is common to see the labOrer
devote an hour i'm the heat of the dav
to sleep. A heated church is likely to
bring on sleep. Variety, whether in
sight or sound, prevents sleep, while
monotony of all kinds is apt to produce
Year: 1876

Fernando Wood was elected to Con-
gress as democrat by democratic votes.
He is man who is regarded as model
democrat He was very prominent can
didate at the opening of the present ses-
sion of Congress for Speaker of the House.
His influence as a member of the party
is undeniable. But Wood it appears has
been trading in offices as well as Belknap.
II Belknap deserves to be impeached why
should Wood be allowed to escapep The
following from the New York of Monday
is worthy the attention Of democrats


"To democratic journals desirous of CIV
ing point to powerful editorials" about
the corruption OF our time, we commend
the report contained in our columns to-
day of the case of the creditors of N H.
Fowler and others against Fernando
Wood. The allegation in this case is.
briefly, that Fowler paid Fernando Wood
some $4,000 in return for his appoint
ment as Corporation Attorney. The
agreement was that when Fowler got the
appointment he was to pay Wood $5, 200
in cash and the first years salary of the
Office, and to divide with Wood the salary
and perquisites for the subsequent period
of his holding Office. As the case is still
before the courts, it would be improper to
express any opinion on its merits, but its
obvious resemblance TO the case against
Gen. Belknap will not escape the reader.
The instructive point about it is that,
though its progress has been reported at
various times during the past week, no.
body has ,hought it worth any special re
mark. And yet Fernando Wood is de-
cidediy more prominent member of the
democratic party than Belknap was OF the
republican. The obvious inference is that
the public have come to look upon corrupt
jobbery as the rule among democratic pol
iticians, while it is exceptional enough in
the republican party to cause great atten-
ton and surprise.
Year: 1876

Mr.. BEEcHER has hinted to the Advisory
Council which has just begun it's work at
Brooklyn, that it may find it necessary to
to do more than advise Plymouth church as
to what line of conduct it should pursue
towards recalcitrant members. In palmer
words he tells the Council that they may
feel called upon to investigate Henry Ward
Beocher and he claims that he has no cause
to fear the result He courts the strictest
investigation.


This all may be true, and Mr.. Beechel
may have nothing to fear from such al
inquiry, but such body is necessarily from
its composition and the looseness which
would characterize its investigations no
competent to discharge the duty Of q judg'
towards Mr. Beeeher, and any attempt b.
that body to open the question Of his gull
or innocence certainly will result in failure
probably worse: in disaster to the churche
which are represented


1t is sincerely to be hoped that the Coun
ell will confne itself to the mere matter Q
the right of Plymouth church to excoH


municate members without sufficient cause
or what constitutes sufficient cause for dii
| missal.
Year: 1876

Ben Butler, who mas :been exsminirg g
the Republican machinery, says he is not
certain of the success of the party at the
coming election" There are Q great
many Of the same way of thinking.
Year: 1876

A PAPAL brief is reported to have
been addressed to the Archbishop of
Toledo denouncing liberty of worship
in Spain as a great crime. Now, we
should like to know whether this is to
be regarded as an infallible express
sion, and if so, whether Catholics in
all countries are not to hold with the
Pope that liberation of any other re-
ligion than their own is not also q
crime, for which the State that per-
mits it is to be held morally respon-
sible; or is there one measure of re-
ligious freedom for Spain, and anoth-
er measure of freedom for the United
States, whereby what is criminal in
the one is not criminal in the other?
If there do exist such degrees of
moral responsibility that right in one
place becomes wrong in another
place, they are defined by abstract
reasoning or considerations of expe-
diency.-Cin. Commercial.
Year: 1876

A KANSAS woman lost gold ring
in straw bed; the straw was emptied
into the barn yard, and, with the
manure, was spread upon field. In
the fall the woman found her ring in
q boiled potato that came from the
field. Next!
Year: 1876




Matters have been very quiet in the SAFE
rae Lying Club of late, but member con-
fidently informed us that when the boys ge,t;
paid off they will make "Rome howl"
To-day is pay day, and consequently, an
exciting session of the club may be expected
this evening. They expect to initiate
new member, who is prepared to take ; ms ms
solemn oath that he saw man fall o,ooO
fees down an incline without touching It's
sides, ktop or bottom and that when MS
fellow workmcn reached him he was light-,
ing his pipe with his candle, which ne had
held in his hand and which was not extin-
gulshed during his descent. The lnvestl-
eating Committee reported favorably on the
mans application for admission, peGausc
they thought that was something like q
reasonable lie. By rule of the club no
member is allowed to tell a lie which might
not have been true had such an occurrence
taken place.
Year: 1876

From the Galveston news.
The Banner aud Volksbote print state
ments signed by large number OF citizens
of Brenham in regard to the punishment IN
ficed on school boy by Prof. W. Z. Rote.
1t appears that the boy is fourteen and
half years old that he had committed
breach of known and proper rule OF the
school that his teacher, Miss Rial, at
tempted to punish him for it, when ne re,
sisted her, twice seized the rod in her hand
and finally succeeded in breaking II 8; thal
she then sent for Prof. Rote, the superln-
tendent and principal of the school, VINO Ill
the exercise of legitimate authority,
mildly and without passion, and using lor
the purpose switch twenty-five lnches
long by actual measurement, three eights OF
an inch in diameter at the larger end, and
one.ouarter of an inch at the smaller end,
administered to the boy as punishment 1or
his misconduct from three to seven blows
five, we believe, was the exact number? },
and then inquired Of him if he would again
resist his teacher; that receiving no reply
he continued the use of the rod, repeating
the inquiry twice, until thirteen blows in all
had been struck that at this point the Doy
Welded and promised obedience, alter Whlch
not one additional blow was inflicted upon
him that no portion OF his clotnlng was
removed that the skin was unbrokeh, and
that no blood blister was raised, but that
in consequence of the impressible character
of the boys skin is presented to casual OBJ
server the appearance of a seyerer PUNISH
mcnt than was actually administered


The statement as to the extent OF his IN
,juries and the sensitive character OF the
boys skin, is derived from the testimony OF
the four medical experts who testified al
the trial The Board of School Trustees
upon full investigation, approved OF the
mode and measure of the dicipline admins
tered. The justice before whom the cast
was tried, without moment't hesitation
dismissed the complaint, and crowded
Court house, thronged with ladies anu gen
tlemen, who had sat absorbed in the inVcs
tigation from O'clock in the morning until
about II at night, testified in the most mar
ked manner their approval OF the decision


1t is proper to add that the mother OF tn
boy, most worthy lady, neither instituted
nor took part in the prosecution; and tina
the boy himself, by his frank and mani
conduct at the trial, won back the respec
of those who had most severely condenne
his former misconduct.
Year: 1876

The substitution of silver coin for frac-
tional currency will soon begin. 1t is
thought that in years time the entire
work of fsuch substitution may DE accom-
plished. There is about Sl2,000000 in
silver coir in the treasury and the differ
snt agencies. The mines produce, and
the minis can coin, several millions
monty; SO that the movement is entirely
practicable. Whether the people will
like the silver coins as currency after the
novelty is worn of, better that the paper
currency. remains to be seen.
Year: 1876

THE OPENING NIGHT-GOoD ATTEND


ANCE-STREET PARADE.


The second grand fair of the American
Rifles opened at the Odd Fellows Hall,
"Wednesday night, and thus far has been
very success ssful. On the opening night
and yesterday afternoon there was very
large attendance. and last night the hall
was crowded with visitors. The fair is
well gotten up, aud the various tables
are laden with useful and fancy articles,
pleasing alike to the eye and the taste.
These are sold at reasonable rates, and
others of greater value are disposed of by
chance. Refreshments are also provided
in abundance for those who desire them.


Yesterday afternoon the Rifles formed
at their arIaory, Tenth and Shipley street
and made q short street parade, headed
by the City Cornet Band. Their general
good appearance and fine marching were
much admired.