smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

4 well-known preacher relates the
following, as having occurred in his
own experience:


Some twenty-five years ago, when /
was pastor Of a church in - took
occasion one evening to visit social
meeting, on one ofthe church occa-
sions. One after another gave in his
or her experience. After time a
man in humble circumstances, small
in stature, and effeminate, squeaking
voice, rose to give piece of his expert
euce which was done in the following
manner:


"Brethern, I have been a member
Of this church many years. I have
seen hard times. My family have
been much afflicted, bu. have for the
first time in my life to see my pastor
or the trustees of this church cross the
threshold of my door"
No sooner bad ne uttered this part
of his experience than he was sudden.
| ly interrupted by one of the trustees,
an aged man, who rose up and said in
| firm loud voice:


my dear brother you must put the
devil behind you"


On taking his seat, the pastor In
charge arose and replied to the little
man as follows:


my dear brother you must remem.
ber that we shepherds are sent to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel"
Whereupon the little man rose
again, and in answer, said in q loud
tone of voice:


"Yes, and il I'd been q fat one,
you'd have found me long ago."
The effect upon the audience can be
better imagined than described.
Year: 1873

The latest thing in hotels is shg-
gested by an in ingenious correspon-
dent of the Galveston Nesos. 1t is
to be called the Aerial Sanitarium.
1t is to be a huge balloon, firmly Sc
cured by strong attachments at a
proper hight. Galveston" he says
sis within a few miles of the most
delightful climate in the world, and
this climate is directly overhead.''-
To the enormous balloon there is to
be attached a frame work of suffi-
cient strong wire to accommodate
one hundred guests. This airy sa-
loon will be reached by a smaller
balloon acting as an elevator. When
the barometer indicates disturbing
weather, the gas can be let off and
the whole establishment brought
down to solid earth We can imag-
inc a a caravansary of this kind per-
fectly delightful. Owing to the pu-
rity of the air the chambermaids
would bloom in perpetual youth and
in such vicinity to the immortal gods
every man-waiter would develop in
to a Ganymede, and every table-girl
into Hebe AS for the gentlemanly
clerk, what limit would there be to
his celestial gifts and graces? And
here would the landlord grow solid,
impressive and jovial as Jove himself.
So near the moon and stars, what
more charming place could there be
for flirting? And when we call to
mind how easily the bores could be
thrown over, we feel that we need
say no more.
Year: 1873

A dry goods man, says the Dan
bury Nelgs, who is well known for
his politeness. has a father who is an
excellent citizen, but not very
smooth talker. They we're so busy
at the store Saturday afternoon, that
the old gentlemen was called in to
help. Among the customers was a
young lady who appeared to be
waiting to trade with him. whose
elderly appearance invited her con-
fdence. Soon an opportunity offer
ed, and leaning over the counter as
an invitation for him to do the same,
she whispered her order. He bent
close to her, and said, whats that %
in voice that started the perspira-
ton to the forehead. Again she
whispered. "Oh, elastic" he said
in tone that could be heard on the
walk, and looking much pleased with
his success. "What kind of elas-
tic?" he said, bending his head closer
to the burning face of the perspiring
maiden. Once more she trembling
ly whispered. 'For garters, hey?"
he repeated, even louder than be-
fore, without noticing the horror.
struck expression of the almost
fainting young lady. Something
fancy, l suppose" he went on to say
in happy oblivion of the storeful Of
people; young people nowadays
want things nice. My old woman
uses a shoe-string, and sails around
without noticing the difference.R-
Then he got down with the box and
turned around to show it but his
friend was gone. He stood around
with the elastic some five minutes in
waiting, but she did not return, and
it is likely he has forgotten all about
the circumstance now.
Year: 1873

From the Ffreside Friend.
Sunshine and shadow, and shadow aud sunshine,
Creep thro' the branches of bright leafy green !;
OF holly and poplar of laurel and linden,
Flecling them all with silvery sheen,
Making the sunshine more bright for the shadow,
The shadow background that brings out the


light,


As troubles and SORROWS in lfes checker'd pathway
Reveal the rare virtues long hidden from sight.
Sunshine and shadow, and shadow and sunshine,
How closely they are woven into each life
The woof of the one the warp of the other
The web like filing of peace, care and strife
A lesson we CLEAN from this loom of our fancies +:
The wisest the simplest may learn if they will ;
A plant that has only the sun and no shadow,
Is never perfected, but soon groweth Ill.
Sunshine and shadow, and shadow and sunshine,
We dreamily watch for them day after day
Laughing is sunshine, and dropping in shadow,
ForgetfuI that we, too, drifting away;
Away in barque that is tossed on the pillows,
Where wild breakers, quicksands, and shoals


intervene,


And oft losing sight of the land altogether,
As well as light which ahead oft is seen
Sunshine and shadow, and shadow and sunshine,
Thus do they come to US day after day;
The one ever closely comes after the other;
The sun casts q shadow, tho turn where you


may,


just as the Father, who loyeth his children,
Oft clouds hfes path-but to win them away
earth with its troubles its trials and SORROWS
Into perfect and infinite day.
Year: 1873

The law of Congress allowing one
hnndred and sixty acres of the pub
lie lands to any person who will
plant and keep in order for ten years
forty acres of timber is rendered
almost wholly imperative by the
decision of the Land Commissioner
at Washington, who says the farmer
must plant forty acres of trees in
single year. To break and plant
forty acres would cost the farmer
more than one hundred and eighty
dollars, a sum which few farmers
can afford to expend for shat pur.
pose in one year.
Year: 1873

A lawyer named Taylor undertook
to bully female justice in Wyoming,
but she stabbed him in the ear with
a pair of shears and her dog fixed
him so that he couldn't sit down for
a month.
Year: 1873

There is a man in Detroit who is so
slovenly that his friends have to wash
him and trim his hair and beard by
force. He threatens a lawsuit, but
is too lazy to commence proceedings.
Year: 1873

A man was hanged the other day
at San Francisco for murder with a
weapon of a peculiarly dangerous
and for a long time mysterious ma
ture. This is a sand club, formed
by filing an eel skin with sand.-
When this instrument was first
brought into use the authorities were
greatly puzzled by deaths, apparent
ly from violence, yet no marks could
be found on the outside of the body.
A burglar was finally captured with
sand club in his possession made
out of an eel skin stuffed with sand.
Being closely questioned, he ex-
planned its use. When the victim is
struck, for instance, on the head, he
drops insensible and soon dies from
congestion Of the brain. Often the
skull suffers no injury from the
stroke, and if the person struck re-
covers sensibility he gradually re-
lapses into a condition of idiocy.-
Sometimes a man struck in the body
will be knocked down by the pecu-
liar force of the blow, and feel no
immediate results from it. In a few
weeks, however. the flesh will begin
to mortify under the line of the blow,
and rot down to the bone. Heller,
the celebrated pianist, is supposed
to have met his death in Mexico
from a stroke of this diabolical
weapon.
Year: 1873

A stranger in a Detroit street car,
when asked for his fare, pulled off
one of his shoes and drew up fifty
cent note, remarking that if a little
prudence on his part would prevent
it, he didn't propose being left pen
niIess in a strange city.
Year: 1873

A Sioux City lady went to a gal
lery for her picture. After putting
her in position, the artist put the
plate in the camera. and told her to
look at certain spot on the wall


She wasn't certain of seeing it we'll
from where she sat, and so got up
and walked over to it, but failed to
discover anything curious about it..
Year: 1873

A Green Bay merchant put out
q sign of ice water free" Another
put out a sign of free lemonade, and
a third offered every customer ten
cents in money. A fourth man who
couldn't think Of anything better got
up dog fight, and it drew all the
crowd.
Year: 1873

avowed his crime and only regret
ted that Dora had not been killed.


''She rejected me with scorn," he
said on his trial. 81 was resolved
she should never give her hand to
another" He was manifestly a
maniac. 1 can never forgive myself
for not watching him more closely
after that encounter under the stage.
Year: 1873

Jc i..sI I'd From The Chicago EpesfH9 Journal IN
Of The new code of Iowa goes into effect on the
OF September aud is notable for its important in
fTingement "a right which nearly every Governor in
the country possesses and tnat Is usually abused
beyond all necessity decency After the Lat OF Sep
tember the Governor OF Iowa will longer retain the
authority pardon criminal convicted OF murder In
the first degree II he believes such criminal deserves
To be pardoned he must set forth his to
effect in . notice TO DO published In newspaper
at the State capital, and IN another at the county
where the criminal convicted, such notices
TO appear for four successive weeks previous to the
meeting Of the Legislature. On the assembling of that
body he must then submit good and sufficient reasons
tho proposed exercise Of clemeney Lsgisla-
ture possesses the power 10 decide whether the pardon
shall be grauted not IL IL O be hoped that law OF
this kind win speedily be adopted by every State the
Union and that 10 shall be made TO apply TO every class
evil does. Why should Governor possess the power
to annul the action OF Courts, without giving


reason for doing beyond his caprice any
than any other State oifccrf
Year: 1873

The ComasreiaI and Er@y EesRiFg both of
which favor the purchase OF the park lands at the
enormous price Of about $500 per acre, conf
plain that the Gasette stated the fact that those
who favored the purchase dad NOT appear al the
meeting and vote down the resolutions. On the
contrary there were very few votes cast against
the adoption OF the resolutions of the committee
When the meeting was held soRlc years ago to
determine whether the Council should proceed TO
open Water street. twas called by the friends of
the measure, and yet those who were opposed to
doing the work attended the meeting and were SO
persistent in their efforts, that they actually de
featod one Of the most timely aud the most i'm.
portAnt measures ever proposed TO a town meet
ing Then Water street could have been widened
at cost Of about 81 500 to the city. Ii has been
the custom for gentlemen on both sides TO attend
meetings to determine questions of public i'm
proTemsnn and those who siaid away have NO
cause to complain that they were not invited.
They had as much right TO 20 into the city hall
as those who favored the project and, unless they
intended to hold meeting themselves, should
have gone, and not having gone, they should hold
their peace after those who favor economy have
succeeded in securing vote in favor thereof


1t is strange that both these papers should have
forgotten ;hal il is never too late TO buy parks
Do they imagine that Wilmington is to be so
large as to have no suburbs. What nonsense il
Is 10 say We cannot in future buy farms Why,
w1en Wilmington doubles her present popula-
ton aud has swept over the hills on the west and
south, there will be more farms within her reach
than there is nOw-three TO one. People should
not he blinded 20 this fact by the dust which our
neIghbors have tried to raise 10 put money in
rich meals pockets and provide delightful plea
sure grounds for lheir beautiful phastOns and
stylish equipages, at the cost of the toiling
masses.


We understand that the Committee appeintsd
BY the meeting have applied to Chancellor Bates
and he has granted stay Of proceedings until
Saturday, when the question as to whether an in
junction shall be laid upon the city to prevent
the purchase, W III be argued by counsel on both
aides.
Year: 1873

WASHINGTON, September 1.-The following
is Il description of the differences between
the genuine and the counterfeit S3O0 legal
tender note of the issue of 1863: The up
right that holds the balance Of the scales held
in the hand of the female figure shows
white line in the counterfeit over the lower
part of the palm of the hand to the second
figure. In the genuine the upright is quite
black and lost in shadow. The lower part
Of the right lapel of the coat on the portrait
of Adams in the counterfeit forms an angle.
In the genuine it is distinct curved line;
also the buttons in the counterfeit are
irregular in shape, while in the genuine
they are decidedly round, and darker in
color. Particular attention is called to the
buttons on the left side of the coat in the
counterfeit. In the word Washington I"
in the counterfeit, note the black snade
forming the first stroke OF the letter :" W."
1t forms an angle at the bottom. In the
genuine note it forms curve. In the ruled
shading under the right-hand stroke OF the
letter "W," and over the letters ga" and
as" there are tour ruled lines on the coun'
terfeit. There are but three in the genuine
note. Under the letters GA" and rs" I'D
the word Washington" in the counter
felt there are five ruled lines. In the
genuine there are but four. Also, under
the letter .'H" in the same word there
are but four ruled lines in the coun-
terfeit. In the genuine there are put
three, At the bottom of the letter "F," ID
the denomination title, there are live ruled
lines in the counterfeit. In the genuine
there are six lines. The localized fibre on
the left of the portrait is blue in the geDu-


inc, but without color in the counterfeit.
The red seal of the genuine is printed in a
delicate carmine color. In the counterfeit il


is more of brick color, and has heavy ap-


pearance, more especially the rays which
form the outside OF the seal. Attention is
| called to the blurred and scratchy appear
| ance of the lathe-work and lettering on the


back of the counterfeit, which, upon com


parison with the genuine, will readily bt
| perceived.
Year: 1873

that he was killed BY one OF his men in mutiny.
but 1t would almest look so. l have never known
Of any one dying In that region Of apoplexy, and
Captain Hall certainly did not look like an apopec-
tic man. And, then, you must not forget the point
about the utter unftness OF the ship, which was no
more Mt for that service than q man-0fwar Is ut to
navigate the Erie Canal


REPoRTER-Do you think the people on board the
P0laris have all perished2


Or. HAYES think there Is strong probability
OF their being alive yet and think the Polars Will
come back, and you will probably see her here by
September II the ship became wreck their emily
chance would be in constructing boats from the
fragments OF the wreck and working their way
south, DR.. Kane did in 1855, to Upernavik. This
is the most northern OF all the Danish colonies on
uhe Greenland coast, and although scarcely proba-
BILE, IL is not at all impossible that they


MIGHT HAVE EFFECTED THEIR ESCAPE
In this manner. think the men who deserted the
ship did so because OF Halls death. lie was brave
and resolute man, and set out with the determine
tion to reach the North Pole II 1t would take him
five years to do It. He was one OF the plucKiest
men ever saw, and would certainly have stayed
two years more TO accomplish his purpose II death
had spared him-death or murder, | don't know
which.


THIS concluded the interview, and the reporter,
after thanking the explorer for his kindness, took
his leave.
Year: 1873

board, and there is every reasonable hope OF
seeing them back. They have, no doubt,


REALIZED MANY OF THE OBJECTS IN VIEW
in sending out the expedition in the way OF
observation on the physical and natural his
tory of the far North.


ssFew persons expected, however much they
may have hoped, that Captain Hall would
make any much higher latitude than that he
really attained; and, if we get at the record of
what was actually accomplished, / have no
doubt that all Americans will have reason to
be proud of the expedition, however much
they may regret the loss of the originator
Year: 1873

A brief paragraph in morning paper gave
the Washington public to-day the first intima-
ton it had Of disaster to the Polaris Arctic
Expedition, and as the departments were
closed under the President order of last night
and the department officials generally invis-
ible, there were but scanty opportunities of
intelligence afforded to the multitude that,
through interest or curiosity, sought for au-
thentic and for fuller information. The after
noon papers fortunately contained copious alb
stracts Of the HERA1D's special dispatches from
Bay Roberts, telegraphed here after the ap-
pearance of the full kilograms in the HERALD
this morning, and despatch of to-day from
Consul Malloy to the State Department
though it gave no additional facts, fully con-
frmed the HERALD account, which had al
ready reached the State and the Navy
Departments, and been made the
theme of anxious discussion. Some
chagrin was expressed, and more probably
felt at the necessity of leaning on the journal
istic enterprise Of the HERALD for the earliest
as wen as the fullest information of matter
in which the government and this community
have the greatest concern. The Polaris was
familiar vessel here long before the explora-
ton took form, and the process Of her


CONVERSION INTO AN ARCTIC CRUISER
was followed from day to day with eager
interest by all classes Of the people.
Captain Hall and his companions grew to be
well known characters before the start was
made for the North Pole, and the voyage of
the Congress with supplies, under command
Of the late Captain Davenport, then resident
of Washington, and with Chaplain Newman
on board, to give benediction to the little
vessel Of Hall and his brave company, kept
alive the public interest in the undertaking.
At the Navy Department the Polar expedition
took rank in importance with the surveying Of
hteroceanic ship canals; and as almost the
full scientific strength of the government had
been put forth in equipping the little party of
scientists, sent out through the efforts of the
National Academy of Sciences, and as every
one connected with the Smithsonian Institu-
ton, the Coast Survey, the Naval Observatory
and the Engineer Bureau wanted to know
what had been lost and what gained to all
these, as well as to q smaller number con-
cerned in the fate Of the adventurers, the
HERxLD's full and


CONCISE STORY OF THE ADVENTURE


was valued news tonight.


General Myer, of the Signal Office, was
easly in quest of information, one of his
skilled weather observers being on board as
meteorologist and the Bureau hoping from his
labors to add something to its measure Of use
fulness and reputation. The news that Ser
geant Myer, the meteorologist in question, was
among the rescued party was welcome; but
anxiety still remains as to the results achieved
by him. On all hands this r.


PARTICULARS TRIUMPH OF THE HERALD


is commended as being in the highest in
,terests of humanity and science.
Year: 1873

Excitement Over the Fate Of the


Polaris and Her Crew.
How the News OF the Death Of
Captain Hall Was Received.
Government Officials Chagrined
About the Herald Specials.
DR.. Hayes on the Death Of His Gallant
Successor at the North Pole.
WAS CAPTAIN HALL MURDERED OR NOT ;?
Something Mysterious About the


Cause of the Disaster.
The Highest Latitude Yet At


tanned by Vessel.
Sketches Of the Crew of the


Missing Steamer.
GlimpSes Of the Character OF


the Dead Explorer.
Instructions from the Secretary


of the Navy.
A Smithsonian Professor on the
Year: 1873

A decrease of nearly one hundred in the
number of deaths in this city last week from
that of the week before is the best certificate
of success the Board of Health could wish.
This reduction appears, by the statements in
the weekly report of the Registrar, to have
taken place essentially in the class Of infants
below five years of age. It is, no doubt,
mainly attributable to the sanitary reforms
effected by the Board, and should encourage
and stimulate it to follow up with vigor the
crusade against filth, stencil and disease so
successfully commenced. The banishment Of
the offal nuisance, the cleansing of market
filth accumulations and the disinfecting OF
some fruit throughout the city should not
be allowed to stop. No handling of street
dirt, garbage and manure in Immediate
contact with our greatest food depot
should ever again be permitted. The choked
cutters at Catharine Market should be at once
cleaned as the Sanitary Inspector suggests, by
tearing down the stores which cover them and
obstruct the streets. Bone boiling, fat rem
dering and all such stench-producing opera-
tions should either be wholly excluded from
the city or only permitted under the most
stringent provisions for protecting the health
Of citizens. There are offensive and danger
Gus places yet to be exposed in and about most
of the minor markets. Plenty of work yet
remains for the Board. Let it not be weary
of well doing. When the city is rid Of nui-
sances thoroughly drained, paved and supplied
with water enough to wash the streets daily,
we may expect to rank as the city of lowest
mortality among all the great cities Of the
world. To effect this should be the aim of the
Health Board.
Year: 1873

of the States and concentrating more power
in the national government. Under the plan
Mr.. Morton prefers, the whole community
voting as a unit, as the election in France
for Louis Napoleon as President was
conducted, the objection would have great
weight. 1t would be q very radical change in
this republican government But the plan
he has adopted of voting by districts, every
State having as many electoral votes as at
present, removes the objection to a great
extent. Still, that would be change in
measure of the old State rights theory OF the
government. AT present, as Is KNOWN the
electoral vote of the State is counted upon the
total majority, though that majority may not
be more than one vote. 1t is, in fact, the
State that casts the electoral vote. But If we
understand rightly the plan proposed by MIR.
Morton each district will have its vote
counted New York, for example, might cast
seventeen district votes for one candidate and
sixteen for another; whereas. under the
present system, supposing the seventeen dis
tricts had majority Of all the voters Of the
State, the whole thirty-three would be given
for one candidate. This proposed change
would certainly give fairer representation of
public sentiment in the choice of President,
taking the Republic as whole, and we
cannot see how it would endanger the
reserved rights of the States. True,
federal power has made of late
years great encroachments upon the lines of
State authority through amendments to the
constitution and the laws made to execute
them, and through the exercise of doubtful
powers, which may create fear of admitting
further changes Still, this should not prevent
o remedy being applied to admitted or dan
gerous evils. As was said before, we do not
see that any danger can arise to the federative
principle, so far as it has been preserved or to
our institutions, in admitting the vote for
President by districts directly. If it should be
thought there would be danger some middle
course might be devised. At all events, the
electoral college system does not answer the
purpose intended. is useless appendage to
our government at best and may lead to
serious trouble There could be no better
time to discuss the question than the present,
and as the Chairman of the Senate Committee
on Privileges and Elections, under authority of
Congress- is earnestly at work preparing q
report on it the opinions of the press and
public sentiment should be evoked. Repub-
lican and democratic institutions may be as
much endangered by not remedying evils
when they are known to exist as by mere
theoretic or experimental changes.