smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

A Cincinnati Gazette reader wants to


know whether the changes of the moon
have any effect on the weather, and, if
SO, why. He also asks whether lunatics
are influenced by lunar changes, and, if
not, why they are thus called. In re-
gard to the first of these points, that
paper says, modern men of science are
about unanimous in denying that the
moon influences anything but the tides.
The popular impression from time i'm
memorial has been to the opposite.
From this impression madmen derived
their name. Whatever may be the fact
in regard to the moon having anything
to do with insanity, the writer can affirm
that he has seen one case, at least, where
a man became a raving maniac at the
full of the moon, recovering his senses
when exhaustion had put an end to his
wild demonstrations, and continuing in
apparent soundness of mind until few
days before the full he experienced pre-
monitions of his approaching paroxysms.
He was person of intelligence. aud
we'll off pecuniarily, and was voluntary
inmate OF an asylum, being free to go in
and out except during this week or SO of
each month, when he was bereft of his
reason. We state the case as it was,
leaving its explanation to psychologists
and Psychologists. There is a wide
spread belief that the moons rays are
inimical to health. This, we think, has
been pronounced superstition by men
of science. We are not prepared to dis.
pute their verdict; yet an instance that is
we'll authenticated seems to Justify
doubt in their infallibility. Some forty
years ago, in an Eastern State, two little
girls, cousins, occupied the same bed.
They retired in apparent health, but
woke in the morning dead lame. One
was never able to walk afterward, while
the other, after using iron supports to
her ankles for few years with Partial
success, was compelled to give up all
attempts at locomotion. There was no
cause that could be ascribed for this
double visitation with any plausibility,
except that the moon was very bright
on the nnlucky night, and that its rays
shone full on the bed where the girls
lay. It was always believed that they
were moonstruck ;" if they were not
no one could assign reason for their
lamenesa
Year: 1876

Within two years there have been
three shoeshops lost iu Massachusetts,
from lampblack. A hand damp with
perspiration, a drop of water, a bit of
grease, or a sprinkle of oil will create
the composition that will start lampblack
aglow like charcoal. In lampblack fac
tories, while precaution is taken to pre-
vent fires, rainy day or a sharp frosty
day will start dampness upon the in
side of window pane, and the flying
PARTICLES of dust lighting upon this
create the spark, which, communicating
to this pile, sends a glow of fire with
wonderful rapidity through the galleries
of the shop. In cleaning up the smoke
galleries, if the men let drop of per-
spiration fall into pile they instantly
scoop up the black in and about where
it lodges, and take it out of the house.
Year: 1876

RED OR BLACK ANTS. be driven
away by line of solution of corrosive
sublimate, drawn with brush around
the edge of each shelf in the store
room, and around the outside of each
pail or jar standing upon the floor. No
jar, nor anything, should be allowed to
touch the side walls, or the ants will use
snch vessels "a bridges to cross the line
OF poison. l always use the prepara-
ton myst If, to insure its being thor
oughly done, and to prevent accider ts
from the careless use of 60 deadly .
poison,
Year: 1876

GAs.-Mr. Groom has introduced a
bill to the Legislature, to require
gas companies to accompany their
monthly bills for gas with affidavits
from the parties examining the
meter that the amount of gas charg-
ed has actually passed the meter;
that the meter is in good condition
and that the gas furnished is at east
twelve candle power.
Year: 1876

S3 with all marked opposite their name, ~
A either on the margin of the paper or on "a
"a the outside wrapper, will understand that "a
the term of subscription paid for has expired.


No paper sent By mail ionQer than the time
maid for
Year: 1876

Don't let your angry FASHIONS rise,
Because your neighbvrs advertise,


And draw away the dimes;
But boldly DO as they have done,
Pursue the course they have begun,


And drive away dull times.
Year: 1876

How THE BABY KANGAROO Is
FED.-In almost all beasts, and in
man also, the air passage or windpipe
(Which admits air to and from the
lungs) opens into the floor Of the
mouth, behind the tongue and in front
Of the opening of the gullet. Each
particle of food then, as 1t passes to the
gullet, passes over to the entrance Of
the windpipe, tut is prevented from
falling into it (and so causing death
by choking) by the action Of small
cartilaginous shield (thc epiglottis).
This shield, which ordinarily stands
up in front of the opening into the
windpipe, bends back and comes over
that opening just when the food is
passing, and so, at the right moment,
almost always prevents food from "go
ing the wrong Way But in the
young kangaroo, the milk being into
duced, not by any voluntary act Of the
young kangaroo itself, but by the in-
jecting action of its mother, it is evi-
dent that, did such state Of things
obtain in it as has been just described,
the result would be speedily fatal
Did no special provision exist, the
young one must infallb!y be choked
by the intrusion of milk into the wind
pipe. But there is special provision
for the young kangaroo; the upper
part of the windpipe Cor larynx) in
stead OF lying as in US, and as in most
beasts, widely separated frou ,be hin.
der opening of the nostrils, is much
raised. 1t is, in fact, so elongated in
the young kangaroo that it rises right
up into tho hinder end of the nasal
passage, which embraces it. Ia this
way there is free entrance for air
from the nestrils into the windpipe by
passage shut off from the cavity Of
the mouth. All the time the milk can
freely pass to the back Of the mouth
and gullet along each side of this elon.
gated Iarynx, aud thus breathing a1d
milk injection can so on Simultaneous
ly without risk Of Inconvenience So.
George Miuart, IN Popular Scieace
Monthly for February.
Year: 1876




The dime of the Art Gallery will
be Lighted by 1000 gas jets, arranged
In three circles, one near the base, a
second al the middle, and the other
just under the summit. At night,
therefore, the whole dome, which is
CONSTRUCTED OF glass, will be brilliant
mass Of light. and as the summit is
266 feet above the level of the Schuyl-
kill, the great illuminated hemisphere
will be v sible all over the city. All
the halls in the building will in day
time receive an abundance of light
from the skylights. Along the sides
of the ceilings, and down the frame
work of the sashes, gas pipes are fixed
SO as to equalize the gaslight at every
point.
Year: 1876

as we'll as anyone. Stand by your flag
and let the debtor class howl. Let us
resume, or if initiate; let the imitation
come through the time>honorcd channels
the bangs. In fact we don't object so
much to initiation, as to the manner of
doing it. Let the banks initiate: and
we will stand it until blown up like an
OK in new clover Let the banks mans
age the contraction when they think it
profitable to prick the bubble, and we
are content. Our theory provides Tor
both schemes, so letus stand by our old
principles. Only let the bankers draw
their gold interest on the two billions OF
bonds, FROM the government, and their
double or treble interest on sixteen or
eighteen hundred millions from the
people with absolute power over infla>
ton and contraction, and iwont we be
happy9 If we wont, somebody else
will. and why not the bankers?"


Now if all the people OF the End Dis
trict could think AS clearly as that old
farmer neither Strait nor Wilder would
get one hundred votes in the entire dis
trict.


But the trouble is they can't or won't
Year: 1876

Peter Cooper. in his brief speech at the
Cooper Institute meeting, struck the Key
note of the platform on when the inae>
pendent party makes this campaign,
when he said:


OF one tact YOU may rest assured. IL
is this: There is but one great remedy
for the financial troubles and the distress
now prevailing in this country anu the
remedy lies in the just and proper action
of the government IN reference TO the
important question OF money.


And In another equally eloquent pass
age he expressed the true aspiration OF
every loyal heart in the Union:


long to see the day when 9 govern
mental policy shall be adopted that Will
secure the rewards OF labor to the heads
and hands that earn them; when the
establishment of Justice shall be made to
promote the general welfare OF this great
audl glorious country, ana when the
people themselves shall become cons
scipus OF the truth that 4 government
will be Just what the people make It
Year: 1876

Among the troubles OF the hour is
what to do with ones money. 1t is not
safe in the bank. The trust companies
turn out to be vain things for safety. The
more real estate man has the worse he
is off. There have been u great many
times in the last fifty years when people
could not make money with money to
make it with The popularity OF this
panic is that you can do nothing with the
money. No investment is safe, and mill
lions are now lying idle. The recent
furry in Wall street show this. Every>
body who could, have taken out their
money from real estate and put it into
stocks. Accrtain line OF stocks was con-
sidered as good as gold. This was es-
pecially true OF coal stocks. All along
the line of the Lackawana and kindred
roads stock was held by well to do fam
iies with incomes from $4,000 to S20.-
900 year were made penniless. 1t IS
said that if the great railroad men were
obliged to realize at once. larger part
OF the so.called millionaires would be as
poor rs their neighbors. Nearl y all our
heavy companies, if obliged to throw their
real estate on to the market, would find
themselves in bad way.-New York
Letter 10 The Boston journal.


son with the dance, let JOY be uncon-
fined Keep up the pressure; turn
down the screw.


When England commenced to resume
specie payments her bank paper was
worth only five per cent. less than gold,
yet to overcome that tive per cent. and
reach specie basis, She decreased the
value of all property in the kingdom fifty
per cent and produced such suffering
that standing army Of 1900 men had
TO be raised to keep the starving people
in subsection.


Go ahead with the funeral gentlemen.
Year: 1876

rate complete cessation of work. The
first company to announce a suspension
was the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre coal
iron company, \ corporation that has, in
in CONJUNCTION with the Central railroad
OF New Jersey, carried on lively and
prosperous business. tits reported the
company is financially embarrassed. but
the report needs confirmation. The o.
900 miners and laborers of the company
in the Summit Hill region are thrown out
of employment. and the other $4,000
operatives in the Wyoming and Lacka-
wana districts will be fourloughed by
the close of tae week. The other heavy
mining and transportation companies
will adopt similar line OF policy rs soon
as all arrangements are completed IN
that direction.


At this time there are some 80 900 col
liers unemployed, and good prospect
Of the army being increased at least lo,-
600 before long. In many OF the more
isolated districts there is more or less
Molly Maguirisnl, and outbreaks may
occur at any moment as the feeling IS
very bitter against the section of the
companies throughout the Summit Hill
region.


IS it any wonder that there are Molly
Maguires, arson and MURDER Think of
those As 900 men, with their wives and
children dependent upon them. looking
into the black face OF the coming winter,
with the pangs OF starvation gnawing at
their vitals.


1t is simply awful. Such conspiracies
against labor and human life ought to be
punished with death. What is it tor 4 few
murderers and robbers to ride into yil-
lage like Northtield and fight a duel with
the whole population? suppose they slew
a dozen men in their desperate raid WHAT
is that dreadful rs it is. compared with
the cold d-blooded conspiracy which turns
over $1,000 workmen. Yes. perhaps
200 900 men, women and children, to
cold and wet and hunger and nakedness
and starvation for six long dreadful
months? Cole Younger is chivalric
knight OF the heroic age compared with
such lilly-liycred assassins.


And ''in the peoples country there is
no remedy tor such outrages..
Year: 1876

Hon. Ebenezer Ayres has been ap'
pointed by the State Central Committee,
of the Independent party, to prepare an
address to the voters of the State.
The Independent party is made up OF
moor men. and the committee have no
iunds to draw on, and no oifice-holders
to assess. We would therefore suggest
that all VINO feel able to contribute any
sums large OF small towards deirayng
the cost of printing and distributing this
address. should send them directly to
Mr.. Ayres at Cottage Grove. Every ut
tie will help. Money cannot be better
spent than in enlightening the voters on
the crave issues Of the hour.
Year: 1876

it is one way. Genuine specie payment
would result in contraction to nearly the
amount OF gold available in the country
for business, as nothiug less would be a
legal tender beyond 1925. His taxes
would probably have to be paid in gold.
as indicated in the proposed York State
law recommended by Tilden."


Mr.. Page then proceeds to show the
superior advantages OF the plan proposed
by the Independent party.
Year: 1876

A CLOSE SHAvE.-An Indian opened a
barber shop IN Kansas town, but he Is
not making fortune. One dav while
shaving a white man he permitted his mind
70 wander back to the happy days of his
childhood, and before you could repeat the
multiplication table backwards he had his
customers CORY scalp dangling at his belt.
VI course he apologized when he fully
mindedness, and offered to glue the scaln
ON at his own expense; but this white man
wouldn't listen to season. and left the shop
swearing that he would never 40 back there
TO get shaved And ne hes kept his word.
Year: 1876

WAS IT PUT-UP JoB?-The Dover cor.
respondent to the Norning HcraH writes as
follows about the Conference Academy
1t Is stated that one of the most prominent
builders in town said that he would take
the contract to replace the building, lust as
1t stood before the fire, for $4,000. 1t is
the opinion of many persons that the Board
of Managers of the Academy when the
building was being put up were grossly in.
competent. The heating apparatus was
given out to a firm in Baltimore, Just be-
cause friend of the firm was member of
the Board, and was willing to vouch for the
hrm, at the enormous price of six thousand
dollars, about twice as much as it was
worth, and the thing never worked right
anyhow. Charges of like nature are
freely made in regard to other things and
are not denied, therefore the supp0sition
that the building could be restored for
So, 600 is well substantiated.
Year: 1876




Of 1ss6-'7 will have fairly opened tomorrow
evening with the initial performance OF Italian
opera BY the Strakosch troupe. The opening Is
IN marked contrast with that of last season,
which was fnauguratcd by the Thomas Orches-
ira There was no legitimate opera until Janu-
ary, when Kellogg came, and that was all the
opera We had, for the musical variety perform
ances BY the Oates, Aimee, and Mathews
tzoupes OF that season can hardly be called
opera from the legitimate standpoint. This
year, however, we are likely to hear operatic
works that will be warmly welcomed after their
long absence, and to greet singers who have not
been heard here for many year, as well as
some who have never sung here at all.
Mr.. strakosch has made sharp move
for success by taking time By the
forelock and getting into this Ell Dorado Of i'm
presarios before any Of his competitors, and has
also shown genuine strategy in opening with a
favorite old opera that has not been heard here
since Chicago was laid in dust and ashes, and
will therefore have the charm Of comparative
Year: 1876

It may he of some interest to those
who took an active part in having the he
| gro forced into the Opera House, in this
city, to read the following extract from
the New York Herald, which i an ed
ltorial item uron case in point that
arose IN the city of San Francisco:


Judge Sawyer charged jury in San
Francisco recently IL way pretty sure
to invite the wrath of the friends of
the negro. 1t was cuse under the
Cly1 Rights law in which a negro
sought remedy for having been ex-
Guided from theatre. There was
some strong swearing On one side or
the other, for the testimony Was very
contradictory on the simple facts, aud
1t was charged by the Judge that in
The absence Of anY rule of the theatre
that "ntgroes should he excluded"
there was no evidence to show that the
man was excluded on account of color,
and that he might have been excluded
Epf sOioc other reason With the way
thus opened for them tee jury found ii
verdict IN favor of tho manager. It is
very q ifficujt TO enforce law that il


IN coofct with the sentiments of the
3rea: mass OF the people
Year: 1876




In oiden times these positions were
sought after as the highest honors OF
tne University. But whether or Lot
they viii be SO considered in our days,
is yet to be seen. Although there has
been but little said concerning these
offices of ''honor," yet it is evident
that there will be a sprightly contest
for tle positions.


The Phiianthropic has Chief Mar
shall, the Dialectic, Chief Ball Man
ager and also the choice of the orator
for the commencement. In my next
letter I hope 1 will be able to say who
have been elected to fill these positions.


The speaker who are to repre- sent
the two societies at next commence
ment will be elected.


ON MERIT.


At one time the representation of the
societies by original speeches was
abolished. But now the societies
think it proper that they should be
represented by orations, and to accom-
piish this end they will select six men
from each society. Those selected
will write their ora+ions under an as
sumed name. The faculty will decide
upon the three best orations from each
society. Therefore the speakers will
be chosen entirely upon merit, and not
upon popularity among the students.
The selection of these speakers by the
societies will be frpm the three socie-
ties represented at the University, and
from no particular one.


THE VILLAGE-rrS IMPR ovEMENTS.


1. is to be noticed everywhere, the
great number of improvements that
are gong on in the village. The old
Episcopal Church, Which for SO long
time has been left TO decay, will soon
present, under the brush of the
painter, a very neat appearance All
the merchants are increasing their |
stocks, and happier times are looked |
to with great pleasure by all. |


Yours, N G.
Year: 1876

give UP the contest for superiority in
growth so easy and surely as the black
walnut, but at the same time | know of
no tree that will outstrip it when every
thing is in its favor. | have Il tree grow
ing on "A river flat from the stump seven
teen years, which is now sixteen inches
in diameter few inches from the ground


1t has borne nuts for ten years.
l have another one that grew the
and six inches, and this one
came up among the other young timber
without any cultivation. l have one over
eighty feet high, and not two feet through
at the ground. / wish to say to such as
have favorable soil and location for wal
nuts, put them IN, plow thoroughly and
very deep, cultivate well the first two or
three years, and within seven or eight
years you will have the satisfaction of
seeing trees laden with rich nuts and rap
idly forming valuable timber for posts and
costly furniture; but for fuel there is
many kinds of timber much more desira-
Bile. / have planted over twenty five
bushels of walnuts. Some have grown
very well, while others have grown re-
markably slow. Butternuts / have often
planted with success, and removed trees
quite large with scarcely failure.
never have succeeded in removing the
walnut, unless very small. l once set an
evergreen hedge just under the limbs of a
walnut tree, and the three trees that were
just under the drippings of the walnut
perished, while all the others grew finely.
have tried to get apple trees to grow
near them, but have always failed. From
these observations have been led to cut
out all the walnuts from my fruit fields.
have found potatoes to be the best crop to
grow under the walnut.-Edson Gaylord
(Fzoyd County, Iosca), in ". Y. Tribune.
Year: 1876

THE soil is the farmers bank. If he
would keep his accounts good and have
his drafts honored, he must take care that
his farming operations do not impoverish
his land, for that will inevitably impover-
ish him.


There are those accounted good farm
ers, because in the main, they are reason
ably successful in their management, yet
who nevertheless blindly pursue methods
that are futile in accomplishing desired
results. There is much working in the
dark, and sometimes great waste of
labor. There are some things that are
hard to be unlearned after they have been
long practiced with apparently beneficial
effects, but which really had little agency
in producing those effects.


A hundred years and more ago Jethro
Tull believed and taught that by sufficient
culture the soil would produce crops year
after year, without manure. His theory
brought disaster upon him ultimately, but
there was great lesson in his experience
which farmers failed to apply, to wit: the
value of tillage in aerating the soil. Cul-
tivation, frequent stirring, admits the air,
and when it is recollected that vegetable
and mineral manures are useless until de-
composed into their original elements,
and that decomposition can only go on by
the direct agency of the atmosphere, the
importance of the knowledge is at once
recognized. Organic matter possesses
highly fertilizing properties, but these lie
dormant and useless until decomposed,
and rendered fit for plant food, by aeration
of the soil to which this matter has been
applied. Pulverize the soil and keep it
mellow, for then it can breathe freely, so
to speak, and the more productive it will
be rendered. Herein lies the benefit OF
repeated stirring-of fall blowing, which
insures additional pulverization by the
action of frost, insuring finer tilth. And
hence, too, the beneficial effects of drain
ing the soil, carrying off stagnant water
and permitting the air to take its place.
We must not lose sight of the fact thai
with properly aerating the soil, the con
stituents removed from it must be returned
and that in the use of manures it is wei
to consider not only what is desired fo
an immediate crop. hut also the condition
in which the soil will be left for succeed
ing crops. Judicious culture and proper
rotations will insure good crops, and a
the same time the land will not dcterioratt
in fertility Western Rurat.
Year: 1876

-Conceited to the last was the wealthy
citizen of Savannah, Ga, who closed his
will with the remark that never in his life
had he done a thing necessary to be atoned
fer or Iprretted
Year: 1876

SINCE a man IN Stonington, Conn,
plowed up one of Washington's old coat
buttons in his field, the people of that
neighborhood have become aroused to the
importance, from a purely agricultural
age. Every man who has a quarter of an
acre of land has had it plowed over once
at least, and will have the operation re-
peated as soon as the frost is out of the
ground
Year: 1876

A FEW days since well known citizen
of Providence went to New York on
business, and his smart young wife, in
stockings for a change, also writing note,
folding it up, and placing it in one of the
stockings, thinking he would read it in
New York, and, perhaps, bring her home
a diamond ring. The husband, however,
didn't change his stockings in New York,
and so his wife's tender epistle was all
lost upon him while he was away. The
other morning he put the stockings on,
but even then he didn't discover the note,
and all day he was limping about the
city wondering why one Of his boots hurt
him so. Matters were explained and the
boot made all right.