smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

At the outbreak of the war the leading
Democrat in the Vermont House Of Rep
resentatives was Judge Stephen Thom Of
West Fairlee. The fall before he had in
troduced a bill and vainly urged ITS pas-
sage for the repeal Of the " Personal
Liberty Law, which had been construed
by the South as hostlIe.mcasure aud am
attempted notification Of the Fugitive
Slave Act. At the Special Session in the
Spring Of 1861 it was expected by all Re
publicans that he would again urge the re-
peal Of the obnoxious law, and many were
prepared TO vote for 1t as measure TO
pacify the South. On the eventfu day
when the attitude Of Vermont in the war
was to be determined, two other leading
Democrats were waking with him from
the hotel to the State House, when one of
them was heard to say to him that If the
House would not vote to repeal the law he
would not vote one man nor one dollar for
the suppression Of the Bebelion,-to which
Judge Thomas made no reply.


When the Committee of WAYS and
Means, Of which Mr. Thomas was a mem
Der, held their meeting to determine what
sum to recommend the House to appropri-
ate to aid in suppressing the Rebellion, il
so happened that his seat was partially
behind the door and another member Of
the Committee 50 that his presence was not
noticed until they had agreed all around
that half a million would be amply suffi-
cient. CHANGING then TO discover Judge
Thomas, the Chairman called for his opin-
ion. He stepped forward to the table and
gravely recommended that the sum be
doubled. At first the others thought he
meant to kill the bill, by overlooking it,
but he went on with a brief but powerful
speech, in which he told them that he was
satisfied We had got great work on our
hands and had best arouse ourselves in the
first to an idea Of its magnitude that if it
should happily turn that all the money
would rot be required, it need not be used.
that they had a Governor of their own
cloice, not his. but that if he had conf.
dence enough in him to trust him with all
this money, they certainly ought to have.
The argument prevailed, and the commit
tee voted unanimously TO recommend the
appropriation OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS.


That afternoon, when the question
came up in the House, on the committees
report, every nook and corner of the
spacious hall was crowded with au aux.ous
Year: 1871

The LINE STORM HUMBUG.-
Among the popular superstitions Is one
that we are to have heavy storms about
the time OF the vernal aud autumnal eqUi-
nOxes. When a storm does come at that
time it Is noted, and when 1t IS dropped
from the programme no one thinks of the
omission. aud so the notion continues to
prevail \ gentleman of this city who
has kept a record of the weather. the tenn
perature and the force and direction of the
wind for many years, has taken the pains
to look back for the five DAYS preceding
and five DAYS following the list of each
month as far back a. 1912, thirty years,
aud he finds that there have been no more
violent storms during that part of March
and September in all those years than
there have been in any other months. One
OF the most violent storms occurred in
August, and the storms in the winter
months have averaged a great deal more
violent tuan those which have come at or
near the equinox. In such a matter as
this a record Is much more to be depended
on than ones memory or .eneral impress
Herald
Year: 1871

STEAM CARRIAGES FOR HIGuwAYs. As
the great fat and rolling prairies of the
West have been the places where the lux
ury of farming has been demonstrated ;
where lordly agriculturists pow their corn
and reap their grain lolling in an easy car
riage seat and shielded from the sun by a
broad canopy, so it seems probable that
there the luxury Of travelling will be the
next great step in the march of improve
ment by the adoption Of steam carriages
to common roads. Not that the expert
ment has been tried there, but it has been
very successfully over a very much worse
road from Edinburg, Scotland, to Ipswich,
distance of 400 miles, which was made
in II hours. The locomotive which did
the work was nominally of / horsepower,


but capable of working, when taxed to the
extreme, with 50 horse power. Attached
was an omnibus with seats inside and out
for % persons. The objection which in-
ventors have deemed insuperable, that tue
wheels OF 50 heavy a machine would sink
into the ground 50 as to destroy progress,


was entirely overcome by the use of india
rubber tire, which generated no more fric-
tion than common vehicle. One of the
teats of the steamer In this trial was to
draw dead weight of 10 tons up an
incline Of one foot in L, a severer test
than it would be often subjected to on a
western road. A second objection to their
introduction has been the alleged difficulty
in directing them, but a hard bitted horse
is very much worse animal to drive than


this was found to be, and by this much
nj Ger dodges aud deviations can be made.
The peasant portion of the population who
witnessed the trial trip, decided the steam
er to be magical machine of some sort for
the parposl Of keeping III eieetrlc.ty tue
Year: 1871

A LIVELY CHRIsTENING.-SOme of the
inhabitants of Paterson, \ J., have views
of their own as TO the proper method of
christening an infant, and are apt to use
cerain ceremonies on such an occasion war
ranted neither by the Protestant nor Cath
olic religion. \ night or two ago a youth
ful scion of the house of ODonnell was to
be initiated into the church So all the
relatives were assembled, and keg of
whisky and a barrel of beer were provided
for their benefit As might be expected
soon the fun grew fast and furious. and
the hilarity of the parties became a posi-
tive nuisance to all in the vicinity. So 4
valiant knight Of the locust ascended to the
scene Of the revels and began his remon-
strances. This did not have the desired
effect, for some one locked the door and
held the officer a prisoner. Another off,
Ger came to his assistance and four of the
most I rbulent were arrested. But the
rest kept the ball rolling. and the house
agent was Appealed TO. So he mounted
the staircase, aud told the revelers to be
quiet or leave the premises, when he was
seized by the hair OF his head, knocked
down and nearly killed By this time
another officer arrived, and by knocking
senseless the chief actor in the boisterous
scenes, su .ceeded in getting him to the
Recorders office, from which place ne wa 5
sent to the IAN. On his way TO the latter
locality he managed, by promises of good
behavior, TO have the handouts removed
from his wrists. but no sooner was this
done than he tripped up his custodian and
took to his heels, and was only recaptured
when knocked senseIess again. After all
this fuss it would be gratifying to know
whether that child was baptised or not.
Year: 1871

! whole be done without detection, the warts


will disappear as the meat decays" To
cure a sty ON the eyelid get the tail of a


black cat, on the first night of the new
moon. and, after pulling from it one hair,
rub the tip nine times over the pustule. :"
But the cures for whOoping cough are per-
haps the most singular In Cheshire a
ride upon a bear was considered an infalli-
bic remedy for it. Most persons, even in


the present day, will believe this, espe-
cially in the neighborhood Of the Rocky


Mountains. The remedy would probably
cure not only the whooping cough, but ey-
cry other disease the person trying it might
be afflicted with. In the counties of Nor
folk, Leicester aud Northampton, the Gus
tom was to give fried mice 20 the patient
in the morning fasting; three the first
morning, then wait three mornings, and
then give the patient three more; as soon
as he had swallowed the nine the cure was
worked, and the cough would leave him.
The right fore foot of hare, worn con-
stantly in the pocket, was considered an
effectual charm against rheumatism. An
other one against cramp consisted in wear
lu1 ABOUT OuG person the DOut OF Il SuScp,
popularity known as the cramp bone or
patella it was to be worn as near the
skin as possible during the day, and at
night it was to BE placed under the pillow.
In the 3. Gospelle Of Diseases" printed by
Wynkyn de Worde, 1t Is stated that '' if u
woman have the small poX it behoveth that
her husband buy her black lamb of the
same year, aud afterwards bind her in the
skin, and then let him make his pilgrimage
and offering to St. AldeIonde, and for a
truth she shall heal \ story is told Of
Yorkshire nurse, who cured a child of
the thrush by holding frog IN its mouth
that the creature might imbjbe the disease
and leave its own health in exchange. This
same ingenious person had occasional at
tacks OF cramp, which she cured by swal-
loving spiders; sac Kept supply OF these
insects in pin box and swallowed cne
whenever she felt an attack coming on.
She cured the whoopiug cough by obtain
ing a piebaId horse. carrying the child to
it wrapped in a blanket, and passing it
thrice under the animals body 1t this
failed, she made the patient wear a hairy
caterpila ar in "a bag round its neck, These
are u few OF the >uper>t,tiou- Of the e Old
country, but the ist Is 10y no means ex-
hausted.-PbHzdaghia Lelger
Year: 1871

i Sacramento lady found herself under
the suspicion of larceny the other day un-
der rather peculiar circumstances. She was
riding in crowded railway car and occu-
pied seat with another lady passenger.
Like great many other women of the
present day, she wore curls-her own hair,
of course, but it wasn't fastened on strictly
according to natures programme. By
and-by, as the train jolted along, she felt
something falling about her face and neck,
and in second it flashed across her brain
that her curls had become detached The
predicament was a shocking one, but she
endeavored to save herself as much as
possible b. quietly passing the capillary
ornaments into her pocket, thanking her
stars that she was almost to her destina-
ton. At the station she hastened to the
dressing-room to repair damages to her
toilet, when behold the mirror reflected
hack the fact that her curls were in their
proper position, and an examination of
those in her pocket showed that they were
not hers, but of different color, and be-
longing to the lady who sat by her side IN
the caHs
Year: 1871

One Hercules Ellis, of Dublin, must be
an exceedingly cheerful companion. His
chief amusement, apparently, is in direct
ing attention to the subject of the ultimate
destruction Of the earth, and he has, Of
course, a startling theory ofhis own, which
happily for Us, however, it will take many
thousands of years to work out He tells
Us that this earth IS destined in its turn
to take the place of the sun In the solar
system. The sun Is slowly burning away
and melting into gases. As these cool
down there will be winter in the sun, and
our globe will supply the missing heat.
Commencing at the equator an increasing
fire viii difuse itself over the whole earth,
scorching up life and vegetation, and melt
inc the earth's crust into a gasOsphere.
Throughout this period the moon, which is
now an an ice, bound planet, will bask in
vivifying rays. and enjoy the genial warmth
which at present belongs to US, Gradually
our globe will once more cool down, but
unless larger faculty of accommodation
to altered circumstances shall have taken
place, animal life viii be represented solely
by a race of salamanders." In order TO
prove disposition Mr.. Ellis bids Us observe
how even now Mercury Is burning and
Mars is passing from the red into the
white stage of incandeScence !; the sun is
in flames, and the earth becoming sensibly
warmer every year This discIoses rather
an unpleasant future for millions yet un-
born
Year: 1871

oil works; the coal which now lies un
der 80 large part Of the great Kama
wha lands will be mined for consump
ton in the east as well as the west and
southwest. l am told that the best
Kanawha camel coal can be sold in
New York, when the road is finished,
for $3.50 per ton.


The region through which l have
Travelled has an advantage for Northern
enterprise not possessed by some other
parts OF the South. 1t has but sparse
population, and q considerable proper
tion Of the people are Union men.
There will be, l believe, no such oppo-
sition to Northern men or Northern
enterprises as has injured some parts Of
the Southern country. West Virginia
had never many shareholders, and the
Union sentiment is sufficiently strong to
make Northern men not merely safe
but welcome. The day cannot be far
distant when the valleys and hills now
so lonely will be populated with a
and Industrious multitude. and
when their extraordinary natural wealth
will be developed in a manner which
will add immensely to the prosperity OF
he whole country.


CHARLES NoRDHoFP.
Year: 1871

The New York Tribune, in an article
on men OF one idea, says:


When the leaven OF seli-seeklng
penetrates the breast OF the professional
reformer, whether it be that selfseeking
which satisfies itself in giving ever new
sensations to its public or that which
would arrogantly stamp it's image and
superscriptiop on the minds OF men, or
that which pleases itself with the cheap
martyrdom OF the reproach OF the pub
lie press, and the encouragement OF q
group OF adoring women, then there is
an end Of wide usefulness for that man.
The voice which cries Prepare ye the
way of the Lord" rings hollow il the
John who projects it be thinking What
fine, unselfish figure look, in my
skins and rope girdle! Admire me.
worldlings as 1 MUNICH my locusts and
wild honey.


"The champion of one idea conscious
" sacrifices something to his cause.
Unconsciously he is apt to sacrifice the
better part Of him. For his tendency
is TO see but one side OF many-sided
truth, TO become reckless in statement
and bitter speech. To recognize hon
esty in an opponent is 70 him to com
promise with Satan and all his works.
In sense not at all divine he comes
not to send peace, but a sword. lie
sets section against section, class against
class, sex against sex. Presently vitu
peration seems to him the closest logic
and the hurtling Of hard names in the
air the fight OF heaven sent sorrows.


The above is a true and graphic pic
ture, as accurate an image OF "the pro
fessional rerormers" who have set this
country in blaze, as il the 7ribun'
had beheld it in looking-glass.
Year: 1871

A Man Roasted 60 Death In Wcstchestcr


C0unty.


Coroner Meeks held an inquest at wnliamsbridge
Westchester county, last Friday on the charred
remains OF a German named Martin Scheu, who
met q frightful death during the previous evening.
The unfortunate deceased, it appears, had Deen
lett to guard an unoccupIed house, living mean
while In the basement OF barn where he
also prepared his solitary meals. Having been at
passing the barn Friday morning, tried for some
time Intellectually TO open the door which was found
to be unlocked. Tne obstruction inside was finally
forced away and proved to be the roasted remains of
Scheu, the lower portion OF the body being literally
burned to crisp. From the appearance OF the
place IL Ia believed that deceased was the act OF
cooking sausages when his clothing caught DIRE and
by some means tgEited a quantity Of straw lying
near. His agOnies must have been truly shocking,
as large portions OF earth were found torn from the
door, which had been vany clutched during the
square box Deceased was about forty years OF age.
Year: 1871

The bills presented by the gas company OF Jersey
City during the past week have been in several In.
stances SO exorbitant that loud complaints made
by the people who are subjected TO the extorto2s
OF this monopoly. 1t Is nearly one year
since an 0utcry was made against this
company, and the Legislature was called
upon TO afford some protection to the people
Petitions are now being prepared In every quarter
OF jersey City calling the Legislature TO pro vide
such measure OF leiief that moderate and Just
rate may be fixed by law, and that an officer De ap.
pointed whose duty 1t will be to test and examine
meters that no person Will be subjected to excess
sive charges. THIS VIII be sufficient, 1t Is c0nsld-
cred, TO check the aggreSSions oi the MONOPOLY
Year: 1871

Despite specie shipment OF 100000 the gold
market was weak, the depressing influences being
the Increased specie in the banks the increase in
the receipts and the decrease IN the weeks
imports of merchandise. Under these causes the
price gradually settled from 10Y to 11O%, with q
slight reaction at the close. The course OF the mar
Year: 1871

We upintentionally did injustice to the
Hon. Charles H. Porter in stating that he
favored the bill reported by the reconstruc-
ton committee repeating the test-oath.
He did not favor it, but used every effors
to defeat that great measure of amnesty
and conciliation. We were led into this
error by the telegram to the Associated
Press, which represented the subcommittee
as unanimous, and knowing, too, that Mr..
Porter had voted for the amnesty resolution
adopted by the last Republican Convention
as plank in the platform Of the party in
this State, and had declared himself in favor
of general amnesty frequently during the
canvass, we supposed that he had main
tanned his consistency and held to the same
liberal policy still.


AS we may have injured him with his
few friends and admirers here who favor
the same vindictive and irreconcilable
course towards the people of the South,
that be has attempted to carry out, we
deem 1t our duty to make this statement,
and place him in his true light. AS re-
CARDS the proposition of Mr.. Porter, that
parties to suits shall be permitted TO
change the trial of their causes, civil as
well as criminal, from the State courts to
the United States courts, whenever in
their opinion justice is likely to be denied
them through political prejudice, this pa
per was the first to suggest the passage of
such law.


Mr.. Platt advocated and voted for the
repeal of the oath, which relieves more
than ninety-fve out of every hundred
people in the South of their political dis
abilities and the STATE JOURNAL was the
first paper to suggest this great amnesty
measure.
Year: 1871




Would you believe it, that there are
people 10 Richmond who have paid hum
dreds of dollars to the man, and yet never
heard of Commodore McCready? One
gentleman, who we know has done large
business with him, startled us yesterday
by asking the question which heads this
paragraph. Well, Commodore McCready
is the Vanderbilt of the "Old Dominion
Steamship Company" which has for so
many years drained Virginia of her sur
plus cash, for the benefit of New York,
by extorting the highest charges for all
freight passing to and from the Old Do
miniop, and managing to retain mo-
nopoly of the carrying trade by running
off or buying up all opposition.


And now that there is an opportunity
offered for the people of this section of the
State to break the chains which have
bound them to this tyrant, by opening
up a competitive liue, which will insure
better treatment in both trade and travel
to New York, Commodore McCready
appears upon the scene to prevent that
desirable consummatioD. He sees in our
all-rail line death blow to his steamship
monopoly and we are, therefore, not sur
prised that he should be so active in his
efforts to defeat the charter of the Alexan-
dria and Richmond company. Such is
Commodore McCready, who desires to hold
on to the golden fleece Of Southern trade,
no matter how much the people of this
section may be fieeced by his high charges.
Year: 1871

The Executive journal, kept by the
Secretary of the Commonwealth, for the year
1860 and 1861, was spirited away to Wash
ington shortly after the evacuation and now ii
can neither be found there or here, or at least
all searches SO far made during the last few
years has failed to bring it to light. great
many valuable books disappeared from the
Library about the same time.
Year: 1871

a good many of the merchants of this
place complaining of the dullness of the times
and the absence of pecuniary resources gene
rally. Some people would complain no matter
where they were.
Year: 1871

Work on the iron propeller is progressing
at Rockets at as satisfactory rate as could be
expected, considering the weather. 1t is hoped
that the one at present on the stocks will be
gotten off sometime early in the spring.
Year: 1871

The best way to humble a proud
man Is to take no notice OF him.


Remember that recreation must not
be your business, but preparation,
for it.


Fly in all haste from the friend
who will suffer you TO teach him moth
ing. ..


They who "pine" in their youth
can never look "spruce" i'll old age.


Never answer calumniator. If
you wih only give rattlesnake time
enough, he will sting himelf and die
OF his own venom.


Poiiteness is like an air cushion;
there may be nothing solid in it, but
it eases the jolts wonderfully.


Sir Peter Lely made it rule never
to look ut a bad picture. having found
by experience that whenever he did so
his pencil took tint from it. APP
ply the same rule 10 bad company.


Resignation is an exalted christian
virtue. 1t is plant that grows not
from natures soil. 1t is grace that
must be cultivated like the rosetree,
that it may flourish and shed forth its
sweet fragrance amid the passing
scenes of life.


Good actions, though they dimin-
ish our time here rs well as bad ac-
tions, yet they lay up for US happi-
ness in eternity. aud will recompense
what they take away by u plentiful
return at last.


The secret of ones success or fail
ure in nearly every enterprise is usu-
ally contained in the answer TO the
qnestion-How earnest is he?
Natural wants are few and easily
gratifed; only those which are
artificial perplexed US by their null
tiplicity.


A man is healthiest aud happiest
when he thinks least either OF health
or happiness. To forget an i'll is half
the battle; it leaves easy work for the
doctors. 50 'is


He who resolves frequently is apt
to spend all his energies in his reso-
lutions. 1t is better TO advance upon
the journey which you have proposed {,
even though the baggage be left be-
hind,


Women govern US; let us render
them perfect. The more they are en-
kiehtened, SO much the more shall we
be. On the cultivation of the mind
of women depends the wisdom of
men. 1t is by women that Nature
writes on the hearts of men.


Value the friend who stands by
you III the storm; swarms OF insects
will surround you in the sunshine.


There are many doublings in the
human heart; don't think that you
can find out the whole of man real
character at once.