smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

HABITS OF ANrs.-Mr. Darwin pub
fishes in Nature" letter received by
him from Mr.. James D. Hague of San
Francisco, giving some new and interesting
observations on the habits of ants. Mr..
Hague, while confined to his room by
sickness, was annoyed by the presence of
a colony Of very small red ants which,
issuing from a hole in the wall near the
ceiling, formed an almost unbroken pro-
cession to a vase of flowers on the mantel
shelf. He frequently brushed them In
great numbers off the wall down to the
floor; but this course had the effect only of
dividing the colony, and now new settle
ment was made at the base of the smantel.
One day he killed. some of the marauders
on the shelf at the foot of the vase of
flowers, and disabled others. In half an
hour the wall above the shelf was cleared
of ants, the procession retreating from the
scene Of carnage with all possible haste.
For an hour or two the lower colony
continued to ascend, until reaching the
lower beveled edge of the shelf here the
more timid individuals were aware oi
trouble ahead and turned back, while the
more daring ones advanced hesitatingly
just to the upper edge, peeping cautiously
out to survey the field. Then they, too
turned back, and in short time no more
AIS were to be seen. g A curious and
invariabe feature of their behavior y
writes Mr. Hague " was that, when an ant
returning in fright, met another ap-
preaching, the two would always commu-
nicate, but each would pursue its own way
the second ant continuing its journey tc
the spot where the first had turned about
and then following that example" NJ
ants were visible for several days after th'
disaster, but at length few from th'
lower colony made their appearance. They
carefully avoided the vase, which haC
been to their race so fruitful of misfortune
and attacked some violets in tumbler il
the middle of the shelf. The same exper
iment was repeated here, and with th'
same results as before. Occas ionally,'
says the writer, " an ant would advance
toward the tumbler until it found itsel
among the dead and dying then it seemed
to lose all selfpossession, running hithel
and thither, making wide circuits abou
the scene of the trouble, stopping a
times and elevating the antenns with {
movement suggestive of wringing them IL
despair, and finally taking flight"
Year: 1873

The MISERY OF TIGHT BooTs.-It is a
little singular how well pair of boots can
be made to fit at the store. You may not
be able to get your foot only part way
down the leg at the first trial, but that is
because your stocking is sweaty, or you
haven't started right, and the shoemaker
suggested that you start again and stand
up to it, and he throws in little powder
from pepper box to aid you. And so
you stand up, and pound down your feet,
and partly trip yourself up, and your eyes
stick out in an unpleasant manner, and
every vein in your body appears to be on
the point of bursting, and all the while
that dealer stands around and eyes the
operation as intentIy as if the 1,;x whole affair
When your foot has finally struck bottom,
there is faint impression on your mind
that you have stepped into an open stove,
but he removes it by solemnly observing
that he never saw boot fit quite as good
as that You may suggest that your toe
presses too hard against the front, or that
some of the bones in the side of the foot
are too much smashed, but he says that is
always the way with new boot, and that
the trouble will entirely disappear in a
few days. Then you take the old pair
under your arm and start for homo as
animated as relic of 1872, all the while
feeling that the world will not look bright
and happy to you again until you have
drained that shoemaker. You limp down
town the next day, and smile all the
while with your mouth, while your eyes
look as if you were walking over an oys-
ter bed barefoot When no one is look
ing, you kick against post or some 9TH
er obstruction, and show fondness for
stopping and resting against something
that will sustain your weight. When you
get home at night you go for those old
boots with an eagerness that cannot be
described, and the remarks you make up.
on learning that your wife has disposed
of them to a widow woman in the suburbs
are calculated to Immediately depopulate
the earth of women and shoemakers gen.
orally.
Year: 1873

made by me to the Treasury of Vermont was
from source which had been forec'osed
against the United States Treasury by Con-
gress, and it cannot properly be imputed to
me as crime, nor even as an act resulting
from poverty of judgment, to be pardoned
On plea of imbecility.


1t is fortunate for me that my fault would
appear to have been too great partiality for
my State. and, while this imputation is
thrust upon me, d. not deny to the Press
the proud position of entire disinterestedness
1t, as Senator, no daty was omitted, then
the Press and the people of Vermont have
only to inquire whether or not. as citizen,
honored with high trusts, have forfeited
their respect either by too much favor towards
them, or by greedily seizing upon an oppor-
tunity to indulge unseemly avarice.


Very sincerely yours,


JUSTIN s. MORRILL,
Year: 1873

FooD OF lHE WILDERNEss.-Grow ing
in great profnsion all around our camp,
we were delighted to find those articles OF
food so much priced by the lndians-the
camas and yamph roots. The camas is
both -four and potatoes for several wander
ing nations and it is found in the most
barren and desolate regions in greatest
quantity. The camas is small round
root, not unlike an onion in appearance.
1t is sweet to the taste, full Of gluten, and
very satisfying to hungry man. The
Indians have mode ofpreparing it which
makes it very relishable, In hole OF .
foot in depth, and six feet in diameter.
from which the turf has been carefully re-
moved, they build fire for the purpose
of heating the exposed earth surface, while
Year: 1873

A hard, close man was Solomon Ray, Nothing of value he gave away;

 He boarded and saved,

 And he pincbed and shaved And the more he had, the more he craved The hard-earned dollars he toiled to gain Brought him little but care and pain;

 For little he spent,

 And ali that he lent He made it bring him in twenty per cent. This was the life of Solomon Ray, The years went by, and his hair grew grey,

 His cheeks grew thin;

 And his heart within Grew hard as the dollars he worked to win. But he died one day, as all men must, For life IS fleeting, and man but dust;

 And all the heirs were gay

 That laid him away; This was the end of Solomon Ray. They quarreled now, who had little cared For Solomon Ray while his life was spared;

 His lands were sold,

 And his hard-earned gold All went to the lawyers, I am told Yet men will pinch, and cheat, and save Nor carry their treasures beyond the grave;

 All thelr gold, some day,

 Will melt away, Like the selfish savings Of Solomon Ray.
Year: 1873

"John" writes to the New York San
from Syracuse as follows


A railroad runs from Oswego to SYRIA
cuse 1t is thirty,six miles long. |
rode on it, and those cars moved so
slow that if you want the draft in
your face you have to ride back
ward to get it. They never have hot
journals on the road; the great danger
Is, the stufting and gravy around the
axles will freez,. The screech of the
locomotive is very faint, kind of like
the warble of four year old boy, blow
ing through knot.hole in board
fence. 1t is capable of giving a grass
hopper thrill of alarm, but
won't scare COW worth leather cuss.
The conductor, engineer and fireman
always walk ahead of the train to look
for broken rails, and the COWS always s
run ahead of them to keep out of the
dust | have tried an experiment. Two
trains were passing, and stuck match
out of the window and let the head of
it rub against passenger car. 1t went
50 slow | couldn't strike light. If you
ever take trip from Oswego to Syracuse
over that road you want to ttke lots OF
clothes, a whole ham, and barrel o!
corned beef along with you.
Year: 1873

"And avay they all se,0 like the dosn Of the thistle"
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave q


whistle,
And away they all few like the down of tho


thistle.
But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of


sight.
Happy Christmas to all. and to all good


nightp
Year: 1873

Many OF our subscribers who
promised to pay US by the 18th. Of
October, have not done so. While
we are aware that the late money
panic, in connection with the draw
backs incident to the appearance Of
yellow fever in our great cotton
market, Memphis, retarded the in.
flux OF greenbacks to our county,
we have reason TO believe, now that
the regular channels of trade and
trafic are being opened, that money
will soon be as plentiful as leaves
in the adjacent forests.


We have departed from the rules
generally adopted by newspapers
and sent our paper on promises to
pay at an early day-fecling that
our paper was the property Of the
common interest, and that each and
every subscriber would not-could
not fail to keep his promise.


We would now tell them that we
need the money, and nothing but
our modesty prevents US from visit
ing our delinqucnts and demanding
our Just dues. 1t takes money to
run newspaper, although we have
known few instances where they
were run on chin-music; butin that
particular we are deficient. We
have our paper and ink to buy, and
our workmen to pay off every week,
and chin-music won't do-we've
tried it. We don't mind working
five or six months for accommoda
ton, but we don't wish to acquire
n chronic habit Of it. Come don't
wait, pay up and be happy.
Year: 1873

rational and scientific mode oftrcat.
ment. A few days ago a Negro
conjurer,' who lives below town
told the Judge he could cure Clar-
renee if he would allow him, and
the result is thus detailed to us BY
Judge Moore himself. The "con-
iurer" took Clarence out into
field where they found an old thigh
bone Of q horse, with which he rub.
bed the warts, rubbing downward
from the body. After touching
each wart Clarence was made TO
throw the bone away and walk off
from it without looking behind
him. As strange and curious MS il
may seem, and opposed to all COM
mon sense and reason the excres-
cenccs, some of them half inch in
diameter, and from quarter to a
half inch in height, almost immcdi.
ately disappeared, and the closest
scrutiny as we are ourselves a wit
ness, fails to detect the slightest
vestige that they ever existed. The
skin but yesterday rough and seam.
ed oil over is to day as smooth and
polished as that ofa new born babe
For the truth of this we refer &c
almost every resident Of Osceola
many Of whom have at different
times recommended different rene.
dies for the warts and tried to re.
move them Mr.. Watt Clapp did
remove one ofthe larger ones from
q forefngcr but the operation left
deep and lasting scar, in contra.
distinction to the operation of the
"conjurer" which has left absolute.
ly no vestige behind. Call this
what we may, or try to explain it
as we will, the truth is there, and
materialistic ut we are we cannot
get over that fact. Will some OF
the doctors now in counsel at Little
Lock, rise to explain2
Year: 1873

Every housewife Of neat and tidy
habits takes especial delight in
keeping all tho tin, copper and iron
wears of her kitchen as clean and
bright as painstaking labor can
make them. A pride in this direc.
ton is commendable, and always
meets the smiling approval Of the
"tyrant man" A" who pays the house
hold bills. Remember that SAPO-
LIO is the only thing on earth
that will make an old tarnished
tin pan or rusty kettle shine as
bright as new. And by the use oi
Snpolio IL Is the quickest and easi
est thing in the world to keep ev.
cry utensil in high state OF pol.
lish.
Year: 1873

The river rose between six and
eaven feet at this point during the
past week. The consequence was
a large increase ia the number Of
boats passing up and down. Sew
cral times during the week three
or tour steamers we've in sight at
one time All of the packets
srem laden with passengers.
Year: 1873

COTTON is being shipped more
freely and we hope soon TO see
- change more plentiful around


sown. Business will open up with
Il rush rs soon as health matters
become more settled in Memphis.
Year: 1873

Last August the Rev. Thomas L. Pattison,
Rector OF Grace Church Syracuse lost a seated pack
age OF bonds and insurance stocks valued at over $500
from Syracuse National Bank in which be had been
in habit deposting from time to time for about
two years The robbery kept quiet and none OF the
facts made public until last Saturday when one Of


the city papers published interviews had with the cash
Ter Of the hank Orrn Ballard and Mr.. Pattison The
cashier says the bOokkeeper OF the bank the only
one who knew the package in the bank and In his
opinion 10 have been stolen dnring the day.
one engaging the attention OF the boozkeeper while the
thief entered the vault The bank lost small sum at
the time and the given TO the detectives
Mr. Pstisen he had tsd the teller Leon H. Ballard


Of the paeKage and he said be would take care Of IT,
Year: 1873

SIX MONTHS ON BLACKWELLs ISLAND.
CONvICT's ACCOUNT OF HIS sOJOURS IN THE


PESITENTIARY-THE INDECENT FARCE OF


NAGIsTERIAL JUsTICE-No SCHEME on


CLASSIFICATION ATTEMPTED IN AN OVER


CROWDED PRIsoS-rACTIcs AS A sUBsTI-


TUTE FOR MORAL REFORM-CRIMISAL JUS


TICE A HEARTLEss MoCKERY


Attention has frequently been called in The
TRIBUNE TO the abuses in the administration OF
Justice in the lower criminal courts Of this city, and
the inference has been drawn that system that was
tainted with corruption at its source would become
fouler further on in its course. II the station
houses and police-courts emptied with indecent
haste and uninquistive recklessness. the Peniten-
tiary will be overcrowded with offenders prison dis
cipline will grow lax, and retributive justice will be
rendered useless expense 10 the State without ex-
erting any refomatory influences.


These conclusions amply verified by the story
which an intelligent convict tells Of his experience
ON BlackwelPs Island while serving term Of six
months imprisonment The account is gwen IN his
own words and the frank admission OF the circum-
stances under which sojourn IN the Penitentiary
became matter Of necessity, bespeaks for his whole
narrative a large measure of confidence. The undne
haste with which he was sentenced and the scene IN
the Police Courts. which he graphically describes,
emphasize the argument which Mr.. Eaton recently
made at Albany in behalf Of reform In the minor
courts while the evils Of an overcrowded prison, IN
which convicts of all grades and ages are thrown
together without any attempt at classification. and
in which the harsh requirements Of discipline are
not sOftened by humane influences will lead to the
conviction that the city is supporting at great ex-
pense an Institution which is not reformatory, but
school of crime in which offenders learn IN stone
quarries to hate honest work and to prey upon the
community when they are released.


As this writer seems TO be intelligent critic,
the structures upon certain officers Of the institution
in which he passed six months are allowed to
remain in hls narration.
Year: 1873

THE REAL CHARACTER OF TIE bONJMLN1s


GENERAL PRESS DISPATCHl


Tie denies the telegraphed report
tht the files Of his Department show that COfax was the
attorney or lobbyist Nesbt He says that finding the
Nesbitt contract for stamped envelopes had been ex
tended by his predecessor without advertising for COM
petton he referred question Of its legality 70 the
who decided it TO be without sanction
of law and that the Department should terminate the
same on reasonable notice. aud issue proposals for new
contract which was done. In the mean time question
arose as TO the temporary supply until the
new supply OF the new contract should
commence and it was this temporary supply that Mr.
Cofx urged that the heirs Of Nesb who died III 1862
having the necessary buildings machinery, and mate
ras and not having forfeited the contract by any mall
feasance should have an opportunity to work up the
same until the contract was let or that they be


allowed to present argument as 70 the validity OF ther
contract as extended These views 20 the temporary
supply seemed so just and reasonable that
they were adopted by the Department, and
the heirs OF Nesbitt employed 10 furnish
the temporary supply, though at reduced cost
OF IS per cent upon old prices The extension had been
pronounced illegal by the AttOrney-General, and no
argument upon that point would have availed against
his decision no from whom il came. The Post


General further says that he never supposed for
moment that Mr. Cofax designed or attempted to in
hsenee him in official action in any improper man
aer whatever and similar suggestions as 10 the
interests Of constituents frequently made by MEM
hers OF Congress without comment OF inumatiOn OF
their improperly
Year: 1873

y good medical authority declares
that the mischicis Of night work,
where evil effects follow. arise more
from the iHSuliiciency and unccr-
tainty Of the light used, than from
any other cause. The light should
be white, strong and steady, and
carefully concentrated by shades
upon the book: paper, or other ob


icct Of employment.a "a very different
kind cfiight from the dull and clou-
dv yellow just now furnished by
some Of the gas companies. lnsutfi


cl"nt tlickcring or diti:iSrd light is
one OF the most serious causes Of
brain irritation which affects some
Of the people compelled to work ut
night. The body should be we'll sup.
piled with nutrimcn! for it is Il fact
not sufficiently recognized that


mental occupalionaud night work
Of any kind make exceptionally
heavy draughts on the physical
strength. 10 the yonng. night
woik, that is, occupation to 4 late
hour is more injurious than to the
old; and both old and young. when
ever they can. should prefer day
light. But is in the thousand de-
mands OF necessity rs well as Of civ
ilization, there must be those who
are compelled to turn night into
day, a due regard to the support o.
nature must be observed. From
six to eight hours OF continuous
sleep in every twcnty.four hours is
necessary to every person. lie
who works till four should there
fore be in bed at ten, and even then
should have an hours nap later in
the day before he begins his night
work again. Many cases Of Sleep
IeSsness are due not to ovcrw0rk
but to the over use Of tobacco and
the abuse OF slimuiantS. lie who
cannot compose himself without
potation has ovcrworkcd himself;
and to fall into the habit Of either
excepting up or Of getting attun-
cd for sleep by application to the
glass is dangerous. Better not
work at night at ali than to do it
under such conditions. The day is
the natural time for labor; and Ec
is fortunate whose Occupation per-
mits this natural arrangement is
the rule Of his life. Yet. as already
observed, the conditions Of society
impose niyhtwork upon many peo-
pie. And there are many more who
are occasionally compelled torcsort
to it. Man is a taciIc animal: and
by the right use Of his reason can
adapt himself t. circumstances.


But reason muse be consulted and
obcycd. There is no "Soclcty" Tor
the prevention of cruelty scIf-im-
posed upon the human animal. lie
must take care Of his own case: as
but few othcrsare likely to do it for
him, or could if they would.
Year: 1873

Endcavor to do your work quiet
ly. Anxiety and over action are
always the cause OF illness and
restlessncSs. We must use our
Judgment to control our excite
mcnt. or our bodily strength will
break down. We must remember
that our own battle is to be won
by 4 strength not our own. 1t is
Il battle that does not depend upon
the swift nor upon the strong.
Year: 1873

The track was in very fair condition for trotttng
yesterday afternoon and two trotting races came
OF. The attendance was small, the weather being
rather too cold for this kind OF sport, and as the
horses want rest and recuperation the past having
been a severe season for most OF them.


The nrst trot called yesterday was for a sweep
stakes OF $500, between John Murphy's chestnut
mare Louise, w. +. Weeks sorrel selding Sorrel
Jake and NJ. McNamaras bay gelding Billy Lynch
Louise the favorite previous to the start, Dut
Sorrel Jake won the first heat easily that the
betting changed in his favor. aud he then had the
call over the field. Louise won the second heat by
a head and she was again the iavorite over the
field. The third was a dead heat, and the mare
still kept her place in the betting, but at increased
ODDS 10 to being current. She won the fifth
heat and the race very cleverly Billy Lynch being
second for the first time) SOrrel Jake third


The second trot was mile heats, best three IN
five, under the saddle, for match Of $780, between
John Murphys bay gelding Charley Green and w.
F. Weeks gray geiding Tanner Boy. Green was
the favorite when brought on the track, with John
Murphy on his back, at to 1. 1t was discovered,
alter scoring a lew times, that Charley Green was
no saddle horse, and he was then taken out and
put in harness. Many pools were sold on Tanner
Boy under the belief that he could beat Charley
Green under the saddle, and these people strenu-
ously protested against the change OF way OF
going, and they were right The horse should not
have been allowed to go IN harness. Sucn prece-
dents as these will lead TO additional frauds and
complications on the trotting turf, as match
couu De maue 10 go as thcy pedseu ana one Ol
the matchmaKers might bring his horse on the
track 10 wagon, and after getting the pool
box stuffed in his favor he could take his horse
out OF the wagon, put a saddle on him and
90 on and win the money. Tanner Boy beat Char
ley Green very easily the first heat, and this
seemed 10 appease his hackers. Tanner Boy won
the second heat easily as he did the first, and
this sent HIM up in the betting trile. but still
Charley Green had the call. This seemed strange
TO the unsophisticated until the horses were given
the word, when Tanner Boy was pulled TO break,
giving Charley Green lead lar enough to win.
Charley went on and led home 40 yards in front Of
Tanner Boy. The result OF this heat astonished
even the most braZen faced sharper on the track.
It was generally conceded that Tanner Boy had
won all the heats tnat he could on TINS occasion,
and the race had to be won by Charley Green. The
set in the trot had to be postponed until Monday
next at two O'Clock in the afternoon. The follow
ing are the SUMMARIZES


FLEETWOOD PARK Nov. 29.-Trotting-Sweep-
stakes $500, mile heats, best three In five, In
harness.
Year: 1873

RS- From Leavcnworth comes the ter
rible story that u man living there tried
to founder his motaer.in law the other
night by dancing polka with her until
she got thoroughly warmed up aud then
giving her all the iced lemonade she
could drink It
Year: 1873

The election for Town officers on Tuesday
last, was very quiet and but little feeling
manifested. The ticket pat out by the Dem
ocratic- Conservative meeting, WAS elected
with the exception of one Alderman.


The following Is the vote of the various
Year: 1873

~ This is the way the wicked get pun aAsd. A Detroit business man found a counterfeit fifty cent scrip among his cur rency the other day, and he put it in his vest, sad that afternoon gave it to little Sirl begging in the streets. When he came essk from tea he found the same piece of scsiD in the drawer again, and questioning Ae clerk he learned that H.tle girl had brought in, bought stick of gum, and gene svaY yith fery nine good ssata.
Year: 1873

Ladies in delicate health should go to Colorado. The case of Mrs. PIather of Golden City shows the wonderful restora- tive effects of the climate. She could net even sweep her room when they lived in Ohio, but in less than year after her ar- rival in the territory, she chased her hus- hand mils sad quarter with pitshf0rk.