smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

| l SUSPECT that not one child in fiftY,


under twelve years of age, could tell me


exastly how any one knows that the moon


is really larger than a soup plate, or


whether it is as far or farther away than
Boston.


Now don't shrug your pretty shoulders,


and laugh, and say l must be crazy to


think you don't know that. 1t is not so


easy matter to know many things Just


right; and hope you will not say one


boastful word about your knowledge of


the subject, until you have thought it over
carefully, and seen how much you really
know certainly. Wise men are very eau
tiOus indeed, and know what they say, and
the reason for it.


No one ever comes from the moon coun-
try, to give US descriptions of it. and one
has great deal of trouble in studying it,
since he cannot go there. The imam in
the moon" is not at all social, either, in his
ways, as you know, and l never heard of
anyone getting any sort of information
out of his ugly mouth. We have to learn
things the best way we can, all by our
selves, one thing at time, and that often
very long time. will tell you to-day
about the size of the moon, and how men
are able to find out exactly what its size
is.


The moon is a globe, whose diameter is
that of the earth.


Now, how" do you ask, can know
that?"


There Is a method something like this;
Let US take, for example, cent piece,
which measures about an inch in diameter,
and let it be placed between the eye and
the moon, at any distance from the eye. 1t
will be found on the first trial, that the
coin will appear larger than the moon; it
will, in fact, completely conceal the moon
from the eye, and produce what we may
call total eclipse of the moon. Let the
coin be moved farther from the eye, and it
will then appear smaller, and will seem to
grow less in size as its distance from the
eye is increased. Let it be removed until
it seems exactly to cover the moon, and
neither more nor less.


II the distance from the coin to the eye
be measured, it will be found to be about
ten feet, or one hundred an twenty inches,
or, what is the same, two hundred and
forty half inches. But it is known that
the distance from the moon to the earth is
about two hundred and forty thousand
miles; so that it follows in this case that |
one thousand miles in the moons distance |
is exactly what half an inch is in the coins |



Now you all understand, I suppose, how,
in geography, you measure a country on |
map, when you know the scale of the |
map; if, for instance, you have the map of |
Illinois before you, made on a scale of
fifty miles to an inch, and find, by measur-
ing, that there are about two inches of the
map from Chicago westward to the limits
of the State, you would at once be able to
say that the real distance between those
points must be about two times fifty, or
about one hundred miles.


Now, in the case of measuring the dis
lance across the moons disc with the coin,
we have found the scale to be half an inch
TO one thousand miles; since, then. the
coin measures two half inches in dame
ter, the moon must measure two times one
miles, or two thousand miles in
Corporal.
Year: 1871

would be the best off, and begin to be
dishonest too"


Ada is right" said her mamma, COM
INTO the room; be honest because it is
right, my son; that is the only safe rea-
SON. Try to please God, whether any
gain comes from it or not; you will not be
able to see how doing the right thing is
profitable in 9 temporal point of view;
but it will matter little, when you come to
die, whether you have been bestof in this
world or not" .


"I thank you, mamma" said Harry.
" In future l will endeavor to do right be-
cause it is right, and is pleasing to God,
whether it seems to my advantage or not"
Year: 1871

CAPTURING A HUsBAND.-A hand some, dashing
woman rode into a Texas village q few days
ago, and alighting from her horse, went rapidly
to drinking saloon where number of sover-
eigns were having a " high time" She singled
out the finest looking man in the crowd, and,
walking up to him, seized him by the arm and
ordered him to put down the glass he was about
to drain. He dashed down the glass and rushed
away the, lady followed, and finally cornered
him in the billiard room. She told him in
firm, determined voice, that the place he was in
and the course he was pursuing would not an
swer for her husband that he was wasting her
property, and that she would no longer consent
to be dsgraced and impoverished by him. She
marched him out as prisoner of war to where
his horse was hitched ordered him to mount
and in few minutes the two were leaving
town, the wife riding in the rear of her cap
tured lord, with a six-shooter in her hand.
Year: 1871

DISCOVERY OF EYELEss FIsH.-It is we'll known
that great trouble and expense have been caused
by the sinking of portion of the track of the
new Jefferson Railroad where it crosses a swamp
in Ararat township, in this county. 1t has been
found that under the swamp is q subterraneous
pond, of several acres in extent and of consider
able depth This pond is covered by about six
feet in depth of black earth which supports
heavy growth of woods. The trees are mostly
soft maple, pine, hemlock and birch, many of
them ranging from six inches to three feet in di
ameter. Last Fall it was discovered that this
subterranean pond contains many fish, of the
kind usually found in ponds in this part of the
country-pickerel and "shiners" among Others
but all without eyes. In the darkness of their
subterranean abode, they have use for the
organ of vision. The Ball Pond, about a mile
and a-half distant, is now "growing over" A
considerable part of it has become subterranean
within the last twenty years, and, probably, be-
fore many years it will be entirely covered like
the other. This pond is about twenty acres in
extent For some distance from the shore it is
filled with dense growth of water-liles, and
these, no doubt, furnish the foundation on which
the superstructure of earth is commenced
troSe (Tenn.) Republican.
Year: 1871

He DIDN'T AND He DID.-The Oakland News
tells this true story q His Excelency; {" The
German Committee invited Governor Haight, to-
gether with other prominent public men to at
tend their Peace Celebration. He informed
them that it would be impossible for him to at
tend in consequence of 'other engagements.
When he saw the magnitude and spendor OF
the pageant, the repentant Governor slipped out
to the City Gardens and showed himself among
the crowd. He was seen by the Teutons, but
was not recognized sufficiently to be invited
upon the high place among the honored guests ;
but supposing him to be dry, the Committee
took His Excellency to the refreshment saloon
to get some lager beer. When desired to make
O speech there the Governor declined, for the
very extraordinary reason that four others had
spoken In the meanwhile Collector Phelps
made rousing speech, and the enthusiastic
German citizens appeared like mad, the Cover
nor hanging back like poor boy at corn
shucking. We greatly fear that Mr.. Haights
cake is all dough, so far as the larger and small
er German States are concerned"
Year: 1871

The cleanest city in the world is Broch, in
Holland where no horse or carriage has ever
been permitted to enter, and where everything
is kept with most scrupulous neatness. Before
entering many of The houses you are required to
remove your shoes. 1t is said that even the En-
peror of Russia was compelled to comply with
the custom on his recent visit to that place.
Year: 1871

authority f'the government should wish to
strain the law for that purpose or had poll
teal object to accomplish


The President believes, perhaps, no IL doing
his duty. We are not wiling to think other
wise. But, unfortunately, he is not a civilian,
and has little opportunity to study State affairs
in the light Of civil and constitutional law.
Lis training has been military and his mind
is imbued with military IDEAS No doubt he
is patriot and wishes well to the country,
and believes probably that he has intuitively
the same capacity to govern in peace as he
had to command in war; but If he would have
his name 60 down to posterity as statesman
he must leave the camp and drop the sword
he must in time Of peace respect above all
things the civil law and civil liberty. And
will he not have some regard for the anoma-
lous and trying situation Of those poor South
erners, who, though they erred, are a brave
and hhigh-spirised people 9f our Qyn RAGE and
blood2 Can he not see the humiliatiug posi-
tion they are placed in, particularly in South
Carolina, in being political slaves to their
former domestic slaves-an intelligent and





cultivated population put under the rule OF
ignorant and semi-savage negroes and corrupt
strangers, who have little or no interest in
the State, except to rob ita Has he no bowels
Of compassion for these unfortunate people of
our own blood under such trying circum-
stances? We think, as we said before, that
he means well; but he has been led, doubt
less, to extreme measures, which are cruel to
the people Of South Carolina and dangerous
to civil liberty, by partisan and narrow
minded politicians, who care only for their
own immediate interests. The President
should know that he can make more political
capital and win the good will of the generous
American people, both North and South,
more by a kind and liberal policy to the
Southerners than by military coercion. ''Let
us have peace" seems to be his favorite
motto, and he can have peace in the South, as
well as good will everywhere, by abandoning
his military idea Of government and making
the civil law supreme in every section of our
common country.
Year: 1871

II one were to attempt to straighten shape
less thing, or 10 decide what would become Of
an immovable object If attacked by an irre-
sistible one, he would find no harder task than
in undertaking to give shape to Southern
politics as they stand at this time. Texas has
gone democratic and South Carolina has been
placed under martial law. Kentucky went
democratic, and the Bourbon democrats are
fighting as hard as they can to make her
radical republican in the future. Louisiana
wants to go republican, but 10y the aid Of
Gatling guns and armed soldiery a republican
Convention is overawed and the Pelican State
possibly thrown ioio the hands Of the de-
mocracy. Tennessee was getting along pretty
we'll for the democrats, when by some hocus-
pocus or other that wrathful and remorseless old
mouthpiece Of sulpuhrous Satanism, Pars0n
Brownlow, stalks back from the fringe Of the
grave and gives the new democratic Governor
and the new democratic administration that
which in vulgar parlance is called ''rats."
SO we might go on from one Southern State to
another Southern State, and all our iuvestiga-
tions would tend TO the conviction that South
crn politics arc in transition state, and that
Aleck Stephens, Bob Toombs JEFF Davis, Wade
Hampton and the rest Of The clan who believe
that the new constitutional amendments are


unconstitutional, null and void" are doing


about as much toward keeping the South in a


bewildered and unsettled condition as the pro-


clamation Of the Executive in regard to South
| Carolina is calculated TO do mischief in that


section of the country in more ways than one.


In the meantime, Sambo grius before his


ivories, and takes all the chan ccs.
Year: 1871

THR REBUILDING or CHICAGO. or the burnt
district, we are glad to hear, is not to be hur-
ried M in mass of combustible wooden
houses. For the immediate necessities Of the
honseless citizens, wooden buildings in vacant
places outside the burnt district are rapidly
going up, and urgent necessity admits Of no
alternative. But when the suffering people
are provided with shelter for the winter II is
to be hoped that the municipal authorities and
leading citizens OF Chicago will adopt plan
for the rebuilding of the burnt district embrace
ing ut least two or three broad avenues, so
laid out as to give the greatest possible
security attanable from this precaution against
any extensive fire hereafter In said district, aud
10 as TO give the greatest available facilities to
the business operations Of the city between
the lake shore aud the suburbs IN every direc-
ton. In word, the advantages now onered
for the reconstruction Of Chicago with view
to enlarged facilities to business transportation
within the city, and for securities again
extensive Gres, are SO apparent ana inviti M
that we cannot imagine they will be thr'Swn
away by the local authorities.
Year: 1871

GOLD 1l2.-The influence OF the Chicago
disaster has been curiously reflected in the
gold market by decline Of tho price to H.
The reason OF this reaction lies in the fact
that gold, having been dcmonetized by the
substitution of greenbacks as . legal tender,
has had 10 suffer like all the other Wall street
commodities, which have shrunk In value at
the approach Of stringent money and financial
excitement. The more fully greenbacks fill
up the channels Of business the more likely is
gold to take its place as a currency at its par
in paper,
Year: 1871

THE OVATION OF THs Gr.oUoEsrEe FisHEn-
MEN TO the captain OF the stolen schooner
Horton took the substantial form OF q thou
sand dollar donation, band OF music and
revolutionary speeches at Gloucester yester-
day. While these gallant mackerel heroes
arc enjoying themselves so heartily In this
way the two governments have been cordially
hobnobbing at the opening OF the new Intcr-
national Railway bond Of union and harmony,
apparently entirely unaffected by thee 0!ibua
iripg eyn,o;ta
Year: 1871




The HERALD special telegram from Rome
which is published In our columns to-day
affords additional evidence Of the fast that the
Cardinals Of the Church are determined to
force an issue of the matters which remain in
dispute between the Holy See and the Italian
government at an early moment, and take all
the hazard OF the consequences. The mem
bers Of the Sacred College have discussed
the subject and will meet In conclave.
The result Of their deliberations has
been presented to tho Holy Father In
the shape Of an episcopal advice, rec
ommending him to quit the Vatican and
fee from the city, Gin order to preserve his
spiritual independence" The Pope received
the recommendation with con nsiderable de-
gree of favor, and we are assured that he has
''partially determined to take his departure
from Rome at the moment Of the convocation
of the Italian Parliament" This will not be
ga new departure" by any means, even if it
should be accomplished. The Pope hesitates.
This is prudent for the old question arises
again, ont Of Rome and where would he 60 to
The moment OF an Old World sensation over
fugitive Pope has passed away. King Victor
Emmanuel guarantees the spiritual indepcn-
dence of the Holy Father. The peoples have
come to the realities Of politics. They require
the actualties Of religion. Pho Mono should
endeavor to get along the best way he can
with the Italian Parliament. He has a good
round sum in the Vatican treasury just at
present. All he requires is the assistance Of
a few experienced 'iobby agents." The ven-
cradle Pontiff should be permitted to die In
peace in Rome; the broad territory Of free
America is open to his successor.
Year: 1871

IMPORTANT NRws FROM THE Polar
REGIoG. members oil the German ex-
pedition to the North Polc-tbe latest one
from Prussia-have forwarded reports TO
Europe announcing "the discovery of an
open Polar Sea, free from ice and swarming
with whales" The dispatches are published
in Golba, as will be seen by our cable news
from that city. Should their contents prove
to be exactly correct the announcement is o
the very highest importance, not only to the
cause Of science, but 70 the interests OF the
world at large. The news will also be more
than gratifying to the American people, as the
grand fact will go to verify the accuracy OF
the accounts which have been already pub
lished by our couutrymen of the result o.
their explorations North.
Year: 1871




The speech of Earl Granville at Manchester
on Thursday night, in the course Of which -he
alluded to the increased friendly relations be-
tween the United States aud England, is an
additional evidence of the sincere sympathy
evinced at the other side of the water for the
settlement Of all difficulties between tho Eng
lsh and American nations. The foreign Min
lister expressed "a feeling Of pride at the
result of the Alabama negotiations and the
good relations they had established with a
sister country" The expression will hnd
hearty response in this country. With the ad-
justment of the claims fairly aud honorably, to
the satisfaction of all parties concerned in the
matter, there will be no cause for any further
dissensions to arise and mar the harmony
which should cement in peaceful bonds the
two great English-speaking nations Of the
globe. The paths of both lie in peace and
commerce. The fruit of the prospective solu-
ton of the troublesome Alabama claims ques-
tion is already producing good results. Ia the
terrible disaster which blotted out Of existence
a great portion Of the Garden City Of the West
England showed her sympathy by forwarding
TO the sufferers comfort in their hours OF sorcst
need Such acts as these are more potent
than treaties, for they live in the memory long
after the compacts are forgotten.
Year: 1871

Boris, The MURDERER OF PEr HALsTED,
has been found guilty of murder in the first
degree. A motion made by his counsel for
the hearing Of argument for new trial on the
llth OF November was granted.
Year: 1871

Protestant Episcopal Convention.


BALTIMORE, October 25.-In tn,


Protestant Episcopal Convention toda,


the report OF the committee on Canons


approving the declaration of powers o


the Federal Council of the FIVE uioceses


in the State Of New York, was taken ur


and adopted, DR.. Haight stating thai


the report did not approve of any pro


vision or declaration of power to estab


lish an appellate court.


The committee on Prayer Book, to
whom it was referred to inquire whether
any edition of the Prayer Book devia-
ting from the standard edition has been
issued, reported that they discovered
one edition Of the Prayer Book with
deviation, which edition is printed I'm.
der copy right, canon named, deviating
from the standard edition. and re-
commended the passage of resolution
that the introducing of any notation,
punctuation, or other deviations from
the standard Prayer Book is unlawful.
The resolution lays over under the
rules. The Albany edition is referred
to in the above report. +


The committee on canons on the sub
ject of the restoration of deposed minis
ters, submitted and referred, was re-
ceived. The adoption of the following
new canon Of the restoration to the
memorial of any minister of this Church
having renounced the ministry on hav-
ing been deposed under the provisions
Of canon five title two, or having been
deposed on presentment and trial for
any canon offense, and having submit,
ted to such deposition shall desire res
toration to the ministry of the Church
he may address memorial to
the Bishops of the Church
OF the diocese in which he resides, eX-
pressing his desire and promoting con-
formity to the divine discipline Of the
worship of this Church, whereupon,
the Bishop to whom such memorial
shall be addressed, together with two
Bishops to be selected by him, by lot,
for that purpose, from the SIX nearest
Bishops, and bv and with the advice
and consent OF the Standing committee
of his diocese, shall fully Investigate all
facts connected with the case Of the
ami the Bishop shall have
power, with the appreciation of one or
both OF the Bishops assisting him in
the case and with the advice and con.
sent of the aforementioned Standing
to restore the memoralst
to the vestry of this Church, if he and
they are satisfied that such restoration
will be for the glory Of God and the
Of the Church.
Year: 1871

BEWARE of counterfeit tickets. The
dodge was tried by the Radicals in
this county last tail, and may oe
attempted again. We have still in
our possession one Of these coun'
terfeits, fac simils of the Demo
cratic ticket used in this county last
fall, in which the name Of NATHAN GoFF
is substituted for that of JOHN j. DAVIS
as a candidate for Congress. BE on
your guard against repetition OF the
trick.
Year: 1871

ALL will be we'll if the Democrats OF
Ohio county exert their full strength at
the polls to-day. The only real danger
that menaces our ticket is that only a
portion OF the party will vote. If every
soto ;s n,Iled we will have handsome
majority for every candidate nominated
hv the Democratic Convention. Hunt
nm the voters and bring them to the
pollS
Year: 1871

knife and a slate pencil, and picked
them up. In doing SO he saw line OF
white ashes the shape OF body, and a
few teeth. That was the earthly rem
nant OF a boy.


AHERo.C LITTLE GIRL.


A writer at Peshtigo mentions the
case OF little girl, twelve years old,
who saved her little sister from death,
but who was advised by many to desist
from the attempt, lest she herself should
perish. She needed them not, however.
but by the most heroic efforts, she sue
ceeded in rescuing her sister from the
merciless flames. Her father, mother,
brothers and other sisters perished by
the devouring element. And after the
fire had abated somewhat, she worked
her way over hot ashes and burning
Goals, dragged the dead bodies of her
relatives out into an open space, and
then stood watching their charrei re.
mains all day and through that long
and desolate night that followed. That
is child heroism the like OF which was
never recorded.


Many other incidents are given OF
heartrending character, and vouched
for by some OF the most prominent resi-
dents OF the ill-fated town, who were
among the survivors, but want OF space
forbids us to publish more. The few we
have selected sufficiently::proye that the
destruction OF Peshtigo carried with it
horrors and sufferings so intense as not
to be surpassed by even the most ter
rible scenes which were enacted in Chi
cago during the confagration.
Year: 1871

desire Of the metropolitan public for
italian opera ID 30 great that . single
prima donna crowds the Academy OF
Music night after night, what would be the
result if this prima donna were supported by
company worthy of her? Mr.. Wallack is not
contented with star or two in his company,
but ne has constellation of them. Here lies
the secret of his unvarying success and the
cause OF former failures in opera. Every one
in an operatic company, no matter how humble
the position, should know how to sing and act,
aud the tenor, in particular, should be true,
reliable artist. The leader of the orchestra,
Whe occupies as responsible q position
at that Of pilot at sea, should be
. musician Of the highest attainments
II is in his power, at all times, to
ruin performance. But the weakest feature
In opera here is the mise en- scene. Swiss
village, with the Alps in the distance, does
duty for Richmond Fair, in Martha, and a
score OF other places equally removed from
Mount Blanc. The absurdity Of the scenery
10 some Of the operas presented at the Acad-
envy is about the same as if Lake Como, with
st. Paul's, porcelain tower, and the Pyra-
mids in the distance were to represent Central
Park. There is no excuse for this-not the
slightest. If one of the dramatic managers
should be guilty OF such an outrage
on common sense his audience would rise and
leave the theatre in disgust. We offer these
remarks with q view to arouse operatic
managers to sense Of their duties. The pub
lie have shown again and again their willing
ness to second the efforts of an impresario,
but it is only their right to demand the fulfil
ment of managerial promises and the presenta-
ton of operas In complete style. It does not
make the slightest difference who undertakes
opera here, the public care not whether it is
Mr.. Smith or Mr.. Brown; but as long as the
manager gives us opera as it should be given
he will receive the hearty support of the
people Of New York. Italian opera is the
favorite protfgf of wealth and fashion here,
pnd is deserving of such encouragement, as it
is the highest and most intellectual form of
Amusement