smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

Over two years ago, at Adrian, Mich, a
little boy about two and half years old,
son of Sylvester Blossom, was playing
with his sister, older than himself, in the
yard near by leech of ashes which had
been set up and from which strong Iye was
dripping in a kettle. The little fellow had
a clay pipe and his sister told him the lye
was molasses, and he dipged some up in the
pipe bowl and innocently swallowed it. His
screams of pain brought his frightened
mother to the spot at once, and as soon as
possible physician was summoned, who
administered antidotes to save the little suf-
ferer and counteract the influence of the
lye, but the great harm had been done and
the child was in most pitiable condition,
For time it was thought he must die, as
no nourishment could be kept upon his
stomach at all. He finally became enabled
to keep down little milk, and fingered
along for months The best physicians of
Adrian and many prominent men from
abroad were in turn called upon and treated
him, but none could give relief The throat
had seemingly become hardened, and the
esophagus or tube passageway leading to
the stomach had gradually contracted until
it is now not more than one eighth of an
inch in diameter. For a while an egg
was mixed with his milk and occasionally
some beef tea given him, but usually the
stomach rejected it, and if the least particle
of solid substance was eaten it invariably
choked him. Finally he was given milk
alone, and he is now quite strong boy
and otherwise apparently healthy. He eats
or rather drinks three quarts of milk pei
day, and this constitutes his entire food


If he happens to get any substance in thi,
passageway and gets strauged he gets relief
by having his arms jerked suddenly upward


when the obstruction is expelled.
Year: 1876

Rev. c. w. Everard writes to Limit
and Water that he was, two years ago, In
the northeast Of China, and was then told
that the natives there not unfrequently
caught some small crabs which havea most
ridiculous face on one side. They call them
the Buddha crabs The face is very distinct,
and looks like a very joyial old fellow much
given to wine.


The crab is the size of the top OF the
thumb the claws are very small The
nearest approach to it is the masked crab
sometimes found in the British seas. One
of these was exhibited alive in the
aquarium of the geological gardens, in
1860, l think it would puzzle even Mr..
Darwin to account for this extraordinary
resemblance to the human face on the back
of crab. This crab comes from China,
and, strange to say the markings on his
back exactly resembled the face of an ugly
old Chinaman. The eyes are closed, but
they are oblique to the face, and are
surmounted by heavy eyebrows. The nose
is rounded and fattened at each corner
there is warty projection. The mustache
is curled exactly like the mustache we see
on a Chinaman: The mouth seems ready
to open and swallow any quantityof food.
Year: 1876

There arc few more mysterious travel
ers than tunes and diseases. A new tune
comes out, and six weeks later it may be
heard whistled by boys in some obscure
and distant village, to which it has found
it's way in some manner best known to it
self. 1t is the same with diseases, which
creep over the country silently, swiftly and
surely, although their means of transit
battle the skill of the most intelligent mem
bers Of the medical profession to divine. 4
new theory has now been started, that the
foot-and mouth disease, which is so pre-
velent among cattle, is conveyed from one
district to anther, Notwithstanding all the
precautions taken against its spread, by
birds. A wood pigeon has, according to
the Elgin Courant, been lately shot near
Elgin which has been declared by veterinary
surgeons and competent medical authorities
to have been evidently affected by foot-and-
month disease at the time of its DEATH
The body of the unfortunate bird has, it is
stated, been sent to an hospital, and may
throw new light on the subject. Another
disagreeable notion has also arisen that
soap is an active agent in the propagation
of disease. The New York physicians have
arrived at the conclusion that terrible
amount of illness is occasioned by the I'M
purities contained in soap, especially in
scented soap.
Year: 1876

and preparations made for the funeral In
the mean time some of the physicians who
examined the body pronounced the case
one of suspended animation. Neverthe
less, wise counsel insisted that life was
extinct and the funeral preparations went
on On the following Wednesday the
funeral ceremonies took place. The doubt
in the case, as matter of course, con-
tributed from the ranks Of the curious an
unusually large number of attendants upon
the solemn occasion.


After the ceremonies at the church were
over, some of the physicians and friends
protested against the interment, as there
was little or no discoloration in the corpse"
while an indentation iii the flesh by the
application of a finger caused a change Of
color, which was considered sure indica-
tion that the vital spark still found lodg-
ment In the tenement Of clay. The body
was carried back home and placed in d
warm room, but the dead did not arise,
neither was there any signs of mortifca-
ton or disagreeable odor about to corpse.
However, on last Saturday, one week from
the supposed death, the body was deposited
in the grave but was not covered with
earth-there still being disposition to
give the dead man chance, in case he
should return to life. Our last information
was on Thursday, of the present week, at
which time the grave was still left open,
and there were many who yet believed
that Hause was not dead, but in trance
1t is reported of the man that he, upon .
former occasion, several years since, lay in
trance three days, aud again returned to
his former self. 1t is also said that he had
frequently remarked that when he died
be would return to life again in two weeks
There are those who believe in Hause':
prediction, and all such will expect to see
him rise from his grave to-day-this being
the fourteenth day since he left his friend:
IN quandary as to whether he was deaC
or merely sleeping.
Year: 1876

A correspondent writes to the Drug
gistS Circular, describing a mode of treat
ment for lime in the eye. He says: A
colored man came to me in intense agony,
some unslaked lime having got into his eye.
That the lime must be neutralized at all
hazards felt certain. I chose sulphuric
acid put one drachn1 and a half of the
diluted acid in four ounce graduate, filed
it with water, and told him to wash his eye
with the liquid He did as he was told,
and was relieved almost Immediately. Then
[ made him rinse his eye with pure water,
and after that I told him to anoint it with
olive oil and to continue the application for
some time: To-day he is almost well, and
can see with his eye again. In another
similar case no remedy was Immediately
applied, as doctor had to be sent for from
some little distance, and the man lost his
eve entirely.
Year: 1876

Frey, made the following startling state
ment:


On the evening of the Sd of February,
1866. about dusk, escaped from the
House of Correction in this city. Being
afraid of falling in with the gems d'arms, [
climbed into one of the large linden trees
in front of the small saw mill at Pfafen-
berg. [ could look into the attic window,
which was lighted. | saw in it young wo-
man laying asleep in bed a few minutes
later this man entered on tiptoe he seized
the young woman's head, and with ham
mer deliberately drove nail into her head
She writhed a moment and then expired
He covered the spot where he had driven
the nail in with her dense hair, and then
left. l was so horror struck that [ was
unable to move or speak for several min
utes. | fed an hour afterwards, and
crossed the Alsatian frontier. positively
identify this man as the murderer of the
young woman. | did not tell this before
because | was afraid that, being an ex-con-
vict, my story would not be credited


The accused gentleman had listened to
this horrible charge with visible agitation.
He gave his name as Berthold Humbert,
and said he had left Kaiserlantern in 1866,
having been school teacher there, and
gone to New York, where he had been q
music teacher. He denied the charge
but his conduct was so suspicious that he
was kept in custody. On the following
morning the remains of the unfortunate
woman, the miller's daughter, Juliet Beh
rens, were exhumbed, and in her skull
the fatal nail was found. The sight of the
skull, with the nail in it, caused Berthold
Humbret to confess that he had killed her, a:
well as four other young girls, ON the sam.
day, at Pfaffenberg. He refused to say
what his motive had been. His trial vii
came off early in May
Year: 1876

y - A


BER's CAVE.


Mr. Bernard Feldman, aged about 85
years, living on Eastern avenue, Baltimore,
after several days of mysterious absence
puts in disappearance and tells most
marvellous story He left his home last
Wednesday for the purpose of visiting
Highlandtown, a suburban village, appar-
emily in sound mind and having with him
about $40 in money. Not returning that
night his family became alarmed, and all eff
forts to discover his whereabouts were
unavailing until he presented himself at his
house about 3 o'clock on Sunday morning,
and related a curious array of experiences.
He said he had not proceeded far on the
road to Highlandtown when he saw a wa
gon, the sides of which were closed like
prison van. The wagon halted near him
and a man jumped out and remarked to
him that there was a dead man in the wa
gon, and that he should hook IN the vehicle,
as he might be able to identify the body.
AS he attempted to do so he was seized by
four men and thrust violently into the wa
gon, which was rapidly driven off, and be-
ing closed on all sides he was prevented
from seeing the road. About 9 o'clock, as
he supposes, the wagon halted, and getting
out he was taken through a dense woods
and finally taken into a cave, of which two
desperate-looking men were in charge. A
fire was burning, and after robbing him of
his money they threw faggots from the fire
in his face, and burned off his beard and
the entire hair from his head, following this
by kicking and cutting him until he was
almost senseless. He passed the night with
out food or rest, and on Thursday and Fri
day implored his captors to allow him to go
home, but their emily response was to again
assault and beat him in the most cruel man.
ner, threatening at the same time that il
he did not cease opportunities, they would
murder him. During his entire stay in
the cave a small piece of stale bread was his
physical suffering he endured were indie
scribable. On Saturday morning some Of
the gang brought in a girl about nineteen
years of age. Four of them soon after left
leaving two with the girl, and, while they
were guarding her IN another part of the
cave, he escaped. He was suffering intense
agony from his injuries, fearful of recap
ture and did not know the road he was
travelling until he recognized the dome 0.
Bayview Asylum on Saturday night, finally
reaching his home at the hour stated. Hi:
beard and hair are entirely gone, his face
and neck terribly blistered, and his physi
cal strength so much exhaused that he is
unable to leave his bed Feldman is mar
of strictly temperate habits, and his story
is accepted by those who knew him as en-
tirely true. At present he is unable to give
any clue by which his abductors and assall
auts can be secured.
Year: 1876

They were sitting together, he and she,
and he was arduously thinking what to say


Finally he burst out with SIN this land
of noble achievements and undying glory,
why is it that women do not come more to
the front? Why is it that they do not
climb the ladder of fame ?' II suppose" F"
said she, putting her finger on her mouth.
sit is all on account of their pull-backs. .
And she sighed and he sighed, side by side,
Year: 1876

If you wish to speak to your whole
school, or to have a general exercise,
see that exery scholars eye is turned
toward you before you begin. Or. in


other words, always get a good ready
before you start. Do you regard this
foolish advice? To the want of its
practice is due, in large measure, the
friction and lack OF success that many
teachers encounter. True, it is little
thing; but it has much to do with the
morale of school. The character of a
teacher, and of her school, may usual
ly be accurately determined by simply
seeing her call class, or call her roll.
Young teachers particularly, in their
anxiety ''to be at work." waste much
of their ammunition. They begin to
fire before the enemy Is in range. Do
not begin a recitation until every pupil
in the study seats is at his proper work
and quiet. Do not make a single ex-
PLANTATION so long as there is scholar
who will not hear. How is this atten
ton to be securedl At fret watt
wait with power, but politely The
steady eyes of the teacher, with those
of the children, who will soon turn in
the same direction, will speedily sub
due an ordinary case. II this fails,
stronger force must be brought to bear
But do not forget that time spent ii,
getting a good ready, is well spent.
Year: 1876

as the explosion is over the work of


dredging will be begun at once, so as


to make the channel open for naviga-


ton at the earliest possible time. As
the floors of the tunnels slope outward.
from depth OF thirty three to forty
seven feet below low water mark. and
the depth of water required for naviga-
ton in the neighborhood of New York
II only twenty-six feet at mean low
water, 1t is plain that after the explo.
SION and the subsequent dredging there
viii be ample room for the largest
ships IN the world to reach New York
Bay through the waters of the Sound.
". Y. Tribune.
Year: 1876

devices, TO the coiled snake-which
seems 10 have been a flvorite form-and
the plain gold band without line of
chasing or engraving of any sort


All these may not be so well appreci-
ated by people unfamiliar with ancient
history but they interest all who have an
eye for the curious and instructive.
Where there is such an endless variety
Of things to be seen and written about.
one can only dip in here and there
and give the striking points. Ny
only aim in these letters is to give a faint
idea Of what the main features of the
show are.
Year: 1876

The city OF Now Orleans has sent TO
our halls Of national legislation one of
her foremost lawyers and first gentle


men In the person Of Col. f. John Ellis.
Louisiana, of which it may be said,
"shc who fell unconquered, but wearied
with victory, giving her soul to God and
her body to the enemy" sent no more
superb soldier to the war than this chi
valrous gentleman who, for four years,
wore her uniform in the front edge of
every battle. When peace came he de-
voted his time and talents to the great
work of restoring hope and confidence
to those who suffered most and longest
and Of endeavoring to save Louisiana
from the vile clutches OF the beasts
which have SO mercilessly preycd upon
her. He was a leader in the grand
revolution of the 14th of September and
on that day contributed largely to the
success of the movement by his intre-
pidity and ~sagacity. He fairly repre-
sents the great State and the beautiful
city where genius and hospitality and
all that is noblest OF the Southern type
Of manhood find congenial home.
Col. Ellis, although young man, is
Chairman Of one Of the most important
committees in the House. He is a bril-


liant orator and possesses what few
politicians can justly claim, a mind
richly endowed by nature with the keen
est apprehension of the beautiful both
in art and nature, and a heart full OF
sympathy and charity. Scholar and
gentleman there lies open before him a
future second to that of no man in the
South. Louisiana hOnors herself by
honoring him.-Albemarle (N ca Times.
Year: 1876

Senate was to the effect that no railroad
company shall charge or receive q larger
sum per car load from one person than
from any other shipping from the same
place, but the provision shall not apply
to shipping from competing points.


RlCHMoND, VA, Feb. 19.-Judge Well
lord, In the Circuit Court, rendered his
decision this evening In the Illand case,
by ordering the city sergeant to deliver
up the prisoner TO the detectives from
New Jersey, when demanded by them,
Year: 1876

Additional particulars about the loss
Of tho Strath Clyde make the number
Of the lost sixteen. in addition to the
three who died Of exhaustion after land
ing ut Deal The crew numbered thirty
and the passengers twenty-six.
Year: 1876

small that weak nomination and a
laundering campaign may melt it
away. With the exception of South
Carolina the Southern States are Dem
ocratic, but the combined vote of those
States will not elect the President.
Make any reasonable or probable esti-
mate we may and we find that New
York holds the balance of power.
How New York will vote is also un-
certain. HENDRICKS might, though
we cannot say he would, carry Indi-
ana, but could he carry New York?
1t is possible, even probable, but not
positive. THURMAN might carry Ohio;
we do not think he would, but even
supposing he carried his own State
we have many reasons for doubling
that New York will cast her vote for
him. 1t is clear to all thinking Dem
ocrats that the man who will certainly
secure the electoral vote of New York
is the most available candidate the
Democratic party can nominate. AT
this time TILDEN appears to be that
man. The Democracy of his own
State have given him unanimous en-
dorsement, and there is little doubt
that he will go into the convention
with greater number of votes than
any other candidate. From our stand
point TILDEN is the only one of the
candidates among those now named
whom the Democrats can hope to elect
to the Presidency. With him as their
candidate New York is ours, and with
out New York we cannot carry off the
prize.
Year: 1876

There are In the Democratic party
quite number of men in every way
qualified for an able and impartial
discharge of the duties devolving on
the President of the United States
who cannot be elected to that position.
The st. Louis Convention should not
lose sight of the self-evident fact that
the Democratic nominee must be a
man not only in every way fitted for
the high place to which he aspires, but


he must also possess the elements of
strength essential to secure his elec-
tion. The contest will be close, as
contests always are where the con-
tending forces are almost equal in nu-
merical strength. Those organs and
leaders of the Democracy that are pre-
dieting an easy victory this Fall are
deceiving themselves and weakening
the party. The prize is not to be had
for the asking. 1t must be fought for,
and if won at all it will be won by a
closely contested battle. 1t is COM
mon to assert that Democrats will
elect the President, but the gentle
men who make this assertion do not
give US the data on which they base
their too confident prediction. Let us
count the chances. Except Connecti-
cut, no New England State can be
counted for the Democracy, and on
the candidate and campaign depends
even Connecticut. Indiana is by no
means certain. Illinois will elect Re-
publican electors. Iowa, Wisconsin,
Michigan, Kansas and Nebraska are
all Republican. Pennsylvania and
Ohio are Republican. We cannot
count our own State as certain for us
unless we have a ticket head
ed by the most available man
in the party and make an en-
ergetic campaign. Oregon is DEM
ocratic, but the majority is SO
Year: 1876

If Los Angeles intends to contrib
ute anything toward the representa-
tion of California at the Centennial
Exhibition it is high time she was
moving in the matter. Nearly every
other place of Importance in the State
has made liberal contributions. We
should not stand alone in the refusal
to contribute to this most commenda-
BILE purpose.
Year: 1876

CHARLES MARSH died in San Fran
cisco on Friday evening last from in
juries received by being thrown from
his buggy few days before. The de-
ceased was one of California's pio-
neers. He was Past Grand Master
of the Masonic fraternity of this State
and had filled the positions of Grand
High Priest and Grand Commander
of the Knights Templar. He was also
at one time Representative from Cali
fornia to the Grand Chapter of the
of the United States. He was man
universally esteemed.
Year: 1876

compelled to turn him out of bed
and roll him over and over on the
floor before the cat could be made
to release its hold and abandon its
purpose.


Mr.. French's face and chest this
morning bear frightful evidences of
his terrible battle with the monster,
and he will probably hereafter make
special inquiry at his hotels as to
the character Of the cats belonging
to the establishment.
Year: 1876

Mr.. French savageIy Attacked In


His steep by n Feline Monster.
MOberIy (Mo.) Enterprise Moniter.l


One of the strangest incidents
that has ever fallen under our re
portorial observation tranSpired at
the Virginia Hotel in this city, last
night. We had read of the blood
sucking vampires of the torrid
belt, and entertained the story
only as a thrilling fable; and
we knew something of the care
with which the mother will exclude
a cat from the apartment Of her
sleeping child, but regarded it only
as the recognition of an old-time
superstition. But that a full grown
man should be stealthily attacked
by a 'harmless, necessary cat, and
have his life breath nearly sucked
out Of him, we had never dreamed
of; yet this was an actual occur
renee at the time and place men.
toned.


Mr.. French, a member of the
Thorne dramatic troupe, playing al
engagement in this city, was the
victim. He retired to rest at al
early hour last night, and soon fel
into a deep slumber. After the
lapse Of an hour or two he waI
aroused by a feeling Of oyerpower
| ing oppressiyeness and suffocation
and was Mortified to find a hug
cat was sitting on his breast ant
had its head inserted in his moutl
sucking away his breath. ii
found himself in an almost ex
hausted condition so much SO tina


he was unable to shake off the yam


pire fend attacking him. Struggl


as he would, the cat only fastene


its claws the deeper in his ehes


and went on at its horrible feas


His groans and cries of agony


however, fortunately brought som
neighboring dodgers to his relic
: and he was rescued from his frigh'
full position. Even then they wei
Year: 1876

1T is morally certain that other trading
posts besides those known have been sold
ny somebody, but 1t is doubtful whether
the same clear evidence can be obtained as
in the Fort Sill post. The House Judiciary
Committee will begin to investigate the
Belknap affair this week. The course Of
the examination has not been definitely
marked out, but it is probable the commit
tee will first take up the new cases of post
traderships concerning which charges have
been made.
Year: 1876

The New York Republican politicians
are in a perplexed condition. They never
were more sorely troubled than at this par
ticular time. This troubled feeling grows
out of the unpleasant revelations at WASH
ington. and the uncertainty as to the final
effect of them upon divers prominent per-
sons who are known to have Presidential
aspirations. They are now within few
weeks of the meeting Of their convention
relative to a Presidential candidate. and
yet everybody seems to be afraid to commit
himself to any man In advance. Like Mi
cawber, they are waiting for something to
turn up.