smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

On Thursday last a countryman
thought be would save freight by i'pad-
ding bis own canoe across the raging
Arkansas at Little Rock, and took a bar
rel Of salt. The result was the capsizing
Of the canoe, and the loss Of the salt,
tut determined not to lose it, the man
DOTTED his clothes, and with rope jump
ed in the water, fastened it around the
barrel, and succeeded in drawing II
ashore.
Year: 1872

Touching the educational question,


Governor Brown anticipated what Free
man might say about common schools.
He said that his competitor was in the
habit Of making quite a fuss about
school business but never attempted to
offer a remedy. Tennessee has done as
much as it was in her power to do.


There was a law in force now under
which the people of the various counties
might organize common schools. He
accused the United States Congress of
proving recreant 10 its high trust in pro-
viding for the distribution Of schools scrip.


Tennessee was entitled to a large share
Of that scrip, but got only miserable
moiety of it. 1t is talked Of now that
Congress wants to have mixed schools
With the provisO that they mix the
schools and have them IN a measure
under the management of the United
States. He would ratherlet the children
remain forever in ignosARse than accept
a gratuity from the aevernnent with
such conditions attached. He wanted
Year: 1872

We copy the following items relative
to the late heavy rains from the Mont
gomery Adrertjser of Tuesday, six
teenth:


The Alabama river was higher yester-
day and last Sunday than it has been
known to he before at any time since
the war. The bottoms, embracing the
most productive lands in the State, are
everywhere overflowed, and the damage
to the crops cannot but be immense.
This river and its tributaries wash not
less than two thousand miles of shore,
and if the overtlowed lands average
twenty acres to the mile, the loss result
ing from this overflow cannot fall short
of two millions of dollars. In times
like these so great loss is a great ca
lamity, and one calculated to cause con-
siderable inconvenience, if not actual
suffering among the planters upon
whom it actually falls. The great bend
opposite this city, which a few days
ago was covered with the most luxu-
RANT and promising crops in Autauga
county, is now nothing but a wide
waste of rushing water, unrelieved save
by an occasional tree trop which peeps
out from the muddy torrent. The bed
of the South and North road along the
lOwlands contiguous to the river is COM
pletely submerged. In several places
the track has been completely washed
away, and it will be several days before
it can be so repaired as to admit of the
passage of the trains. We have had no
Northern mail since last Friday, and it
will be yet several days before they can
get through.


The rainfall during the forty-eight
hours beginning last Thursday and ter
minating Friday night, exceeds eleven
inches--the heaviest of which we have
had any account in many years. The
wharf on the Alabama at this place is
said to be washed away, and the rapid
waters have made such inroads on the
banks of the river, that in order to avoid
the undermining of the track the Mobile
and Montgomery Railroad Company
contemplate moving the track of their
road near the foot of Commerce street
several feet further in. Such a food at
this particular season is almost, if not
altogether, unprecedented in the history
of the State.


Dispatches reach us from Wetumpka
that the Coosa, Tallapoosa, Alabama
and other small streams in that neigh
bOrhood, are about to overflow that his
torical old town. At last accounts the
CoOsa Hall had been reached, a distance
of eighty yards from the river, but the
waters are supposed to be receding at
sundown. At that time the water was
only four feet beneath the high old
bridge that connects East and West
Wetumpka.


A large planter in Gilmore county says
that the overflow in the bend opposite
this city will destroy between ten and
fourteen thousand. bushels of corn be-
tween here and Wetumpka, and that
the damage to the crops down tie river
cannot now be estimated, but that it
viii be very heavy.


We learn that the track of the Selma,
Rome and Dalton railroad was washed
away in several places by the late rains,
and that the splendid new bridge across
the Coosa river is seriously threatened
by the Hoods We hope, however, that
II VIII escape serious injury, and that
before many days the trains viii be
running on their regular schedule.
Year: 1872

MY FELLOW CITTZENs-To you of the
Democratic party, have first to say
that this meeting is an approval and
ratification Of our National Convention
at Baltimore in the adoption Of the Gin
cinnati ticket and platform. need not
speak at any length of the influences
and considerations which brought about
the result. A large body Of the Repub-
lican party in some Of the States, and
finally at the


NATIONAL MASs-CONvENTION AT GIN
Year: 1872

resolved that they could no longer sup
port that party under its present man
agement, and proposed cooperation
with all those who seek to restore puri-
ty to the public service everywhere, and
patriotism TO the national councils in
the place of a blind and eXacting devo-
ton TO party.


Through the councils Of our party,
State and national, we have accepted
and agreed TO that proposition, and now
we stand side by side, upon terms Of
political equality, with men whom we
have heretofore opposed. We stand by
them and with them for common Oh
ject which we know to be high and hon
Orable and worthy Of our best endeavors.
To all
Year: 1872

A musician is not accounted an artist
who, although thoroughly versed in
tile science of music, knows nothing
practically of the art. 1t matters very
little to the listening world how much
he knows, if he can neither play nor
sing. A man may talk or write very
intelligently of picture and sculpture
without the slightest practical skill in
either branch of performance. So
there are multitudes of men with we'll
stored minds. who live without .access
to the public simply they are not ac-
complished in the arts of expression
by penand tongue. These meu havebeen
trained for public life. They have ex-
peeted to obtain livelihood by public
service. All their education has been
shaped to this and, yet they lack just
that one thing which will enable them
to do it.


SloyenIy writer's and awkward and
unattractiye speakers are turned out of
our colleges every year, almost by thous-
ands, whose failure in public life is as
sured from the first, because they have
acquired no mastery of the arts of ex-
preston. Men of inferior knowledge
and inferior mental culture surpaSs
them in the strife for public favor and
influence, by address and skill.


There is quality in all good writing
writing thoroughly adapted to its pur-
pose which we call "readasleness-
1t is hard TO define it, because in dif-
ferent productions it depends on differ
ent elemen We fin arlyle re dable
through quality which is Carlyle's
own-which he neither borrowed nor
has the ability to lend. Emerson and
Lowell and Holmes are readable be-
cause of their individual flavor. There
are ten thousand educated men in
America who are fairly capable OF COM
pretending these writers, yet who
would render them all unreadable by
undertaking to clothe their thoughts
and fancies in their own forms oflangu-
age. When this strong individual na-
vor is lacking-an element that belongs
mainly to genius-art must be more
thoroughly cultivated. No man OF
moderate ability and education can
possible make himself acceptable as
writer without skill in the arts oil ex-
pression which can be won alone
through patient study and long prac-
tice.


The clergyman, conscious of Christian
purpose and OF thorough culture, and
earnestly believing that he understands
the message OF his Master, finds with
grief that he is not an accepted teacher.
Let him learn, if it be not too late, that
it is his mode of presenting truth that
makes him impotent. Water tastes bet
ter from cut glass than from pewter,
and people will 20 where they are sefs-
ed from crystal. The man who cannot
say well that which he has to say may
satisfy conclude that he has no call 10
the pulpit.


There is no editor of a newspaper OF
magazine who is not constantly return
ing manuscripts full Of usefui maeeriS.'
which he can not publish because II Is
NOT readable. OF course the editor
would not hurt the pride ofthe writers
and in his politeness he simply says
their productions are not available:


They think the editor stupid, and he IS
content, so long as they do not accuse
him of ill-nature.
Year: 1872

A few days since a young lady of Ur-
bana, Ohio, who had been ill short


time, d led, and the body was prepared
by sorrowing friends and attendants


for interment and placed in the coffin.
The night before the day of the funer-
al a number of young lady watchers
were seated in a room adjoining that in
which the coffin had been placed, when,
greatly to their CONSERVATION, the fig
ure of the dead girl appeared before
them and spoke family. When the hor-
rified attendants had somewhat over
come their fright, seeing that the sup
posed corpse was really 8 thing Of life,


they took measures to care for their
friend so startlingly restored to them,
almost from the very grave, and she re-
ceived proper attention, and is now, we
are told, likely to recover -t7
Year: 1872

AT last the plying snow wrapped
them in its soft white mantle, and they
forgot the bitter wind and the cold in
their sound winter sleep.


The pines whisper in low tones to
each other, and wait patiently for the
coming OF spring to wake their new
made friends once more, happy in the
vision of joy to come, when the glee-
full music of the rustling leavs shall
blend tremendously with the deep TN
dertones of the solemn pines.
This is all true story, for a little
bird told me.
Year: 1872

BOSTON, October S0.-Charles Sum
ner, in a letter from Paris declining the
coalition nomination for Governor of
Massachusetts,, says: In acknowledge
ing your communication, beg TO repeat
this declaration most sincerely, desiring
that no person should vote fer me. Be
yond this personal wish, which trust
will not be disregarded, is the eonsid-
Grafton that if chosen 1 could not serve;
at The same time i express my grateful
sense Of trust reposed in me By the con-
ventions which united in this nomina-
ton. My acknowledgements are especi-
ally due to the convention representing
my fellOW-citizens to whom have for so
long a time been opposed on important
public questions. I beg them 10 believe
that L am not insensible to their good
viii, which is enhanced by the sign IL
affords that the past differences are abs
sorbed in the ecMmon desire TO secure
for our country the Incompatible bless
ings Of peace aud reconciliation under
the safeguards Of good government and
with the principles Of the Declaration of
Independence as our rule Of conduct
Year: 1872

70 you as citizens who love the country,
to unite and frown down this proscrip-
tive spirit that would crush and degrade
the gallant spirit Of either side, to graf
ify the aspirations and ambitions Of the
mere ofIice-seeker. For myself / seek
no Office or position at your hands;
l want none. In times past you have
honored me with a generous confidence
and support, for which you have the
profound gratitude cf a grateful heart.
with what fidelity have served you
leave to your determinat .5n, and am
willing, more than willing, to stand OF
fall upon the result. For the kind atteD-
ton given me to-day you have my
thanks
Year: 1872

Ie Commercial in its issue OF last evening,
.ntIy threw itself open to the Inference that
Id begun to doubt that the popularity OF
II was sufficient to re-elect him to the Presi-
h No one could read the article headed
KAY WILSON," without coming to the conclu-
khat it was written with hope that the Mass


Ietts Senator might be placed at the head OF


Radical ticket by the Philadelphia Conven-
Grants late blunders have cost him the loss
any a stronger supporter, however. ..-
docs not matter who the Radicals run, the
! le desire change in the government and the
krnment officers, and they will carry out their


. by electipg the Democratic candidates


know that that party built up this govern


4. and that having managed it from the time
Eoke OF the British Kline was stricken of un'
k6l, when it was acknowledged by the people
be '.the best government the world ever saw
ke is every reason to believe that they should
to that party to institute again the safe an'
bomical system upon which it so long aud s.
BIZ ruled the nation.
Year: 1872

WASHINGTON, May ..
An area OF cloud and rain will extend East
ward over the Northern portion OF the Middle
States daring the day, and probably over the
Southern portion tonight, with Southeriy winds
yeermg to westerly.
Year: 1872

would take the words out of my mouth p
I proceeded, paying not the slightest
attention to his abjurgations, and he
quieted down after while. But when
| recited one of his most piquant anec-
dotes, which he never told without a
general burst Of applause, and which
was received with the most uproarous
manifestations of delight, he broke out
again THE meanest thing ever done.
You might just as well pick my pock-
ct! Catch me taking you along as a
foil again. I'd rather have a dummy
for companion. You shall have my
hat and clothes when the meeting breaks
up.BGthis- time the gentlemen on
the platform saw through the thing, and
evidently enjoyed the joke and speech a
great deal more than John did.
Year: 1872

INTERESTING ExPERIMENTs.--For
some time past series of very interest
ing experiments in the testing of new
quality of cannon powder has been in
progress at Fortress Monroe under the
direction of the chief of the Navy Bu-
reau of Ordnance. The results thus far
attained are fifty per cent increased
force, greater velocity and diminished
pressure on the walls of the gun. One
of the latest trials was the firing of
fifteen-inch smooth bore with the same
charge as was fired from a twelve-inch
rife at the turret of the British IRON
clad Glatton. The impact of the smooth
bore projectile was found to be 9035
tons to the square inch, while the i'm
pact of the rife shot on the Glatton's
turret was but 6100 tons, or nearly fifty
per cent increase. It is certain that
had the charge used against the Glatton
been of the same quality as that fired
at Fort Monroe, the turret would have
been completely disabled. Naval au-
thorities at Washington regard these
results as placing the United States
ahead of the other great nations III the
contest between ordnance and defensive
armor
Year: 1872

CALL HANDS BELOW "A good story
is told of a parrot that had always lived
on board of a ship, but escaped at one
of the Southern ports and took refuge
in church. Soon after the congrega-
tion assembled, and the minister began
preaching saying that there was no
virtue in them that every one of them
would be lost, unless they speedily re-
pented. Just as he uttered the sentence
up spoke the parrot from his hiding
place:


"All hands below p


To say that 'all hands" were startled
would be but mild way of putting it.
The peculiar voice, from its unknown
source, had much more effect upon them
than the parsons voice ever had. He
waited moment, and then, a shade or
two paler, repeated the warning.


"All hands below p again rang out
from somewhere.


The preacher started from his pulpit,
and looked anxiously around, inquiring
if any one had spoken.


Cali hands below p was the only re-
ply, at which the panic-stricken congre-
CATION got up, and moment after they
all bolted for the doors, the preacher
trying his best to be first, and during
the time the mischievous bird kept UP
his yelling:


"All hands below p


There was one old woman who was
lame, and could not get out so fast as
the rest, and in a very short time she
was left entirely alone. Just as she
was about to hobble out, the parrot few
down, alighting on her shoulder, yelled
in her ear:


.'All hands below p


mo, no, Mister Devil" shrieked th,
old woman, you can't mean me. l don
belong here. l 60 to the other churcl
across the way"
Year: 1872

THE PosT-oFFICE AND THE EXPRESS
CoMPANIEs.-By the new postal law
which came into operation on the lst of
July, great benefit has been conferred
upon the general public and a severe
blow struck at the monopoly of the ex-
press companies. According to the new
regulations packages of dry goods, hard
ware, drugs, Except liquid drugs and
other merchandise not exceeding twelve
ounces in weight can be mailed to any
part of tie United States at charge of
two cents for each two ounces. Much
time and money will be saved by this
arrangement. The express companies
demand at least forty cents for the
transportation of a package however
small, for any distance. The post-ofice
authorities, on the other hand, will for
ward twelve ounce package to San
Francisco for twelve cents. For in
stance, a pair of boots, if neither boot
weighs more than the specified twelve
ounces, may be wrapped up in separate
parcels, and sent across the continent
for twenty-four cents; whereas, under
the old plan, the transportation of goods
of this description would have cost al
most more money than they were worth.


Up to the present time the post Office
has lost money by the new system, SIM
ply owing to the fact that the general
public has not taken advantage of it to
such an extent as will make it remun-
erative. But it is confidently expected
that when the advantages of the system
are thoroughly appreciated, the scheme
will prove as profitable to the govern
ment as it is beneficial to the public.
1t is, IN fact, nothing more or less than
an adaptation of the English parcel
post, and although the charges IN Eng
land are somewhat less than the rate
adopted here, yet, when it is remember
ed that the distances are as nothing when
compared with those in this country, ii
will be seen that there is no cause fol
dissatisfaction.
Year: 1872

Coal mining by machinery is soon
likely to be successful fact. The sue
cessful working of a coal cutting ma
chine in England is likely to hasten such
consummation and also bring some re-
lief to the threatened fuel famine in that
country.
Year: 1872

Fanny Fern says that when she sees
''a pretty man, with an apple head and
raspberry mustache with six hairs in it,
paint on his cheek, and little dot of
a goatee on his chin, with pretty little
blinking studs in his shirt bosom, and a
little necktie that looks as if it would
faint if it were rumpled, she always
feels desire to nip him with a pair OF
sugar-tongs, drop him gently into pot
of cream, and strew rose leaves over the
little remains
Year: 1872

POSTAL CARDs.-Ihe new postal cards
are to be light amber color. five by
three and one-eighth inches in size
On one side will be vignette head of
the Goddess of Liberty, with the words
Limited States postal card" engraved
and printed in the highest style of art.
Year: 1872

r Every issue of New York San of late
is largely given to wishy- -washy poetical
effusions of which the following is fair
sample:


Grants administration


Has ruined the nation,


And broken its liberties down;


But these we'll recover


Ere autumn is


By voting for Greeley and Brown.
In one of the issues of this same New
York San soon after General Grant was
nominated in 1868, appeared the follow
ing:
Year: 1872

A memorial meeting Of a most impressive
character was held in the Representative
Hall of the National Capitol on the evening
Of the 10th. Speaker Blaine presided and
made the following brief Introductory speech


Ladies and Gentlemen:-Less than thirty
years ago man of genius and learning was
an earnest petitioner before Congress for the
small pecuniafy aid that enabled him to test
certain occult theories Of science which he
had laboriously evolved. Tonight the repre-
sentatives of forty millions of people assem.
Bile in their legislative hall to DO homaRe and
honor to the name Of Morse.


Great discoveries and inventors rarely live
to witness the full development and perfec
ton OF their mighty conceptions. Bat to
him whose death we now mourn and whose
fame We celebrate, 1t wss in Gods good pros-
idence vouchsafed otherwise. Aaa


The little thread of wire placed a. timid
experiment between the National Capital and
a neighboring city, grew and heightened and
multiplied with almost the rapidity Of the
electric current that darted along its iron
nerves, until within his own lifetime continent
was bound unto continent, hemisphers m !.
swered through oceans depths unto hemis-
phere, and an encircled globe flashed forth his
eulogy in the unmatched eloquence Of 4 ernnd
| achievement.


Charged by the House of Representative
with the agreeable and honorable duty Of pre.
siding here, and of announcing the various
participants in the exercises of the evening,
| welcome to this hall those who join with % in
this impressive tribute to the memory and the
merit Of great man.
Year: 1872

During this and the next month, there
will be performed the greater part of the
planting OF trees and shrubs for the year.
No tree should be put out without care
full estimate of the space it will occupy
when fully grown. The ground should
be prepared before tree is purchased.
There should be no haste in doing the
work, but abundant care that it is well
done. II trees can be taken up and put
IN on the same day, so much the better,
but the important thing, after securing
good roots, is to prevent the roots from
getting dry, and they may be injured, bgy
being heeled in, in NE NHe sap from the
hr""n-s, h.'. s. and the hot sun to penetrate to
the half covered roots, if allowed to re-
main in such condition for even a few
days. If neither sun nor wind reached
root or branch from the time the tree was
taken upuntil it was again planted, it would
be the ideal of transplanting. In setting
out trees, put in dry dirt and work 1t well
down, close to the small fibres. and then,
but not till then, thoroughly wet it down.
The object, of course, is to bring the soil
in contact with every rootlet, leaving no
spaces or hollows in which the roots can
get no nourishment. The earlier this
work is done, the more likely will it be to
be satisfactorily performed. and the long
er time will there be for growth before
the heat and perhaps drought of summer
The better way is to make selection Of
what is wanted. send the list to trust
worthy nurseryman, with directions to
take time to put up the order as it should
be done. Such directions will impose re-
sponsibiity and secure attention and pains
taking. In this business, quite as much
as in any other, thing well done is twice
done. Owing to the lateness Of the sea-
son, there is time yet to mature plans,
and as it is likely to be more than an or
dinary rainy spring and summer. it will
be a favorable year for planting. There
is hardly pleasure greater than watching
the growth of a tree OF ones own setting
out and training.
Year: 1872

LONG BRANCH, June 14.-President Grant
and family occupy their old cottage at the sea-
side The president remains at Long Branch
udtil Tuesday, and then proceeds to Washington
to attend cabinet meeting on the 2Ith inst He
goes TO Boston TO attend the meeting OF the
Peabody institute, of which he is a member, and
which requires his presence TO make a quorum
The president will visit the Boston Jubilee the
following day, and return Immediately after
ward to Long Branch
Year: 1872

the viii OF the majority. but simply the defeat
OF one Of the party candidates whom party
convention had nominated without regard'to bis
qualifications. Such an application Of the plan
Of Minority Representation could not have any
other effect than that of coercing all party con-
ventions to choose their candidates with refer
ence to their itness for the positions assigned
to them.


It is probable that, in the present election,
most Of the voters will vote the ticket which
they find prepared for them at the polls, giving
one vote and a half to each candidate, but as
time rolls On and they become farniliarized with
the new system, and as old party ties become
loosened With the decay of old party issues, it
is almost certain that the people will use the
discretion which the minority system offers to
them, to the great improvement OF the character
Of our Legislative bodies.