smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

In August last young lady,
"a resident Of San Francisco,
died. During the following
October a lock of the deceased s
hair, together with two rings,
were placed in a registered letter
and dispatched toward the
East. During the mail rob-
berry on the 22d of that month,
the letter in question was
opened and one of the rings ap.
propriated. When Postal A
gent Barstow took possession Of
the debris in the mail car, he
found the lock Of hair, one ring,
and several pieces of the let
ter. After considerable troub-
lie, he managed to decipher the
name of the party forwarding
the letter and that of the party
for whom it was intended
The writer OF the letter, lady,
furnished him with a minute
description Of the ring, men
tioning that its principal fea-
ture consisted Of a heart crossed
by two clasped hands. This
clue was furnished to the de-





tectiyes, and through it they
captured one OF the lead
ing spirits of the robbery. But
for the ring, which he had devo-
ted to the adornment Of his own
clumsy hand, he might have
escaped unscathed. He has
taken up his abode at the Ne
vada State Prison, and the ring
was returned to its owner one
day last month Chicago Tri6-
une.
Year: 1871

~ On Perry street, in this city,


there lives a gentleman who is the


owner of a valuable dog, OF the


breed known as the 'scoaeh@ spe-
ccies. This dog has been in the


habit during the past two years,


of making daily yisits-in the


morning, at noon and in the eve


ning-to neighbor' yard, for the


purpose OF assisting the. welLfed


cat, belonging to said neighbor, to


take care Of her breakfast. His


visits during this time have been


made with great punetua ity.-
About ten days since, "Neu"' for
such is the dogs name, was left by
his master to guard the place


the master and his family leaving
the city for visit East. From


the day of his masters departure,
sheds" visits to his feline friend
ceased, and he has not been seen
out of his masters enclosure, but
remains there in faithful watch
over The property left to his care.
Once, at kitty's usual meal time.
be was seen to mount the fence,
which is the dividing line between


his masters property and that of


kitty's owner, and there for few
moments, he looked wistfally
down upon the inviting beefsteak
spread before Mrs. Tabby, but


not long did he look upon the
tempting scene. Something akin,


at least to reason, seemed to tell
him that to leave the property in


his care, even for a short time,


would be violation of the faith


his master had reposed in him /;
and back he jumped to his own
side of the fence. Is not this dog
actuated by something higher than


reason ? Whether he is or not,
there is faithfulness to the trust
imposed in him, and his duties are
performed with a conscientious.
ness that is a grand lesson to
many who are credited with res
soning powers,--Darenport Ioa1a)


Gazette.
Year: 1871

The strength of an insect


can be finely Illustrated by a
feat that was onceper formed by a


beetle oryctes maimoas-a vari-
ETY. that is quite common in the


United States The beetle, for


want of any box at hand was


put under a quart bottle full of
milk upon a table, the hollow
at the bottom allowing him to


stand upright. Presently to
the surprise of alEin the room,
the bottle began to move and
glide along the table. propelled


blythe muscular power of the
imprisoned insect, and contin-
ued for some time to peranabu-
late the surface. The weight
of the bottle and its contents
could not have been less than
three pounds and a half, while
that of the beetle was about


half an ounce, so that it readily


moved a weight one hundred
and twelve times exceeding it's
own. A better notion than fig
ures can convey will be obtained
of this thy supposing a lad
of fifteen to be imprisoned un-
der the great bell Of ST. Paul's
which weighs $1,000 pounds,
and to move it to and fro upon
a pavement by pushing within
against the side.


We have another instance of
insect power that is quite as re-
markable as the one just rela-
ted. A small kind of carabus,
and elegantly formed ground
beetle, weighing three and a
half grains, was once fastened
by a silk thread to a piece of
paper, a weight having been
laid upon the latter. AT a dis
tance of ten inches from its load,
the insect was able to drag af-
ter it, upon an inclination plane
of twenty-five degrees, very
nearly eighty-fve grains; but
when placed on plane of five |
degrees inclination it drew af-
ter it one hundred and twenty
five grains, exclusive of the
fraction to be overcome in NOV
ing its load.
Year: 1871

Lorenzo Dow was once preach
ing in, the eastern part of Con-
necticut to a crowded house, the
season being mid-winter and the
weather extremely cold. During
the sermon the members of the
congregation would make fIeluent
visits to the stove TO warm up ;
the old man stood the interrup-
tions until forjearance ceased to
be a virtue; stopping in the mid
die of the sentence he said, Those
who have holes in their stockings
may now go to the stove and warm
their feet" He was annoyed no
more during the services.
Year: 1871

A young and newly -f1edged
Justice of the Peace, out in Illi-
nois, was recently called upon for
the first time to marry couple.
He nervously looked through
every Man His Own Lawyer"
and "Haines' Township Laws"
but failed to find the desired form.
The crowd grew Impatient, and he
told the couple to hold up their
hands. This done, he pronounced
the following charge: "You and
each of you do solemnly swear
that in the cause now upon hear
ing you will tell the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, and that you will love,
honor, cherish and obey each 9th.
er during the term of your natur-
al lives, SO help you Cod" Both
answered solemnly. 81 will" and
the Justice charged them a dollar
each, and pronounced them man
and wife.
Year: 1871

When the late VIM. H. AL
den was first taken sick, more
than a month ago, says the Pc
tersburg CVa.) Index, he told
his friends that he would not
die until the 9th of September.
True to his presentiment, he
died that very day, after a pain
full and protracted illness. We
do not know Of a more strange
and remarkable instance of the
force of presentiment of evil
fate impending. aal .a2a
Year: 1871

Two policemen of Macon,
Ga, arrested the sheriff of that
county the other day for drunk
enness and disorderly conduct.
The next day he returned the
compliment for assault and bat
terry and lodged them in the
same cell ne had occupied the
preceding night. ald
Year: 1871

An Illinois farmer has told
his rat story. He was. going
out to, his corn-erib the other
morning, he says, when he saw
a large rat, with head erect,
carrying a full sized ear of corn
in his mouth while at the same
time his tail wrapped around
another large ear, which he was
dragging behind him.
Year: 1871

Mr.. Golf disturbed a swarm of
humble bees at a funeral out West,
and came near having a burying
of his own. The bees stung his
neck, and his throat swelled so
that the whole family have to take
turns feeding him soup With a
sguirt-gun.
Year: 1871

Christ as his Redeemer and Saviour, and by
his manner of life is bringing forth the
peaceful fruits of righteousness; it is not
only unjust TO him as Christian and broth
er, an injury to the cause of our blessed
Lord and Master, but failure to recognize,
welcome and bear witness to the Spirit of
Christ, well calculated to discourage the
weak brother, and to produce and encourage
skepticism and doubt in the minds of nom
professors, of the truth and authenticity of
the Bible and genuineness of the Christian
religion, to exclude him from the Lords
Table. If perceive that fellow man has
been baptised with the Holy Ghost, I do not
wait to know whethsr his feet, his head, or
his hands, or his whole body have been
washed with water ere / acknowledge the
spirit of my blessed Master. Baptism by i'm
mersion may be tenet of the Baptist de-
no one | befeve objects to that
or to a Baptist because he has been i'm
mersed. Indeed bssrs Of his conviction
It may be essontlsi.Go sS.r'eace. but am
by no means persuaded that it was ever in
tended to be an essential passport to the
Lords Table and to heaven.


CONSCIENCE.
Year: 1871

liberty which a greater number allow, of


undue conformity to the world in the article


of dress" If they do these things to catch


men that are worth having, they should dis


tinctly understand that discreet and sensible
men regard their blazing exterior as warn
ing signal not to choose companion for life
from among persons of this light and vOla-
tile turn of mind.


Perhaps, in connection with retrenchment
and economy, we ought to add few plain
words on the prevalent practice of feasting
and drinking. To say nothing of the pre-
cious time lost, many waste as much of the
good things of life at one meal to entertain
party, as would support the family for
week or more, or feed dozen paupers. In
addition to this we must have toddy or juleps
to lead our needless youth to drunkenness.
Would it not be much better to throw our
FIVE or ten dollars into the missionary box,
and thus do good and not evil? And what
example did our Lord set to his followers?
lie had noS 'where Sc i-J his head, nor q
piece of silver to pay the tribute money.
When he fed thousands by miracle, he created
no dainties, which he could easily have done,
but only multiplied the loaves and fishes. 1t
is said of Bishop Butler that in entertaining
a distinguished friend by appointment, the
provision was no more than joint of meat
and pudding He apologized for his plain
fare by saying "It is my way of living. l
have been long disgusted with the fashiona-
Bile expense of time and money in entertain
ments, and l am determined it shall receive
no countenance from my example" And l
recollect dining once with old DR.. Moses
Hoge, by invitation, with some other stu
dents, and the dinner was almost identical.
How important is it at this time, in our
poverty, to save at every point, that the
wants of the church may be supplied, and
our suffering poor have the necessaries of
life. SENEx.
Year: 1871

1t is great mistake to set up our own
standard of right and wrong, and judge peo-
pie accordingly. 1t is a great mistake to
measure the enjoyments of others by our
own; to expect uniformity of opinion in this
world to look for judgment and experience
in youth; to endeavOr to mold all DISPOSE
tons alike; not to yield in immaterial triaes;
to look for perfection in our own actions; to
worry ourselves and others with what cannot
be remedied; not to alleviate all that needs
alienation, as far as lies in our power; not
to make allowances for the infrmitieS of
others; to consider everything impossible
which we cannot perform; to believe only
what our finite minds can grasp; to expect
to be able to understand everything. The
greatest of all mistakes is, to live for time,
when any moment may launch us into etsr.
nity.
Year: 1871

CON WHICH SIDE ARE your


l Ipaused, perceiving that had at length
caught his attention his fixed look and earn
est solemnized manner proved that he under
stood and felt what l had been saying; and
on my repeating still more strongly, "ON
WHICH SIDE ARE your" he slowly replied


CON THE LOST SIDE"


81 am not sorry to hear you say so, l
continued. "These are the only words of
truth concerning yourself that | have ever
heard you utter; and as you are on the lost
side, there is only one other side on which
you can be, and that is the saved. Alto
gether lost now, you may be at once and for
ever saved by believing in the Lord Jesus
Christ. To believe in Jesus is to step across
the line at once; or rather the lost sinner
that trusts in the Lamb of God is translated
by God himself out of the power of dark
ness into the kingdom of His dear Son. No
effort of yours, no good works, no good res
olutions, no good prayers, can translate you
from fitness for hell to fitness for heaven
Christ alone can do that, and when with
earnest cry we ask him, he will not refuse.
His own words are, Him that cometh unto
me will inmo,Ofss cast OUT


The old shoemaker found this true by
blessed experience, and now he has gone to
be forever with the Lord.


We ask the reader, On which side of this
line are you?
Year: 1871

An interesting movement is made in one
of the parish churches of London, St. Pan
cras, with the sanction of the Bishop, which
is decided innovation upon the Established
Chursh services 1t is the holdiug of
series of meetings strikingly similar to the
revival meetings that have been held in this
country for many years, and are to be con-
ducted in much the same way. They are
called pre-Advent Mission Services, but their
character is set forth in the following extract
from the circular which has been distributed
in the parish:


"We aim at conversion, but the only way
of conversion we know of is the preaching
of the Gospel in the power of the Holy
Ghost. We are utterly helpless without our
Saviour's presence, but there is no other
means of obtaining it than the prayer Of
faith. We long to help individual SOU,
tighten burdened Conscience, TO send
in peace and joy,s



can this be done,


with those who seek ou. -. :,
is what is being done every day, more 6
less, by our ordinary Church ministrations;
but Gas has been explained already we wish
now to make an additional effort for our
Lords glory, by the voice of special preach
ers peculiarly qualified for the work, through
short and stirring evening services in church,
as well as by simple school-room services,
where, in less formal way, we can speak
at our leisure to anxious and inquiring souls,
who stirred to seek the Lord. Prayer, praise,
preaching, personal conference are the SIM
pie and apostolic methods we desire to en-
ploy. May we not believe that God will
bless them, if we have the heart and the faith
to ask?"


An invitation is addressed to the poor of
the parish in the following persuasive and
appropriate language:


"Come readily, for your soul is more pre-
cious than the wealth Of the Indies quickly,
for you may be gone to morrow; frequently,
for it s but one week out of many years; as
you are, for does God care about your cloth
ing without fear or shame, for there is no
cowardice so miserable as being afraid of
confessing your Saviour; ask others to come,
for if all men loved Christ it would be a
happy world. Come with US, and we will
do you good"
Year: 1871

The law Of capital punishment has got the
Circuit Court in Ulster County into nice
mess. More than year ago a negro named
Levi Bodne killed his employer, Daniel Has
bIouck, rich farmer, and was duly arrested
and lodged in Jail. There was no reasonable
doubt of the facts in the case, and one would
suppose the trial ought to have been swift and
easy. But it so happens that Levi Bodine is
deaf and dumb. He has never learned the
dumb alphabet. He cannot express himself
except by rude and arbitrary signs. He can
not understand bis counsel. If he should be
tried on the indictment for murder he would
not have fair opportunity for defense, and
the Judge avows natural repugnance to hang
him unheard There was some hope that he
might be found insane, but on the contrary
he seems to bo remarkably intelligent The
Court made the ghastly suggestion that he
should be educated especially for the purpose
of being hanged, and his trial postponed to
allow time for the process; but there is no
law justifying tho appropriation of the
public money for such an object, and
Levi consequently waits in Jail till
the Judge aud the District Attorney can make
Year: 1871

I'D their minds what to do with him. There,
we suppose, he is likely to stay until the other
gentlemen in Jail protest against the undeslr-
able companionship, and what disposition will
ultimately be made of him is problem which
we prefer to leave to the ingenuity OF the
prosecuting officer. IL the punishment OF
murder were TO be perpetual Imprisonment in
stead of the gallows, we presume there would
be none of this embarrassment The man is
believed to be responsible for his actions, and
there is no question that he struck the MUIR
derous blows. His physical defects would not
deter a jury from sending him to Jail, and
would not really deprive him of fair trial
with the aid of intelligent counsel. The re-
luctance to place him at the bar is nothing
but the instructive horror of shedding human
blood which constantly asserts itself in spite
of laws and sOphisms.
Year: 1871

English journals report that the policy OF
Protection for native industry is gaining head
way rapidly in the Australian colonies, and
that during the recent elections the popular
cry was for duty Of 25 or 30 per cent on
every imported article which could as well BIO
produced in Australia. It is expected that the
next Parliament will be strongly Protectionist.
Tho vigorous younger countries of the world
give lessons in political and economical truth
to the older nations. 1t is in the new lands
like America and Australia, that we must look
for indications of the principles upon which
society is hereafter to be governed.
Year: 1871

The Detective Police of the chief cities of
the country anxious to increase their efficiency
by cooperating are agitating for something
resembling a National organization. The sug-
gestion lately put forward by the Chief of
Police of st. Louis and its manifest advantages at
once directed attention to the proposition for con-
ventiOn of the Chiefs of Police and OF
Detectives The active cooperation of the
Detective forces of the country Is very desirable
thing, and would accomplish great good if the
necessary organization completed with the de-
sign of preventing crime, not merely detecting crii-
nails. Such an organization, formidable in numbers,
superior in sagacity to the worst combination of
skiful criminals perfect in training active in CO.
operation, Jealous and honest in the performance of
duty, and with the best means of speedy communi-
cation would make crime so dangerous profession
that the skilled criminals who weigh well the chances
and engage only in large and dangerous enterprises
would be deferred. On this principle Of prevention
only can an effective Detective Police be organized.
"The principal object of the institution of the
force" as Sir Richard Mayne once wrote in the
Order-Book of the London Metropolitan Police, is
the prevention of crime, aud to this end
every effort of the police is to be di-
rected" 1t is the observance of this principle,
fixed by the highest authority in police circles,
which makes the Metropolitan Police of London. and
particularly the department of Detectives of Scot
land Yard the most effective organization of the
kind in the world. If the proposed Convention will
adopt this principle-and we glad to that the
st. Louis Superintendent has the common sense to
suggest it-and make it general in its applica-
ton, a great step will have been taken
toward reform OF most important
branch of the Police service Not only will it reform
the regular Detective service necessary to every Po


lice force but it will in time abolish the present


quitous system of private detectives. Many of these
are nothing better than social spies who act only
for rewards; who are as ready to take the pay of
the rogues they are set to watch as of
those who employ them; who carry their sys-
TEN of espionage to such an extreme that they
manufacture testimony when they cannot procure it
otherwise and who being paid rule. only in the
event of conviction find it TO their interest to foster
crime rather than to prevent it. Any organization
which will effect this reform of the regular Detective
service and abolish the system of private spies will
be heartily welcomed by everybody but the crimi-
mails and the spies.
Year: 1871

Last Sunday morning the presi-
dent called a carriage, and, unan-
nounced and unattended. went with
his daughter Nellie to Plymouth
church, which is under the spiritual
administration of DR.. Bartlett. Here
they occupied the clerical pew,
and having consequently considera-
bic prominence, they were the cyno-
sure Of all eyes. The attention Of
the congregation was very much
divided between the eloquent dis
course Of the pastor and the presi-
Dental worshipers. We are given
to understand that not one Of the
ladies left the church without hav-
ing every minute portion Of the
dress of Miss Nellie indelibly i'm
printed in her memory. From one
of the fair ones present, who failed
to give the text when requested, We
learn that Miss Nellie Grant was
dressed plainly, neatly, but quite q
1T mode. Her dress vas Of two
shades of brown silk, IN arrange
ment Of color now quite the ton. The
skirt was of the rich dark shade
known as the cameo, and the waist
of a lighter shade, with a scarcely
perceptible yellowish tint. 1t was
in detecting this delicate tint that
our informant is supposed to have
lost the figures which indicate the
place in which the text may be
found. Each color was trimmed,
but not elaboratelv, with the other,
the light being used to relieve the
dark, and the dark to render the
lighter shade less obtrusive. The
skirt was trimmed with bullion
fringe. The gloves were Of dark
brown hue corresponding with the
skirt. The hat was white turban,
trimmed with light blue of very
delicate shade, and crowned with a
handsome blue and white plume.
Jewelry Of etruscan gold Of a very
tasteful pattern, the set consisting
of bracelets and earrings, and d.
minutivc black veil completed u
costume with which the most criti-
cal and inattentivc lady in the audi
encc could find no fault. The close
attention of the young lady to the
hymns, her careful listening to the
sermon, and her reverential manner
during the prayer, excited the en-
thusiastic admiration of all feminine
observers who could not themselves
spare time for devotion. But this
was excusable.-C Chicago Republi-
can.