smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

A man was hanged the other day
at San Francisco for murder with 8
weapon of a peculiarly dangerous and


for long time mysterious nature.
This is a sand club, formed by filling
an eel skin with sand. When this in
strument was first brought into use
the authorities were greatly puzzled


by deaths, apparently from violence,
yet no marks could be found on the
outside of the body. "A burglar was
final lly captured with q sand club in
his possession made out of an eel skin
stuffed with sand. Being closely ques-
toned, he explained its use. When
the victim is struck, for instance, on
the head, he drops insensible and soon
dies from congestion of the brain.
Often the skull suffers no injury fron
the stroke, and if the person RECEIVERS
sensibility he gradually rslspses into
a condition of idiocy. Sometimes a
man struck in the body will be
knocked down by the peculiar force
of the blow, and feel no immediate
results from it. In a few weeks, how
ever, the flesh will begin to mortify,
under the line of the blow and rot
down to tho bone. Heller, the oele-
brated pianist, is supposed to have
met his death in Mexico from astroke
of this diabolical weapon. u
Year: 1873

THIS is what q German observer
says of American schools: Gin many
of our English American schools the
teachers conflne themselves too close
" to the textbooks. What is in the
textbook they endeavor to teach or
have scholars to learn it in some way,
and no more. They sit behind the
desk, clasping the textbook with both
hands, so as not TO lose the place,
and looking neither to the right nor
to the left, nor upwards, while the
scholars are standing before them re-
citing, not what we have really stud
led or learned, but what they have
committed to memory, or perchance
found in some ''pony."
Year: 1873

PRoFEssoR AGAssIz is no believer
in Darwin. Not long ago he was in
troduced to lady whom he was
quite sure of having met before. She
told him he was mistaken.' He laugh
ingIy replied, "Well, we have known
each other. but l presume it was when
we were both toads y
Year: 1873

A RADICAL NEWSPAPERS TRIBUTE TO
SToNEwALL JACKSON From Baltimore A.
n,erican AT this distance from the actual
events, and with the harshness Of feeling mel
lowed by the lapse of time, we can all afford to
be glad that honorable record is vouchsafed TO
the men who fought bravely and conscientious
ly for lost cause. We do not think that any
American would refuse honor to StonewalI
Jackson, or would be sorry to know that Eng
lishmen have resolved to commemorate his vir-
tues Leading members of the British Parlia-
meut have contributed to monument which
is soon to be erected over the remains of the
dead soldier This monument has been finish
ed, and is soon to be sent over to this country.
We hope that when it is placed above the hero's
grave the occasion may be celebrated as would
become national aud not a sectional figure In
the annals of our time"


A Coon WORD FOR HUMAN NATURE.-It
was the genial Diedrich Knckerbocker who
said Il have not SO bad an opinion OF man
kind as many of my brother philosophers. /
do not think poor human nature so sorry piece
OF orkmanship as they would make it out to
be; and as far as have observed, am fully
satisfied that man, If left to himself would a.
bont as readily go right as wrong. 1t is only
this eternally sounding In his ear that it is his
duty to go right, which makes him go the re-
verse. The noble independence of his nature
revolts at this intolerable tyranny of law, and
the perpetual interference Of offcious morality,
which are ever besetting his path with finger
posts and directions to keep to the right, as
the law directs and like spirited urchin, he
turns directly contrary and gallops through
mud aad mire, over hedges and bitches, merely
to show that be is lad of spirit and out of his
leading-striugs.
Year: 1873

'Mr DEAR GRANDNorHER: One o.
my elbows came through. but
the woman sewed it again. I've used
up both balls of my twine. And my
white handled knife-I guess it went
through hole in my pocket. that l
didn't know OF till after my knife was
lost. Ny trowsers are growing pretty
short. But she says it's partly my legs
getting long. I'm glad of that And
partly getting them wet. l stubbed
my toe against stump, and tumbled
down and scraped hole through my
oldest pair. For it was very rotten
cloth. I guess the hole is too crooked
to Lave it sewed again. She thinks a
mouse ran up my leg. and knawed the
hole my knife went through to get the
erumbles in my pocket. l don mean
when they were on me, but hanging
up. did what you told me when 1 get
wet. / hung my cloths around the
kitchen stove on three chairs. but the
cooking girl, she flung them under the
table. So now 1 60 wrinkled, and the
boys chase me to smooth out the
wrinkles. I don't skip over any button
holes in the morning now. as myjacket
comes out even. Why didn't you tell
me l had red head They say they'd
pull my hair if it weren't for burning
their fingers. Dorry said he guessed
my hsir:w tired of standing up and
wanted to lie down and rest / wish
you would please send me Q new comb.
for the large end Of mine has got all
but Ave Of the teeth broken out and
the small end can't get through. l
cant get 1t cut, because the barber has
raised his price. Send quite a stout
one. have lost TWO OF my pocket
handkerchieis, and another went up on
Dorry's kite and blew away.
Year: 1873

DUBUQUE, June l3th.-1n q quarrel
between two farmers in Prairie town
ship, Black county, one of them named
Writh stabbed the other, named Riebens
in the face with four tined fork, one
tine entering the right eye, another
knocking out two teeth and third in
flicting bad wound in the head. Writh
and his hired man then set their dogs
on Riebens, and before they could be
called off Riebens' clothes were almost
stripped from his body, and his legs
and body we're scratched and bruised
and bitten in q terrible manner.


Accident.


YESTERDAY at Jamestown, Wis. while
a company OF men were drilling at the
manual OF arms, and firing their guns
with blank cartridges, one Peter Grible
met with an accident by the premature
discharge Of his guu,which resulted in
the loss OF bic lett eye. lie had just
discharged his piece, aud was in the
act of pouring in another charge Of
powder when it ignited from the fire in
the barrel and flashed out OF the muZzle
into his eye, burning it almost out Of
his head.
Year: 1873

GENERAL VAN BUREN, it is alleged BY
the Nation, constituted in the early part
OF his official career an advisory COM
mittee OF thirtysone gentlemen eminent
in the various departments Of American
production, whose duty was to be the
passing upon the suitability and general
character of American contributions 70
the Exhibition, but he never convened
this excellent committee, yet did ar
range for the exhibition, in Vienna, OF
our renowned mixed drinks" through b
his right hand man Meyer. who was to
receive his "divvy" upon all Gales. The
State Department refuses to publish
the papers in the case OF Van Buren or
any other suspended commissioner, as
the examination is not yet concluded
into what is merely one more odious
and public disgrace to the American
name, for which we are indebted to
Grant and the men who reelected
Grant. World.
Year: 1873

Burns, q notorious criminal was at
work with his gang onl Blackwells
Island today, when small boat came
near the shore and Burns left his gang
and rusped to the boat, got in and was
rowed towards New York. One OF the
KEEPERS saw the whole transaction, but
could no. catch the fugitive. The man
who brought the boat was badly
wounded by a shot from the keepers
pistol. His name was Clark. He
could not get away on reaching New
York, but Burns escaped.
Year: 1873

MADRID, June l3.-The programme
OF the new Spanish Ministry was an.
nounced tonight. President Marzall
promises to the country complete or
gauization OF the Spanish army and the
restoration of discipline among the die
affected troops. Martial law will be
proclaimed in all places where aid and
comfort is given to the Carlists now In
arms against the Government. Slavery
will be abolished at an early day, and
a Joint commission OF the masters and
men will be established to settle the
labor question. The proposed policy
Of the new government meets with
general favor.
Year: 1873

JERSEY CITY. June l3.-The local
train with five cars and about thirty
passengers lett Newark at ll:45 last
night for this city, and while passing
through Bergen tunnel ran into an OBJ
struction on the track and almost at
the same time locomotive plunged in-
to the wrecked train. The shock was
great but no passengers were killed. It
took long time to clear the track and
many persons coming to New York
this morning were obliged to walk from
the tunnel to the ferry.
Year: 1873

TaEEE is sensible old lady in Kan
sas City who is determined TO stand up
Tor her rights and privilege. She hap.
pened to know something lately that 6
reporter wanted to know. He attempt
ed TO interview her and che held re-
volver to his head and kept his moth
shut till Q policeman came and took
him away.
Year: 1873

RoNE, June l3.-Thanksgiving SER
vices were held in all the churches in
this city this evening, to return thanks
to the Almighty for the restoration to
health OF His Holiness, the Pope.
Year: 1873

4 Nasty PLAcE.-The attention oi
the Health Officer is again called to the
filthy and dangerous condition Of the
gutter along the Baltimore Il Ohio
Railroad between .Handlun's Crossing
and the South Wheeling Glass Works.
All along that line is mass Of green
filthy, stagnsnt water, ready to send
out disease and desth which will surely
follow unless this place is at once
cleaned up. The citizens in that end OF
the city are loud and deep in denounc'
ing this nuisance, and wish the proper
authorities to have it abated without
delay.
Year: 1873

The three principal witnesses in the
Stokes case were arrested this evening
and lodged in the House OF Detention.
This is evidence that the District Al"
torney intends bringing on the trial st
once.
Year: 1873

k%- Mosquitoes immigrated 10 this
country in the year one. They arc the
smallest fowl that navigate tho air Al
though not soaring SO high as other
fowl, they make some foulcr Sores than
any other bird ever dreamed Of They
are not very devout, although they are
birds OF prey They are 50 tame that
they will come UP and eat ont OF a fcl


lows hand. As songsters they are a sue
cess, making some of the sweetest sounds
ever heard. We are sometimes con.
strained to stay awake all night aid lis.
ten TO their strains, even .if its ever SO
confounded siraining onus IL any one
doesn't like their music he can lump 1t,
and failing TO do so they will lump him,
and il he gets on his ear about it, such
a proceeding is foolish, for they are very
accommodating and will get on bis ear
for him, bike their music better than
anything else about hem Many a time
have laid on my downy bed and listened
to them as they sung F" Come Where my
Love Lies Dreaming We Don't Go
Home Till Morning" and such like, till
| have been So carried away (and wish
ing that was carried still further) that
I've joined in the melody, singing Shoe
Fly, aud cheering them by clapping my
hands together, in the hope ofgiving the
little suckers an eifectionate squeeze.
Year: 1873

ANCIENT TIMBER.-Probsbly the old
est timber in the werld, that has been
subject to the hand of man, 10 that in the
temple of Egypt 1t is found in connec-
ton with steno work which is known to
be at least 1000 years old. This wood.
and the only used in tho construction OF
the temple, is in the form Of ties, hold.
ing the end Of one stone to another in its
proper surface. When two blocks were
laid in place then it appears that an sx-
cayation about an inch deep was made in
each block, into which an hour glass.
shaped tie was driven. 1t is therefore
very difficult to force any stone from its
position. The ties appear to have been
the tamerisk, or chittem wood, Of which
the ark was constructed, a sacred troc in
ancient Egypt, and now very rarely
found in the valley OF the Milo. These
dove tail ties are just as sound now as on
the day Of their insertion.
Year: 1873

MI 1ne Louisville OouTlcr-Jou
talks in this style;


a great deal has been said Of late in
the farmers mass.mectngs throughout
the West on the subject OF railroad
charges " would be well to keep in
mind that considerable portion of
these charges the railroads are forced to
make in consequence ofthc heavy taxes
they are compelled to pay upon the iron
rails and car fixtures which are imported
from Europe. For example, If a rail
road has to pay $500 900 in the shape Of
extra duty on railroad iron, il is plain
that the road must make up that extra
cost. which is so much actual loss to it,
by putting it in its freight charges. Let
US abolish the protective monopoly, and
cease to force the whole country to pay
an oppressive tribute to enable mere
hondful Of rich manufacturers to increase
their fortunes
Year: 1873

The LOCAL PAPER The New York
Times says of the local paper: You
owe it to yourselves to rally to its sup
port, and exact from it as able, highton
cd u character as you do from any edd-
Gator in your midst. 1t is in no sense
beneath notice and care--unless you
Yourself are beneath notice and care
for it is your representative. Indeed, in
its character in is tho summation Of the
importance, interest, and welfare of you
all. 1t is the aggregate ofyour own con
sequence, and you cannot ignore it with
out miserably depreciating yourselves,
Year: 1873

CtltOIiI says


To sum it up, the new party which
comes to us with flourish OF trumpets,
is but weak and puny affair The mea-
gre convention and the indifferent ante
cedents Of lis participants, all go to prove
that the oftrepeated declaration that
there was a great popular demand for a
new party was but deluson and snare.
IL is nota peoples movement and it will
never become a peoples party The
managers, through their platform, pro-
pose nothing that cannot be obtained
through the regeneratcd, liberalized and
modernized democratic party We look
upon this movement now as but an in
surrection among the quGrtermasters and
contractors of the democratic party
Their efforts will be mainly directed
against that organization, but it will rise
superior to their assaults. 1t is un
derstood that the founders Of the new
party ask no alliliation or co operating
with the democratic party Let us see
to it, then that they do not receive any.
The democracy on the 9th of August can
nominate good ticket and adopt a plat
form which will be indorsed by every
true retormer in the state. With our
consent the ticket nominated on that day
will contain the name of no man nomi-
mated at Columbus yesterday. We coun-
seized and labored for peace and harmony
between men claiming to labor fora com
mon cause. but the leaders Of the new
party have tasted of the insane root, and
they have declared war upon the demo
cratic organization. 1t is not ready to
surrender to a handful of political adven
turcrs and will assert itself upon the 9th
after the cid manner, and clothc itself
with n new GLORY
Year: 1873

t. A man was found dead in the neigh
horhood OF Cedarville-was shot through the
head Had been dead sometime. No clue
TO his name or the cause ofhis death. A man
10y the name Of Latta is missing from about
Cincinnati, Ark, supposed to be about the


time of his death. We shall probably have
particulars next week. Undoubtedly a will
fu murder has been committed. No means
should be neglected to ferret out the perpc
trafnr
Year: 1873

NEw YORK, August q.


Senator Morton has addressed notes
to his associates on the committee on
privileges and elections, appointing n fall
meeting of that committee in this city on
the lst Of October, fol the consideration
of the proposed amendment to the con
stitution, which shall effect change in
the mode of election of the president and
vice president. 1t is intended to give the
sessions of the committee in New York
a public character, and several leading
constitutional lawyers and writer's on this
special subject will be invited TO address
the committee.
Year: 1873

vatlve State government, and that liberal
provisions ought to be continued for the
support and extension of free schools
for the white and colored races respect
lively.


The following telegram from General
kemper was received by Hon. Thomas
Bocock IL accept the nomination with
profound sense Of its just responsible.
ties, and without fear Of defeat. Let all
true Virginians stand together for the
sake Of Virginia "


The convention adjourned sine sie, and
was resolved into mass-meeting to al
low the most prominent speakers to ad
dress the assemblage.
Year: 1873

The following are from an old scrap
book. We reproduce them to show to
the present generation what quaint ideas
were promulgated by the teachers of our
fathers and mothers of the olden time /:
An independent man is one who blacks
his own boots, who can live without to-
bacco and whiskey, who earns at least a
penny more than he spends. and who
can, upon a pinch, shave himself With
brown soap and cold water without a
mirror. A great man is one who can
lead his children to obey him when out
of sight. A hospitable man is never
ashamed of his dinner when u friend un-
expectly drops in to dine with him. A
good wife exhibits her love for her hus-
band by seeking to promote his welfare,
and by administering to his comforts.
A sensible wife looks for her enjoyment
at home--a silly one, abroad. A wise
girl would win a lover by practicing
those virtues which secure admiration
when personal charms have faded. A
simple girl endeavors to recommend her
self by the exhibition of frivolous accom-
plishments, and by mawkish sentiment
which has as little to do with a true
heart as has the gaudy dress she wears.
A good girl always respects herself, and
is thus sure to be respected by others.
Year: 1873

To-day there is man going about the
streets of this city, ragged, dirty, and
penniless, subsisting on free lunches and
the charity Of gamblers, and has not
slept in a bed for months, who, during
the war, was one Of the most dashing
cavalry officers in the Union army, and
was promoted from the rank Of First
Lieutenant to full Brigadier and Brevet
Major General. for brilliant exploits on
the field Of battle, and who for long
time had q large and important COM
mand.


He has been here for two or three
months under an assumed name, being
ashamed to dim the briiliancy Of his rec
ord in the service of his country by an
exhibition of his degradation. He i,
very reticent, having little to do with
any one, and talking but little save when
engineering" for q drink, at which he
is remarkably successful.


Night before last, while lying help
lessly drunk in the rear part of a Third
street saloon, some men thought to play
joke on him by stealing his shirt, and
proceeded to strip him. Underneath his
shirt, and suspended by a string around
his neck, was a small canvas bag, which
the men opened and found it to contain
his commission as Brevet Major General;
two congratulatory letters, one from
President Lincoln and one from Grant;
a photograph of little girl, and curl
of hair--a chestnut shadow" that doubt
less one day crept over the brow of some
loved one. When these things were dis
covered, even the halfdrunken men who
found them felt a respect for the mans
former greatness and pity for his fallen
condition, and quietly returned the bag
and contents to where they found them,
and replaced the sleeper's clothes upon
him.


Yesterday reporter tried to interview
the man and endeavor to learn something
of his life in the past few years, but he
declined to communicate anything. He
cried like a child when told how his right
name and former position had been as
certained, and, with tears trickling down
his cheeks, said: ''For Gods sake, sir,
don't publish my degradation, or my
name, at least, if you are determined to
say something about it. 1t is enough
that know myself how low l have be-
come. Will you promise that much
1t will do no good, but will cause my
friends great deal of harm as, fortu-
nately, they think ! died in South Amer
lea, where l went at the close of the
war. Intemperance and the gaming
table have wrought my ruin. n."-Rmsas
City Neus.
Year: 1873

A good woman never grows old.
Years may pass over her head, but u
benevolence and virtue dwell in her
heart, she is as cheerful as when the
spring of life first opened to her view.
When we look upon a good woman we
never think of her age; she locks as
charming as when the rose of youth first
bloomed upon her cheek. That rose has
not faded yet; it never will fade. In
the neighborhood she is the friend and
benefactor. Who does not respect and
love the woman who has passed her days
in acts of kindness and mercy? We re-
peat, such woman can not grow old.
She will always be fresh and buoyant in
spirits, and active in humble deeds Of
mercy and benevolence. If the young
lady desires TO retain the bloom and
beauty Of youth, let her not yield to the
sway of fashion and folly let her love
truth and virtue, and to the close of her
life she will retain those feelings which
now make life appear garden of sweets,
ever fresh and ever new.
Year: 1873

ONE of the most important points in
window gardening is watering. There
should he plenty of cracks in the bottom
OF the pot, so as to let the water pass of
rapidly, and thus insure perfect drainage.
This is one of the few rules without any
exception, as there is not a single plant
suitable for window culture which will
flourish if the water be allowed to stag
nate in the bottom of the pot.
Year: 1873

The following process is said to be ef-
fective in detecting sulphuric acid in win.
egar: Boil few grains of starch with
an ounce or two of the suspected vinegar
for few minutes in a glass vessel when
il has become cold, add a drop of the
tincture Of iodine. II the vinegar con-
tains no sulphuric acid, a beautiful blue
color will be produced by the reaction Of
the iodine on the starch. But if small
quantity Of sulphuric acid be present, no
color will be developed, for the acid will
have changed the starch TO dextrin, which
is not colored by iodine.