smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

THE TEEFH.-Feats Of
strength performed with the
teeth are absurG; those who in
dulge in them ought TO be pun
ished like that youth who,
says DIR. Lemartie, broke all
his front teeth, who bet that
he would throw over his head
a chair, which he held with his
teeth by the upper part of the
blackboard to achieve that no.
BILE feat. Another fellow more
imprudent, caused himself to
be hoisted up from the ground
to a window by means Of a
rope. which he held in his
teeth. When lie reached a GER
tain height he lost his four in
cisors, and broke one of his
legs in the tall. Some others,
says the Doctor, find pleasure
in grinding drinking glasses
between their teeth, and wound
ing their mouths grieyously in
the attempt. One would sup
pose that the life of these ma
MACS is a perpetual challenge
to the Almighty who gave it to
them. The loss of a tooth is q
real misfortune, since it can
not be repaired. A tooth is


worth q diamond, says one of
our authors. Remember these
few words and try to put them
in practice Herald Of Health.
Year: 1871

ACCIDENTS FRoK DAMPs IN
WELLs.-Light a candle and
let it down into the we'll 10 the
bottom. IF it burns the air is
good; if it goes out look out
for danger. If a man falls in
to a well and is suffocated,
dash a little cold waterin his
face or near it. Take a tea
kettle and keep a steady stream
of water going into the well
and a man can decend and
bring up the suffocated one,
and save his life if he was not
killed by the fall. Try the
lighted candle while the water
runs into the well. IT it burns
even dimly, a man can breathe


Cut this out and put it in
your memorandum and / vii


warrant some lives will bt
saved.-[Sub. Prairie Farmer
Year: 1871

The Florida mails give meagre and


vague accounts Of an astonishing phe-


nomenon at Apopka, Grange county,


near Pilatka. The whole county


disappeared in one night, and its
site is covered by a great lake. A
correspondent, writing from the neigh


borhOOd to the Pilatka Herald, says /:


Mr.. Alexander X. Foster has Just
come ip with more marvels and start
ling reports. He says that on his way


from Orlando to Millonville. after
crossing Fort Metlin branch, he left
the road to avoid the constant bog
ging to which he was subjected. The
safest place, he thought, would be on
the crown Of black Jack ridge, run
ming parallel with the road which he
took. After riding perhaps a mile
his horse commenced begging, and
for some distance it was questionable
whether he could get through; he
however got more solid footing again
he commenced begging; at this time
he noticed remarkable and pOrten-
tious sounds in his rear. The bog
ging grew worse as he proceeded,
until he had to dismount; there
seemed no escape for him, but he and
his horse were still begging. The
sounds in his rear increased more and
more, and became more and more
alarming and the route In front more
boggy-he dare not stop, as this would
have rendered it impossible to have
extricated himself-he neither dared
nor could look behind him, his whole
thought and aim was to reach terra
tirma. At last, after the most super
human exertiOns, both lie and his
horse exhausted to the most extreme
degree, he reached solid ground.
turning to examine into the cause of
those fearful sounds in his rear, he
saw the most terrific and appalling
sights it has ever been my fate to
listen to. The first thing that at
traeted attention was that the trees
were moving first a gyratory motion
OF the top, then some sinking gradu-
ally out of sight, the top revolving
more and more rapidly as they sunk
and disappeared, others following, and
as they fell revolving and describing
arcs Of a circle against the sky. Then
the whole earth, as far as the eye
could reach, sinking aud its place
supplied by sea of waters, rushing,
seething, boiling with the noise Of
eataracts, and ever and anon
casting to the surface the roOts, tops
or bodies Of mighty pines or oaks.


People are rushing from the scene
Of disaster. Our camp is crowded
with the terror-strieken inhabitants
from the country in our rear. Every
body Is wanting the forebodings and
horrible expectations. They believe
the day of judgment has come. The
extraordinary phenomenon appears
more and more extraordinary. The
country from two to three miles from
here to Lake Metlin is entirely SUBJ
and is now one vast lake.
authoritative from beyond,
though rumors are rife that Orlando
IS swallowed up and the whole chain
If lakes to- Lake Conway are now
lnited and form an immense inland
yea. We leave Immediately and in
error for our own fate. In haste,
Yours, A. F. STURGES.


Apopka, Florida.
Year: 1871

Unquestionably, human life be-


comes more exciting every year. Each


man Is affected by q wider range Of


events than was formerly possible or


even conceivable. In the good old


times, the farmer was content to know


the price Of grain in the nearest mar


ket town. Now he will not load his


wagon till he has heard the quata-


tiOns at Chicago and New York. The


trade of our fathers was affected by


peace or war in Europe as much as


ours Is now, but the news of peace


and war came to them after intervals


of weeks, and in the mean time they
logged along comfortably. For us,


the intelligence follows instantly up
on the events, and may in a few hours
change every business expectation
The possibilities Of each day keep our


faculties strained to the utmost ten
sion, and repose is impossible. We
are approximating Omniseienee, and
are paying its costly penalties.


What is to be the outcome of the
stretching of telegraph wires over the
globe, no one can foretell. All the
sorrow and joy, suffering and triumph
of the world are spread before US
every morning. A shrek of pain as
far off from US as the antipOdes is
head directly and appeals to US for
sympathy. As long as these impres-
siOns were made upon US in slow sue
cession, they were endUrable; but now
they come pell nell, and we are aston
ished to find what world we live in.
Di0nysius in his cave cOntrived an
ear that reported to him all the bab-
ble Of his capital; but we have con-
trived one that conveys to the brain
all the sounds Of all the voices on
earth. Modern life becomes q per
petual distraction, and we school our
selves to callOusness as some relief for |
our jaded sensibility. That the mod |
ern man is nervous is not wonderful (;
II he does not become all nerve, it will |
be miracle.


Busy men more and more seek re-
lief by getting out Of the reach Of the
and eternal click. They
weary OF so much brain stimulation.
But like a universal detective, it is
forever at their heels, calling on them
10 meet the emergencies of world
that changes its face every five min
ltes. What we shall come to there is
no telling one thing is certain, we
shall find omniseience a heavy bur-
len. Many will look back with sad
ness to the primative ages; when
limited knowledge made some sense Of
Iuietutude possible for mankind.-
N, y. Methodist.
Year: 1871

The following beautiful thoughts


upon calmness and peace Of mind are
translation from a Chinese posm,


commonly attributed to celebrated


doctor, named Lean. There Is, per-


baps, nothing finer upon this subject


in the English language:


TRANoUILITY.-On day brings on
another day, one year follows anOth-
er; let US take the time as il comes. A
hundred years Of trouble are not worth
day Of tranquility. The source Of
al pleasures is in our own heart; he
who seeks them elsewhere outrages
Divinity. My projects, my s3sires,
and my hopes never go beyond my
own bosom. Rivers roll rapidly to
the sea and enter therein without
troubling it; my heart is the same; all
the events OF the great world do not
cost me a single care. Truth is my
compass, and moderation my helm.
l advance on my way whatever wind
may blow. The clouds arise and the
clouds descend in rain without eaus-
ing me any inquietude. When they
conceal the sun from me by day, / try
to look at the stars by night. The
swallow In her safe nest sees with
q tranquil eye the bloody combsts Of
the vultures. Let who will conquer,
the eonquerer will not modest her;
and the little flies and worms never
fail her. My clothes are made OF
common cloth, my food is coarse, and
the thatch which covers my hut de-
Gays every year. But what would 1t
be to me tomorrow to have been
dressed in silk to-day and to have
digested costly dishes? Golden roofs
do not keep out sleeplessness and care;
and were the country shaken by an
earthquake how easily can gain my
humble dOorl My patrimony is at
the end OF my two arms, and every
day gives me its harvest. When it is
hot 1 cool myself in the shade Of a
tree, and when il is cold I warm my
self by working. Old age is coming
oDOn me: but my children are young,
and will repay me for what / have
done for them. If they always OBJ
serve truth and moderation hundred
years will not cost them sigh
Whatever tempests may arise, Tran
guilty is port always open TO the
innocent of heart. Hail tranquility
of the soul ! Sweet charm OF fife
Kings would sell their crowns to buy
thee If they knew thy value. Com
plete thy benefits; thou hast helped
me to live well-help me TO die well.
Year: 1871

Eating too fast generally involves


eating too much-mOre than Is needed


for the support and nutrition Of the


body-and the reason for this is, that
the organs of state, which are our
guide in this matter, are not allowed
sufficient voice; they are not allowed
time TO take eOgnizanee Of the pres
ence of food ere il is pushed past them
into the recesses OF the stomach.
They do not therefore, have oppor-
tunity to represent the real need Of
the system, and hence allow the
croWding of the stomach. Ihold that
thirty minutes should be spend at
each meal, and spent, too, in chewing
the food a good portion Of the time,
and not in continued putting iH and
but in pleasant chat and
laugh, instead of the continuance Of
the intense nervous pressure Of the
Office or library. II you lay out to
spend thirty minutes in this way at
your meals, you may rest assured you
will not eat too much, and what you
do eat will be in the best condition
for appropriation to the needs Of your
Jackson.
Year: 1871

and some even more. Society here is
pretty good, but in a land like this
where SO many different classes con-
gregate, and are constantly going and
coming, it must not be supposed that
we have not our share of vice and
crime. In Lawreneeburg the borough
officers have adopted pretty stringent
laws to govern themselves, and they
are rigidly enforced to the letter.
Everything appears as quiet here as
in your own peaceful city of Warren.
But at Parker it is far different with
no one there to interfere with law
breakers, its streets and places of pub
lie resort are continually the scene of
many a drunken brawl and brutal
fight, that makes day and night alike
hideous. No efforts are seeming to
be made to incorporate the place o. to
provide any way by which it shall be
governed. Probably this may all come
in good time, but at present there
seems to be but little prospect Of
change.


I will close now to send this by to-
days mail. Perhaps at some future
time I may be able to give you some
more items from this point.


Yours truly,


PETROLEUM.
Year: 1871

From the elm tree in the meadow,
By the rilI,
And the mighty oak and chestnut
On the hill,
Comes the fading leaves Of autumn,
Floating still.
Through the wide extending forest
When the winds no longer rave,
Tney are dropping, dropping, dropping
Ger the land and DER the wave,
From the green bOughs where the sum


Iner


Tresses hung
And the young twigs, where the robins
Perched and sung
Floating down into the grave.
And whene'er I see them floating
without sound
From the long and pendant branches
All around.
When see them torn and scattered
on the ground;
Better thoughts arise within me-
And my heart unconscious grieves.
And Of sad and mournful numbers
Is the song that memory weaves.
For the heart that thrilled enraptured
To my own,
And the voice that answered sweetly
Every tone,
Now'are silent as the leaves ADA.
Year: 1871

The following is related by the cor
respondent Of the Cincinnati Com
BaereidL from Cairo:


A good story is told of the steamer
John Lumsden, now in the Evans
vile trade, illustrative Of the ruling
passion strong in death.n While
she was running between Cairo and
Nashville, Capt. Davis had made ar
rangements with an old gentleman
living at some point on the Cumber-
land to supply the boat with milk,
and the boat would always signal be-
fore coming to the place so that the
milk might be ready for her. Two
long whistles signified that she want
sweet milk, and one long whistle
buttermilk, and it happened that
buttermilk was the most often called
for. When she afterwards sunk near
Clarksville, one of the hogsheads of
tobacco, of which there were a great
many on board, became displaced and
rolled against the whistle wire, rails
ing the valve, and as she went down,
and while there was steam enough in
her boilers to blow it, the whistle
gave out a prolonged sound, doleful
enough under the circumstances to be
heartrending. An old negro, long in
the employ of the boat, had crawled
out upon the bank and sat for some
time with a sorrowful countenance,
watching her settle down, as he sup
posed, for ever, and listening to the
sound Of the whistle as it grew fainter
and fainter. Finally, turning to his
companion, he said with a sigh:
" Well, de ole LumRden is dyin' sure,
and she's spendin' her last bref callin'
for buttermilk.
Year: 1871

MEN WANTED.-Boys, youn g men
read the following:


The great want of this age is men.
Men who are not for sale. Men who
are honest, sound from center to cir
conference, true to the hearts core.
Men who will condemn in friend or
foe, in themselves as well as Others
Men whose consciousness are as steady
as the needle to the pole. Men who
will stand for the right if the heavens
totter and the earth reels. Men who
can tell the truth and look the world
and the devil right in the eye. Men
that neither brag nor run. Men that
neither flag nor finch. Men who can
have courage without shouting to it.
Men in whom the courage of everlast-
ing life runs deep and strong. Men
too large for seotarian bonds. Men
who do not cry nor cause their voices
to be heard on the streets, but who
will not fail nor be discouraged till
judgment be set in the earth. Men
who know their message and tell it.
Men who know their places and fIl
them. Men who mind theirOwn busi-
ness. Men who will not lie. Men
who are not too lazy to work, nor too
proud to be poor. Men who are will
ling to eat what they have earned
and wear what they have paid for.
Year: 1871

PURITY.-I would have you attend
to the significance and extent of the
term holy. 1t is not abstinence from
outward deeds of profiigaey alone-it
is not q mere recoil from impurity in
thought; it is that quick and sensi-
tive deieaey to which even the YeTy
conception of evil is offensive; it is 3
virtue which has its residence within,
which takes a guardianship Of the
heart, as of citadel or inViolated
sanctuary, in which no wrong or
worthless imagination is permitted to
dwell. 1t is not purity of action that
we contend for, it is exalted purity Of
heart-the ethereal purity OF the third
heaven; and if it is once settled in
the heart, it brings the peace, the
triumph and the untroubled serenity
OF heaven along with it.


In the maintenance of this there is
the eomplaeency, I had almost. said
the pride Of a great moral victory over
the infrmities of an earthly and ae-
cursed nature; there is q health and
harmony in the soul, a beauty which,
though it blooms in the eountenance
and the outward path, is itself so
thoroughly internal as to make purity
Of heart the most distinctive evidence
Of work Of grace in time-the most
distinctive guidance of a character
that is ripening and expanding for
the glories Of eternity.-Chdlmers.
Year: 1871

A Southern paper gives an account
of an aged freedman, who having
saved enough Of his earnings to send
his boy to school, concluded that he
would get a double return for his
money by becoming in turn a pupil
of his son, and by so doing secure to
himself the benefit of an education.
Having mastered his A. B. c., and
conquered his alb abs, the old gentle
man was given lesson in words of
three letters. By this time his en-
thusiasm had slackened, and he grew
careless. His thirst for knowledge
ceased altogether, when upon his
spelling the word dog, dOrg, his son
feathered on him with a well-seasOned
hickory, and gave him a tremendous
fiOgging, asserting at the same time
that such discipline was indispensable
TO the requirement Of a thorough
education.
Year: 1871

A STORY WITH A MoRAL-An old


man, who heard one of those foolish


remarks that are so often made by the


unthinking and those who are ignO-
rant of natures laws-''I drink TO
make me work"-replied "That's
true drink, and it will make you
work was once a prosperous
farmer. l had loving wife and two
nne lads as ever the sun sbone on.
We had a comfortable home, and
lived happily together. But we used
to drink to make US work. Those
two lads l have laid in a drunkard's
grave. My wife died Lroken-hearted,
and now lies beside her two sons.
am now seventy years Of age. Had IL
not been for drink might now have
been an independent gentleman but
used to drink to make me work,
and, mark it, 1t makes me work now.
At seventy years Of age am Obliged
to work for my daily bread. Drink
drink and it will make you work" "
Year: 1871

The MAJ who can not only bear the


Sights and indignities of his fellow
men without resenting them, but can
pray from his heart for those who
despitefully use him, is a hero of
heroes. He mas conquered himself,
and is fit for the cOmpanionship OF
the saints triumphant. But such
gall-less humanity, and genuine piety,
are very rare. Nine tenths of those
who take the Bullets of their perseeu-
tors without striking back, comfort
themselves with the belief that the
revenge they forego is only postponed,
and that vengeance will be taken for
their wrongs on a grand scale in the
world to come. The pacific conduct
Of such persons viii not, We take it.
excuse the motives that underlie their
forbearance.
Year: 1871




New YORK, December 2l.-The day
has ended as quietly as it began. No
arrests were made, and according to the
authorities no warrants issued.


The appearance of w. II. Peekham
in the Mayors office this afternoon
gave rise to a rumor that the committee
OF Seventy had submitted proposals OF
some kind to Mayor Hall, but it was
afterwards discovered that it was in con.
nection with the Fourth Avenue rail-
road question.


Tweed was at his Office as usual, and
the Department OF Public Works pre-
sented its usual appearance.


The Grand Jury meet again to-mor-
row, and it is expected something de-
finite will be known about the doings
of Mayor Hall in his vetoed resolution
for improving the condition OF Fourth
avenue, in respect to the use OF steam
by the Harlen railroad company, which
had been adopted by the Board Of
Aldermen and Board OF Assistant
Aldermen Of New York.


1tis believed that ex-Controller Con.
molly will procure the required bail and
leave Ludlow street jail tomorrow.
Year: 1871

WITH the approach of Christmas
come thoughts of those who are desti-
tute and fatherless and motherless, and


when we know Of opportunities to re-
lieve and make such happy, surely our
own homes and dear ones will enjoy
this season, so rich with JOY, all the
more for supplying the wants Of the
needy. From our advertising columns
it will be seen that the managers
of the Childrens Home propose to
gladden. the hearts OF the little inmates
by giving them Christmas dinner and
Christmas tree, and they ask our citi-
zeus to contribute articles for either or
both of these objects. Let there be
no lack. II out OF the abundance Of
many a little be given, children who
have never before knewn "a merry
Christmas" will enjoy one this season.
Year: 1871

Doc SfoRY.-A Tyler county cor.
respondent says that a few days since
Mr.. r. W. Davis and company oi
men and dogs went to the large bend IN
Middlersland Creek, known as the jug
Handle, in pursuit of some deer known
to exist in that part. After hunting
some time the dogs started a coon and
it run into . hollow chestnut tree, and
one of the dogs in after it, and the next
place they made their appearance was
on top Of the tree, which was broke on
between forty and forty-fve feet from
the ground, where the dog and coon
engaged in a mortal combat flnsl'y "a
the dog .lung the coon of and then
descended to the ground through the
hollow Of the tree.
Year: 1871

NEW HAVEN. CoSS., December 2l.-
As the evening train from Derby on
the New Derby railroad was coming to
this city one OF the passenger cars was
thrown down an embankmeut and two
ladies severely burnt. Several other
passengers were slightly hurt The
cause OF the accident 10 not known, q
the engine and baggage car remained
on the track. The trkin was running
slow ut the time.
Year: 1871

IA effort is now making to place the
Duo p'Aunale upon the throne of France.
The headquarters Of his adhcrents is at
Tours, aud it is said n portion Of the army
are in fovor Of the movement.
Year: 1871


From, the Ne,0 Orleans Bulletin, March 6.


At about half-past o'clock Sunday morning
Gre was discovered in the building of the fair
Grounds used for the display of machinery. 1t
6rst made its appearance near the boiler of the
arge stationary engine, and in few minutes
he entire building was enveloped in flames.
Rapidly consuming the first, the octagon or
centre building then took fire, and in a short
lime all three of the large and substantial
houses were burned to the ground


THE ALARM OF FIRE


gas given, but at that time two or three fires
we're raging in the city, and the firemen with
&heir engines were delayed in reaching the fair
grounds. Upon their arrival there the work of
destruction had been completed, and there was
bothing to be seen but the brick pillars and the
&iebris of the splendid engine and shaftlng. One
bf the most serious losses by this FIRE was the
OBSTRUCTION OF THE STATUE OF WASHINGTON.
/ 1t will be remembered that this statue was
prdered by the State of Louisiana, and cost
b30, 600. For time it occupied the little pagoda
Erected in the State House grounds at Baton
Rouge but was afterwards removed and placed
In the rotunda of the Capitol, where it remained
hntil captured by General Butler, and sent to the
Patent Office at Washington. There 1t remained
XRntil 1868, when il was returned to the State
Through the eXertions of Senator Kellogg, we
believe. Upon its arrival in this city, there
Being no suitable place for 1t, the Fair Grounds
association obtained permission to place it in
he rotunda of the octagon building, and there
n remained until destroyed by this fire. Its loss
will be matter of regret, as it was about the
nly relic of the halcyon days of Louisiana in its
Sme of prosperity and glory.


It is generally believed that the fire was the


WORK OF AN INCENDIARY,


Who could have had no object in view but that
Estimated that the loss will reach nearly hun
M ed thousand dollars.