smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

When the first suspension bridge at
Niagara Falls was projected, in 1848,
Mr.. Charles Ellet offered reward of
five dollars to any person who would get
a string across the chasm. The next
windy day all the boys in the neighbor-
hood were kite-fying and, before
night, lucky youth landed his kite on
the opposite shore and secured the re-
ward. OF this little string was born the
large cables which support the present
vast structure. But the first successor
of the string was a small wire rope,
seven.eighths OF an inch in diameter.
To this was suspended wire basket, In
which two persons could cross the chasm.
To this was attached an endless rope
that was worked by a windlass on each
bank. The ride down to the center was
rapid and exhilarating, but the pause
over the center, while the slack of the
rope was being taken up, was apt to
make the coolest person little nervous,
and the jerky motion up the opposite
slope was rather annoying. The pres.
ent bridge, with its railroad track and
carriage way, was built by the late MIR.
John a. Roebling. It is 800 feet long,
and 200 feet above the water.-Scra6-
ner's Monthly.
Year: 1876

A remarkable feature of the great in
ter-collegiate rowing matches, such as
that which took place at Saratoga, is the
freedom OF costume permitted to the
contestants. Nowhere, outside OF the
art studio, are the beauties of the living
manly form 80 completely exhibited. A
cap and bathing drawers not much less
seanty than the conventional fig leaf,
arc the only drawbacks to complete nu-
dity. Dur ng the race the bare bodies
of the rowers writhe and glisten under
the eyes of the spectators, and when it
is over the victors are carried on the
shoulders of their friends through the
admiring crowds on shore, 30 that all
may observe their masculine figures and
their muscular development. One Of
the rowers, stretched at full length in q
boat and smoking cigar, was leisurely
paraded up and down before the grand
stand, as if courting admiration. Women
as we'll as men are regaled with the spec
tacle, and both sexes seem to witness 1t
with equal satisfaction. We have here
an illustration of the purely artificial
pature of the current laws of modesty.
Just as it is immodest in woman to be
seen in her nightgown or in her corset,
but quite proper for her to show herself
in a ball dress, which covers her form
inst as little If not less. 80 man who is,
or who Just has been in boat, and
welding pair of oars, may strip him
self before the public to degree which
on any other occasion would subject
him to arrest by the police.-Sun.
Year: 1876

There is a female fire company at
Wellesley College, Mass, for it is be-
lieved taat, however incombustible tho
college building may be, the students
should be taught how to put out fires in
their own homes, and be trained to pres
ence of mind, to familiarity with the
thought of what is to be done in case Of
fire, and to full realization of the most
fact that any fire can be put
out at the beginning. Twenty hand
pumps are distributed throughout the
building, each supplemented by six
pals filed with water. Every pump
has it's captain and company of six
girls, one of whom is lieutenant, and all
the companies are drilled at convenient
opportunities in handling the pumps, in
forming lines and in passing the pals.
The whole organization is officered by a
superintendent and secretary. Hose
companies for operating the great steam
fire pump are organized in similar
manner.
Year: 1876

We saw her on the street yesterday,
says the St. Louis Journal. She wore a
neatly fitting, plainly cut and modestly
trimmed calico dress. Her modest face
beamed with youth and beauty beneath
the gracefulfoldsof gauzy green veil,
aud her rosy cheeks shone through it
like pair of large cherries She didn't
carry one-half of her dress in her hand
high up to crafty the vulgar gaze of
blackguards or to draw forth ludicrous
and ungentlemanly remarks of corner
loafers. Nor was che pinned back 80
tight she couldn't step, and her heels
didn't kick her tilter as high as the small
of her back. She didn't walk like u
mule with loose set Of harness on and
flies bad. No; she wasn't dressed in a
style calculated to attract the attention
of any but true gentlemen, and OF these
she commanded the utmost respect, ana
it was paid her by all who, in meetins'
admired her.
Year: 1876

language exceeds mine. II presents darker picture
of human cruelty than the slaughter OF Custer and his
soldiers, for they were shot In open battle The vic
Tins ~ Hamburg were murdered In cold blood alter
they had surrendered and were utterly defenceesS
No occasion existed for causing the presence single
armed citizen At Hamburg on the day OF the massacre
No violence was offered or threatened TO any 1t
is indeed, said usual that ''the nggers impu
dent" but the evidence shows that all ths actual
physical aggression the part OF the whites that
they mado a demand which they had right TO make
and when that demand was refused as II should have
BEEN they proceeded by and crowned
their success in enforcing their demands by brutal
murders. Shame and disgust must hll the
breast oi every man who respects his
human nature as he reads the
tale. TO mo In my ofhcial capacty-vhercin, ~ you
will testify, have done my utmost at no little risk Of
my personal and political detracton from my pot
cal friends to remove abuses and restore good
ment and harmony to our people-the occurrence OF
such an appalling example of human passion qnd do
pravsy comes rs a deep modification and discourage
mcnt. What hope have when such and
bloodthirsty spirit waits in midst Tor It's hour
Of gratihcations Is our civilization SO shadows
Is our race SO wanonly cruels Such acts
call for condemnation punishment For con-
demnation bloody blot the record OF your
and mine, as cruel aront to whose long suffer-
Ing patient forbearance challenges the admiration and
gratitude OF tho world shameful dIshonor 10 the
nane OF South Carolina For punishment as viola.
ton o the laws OF the State and wanton blow al the
peace and happiness of State am glad to testify
10 the horror which this has excited among many
here who have not been wont to heartily condemn
many OF the past bloody occurrences at the South.
Nothing, however short OF contign and ample punish
ment can discharge the obligation OF society and our
toward the authors of this causcless and cruel
massacre Very respectfully. your obedent servant.


II. CHAMBERLAIN,


Governor OF South Carolina
Year: 1876

WASHINGTON, July II, 1875.
THE NEW YORK POST OFFICE INVESTIGATION
REPORT OF THE CoAMITrEx-rHR BUILDING
AND THE FURNITURE sArIsFAcroRY-sEvERE
CONDENSATION OF THE SUPERVISING ARcHI-
rEcr AND SUPERINTENDENT FOR EXTENDING
MORE THAN THE APPROPRIATIONS.


Tho Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings
through thor subcommittee. Messrs. Poppeton Bag
ley and Pratt TO whom was referred specially the
matter of the expenditure OF public moneys in
the construction of the New York Post Omce
building, the furnishing OF tho same, the ma
terials supplied, &c, say that = full and valu-
abb consideration has been received by the
government from the persons claiming compensation:
that the articles furnished Of good quality and
nshed At reasonable priecs and the articles furni-
ture placed in the building all for the
use OF the persons occupying tho building engaged
in the public service Tho committee find that the
appropriations for the building and tho furnishing of
the have been exceeded by little over the sum
Of $227, 900, for which official misconduct on
the part Of those having charge such work
and the disbursements Of the public moneys thereunto
applicable there is no excuse or paation; that it
WAS clearly the duty OF the Supervising Architect Mr.
Mulet, and the Superintendent of said building, Mr.
Hubert, to have fully understood the cxact condition





to it that not one dollar OF oney expended
single obligation incurred by either OF them after they
might have reasonably ascertaned that the money for
the building exhausted is a clear proposition,
about which there be no doubt; and the
committee arc satisfied that the persons having
In charge said work have been guilty OF
gross negligence and carclessness in the discharge Of
their official duties not totally reckless OF the public
interests in their disregard of law; and the commit
tee satisfied from all the evidence that all the per-
sons holding claims against the government embraced
In the schedule presented innocent parties that
they acted in good faith in the premises and that in
equity they entitled to have their claims paid
Tho committee find that the furniture used in
the former apartments occupied by the federal
authorities prior to tho occupancy Of the new Post
once building disposed Of according to law at
sonaby fair prices and that the proceeds OF the
have been paid into the United States Treasury.


Representative Pratt makes explanatory state
ment that while the persons in charge Of the
tion OF the building properly chargeablo with
neglect Of duty In suffering q larger cx-
pendlture Of money thereon than nppropri-
ated Tor that purpose, yet the evidence negatives
tho conclusion that such neglect from any reck
less disregard of public interest," and shows that the
appropriation exceeded account of urgent pub
lie necessity OF early completion OF the building
use and occupancy by the federal authorities. The
facts disclosed take from this neglect any element
OF intentional msconduct and moral turpitude.
Year: 1876

No amount Of experiments, talk, and
large results will draw farmers in a body
away from keeping live stock. and the
manure pile, and turn them wholly to
chemical farming" The compost heap
will still be an adjunct of the prosperous
farmers barn-yard; nor would we have it
otherwise. There is Il great deal of un-
necessary work expended upon this plant
food factory, however, in repeated shovel
ings 90 prevent overheating Thorough
mixing and proper pulvcrization are of
course essential; beyond this, work spent
IN shoveling is thrown away. Heating is
the oxidation by the oxygen OF the air Of
various substances in the compost, and is
necessary, to II certain extent, for the de-
composition of the coarse materials Over
heating is usually checked by frequent
stirring. But this only checks it for a
time, and afterwards, by the increased ac-
cess of atmospheric oxygen, the heating
(oxidation) is accelerated. A better way
is to pack the surface down solidly, by
simply treading upon the heap with the
feet, (aiter pulverization) or, still better,
to spread little earth over the pile, tax
ing care to compact it somewhat. Either
method tends to exclude air, and thus pre-
vents too rapid oxidation. BY adopting
this practice SO far as advisable, a large
proportion of the expense in making COM
post may be avoided, [Scientific Farmer.
Year: 1876

one of the most noted guides of the Yellow.
stone country, who was one of the party that
| found Evarts at the time he was lost for thir-
| ty-seVen days here in the wilderness. with no
other food but thistle roots and grasshoppers.
was shown the iery spot where he was found
The point where we crossed the bridge is on
ly about forty miles below the Gcyser's basin,
and the water is 50 strongly charged with sui
phur, and the atmosphere so filled with its
vapors as to give the idea that his Satanic
Majesty's headquarters are not far Off 1t (the
basinl is within the limits of the National Park.
From here we travelled all along the foot of the
renowned Specimen or Amythyst Mountains.
which abound in beautiful specimens of amy
thysS, agatcs, crystals of every description
and great variety Of petriiactions.


At the east fork of The Yellowstone we camp.
ed directly beneath that miracle, the Petritied
Forest. 1t consists Of large number of huge
trees standing Just AZ they grew, only dvested
OF their branches and changed to rock as solid
as the cliffs against which they stand From
here we followed UP the valley of Soda Butte
Creek, and passed the celebrated Soda or Alum
Spring, which is the relic of an extinct geyser
The water must have once spouted up in
great volume and to Il great height. but moth
ing remains now but the cone-shaped mound
formed Of its water deposits and the little
spring which issues from the ground below it,
Its waters contain soda, sulphur and alum, and
are so strong one can scarcely swallow it with
out nausea. The Indians have long understood
its curative properties ard used TO make pill
OTlm1pfs To it. from distances JIpra
had some great sport catching trout. All it
w.> necessary to do WAS to 90 into the water
in any of the mountain streams and chase them
about, running them into shallow water, then
killing them with sticks. That sounds like IL
fish story To Soli, bat it is truc.


We had il hard time getting up here with our
cart, is there had never been :: vehicle of anv
kind over the road before, it only having been
used a. pacI, or bride trail We rot in here
on the 2ttl oi June, and campcd ont until we
could put up buildings, which We're finished
two weeks ago. when we moved in and are
now quite comfortable.


| suppose il will seem strange to vou, but we
are surrounded on all sides by snow, and the
ar is all the time cool rs in hc early spring
autumn. We are something like seven or eight
thousand feet above the level Of the sea. There
are mountains here that are over twelve thou
sand feet. according to Prof. Hny,.,-nrS OBJ
scrvati ms, and they are steep to be in
many places like 4 vast perpendicular wall
towering lar above It's for hundreds of feet
There are waterfalls all around Us that would
make Minnehahl ashamed of itself


| am much obliged to you for the Be fast
news, it is the first | have heard in Il long time
It is no use to send me the Republican journal,
never receive it. You might cut out the local
columns and send by letter.


With love ! remain ever your aft.
Year: 1876

IN idea of the inlmensity of the statue
of Liberty which france is about to erect
in New York Ilarbor may be obtained
from Il description Of the hand and wrist
Of the figure, which arrived in New York
on Monday. The thumb, which partIV
cncirclcd the torch that is to serve as Il
lighthouse beacon. is Il ludicrousiy ei-
gantic member On the thumb nail alone
It man OF several hundred pounds avoir-
dupoi5 might find II roomy seat As tor
the arm below the elbow and opening
into the palm OF the hand three men Of
ordinary stature might walk abreast with
IN It's interior. 1t is said that inside the
upper and broader part of the arm above
the elbow as many rs nine men can be
comfortably accommodated. This frag-
mentary part is made of bronzc,i copper,
about a sixteenth Of an inch in thickness
1t is in fine, evenly rolled plates, livcted
and screwed together in the lirmest and
most elaborate manner. The completed
statue Will be about l20 feet in heio oht,
from the crown Of the head to the sole of
lhe loot, the elevation OF the pedestal be-
my perhaps third of the altitude OF the
statue. ii IS understood that a staircase
Will he placed within the right arm, by
Which ascent can be made to a balcony
running around the edge OF the tlamheau


The height OF the complete arm is thirty
five feet. OF course, the statue is upright.
The left arm is bent 50 AS to enlold and
hold lightly toward the body u set of tab
lets upon which the Declaration Of indie
pcndence is supposed to be inscribed.
The head is surrounded by Il dadem,
oh al ,t,
that catch the suns rays and construct II
brilliant nimbus of glory out of them. Its
estimated cost is @l25 900, halt of which
has already been subscribed. Both pedes-
tai and statue will be completed in two
years from now and it will be the Joint
enterprise Of France and America
Year: 1876

This age is wise with wisdom slowly culled,
And men, grown bold, like well-trancd hunters
leap
From crlg to crag of truth, with sight undulled,


Oer precipices steep.
But when our fathers trod the level plains,
The stars shone brightly in the gentle streams,
The rainbow arched above the summer rains,


And sleep brought happy dreams.
The world is rolling swift and far away
From morning msts and early morning light,
And in the fulness of the middle day


No shadows meet the sight.
But reaching from that soft and shifting sky
OF early dawn radiant pathway shone,
And angels in the morning ventured nigh,


Who in the noon are gone!
Year: 1876

Lady Blessington told good story of


- having fallen desperately in love
with Grisi, and finding out that she was
sitting for her portrait, made an excuse to
call on the artist. On being shown into
his painting room, he found his divine
Giulia making her luncheon. with half a
loaf on her knees. German sausage in
one hand, and pint pot of porter in the
other. His love vanished
Year: 1876

The wreck of the Albion is now forgot
ten in the long catalogue of marine disas-
ters, and yet it was this which has kept
Catharine Beecher in single life to the
present day Miss Beecher is the oldest
of the family, and the only one that never
married. She was betrothed to Professor
Porter, of Yale College, who perished in
the aforementioned wreck, and his mem
ory has been cherished by her to the ex-
cusion of all other attractions.
Year: 1876

This General George is the man who organized the
campaign of 1875, in which, I'm all human prOba-
blty, three hundred negroes perShed by assassina-
tiOn; In which free speech and free ballots were ut
tery and everywhere suppressed; and IN which Re
publican majority OF over twenty thousand was
changed By outrage and terrorism into Democratic
majority of over thirty thousand. He Is chairman
of the Democratic State committee. He Is the man
who had the sublime assurance to telegraph before
the Presidential election that "Our people want TO
be friends of the north If IL will let them Imagine
Boss Tweed telegraphing TO the National convention
of the Young Mems Christian association that he
and his rOughS wanted Ito be friends Of the church
If il would let Them This would be faint and
far-awdy parallel to his insulting message.
Year: 1876

FRoW Oregon We learned last night that
Portland disIatch denies that any application
has yet been made for an injunction restrain
ing the issuance of "a certificate TO Watts.
The Democrats state positively that such
acton viii b, taken, while the Republicans
are confident that the certificate cannot be
legally withheld.
Year: 1876

AS for Tweed's behavior during the
voyage, said an officer on the Franklin,


! may say that he acted perfect gen.
tleman. He impressed US all very
favorably. He seemed to have the true
grit in linn. He was very sociable in.


decd. His saloon had, before he came
on board, been used as o smoking room
for tho officers, and it was quite natural
for them to drop in after dinner to talk
with Tweed or to play game Of whist
or euchre with him. And the old gen.
tlcmen WAS always pleased to see the
officers. He treated them very politely.


He enjoyed most OF all his little games
Of cards with them, and he really played
yeey sharp and lively hand at almost
anything. Tile officers were directed
never to speak to Tweed about his New


York troubles, and they were very care
fu! to obey instructions. On the other
hand, Tweed had very little to cay on
the subject. ] don't know that I ever
heard him speak OF the matter except in
the most general way, such as to say
that hs was very willing to get back to
America. He was very fold Of reading,
and spent all OF his time, when not in
company with the officers, in poIing
over tho newspapers that We gave him
aud such books rs he could procure.


Upon the political situation he was eS-
ceeaing entertaining. He seemed to be
thoroughly posted iu New York politics,
and gave US occasional funny stories
about how elections had been carried ii
tho city. His "reminiscences Of the


fourth ward were perhaps the most
amusing. Tweed was told that he need
not bo backward about asking for any
tling he might want. Whatever tie
ship contained WAS at his disposal. He
asked for very little, however, He Was
apparently quite contented with what be
received. f[e had servant whose sole
business was to attend to his wants.
His meals wore served in his own room
from the officers mess. He ate with
good appetite and apparent relish. H
never drank wine or spirits Of any kind
except when lie was unwel. he would
then take moderately of some plain
drink. He did not smoke at oil, al-
though the officers frequently burned
their Gig rs in his saloon. The ships
surgeon reported that Tveed's constant
confinement in his room would probably
have an injurious effect upon his health,
and upon the surgeons recommenda


ton the captain urged Tweed to tako au
airing on deck every day. He tried it
once, and after that declined to avail
himself OF the liberty rendered him. he
said that he had caught cold by the air
ing ard feared to repeat it. We were
disposed to think, however, that he de-


clined to exercise because he felt that
it was humiliating for him to walk the
deck in company with an officer as guard.
Year: 1876

The Cincinnati Commercial gives
further particulars of tho frightful acci-
dent which befell wedding party that
loft that city late at night for neighbor-
ing town. The party consisted OF some
forty persons, and were bound for the
farm Of Mr.. Bramlage, a5 Blue Rock.
the wedding was to take place at the
farm the following morning, aud the
travelling party expected to reach the
place about daylight. The road along
which they we're travelling at the time OF
the accident follows creek which it
crosses and recrosses at several points.
At tho scene Of tho accident another
stream joins and is crossed by bridge
twcnty.iv feet above the bed OF the
creek. Tho bridge is q richetty wooden
structure, with feeble plank ratings on
either side, aud Of width barely suffi'
cient to allow the passage Of one wagon.


The party reached this bridge about two
O'Clock in tho morning. In the profound
darkness one wheel Of tho foremost ve-
hicle suddenly rolled off the roadway,
bringing the whole weight OF the over
burdened wagon against the shattered
balustrade. This gave way and the
wagon, with its livinP freight, thundered
down into tie creek below, bringing one
OF the horses along. The other animal,
strange to say, remained Oh the bridge.
The Mrger portion OF the party were in
iured, some of them badly, but no lives
were lost. None Of the party could
give any account Of the position in which
the vehicle landed. They only remem-
bered sudden jolt in the dark, q great
crash OF breaking wood, the shock Of an
unexpected and terrible fall, sudden
pain and shrieks Of agony in the dark
ness. Fortunately, assistance soon came
and the sufferers were tenderly cared for.
It is curious circumstance that the ami
nal which fell the whole distance OF
twenty-five feet received no other injury
than slight skinning OF one foreleo,
Year: 1876

One OF the discoveries made by tho
latest Arctic explorers is that the length
OF tho polar night is ono hundred and
forty'twe days. What a heavenly place
that, would be in which to tell man
With 3 bill to call arouud day after TO-
morrow and eet his money,