smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

We do not desire to be an alarm
ist, but would like to have everybody
who is interested in the welfare of
Red Wing read the letter Of our
Kenyon correspondent, in another
column, and know besides that the
people of River Falls, Wis.,, are in
earnest in their efforts to connect
that village with some railroad line.
There seems to be little doubt that
a narrow gauge railroad will be built
from Wabasha to Faribault this sea-
son, which will greatly circumscribe
the trade of this city, cutting off
nearly half the territory now tribu-
tary to Red Wing. It is hardly less
certain that River Falls will shortly
be the terminus Of narrow gauge
feeder to the West Wisconsin road,
and be able to attract the trade of
Peirce county generally.


Somewhat later, yet at. no very
distant day, a railroad will traverse
the Chippewa valley, striking the
Mississippi opposite Wabasha, for
the reason that such road will be
needed to support the road from
Wabasha to Faribault. This, then,
is the prospect that Red Wing has,
and it is not prudent for its citizens
to calmly fold their hands and wait
until these improvements are COM
pleted, or even until they are begun.
If they do, they will find it impossi-
BILE to recover the lost ground, and
will have to content themselves with
the trade of few townships. But,
by taking hold now and improving
the approaches to the city from eve-
ry direction, they will draw the trade
to this point, and, even after these
contemplated roads are built, a good
ly share of it will continue to seek
this market.


Standing at the head of the i'm
provements essential to the future
prosperity of Red Wing is the bridge
across the island lake and east chan
mel of the Mississippi and a free fer
ry or pontoon bridge over the west
channel. This crossing can be made
safe and convenient at all seasons at
an expense not exceeding $4,000
as first cost, with a small annual ex-
penditure to maintain it, and it will
bring hither the trade of a region al
most as extensive and fertile as that
we shall lose by the construction o1
the road from Wabasha to Faribault.
ITO neglect it longer will be to de-
Year: 1875

serve to lose the advantages which
it will afford, and such neglect must
inevitably be fatal to the future well
fare of one of the largest and most
advantageously located cities of
Minnesota.
Year: 1875

1t is very foolish, says one Of our
exchanges, for the Patrons Of Hus-
bandry to exclude the discussion Of
partizan political subjects from the
oranges. In another column the
same paper very justly condemns the
secret Anti-Cathollc association. 1t
did not probably strike the editor
that the self-same objections he urg-
es against the latter would, with
equal force, apply to the former
were they to admit political discus
sions in their grange meetings.


He is correct when he declares
that "no citizen Of this country has
either moral or political right to
join himself to a secret political Or
ganization, for the reason that such
organization must be antagonistic
to the genius of our institutions.
We endorse that sentiment heartily,
and whenever the Patrons Of Hus-
bandry so far forget themselves as
to allow their secret meetings to be-
come political caucuses, we shall
condemn them as much as we now
condemn the aforesaid association
Of anti-Catholic conspirators.


The grange is not the place to
discuss political subjects; it is not
the place for one class of citizens to
meet to conspire against another
class, no matter what may be their
provocation; it is not the place to
canvass the merits Of candidates or
select men to administer the govern
ment. These things need to be
done openly, where all may see and
hear and be seen and heard; and
instead Of being "very foolish" the
National Grange has been exceed
ingly wise in the adoption of this
rule.


But because Patrons may not dis
Gus politics in their grange meetings,
is no reason why they may not de-
rive information touching political
matters from discussions had in the
oranges. For instance, suppose
they inquire into the causes for the
present low prices of wheat, will
not that necessarily lead them into
an examination of the currency sys-
tenn and the policy which enables a
few men in New York and London
to control the price of this commod-
ity throughout the world7 Let them
ask why the articles they purchase
are sold at such high figures, and
will not the influence Of the tariff
Immediately appear2 Or, if they
converse about the expenses they
have to incur, will not oppressive
taxation enter as an element into
the calculation?


Learning in the grange such
knowledge as they may legitimately
acquire there, they may use it out
side and, as citizens, discuss political
topics from more enlightened posi-
ton. Thus may the grange, as well
Year: 1875

From the Confession Of an old Mississippi river


steamboat Mani


was FIRST engineer of the Alexander
Scott when Sam Clemens (Mark Twain)
was cub in her piiot-house. lie was
clipper young chap, with legs no bigger
than casting line, and fuller Of tricks
than mule colt. He worked of jjkes
on every body aboard, from the skipper
down TO the darky deck-hauds, but they
were all taken in good part, only | lay by
two or three TO pay back. About the
lime Sam got the run OF The river well
enough TO stand alone al the wheel, the
Scott went into the lower river trade,
carrying cotton from Memphis to New
Orleans. Perhaps, now, you never see a
boat in the cotton trade burD2 Well, yon
may cover your cotton from stem to stern
with tarpaulins, and keep your donkey
engines steamed up, but if a spark of fire
touches cotton enough TO hlI "a tooth,
your boats corpse. LIS quicker'n gun.
powder to burn, and no pilot can reach
the lower deck from the texas Ia time 70
save himself, let alone bis Saratoga. So
you see everybody in that trade Is on the
watch, aud an alarm OF fire ia a boat
loaded with cotton will turn a mau's hair
gray quicker'n IN alligator can swailer
nigger.


Sam being young pilot, aud new TO
the cotton trade was told over and over
again how the profession would lose
promising cub If ever FIRE broke out on
the Scott, aud the boy got nervous. My
striker and me always managed to be IN
the lunch-room wheA Sam came Oh
watch, and as be came In we would talk
about the number Of cotton boats that
burnt in such year, and how such a cub
would have made lightning pilot if be
hadn't got burnt up IN the cotton trade /,
and we always noticed that Sans appe-
lite failed him after that, and instead Of
going TO bed be would 70 proving
around the lower deck, and peerlng about
the hatchways, smelling at every opening.
| like q pup that had losl bis master,


One day, when we backed out Of Mem
phis with big cargo Of cotton, | com
| planned in Sans hearing, that the male
had loaded the boat too near The eagine..
The boy followed me Into the engine
room, and, without seeming to notice
him, told my striker would DO nv
level best TO keep that cotton from eatcli-
ing fire, but that il was slim chance
with bales piled right op before tbe fur.
mace doors. sam got Whiter'n bulk-
bead, and went up to the texas, where he
packed his SarAtoga, ready fof any busi'
ness that might come before the meeting
when be went on watch posted the see,
oBd clerk 10 keep an eye on bin


] lie hid beblnd smoks.sisck and san
sam alone in The pilot house, bis hair Of
Year: 1875

A correspondent Of the Watchmsn and
Reflector draws a very melancholy pic
ture of Jefr Daviss present life, and the
iIl.fortune that has dogged him ever
since bis downfall began. He came out
of The great struggle, says the writer,
with money enough to enable him to live
comfortably for his remaining days; but
an evil spirit seems to have pursued him !;
every investment was failure. He
sought employment, aud was made pres
ident of life insurance company; II en-
dured bis administration for year or
two, and then gave up the ghost. lie
bought stocks, but always TO sell again
at less than cost. And now he is, or will
very soon be, dependent upon the charity
of people many of whom have an aver
sion for him. lie would much rather
work than lay himself under obligations
even TO bis best friends; but he is over
20 years, and nobody cares TO give en-
ployment to man whom bad luck SO
persistenty follows. Indeed, be has but
few friends-none among the loyal peo-
ple-and the friends of the Cost cause
charge all their failures TO bis misman.
agemenl; 20 he lives, with bis wife and
quite numerous family, avoiding pub.
licity. lie declined to deliver the Deco
ration day address al Memphis, saying
that he was so directly interested that be
might say something that he would after
ward be sorry for. His punishment is
indeed severer than If be bad been made
a martyr to the lost cause on the seal.
fold.
Year: 1875

Not only is the susceptibility Of humor
different among different nations, but
the humorous objects differ by reason of
different customs and habits. There is
nothing very laughable to us in the man
ner in which we at our hotels aud rail
road depots gobble down our food, but
even an Arab or a Chinese would laugh
at the operation if We did not. Yet il is
ludicrous to us to see an Arab lady pick
out the choice tidbits with which YOU
had loaded your plate, or roll little ball
q hash in her dainty fingers, and BY wav
Of unexpectedly honoring you, plug your
mouth with II unexpectedly; or to see a
Chinese with his chopsticks load himself
up with boiled rice, and ram it down az
Year: 1875

In the preface to one of Dickens
novels we find statement to The effee
that some of the incidents in his writ
ings which have an air of improbabiIit,
are founded on fact, while other Incl
dents, purely fictitious, are more easily
believed. The deduction is, that il
writing novels, you must leave out in
credible facts. The following occur
renee is so highly improbable that il
serves as an example:


A heavy man, who had a good deal OF
strength in his arms, dreamed that his
wife and himself were on canal-boat,
and that they were coming to q low
bridge. 1t seemed to him that his wife,
who was very obstinate woman, de,
clined to 20 below, and in order to pre-.
vent her from having her head knocked
off by the bridge, he thought in his
dream that, to save her life, he must
force her into the lower cabin. He was
awakened by the sound of groans issu-
ing from under the bed, and found that
in his dream be had forced his wife
under the bed, and broken her nose.


This incident is worthy of note, as
showing that we ought not to display too
much doubt when an occurrence seems
to be Improbable. The nose can be pro-
duced as evidence.
Year: 1875

A prominent thing that strikes the at
tention Of an American in Germany,
when he begins to get little insight into
the life Of the people, sis the equality and
sympathy existing between parents and
children. There is no country where
parents take more pains, and occupy
more time, TO enter into the very hearts
and lives Of their children than there.
They make them acquainted very early
with their plans, talk with them as to
older people, never 90 on an excursion
or journey without them, and search
everywhere for whatever will minister to


their amusement and instruction. In
no home could i sooner expect to find q
father turning himself into a donkey,
a horse, an elephant, or barrel on his
parlor floor, for his children TO bride
him, ride him, spur him, roll him over,
or do with him what they please, than in
q German one--and the clergyman as
soon as any other, There are probably
five Juvenile household games in Ger
many to one anywhere else, and the pa
rents exercise wise discretion by hay.
ing frequent entertainments for their
children, and providing everything pos


Hible for the amusement of all, to make
their home the most attractive spot on


earth TO the little folks. The child that
asks question is not met with a blurt
Year: 1875

answer, but with such reply--as pleas.
ant and instructive as the parent knows
how to give-as naturally promotes othel
inquiries and gives stimulus to the mind


One Of the causes of equality between
the old and the young lies in the fact
that the child-at any rate the eldest
boy-is expected to follow his fathers
business, and mnst early share his plans
The same house. the same employment
and | should not at all wonder If some
times the same generations Of customers
are identified with the same family and
name, from century to century, in de.
tiance of changes of government. II
Luthur and Melanchthon should rise
from the stone floor Of the old Castle
Church in Wittenberg and take shop,
ping stroll together, it would not be un-
likely that they could buy books, sta.
tionery, clothing and groceries, and get
a large class of wants supplied at about
the same shops they had patronized
three hundred years ago.


The laws delay" is a terrible and
painful reality in Germany. Better
never commence a suit unless you are
willing TO lose double the sum at stake,
and wait a year or two before you have
the satisfaction of knowing it and the
privilege of paying it. You can neither
enter nor leave the world without all
sorts of formalities, and the buying of
enough certificates to set an army in
motion. A clergyman, a neighbor of
mine, in order to marry the lady of his
choice, who was q Swabian, was com
PEELED to procure twenty three different
certificates before they were pronounced
man and wifel'


The most of these, of course, had to
be paid for. | was fined once for not
registering the entrance of servant
girl into my household within few
specified days after the occurrence, and
that was when | was away from home.
| was told that Imprisonment, or appeal
and q regular lawsuit, would be the only
relief. II you find an article-say
watch.key-in street, You aEe expected
to take it to police bureau, and that
watch key is regularly advertised. If
no owner claims it, it is returned to you
within just two weeks, or, if you are so
charitable, it is sold for the benefit Of
the city poor. On going to any public
office, you have to sometimes wait for
hours for admission. | have learned
never to go without book in my pocket.
Mr. Greeley could have gotten through
all the newspapers in the pockets of his
three coats, during the process. When
once you are in, you are treated very
politely, as general rule, and as
leisurely as il the sun was standing still,
and nobody waiting to follow you. To
an American, all this is very tantalizing;
but the Germans-the storms spare pa
tient soulsl-never seem to be worried,
or to imagine that they are losing in this
way big slices of their lifetime. DR..
Hurst
Year: 1875

we would wad in a gun. 1t is said tha
the ladies under the dominion Of the
Grand Lama, when good-looking, disfg
ure their faces to preserve them from
vanity. have never seen that recorded
OF our ladies-heaven forbid. The idea
however, is as ludicrous as the Tartar
custom Of pulling a man by the ear
when they want him to drink, and keep
pulling until he opens his mouth, when
they pour down the liquor. know a
man whose ears DO not require to be
pulled.


There is nothing very laughable TO an
American in the shaking of hands,
which is everywhere practieed in our
country; but foreigners find in it much
amusement Yet nothing will be more
ridiculous to us than the salutation ia
Germany, where one may see two big,
burly, hairy men rush to each other 5
embrace, and kiss with SCHOOLGIRL fer
yeney. The people Of Thibet salute BY
lolling out the tongue and scratching
the right ear, and the Esquimaux BY
rubbing their noses with their thumb and
describing comic section in the air With
their hngers--a custom practiced by
mischievous urchins in our land, but not
exactly as a salutatory grace. 1t is now
happily honored in the breach. 10 Tur-
key an American travelling with his un-
velled wife, even without the appendages,
80 usual here, of six small children and
seven large trunks and bandboxes, is to
them in funny predicament. On the
other hand what would be funny with us,
among the Turks is quite the reverse.
An American gives us an instance in
his experience in Syria. He was about
to mount his mule amidst crewd of
Oriental visitors and wished TO give
them an exaggerated idea of American
agility. He jumped a little too far
and oYershot the mark, coming down
on the other side like a diver, with his
hands and nose in the mud, bis feet
caught in the saddle, and his coat skirts
cleverly rolled over his head to screen
him. IRON what he supposed was laugh
ing crowd. Yet not soul smiled, not
sound was heard save a tender grunt of
sympathy and demure offers Of aid
Now, Turk in America, with baggy
breeches and turbanded head, taking a
leap over mule in the streets of an
American city, and getting stuck upside
down, with his proboscis in rut and
his heels in the saddle, would be saluted
with something more than grunt OF
sympathy and demure offers of aid. We
have more humor than dignity; the
Turks more dignity than humor There
never was an American who would not
sacrifice his courtesy and sympathy TO
his fun. He must have it, however, we'll
seasoned and done in hurry, and its
prevailing characteristic must be exag-
geration You saw this illustrated even
in the inordinate hopes of so calm and
sedate statesman as Mr.. Seward, as to
the closing up Of our late civil war 10
sixty days. That was the huge Joke of
our time. There was a court in General
Grants army which sentenced man to
work ten years on General Buffers
Dutch Cab canal; and il was generally
said, if not believed, in the army that
Palmer, who made the patent limbs, had
purchased 1000 acres of Western land,
and planted them with locust and maple
with n view to economize IN the future in
his manufacture Of arms and legs Hon.
5 S. Coz IN Harper's Magazine for
ApriL
Year: 1875

Nov WHAT ARE VIZ TO Do. Edit.
ing paper is nice business II we
publish jokes people say we are rattle
headed, If we omit jokes they say we
are an old fossil. If we publish original
matter they damn us for not giving Sc
lections. five publish selections folks
say we are lazy for not writing some.
thing they have not iead in some other
paper, II we give man II complimenta.
ry notice we are censurcd for being par
tial II we do not give complimentary
notices folks say We are hog. II we
do not cater to the wishes OF the ladies'
the paper is not fit to make hustle. II
we remain in our office and attend TO our
business folks say VIC are too proud to
mingle with our fellows II we go out
they say we never attend 20 our business.
II we do not pay our bills promptly
folks say we are not to be trusted, II
we do pay promptly folks say we stole
the money If we wear poor clothes
folks say business is bad. If we wear
good clothes they say we never paid for
them. Now, what are we to ds2
Year: 1875

If We might be permitted to caution the
ladies of Van Buren, who flock on to the
steamer Maumclle, tomake trips to TT. Smith,
on nearly every trip. of the great danger to
which they expose themselves of being blown
up-not by. steam, but by the captain of the
boat-for so doing, they would be careful not
to place themselves in a position where they
would be subjected to such disaster.
Year: 1875

We noticed an article at Henry Glass that
every well l-ordcred bedchamber should name
among its contents. 1t is a washstsnd, screen
and towel rack, 1t protects the walls from
getting soed, and at the same time makes
you a neat and tidy towel rack. Take n look
at them. and leave an order for one. lie man
ufactures them to order
Year: 1875

The past week has been fine one for
harvesting, With three or four patent
reapers at work, large amount Of wheat
must have been cut. From all quarters we
hear the very best reports, and those from the
portion of FRANKLIN county joining Craw-
ford, are EQUALLY as good as our own.
Year: 1875

MIR. EDIToR--I was one among a large
mum ber OF people who Witnessed the very
shameful and disgraceful conduct toward
our home ball playcrswhen theyreturned
to Reading last night. Heavens knows
they We're treated shamefully enough at
Wilmington, and to have insult heapcd
on INJURY Ill such Il manner by their home
people was the most melancholy and
disgusting piece Of business ever heard
OF. was with the club at Wilmington,
and SAW the shameful treatment our
hall players received. They saw at once
they could not win when they arrived at
the ball fleld. There was an uncontrol--
liable crowd on the ball field, and then I
saw why the game had been put off. The
Wilmington people had great deal Of
foresight. They knew that the $50 Rea-
ding people would have got themselves
into fearful difficulty on the ball ground
hence it was thought best to postpone
the game. It was not a financial matter
and / pledge the honor of q gentleman,
that the Active Club acted honorable in
every way in this mataer. They could
not win the game no matter how well
they might have played. No strange
club could have won the game, And
when the whistle of the train sounded
and the cars left the depot, was glad
and rejoiced that the. home club had got
away from Wilmington as lucky az they
did


But few people can imagine our great
modification, however, when we arrived
in this city. to find such an organized
mob OF young men and boys to shout and
hoot at us, and add insult to injury.
That was the unkindest cut of all. 1t
was simply shameful. Several of the
players were hooted atand insulted, that
they were actually so mortified and
ashamed that they thought for awhile of
giving up ball playing. 1t was horrible
For once was ashamed of our own peo-
pie. The cry of sold game was simply
absurd and nonsensical There was no
sold game. The Active club members
are far too honorable for that They can
getalong without selling games. They
have gentlemen to back them who want
honesty in their ranks. and who despise


back biting and hypocracy. Out upon
such people who want to drag down the
fair name OF our club by attaching dis
honest motives with it. The Active club
will thrive honestly, and hereafter let
us hope that they will at least escape
the insult and injury of our home people.
The club is bound to live. and the soon
er dissatisfied parties and would-b
bribels cease growing, the better it will


be for all concerned.
Year: 1875

TIE EXCURSION to Atlantic City was
a grand success in point of time arriv-
ing in Atlantic City 10 A. NJ. and
leaving again at 81 o'clock arriving
home 104 o'clock. All enjoyed them
selves amazingly the only regret is
that about forty were left at home in
spite of the efforts of the committee
to get the captain to wait three min
utes longer which would give them
time to get on board the boat.
Year: 1875

LEASE I'm the City Council, last even.
ing, the lease of the Second street mar
ket house property to the Wilmington
Market House Association, was read,
The lease runs for twenty years, and the
annual rent will probably be fixed at
s12oo. 1t will probably be ratified at the
next meeting Of Council.
Year: 1875

FELL.-This morning Jesse Lane,
while walking along Fourth street,
slipped and fell at the corner of Ship
ley street, and cut his face against the
curbstone. VIM. H. Pierce helped him
into carriage and he was taken home.
His injuries are not serious
Year: 1875

IhRt Iron 10 Valuable as M dtciMe
has long been known, but 1t is only since its
preparation in the particular form OF Peru
Wan Syrup that Its full power over disease
has been brought to light. lts effect in cases
OF dyspepsia aid debility ID most salutary.
Year: 1875

We now enter the field for
the fall and coming Winter
and are furnishing the bes
and most easily worked
in the world. Our
agents have always been the
most successful, and we nave
lately added new and exceed
ingpy taking inducements, re
only intelligence and
for any one, e,young
or old, of either sex, to make
really frst-class paying bust