smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

There seems to be disposition among
members of the Legislature to reduce taxes
below the present rates, and we believe it
will be done.


There will be bill introduced at an
early day in the session providing that the
out to the lowest bidder. We believe such
a proposition will meet with favor before
the Legislature, and we know it will bo-
| fore the people. A change of any kind al
most viii be better than the present sys-
tenn, as recent developments fully prove.
Year: 1871

The health of Gov. Brown is still feeble.
He will probably be able for the inaugura-
tion next week. Indeed, he and his friends
expect it. His physical condition will be
regarded with more than ordinary con-
Germ, since the election of the present
Sneaker of the Senate.
Year: 1871

/ Among other Middle Tennesseeans who
remained loyal to the Government during
the war, and who are not satisfied with
the grasping spirit exhibited by the ex-
rebels, is Dorsey B. Thomas, Speaker of
the last Senate. We learn that he speaks


in terms of unqualified disapproval of the
spirit displayed, and if he were to speak
his mind plainly, we would not expect
anything complimentary of the party in
Tennessee. He, no doubt, is ready for any
kind of new departure that would secure
proper recognition, from the party, of
those who were Union men during the
war ~ E HH
Year: 1871

The Beaver Rad cal says: David
Strouse, sixty-fye years of age, residing
in Hanover township, this county aeci


IDENTIFY shot himself fstelly on the 21ih
nit. Unaware of the fact that his gun
was loaded, be was in the act of blowing
INTO the muzzle, with his foot upon TIE
hammer of the lock, when the weapon
was diseharg d, the contents passing
through his bead and killing him instantly


lie was highly respectable well-to-do
farmer and bis death is deeply regretted
by large circle Of relations and ac-
quaintauces. This in another warning
against the careless handling of fire arms
Year: 1871

. "What's the matter with that step {"
asked a reporter as he boarded a
Bieecker street car. You see that
step bobs up and down when it's step
ped on, and some sort of queer ar
connects with that ere box
in the corner, and dots one for every
keep us from knocking down." ex-
claimed the conductor, with an in
jured air.. I'll tell you what it is,
young feller," said he. /" the boss
thinks it smart thing to clap that ERE
apparatus on three Of these ERE cars
on trial. But twont work. g Why


won't it :" I'm jest tell you, Now,
you see that internal fool that jest got


him, he put his foot back and tried it
over again. jest four times. Every
time he put his foot on the car dotted
for one psssenger-fve times for one


fare you see. Amt there any way of
lyI won't do it. When crowd of
women folks get on, / can put one


foot, on the step and help them ON into
the car. How does that work? Why,
as easy as slipping off q log. OF course
the thing can't dot when the step is
down SO could rush on crowd of
a dozen and only one dot for the lot.


We are obliged to keep a tally book,
and we catch blazes if it don't agree
with the dots on the machine; but a
little practice could fix that. Suppose
a man jumps over the lower step?-


Well, then of course he amt dotted.


You see it's darned humbug any
way. The only way to stop knocking
down is to employ honest conductors.
Going to get off here? and going to
get off without touching the lower
step, eh thank. you, young fellow.
Year: 1871

OF that clerical sardine al Council
Bluffs who refused to attend to the
dying prayers of an erring woman,
the Dubuque Times says: !" We will
bet bogus five cent piece against his
soul-which is as nearly an even bet
as we can concoct-that that preacher
is frequenter of such establishments
as that poor girl died in, aud put on
that assumption of righteous indig-
nation in order to avert suspicion
from his skirts" s'18t
Year: 1871

ing, and it does not give me half SO
much pain as it does to drink a glass
of cold water. 7 always likes it just
as hot as can get it." I then inter
rogated him as TO the effect heated sub
stances had upon his flesh, and asked
him when he handled them with bis
hands if he did not suffer more than
when he took them inwardly, to which
he replied, mo Boss ] often take my
iron out Of the forge with my hands
when red hot,


But IT DON'T BURN.


Since was a little boy I have never
been afraid to handle f1re.n He then
stated that often when by himslf he
would pick up red hot iron because his
tOngs were not handy, and that he
never felt any discomfort from it.
He felt no more harm, he said, from
handling fire than stones.


I could cite a great number of in
stances besides those mentioned, and
give the names of a large number of
gentlemen of high standing who have
witnessed the wonderful doings of this
untutOred African but do not deem
it necessary, as what have stated can
be more than authenticated by almost
any prominent man living Ia this To-
cality. I am thoroughly convinced,
from personal observation, that
FIRE HAS NO EFFECT WHATEVER


- UPON HIS H,


And am sustained in that belief by
the united judgment of all gentlemen
who have seen him, including large
number Of physicians.


This man should be seen and exam
ined by our scientific men, and the
causes and effects of his remarkable
performances duly investigated for it
is certain that his power to handle fire
does exist in a remarkable degree, and
that, too, without the aid of any thing
save what nature has bestowed.
Year: 1871

= AA14O 4tt1 Ot4dA Law


The boiling water did not burn, and I
could eat the hot dumping without
winking; so after dat l often got my
dinner dat way. I has often got the
hot fat of the boiling water and drank
it. drink my coffee when it is boil
Year: 1871

The Sussex JourRaL which has all along
been one of the ultra intractableS, and has
fought the new departure straight from the
shoulder, now shows signs of conversion. In
Its last issue it asserts that that political
party which clings with deatf like held upon
old and dead issues is weak and will grow
weaker day by day, and concludes that, as the
Democracy :" cannot agree upon the past,
they 'muSt take new grounds and wider
views" 1t says further:


"Call it new departure call it progress,
call it what you wiii-but let the bugle sound
through the land that the past is buried, and
friends will rally to save the nation


This IS sudden and terrible somersault,
in small way. Verify, the colored troops
fought bravely." Who would have thought
that so soon after hsllooing cut behind, this
seemingly intractable sheet would be running
behind itself, trying to ''catch onto the tail
board of the Republican wagon as the Press
says. Jump into the wagon and we'll all
take ride
Year: 1871

ANOTHER RAILROAD Project. The Cecil
Democrat says: The peach growers of tho
First district, disguised with the hard labor in
large crops, and small geins of the past season,
are now actively agitating the subject of mar
row row guage railroad from Grove Neck to Mid
dletOwn, Delaware on which to shlp their
produce so as to make direct connexion with
the New York market.
Year: 1871

Nothing will better show the liberal Chris
tian sentiment that prevailed our town twenty
seven years ago than to publish the list of con-
tributors to the church fund, and nothing will
bring up the memory of old associations and old
associates to many Of our readers more than
perusal of that list. The name Of every citi
zen of the town-at least every male citizen
Of any prominence at ali appears on the re-
vered roll, regardless Of religious faith Not
withstanding our article has heightened out
beyond the space allotted we will publish the
list, at the request OF parties who desire to see
them " for old acquaintance sake" Aud
Year: 1871

JAIL DEIIvERY.-All the prisoners in
Georgetown eight in number-all negroes, one
a woman-msdc their escape Sunday night
week. The Joumnl Gays they burned ia two a
plank in the bottom of the cell, pulled up an
other short plank, used a spike nail, which
they pulled from the decayed end Of the board,
as chiSel cut through the wall by charging
an air hole, which let them out into the back
Jail yard One sealed the wall through the
privy and hung down carpet made into a
rope, which served to get them on the wall
and lower them to the outside The prisoners
IN the upper room got through the floor bv
the same process as that used on the lower
cell floor. johnson, one of the prisoners was
captured at Milford on the 9TH.
Year: 1871

~ The woman who is indifferent to
her looks is no true woman. God
meunt woman To be attractive, to
look well, to please, and it is-one of
her duties to carry out this inten-
tion Of her Maker. But that dress
is to do it all, and to suffice, is more
than l can be brought to believe -
just because I do love to see girls
look well, as we'll as to live to some
purpose. l would urge upon them
such a course reading and study
as viii confer such charms as no
na0aiSts can supply. n. p. Willis
wrote once very pretty para
graph on the power Of education to
beauty.-That is absolutely chisel-
ed the features; that he had seen
many a clumsy nose and thick pair
Of lips so modified by thought ava
kened and active sentiment as to be
unrecognizable. And he put it on
the ground that we so often see
people, homely and unattractive in
youth, bloom in middle life into so.-
tened Indian summer of good and
mellow tones.
Year: 1871

After a great snow storm, a little
fellow began to shovel a path thro'
a large snow bank before his grand
mothers door. He had nothing but
a small shovel to work with. "dOw
do you expect to get through that
driftg' asked man-passing slong
BY keeping st it" said the boy
cheeifully; '.that's how. That's the
secret o. mastering nearly every
difficulty under the sun. Ii hard
task is before you, stick to It. Do
not keep thinking how it is; but 90
at it, and little by little it viii grow
smaller until it is done. Ifa hard
lesson is to be learned, do not spend
a moment in fretting, do not lose a
breath in saying, Il can't, or I do
not see how but go ahead and
keep at it. If "a fault is to be cured
or bad habit broken uP, it cannot
be done by merely being sorry, or
only trying little. You must keep
lighting it; and not giveup fighting
it; and not give ap fighting until it
is got rid Of
Year: 1871

The process Of making wine, as
condensed from the report Of the
eighth census, is as simple as that
of pressing cider. Take well ripen-
ed grapes, pass them through wood
en- rollers or mash them with a
wooden pestle. Then press ont
with cider mill or wine press
Put the 'smust' in a clean barrel to
ferment and place the casl1 in a eel
lar where the temperature remains
at about sixty-five degrees. After
fermentation has ceased fiji mp the
casks and drive in the bungs tightly.
The succeeding spring rack off into
clean casks. A second fermenta-
tion will take place in May, when
the corls should be loosencd. A
great deal depends upon keeping
the vessels full and corking tight.
In Europe they have 4 phoyerb, "a
man might as we'll forget to kiss his
wise on coming home as to leave a
vacancy in his wine cask, imply
ing that both would tnrn sour by
the omission. A very good light
wine is made by putting in one
quart of water for each quart Of
berries, strain ont and add two
pounds ofloaf sugar to the gallon
and let it ferment as above. ANA
jority Of persons prefer the wine
made by this last process. It Is
mild, pleasant and exhilerating
drink. The pride OF the vine grow
er is to make wine without the ad-
dition Of sugar, though a great deal
Of "must" is turned into vinegar in
the attempt If the juice weighs
over sod. by the areometer or sac
charine scale no sugar Is necessary;
If not loaf sugar dissolved in water
must be added,


To take grease out Of silk, take a
lump Of magnesfa, rub it wet on the
spot. Let it dry; then brush it or.


1 IL ,-.gk ,-ssif ,4faas,r,aer
Year: 1871

A fair subscriber in a letter re
Gently received expresses the opin-
ion that whisky and laziness are
doing more harm to our country
than scalawags, taxes, carpet bag
gers and Congress al combined;"
and adds that ''many and many a
poor woman, raised in easy luxury,
is now brought down to pinching
poverty and hard labor by the lazi
ness and hard drinking Of those
who ought to support them
True, every word of it.
Year: 1871

New York has another first-class
sensation. Ben. w. Cooper, a wor-
thy merchant of that city, tried to
kill his wife with a carving knife
the other day, and; failing in his
design, cut his own throat from ear
to ear.
Year: 1871

The Storm Ahead Of Political Regeneration.


meeting was to have been held last evening at
No 2os Eighth avenue, under the auspices OF the
Sixteenth Ward Council Of Political Reform and the
Young Mems Municipal Reform Association. 1t Is
almost supernuous to say that the said meeting did
not take place. the few dripping members or the
Council and the several soaking young men OF
the Municipal Reform, each one resembling q water
spout, coming TO the satisfactory conclusion 10
postpone II. Mr.. Erastus c. Benedict had been
expected, and as all hope OF his arrival was
abandoned, Mr.. Castree suggested that owing TO
the severity Of the storm, fpe meeting should pe
adjourned till Monday next There were about
twenty persons present, but not dissentient voice.
and all hands prepared to hoist umbrellas The
separation Of friends was very rapid.
Year: 1871

T1HE ELLIPTIC SEWING MACHINES ARE
4 manufactured and warranted by the Wheeler
Wilson Sewing Machine Company. The late
and important improvements enable us to guar
antee to every purchaser that the Elliptic Ma
chine will do more work, better work, and
greater variety of work than any other Sewing
Machine now in use. The economy of the Ell
lptlc Machine in family is almost incredible :;
with one, good operator can do the work of
twelve hands. BY it the making of garments is
reduced from a question of hours to one of min
utes as the following table will show:


Ut not to be understood that the following table Is tho
time TO make the garments but do the stitching ony
Year: 1871

How many men, from badly cured diseases,
rom the effects of self-abuse and excesses, have
brought about the state of weakness in those or


gans that has reduced the general system SO
much as to induce almost every other disease
Year: 1871

THE New York Tribune says: "a little
very simple knowledge would go great
way in warm weather Here are q party
of amateur sportsmen coming home in dis
gust on account of mosquitoes, and thou
sands of stay-at- homes who find life at
home uncomfortable on any terms for flies.
If either party knew it, carbolic acid is the
sovereign remedy for all their troubles. A
few drops evaporated in room or poured
upon the clothes will keep the winged


pests at safe distance; and if the pure
crystalized acid is used, no great annoy
ance will result to human beings. Res
taurant keepers ought to know this, and
keep the swarms of flies away from their
windows, where they settle and buzz to
the torment of psssers. The musty taste
of the Croton water complained of by
those who make its acquaintance newly
every summer, may be corrected by throw
ing a few scraps of sheetiron into the
water-tauk or cooler. This prevents water
from decomposing, and keeps it pure and
sweet. It will even preserve the water
from growing unwholesome and offensive
On long sea voyages. People are constant
ly rushing about in the hot sun complain,
ing of headaches and giddiness, when al
they need for safety and comfort is wei
handkerchief in the crown of the hat.
Year: 1871

Any amount and every class Of Insurance required
can be placed at this Office in the best Companies
and at as low rates at any agency in the country.
Expiration Notices Promptly Given.
Year: 1871

If we have erred, it has been in under
rating the power of the rebels and the
danger that may come from them. All
our measures since the war (and the
amendments are the most important)
were aimed to secure personal rights.
The additional powers given to Congress
by the amendments are only to enable
Year: 1871

any wild theories of political economists
to the destruction of any home industry,
or to the diminution of our revenue so
as to endanger deficiency. 1t is charm
ing business to repeal taxes, but we
must remember that by taxes alone we
have been able to pay off fully 100000,
900 floating debt aud claims since the
war was over. We have also paid off
since the war nearly S500,000,00 of the
debt. Since Gen. Grant was Inaugural
ted we have paid off S230,000,00c of
bonded debt, and thus saved $4,000,
600 of annual interest in gold. We are
also diminishing the interest on that
which remains unpaid. Our financial
condition is now so assured that, after
all the strain of war, our credit is now
better than before the conflict. The
debt is no longer the mountain that
threatens to overthrow us. Our expen-
ditures, our taxes, and our debt are all
rapidly diminishing, while our popula-
ton, cur resources, our wealth, and our
industry are all rapidly increasing.
Such is the result of republican ad-
ministration.


In what respect can the democratic
party improve this condition of things
Year: 1871

The sham Of civil service reform, Of
which General Grant presends to be =
lssdlag advocate. finds an apt illustration
10 the fact that the President and all the
heads Of departments have boon for somc
days absent from their duties in Washing
ton, sky.larking and pleasure seeking in
various parts Of the world remote from
their oficinl stations What is the use Of
talking about reforming the civil service
when the example Of negligence, incom-
pstsncc. disregard Of law and malfeasancc
generally 10 so prominent in the Executive
Department Of the government The
best civil service reform that can DO adopt
ID will Be the displncing. by vote Of the
people, Of General Grant and bis grand
army Of uaderstrarpcrs in 1872.
Year: 1871

A lady died two years ago in Troy New
York, and left her property to her ne
phcw, with the provi.o that if ever he Of
fercd the farm for sale the property should
be forfeited to certain church. The
place was offered for sale few months
ago aud the church instituted suit but the
courts have decided that the condition Of
the will was against public policy and
have declared the provision null aud soid
Year: 1871

A CORES pondent Of the AAa California,
alluding to paragraphs which appear from
time to time, On accidental drowning,
says: 1t is proven, by anatomical expert
m.nts that the weight of human body
is about equal to the weight of the same
bulk Of salt or sea water, or, in other
words, the amount of wstcr displaced by
the human body when submerged in
the sea, is very nearly equal in weight


to the body so dispacing it. A further
proof of this is the fact that, after a GER
tain length of time, in cases Of drowning,
the body rises to the surface, and this,
often, when encountered with clothing,
boots, or other matter heavier than water.
In cases of persons who cannot swim fall
ing overheard encountered with clothing,
if they will not attempt to struggle to keep
more than the mouth out of the water, at
the same time kicking downward with
their feet 2nd padding with their hands
under water, they eau sustain themselves
for considerable length of time. Most
persons who fall into the water lose all
presence of mind, and either draw their
hands up or wildly dash them through the
air and water. The moment the weight OF
the arms is added to the weight of the
head above the water, The inevitable con-
sequence is to submerge the body. A few
st, uggles OF this character close the scene.
The same struggle with the arms and t' ct
under the water will certainly sustain the
mouth above the water; and could the
senses control the impulse to throw the
arms up, and keep them down, the, would
be less recording of accidental drown
ing" The correspondent cites the case of
man, who could not swim, falling over
board from sailing ship at sea, whose
life was saved by a surgeon on hoard cry
ing out to the struggling man, in authori.
tative tones, to keep his bands under the
water Accustomed to obeying orders,
his hands went under the water; but, as
the ship reccded, the impulse to throw up
the hands overcame him, and down he
went Selling the speaking.trumpet, the
surgeon ordered hinl, as he rose to the
surface in his struggle, to down with his
hands, In the meantime the sails were
hove aback,' boat lowered, and the
man reached in time to save him. Obey
ing orders was his safety. The cores
pon(icnt is correct in his theory, ard the
practice would almost invariably result IS
in the case cited. if the shock on falling
into the water did not throw the strugglcr
into mortal terror and invountarily cause
the arms to be raised above the water.
The suggestion is worth slowing away in
one corner Of the memory"
Year: 1871

A few years since, gentleman engaged
in the lumber business in Maine, having
an apprcciative eye for fine diamond,
and being convinced that real gem
would, if properly bought, he safe in
vestmcnt, accordingly commissioned Mr.
Charles W. Kennard, the well-known
jeWeler on fremont street, to purchase for
him stone, about thousand dollars in
value, which was mounted as spiral
backed stud.


As months rolled on the owner was of.
tered ny connOisseurs constant advances
on his purchase, which temptation only
made him value his gem the more, and he
said to hims:lf, "If it is worth that to
them it is to me. and l will keep it till
forced by necessity to sell"


In April OF last wear, while working on
MS boom Of logs on ole OF the streams Of
the Keanebec having on a shirt, the stud.
hole worn large by service, he saw his
sparkling brilliant fall from his bosom,
strike the log, and glide quietly into the
swift current below.


Determination to regain it overpowcr-
ed the regret of his mind. He kept his
loss where his stud should have been-in
his bosom. Sounding the depth of water,
he found it to be about seven feet; he
then decided to wait till the summer
drouth should bring the stream to its low.
est ebb, and taking accurate measurement
of the place, by the bearings of the rocks
and trees on shore, allowing eighteen
inches for the change of direction by the
current, he left his treasure to compete
with the dace and sinner, IN fascinating
the river mermaid, and returned to his NJ as
sachusetts bone.


The September following, six months
after the loss, the river being then at its
lowest point for the season, the undaunted
lumberman started for his diamond. The
riverful Of logs, covering the place, had
been sawed and shipped, and now only a
few inches Of water trick]ed over the spot
where the stud fell lie took with him a
large tin colandcr, the holes Of which
were Of size to hold the prize if found
lie he'd determined to work fortnight, be-
fore giving up the gem as lost, and to
have all the river bottom to 80 through
his handy kitchen strainer. He made his
hrst dip of gravel and water as nearly as
ne could calculate, eighteen inches down
tue current from where it struck the sur
lace Ut the stream, seven feet above And
'Hclzy dip it was! for at the bottom Of
thc pan lAy tho lost gem, bright and spark
Ing rs when it came from the iewelcr.


Inc above Incident is a good illustra-
ton Of Yankee patience and tact, as we'll
as warning to those who wear diamond
shirt studs.-Boston TRANSCRIPT.