smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

An Enniskillen Greland) correspon-
dent of New York paper says A hor-
rible scene of cannibalism was enacted
in Tralee few days ago. The princi-
pal actor in it was a pig-jobber who had
long been completely absorbed IN the
qualification of animal desires and pas
sions. This two-footed brute came
home drunk to his poor old mother, who
has passed the allotted I" three-score
years and ten, !" and the old creature re-
monstrated with him. A row ensued, in
which the mother was knocked down on
the floor, and by sheer force one of her
legs was broken in two places. This not
satisfying him, he commenced to eat the
flesh off her arm. A watchman named
Mara, who was passing at the time, was
attracted by the woman's screams to the
house, and on Mara forcing open the
door he saw him actually eating the flesh,
as if he had taste for it. The watch
man not being able to rescue the poor
creature from his savage gluttony, he
went off for another watchman, and, on
their returning to the house, he was at
the same inhuman feast, and his face
and breast were all smeared with blood.
Word was sent to the police, and the
night-patrol, on coming to the house,
secured him. The GOODNESS of the ruff
fan was extraordinary, for he had the
audacity to prefer a charge of assault
against Mara for attempting to make
him desist when he first entered and
saw the horrible repast he was indulg-
ing in. The poor woman was conveyed
to the County Infirmary and placed under
the care of DIR. Lawlor, where, on ex-
animation, her body was found to be
| frightfully lacerated the bone of one
arm up to the elbow was quite bare OF
flesh, and the sinews of the other were
quite exposed. It is thought she car
hardly survive the treatment OF her crue


taken, and the prisoner, who had beer
| in the Bridewell, was transferred to the
county-iail for trial at the Assizes.
Year: 1873

Where is there more pitable object
on earth than a man who has no amiable
woman interested in his welfare? How
dismal does his disconsolate room ap-
pear when he comes home at night
weary and hungry, and sees barren
table and lonely pillow, which looks
like the white urn of every earthly en-
joyment See the old bachelor in the
dark afternoon of life, when histheart is
sinking in its sunderance Not a soi-
tary memory CLEANS over his opening
grave No weeping wife to bend like a
comforting angel over his dying pillow,
and wipe the death damp from his
brow No fond daughter to draw his
chilly hand into the soft pressure OF
hers, and warm his icy blood with re-
viving fires of availing affection No
manly boy to link his breaking name
with the golden chain of honorable
society, and bind his history in the vast
volumes of the world he is leaving for.
ever He has eaten, and drank, and
died, and earth is glad she's got rid OF
him, for he had little else to do than to
cram his soul into the circumference OF
sixpence and no human being save
his washerwoman will breathe sigh al
his funeral.
Year: 1873

All do not know that lemons sprinkled
with loaf-sugar almost completely allay
feverish thirst. They are invaluable in
the sick-room Invaids affected with
feverishness can safely consume two or
three lemons a day. A lemon or two
thus taken at 'stea-t time" is recommend
ed as an entire substitute for the ordi-
nary supper of summer, and will often
induce a comfortable sleep through the
night, and give a good appetite for
breakfast. $500
Year: 1873

Lace may be restored to it's original
whiteness by first ironing it slightly,


linen bag, which is placed for twenty
four hours in pure olive oil. Afterwards
the bag is boiled in solution of soap
and water for fifteen minutes, then well
rinsed in lukewarm water, and finally
dipped in water containing slight pro-


portion of starch. The lace is then taken
from the bag, and stretched on pins to
Year: 1873

To Prevent the Smoking of a Lamp.


Soak the wick in strong vinegar, and
dry well before you use it; it will then
burn both sweet and pleasant, and give
much satisfaction for the triding trouble
of preparing. 'ito..lE tt
Year: 1873

A BACHELOR sea captain, who was re-
marking the other day that he wanted a
good chief officer, was promptly informed
by lady present that she had no OBJ
lection. to being his first mate. He took
the hint and the lady.
Year: 1873

The use of tobacco has so much ex.


tended itself in the present generation


that we are all obliged to make decision


for ourselves on the ancient controversy


between its friends and enemies We


cannot form a reasonable opinion about


tobacco without bearing in mind that it


produces, according to circumstances. one


of two entirely and even opposite classes


Of effects. ln certain states of the body


it acts as a stimulant in other states as a


narcotic. People who have a dislike TO
smoking affirm that it stupefes but this
assertion, at least so far as the temporary
consequences arc concerned, is not sup,
ported by experience. Most of the really
brilliant conversations that [ have listen
ed to have been accompanied by clouds
of tobacco smoke; aud great deal of the
best literary composition that is produced
by contemporary authors is wrought by
men who are actually smoking while they
work. My own experience is that very
moderate smoking acts as pleasant
stimulus upon the brain, while it produces
temporary lassitude Of the muscular
system, not perceptibc in times of rest,
but an appreciabe hindrance in times of
muscular exertlon. 1t is better, there
fore, for men who feel these effects from
tobacco to avoid it when they are in
exercise, and to use it only when the
body rests and the mind labors. Pray
remember, however, that this is the ex-
perience of an exceedingly moderate
smoker who has not yet got himself into
the general condition of body which is
brought on by a larger indulgence 10
tobacco. On the other hand, it is evident
that men engaged in physical labor and
muscular stimulus in occasional smoking,
and not temporary lassitude. 1t is
probable that the effect varies with In
dividual cases, and is never precisely
what our own experience would lead US
to imagine. For excessive smakers, it
appears to be little more than the tran
QUILTING of a sort of uneasness, the con
tinued satisfaction of a continual craving
| have never been able to ascertain that
moderate smoking diminished Intellectual
force but [ have observed in excessive
smokers decided weakening of the will,
and preference for talking about work
to the effort of actual labor The opinions
of medical men on this subject are so
much at variance that their science only
adds TO our uncertainty. One doctor
tells me that the most moderate smoking
is unquestionably injurious while others
affirm that it is innocent. Speaking
simply from self observation, [ fnd that
in my own case tea and coffee are far
more perilous than tobacco.-Fron, the
Intellectual Life Of Philip Gilbert
Hamert0n
Year: 1873

The Lancaster (Penn.) Express re-
lates the following in giving an account
of an attempted escape by an insane man
"In the insane department of the Ian
caster County Hospital there is confined
man named John Eichburne. He is
not dangerous, but is not safe to be let at
large A short time since he managed
to scale the yard wall, four teen feet in
height, but was shortly afterward cap
tured. Yesterday evening one of the as
sistants, in making tour of the yard,
discovered hid under pile of stoues in
a corner, singular looking ball, which
he took to Superintendent Cox. On ex-
animation it was found that this ball was
made up of rope, some thing thicker
than broom twine, and that the material
used in making it were the leaves of peach
trees, with which the yard is studded, the
bark of the small limbs and some grass
The rope when unwound is nearly 500
feet in length, when in ball it is as
large as twenty fouf pound shot. 1t is
so tough that the strongest hands cannot
tear it apart The man must have been
working upon it for several weeks, his
object being to escape from the iuStitu
ton by its aid.
Year: 1873

Lancaster (Pa } papers report the death
OF young man, Is years old, named


Harry Colley, which is in many respects
remarkable. lie lay upon bed of pain
for one hundred and seventeen days, and
during that period of time never once
arose. He was first taken sick with an
attack of cerebro spinal meningitis, and
this disease finally terminated in con-
sumption of the bowels After the first
day Of his sickness he was unable to hear
or see, and greater part Of the time had
no power of speech. His attention, could
at certain times be attracted by holding
any article of bri sht material in front or
over him, and moving it from one posi-
ton to another The fact of the little
fellows remarkable sickness spread all
over the county, and numbers Of physi-
clans had visited him merely through
curiosity. At the time of his death he
was a skeleton, with only dry, parched
covering Of cuticle drawn over the bones,
and that without any perceptible vitality
in it. His muscles had actually melted
away During part of the time (parti-
cularly during his last days. he suffered
with lock jaw, and his mouth had to be
forced open in order to admit the only
sustenance he received-aud occasional
small quantity OF wine or brandy.
Year: 1873

Various plans for arresting decay in
potatoes after digging have from time to
time been made public, such as dusting
with quick, lime, gypsum, charcoal dust,
etc Prof Church, of Cireneester, Eng
laud, the eminent agricultural chemist,
announces that sulphite of lime appears
to exercise a very remarkable influence
in arresting the spread or decay in pota-
toes affected by the potato disease. In
one experiment the salt was busted over
some tubers, partially decayed from this
cause, as they were being slowed away.
Some months afterward the potatoes were
found TO have suffered no further injury.
A similar trial with powdered lime prov
ed to be much less effective.
Year: 1873

II. G. Smith, Esq, editor of the Ian
caster IteHigencer, and one of the mem
bers of the Constitutional Convention. iu
late issue of his paper, writes as follows
concerning that body -


"a majority of the newspapers in this
CommOnw wealth seem not to have compre-
hended the difficult character of the work
set before the members of the Constitu
tional Convention The one hundred
and thirty three men chosen to revise the
fundamental law of the Commonwealth
came together for the most part as strang
ers to each other. Some OF them had re
putations wider than the State, while
some Of the ablest and most practical men
in the body were not known beyond the
precincts of the districts they were chos
en- to represent.


"Of the one hundred and thrty-three
mem bers, over one hundred are lawyers
by profession-me who make their liv-
ing by talking, aud who can not be ex-
pected to agree, unless they are retained
on the same side, and paid for looking at
given case from the same standpoint
We think the convention might possibly
have been the gamer if the people, in
stead Of sending so many lawyers, had
chosen more men of marked ability in
other walks of like. But the convention
was the creature Of the people, and Meth
er they nor the newspapers have any
right to complain of its composition. 1t
is what the people made it when acting
under the instruction aud guidance OF the
local newspaper press OF the Common
wealth.


"Nine months Of close observation has
convinced us that the convention Is
body distinguished for integrity. From the
day when it was organized, no question
has been decided except upon its merits
Every attempt to introduce partisan poll
ties (and we are glad to say they have
been few and far between) has been
promptly frowned down. There has not
been partisan vote cast upon any see
tion OF the Constitution. Members have
divided according to their individual
judgment and not under the discipline o.
party drill. The call of the ayes and
nays. has always shown that there was q
forgctfuness of partisauship which was
most commendable
Year: 1873

If Spivens is to be believed, there wa.
recently an extraordinary case of dental
surgery in this city. He says that a
friend of his wife visited dentist on
--street, for the purpose of having a
tooth extracted. 1t was an eye tooth =
Spvens accompanied his friend for the
purpose Of favoring him with little
sympathy over the shoulder. 1t is SO
pleasant to witness the agony Of friend
and advise him to bear it like man.


The dentist sealed his patient in chair,
lanced his gums, applied his forceps, and
gave vigorous pull. The tooth was
wrenehed from it's socket, and came out
easily enough but the root hung fire =
Either it was a very long root or it stretch.
ed. In fact the dentist had exhausted
his reach, and the root was not yet en-
tirey out.


Spivcns ventured to enquire if the
root was not unusually long hut the den
tlst was not going to admit that anything
could happen that had not already oc-
Cured 10 his experience


"Not at ALL he replied 81 have of
ten pulled teeth whose roots reached down
to the hips"


He mounted the chair and took an
other pull lie thus succeeded in get
ting away with about yard of the tooth,
but the root continued to hang. At the
same time the patients leg, below the
knee, was violently jerked up.


Spivens ventured to say that surely
this was an unusual case.


alt is a little singular" replied the
dentist; "But once pulled tooth whose
roots reached down to the mans knees"


Having thus extinguished his ques
toner he tied his patient to the chair and
Strengthened out his leg by putting it in
spliDts. Then he took the forceps over
his shoulder and walked away like deck
hand going up bauk with bow line


When he reached the parlor door he
braced himself against the jamb, and laid
back for fual pull.


The tooth popped out this time but the
dentist made the most noise when he
reached he floor.


Spivens jumped forward and picked
up the latter end of that tooth. The
root had two prougs, and on the end of
each prong was toe nail.


That's what hurt you so, said Spi-
yens consoling his friend, whose screams
had been somewhat annoying "Never
mind it will be all the same hundred
years hence. Don't you think, doctor,
that this is rather the most unusual case
that happened in your practice %


u am inclined to believe that this is
the most singular case Of its class" re-
piled the imperturbable dentist ''but |
once extracted tooth for one of the
Siamese twins, the roots OF which extend
ed through the bodies of both, and at the
end ives corresponding tooth from the
mouth Of the other. twas good thing for
Chang, for whom | pulled the tooth, but
bad for Eng, whose tooth happened to be
sound"


Spivens' friend had such high respect
for the dentist that he told him that he
might keep the tooth for his pay


Some incredulous people may accuse
this story of being too thin but they are
mistaken-it is tooth out Titus uiHe
Press
Year: 1873

a horse hitchei to post in Belle
foDte kicked at one of Van Amburgh' S
elephants when passing oD the street,
and, quick as thought the elephant reach
ed out his trunk, caught the horse by the
ear and shook him like an earthquake
Year: 1873

A little girl in Norwich, Conn, was
poisoned recently by drinking the milk
in which a green milk ticket had soaked
about two hours The milkman had neg
lected to take it from the can. and the
coloriog matter dissolved and mixed with
the milk Violent vomiting ensued, by
which the poison was elected, thus saw
ing the little ones life.
Year: 1873

Tn the New York Times we see
several articles containing able ar
guments for a resumption of specie
payments. This is q question of
great importance to all our people,
and we are glad TO sec the ablest
and most influential journals of the
Republican party advocating such a
measure on the part OF the Govern
ment. A way out of the difficulties
attending this subject is suggested
by an amendment to the National
Banking law. This proposition is
that the reserve now required by
the national banks shall be gradu-
alIy changed to gold, until a suffi-
cient amount of specie has been ac-
eumulated to make specie payments
possible and in addition to this it
is proposed that as fast as gold is
accumulated, and Government
notes or greenbacks are liberated,
the latter shall be withdrawn. The
Times argues that We shall thus be
at once providing a gold reserve
for ultimate resumption aud redu-
cling the volume of the paper cur
rency. 1t is suggested that the
idea has been put forth by practical
and active fnanciers. No one
doubts that it will benefit our eoun-
try at large for the Government TO
resume specie payments. Half the
troubles that are affecting us grow
out of this money question, aud If


we can settle things on a specie


basis il will be at least one great
/ point made toward prosperity
| Gal. Nery.
Year: 1873

A Brooklyn Methodist Episcopal preach
er took occasion, day or two ago, to say
that he thought the death of Charles
Pfeifer, who was recently shot down in
Catham Square by Nixon, was designed
by Providence to be a means of awaken
ing public sentiment in respect to enfor-
cling the laws against gross crimes. If the
preacher is right, Nixon was only the
agent of Providence, and, therefore, no
more responsible for what he did than
Aaron's rod when it was made the in
strument of tormenting the Egyptians.
This is pushing the theory of an "over-
ruling Providence" to its extreme limits
and might be made servieeable in the
case Of almost every prisoner in the
Tombs. If men shoot their neighbors in
obedience to a divine impulse, as this
kind of talk seems to imply, clearly if
they are punished for doing what Provi-
dence intended them to do, and human
justice, as expressed in law, and divine
justice are opposed to each other.


Moreover, this theory imputes to Prov
idence the possibility of failure. AS
matter of fact no popular excitement was
caused by this murder. The killing of
O'Neil by King, of Duryea by Simmons,
not to speak of Fisk by Stokes, surpassed
it in notoriety, which is what the phrase
popular excitement generally means
Providence, then, if the preacher is right,
has failed in its purpose.


All this shows the folly of Juggling in
supernatural reasons to account for what
can be fully explained by purely natural
causes. So long as we know that Nixon
was a member of a coarse-fibred class,
rude in mind, uncultivated in habit with
no idea of the true objects of life or of
controlling themselves in short, a set of
uncouth savages, mentally and morally
whose passing caprice is the only COVER
nor of their actions, what is the use of
going into comparatively unknown re-
gion for reasons, which, when given, are
more likely than not to throw contempt
upon the whole system of religion? There
is always great deal of egotistical au-
dacity in these ready-made interpreta-
tions of the objects of Providence, and
this latest exhibition is not different
from its class.-N 7 Eueni,aq Posi-.
Year: 1873

If horses were next thing to deaf, there
would be an excuse for the shoutings
and yelling so generally INDUCED in, but
they are not, and therefore need not be
spoken to so loudly and harshly. The
ear of a horse is very sensitive, and, save
in exceptional cases, it is possible to
control his motions by. a command given
in moderate tone of voice.


A horse is a teachable animal, and is
always affected by kind treatment. The
fact of the matter is that, if kind words
and gentle treatment throughout were
given to these noble animals instead of
oaths, curses, and blows, we should find
their docility greatly increased. Just
imagine, if you will, geel or whoa
uttered in tone sufficiently loud to be
heard half mile distant, and this COM
mand given to an animal within FIVE or
ten feet of the party giving it. Wherein
consists the necessity for it? Why not
resort to more rational and certainly
more pleasing means? Why not speak
in moderate tone? This is all that is
required. The horse. if not deaf, can
hear it, and will as readily obey as if
given in laundering tones.


One of the best managed teams ever
seen was controlled by the driver with
out the indulgence of this unmusical
yelling. The driver rarely ever spoke
above his ordinary tone of voice, and yet
his horses laid into their work with as
much willingness and apparently greater
earnestness than if they had been driven
to it by fearful shoutings and blows. The
horse is an intelligent animal None of
the brute creation more readily appreci-
ate kind words and kind treatment
Such facts should be considered always
by those who have the care of these ami
mals.-Scient!fc american.
Year: 1873




Talk about the gloomy days of Novenl-
ber, or the blighting frosts and chilling
winds of December. Bless mel would
rather live in fog, and chill, and shadow
of a lifetime of such weather, than to be
continually under the influence of churl-
ish people.


Look into their faces; what are to be
seen there but scowls, and frowns, and
discomfort; reminding one of a snarlin9
mastiff chained to his kennel.


With them one would suppose that
everything had gone wrong from the day
of their birth to the present time; and
they seem determined that everybody
and everything with whom they come in
contact should partake of the same churl-
ish spirit. The very dog which follows
their footsteps. and the horse upon which
they ride seem to imbibe the same sullen
disposition.


If the animal race is influenced by such
spirit, how direful must it effects upon
the human mind. A child subjected to
the cold, rigid discipline of such parents
will, in most cases, lose all the kind. ge-
nial warmth of its nature, and become
shy and conservative to a fault. A home
with such a shadow ever resting over It's
threshold, is more like gloomy prison
cell than haven of peace and JOY and
love. a@eJ
AS the Is U1aQc aware Oh bu0
near approach of an iceberg by the sud-
den falling of the temperature, so the
quick, tender, sensitive mind at once de-
tects the presence of these churlish peo-
pie. One glance at the hard stern coun-
tenance is enough to repel the warmest
heart, and to dampen the ardor and en-
thusiasm of tie most ambitious aspirant.


These churlish people are universally
tault-hnding people. With them the
sun never shines at the right time; tho
wind never blows the right way it is al
ways too much, or not enough of thing;
and SO everything is wrong side up, and
wrong side out One can not turn around
! in their presence but it is in the wrong
direction, nor can he speak ON any sub
ject but he is made to feel that he has
said the wrong thing. As to a good
hearty, healthy joyous laugh, it would
bring forth q frown darker than The
blackest cloud that ever preceded thun-
der-gust in the tropics The only way to
escape from such people is to fee from
them, as one would flee from the plague.
Whenever meet with a churlish per
son, always feel as if he needed good
shaking up; just as cat would shake
mouse. And then | would beg and be-
seech of him to smile for humanity's sake
to smile. And not only to smile, but to
speak; and to speak frankly, and kindly,
| and cheerfully. l never could endure
this halfway kind of people! If per-
son takes me by the hand, want to feel
his grasp; and if he speaks, let him speak
as he had some life, and soul, and encr-
gy about him.


In my dollhood days if had rag baby
whose appearance did not please me,
made believe put it in an oven and bake
it over again" This process was suppos-
ed to remodel and beautify it. And this
is just what these churlish, grumpy peo-
pie need-a remodeling, and good thor
ough baking.