smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

Mr.. John A. Smull, in sending the
independence inkstand to the mayor
of Philadelphia to be placed with other
relics for the Centennial, writes as fol-
lows concerning its authenticity: In
the year 1S49 there was placed in my
custody small silver tray, containing
an ink and sand holder of the same ma
terial. At that time tradition held that
this was the inkstand used by the Presi-
dent of the Continental Congress at the
time the Declaration of American Inde-
pendence was signed. I took great in
terest to obtain as much information
as was possible to establish its identity,
and made inquiries on the subject during
several years succeeding 1849, from then
aged public men, and the result of my
Investigations resulted in convincing me
of the identity of this one with that
used by the first Congress. The late
venerable Thomas Fl. Burrows, after
wards superintendent of common
schools, told me that he had made
minute inquiries regarding this stand
many years previously, and that he had
no doubt that it was the same that held
the ink used by the signers of the Decla-
ration. The late Hon. Thomas Nicholson,
who will be remembered as q man who
required the most positive and conclu-
sive evidence to convince his mind, was
an enthusiastic believer in the fact that
this was the independence inkstand. %
One incident will show how much he
felt on the subject. When Harrisburg
was threatened by the rebel army in
1868 he came personally to me and said:
eff the rebels come into Harrisburg be
sure and hide in a safe place inde-
pendence inkstand.'" This inkstand
has been in my custody uninterruptedly
ever since 1S49, and can vouch for it
being the one referred to by the gentle
men I have named. 1t was used very
many years prior to 1849 by speakers of
the House of Representatives have
been particular in thus establishing its
identity in order that others who may
have information regarding it, from
1776 to 1849, may be assured that this
is the same one used to my certain
knowledge at that period by the speak
ers of the House, and reputed to be the
independence inkstand."


This invaluable and authenticated
relic consists of a silver tray, with a sand
box in the middle and an inkholder on
each side. 1t was made by Philip Syng,
silversmith, and cost EOS 15s.
Year: 1875

New York laws make it unlawful for
any person to kill any eagle, night
hawk, woodpecker, yellowbird, wren,
martin, bluebird, oriole, bobolink, or
any other song bird, under penalty of
five dollars for each bird killed. Also,
no person shall kill any robin, brown
thrasher, meadow lark or startling, only
during August and September, under q
penalty of five dollars for each bird
killed. These sections do not apply to
to any person who shall kill any bird for
the purpose of studying its habits or
having the same stuffed as specimen,
or to any one who shall kill a robin on
his premises in the act of destroying
grapes or fruit, but do to any person
destroying the nest of any wild bird.
These are subject to apenalty of twenty
five dollars for each offense.
Year: 1875

A DRAwBAoK.--A famous auctioneer,
after exhausting the language of praise
in extollinga certain gentleman's park
which had to fall under his hammer,
said he was bound, as an honest man,
not to conceal the only drawbacks to the
property, which were the litter made by
the rose leaves, and the perpetual din
kept up by the nightingalea'
Year: 1875

Very few know how to appreciate an easy,
healthful dress. They think their dresses
are loose when man or boy put into one
would gasp for breath, and feel incapable of
putting forth any effort except to break the
bands Ladies are So accustomed to the
tight FITS of their dress-makers, that they
" fall to pieces" when relieved Of them.
They associate the loose dress with the bed
or lounge. To be up they must be stayed
up. and to recommend comfortable dress
to them, is not to meet a conscious want OF
theirs.


1t is a great pity none the less II they
could once know what luxury ii is TO breathe
deep aud full at each respiration, TO feel the
refreshment which the system takes in by
having the blood enliyened and sent bound
ing through the veins, TO have the aid to di-
gestion, which such process gives; TO have
their own strong elastic muscles keep every
organ in place and themselves erect if they
could for a good long while know this
blessed luxury, and then be sent back into
the old stiff, straight jackets. they would
fume and fret, and rave in very desperation
if they could not get rid of them.


As it is they prefer to languish and suffer
dreadfully and die young, and leave all their
friends, and their husbands, and their little
children aud do not see any other way
but to let them be sick and die till they are
satisfied. II only the sinner were the suf-
ferer, there would not be occasion to make a
great ado about it; but the blighting of flu
ture innocent lives, which must follow, rem
ders the false habits Of our women in the
highest degree criminal.-Lncs Of Life.
Year: 1875

There was heather king once, named
Philip Of Maeedon and very wise king he
was though he was heathen, and one OF
the wisest of his plans was this lie had a
slave, whom he ordered to cone to him every
morning of his life whatever he was doing
and say TO him, in loud voice, Philip re-
member that thou must die" lie was a
heathen, but a great many who call them
selves Christians are not half so wise as he,
for they take all possible care not TO remem-
Der that they must die, but to forget that
they must die; and yet every living man has
servant who, like King Philips, puts him
in mind, whether he likes ii or not, that his
day will run out at last and his twelve hours
of life will be over, and then die he must,
And who is that servant A mans own
body. Happy for him, though, II his body
is his servant-not his master and his tyrant
But still, be that as 1t may, every fnger-ache
that ones body has, every cough and cold
ones body catches, ought to be to us warn
ing, like King Philips servant, Remember
that thou must de' Every little pain and
illness Is warning, a kindly hint from our
Father in heaven, that we are doomed to
death that we have but twelve hours in
this short day of life, and that we must get
our work done and our accounts settled, and
be ready for our long journey.
Year: 1875

At a recent destructive fire in a country
town, number Of the would-be savers OF
property lost their heads, and as there had
not been fire of any consequence for years
in the place, when the cali was made for the
town fire engine, scarcely any one knew
whore to find it. -Four excited individuals.
however. started off with a rope TO pull it
forth, and arriving at the supposed place of
deposit, some distance away, they broke OFF
the hasp Of the door, blundered in among
wheels and some old lumber in the darkness,
and made fast their rope. They now pulled
with will. The machine yielded, and away
they ratified with it down hill 10 the
confogration. When close upon it, in the
full light of the blaze, they were halted by
one of the town officials, who demanded.


"Say, men, who is in such hurry to be
buried 2" Buried We're going to put
ont the fire." Put out the fire Well said
the official, "you won't do it with that old
hearse unless you load her up with water"
The excited quartette turned round and
looked at the vehicle behind, when the truth
burst upon them. They had in their excite
ment broken into an old hearse house, and
drawn forth, instead of the fire engine, a
superannuated old funeral ear which stood
there am inky old skeleton, with its rusty
black trimmings tapping n the breeze.
Year: 1875

LIVE PEAcEABLY.--No man will properly
develop as a Christian who lives in state Of
quarrel. In enmity against God, he is of
course not Christian at all; but reconeiled
TO Him he must remain dwarf, unless he
secures peace with those around him.
Fighting the brethren, fighting angerly in
behalf of reform, contending with bitter
words and hard strife for even the best of
doctrines, he will stunt the growth of a
divine life within him. Even fighting
against sin is not to be done in quarrelsome
way, but in a spirit of honoring God while
abhorring the sin and pitying the sinner,
We are 10 conduct warfare, but our fight
is to be a good" one, which means that it
is to be directed against wrong and in favor
of right but also that it is 10 be waged SO
that in the darkest day of defeat we may be
able to say, I" Father forgive them, for they
know not what they do"
Year: 1875

THOUSANDS of men breathe, move and
live, pass off the stage OF life--are heard of
no more, Why They do not particle of
good in the world, and none were blessed by
them as the instrument of their redemption f;
not word they spoke could be recalled, and
so they perished; their light went out in
Darkness and they were not remembered
more than the insects Of Yesterday
Year: 1875

MoTRIsTowN. TENN. Sept. q,
1875.--Hon. John C Burch and 9TH
ers, Committee, Gentleman: / ac-
knowledge the receipt of your let
ter inviting me to be present on the
occasion of the obsequies in honor
of the memory of ex-President An
drew johnson, on the second day of
October at Nashville.


I had hoped that circumstances
would enable me to be present on
that occasion, and join in the exer-
cises on the part of the citizens of
Tennessee in testifying their respect
for the memory of the departed
statesman and their sorrow for his
death.


But it is now doubtful whether l
shall be able to be present, having
been suffering from a very severe
cold, which will perhaps make it i'm
prudent for me to undertake the
journey without serious fears as to
the result.


/ feel that it is due to the memory
and public services of Mr.. johnson
that should be present, as the
present representative in Congress
from the district in which he resided
from the time he became a citizen
of the State, and which he so long
and so ably represented in Congress,
and where the memory of his event
ful career and public services are so
fondly cherished by those who have
known him from the day of his OBJ
scurity and poverty through every
period of his wonderful career down
TO his death.


And. indeed. his career has been
unprecedented in the history OF our
country, and perhaps in the history
of modern times. A little less than
fifty years ago he made his appear
ance in Tennessee, driving a two
wheeled cart into the village of
Greeneville, that cart drawn by a
blind pony, all his wealth and world
ly possessions contained in that
humble vehicle. He but a youth
under twenty years of age, with a
dependent on his efforts, without
education, stranger in a strange
country, without the slightest hope
Of aid or assistance from any source
whatever, Andrew johnson made
bis appearance. and then commenced
his career. 1t was among the peo-
pie that his early struggles, his
greatest trials occurred, and / may
add some Of his greatest triumphs
were achieved.


But l only propose to write a line
to express my regret that circum-
stances, over which l have no con-
troll, will prevent, most probably, my
attendance on this occasion, and to
testify my concurrence in the objects
of the proposed meeting of the citi-
zens Of Tennessee on Saturday next.


Very truly yours,


WM. MCFARLAND.
Year: 1875

William White sued a New York
railroad fourteen years ago for ST.
600 damages for killing his wife. but
getting tired ont he took $50 the
other day and called it square. His
third wife used the money to get her
a silk dress.


GLASS CUTTNG.-To cut glass to
any shape without diamond, hold
it quite level under water, and with
a strong scissors clip it away by
small bits from the edges.
Year: 1875

About fifty times this year we
have seen it stated how this mother
and that mother accideRtly left
bottle of corrosive sublimate on the
floor. causing the death of little
Tommy or Sammy. Gentlemen,
please vary this thing. won't you?
Year: 1875

His wish was not gratifed, how
ever, he being too nervous and his
strength too much exhausted, and it
was agreed TO make an attempt the
next day or the day after. But. in
the morning, young Hauser was de-
lirous, and he fingered on in par
oxy imal condition for some days,
till death closed bis eyes. The two
survivors of his expedition under the
sea have made sworn statements of
the truth OF these facts, and it is be
lieved that some presentation has
been sent to the British authorities
of the Admiralty for complete and
thorough scientific search of the en-
tire vicinity Of the Beterrier Ledges
to ascertain whether these tremen-
dous creatures do feed on human VIC
Tins of shipwreck.
Year: 1875

SharOn. ...a. .-..r

 The town hall is almost finished and ev-- erybody is disappointed with it. The fault is not in the work, but in the architecture. the height of the building being out of pro. portion to it's other dimensions. It is pity that after making such stupendous efforts as those faYoring the new hall made to se- cure an appropriation from the town to build it, practical architect was not con- suited, that the building, even if it be small, might be an ornament to the village. As it IS, however useful it may be, it is far from ornamental. It is to be hoped that the citizens of the town at their next annu- al meeting, throwing aside party differences and prejudices, will unite and vote an ap- propriation to extend the building ten or town may be relieved of the odiuln of hay ing labored and brought forth mouse. The newhotel is overdowing with summer board CTS, as is nearly every private, house whose occupants will consent to take them in...... Business is reported to be fair to middling. The malleable iron works ln the Valley is running on full time and with full force of hands......T The house of Moses Handlin in the eastern portion of the town was re- gently struck by lightning and damaged se- verely. The bolt struck the chimney and made sad havoc with it, scattering the bricks in every direction and throwing some of them hundred feet. After demoraliz- ing the chimney it went on general ex- ploring expedition about the house, shat tered windows, tore off the ceiling of the house. rummaged among the furniture, up- set things generally and finally made it's exit through the cellar. Strange to say, notwithstanding there were several persons in the house at the time, no one was seri- ously injured. The damage to the house and furniture is estimated at more than thousand dollars......The reports of the burglaries committed by tramps about the country have caused many of our citizens to be very suspicious of strangers who do not carry their credentials with them in the shape of proper testimonials in regard to their character and business notably first 

 of the argus-eyed IS our friend, St John of Ellsworth. Not long since, while he was arranging his -nightcap as prelude to throwing himself into the arms ot Morphe- us, the door bell was heard to ring. and in order to be prepared for any emergency he went to the door armed and equipped as the law directs. He was there accosted by two strangers, to him very suspicious looking characters, who told the oft repeated story of having gotten on the wrong road; and desired to put their jaded horse in the barn and have lodgings and meals furnished them, for which they were willing to pay any price. MT. St. John looked them over from top to toe, and with very suggestive expression on his countenance peremptori- ly refused their requests and intimatcd in a very forcible manner that it would be high ly conducive to their physical welfare if
Year: 1875

The greatest treat of the season was the temperance sermon delivered by Miss L. Greenwood at the M. B. church on Sunday afternoon. This lady IS secretary of the Woman's Temperance Union of Brooklyn, which is doing such vast amount of good in that city. The people of Sheffield feel double interest in Miss Greenwood, as she is the granddaughter of Squire Ward, who for long years was known as one of the first citizens in town, and much respected far and near. The church here was crowd ed by those who came to hear woman speak and that her words were effective and interesting one could judge from the hushed assembly and the tear-filled eyes to be seen on every side. ~ She chose for her subject the wonderful story of the transfig- uration on the mount. Her explanations and descriptions were clear and of the deepest interest to all. She told us of the wonderful work being done in Brooklyn by this society, for they not only convert men to temperance, but hundreds are through their means brought to the Saviour. There were many in the audience who had never heard woman deliver an address, and I think Miss G. has removed many prejudices against this woman's rights by her eloquent and lady-like appeal. To sum up the whole matter, as some express it, She was simply charming I wish that this lady might re- main some weeks in town and form Wo- mans Society, which should effect the closing of the disgraceful rum holes in this village. If the gentlemen are not brave enough to put down this general rum sell ing, tis sincerely hoped our ladies may come to the rescue. Report says that Miss Greenwood is to lecture next Sunday eyen- ing at Chapinville. Salisbury friends, go and hear her if she fayors you. You will never regret the hour thus spent..

 The Friendly Union Society held peach | festival at the town hall on Wednesday evening of last week and the receipts of the evening were $l25. The affair passed very agreeably to every one concerned..... Rev. G. D. Townsend supplied the pulpit of Rev. Hoyt on Sunday morning.. The High school and all the public schools re- open for the fall term this week. LUNA.
Year: 1875

That Shoddy "Doctor."-A tramp, call

 ing himself ''Dr. Powers" has been impos- ing on the good people of Sheffield few

 weeks past thrusting himself into their presence unannounced invading the pri- vacy of their dwellings by entering without knocking or giving any intimation of his approach, and after harangueing the in mates for time, would force package of his trash upon them, which he called medi- cine, almost before they were able to recov- CT from the surprise of his sudden and un- expected onslaught, and which was shortly after followed by bill for advice and med icine, that would astonish man made of money by it's magnitude. This mode of pleasant and profitable to this tramp doc tor, but it was for short time only, for one of our correspondents from that village illuminated his schemes in an article 8 week or two ago, since which time his success has been anything but flattering in fact we are informed the people have made it so warm for him there, he has been com pelled 10 leave town, and to leave too at by no means slow pace. He came near as- saulting our correspondent for the article mentioned, saying he had been to see us, and we did not approve of it, when in fact he had not been near Salisbury. We have never seen him and don't expect to. Some body says this shoddy doctor came from Meriden. If so, we desire to ask Brother Riggs of the Meriden Recorder, if he don't think it would be a most, excellent idea to advertise him? At any rate, if you are cursed. with more tramp doctors, we beg of you to start them off in another direction.
Year: 1875

They Must be Paid.-We have on our books quite number Of accounts for ad- vertising and printing, which are very long ways past due; in fact some of them are two and three years old and which must be paid. A few subscriptions are also as far in arrears as the above mentioned time, and we have come to the conclusion that it is the purpose of these parties to not pay us SO long as they can avoid it. We are very sorry indeed to feel compelled to ask the assistance of the law to get that which is ours, but if driven to it, we must do it. Therefore we have to say right here, that if on the fifteenth day of this present month, tSeptember) they are not paid, we shall cer- tainly place them in the hands of a lawyer and tell him to collect tbem,
Year: 1875

ORIGIN OF SOME PHRAsEs.-The or
igin of the term, sab-rosd, or "under the
rose" is said to be the following Cupid
gave a rose to Hippocrates, and from
this legend arose the practice of suspend
ing a rose over the table while eating,
when it was intended that the eonversa-
ton must be kept secret. The explana-
ton of the origin of by hook or crook, -
is that in the old time, persons entitled
to get firewood in the kings forest, were


limited to such dead branches as they
could tear down with hook or crook,
without hurt to his majesty's tree" " In
spite of the teeth originated thus: King
John of England once demanded of a
Jew the sum of ten thousand marks, and
on being refused, ordered that the Israe-
lite should have one of his teeth drawn
every day until he gave his consent. The
Jew submitted to the loss of seven, and
then paid the required sum, and hence
the expression, in spite of his teeth"
Year: 1875

DESTROYING MAY-BUGs.-A French
writer gives the following method of
destroying the May-bugs or cockchafer
on large scale, his captures amounting
to ten or fifteen gallons in night. For
this purpose he smears with tar the inner
surface of an old barrel, one head of which
has been removed and at twilight he
places near the bottom of the barrel
lighted lantern. Insects of all kinds are
attracted by the light, and in flying
around it they strike against the sides of
the barrel, when their wings are gummed
and they fall to the bottom. These may
then be thrown into boiling water or
otherwise destroyed, and they can indeed,
be made to serve useful purpose as
manure. If similar method of destroy
ing the moth of the canker-worm, which
is so fatal to the apple crop in New Eng
land, can be successfully applied, it will
prove much more simple as well as
more effeetual than any remedy hitherto
employed.
Year: 1875

A young man is priced by his employ
er for his faithful efficiency at his desk,
and admired especially by his friends
for his thoughtful kindness to his wife,
was seen about five o'clock, the other
morning, washing the windows of his
rented home A little merriment at his
expense elected the frank response:
/" Never mind /; can't afford to pay
washerwoman to do it, and perhaps if /
demonstrate my ability to take care of
a house the world will let me own one
some time" And so he will, some time
own house, and be able to hire it clean
ed, too. This brave independence in
economy is not only worthy of imitation
by hosts of young men in these close
times, but the example Of mutual burden
bearing in the domestic circle is all
praiseworthy. How many feeble women
are every day tugging at heavy burdens
of domestic toll, that are trying their
very heart strings, while their genteel
husbands are perhaps lingering lace and
silk over counter, or brushing gold
pen in an elegant eounting-rooml Hus-
bands, there ought to be masculine mus
Gle in the washroom, cleaning house,
sweeping heavy carpets, and in doing
dozens of heavy tasks in the household.
Try it these long mornings, and see how
amiable and devoted your wife will be.
Troy Times.
Year: 1875

QUEER FREAK OF NATURE.-Simon
Percy, of North Bennington, is the
owner of COW that last week gave birth
to three calves, one perfect in shape and
of good size, the other two having sepa-
rate bodies, eight legs, one head, three
ears, one on each side of the head, and
one on the back of the head. The two
bodies grew together at the neck. As
the calves stand they rest on six legs,
four behind and two forward, the other
two forward legs clasping each other
over the shoulders. The mother to these
calves is doing well. The calves are all
white as milk.