smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

The London correspondent of the
Brighton Daily Ne,cs writes: On Sunday
morning Mr.. Moncure Conway, preaching
his usual sermon in his chapel in Fins
burg, made strong attack upon the
National Church, but subsequently
modified it so far as to admit that it was
possible for some clergymen of the church
to be of use in their day and generation,
and he referred especially to the rector
of neighboring parish, whom he did not
name, hut who was evidently Mr..
Septimus Hazard, Rector of Bethnal
Green, who is now lying dangerously i'll
of scarlet fever. This is the third perilous
illness he has had since he has been in his
parish; each time he was caught while
visiting his sick poor. On one occasion
he fell down suddenly. ill in his pulpit.
It was found that he was suffering from
smallpox, and he at once said he would
go to hospital. A cab was brought to
take him there, but he refused to enter
it, lest he should be the means Of infect
ing other persons; and, a hearse happen
ing to pass he declared he would go in
that, and in it he went TO the hospital
rare instance this of pluck and SELF
devotion. His next illness was typhus
fever and now, as have said, he is sut-
feripc from a disease-mo terrible still.
Five hundred year (and two curates to
pay out of it) is scarcely, excessive pay
ment for such life as that. 4'f
Year: 1875

Constant practice is improving our
burglar, and he really bids fair to make
his mark sometime in the profession of
his choice. An odd job of his recently
was bit of fine art He called casually
at the residence of Mrs. Nancy Poole,
Just north of the Hooker scbool-house,
and after chatting pleasantly with the
inmates of the house, and rummaging
around to his hearts content, took his
departure without doing any damage


He did this because there wasn't any
thing valuable enough to lug off in the
house. He entered by cellar window,
and first went into the second story,
which was occupied by three boarders.
He entered the room of one of the men,
who, thinking that it was a mate of his,
said: "Is that you, Bill p to which the
burglar pleasantly said, eyes" Then
our burglar went down stairs, and taking
box of letters, etc., from the bureau in
Mrs. Poole's room, carried it into the
kitchen and looked it over leisurely by
his dark lantern. The lady heard him,
and supposing it was one of the boarders
who intended to start of early, asked
what time it was, and the man replied,
"Three o'clock" He continued to STUN
BILE around the room adjoining her cham
Der until Mrs. Poole's suspicious were
aroused, but he told her in answer to hel
Inquiries that he was "Bill." He ther
coolly went up to the room which he had
first entered, got bunch of keys from
the pocket of some clothes OH a chair
opened a chest, and examined its con
tents, looked in valise and scrutinizet
a closet. The man in bed suggested tt
him, when he was about half through
still thinking it was one of the othel
boarders, that the burglar had bette


light the lamp, which the visitant did
and continued his search. Finally HI
went down stairs in disgust at finding m
booty, and out by the cellar which he en-
tered. And the boarders know that ]


was our burglar, for there are tracks II
the snow.-Springfeh Republican.
Year: 1875

AUSTIN, Dec. 7th.-Andrew Casa
mayau, Sr., editor of the Reese Rive:
Reville and an old and highly respect
ed resident of this city, died to-day af-
ter brief illness. The flags of the
city are at half mast in honor of his
memory.


Last night a miner named j. Town,
employed in the Oregon mine wheeled
a car from the 500 foot level into
the shaft and fell with it to the
dump, a distance of four hundred feet
Men engaged at the fifty mine foot lev
ell, hearing the noise of the fall, ran to
the station at that level when Town
hailed them and asked them to lower
rope, telling them that he was cling
ing TO the guides and that he believed
be was strong enough to come up
without assistance. This request was
complied with, but after being hoisted
fifty feet, Town cried out to lower him
quickly, as his holdlwas weakening
aud he felt faint. Two men then went
downsto his assistance and he was
brought to the surface. His mouth
was found TO be filled with blood, but
beyond this and a sensation of pain in
the region of the back, there were no
indications of his being injured. The
physicians state that the man has not
sustained fracture of any bones, and
unless he has received internal injuries
he will recover. He made the fright
full descent of upward of three hundred
feet down the shaft while clinging to
q loaded ear without sustaining impor-
tant injuries,
Year: 1875

The lack of display that characterizes
the merchants and bankers of England
has been the admiration of observing
men of all nations. The millions that
are disbursed and forwarded tn all
parts of the world daily, weekly and
monthly in a modest office and retired
ostreet are in sad contrast with the gor-
gous gildings and mosaic surroundings
of an American Bank, and which real
ly set the solid man to thinking wheth


er there is not more money in the
show than In the vault. Our hollow,
ridiculous show Is fraud on the igno-
rant, who are the victims. The busi-
hess man is not taken in. He surveys
the situation, examines the surround
ings, takes an occasional look at the
records, meets on change with the
bright men of his locality, corresponds
with able men who control finance in
his commercial metropolis. He is
not deceived with bosh-He laughs at
the fraud, and heartily despises and
condemns the deception. When we
look around now as the year 1875 is
coming TO close, and take view Of
the disasters that have befallen these
custodians Of the earnings of the Wild
ow, the orphan, the confiding servant
man and woman, we invariably find
this hollow display, and the criminal
rascality Of those at their head arises
from the use of other peoples money
in their private speculations. While
we are for protecting legitimate busi-
ness, private or corporate, the legisla-
ture must be invoked to throw some
degree ofsecurity around institutions
that open their doors for the reception
Of the earnings of the people.
Year: 1875

The strong points in the Presidents g
Message, according to his friends, are
the educational and religious parts.
The President has suddenly become
a self-appointed champion of educa-
tion and religious freedom. Any re-
marks on the question of education,
would seem to be out of place in a
Presidents Message, as the school
question is regulated by the States;
and the constitution itself guarantee s
freedom of religion. Why the Presi-
dent should sud ienly rush before the
country in the defense of public educa-
tion, we cannot see; as every State ed.
ucates the masses out of general tax.
1t is still less apparent why he con-
jures up the spectre of religious tyran-
ny. But then, something had to be
done to bolster up the waning fortunes
of Republicanism and the Message has
done it in good style. The suggestion
as to taxation of church property will
be widely discussed and is likely to
bring down on GRANTS devoted head
o host of denunciations from all sects.
This part of the message is, perhaps,
the most interesting to the average
taxpayer and will cause the most
discussion, though we believe 1t to be
in consonance with Me ideas of the
majority of the American people. en-
foreign matters the President is con-
servative and dignified and the finan-
cial question is handled with consid-
erable ability. 1t is the most careful
ly written Message President GRANT
ever presented and will attract atten-
ton all over the civilized world. 1t
discusses more than the usual number
of subjects and they are handled, at
least, shrewdly. His summing up at
the close of the Message is quite pow
erful and will make a strong cam
paign document for the Republican
party. AS State paper it is peculiar,
as special plea for the Republican
party 1t is success.
Year: 1875

THE Legislature commences its
work slowly ana this is promise of
wise legislation. We trust that the
Democratic majority will look only
to the peoples interest in their legis-
lation and not listen to plunderers or
lobbyists. The people ofthe State de-
sire relief from excessive taxation and
wise action on the part of the Demo-
cratic party in the Legislature is the
best party policy.
Year: 1875

THE New York Herald opposed the
election of KERR for Speaker on the
ground that he was the Tammany
candidate. KERR having been elected
it will occur to the Herald that its adj
vice to the Democratic party was not
taken at its own estimate of its worth.
Year: 1875

A good many years ago, when
publishing newspapers in Michigan
was brigandish sort of business, a
man known as"Old Sol ShiPley" was
employed on a journal in Eaton
County. He had just come from the
East and was in mortal terror of
wolves, bears and other wild ami
mails abounding IN the swanlps and
forests. The proprietor of the pa
per had big dog, which took a
great liking to Shipley. One even
ing the old man started to go ont to
a farmers, about mile from town,
where there was to be a grand Nhee
down." and the dog sneaked after
him, skulking along so softly that
Old Sol didn't see him until clear of
the village. Then happening TO
turn around he found the dog at his
heels, and he made clean jump of
ten feet, believing that wolf was
with him. The dog gave a yelp and
made after him, and Shipley few
down the road like rabbit going
for hollow log. The dog kept
close to him, thinking il was all in
fun, and the printers yeIIs were
plainly heard half a mile away.
Nearing the house, he thoHght the
wolf was gaining on him, and he
turned aside and. began eireIiRg
around log barn and yelling with
all his might. The folks came run
ming down the road, but they saw
what was up, and they stood back
and yelled for Shipley to put in his
best 1icks until they could get gun.
And then they stood 5here and
counted until he had made the cir
cult of the house thirty-fve times
At last he found his legs failing and
heF~ould yell out as he came around ::


"Oh, Observation-Disclosures
give ye fifty dollar ~


The race came near using him up.
When he stopped he had but one
boot on and was bareheaded, and no
one could ever find the missing ar
ticles. Detroit Free Press.
Year: 1875

On the road among the Himalaya
mountains, 1 beheld a species of
tight rope performances which might
bring the color into M. Blondin's
cheek. The rope extended from an
eminence on the hillside above the
village over a ravine and down to a
great knoll in the fields below, and
was drawn as tight as several hun
dred men with their united strength
could effect. They had just finished
stretching it when we arrived, and l
could scarcely believe a man was
actually going to slide down it, the
feat appeared to be 50 utterly i'm
practicable with any chance of safe
ty. Imagine a rope extended from
the top of a rock, at least 500 feet
high, to a pole some 1900 feet from
It's base, and some idea may be form
ed of the undertaking. A great
eoncourse of people of both sexes
were assembled in all their holiday
garb, and the man who was to slide
was swinging round at the end of a
long plank fixed on an upright pole
as a pivot. Every few minutes he
called upon some person among the
crowd by name, and swinging round
several times to the individuals hon
or, received from him trifiing gra-
tuity. He no sooner noticed me
than l was included in this category;
and being told that it was in no way
a religious ceremony, gave him a
rupee. When this was over, he was
escorted to the eminence above, amid
the loud lamentations of his family
and the discordant music of the vii
lage band. With the glass, saw
him placed on a kind of saddle on
the rope, and two individuals busted
fastening something to his legs,
which l afterwards saw was filed
with earth. The spectators among
whom stood, were assembled in
groups near the pole to which the
lower end of the rope was attached,
all intently watching for the descent.
Presently he let go, and came down
several hundred yards with terrible
velocity, a stream of smoke follow
ing in his wake. As he approached
US, the incline being gradually di-
minished, his career was less rapid,
and became slower and slower near
the end, where, the rope being suf-
ficiently near the ground, he was
taken down amid the shouts and
congratulations of the villagers.


RGn16les IN tie Hin1GLayGS.
Year: 1875


We die not all ! for our deeds remain
To crown with honor, or to mar with


stain;
Through endless sequence of years to


come


Our lives shall speak, when our lips are


dumb.


What though we perish, ,unknOwA to fame
Our tomb forgotten, and lost our name,
Since naught is wasted in heaven or earth
And nothing dies 10 which God gives


birth. SN&
Though life be joyless, and death be cold,
And pleasures pail as the world grows


old, ft f5ti
Yet God has granted our hearts relief,
For Love and Labor can conquer grief.
Love sheds light on the gloomy way,
And Labor hurFies the weary day;
Though death be frariul, and life be hard,
Yet Love and Labor shall win reward.
II Love can dry up single tear,
If lifelong Eaf,Or avail TO clear
A single web from before the true,
Then Love and Labor have won their


due.
What though we mourn, we can comfort


pain;


What if We die. so the truth be plain;
A little spark from a high desire
Shall kindle others, and grow IRE.
We are not worthy to work the whole;
We have no strength which may save a
soul;
Enough for US if our life begin
Successful struggle with grief and sin.
Labor is mortal. and fades away,
But Love shall triumph in perfect day =;
Labor may wither beneath the sod,
But Love lives ever. for Love is God.


Chambers Journal.
Year: 1875

Henry Fletcher, of Lyndon, has
discovered a new way to prevent
COWS from switching their tail while
being MIXED. The manner of dis
covery was peculiar. He tied a
frisky old cows tail to his boot
strap, and proceeded triumphantly
to extract the white fluid. The COW
seemed quite anxious to accommo-
date Henry with s'frisk," but the
strap held its grasp, and Henry
chuckled in triumph. Presently the
COW wanted to see something on the
other side of the yard, aad without
consulting Henry's convenience went
over there. Henry went with her


and they seemed to be in q goSd deal
of a hurry. The COW did net stop
on the other side of the yard, but
buckling into her best speed, size


flew like a top several times around
the yard, with Henry hanging to
her tail by his boot-strap, ploughing
two foot furrow in the barn-yard.
But in the early test of all inven-
tions, accidents and miscalculations
will occur, and in this case that boot
strap was not quite strong enough
to exhaust the cows ambition. After
a few rounds it pulled cat, when the
cow got away and went to frisking
hertail fastsr than ever. Henry,
however, did not wait to observe the
effect upon the COW. And the eX-
pertinent had given him a toilet JOB
which had to be attended to at once.
The discovery has never been pat
ented, and Henry will give any en-
terprsing farmer half interest who
will test the merits of his invention
with a stronger boot-strap, and re-
port results to hm--Rutland Globe.
Year: 1875




"A little incident related in the
Life OF Audubon" the celebrated
naturalist, forcibly illustrates the pa
tlent, persistent, painstaking manner
in which men of Science, as we'll as
men of Letters prosecute their inyes-
LEGATIONS. 1t was while Audubon
was hunting in the forests of Lousi-
ana that he discovered tinny little
wood-bird hitherto unknown to the
ornithologist. 1t was not so big as a
wren, and was clad in coat of such
plain, sober gray, that none but
praeticed eyes would detect it fit
ting in and out among the similar
colored branches of the peculiar spe,
cies of trees it inhabited. But, hoWeV,
er humble the bird might be, but to
Audubon it was one of the charming
and curious race of beings that in
terested him above all other living
things, and to ascertain its history
and habits was a matter of as much
importance as though it were the
chief of the tribe. He, therefore,
bent every energy of his intense and
eager nature to the study of it. One
night he came home with the excl.
ting news that he had found pair
which were evidently preparing to
build nest.


Next morning he was up and of
to the woods by daybrsak, taking
along with him a telescope micro
scope. Erecting this under the tree
that sheltered the almost invisible
little creatures he was anxious to
observe, he made himself a pillow
of moss, and then quietly laid down
on the ground, with his eye to the
instrument, and remained through
out the live-long hours until night.
fall, watching the movements of the
secret and unsuspecting architects.
This course he repeated day after
day, for three weeks, without respite
or intermission, and then he was able
to tell, with minute and accurate de.
tail, just what material these build.
ers in the heart of the wild wood
choose for their dwellings, just hoY
they put it together, and the number
of days required to complete the
process of incubation. In short, By
this noiseless, solitary, tiresome Wig.
lance, he had gathered up all the
various chapters in the history of
this pameless forest-inhabitant, and
bound them together in a complete
and unique volume, Il was thus
that Audubon made himself ac-
quainted with the peculiar and char.
acteristic traits Of the birds of
America, and came to know theR
as he knew the faces of his wife and
children, and could draw each one
of them in the most natural and
Iifelike attitude, with every spot Of
coioF and adjustment of feather
exactly as it s49pld be, and always
with the accompaniment of some
spray or plant or branch Of Tree,
that growing near its favorite bsnnts
was especially identified with It.
Year: 1875

Two farmers living on adjoining
farms in Girard Township, Erie Co.,
have for years been unfriendly on
account of the disagreement about
the line fence which separated their
lands, both claiming the ten feet
which was form rly the lane running
between the two places.
Their children have grown up, in
heriting their parents animosity,
and the eldest sons have several
times been subpenaed as witnesses
in lawsuits which have grown out of
this difficulty. The case had been a
sort of suit in chancery, having run
on from year to year, both men
spending their money in lawyers
fees without any legal conclusion.


About ayear ago, the two farmers
awoke one Monday morning to find
that each had lost a child-one his
youngest son, and the other his only
daughter. Like the houses of Mon
tague and Capulet, in "Romeo and
Juliet" the scions of the two rival
houses had secretly cherished fond
ness for one another, and, knowing
the feud between the families with
out divulging their passions or in
tentions, they met clandestinely and
carried into effect an elopement. A
week passed, at the end of which
the father of the runaway daughter
was called on to go to Erie and at
tend again to the everlasting law
suit.


He went in early to the Office of
the lawyer, and taking up one of his
weekly papers, read the marriage
notice of Emma. 1t was terrible
blow, and he went out into the yard
to try and walk off his excitement.
All that passed through the old gen.
tleman's, mind is not known, but there
seemed to be desperate struggle
within, which resulted in his return
ing to the lawyers Office and post
poning the business. Then he drove
directly to his farm and had long
private interview with his wife, then
be did what he had not done for
twenty years over and called
on his enemy. He was found sick,
having been confined to his room
since the abandonment of his favor
ite son. But the two farmers met,
and both for few. minutes stood
face to face in profound silence.


At length the father of Emma
spoke: 10


81 have come to settle the dispute;
let the children have the lot on eth
er side of the lane, and l will build
them a house"


"And will furnish it"


So the recreant children were sent
for and forgiven, and came home to
receive their parents blessing. And
now there are no more lawyers for
the two farmers, but each has faith
fully fulfilled his contract in regard
to his house and furniture.
Year: 1875

eyes," said the old man with. a
smile, 81 remember one time in par
ticular, while out prospecting with
an old friend, about twenty years
ago. We were travelling on horse
back, and came across tavern one
night about ten o'clock. Being very
tired and hungry, as soon as We got
some supper, and something warm to
keep the cold out, we asked to be
shown to our room. On looking
around, we found the room had two
beds in it, one of which was al
ready occurred by two strangers,
who were both snoring Justify. The
fact of there being two beds in the
room did not surprise US, as in back
wood taverns there were frequently
three beds in a room. We undress-
ed, and just as was going to blow
out the light, my friend, who had
got into bed, espied the foot of one
of the strangers sticking through the
bed clothes at the foot of the bed.
With a suppressed chuckle, he mo-
toned me to hold on moment; he
got quietly out of bed, and going to
where the strangers boots were he
took off huge, sharp, Mexican spur
and carefully adjusted it to the bare
heel of the unconscious stranger.
With another audible chuckle as he
thought of the consequences that
would follow when the stranger
drew in his foot, he got back into
bed, and l blew out the light and
followed him. He soon managed to
get a long straw from the bed and
reached over and tickled the stran-
gers foot. He instantly drew his
legs up until his knees almost touch
ed his chin. In doing this he drew
the spur the whole length of his bed
fellows leg, making a bad scratch.
The victim uttered yell and sprang
out of bed with muttered exclama-
ton that / did not make out, and
then he commenced a wild dance
around the room, with his neither
garment under his arm, and making
frantic efforts either to dislocate his
neck, or to see how badly he was
hurt, all the while making exclama-
tions that would have made bag
gageman with Saratoga trunk on
his shoulder, turn green with envy.
The innocent cause of the trouble
had been awakened at the first yell
of his victim, and in Strengthening
his legs out, scratched himself most
numerically. He did not yell nor
say any bad words, but he jumped
out of bed and made for his friend
with the purpose of taking vengence,
l suppose; but he had not taken two
steps before he jabbed the spur into
his leg again. The landlord then ap-
peared with light, followed by half
the boarders in the house, aud in
auired what the matter was. An ex-
animation brought to light the spur,
which explained the matter. The
stranger looked sheepishly at the
spur, then at his scratch, and finally
examined his boots, and with a sick


ly smile said: swell, boys, l have
lived all my life among people who
wear spurs, but l never before saw
. man who could pull off his boots
and leave his spur on his heel. T'll
treat in the morning."
Year: 1875

The resource of pursued thief in
Indianapolis the other night was 70
knock off the hat of a man whom he
met. Then he stood in dark door


way while the other man ran after
the wiHd-footed hat, while the po-
liceman ran by and chased the bare
headed runner until the mistake was
discovered. The thief had not wait.