smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

| We wish now to note that there il
4 y very serious defect In the laws o


this State in reference to the colleo


tion of revenues, which the coming


legislature ought not to fail to rem
edy, at tho first opportunity, by


passing an act early in the session


curing the defect and provide for itt


going into effect by publication. We


refer to the lameness in the law in
providing for the appointment ol


Township Collectors, by the County


Treasurer, and making provision fot


compensation to these collectors. -


The law now provides that these


collectors shall have ave per cent.
penalty, which they are to add to


the taxes Of monies collected by


them; that is, where they collect


taxes of a person they collect in ad-


dition Ave por cent. on the amount


for their compensation. The result
is that when collectors are appointed,
and they call upon parties they
Immediately slip off to the county
seat and pay the Treasurer, who is
obliged TO receive the taxes without
the five per cent. penalty, and so the
.


Township Collector is cheated out of
his pay for drumming in these delin-
quents. The Office of Township
Collector is one hard to be properly
filed, at the best, because it gives
rise to more or less Of feeling against
the person filling the position
Therefore the collector ought to be
and must be well paid to secure the
services. We should say that ten or
fifteen per cent was not too much
compensation on the money collected
and tho further amendment should
be made that when the list is deliv.
cred to the collector, the County
Treasurer should be thereafter au-
thorixed and required to collect this
additional penalty to 60 to the COL
lector when parties offer to pay their
taxes to him. We are not particular
how the remedy be applied but some
thing efficient should be done to
prevent the great leak in collection
of the revenues that arise out of this
defect. In Wapello County wo be-
lieve that this defect causes yearly
the loss of thousands of dollars, and
if it operates in other counties as it
does here, the entire revenue of the
State suffers very materially thereby.
Parties in this county owning only
personal property have escaped the
of their taxes for years on
account Of the inadequacy Of the
law for their collection.
Year: 1871

The Tammany ring are at last
coming TO grief-and Tweed, like
any other thief, is trying to hide his
plumber. A more astounding case OF
bare faced robbery has never been
developed in this or any other coun-
try and the only fear is that Tweed
and bis brother conspirators may not
be punished as they deserve. From
the a!;lcrity with which Jay Gould
steps forward to assist Tweed to get
bail il looks little as if some ofthe
railroad ring have had, a finger in, the
stealings, or at least thai they might
have derived some benefit thcretrom.
Year: 1871

A friend tells US something which we
never saw i'll print but which illustrates
the tendency of tombstone doggerels
nowadays. A faoetiOus fellow was
passing through a graveyard and on a
neatly scuIptured tombstone over the
grave of little boy he read these lines:


We cannot always DO as we pleases.


But little Jimmy has gone to see his Jesus.
The fellow thought he could finish the
couplet, so he wrote below:


You can't most always tell,


Perhaps little Jimmy has gone to h,
Year: 1871

THE San Francisco papers say that the
crime Ofjerking the hair out of your
wife's head, since the invention of
chignOns, is not so sinful as it used to
was. 1t is just as ungentlemanly as
ever, but it don't hurt so much as for
meTlv,
Year: 1871

No man was ever destined to be great
whose disposition and manners change
with circumstances. We like to see the
grand features in a mans character dis
tinetly marked, and capable of being
traced through every period of his life,
from bOyhOOd to old age. We do not
like to see his honest bIuntness give way
to a sort of amiable, please-every-body
temper when he mixes with the world
and finds it good policy to keep on the
right side of all kinds of men and wo-
men. That temper and that description
of manner which can abide the sun and
storm, are what give character to the
man. We like to see the boy who has
ways, and manners, and feelings of his
own, who can not be moulded into any
shape that foolish and hypOcritical pa
rents choose to give him q model. We
like to see the young men who will
sooner be banished from under the roof
of a sOrdid and weak-minded father than
be moulded into a dull, commonplace
man of business, and be made traitor
to truth and God, for the sake of q re-
putation among wOrldlings and Phari-
sees.
Year: 1871

Four or five years ago man named
Knuckle, living at or near Brazil, in
Clay county, suddenly abandoned his
family and disappeared to parts un-
known. His wife waited patiently two
or three years for his return, but he
failed to put in an appearance, and not
having heard from him. she procured a
divorce, and shortly after married a
man named Gibbon, a small store keep
er in Brazil. They lived happily to-
gether until one day not long since,
when Mr.. Gibbon was taken all aback
by the man Knuckle quietly walking
into his store and enquiring where he
could find his wife. Gibbon saw imme-
diately that trouble was brewing, and
he quietly slipped out and went home,
told his wife the circumstances, and
gave her the choice of flying with him
or returning to the embraces of Knuck-
lie. The woman elung to GibbOn, and
the two packed up their things and left
the town on the first train. KnuckIe
swore vengence when he found out the
true state of affairs, and he is now on
the hunt of the man who stole his wife.
IerTe Haute Ind Journal.
Year: 1871

Veal should be of a light color, with
plenty Of fat, especially about the kid
neyS- The flesh should be dryer than
beef, and finer. Ifcoarse-grained, moist
or clammy, reject it. Veal should not
be over ten or twelve weeks old. 1t is
less healthy than either beef or NUT
Year: 1871

An exchange intimates that in the next
campaign Democratic candidates and their
strikers will indulge in an unusual amount
of misrepresentation, blowing and cheek.
That sort of thing has been "spotted" by
the people of Shasta, however, and they
have ceased to believe everything they
hear. In the last campaign unposted peo-
pie were we'll stuffed with the story that
Ft Crook would poll very heavy vote,
and that the Democratic candidates would
receive from fifty to sixty majority in that
precinct When the election returns came
in, and it was found that Fort Crook
precinct gave majority for the Republi
can candidates, the premeditated Democrat
ic dodge was exposed, and some credulous
people hughely disgusted to think they
had allowed themselves to be gulled by
members of their own party.
Year: 1871

Last week George Everets and William
Ruster were passing along Hulen Greek
near George Balls ranch when a small
dog which accompanied them treed a large
panther. One of the party carried shot
gun loaded with bird shot, and he walked up
close to the tree and fired several charges in
the face ofthe panther, putting out its eyes
aud disabling it for effective fight or fight
A rifle was finally procured and a well direct
ed shot tumbled the animal out of the tree
and ended its maraudering career.
Year: 1871

We hear number of candidates suggested
for State Printer, all of whom are strangers
to US personally. Our acquaintance with T.
A. Springer, of Amador, is only through
the medium of an exchange, but we be-
lieve he is our first choice for the Office
Springer always stands up to the party
rack, fodder or no fodder, and we think
he deserves friendly lift at the hands Of
the next Republican State Convention.
Year: 1871

The near approach of the season selected
for political State and County Conventions
induces the hungry corner politician to be
more energetic and obtrusive, and, while
the ton-holers are busy on the curbs,
the interested principals occupy little back
rooms, receive their friends aud partisans
one by one, and each in his turn is dis
missed with an admonition as to profound
secrecy, and request to see Mr.. So-and-
so and ''fx" him and secure his influence
in certain quarters. With all the political
manipulation which must necessarily be
entrusted to all classes of politicians, it
cannot be expected that all the tricks and
schemes of the ofice-seeker can be kept a
profound secret


For the past four or five days rumors
have come thick and fast in regard to the
Gubernatorial candidates before the great
"Unterri6ed." After the usual amount of
knowing winks and side-talks we are pref
ty well satisfied that negotiations Of some
what alarming character Gin political way)
have been going on in earnest in which a
prominent candidate for Governor has been
through intimate friends, negotiating with
powerful corporation, with whom. his
relations have not been of the most loving
character.


In short, it is the street talk, and gener-
ally conceded to be the fact, that our pres
ent Governor has, for the purposes of a
reelection, been consorting with the enemy,
and having offered terms acceptable to the
Railroad people, the latter will withdraw
all opposition to Lis denomination or reelec-
ton. an


Some few persons have said that
change in base Of so great magnitude
would be Impossible, but ready answer is
made in all eases that the same party
had undergone more radical change of
heart in a much shorter space of time. and
for prize of much smaller magnitude
than the reelection to the Governorship.


This trade involves many smaller schemes,
and even comes into the wrestle for county
Offices and Supervisors.


1t secures the retirement of one guber-
national candidate, who heretofore claimed
the delegational candidate, who heretofore
claimed the delegation from this city in
the Democratic Convention, and the tran
sposition of others. This nice little piece
of strategy has been managed, it is said,
by the army of appointees so vividly des-
cribed by Congressman johnson in his
balcony speech as consuming 100000
per annum Of party pap.


That the people who have the least to
say in matters of this kind may be fully
apprised of what is going on, we give
these little items of political side-talk, that
all will have fair chance


From time 10 time we may continue
our review of the position of the contest
ants, showing how others affected by this
change will be disposed of---Alta.


H. II. H. is an experienced fopist.
Year: 1871

On Wednesday, the Jury in the Critten-
den Fair case, after being out less than an
hour, found verdict of guilty of murder
in the first degree, against Mrs. Fair. We
incline to the opinion that when this ver-
dict is carried out, the scales Of Justice will
stand about evenly balanced. Critten-
den met the fate he deserved, and Mrs. Fair
ought to be hanged higher than Haman.
Year: 1871

ANDY JoHNsoN.-This parsonage has
not been heard from for some time, and as
he once occupied distinguished position
it is scarcely the thing to permit him to
drop entirely into oblivion. We have as
surances that he still lives, and that he is
very sick of his association with the Demo-
cracy. He might well be, although his
own record has not been one of the most
honorable character. The Baltimore
American claims to have good authority
for saying that he has gone back on the
Democratic party, declares himself sub
scriber to the Republican faith and very
much desires to be taken into the party in
full standing. The ex-President can't
stand the Kuklux thugs.-[Sacramento
Union.
Year: 1871

The instructions of the State Board with
reference to the assessment of possessory
rights may be proper enough, but so far as
they relate to possessory claims upon lands
of the United States, we doubt if the State
has any pow to enforce the collection of
taxes. Most claimants upon such lands
will pay reasonable tax, as matter of
equity and to avoid trouble; but it is GER
tain that the State can convey no title to
land of the United States, if she under
takes to enforce the collection of taxes BY
their sale, nor can she divest pre- emption
or homestead claimant of his right, under
laws of the United States, upon lands
which those laws have expressly exempted
from State taxation.
Year: 1871

Dr. Mooers, of Burgettville, writes to US


in relation to matters affecting the general
welfare of the people of Pit River Valley,
and we assure him that we shall do our
part toward bringing about a satisfactory
solution and adjustment of local difficulties.
Year: 1871

The San Francisco Spirit of the Times,
the only sporting paper on this coast, has
come out in bran new dress, ard is now
one of the neatest looking papers in the
State. The new heading is model of
taste and beauty.
Year: 1871

''The wind is tempered to the shorn lamb, I"
otherwise the delicate organization of woman
could never bear up under the severe trials
which it is her lot to endure. As means of
sustaining her strength, and bringing her
safely through the difficulties and dangers of
which she is by nature the heiress, no medi-
cine ever prescribed is comparable to DR..
Walkers Vegetable Vinegar Btters. In all
arrangements of the female system it restores
regularity, and promotes physical vigor and
mental repose.
Year: 1871

HARD ON AssEssoRs.-Th State Board
of Equalization have instituted schedule,
says the Chico Enterprise, that will make
the respective assessors great deal Of
work, much more than of previous years.
The salaries of these officials are not sufi-
cient to warrant full and perfect assess
ment, especially as the new duties impose
an increase of labor and no inc ease of pay
We would suggest to the Boards of Su-
pervisors that an appropriation be made to
so pay the Assessors Il at they may make
such returns as will embrace all matters
subject to taxation, by which the revenue
may be increased
Year: 1871

wonder what grandma is thinking about,
AS she sits in the corner there,
With the freight shining into her eyes


And over her silvery hair?
She has laid her knitting across her knee,
And folded her hands so thin,
And know her thoughts are far away,


In spite of the children's din.
I'm sure it is something strange and sweet
That brightens her eyes SO dim;
Perhrps she is seeing the golden gate,


And hearing the angels hymn!
And she smiles to think she soon will cross
Where the wonderful river rolls,
And gather the rose of her youth again,


In the beautiful garden of souls!
Year: 1871

l wandered alone beside the stream,


The tide was out, and the sands were bare;
The tremulous tone of the sea-birds scream,
Like winged arrow, pierced the air.
I roamed till the sun in the west was low,
And the robes of twilight trailed in the sea;
The waves pulsed in with rhythmical flow.
And the nightingale sang a song to mel
All day roam by the stream of Song;


The tide is out and my life is bare
While shadows of evil round me throng,


And drearily croak the birds of Care.
But at night the waves roll back again,


And flow in music over my heart,


Till the dusky phantoms of grief and pain
From the charmed shores of my brain depart
Year: 1871

T BELIEVE, sir" said an angry visitor to
bland editor the other day, 81 believe you
conduct the - Journal" The reply was
nod of assent 81 am Mr.. Moore, banker
in - (naming neighboring town.. You
had the audacity to state in your last Issue
that committed suicide in fit of temporary
insanity" The editor was puzzled, but un-
dismayed. owe had paragraph from our
local reporter in your town, and have al
ways found him reliable and accurate" Tho
banker became more angry "Well, sir.
you see that am alive. OF course you
will publish contradiction and apology in
youe next number =" 81 am afraid, my
dear sir, this would violate our nvariabe
rule, which is never to admit we have made
a misstatement. But as you appear greatly
annoyed by the paragraph, am willing to
state in to-morrow's paper that the rope
broke, and that you are unfortunately alive,
More than this cannot be done-our rule is
never to retract."
Year: 1871

The WORKMAN AHEAD.-A good story s
told of a prominent railroad gentleman in
Philadelphia, who is equally renowned for
his ability TO make and take a joke. A
railroad employee came on Saturday night
to ask for pass down to visit his family.


"You are in the employ of the railroad ?"
inquired the gentleman alluded to.


eyes"


"You receive your pay regularly ?"


eyes"


"Well, now suppose you were working
for farmer instead of railroad, would you
expect your employer to hitch up his team
every Saturday night and carry you to your
home?"


This seemed poser, but it was not.


"No," said the man, promptly, 81 would
not expect that; but if the farmer had his
team already hitched up, and was going my
way, should call him darned mean cuss
if he would not let me ride.


Emplyee came out minute afterwards
with pass "good for twelve months"
Year: 1871

Twas once walking short distance be-
hind very handsomely dressed young girl,
and thinking as looked at her beautiful
clothes, 81 wonder if she takes half as much
pains with her heart as she does with her
body?" A poor old man was coming up
the walk with loaded wheelbarrow, and
Just before he reached us he made two at
tempts to go into the yard of a small house,
but the gate was heavy and would swing
back before he could get through. "Wait, "
said the young girl, springing lightly for
ward, "l'll hold the gate open." And she
held the gate until he passed in, and received
his thanks with pleasant smile as she went
on. "She deserves to have beautiful
clothes," l thought, for beautiful spirit
dwels in her breast. ."-LiHle Corporal.
Year: 1871

The severe droughts which visit
every year some portions of the coun-
try, cause, where streams are few and
small and springs lia deep, much
suffering to the cattle and a great
deal of labor in supplying them with
the necessary water to keep them
alive. We have often been in Sec
tions of this kind when a drought
prevailed, and we have known farm
ers to be obliged to send their cattle
from one to three miles to water,
but It was done only once a day,
We have wondered many times that
they never attempted to provide for
such emergencies upon their own
premises, which all of them could
do. The water from the roofs of the
out-buildings, if carefully gathered
in cisterns OF ample capacity, would
generally be sufficient for all the
stock these buildings would shelter.
But in times of great drought they
would probably be drained. In this
view, gOod-sized, deep ponds, we'll
constructed, could not fail to meet
all the demand. a pratical engi-
neer speaking on this subject peril
nently says:


sin travelling through the country,
! am often surprised that farmers do
not take advantage of low places
and convert them, at little expense
of deepening and sodding the banks,
into ponds to receive the rainfall
from the surrounding lands, and
thus supply their stock with water
The pond once made should be
strongly fenced and surrounded by
willows to prevent evaporation. The
fence will prevent cattle from get
ting into il. There should be a pas.
sage leading 10 the pond, ON the
.aOrth side, where the water would bt
accessible outside of part of the en-.
closure. This plan is invariably
adopted In England. There ] have
often seen one pond common to oul
fields. They clean. them every thirC
wear"


The approach to the water, i
should be borne in mind, must grad
ualiy descend, so that the portion 0
the pond fenced out should be o
suficient depth to draw all the wa
Ter within reach of the cattle, and tn
width OF the approach should Civ,
ample room for the two or three eat
tie to drink at one time German
torn Telegraph.
Year: 1871

WHAT SCOPE OF COUNTRY WILL
SUPPORT = RAILRoAD.-COl. Ham
mOnd, an experienced railroad man
says that territory ten miles wide on
each side of a railroad, in a country
capable of sustaining any ordinaril
dense population, is capable of sup
porting il. Whenever n ilrOadS run
out from any commercial centre,
through such a country, they will be
sure TO bring a sufficient population
to support them, within a very few
years after their construction, if it is
not already there when the road is
projected. This is for railroads of the
usual construction and equipment.
It is but fair to infer that narrow gauge
railroads being cheaper of constTuc'
tion, can be supported by proportion
ally less area and population.-Fdcjfe
RUFoL Press.
Year: 1871

A deaf and dumb child was question
ed if she knew why she was born thus.
The tears rapidly filed the eyes of the
afflicted child, but in a moment or two
she dashed them away, and with a
sweet smile playing upon her thought,
ful coutenance, wrote upon her little
slate.-"Even so father; for so it SEEM
ed good in thy sight"
Year: 1871

A BELLE.-In conclusion let me give
another incident of the life Of a Long
Branch belle was stroliing through
the bar-room of the Continental Hotel
last evening when a horse galloped up
to the door, and 4 Young lady sprang
from the saddle unaided She was
dressed in full riding habit and when
her groom came up she gave him direc-
tons as To what fare the horse should
get for all the world like q turf
man who had been brought up among
horses all his lifetime The groom had
no sooner gone than she deliberately
walked up to the bar, in company with
a gentleman who met her at the door,
and called for a glass Of bottled ale,
and what is more stood at the counter
until she had drained the last drop out
and until the gentleman who didn't
drink, had paid for it. The young lady
belongs to one of the best paving par
ties stopping at the Branch, and Is a Ia
dy in the ordinary accep,ation Of the
term. In the face Of her bar-room feat,
what becomes of the beauties who, they
say Mortified a foreigner here one day by
drinking punches out on the lawn. Are
we not living in an age of progress
Cor. ". ]. Heraid
Year: 1871

\ DESPERATE CAsr.-When the
green-eyed monster plants his enycnom-
ed fangs in the vitals of a West Tenn
essee youth. it is always best for the
whole neighborhood to look out for
squalls. Some days ago there was 4
densely attended wedding not very far
from Jackson. in that end of the State.
Among the very few who were not pres
ent on the occasion was Young man
who was known to be desperately in
love with the bride, and whose heart
and hand she had rejected with scorr.


In the midst Of the marriage ceremony
the house was suddenly shaken TO its
very foundation by something resem-
bling a mixture Of earthquakes and dis
charges of artillery. The rejected low
er, in order to be reyenged, had piled mp
a number Of shells under the smoke
house, and touched them off with q
train of powder The scene which fol
lowed the explosion is said 10 have beg
CARED description The snOke-house
with It's several thousand pounds OF ba-
con. was hurled high into the air and
scattered TO the four winds Of heaven.
The bride tainted in the arms OF her
adored one, the rest of the calico scream
ed. the men swore, and for some little
time the widest CONSERVATION prevailed
meanwhile the young man, with his
soul steeped in the sweets Of revenge,
took to his heels and never has been
seen since. Young ladies of West
Tennessee who are about to marry
should have their rejected lovers bound
over to keep out from under the smoke
house with their shells.