smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

In the rough granite country back
from Mossamesdes, on the west coast
of Africa, are some very remarkable
natural cisterns. The country itself is
peculiar, huge single rocks rising out of
the nearly level plain in some places,
and other hills of rocks, in several of
which deposits of water are found at
the very top. A recent traveller visited
one of these and describes it as natural
tank with narrow entrance, containing
some 800 or 400 gallons exquisitely
clear and cool water 1t was covered
by vast slabs of granite, from which
the rain drained into it during the rainy
season, shading the water so that it
could not be seen without a torch, and
so protecting it that the sun can not
evaporate it during the dry season.
Thus a bountiful store of excellent
water is preserved, while there was not
a drop to be had elsewhere for miles.
Year: 1876

There is an American story of re-
spectacle antiquity which tells how
fast train outI an the sound of its own
signals and came to utter grief, the
sound of the warning whistle arriving
after the collision. The driver was kill
ed, and the story ended with the words,
Poor fellow! he was dead when his
curses reached him" As curious, and
much more certainly true, is the fact
that when a man is struck by lightning
he does not see the flash. We do not
know whether it has been observed that
something similar will happen to the
first man killed by the 81-ton gun, with
in a mile of the muzzle; he will not hear
the shot fired. The velocity of sound
is / ,132 feet per second. The muzzle
velocity of the bolt of the Sl-ton gun is
about 1000 feet per second. This, Of
course, rapidly diminishes, but the av-
erage for some distance would be great
er than that ofthe sound. In fact, as
the shot carries the whistle along with
it, one would hear the whistle of the
shot before hearing the gun. Some Gu
rious observations might be made with
regard to this latter point, as to the
acoustic effect of sound emitted by a
body travelling faster than the sound.
The only other example we have is the
flash, producing the irregular
roll of the thunder.
Year: 1876

The London NeoCS of July II says:
One of the most trying of all the teach
er'S occupations must surely be the in
struction of persons of "mature age''-
perhaps especially of ladies of mature
age-''whose early education has been
neglected" Without entering in any
way into the merits of case lately tried
before Lord Coleridge, we may say that
the plaintiff in that case who, being a
widow, was obliged to earn living by
the teaching of such persons, was enti-
tied to be regarded with respect and
sympathy. The complete system, if we
may call it so-that which educates,
pOlishes, and then puts out to advantage
in sOciety-is not carried to much sue
cess in London. 1t is more largely
practiced, we are informed, in Paris;
more largely still in New York. In the
latter city, people say, it is thriving
and systematic profession. There
lady of mature years, whose education
has been neglected, and who has not
yet had time to enter the world of fash
ion, can have every thing done for her
to order, under the same guidance and
direction, from her earliest lesson in
writing or in French up to the provid-
ing of guests for her first dinner party
or ball. A man may have suddenly
made fortune in Oil City, Pa, or
Poker Flat, Cal, and he comes to New
York to live and enjoy himself. He can
not send his wife to one of the ward
schools, and wait in patient obscurity
until she has first been educated, and
then by force of merit and grace, make
friends. He easily finds a kindly dame
who will take her in hand, teach her
enough to make her seem as if she had
once learned something and forgotten it,
hire house for her and furnish it, dress
her, take her out, and provide her at a
proper time with splendidly appoint
ed ballroom, guests included. In this
case the mature lady is probably quite
happy. The house, the furniture, the
clothes, and the jewels are the real
things; the education and the guests
suit her just as well as if they were the
thing. Such instances of mutual salts
faction, however, could hardly be fire.
quent in our slower and less shifting
society here in London, and we doubt
whether this system of complete social
education, including the launch into So
ciety, is much of a business among US.
In the more restricted sort of undertak-
ing, that of simply teaching persons
of middle life and neglected education,
1t would be interesting if one could
know the proportion of successful cases.
There must be so much to unlearn that
the wisdom of the new education will
have to linger long while before it
will make its way in. Whoever really
unlearned even provincial accent, or
an old-fashioned way of looking at
things, say at forty yearsP Certainly
the teacher who is successful in this
particular branch of education well de-
serves praise and pay, the teacher who
is unsuccessful a lenient pity.
Year: 1876

On Thursday last large white bull,
belonging to Mr.. Patterson, on his farm
near Peabody, in some way got loose
from the stall in which it was tied, and
the men of the family being far from
the house in the field, Mrs. Patterson
attempted to catch the animal by ap-
preaching it with basin of salt. This
seemed to work well at first, as the ami
NAL, on being called, came near and
bowed its head, as if it were about to
lick the salt. At this instant Mrs. Pat
terson attempted to catch the animal
by the ring in its nose, and to her sur
prise the beast plunged at her and threw
her into the air ten feet. When she
fell to the ground the beast made anOth-
er rush at her, but her pet dog, SEEM
ing to take in the perilOus situation of
its mistress, caught the bull by the ring
in its nose, and held it until assistance
arrived and the animal was captured,
thus saving the woman from fearful
death. Mrs. Patterson, though badly
bruised, is doing well. Mrs. Patterson
also states that this little dog saved the
life of her husband in similar manner
some time since.-AtcbjSOB (KdS.)
GbnqnDiOn
Year: 1876

A still more remarkable cistern of this


sort is that of Pedra Grande ar Big


Stone, some thirty miles from Mos


samesdes, huge rounded mass of gran


ite rising out of a sandy plain. On the


smooth side of this rock, twenty or


thirty feet above the plain, is circular
pit about ten feet deep and six feet
across. The rainfall on the rock above
the pit drains into it, filling it completely
every rainy season. The walls of the
is shaped like a crucible
narrowing gently to the bottom per.
fectly smooth and regular, the inclos-
ing granite being of the closest and
hardest description. The cistern will
hold several thousand gallons of water.
Near by are smaller pits of similar
character. Their formation is unex-
planned. The water of this strange
well furnishes the natives and travellers
with an abundant supply during the
dry season, consequently it is noted
halting- place.
Year: 1876

earth, and was dipping up the mud,
and sucking the water from it. He
had an AK with him, with which he
made a wedge, driving it behind his
leg, thereby easing the pressure some
what. He was caught just above the
ankle of the right foot; but. fortunately
no teeth entered his leg. He is now at
S. B. Gates's, with his wound properly
dressed by physician, and it is ex-
pected he will recover.
Year: 1876

RASPBERRY AND CURRANT MARINA
LADE.-Take equal quantities of very
ripe red currants and raspberries and
scald them in little water, or, better
still, steam them; then pass the jam
through a sieve, to separate the seeds
from the pulp. Add equal weight of
loaf sugar, and boil them together for
40 minutes. Put into cups and tie
down with brown paper.
Year: 1876

not been salutary. however, for the party
on the determination to reach specie pay
ments and increase our bonded debt, is
almost unit. Ii sits in Congress, and
never Q word Is heard from it ON the con
dition Of trade, except ~ an argument why
we should increase the banking power
over the commerce and people Of the ma
tion. When the life Of the country was
threatened all round, the government
was crowded into taking for
ward step; it did it, and
the greenback came into existence.
Who regrets that step and wants tO force
US back into the same old ruts None but
the moneyed interest. For this master
the ingenuity Of the Republican party is,


like our industries. held I'm aLeyAa. .ce-si
lent as death, and no relief is proffered.
The fact il, il Is how il has been since the
end of the war, the party Of the rich, and
the chief end of its Legislation has been for
the rich, On this account | do not see
that the poor of the people have anything
to hope from it. To the Independent par
ty, on the currency Issue alone can the
people look for help. Ii seems to be their
only salvation Around it, if properly
mehAxeu, Will cluster not the sOrcnea0S,
an it is said OF both parties, but those Of
them who have deep convictions that the
first duty Of a government is TO give the
people such legislation a. they honestly
desire and need, not from q party stand
point, but because it is their duty These
are in greater number than politicians are
given to think they are, and q manly Of
fort on the part Of all who thus think this
year, will give proof If what the people |
expect and must have from the men they
choose to represent them. The time haa |
gone past. at least trust 50, when a party
having for a short season done the will Of
the country, can sit down on its credit and
be allowed by reelection for an indefinite
term, and steal and steal under the belief
that the people will not call them to &C
count. What we want Is party to give
US such measures As the ever changing con
dltions of q progressive people require,
because these measures are wanted, and
not with view to serve the ends of ma
lOrity Of the party first, and the people |
last. A party that will do this will have
honest support and be kept in power. That
which does not ought to be slaughtered,
no matter what its name


Very truly yours,


JOHN JAMES.
Year: 1876

DANA, Ind, March 20.
70 the Editor u the WoHKmsMAS's ADVOCATE


This is q new and enterprising little
town. The coal shaft which has recently
been sunk here makes the panic stricken
citizens Of this place rejoice. The depth
of the shaft is one hundred and fifty feet
from the surface to the bottom Of the coal.
The coal will average four feet in thick
ness. They are driving the entries with
all the force necessary at present The
company's object Is to open their mine as
soon as possible, but the prospect tor ship
ping coal from here this summer looks ra-
ther slim. The most of our citizens here
are farmers by occupation, the majority
OF whom are Independent voters on the
reform principle. am glad to learn that
the tOiling class Of our beautiful but poor
ly conducted country during the past
eight years, are more particular as to
whom they will elect for our government
officials than they have been heretofore.
Many Of our intelligent working men have
taken no interest in government affairs
hitherto, but are now waking up to q
sense Of their duty. Labor is lower now
than it has ever been before, and our gov
ernment officials are receiving larger sal
aries now than they did in better days
gone by. What forl For performing
more iniquity than has ever been requi red
Of them heretofore Fellow citizens don I
you think it is time that we should act as
a unit and deposit our ballots for those
candidates who are willing tO sustain the
principles established by the independent
Reform party.


remain one among the numerous In
dependent Reformers. M.SH.
Year: 1876

RIGA eersa, to raise them, the party making
the proposition TO give one months written
notice Of same, and the other party to re-
turn answer in two weeks a. to whether the
new terms we're accepted or not. II not,
then the matter to be referred to the de-
cisiOn OF Board Of Arbitration, Or Con-
citation, said board to be selected Jointly
by both parties in interest.


do not know the plan followed with 30
much success in England, but there could
be no difficulty in getting it. Perhaps if
the matter is thoroughly discussed through
the press this spring and summer, it may
attract the attention u disinterested men
who could throw additional light on the
subject by exchange Of views.


ANDREW Roy
Year: 1876

No WOMAN will love a man the better
for beingrenowned orprominent Though
he Ee the first among men, she Will bC
proudcr, not fonder; as is often the case


she will not even be proud. But give her
love, appreciation, kindness, and there is
no sacrifice she would not make for his
cont nj and comfort. The man who loves
sr well is her hero and her king. No
less a hero 10 her. though he is not 20 any
other; no less a king, though his only
kingdom is her heart and home. 1t is a
mans own fault if he is unhappy with his
wife, ir nine cases out Of ten. 1t is a
very exceptional woman who will not be
all she can be to an attentive husband,
and very exceptional one who will not
be very dsagreeablc if she finds herself
wilfully neglected. 1t would be easy to
hate man who, having bound woman
to him, made no effort to make her happy
hard not to love one who is constant and
tender, and when a woman loves she al
ways strives to please. The great men OF
this world have always been wretched in
their domestic relations, while mean and
common men have been exceedingly
happy. The reason is very plain. Abb
sorbed in themselves those who desire the
worlds applause were careless OF the
little world at home, while those who had
none of this egotism strove to keep the
hearts that were their own and were happy
in their tenderness. .-ALabamd Baptist.
Year: 1876

MARTIN Poll, a young man of twenty
five, grandson Of the famous Theodore,
King of the Mountains, so celebrated i'll
Corsican history, was in love with ayoung
girl of that island But he had II rival,
one Joseph Leca, surnamed the Zouaye,
who, by his bravery, had gained the
military medal in the French army.
The latter, considering that the other was
treated with greater preference, enticed
him one evening to a roadside public
house, with view Of giving him up to
the gensdarmes. Poll kept the appoint
ment, and having boldly announced his
suspicious of the other, quarrel ensued,
and they determined to settle the matter
there and then. Each was armed with
musket, and they went out into the open
ground, where the moon was shining
brightly, and each took up his station be-
hind tree, firing at his opponent at eve
ry opportunity, the two gradually ap-
preaching each other. At last they got
so near together that they were in full
view, aud they fired at the same time,
both falling dead, shot through the breast.
The neighbors, aroused by the de'ona-
tions, came up to the spot just in time to
see them both expiring in pool OF their
own blood.
Year: 1876

A GREAT deal of useless sympathy is in
this day expended upon those who start
out in life without social or monetary
help. Those are most to be congratulated
who have at the beginning rough tussle
with circumstances. John Ruskin sets it
down as one of his calamities that in early
life he had "nothing to endure" A pet
ted and dandled childhood makes weak
and insip.d man. You say that Ruskin
Just quoted disproves the theory No
He is showing in a detected, splenetic and
irritable old age the need of the early
cudgelng of adversely. He seems fret
ting himself to death. A little experience
of the hardship of life would have helped
to make him gratefully happy now. No
Drawn of character without compulsory
exerion. The men who sit strong in
their social financial md political eleva-
tions are those who did their own climbing.
Misfortune is rough nurse, but she
raises giants. Let our young people, in
stead of succumbing TO the influences that
would keep them back and down, take
them as the parallel bars, and mb-bells,
and weights of gymnasium, by which
they are to get muscle for the strife. Con-
sent not to beg your way to fortune, but
achieve it. God is always on the side OF
the man who does his best. God helps
the man who tries to overcome difficulties.
-Christian at work.
Year: 1876

The sixth report of the operations Of
the German explorers on the site of the
ancient Olympia, in Greece, has been
published. 1t covers the period from the
end of March to the 2lst of April during
which time the excavations continued
fruitful in iscovcries-pcdestais, with
and without inscription, bronze pieces Of
all sizes, and fragments of statuary coming
| to light every day. The great columns of
the portal, which were thrown down by
| the earthquake, were found in fair prcScr-
vation on the south side of the temple.
The floor of the temple has been partly
| cleared and the marble pavement laid
bare. Eighty men are at present employed
in removing the earth from the proanas
| OF the temple, and their labor, although
undertaken only in the interest of archi-
| tectural science, has resulted in the dis
covery of a valuable art relic. 1t is prob
ably the most interesting piece of sculp-
ture- work yet found at Olympia, and is in
| the best style of Grecian art. 1t metope
tablet with figures. One of these is a
young woman in a long robe, her right
arm with open hand hanging at her side,
her head turned to the right side, and her
wavy hair confined in cap; her left arm
is raised upward. Beside this figure, but
with his back turned to her, is nude
man bearing burden; he is in profile,
but his head, with its large beard, is
turned so that his face is visible beneath
his arm; this figure is undoubtedly Atlas,
whose head was supposed to have been
taken with other fragments to Paris.
Beside this figure is that Of Hcracles,
with his right arm extended forward and
three apples in his hand; his left arm is
broken, but the remainder of the figure is
remarkably well preserved; the head with
its pointed beard, the curly hair and the
band around the forehead.


In consequence Of the labor Of clearing
the interior of the temple the work on the
outside has not advanced greatly since the
last report. Added to this much labor
has been expended in removing the sculp-
lures to and from the photographers quar-
tiers. The sculptures and inscriptions have
nearly all been reproduced on the spot in
plaster and the casts are now ready for
packing and transportation.


Many fragments are now found which
complete pieces recovered some months
ago. Thus the fragment of bird was
found to fit fracture in the statue of
Nike, and the missing parts of the char
ioteer discovered in December have since
been found. OF the many inscriptions
discovered some relate to Roman men
and times; thus there are three Mummius
inscriptions, and one concerning Claudius
Tyson.


The work of excavating will be con-
tinued until the end of May, when it will
be suspended during the summer. The
site of the temple, which was for cen
turies dreary waste, has now, in spite of
the lack of travelling facilities, become a
resort for tourists. During the Easter
holidays from four to five hundred strang-
ers day came to view the temple.-N.Y.
Egentng Post
Year: 1876

More than . hundred victims of the
Brooklyn tragedy were inferred in Green
wood Cemetery yesterday. Some Of them
had been recognized and were fol-
lowed to their long home by sor-
rowing friends, but the great majority
were unknown to any one who had viewed
their remains, and as the great funeral cor
tege passed through the dense throng Of
citizens there was scarcely a spectator who
could not justly tremble for fear that
friend of his own might be represented by
the unrecognizable contents Of some one Of
the coffins. The whole city seemed to go
into mourning; even those who had lost no
friends could not be insensible to the great
sorrow of those about them, and for once
the flags at half-mast, the draped buildings
and the bated voices expressed for the living
even more sorrow than for the dead The
services at the great grave, though simple,
we're far from being perfunctory. The SER
mon, while acknowledging the wisdom and
goodness of Providence, only echoed the
heart questionings Of the thousands who
wonder for what purpose the terrible calam-
ity was allowed to occur. Brooklyn never
before knew SO solemn day, and her cti-
zens may well pray to be forever delivered
from another like it.
Year: 1876

General Ruger's reply to the com mittee
of the South Carolina House OF Representa-
tives informs tho committee that the United
States troops who hold possession of the
State House at Columbia arc there by his
order for the purpose of executing such
orders as might be given to them, and that
should the Wallace House attempt to enter
the Legislative hall his present orders
would require the officers to assist those in
charge Of the doors to prevent such entry
should they be called upon to do So


General Ruger, Of course, has nothing
to do as soldier but to obey
orders. But the Wallace House has now
been declared legal by the courts of the
State and has a constitutional quorum of
members bearing the certificate of the
Chamberlain Returning Board and Secretary
of State. Should they now be intcrfered
with by the federal troops no plea of igno-
rance on the part OF President Grant or
of q misapprehension of orders by Gen.
eral Ruger or any of his subordinate
officers could intervene. The people
are now interested in the question,
How long is this interference of the United
States military with purely State affairs and
with so high and responsible a body as a
State Legislature to continue? Before clec-
tion the presence of the troops was said to
Year: 1876

They have little difficulty in home poll


ties to spice their gossip withal in the


French capital, but it is not heavy enough


to disguise the other condiments that flavor
the conversational repast ! This is just what


suits Paris, as they have not there the great
topic of the weather to fall back upon


in all emergencies, which is the unfailing
resource of the average and special Lon
doner Paris talks about the Eastern aues-
ton, to be sure, but it is only in the spirit
of the caricaturists of the Chariudri and not at


the cannon's breech, as do the English who
are not followers of Mr.. Gladstone. Paris


loves intrigue, and as it is a long time
rs n simple spectator to great inter-
national war of words, we may be assured


that the JOY with which our correspondent
looks forward to the finessing between Sails
bury and Ignatieff is an echo of the feeling
around him. Don Carlos. who was lately
reported going about Paris in "a quiet
looking carriage, now blazes forth as Rus
sian recruit. OF special interest to us
is the announcement that Mr.. Maplcson and
Carl Rosa are negotiating to give season
of opera in New York, with performances
six nights week, three of them devoted to
English and three to Italian opera. 1t will
be economical, as the same orchestra
and chorus will be nsed every night
and the principal roles bo filled by
the companies of tho respective man.
ayers Gye, of Covens Garden, is said to
have found great Hebrew tenor hidden
somewhere in the old town of Nuremberg.
A true tenor would be a boon indeed, and
as the gifted race from which this young
man has sprung has been musical from the
time of David and long before, no one need
be surprised ii the operate want of twenty
wears should have learned to sing by the
harp notes OF Israel. studio story about
Geromc illustrates tho freaks of genius, but
the French sculptor whom the painter of tho
shadow crucifxion initiates had a great
cxcmplar in Michael Angelo Buonarotti. We
cannot permi. ourselves to do more than
commend the fashion intelligence TO the