smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

and the nervous fingers of the mob
cannot pick stones out Of cement
pavement. In short, the Emperor
abolished lanes, so far as he went.
And so long as there are lanes in the
world there will be the elements Of
mobs, the lairs of crime, the dens Of
vice and wretchedness. Nor ought
the unfortunate good people to be
driven, by any allowed social force,
into those narrow passages where the
unfortunate bad do congregate Ly
their vile aflinities.


The true evangelization of cities, it
would seem, must include water, air,
gas and sunlight. The municipal
authorities themselves have mission
ary work to do. Would it not be
quite as sensible to vote appropria-
tions for the extinction Of lanes as
for parades and welcome to foreign
princes or native politicians?


Society makes its own volcanoes
and the lava is generally ignited in
the lanes.


If the good people Of the earth
would make up their minds to abol-
ish these narrow ways, cost what 1t
might, they would probably find that
by this very process they had cast
up the high way and broad way of
the Lord for the Heavenward jour
ney of humanity.


Instead, therefore, of dividing the
black fleece with that little boy in the
lane, take him out of the lane alto
gether.
Year: 1873

VINO can tel what baby thinks?


When 1t wakes from its forty winks,
And rubs its face into numerous kinks.


Ana stalts at the light that comes in at the


chinks
vi Its rock-a by nest, and gaps and b'inks-
Who can tell what a baby thinks?
Who has courage to hazard a guess


AS to what the baby may think of its dress.
Trimmed and ruf1ed to such excess?


Of what the baby may think of the mess
For the headache, toothache and stomach dis


tress,


And for all its ai.ings, more or less?
What does it think when it wakes in tho n,ob+
with all the pretty things out of sight.
And nobody stirring and making a iight9r
Does 1t think its conditun is far from ripht
And that big folks are far from polite.
And that darkness is meant for a personal


sight7
Is that the reason it takes delight


In screaming with all its personal might.
And rousing the neighbors at dead of night?
And what do you think the baby thinks?


Looking around ike mild-eyed lynx.
Watching the snow that lrinkles and cbinks
While papa is warming its cafnp drinks
Over candle that gimmers and bIinks
Humming and drumming out Captain Jinks -
What do you think the baby thinks?
Do you say that babies are thinllless things?
With no other light than in ,tinct brings,
With brains as downy as butterflies wings
And heads as empty as a he'll chat swings?
DO you thin that babies are thinkless things?
Then when does the think begin to grow?
And when does the mind begin to show?
And when does the baby begin to know
That this is true or that is so?
When you find out viii you please let me know 9?
Year: 1873

Soothing my sick little boy last
night with the celebrated and vener
able nursery rhyme about the black
sleep, whose wool was to be shared
between the master, the dame, and
the little boy who elves in the lane"
| found my thoughts and sympathies
somehow specially enlisted in that
mysterious lad. And thus gradually
the general idea and theme of lanes
came uppermost.


That little boy in the lane. what
right or title had he to a share in the
sable fleece? Had it been a golden
fleece, would his claim have been
equally valid?


Evidently he was not one-third
proprietor of the sheep herself; but
only part Of the wool was going to
him, out Of some special considera-
ton. Was he sick? Was he poor?
Or was he a lame boy who could not
race and skate with the other lads of
the Deighborhood? Perhaps his
father was dead and his widowed
mother one Of those hard-working.
washing, scTuhbing women who toll
and moil with endless drudgery to
keep their children's heads just
above the black waters of staiva-
ton.


doubt if anybody, even the
learned editor Of Notes and Queries,
could confidently answer these ques-
tions; nor is any answer required.
This boy is typical. He belongs to
the great Lare tribe of humanity.
And this tribe is just as distinctly
marked among mankind as are the
Gips.es or apy other.


What is a lane? 1t is not a bou1e-
ward, not an avenue, not a street, or
a highway. 1t is the bottom on the
descending scale Of passageways. 1t
is a low way; it is narrow, untidy,
often unpaved, looking up with meek
eyes at the rears of houses and the
sides of stables.


No splendid carriage, with liveried
driver and footmen, ever rolls along
its mud. Beautiful ladies, with
sweet children, in holiday attire, out
for the sun and air, never stroll down
it in long professions Of gayety.
The regiments on parade seem never
to think of the lane in their line Of
march; so that the maFvels of drum
and fife belong to the outside world
for the laners. Torchlight process
sions, that make all sorts of other
mistakes, never 80 far forget them
selves as TO stray INTO the alley; but
they go flashing and smoking and
suffering up Broad Way, Wide
Avenue and Spacious Boulevard till
they 90 out.


These may be the people spoken
of as ''in darkness and the shadow of
death" waiting for some great light
to arise, something better and less
expensive than gas at so much per
thousand feet.


These laners are, at least. not the
people who have diamond weddings,
90 to the opera and take trips to the
| Alps or Yosemite. Their travel con-
sists chiefly in straying around the
/ corner, into the streets and avenues.
to steal a glance at the big world in
whose shadow they dwell. They are
outside the popular routes for tour,
Year: 1873

The recent storm caught many Of
the farmers badly behind with their
fall work, and with but little prepara
tion made for the comfort OF their
stock during the winter mouths. The
Austin Transcript says Of that section
that hardly any corn is busked, and
not more than half the potatoes raise d
are out of the hill.
Year: 1873

There were some scattering votes for
most Of the county officers.


Tie vote on the Biennia! Session
Amendments was q yes aud 345 No


On the amendment to Sec. IL of
article 9-363 yes and i No.


In the returns for the Town of Red
wood Fa Is 20 mention is made of the
vote on the license question. There
were IS votes east I'm favor Of license
and 10 against"
Year: 1873

COUNTY PAPERS The following
is what the Cincinnati Trade List
thinks of those persons who com
plain of their county paper, and in
stead of helping to support it send
off for large city papers, and thus
help to sustain them: "a gentleman
writes to us that his county paper is
so poor that he has stopped it; there
fore sends US three dollars for the
Trade List We repeat that we dom t
want subscribers on those terms. A
mans county paper is worth more
to. him than any paper in the world,
or, if it is not, it is his own fault.
If the county paper is properly en-
conraged, it may be relied upon for
information of more value to the
people in whose interest it is issued,
than can be found in all the city pa
pers in the United States. No man
can afford to stop the paper that
publishes the official advertisements
of his county, the public sales, mar
kets, court news, and other local
intelligence. If the paper is poor,
the people are more at fault than
the publishers, for not giving it lib
eral patronage However poor the
paper may be, it is always worth
more than it costs to those interest
ed in it's locality.
Year: 1873

An ingenious mechanic has brought
ont combination of steam gauge,
try cocks, and water level glass, all
in one piece. so that only two holes
need be made in the boiler instead
of six.
Year: 1873

re- Some OF the Mississippi Oranges,
in order to induce white men TO settle
in that State. have promised to furnish
every white family coming into their
respective counties with forty acres Of
land, rent free for FIVE years. The
Vicksburg Herald advocates selling in
stead of renting, the purchase money
to be made payable in five annual in
stallments, and is confident that the
adoption of this plan by landholders
would increase the population of Mis-
sissippi sixty thousand in six months
Others who own large tracts propose
to donate to actual white settlers every
alternate forty, which is an excellent
snd judicious plan for encouraging per-
manent eolouists.
Year: 1873

RA remarkably dirty man stopped
in front of small boy sitting on a
fence, expecting to have some fun by
chatting him. lie said: allow much
do you weight" The answer was:
"Well about as much as you would II
you were washed"
Year: 1873

~A Moscow beauty shot herself
at the ball given to celebrate her
birthday, because her betrothed got
beastly drunk and cut up badly. She
requested the band to play favor
ite air, went to the balcony and com
mitted the fatal act.
Year: 1873

The Postmaster General shows
from these figures, that the stringen-
cy in the money market was not
caused by any peculiar scarcity of
currency in the hands of the public
at the time of strIngency, but by q
disturbance of public confidence,
leading men to withdraw their money
from circulation through the banks
or otherwise, and boarding it to lie
dead and asleep in their hands.
Year: 1873

In paper by DIR. A. H. Garrod, the
following ingenious hypothesis regarding
the production of Nerve Force is ad-
vanced. Admitting then that the force
in question is either identical with, or
closely allied to, electricity in its prop
critics, he then asks, where does it origin
ate The existence OF special organs
for its developement in the torpedo and
other creatures which exhibit external
electrical phenomena, and the absence
of any snch organ in man and the high
er animals would seem to indicate that
the production of electricity in animals
requires some other form of apparatus
than the nervous ganglia. In answer to
this, the Doctor seeks to show that in
the difference of temperature between
the interior and surface of the living
body, source of energy is presented,
which, on thermo-eleetric principles, is
capable of producing all the force re-
quired. The brain and minor ganglia,
he adds, would then act as offices for the
reception and transmission of currents
in the required directions, being in fact
the commutators of the system.


In support of thiq, the Doctor says
"There are several of the most important
phenomena exhibited by the nervous
system which are very satisfactorily ex.
piained on the above hypothesis. For
instance, in cold weather the impulse to
action is much more powerfully felt than
in summer, when the air is hot; and
therefore the temperature of the surface
is higher. It is well known that it is
impossible to remain for more than a
very short time in hot water bath OF
which the temperature is as high as, OF
little higher than that of the body, on
account Of the faintness which is sure to
come on, and this may be reasonably
supposed to be the result of the cessation
of the nerve-current, which is consequent
on the temperature of the surface of the
body becoming the same as that of the
interior. This faIntness is Immediately
recovered from by the application of q
cold douche. When great muscular ex.
ertion has to be sustained, as in swim
ming or rowing, it is always necessary
for the continuance of the effort that the
surface of the body must be kept COOL
iScribner's for November.
Year: 1873

The Boston Globe evidently don't be-
lieve in miracles" Hear what he says
about the Piermont case, The case is
by no means an isolated one. Any
physician of an average experience can
furnish its parallel, especially those who
have made a specially of treating men
tai diseases. There is at present residing
in this city lady of culture and refine
meDt, possessed of excellent judgment,
and with mind perfectly sound in all
respects but one. For more than twenty
years she has, she esserts, been in COM
munication with the spirit of Shakes
peare. She receives his visits, which she
declares are highly enjoyable, and dis
cusses with him the poetry and literature
of the present day precisely as II he were
living and moving in the society IN
which she daily mingles. There is no
wildness or apparent inconsistei cy in
her accounts OF these interviews, and
she freely admits the extreme absurdity
of the idea as it must appear to other
people Yet she believes in it as firmly
as in her own existence, and would as
sert its truth upon her death bed. This
haliucnation first attracted the notice
of her friends soon after her recovery
from severe illness, and though her
bodily health was long since restored,
that one diseased spot of the brain has
never been healed over. Another in
stance well known to many of our citi-
zens. A lady of this city-now dead
whose soundness of mind was never
questioned on other points, and whose
long and useful life forbids the idea OF
any mposition-nsisted for more than ten
years that upon certain day each year
she was admitted into heaven, retaining
on each visit a clear recollection of all
she saw and heard. 1t is a fact that on
those days she remained in trance for
hours from which nothing could rouse
her. Excepting on this particular
point, there was nothing to denote any
unsoundness of mind, her conversations
upon the subject had nothing of the
fighty character usually noticeable in
the clnversation of insane persons. Such
cases might be multiplied without end
The uarld ;s f,II of tbapo


In the present instance there is moth
ing which gives it an Importance above
the particular ones we have just quoted
Year: 1873

A henpeeked gentleman determined
to sup with a party of friends against
the will of his wife. He resolved that
he would, and she that he should not 20.
He did not go. His friends missed him /;
and just for lark, invaded his residence,
where they found him and his wife sit
ting in their chairs, fast asleep. He had
given her an opiate that he might slip
away, and she had given him one that
be might not
Year: 1873

rushed on deck, and atthe same in
stant the sailors drove sa[number o.
pirates overheard.


They were whipped ategery point
and but one remained in active pos
session of his faculties. sHe was by
far the handsomest andSrhost intel.
lectual looking of the#hole gang.


He was closely engaged with the
MILDLY, and both appeared oblivious
to everything around them. We
were all more or.less tired from our
exertions, and having full faith in
the naval officers ability to defend
himself, we crowded around to wit
ness the combat. I shall never for
get the appearance of that sSpaniard,
as he crept round and round his ad-
versary, who Nth his sword carefully
poised watched his opponent like a
cat.


The Spaniard had his cape wrap
ped around his left arm and his long
dirk ready for immediate action as
he advanced and retreated. watching
f,r an opportunity. to sheath it in the
bosom Of the young officer. I was
about to brain the rascal and termi-
nate the conflict, when l was saved
the trouble. The Spaniard had re-
treated before an impetuous attack Of
the MILDLY, when tripping over a
ringbolt he was thrown off bis guard,
and like a flash of lightniagthe bright
blade of MILDLY ssword passed through
his body. @


Scarcely had the officer cleared his
weapon Of the pirate 'scarcass, when
a SC cam was heard. followed by a
sharp report, and the form of the
Spanish woman appeared on the scene
with one of her pistols still smoking
at the mouth.


In our eagerness to see the duel
between the officer and the pirate, we
had quite forgotten the woman, and
she too became absorbed in the con-
test until it terminated.


The MILDLY reeled, staggered for
ward, and fell heavily to the deck,
but his weapon forced on by the i'm
petus of the fall, was sheathed to the
hilt in the woman's body, and all
hands stood aghast at the terrible
scene.


The MILDLY was carried below, and
while I was examining the wound, the
crew secured the Spaniard who mad
been stricken down ID the beginning
OF the melee.


The MILDLY had received a danger
Gus wound, but managed to survive
his injury, and to-day heranks among
the first in his profession.


The woman, together with the dead
pirates, was consigned to the deep,
and onr decl,r -reshe5 low - -
Year: 1873

:" Yes, sir; but L was only playing
part, and, thank Heaven, my pre-
tended ignorance will not be without
its good results. Why, my dear sir,
do you suppose that I could be ma
tive Of New Orleans, and two years
Oh the Cuban station, and not learn
something of the language of the
Dons? I can speak it like native.
But we have no time to lose.


Let me hear all you know, and
then 1 can decide upon some plan Of
action; for presume that they have
designs upon the vessel.


"Not only upon the vessel, but
the lives Of all hands, and that pref
ty faced demon is at the bottom Of
the whole plot. Perhaps you wonder
at the course pursued in regard to
pleading ignorance Of the Spanish
language. I viii explain to you my
why and wherefore for 30 doing. The
day she came overe the side, I was
.standing in the gang way, and I ex-
tended nv hand to assist her, when I
noticed on her finger q gem that
glittered and sparkled like the eye of
a serpent.


1.-The mounting was so peculiar
and odd, that it could not fail to at
tract attention, AID you must have
seen it. Well sir, that ring was once
the property Of my uncle. He owned
a plantation in Jamaica, and started
two years ago to visit his relations
in New Orleans, but has never been
heard from since. My suspicious
were aroused at once, and hence my
course of action. While have been
flirting with her, and she pretending
to converse with me, she was really
perfecting plans with the spaniards
who were generally standing near.


"They are all members Of the same
gang, and fine lot Of jail birds they
are too. I have no doubt that they
murdered my uncle, and they will
murder us, unless we capsize their
plans"


What do you propose to do?"


While you were up aloft looking
at that strange sail they had last
grand confab, and tonight they are
to rise and take the ship, murder all
hands and run into Galveston, which
is their place Of rendezvous. They
have not the slightest idea that we
understand word of their language,
and imagine that the vessel will fall
an easy prey to their rapacity, which
very fact will assist us materially.
Their plan is as follows:


"They will all sleep on deck, and
two Of them are to be stationed at the
companion hatch, two are to occupy
the hen-coop aft by the man at the
Year: 1873

OF 1t, an1 how We must organize Tor
defense


scarcely knew what to DO, for
there We're no arms aboard the ship.
The MILDLY had pair Of pistols and
his light dress sword, the only wea-
pons he could depend upon, bnt l
managed to communicate with all the
men, and our plans wero soon per-
fected.


The spaniar1s only COUNTED on hav-
ing one watch On deck, but as ! in
tended to have all hands, resolved
to lull suspicion by pretending that l
apprehended a gale Of wind. The
cook was instructed to keep his cop
pers full of boiling wafer, while tie
men walked the deck armed with
beavers and Delaying pins.


The mate was stationed at the
wheel with Ratchet concealed in the
bosom Of his shirt, while the MILDLY
and myself walked the quarterback,
each with pistol in his pocket and
the sword near at hand. In the deep
est anxiety we waited for the crisis
to come, as slowly the shades of the
tropics fell around us.


Occasionally the low warblings Of
the Spanish girl could be heard as
she hummed some love song, and the
positions of the Spaniards could be
easily detected by the small, glowing
light that emanated from their cease
less cigarettes.


The night was calm and beautiful,
scarcely a breath of air stirring ex-
cept what was created by the sails as
they tapped idly against the mast.
Suddenly three distinct raps echoed
through the ship, and in an instant
the whole scene changed as if by
magic.


The signal had been given some
what earlier than any of us had e4-
pected, still we were not taken by
surprise BY any means.


1 had no time Or opportunity to at
tend to anything for a moment but
my own personal safety, for one of
the Spaniards rushed at me from a
dark corner, and in an instant I saw
the blade of his tyo..edged dirk gilt
ter IL the moonlight, but it neyerlad
the opportunity to drink my blood,
for with a cool, steady aim | covered
his head and he fell without groan.


had now an opportunity to throw
a hurried glance about me, and see
how the others were performing their
allotted parts.


The MILDLY had not used his pistol
but depending on his sword, was on
the point Of giving the up dc grace
to 2 bQrly ruftian who had attacked
the gallant youth.


Forward, the battle. was raging
fercely, and the loud yells of the
combatants rang through the air and
across the waters without cessation,
varied occasionally with shrieks Of
agony as Sam, the cook, dealt out his
stock of boiling water with no spar
ing hand.


The spanfards were caperingabout
like French dancing masters. and the
enraged seamen were following them
up with their beavers ard capstan-
bars, against which the short dirk,
the iavorite weapon Of the Spaniard,
did but little good,


They were between two fires, the
sailors in front and the cook in the
rear, wiz tormented them dreadfully,
, and at last the survivors fled in the
widest confusion and rallied aft.


On came the seameh flushed with
victory, and with loud huzzas charged
upon the covering rascals, when sud
denly the door of the cabin flew open,
and the Spanish girl made her ap-
pearance with a pistol in each hand
= With a loud. passionate cry she
Year: 1873

There's beautiful face in the silent air.
Which follows me ever and near,
With smiling eyes and amber hair,
With yoiceless lips, yet with breath Of


prayer,


That feel, but I cannot hear.
The dimpled hands and ringlets Of gold
Lie low in marble sleep,
I stretch my arms for the clasp OF old,
But the empty air is strangely cold,
And my vigil alone I keep.
There's sinless brow with. radiant


crown


And a cross laid down in the dust,
There's smile where not a shadow


comes now,
And tears no more from those dear eyes


flow,


So sweet in their innocent trust.
All; well and summer is coming again,
Singing her same old song,
But oh it sounds like sob of pain
As it floats in the sunshine and the rain,
Ger hearts ofthe worlds great throng.
There's beautiful region above the


skies, fAy ="
And long to reach its shore,
For I know I shall find my treasure


there


The laughing eyes and amber hair,
Of the loved one gone before.


-Woman's Journal.
Year: 1873

The Danbury News says: If you have oc
casion to use wheelbarrow, leave it, wher
you are done with it, in front of the house
with the handles toward the door. A wheel
barrow is the most complicated thing to fall
over on the face of the earth. A man viii
fall over one when he would never think Of
falling over anything else; he never knows
when he has got through falling over it,
either; for it will tangle his legs and his
arms, turn over with him and rear up in
front of him, and just as he pauses in his
profanity to congratulate himself, it takes a
new turn, and scoops more skin off of him,
and he commences to evolute anew, and
bump himself on fresh places. A man
never ceases to fall over a wheelbarrow un-
til it turns completely on its back, or brings
up against something it cannot upset 1t
is the most inoffens;ve-looking object there
is, but it is more dangerous than locomo-
tive, and no man is secure with one unless
he has tight hold of its handles, and is
sitting down on something. 4 wheelbar-
row has its uses, without doubt, lslt in its
leisure moments it is the great blighting
curse on true dignity.
Year: 1873

Learn to think and act for yourself.


Have but few confdants- fewer the
better


Never ''fooT i'll business matters.


Pay as you go.


A man of honor respects his word as he
does his bond. Aid, but never beg.


Learn to say no" No necessity for
swapping it out dog fashion, but say it firm
ly and respectfully.


Endeayor to avoid all hard words and
personalities.


Do not kick every stone in the path.
More miles can be made in a day by going
steadily on than stopping.


Have order, system, regularity, Iberality
and promptness.


Do not meddle with any business you
know nothing Of.