smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

We believe that many of the fires announced
in the journals as believed to be the work of an
ncendiary, have their real cause in the careless
use of matches and we propose to point out
some of the ways in which property is thus en-
dangered. We feel quite confident that in many
instances risk is incurred from the want of
knowledge.


There are several kinds of matches in popular
use. OF these probably the safest are those in
which sulphur forms a considerable portion of
the compound used for tipping. Such matches
require considerable friction to ignite them, and
unless sUme tfrffagratiry- substance ehiorato
of potash, and kindred salts, is used, they do not
detonate when ignited.


Some matches in quite popular use are so ex-
.plosive that they detotate almost like a percus-
sion cap and when they chance to he tipped
TOO profusely the burning material will scatter
to some distance by the sheer force of the explo-
sion. We have seen the fused burning compound
from such match fly from one to two feet. The
material thus scattered, would in many cases,
do no harm; but in a comparatively few instances
ii might kindle q disastrous confagration
Falling into loose cotton, inaammable liquids,
fine shavings etc., it would be quite likely to
ignite them, but as in such cases the fire is
generally at once discovered, and is smothered
out by the hand or foot, the cases in which fires
thus caused now become disastrous, are still
fewer than those in which they might become so
were the persons who use matches always heed
less or worse, intoxicated. Unfortunately, there
are occasionally needless and tipsy people, and
so far as we are aware, they are not prohibited
the use Of matches hence it may be fairly in
ferred that occasional fires do occur by the use of
matches which violently detonate when with a
safer kind of match no harm would accrue.


In the hands of such people, the fuses used for
cigar lighting, and which hold fire for considera-
BILE time, are exceedingly dangerous. Thrown
down often before the fire is extinguished, a
glowing hot coal they are, of course, liable to ig-
mite almost any highly combustible substance
with which they come in contact


The writer once extinguished fire in wooden
box of saw dust, used as spittoon, caused by a
fusee cast away by an intoxicated person, and
which would, doubtless, but for its timely
discovery, have done immense damage.


The dropping of book once ignited bunch
of detonating matches lying on our table. Such
an accident occurring at night, through the
agency of sowe inquisitive cat might well pass
into the papers as the work of an incendiary.


Such matches are often dropped upon floors by
persons too careless to pick them up, and are
subsequently, ignited by stepping upon them
Others who would stoop to pick up whole
match. would not think it worth their while tc
attend to broken piece, although the latter
perhaps, is the tipped end, and just as dangerous
as the whole match would be should II chance to
| be stepped upon.
Year: 1870

The PURITY OF IoE.-In addition to the fact
that ice is lighter than water, there is another
curious thing about it which many peasons do
not perhaps know, viz, its purity. lump OF
ice melted will become pure distilled water.
Water in freezing turns out of it all that is not
water,-salt, air, coloring matter, and all inn
purities. Frozen sea-water makes fresh-water
ice. If you freeze basin Of indigo water, i,
will make ice as clear and as white as that made
of pure rain water. When the cold is very sud.
den, these foreign matters have no time to escape
either by rising or sinking and are thus entan'
gled with the ice, but do not make any part Of
it.
Year: 1870

A HORRIBLE THEORY Y.-How Soon Does the Gull
lotine End Consciousness THE late execution III
Paris has revived the old question whether death
nstantaneousy follows upon the severance of
the head from the body. In letter to the Gau-
lois DR.. Pinel asserts that decapitation does not
Immediately affect the brain. The blood which
flows after decapitation comes from the large
vessels of the neck, and there is hardly any call
upon the circulation of the Uranium. The brain
remains intact nourshing itself with the blood
retained by the pressure of the air. When the
blood remaining in the head at the moment of
separation is exhausted, there commences a state,
not of death, but of inertia, which lasts up to
the moment when the organ, no longer fed,
ceases to exist DR.. Pine estimates that the brain
finds nourishment in the residuary blood for
about an hour after decapitation. The period OF
inertia would last for about two hours, and
absolute death would not ensue till after the space
OF three hours altogetherI If, he adds, bodiless
head indicates by no movement the horror of its
situation, it is because it is physically impossible
that it should do so, all the nerves which serve
for the transmission of orders from the brain 10
the trunk ueIug severed. but there remaiu -sse
nerves of hearing, of smell, and of sight. lStl
Mall Gazette.
Year: 1870

A TOUGH CAsE.-In Arkansas, Elder Knapp
while "baptizing" converts at a revival meet
ing, advanced with a wiry, sharp eyed old
chap into the water. He asked the usual
question, whether there was any, reason why
the ordinance of baptism should not be ad
ministered. After pause, a tall, powerful
looking chap, with an eye like blaze, who
was leaning on long rife and quietly looking
on, remarked:


GLIDER, l don't want to interfere in this yere
business any, but want to say that is an old
sinner you have got hold on, and | know that
one dip won't do him any good If you want
to get the sin out of him, you'll have to an,
chor him out in deep water about three weeks.
Year: 1870

Keep all kinds of Goods suitable for city and
country wear. All we ask is to give MS trial,
and we guarantee satisfaction.


We would respectfully call the attention OF
cur customers to a recent improvement in our
We have ODened
Year: 1870

The GENIUS OF LITTLE THINGs.-Few men
do great deeds. Many strive to emulate the
few. No one finds all there is in life-few ap-
preciate what they find The pride and ambi-
ton of man mock at and despise the little CON-
mon courtesies of life, which make beautiful
and lovely the path we journey.


Great deeds are often clothed in modest at
tire, and men overlook them in their vain
search for something by which they may give
their names to the world, illuminated by a
blaze of glory. triAing deed is often, in
reality, the most truly great and noble.


The cup of cold water given to the poor
wayfarer the kind word of sympathy to the
bereaved and desolate the friendly remon-
STRANGE breathed in the ear of the errng the
little self-denial for the happiness of others,
are more great and noble than the costly ban
quot, the polished address, the eloquent moral
lecture, or the fieeting pleasure of gratica-
ton. The high places of this world are its low
ones its great things are its little things. Life
is made up of them and only those whose
names are coupled with little things, are truly
great. The favored few who march in the
ranks of genius forget this, and as we all do
slight the smaller demonstrations of love and
goodness which beautfy the human soul, and
which, like the flowers and green grass by the
wayside, make life less wearisome. To give a
cup of cold water to the thirsty one is blessed
deed, and may be done with grace which
makes it great and beautiful.


He who, with eye fixed upon the mountain
top, as he shouts Excelsior" has no right to
trample with his feet the life from the modest
flowers, and as he presses forward, he may
find higher work to do, in carefully putting
aside the thorns which lay in wait for some
needless child's unprotected feet.


The idea is false that because one has mis-
taken himself to be on more glorious mission,
he cannot stoop to the thousand little amenities
of every day life needed to soften its roughness.


Let men try to make life beautiful, homes
happy and to emulate that principle which
made Christ God-then the world shall know
them great, ard be holier from their example.
Year: 1870

JOB W0RK.-In a short time design making ex
tenSiye Improvements in Office, so that with our
present facilities will be prepared to execute JOE
WORK of every description well and probably cheap
er than be done in the city.


NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. attention paid to printing
HANDBLLs and POSTERS of all sizes and styles at short
notice.
Year: 1870

Unless the Police Board is about to follow
the demoralizing example of the Finance De-
partment, we presume it is now preparing its
exhibit of operations during the past year.
Heretofore its reports have been chiefly remark
able for the entire absence of those statistics of
crime which can alone give them value. Is the
forthcoming report to be no better than its
predecessors What we ask of the Police
Commissioners is full and thorough return
of the crime and criminals of the metropolis,
as it is only from such knowledge of the
evils among us that any real reform can spring
We all know that crime has been rapidly in
creasing of late. Dare the Police Board fur
nish the public with the exact details of its
nature and extent7
Year: 1870

The story so often repeated by telegram of
French sufferings from the excuses Of the
Prussian soldiery only shows, if it be a true
one, that the modification Of the horrors of
war of which, in modern times, we have been
accustomed to speak, has not been so great
after all. But the French are the last people
in the world, with their record, to complain.
AS warriors, they have always shown but q
scant courtesy and little mercy; and have
accordingly been detested, throughout modern
history, for employing every engine of destruc-
ton without pity or forbearance. But the evil
is in the system of making war at all. War
means misery cruelty inflicted; and those who
take the sword must perish by the sword.
Year: 1870

The election in Massachusetts has left be-
hind it an unusual amount Of embttered So
cial feeling, as we are sorry to say. Mr.. f.
w. Bird will have out rather fierce PAM
phlet against Mr.. Wendell Phillips in few
days; and 80, the main battle over, the fight
still goes on. There are in Massachusetts
three factions and one party; and this can be
beneficial neither to Labor Reform nor to
Temperance. There was no reason for not
trusting the Republicans on either of these
questions; but both these controversies have
now in them an element of personal acrimony
which will break out with renewed virulence
as soon as the Legislature gets together
Year: 1870

How much longer are the fifteen hundred
men engaged in idling their time along Tenth
ave-, under pretense of making excavations, to
be continued in the pay of the cityf Tam
many can have no special need for them now,
and it seems time if we are to have any
evidence of that reformation which the inno-
cent and confding friends of Mr.. Oakley Hall
and company have prophesied, that they should
either be put to work or taken off the pay
rolla
Year: 1870

The result of the colored cadet case is I'M
satisfactory. If the punishment inflicted by
the court-martial was too slight, it would have
been better if it had been properly and justly
fixed by the Court. In any event. it would
have been better that whatever punishment
was adjudged should be inflicted. We hope
to ace the day when colored cadets will re-
ceive precisely the same treatment as white
ones before the military law being held
neither too bad for fair treatment nor too
good for Just punishment.
Year: 1870

telegram came the other day which declared
that the Parsians had begun to cat the wild beasts
in the Jardin des Plan;es. What sardonic phiioso-
pher was it who declared that the people of Paris
had monkey nature with dash OF the tigcri II
was highly unhandsome thing to say. and we
would not for tho world have repeated IL only per-
haps tigcrard monkey diet may DO the incest
Year: 1870

Few persons who have not haan con-
neeted for any length of time with daily
newspaper can be aware of the ceaseless
strain upon the capabilities of those whose
unending duty it is to furnish a quota of
news every day in the year-winter,
spring, gsummer aud fall--to supply the
demands of the great public nor can it
be estimated until it is seriously under
taken. Rain or shine, sick or well, cheer
fal or gloomy-however unprepared the
mind may be for the diurnal task-the
columns of paragraphs must come and
must be furnished within given hours.
Somebody has written a worry effective
poon. about the (" Slave of the Lamp"
Gould it have occurred to him that he was
painting the portrait of an editor


The man who, troubled with the cac-
OetheS Scrjbe1ldj, "takes his pen in hand"
when in the vein, and indites paragraph
or communication to the press, thinks,
as be complacently reads his effusions the
next morning, that after all it is no such
great work to write up a newspaper but
let him bend down to it a year-and be
obliged to furnish matter for the types
every day, and he will begin to feel some
charity for the editor and instead of
Judging him harshly, rather fall to won
dering that he repeats himself so seldom
says SO little that is not absolute trash,
and finds so many topics to write upon.


Why, the mere manual labor Of writ
ing pages enough of manuscript to fill
two or three columns in daily newspa-
per would be a good days work for many
people. But when we add to this, that
of collecting the news about great city,
of arranging the details of names,
places, time and the comments and de-
ductions necessarily attached to it-and
then the task of mentally preparing all
this to suit the public demand, it will be
admitted that the daily labor of the edi-
torial room is not surpassed by any other
occupation. We do not, in this list, count
the multifarious duties connected with
the other departments of writing the
law-the commerci4l-the news summar-
ies-the arranging of correspondence
the selections from interior papers-the
patient perusal of contributions, which
must, too often, after all, be rejected.
Year: 1870

The Mcfarland trial was resumed on
Tuesday, the 18th day. Judge Noah
Davis was present, having returned from
Washington, to undertake the cross
examination of DIR. Vance, who was re-
called TO the stand. The witness said if
man who was in a responsible position
said he intended to commit suicide, it
would be very strong proof that he was
out OF his mind If he said it three or fonr
times a week for three or four wears n
would look very like farce; the witness
did not consider it any evidence of in
sanity for one man to shoot another whom
he knew nothing about. A person who,
influenced by strong motives, kills an.
other in the absence of all other proof of
insanity would be responsible for the act.


DIR. Parsons, who claimed to be an ex-
pert, testified that in his opinion the priq-
oner Suffered from acute melancholia /;
there cannot be insanity without disease
OF the brain that congestion of the brain
which produces delirium is not insanity,
but is likely to lead to it. The witness
saw the prisoner at the City Prison, with
view TO being examined in regard to
his condition; examined the prisoner the
Saturday previous to the commencement
OF the trial. after the examination wit
ness did not predicate any opinion as to
the sanity or insanity of the prisoner.


Dr. Hammond, formerly Surgeon Gene
Year: 1870

could not furnish him with mounted
silver-plated velvet casket for day or
two at reasonable charge, as his brother
had died the day previous, and he desired
to bury him in style. He wished to use
the casket to carry the remains to the
vault, after which, when the funeral
would disperse, the remains could be re-
moved to plain pine-wood coffin, and the
casket would be returned. He desired,
above all, that the matter would not be
exposed, especially to his neighbors. He
was politely but firmly refused, the IN
dertaker informing him that he was not
in that kind of business.
Year: 1870

DELAwARE.-Senator Saulsbury's term
in the United States Senate expires next
year, and already the Republicans antici'
pate the selection of his successor. They
expect to carry the state this year with
the aid of the colored voters. George P
Fisher, recently nominated by the Presi
dent for Attorney of the District of Co.
lumbia, will probably be the Republican
candidate He is native of Delaware
and will return to that state to live.
Year: 1870

In pursuance of the call of the select
men for meeting of the legal voters of
Brandon, to see If the town would aid in
building the Addison Railroad, the voters
of Brandon assembled in large numbers
at the Town Hall, on Saturday, the 23d.
The meeting was one of the largest ever
held in the Town Hall.


DIR. A. T. Woodward was chosen Moder-
ator. Gov Page then addressed the
meeting, showing the great advantage it
would be TO Brandon to have the terminus
of this new, and as he believed, important
road, at this place, showing how other
towns had prospered with the increase of
their railroad facilities. He also showed
the small amount the town would un-
doubtedly be called upon to pay; that the
Addison Railroad had been leased Tor
would be if they should accept the amount
the Rutland Railroad had offered to pay
to the Rutland Railroad at perpetual
rental of six per cent. on the cost of build
ing the road that the town would receive
the same amount of Railroad bonds for
their own bonds, which bonds, with a
guarantee of six per cent. from the
Rutland Road (which could and would
pay this amount) would sell for near their
cash value, so that all the town would
have to pay would be the difference be-
tween the value of the town and the rail-
road bonds. He was sorry that Brandon
had so poor accommodations, so far as the
depot was concerned; but that the Rut-
land Road had been so embarrassed by
their litigation between the different
mortgage bondholders, and by the small
amount of rolling stock on hand which
the road had when it came into the hands
Of the present managers, that she had not
done so well by US as in that respect as
she deserved, but that now she was re-
lieved by the payment of all the debts,
and with this new addition to her road
would be able and willing to build us
good depot.


The Governor was followed by Colonel
Merrill in a few brief remarks, showing
the advantage he believed it would be for
Brandon to have this road built to this
point


Mr. n. T. Sprague, Jr, spoke warmly
in favor of the road and made substantial
offers in regard to what he would do, if
others would respond. Mr.. Conant adj
dressed the meeting briefly but pointedly,
and urged upon the voters TO carefully
consider the chances before they threw
away this opportunity TO help our town.


In reply, DR.. Case made some quite ex-
tended remarks in opposition to the meas
ure and made some criticisms on the man
agoment of the road, which we hardly
think were either quite fair or correct.
The doctors preiudices against this road
which has done so much for him IS well
as the rest of Us, are so strong that he
cannot or does not view anything that
they are interested in with impartial
views. We have not time to speak At
length of his remarks or those Of the other
speakers, r. V. Marsh and Col Capen.


We believe that were another meeting
called, it would show great change of
feeling from the last meeting. People be-
gin to see that what Middlbury, as heavi-
ly in debt as she is, will give 100000
for, must be of some value to Brandon I;
and were the subject thoroughly under
stood, we believe that Brandon would re-
spond to all they ask of her.
Year: 1870

Died in Poultney, April 26th, Mary L., daugh-
ter Of Alanson kice, aged 81 years. E.


The death of this estimable young lady in the
Mtg in which she had lived so consistent life
and enjoyed the high esteem of all who came
within the influence of her gentle manner and
lovely spirit. 1t may be truly said few individu-
ais possessed to greater degree those finer quail
Sties of the soul and even balance of mind, and
sweetness Of disposition, than the subject of this
notice. She had enjoyed the advantages of eul-
ture, which she had wisely improved, and had
been successful and popular instructor of youth.
It is oftentimes mystery to us that one so well
prepared TO perform the nilsson of life should
be thus early called away from earth. The mys-
terious providence of Gods it is not ours to ques-
ton, but to bow in humble submission to the
Divine Will Her long illness and her last hours
were a fitting and final illustration of a beauti-
funy Illustrated Christian life. Although she
suffered much and agony of body deep and un-
utterable, as che neared the shadowy land, her
mind was undisturbed, and a sweet peace reigned
in her soul. Her last utterances were, 80 am
going to a better country and then breathed
her life out assweetly as the morning stars melt
away INTO the essa4. @E tire uL.as- closed
an exemplary Christian life that is worthy tn
imitation of all who survive her. We assure the
bowed and saddened circle in that loving home Of
the tenderest sympathy of one whose heart has
been smitten and goes out in tender sympathy
to those who mourn; and may that higher than
all human power bind up the wounds"of those
who are chastened by " Him Who doath all
things we'll" ,!
Year: 1870

This paradoxical heading is suggested
by notice in the N. 7. World, more than
a column in length, of "the late Major
VIM. Andrew Huntley Sigourney." 1t is
not every man that can be fortunate
enough in his life time to know what
people will say of him after death, but
| the fact that this eminent author can,
must afford him some compensation for
! the scandal that he had pistoled out his
brains If he ever ighed in the language


of an earlier but inferior poet,


40, wad some power the giftie gle us


To see oursels as ithers see US"


he need sigh ne more, for he can now see


how the World looks upon the life that


Re has been supposed to live and the


death that he was supposed to die.


To be sure, it contains some untruths,
but it evidently says them in sadness, not
in anger. Ordinarily we let the grave
cover a mans misfortunes as well as his
faults, but this rule seems to have been
suspended in the case of poets, whose pow
erty and sins seem always to have been lo-
gitimate game. Witness Byron witness
Macdonald Clark witness Foe; witness
Sigourney. For does not the World SLAM
der him with quotation from one of his
letters, in which he said: "For Gods
sake send me some money, no matter how
little, as quickly as you can. My child
cried for bread this morning, and l had
none TO give? And, unless to give plau-
sibility to this statement, why was it nee
essary to state that a pulmonary affection


forced him to relinquish his place as edit
or of the st. Albans Messenger, when
every one who has read the Argus land
surely the editor of the New York
! World must have read it, knows that
! he was foreman of a certain establish


ment here" where he worked sixteen


hour day" for eighteen dollars a week,


and was "foroed to relinquish his position


only because he developed Every high tai


ents" in certain anonymous correspond
ence? editor of the st. Albans MeSSer-


ger" i! Sigourney will hardly forgive the


World for that. 1t is ''the most unkind-
est cut of all" They ought to have known
better. Surely man that had Henry


J. Raymond for his friend and has been
so fortunate in death as to be "buried in


Greenwood" could never have been so un-
| fortunate in life as to descend from the


..hebdomadal Golden Age" to such an alb
dominally empty place in this abominable
brazen age.


But complimentary and lachrymose as
the World was disposed to be, it did not
quite swallow the whole storm of Beau
tiful Snow" 1t says it was in memory Of
Sigourney's first wife and her sad death
that he wrote, "as he claimed" the much


admired poem, and publishes the poem as
originally written-"su suppos5tag that Major


Siqoaa7aey aorote 1t, as he claimed" Now
this is too bad. Why this ambiguous
giving out, as he claimed? !? If such doubts
as this can exist in the dry tree, when a
man is dead and gone to-Greenwood,
what must they have been in the green ?
Sigourney will kick out of his coffin when
he hears of that, and the entire alias brig
ade will burst their cerements and rally
in his defense.-iSt. Adams Messenger.