smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

The astounding progress made in
railway management during the last
twenty years is sufficient to give ere
dence to the most rosy prophecies of
the most ardent admirers of the new ele
ment of civilization. Each decade sees
the cost of transportation decreased,
and the complete transfer of the traffic
of the country from the water courses to
the railroad is now so far accomplished
as to render it an assured fact. The
management of vast railway brings
with it so much power and influence
that ambition has directed much of
the finest talent of the country to-
wards it. Our railway magnates are
second in fame to none in the land.
Thus the problem has been worked
out more rapidly than if left to the
guidance Of narrow minded money
grabbers. If many of the railroads
are bankrupt it is from the peculation
and extravaganza of the contractors,
but the evils which attracted SO much
attention and led to the enactment of
the "Potter law, in Michigan are be-
ing corrected. Poverty has led to
economy, sharp competition has de-
veloped more varied resources, and
where change of ownership occurs
at reduced price the new owner can
operate the road on q cheaper basis.
In the passenger business the progress
hns been no less marked. The Amer
lean people are the most restive in the
world, but when travelling they de-
mand comfort, safety and speed, and
they get them at reasonable price.
Art exhausts itself in preparing pal.
ace cars and human ingenuity is work.
ing night and day to provide new safe
guards to the traveller, and statistics
show that humanity is less liable to
accident on a railway train than in
the ordinary walks of life, that is, the
proportion of MANNED, injured and
killed is less. AS regards speed new
era has just now been inaugurated.
The time of the mail trains between
New York and Chicago has been
shortened ten or twelve hours. The
telegraph informs us that the inhab-
itants of the Lake City can now read
New York papers but one day old.
Judging the future by the past may
we not hope that ere the year 1900 the
passenger leaving San Francisco will
be carried over the plains at the rate
OF one hundred miles an hour and
landed in the heart of this great con-
tinent inside of two days.
Year: 1875

The following is the letter sent by
the Attorney General to Gov. Ames
relative to the Mississippi troubles:


To Coz. Ames, Jackson, Miss. This
hour l have dispatch from the Pres
ident. can best convey to you his
ideas by extracts from his dispatch.
1.-The whole public are tired out with
these annual outbreaks at the South,
and great majority are ready now to
condemn any Interference on the part
of the government. l heartily wish
that peace and good order may be re-
stored without issuing the proclama-
ton, but If they are not the proclama-
ton must be issued. But if it is l
shall instruct the commander of the
forces to have no childish play. If
there is a necessity for military inter-
ference there is justice in such inter-
ference as to deter evil doers. would
suggest the sending of dispatch or
letter by private messenger to Gov.
Ames, urging him to strengthen his
own position by exhausting his own
resources in restoring Order.o
Year: 1875

THE Indian chief who said he sup
posed the hue and cry about an Indian
war In Nevada was gotten up by few
men who wanted the soldiers sent out
there in order that they might sell
their barley and beef, was a man of
more discrimination than is usually
found among the aborignee tribes of
the Pacific coast. He is evidently a
close student of the White man and
has read with some care the "Pluri-
butaw" of Doesticks in which the love
of the pale face for money is traced
from infancy through the varied
stages of life to his final crushing to
death beneath all American dollar.
There Is no doubt but that the report
ed rise of the Indians in Nevada or
iginated in scare or hoped for spec
ulation. The latter is most probably
the correct solution.
Year: 1875

The currency plank in the Demo-
cratic platform is perhaps the most inn
portant, and yet the one on which
there is the greatest diversity of opin-
ion among the members of the party.
The Ohio platform which undoubted-
ly lodges the question, and hence nec-
essarily opposes resumption of specie
payment has proven serious draw
back, and measurably influenced the
declarations of principles of the subse-
quent conventions. The true patri-
OTIS desire to adopt the hard money
plank, the politicians with their usual
shorted sighted calculations desire to
evade the issue or bow to the mista-
ken prejudice of the people of the
West. 1t is to be hoped that the New
York convention will settle the ques-
tion, and squarely commit the Democ-
racy to hard currency.


1t is decidedly tho great question of
the hour, and neither party can enter on
a vigorous campaign without a deci-
sive declaration as to its course OH the
financial question. The people are in
a mood to express their convictions on
a matter that effects them so deeply.
There can be no neutrality. The vo-
ters of the U. s. are thoroughly con-
vinced that the present currency sys-
tenn is failure and curse. They
will have some other. 1t is either
KELLy's initiation scheme or a specie
basis. The Democracy must choose
between these. If they allow them
selves to be controlled by the office
seeking element whose desire to obtain
power is so great that they are afraid
to declare any principle, they will be
defeated. The mere party name and
the utter disgust of the people for the
present administration do not furnish
sufficient capital to bank on exten-
sively. The conservatives tried the
new neutrality policy in the last Pres
idential campaign and made fail
ure. The Cincinnati convention threw
away sound principle to take up an
able man. The GREELY campaign il
lustrates the fate of the "milk and wa
ter" policy and ought to be a warning.
measures not men" should be the
banner cry of the Democracy. Let
sound principles be boldly enunciated,
aud the contest will be decided in fa-
vor of the right.
Year: 1875

HALF a score of newspapers in this
State are yehemently calling on SEN


ator BOOTH to take back seat. Now
why should the Senator take a back
seat at this time or rather why should
he take seat farther back than the
one he has occupied for two years past.
His party is as strong now numerical
ly and morally as it was at the close of
the last Legislative session. 1t is as
strong now In both these respects as it
was when he sat solitary and alone
the leader of party of which he was
the head and front, the rank and file,
the beginning and the end-in the
United States Senate Chamber. We
can see no reason-there is no rea son
why the journals that did not ask
Senator BOOTH to take back seat
two years ago should ask him to do so
now. He is as far back as he can get.
Year: 1875

The San Diego Union continues its
allusion to the HERALD as central
Pacific Railroad organ. If the Union
does not cease misrepresenting the
HERALD we shall call it the organ of
Tom ScoTT's piece of road bed-that
Is II the grading has not all washed
awav
Year: 1875


Darlington in the colony but keep a
sharp eye upon him, lest he should
come back and once mere get hold Of
that necklace. ~


My husband sent for harrington to
inform him Of the result OF his letter, and
he took an opportunity of asking the
noted man if there were any other val
uables which he would ike to restore
to the original owners 2"


"Thank you--no," was the reply
"There are, it is true, sundry articles
in safe custody at home ; but as it is
impossible to say what may be in the
future, they had better for the pres.
cnt. stand in my own name"
Year: 1875

We are emphatically in the age Of
profanity, aud it seems to US that we
are on the topmost current. One can
not go on the streets anywhere without
having his ear offended with the vilest
words, and his reverence shocked by
the most profane use of sacred names.
Nor does it come from the old or mid.
dle-aged alone, for it is a fact, as
alarming as true, that the younger
portion of the community are most
proficient in degrading language.
Boys have an idea it is smart to sweal;
that it makes them manly; but there
never was a greater mistake in the
world. Men, even those who swear
themselves, are disgusted with pro-
family in a young man, because they
know how, of all bad habits, this
clings the most closely, and increases
with years. 1t is the most insiduous
of habits, growing on so invisibly that
almost before one is aware he becomes
an accomplished cursor.
Year: 1875

A writer in one of the London pa
pers suggests that during the hot
weather shop-keepers on such streets
as Regent street. or Piccadilly might
stretch an awning or velarium right
across the street from the houses on
each side. Thus the whole street
would be converted into shady and
cool promenade, and would be more
popular than ever, to the advantage
of the shop-keepers, who might also
suspend advertisements from the avn
ings at intervals and otherwise bene'
fit by the idea.
Year: 1875

The following comes from the
grasshopper district of Nebraska:


Our Ex-Governor, David Butler, is
reminded of a story almost as fire.
quently as the late President Lin
coin. He tells this upon himself;
While electioneering in one OF the
frontier counties, he was lodged ut
a log hostelry where the accommoda-
ton was so scant that his Excellency
and son of the Emerald Isle were
assigned to the same bid. On re-
tiring, the Governor remarked TO Pat
that he would shave to stay 4 long
time in the old country before he
could sleep with a Governor


To which Pat replied, 'Begorra,
ye'd have to be moighty long time
in the ovid counthry before yer
honor would be Goyernor.-Edi-
tors Drrcer IN Harper's Magazine
for January.
Year: 1875

Robert Ellis, almost Immediately
after his marriage with pretty Mary
Blake, had departed with his young
wife from his pleasant home in one of
the New England States for the
wilds of the far West, which just
then was becoming the land of prom
ise to all adventnrers of every nation.
The young couple were accompa-
MED by Roberts sister Kate, who,
like the good sister she was. had left
all the old friends, and even the lnXn-
ries of civilized life, to share with
her brother the trials and perils of
establishing a new home in the will
derness.


A few months previous Robert had
cleared track of land in Il delight
full valley and erected and furnished
a rude, but strong and comfortable
log house; so that there was very
little for the family to do when they
reached their destination, after many
DAYS of weary travel, but to settle
down quietly to the pursuits of the
new life and the new duties which
had devolved upon them.


A single year produced many
changes in the appearance of the
new home. Robert was an energetic
and enterprising man, and had al
ready begun to reap something OF the
sure reward for all his tolls. The
house itself under the judicious man
agement of his wife, aided by the
ready and willing assistance which
Kate Ellis was ever anxious to give
had begun to exhibit q pleasant and
tasteful appearance. And. added tt
this. a few families from New Eng
land, beguiled by the beauty and at
Effectiveness of the valley, had set
tied in the vicinity, a few miles apart
and thus, by mutual visits, many
otherwise-weary hours were bright
ened.


One day there came messenger
In hot haste. stating that particular
friend of Ellis was dying and had ex
pressed wish to see him. The
distance to his friends house wa
considerable, and Robert knew tha
he should be obliged to leave his wifi
and sister. alone the greater part o
the night and perhaps longer. Bot
Mary and Kate laughed at the ide
of danger because of his absence
Though the nearest neighbor live'
mile away, and succor, in case Q
need, would hardly be possible, We
they all regarded the fact of the isola
: ted situation of their habitation th
best reason for security. Still, Rot
:. rtthought few words of warnin
advisable before he started.


'sYou had better keep as much |
the house as possible, he said t
them, as he mounted his horse. "An
think it will be as we'll to keep tn
door fastened, especially after dark.
"Do not fear" Mary answered


ssWe will be careful. But do not /


absent any longer than is absolutel


necessary, for we shall be anxiou


about you on that lonely road"
:. He babe them good-by, and the


stood in the low doorway and watcl
. ed his retreating form until it WI


lost at last among the thick tree


then they entered the house to a
:; tend to their usual duties.


The day passed slowly by, al
evening set in, with gloom e
Year: 1875

IT is estimated that about two
thirds of the surface of the globe IS
covered with water. Although mil
lions of living creatures slake their
thirst daily, the quantity OF wa
tor has not been materially diminish
ed for centuries. at least not since the
introduction of drinking saloons,
which proves a greater saving of wa
ter. and are thereby of immense
benefit to navigation.
Year: 1875

Spend Your Money at Home.


An exchange gives the following
ten reasons why people should spend
their money at home. They are so
forcihle and well put that We can rot
refrain from presenting them to our
readers, hoping that they will give
them the consideration which they
deserve:


lst 1t is your home; You can not
improve it much by taking money
away to spend or invest.


I'd. There is no way of Improving
place so much as hy encouraging
good merchants. good schools, and
good people to settle among yon and
this,ean not be done unless you spent
yonr money at home.


3d. Spend your money ut home
because there Is where yoa general
" get it. tits .yonr duty.


4th. Spend yonr money at home,
because when it is necessary for you
to get credit, it is of your town mer-
chants you have generally to get it,
and they must wait on the money.
Therefore. when you have the cash
in hand spend it at home.


5th. Spend your money at home.
1t will make better merchants of
your merchants; they can and will
keep better assortments and sell at
lower rates than if the only business
they do is what is credited out. while
the money goes to other places.


9th. Spend your money at home.
You may have sons growing mp who
will some day be the best merchants
in town. Help lay the foundations
of them now. 1t is a duty. Itmay
he your pride in after years to say;
"By trading at the store | got my
son position as clerk, and now he
is a proprietor" Then you will
think it hard if your neighbors
spend their money out of town. Set
the example now.


7th. Spend your money at home.
Set the example now. Buy your
dry goods, groceries, meats and
everything at home, and you will see
a wonderful change in short time in
the business lookout of the place;
therefore, deal with your home mer-
chants.


Sth. Spend your money at home.
What do you gain by going off?
Count the cost; see what you could
have done at home by letting your
merchant have the cash. Strike a
balance and see if you would not
have been just as well of, besides
helping your merchant.


9th. Spend your money at home.
Your merchants are your neighbors,
your friends; they stand by you in
sickness-are your associates; with
out your trade they can not keep
your business. No stores then no
banks, no one wanting to buy prop
erty to settle on and build up your
place.


10th. Merchants should do their
advertising at home. They should
get their bill heads, circulars, cards,
letter heads, envelopes, and all their
printing at home, of their own news
papers, that aid them in many ways,
and advertise them hundreds Of times
without anv pay whatever. Mer-
chants should set an example to their
customers by patronizing literally
their home newspapers. Men and
women are initiative animals and are
prone to follow examples set them.
How can merchants expect their
neighbors to trade with them il they
set the example of going AWAY from
home for their printing and adver-
tising? Let merchants and people
all patronize home enterprise and
home industry ahI. home trade. So
shall they all be prosperous and hap
py.
Year: 1875

have often amused myself by watch
ing the inhabitants of farmyard, and
seeing how the cows have their laws of
precedence aud etiquette as clearly de-
fined as Shose of any European court.
Every cow knows her place and keeps
it; she will not condescend to take q
zower, and would not be allowed to take
higher. When n newly bought calf is
first introduced to the farmynrd, it is
treated just like new boy Mt school,
The previous inhabitants of the yard
come and inspect it contemptuously,
they decline its society, they crowd it
away from the hay-racks; and new.
conner i'll farmyard has about as much
chance of approaching the rack at feed
lng-tlme as new boy has of getting
near the fire on cold winter day


However, as time goes on, the young
calf increases in growth, and is allowed
to mix with her companions on tolerably
equal terms. Then, if younger animal
than herself be admitted, it is amusing
to see with what qualification she bullies
the newcomer, and how much higher
she seems to rank in her own estimation
when she is no longer the junior
Should the fates be propitious, she
arrives Mt the dignity of being senior
COW, and never fails to assert that dig
nifty on every occasion. When the
cattle are taken out of the yard to their
pasture in the morning, end when they
return to it in the evening, she will not
allow any one except herself to take the
lead. / have heard of one instance
where the man in charge of the cows
would not allow the "ganger," as the
head COW is often called, to go out first.
The result was that she refused to 90
out at all; and, in order to get her out
of the yard, the man had to drive all the
other cows back again, so that she might
take her proper place at their head.
Year: 1875

Conductors of trains are almost daily
annoyed by the presence in the cars of
individuals possessed neither of tickets
nor money, and who have to be put
ashore at the earliest opportunity. A
few days since the conductor of an east
ward bound train Oil the other side of the
Chill, says Sacramento paper, found
that he had a deadhead" of this class
among his passengers, and three differ
ent times stopped the train to put him
off. each time giving emphasis to the
matter by the application of his boot,
but it invariably happened that the un-
desirable passenger managed to get on
board about rs soon as the conductor.
The third time the conductor remained
ashore watching the chap until the train
had attained such headway that he felt
confident that the deadhead could not
get on-ip fact, he had to- spring in a
lively manner to accomplish it himself
but as soon as he got Strengthened upon
his feet he found the impecunious riding
along with the rest. Somewhat dis
couraged, the conductor turned to him
and inquired: Where in Diazes are you
going, anyway?" "WeA," said the
not-to-be-got-rid-of, "Tm' going to
Chicago, if my pants hold out, but If I'm
going to be kicked every five minutes I
don't believe I'll make the trip" The
conductor let him ride.
Year: 1875

When 60 to the country to visit my
relatives, writes M. Quad, the spare bed
rises up before my imagination days
before start, and shiver as I remem-
Der how cold and grave-ike the sheets
are. I put off the visit as long as posi-
BILE, solely on account of that spare bed.
don't like to tell them that had rather
sleep OH n picket fence than to enter that
spare room and creep into that spare
bed, and so they know nothing of my
sufferings.


The spare bed is always as near O mile
and a half from the rest of the beds as
it can be located. It's either up stairs
at. the head of the hall, or off in the
parlor. The parlor curtains have not
been raised for weeks; everything is as
prim as an old maids bonnet, and the
bed Is as square and tue rs if it had
been made up to carpenters rule.


No matter whether it be summer or
winter, the bed is like ice, and it sinks
down in way to make one shiver. The
sheets are slippery clean, the pillow
slips rustic like shrouds, and one dare
not stretch his leg down for fear of kick
ing against q tombstone.


One sinks down until he is lost in the
hollow, and foot by foot the prim bed
posts vanish from sight. He is worn out
and sleepy, but he knows that the rest
of the family are so far away that no one
could hear him if he should shout for an
hour, and this makes him nervous. He
wonders if any one ever died i'll that
room, and straightway he sees faces of
dead persons, hears strange noises, and
presently feels n chill galloping up and
down his back.


Did any one ever pass a comfortable
night in n spare bed! no matter how
many quilts and spreads covered him he
could not get warm, and if he acciden-
tally fell asleep it was to awake with a
start, under the impression that dead
man was pulling his nose. 1t will be
days and weeks before he recovers from
the impression, and yet he must suffer
in silence, because the spare bed was
assigned him in token of esteem and af-
fectiOn
Year: 1875

Here is love story, not out of the
Decameron," but one of the modern
jurisprudential style: A rich New York
widower of fifty-two, who was about to
marry Young woman of twenty three,
in order to convince his daughters that
his young wife married himself and not
his $50, 900, made his estate over to his
daughters just before marriage, but
without informing his intended of the
love test. When she found it out, after
marriage, she showed how much she
thought of her husband 8 worldly goods,
as well as her husband, by going to law
to recover. And she did recover, the
court holding that dover being highly
favored in equity, as moral as well as
legal right, I" the inchoate rights of the
wife are as much entitled to protection
as the vested rights of the widow" and
that the deed executed before her mar
riage, under the facts and circumstances
of this case, should have no more effect
upon her rights and interests than il exc
cuted afterwards.
Year: 1875

There is very good reason to suspect,
the New York Times says, that numbers
of those persons who are supposed to die
intestate do not so die in fact. In too
many instances the will has been de-
stroyed. The temptation offered is too
strong to be resisted. There is bright
fire in the CRATE, and, standing beside it,
the fin1er of a will peruses clause after
clause only to discover that sum in
finitely less than he thinks his due has
been bequeathed to him. Let him drop
the document into the flames, and, under
the assumed intestacy, handsome slice
must be his. The solicitor may, indeed,
produce a duplicate, which can be en-
tered for probate, and the criminal may
thus find himself defeated. But what
then? The crime. at all events, cannot
be brought home to him. 1t was the
opinion of one of those most expert
enced in testamentary suits that this
offense is frequently perpetrated.