smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

A peddler named Jonas Marburger has
for many years tramped over various sec.
tions of this and neighbOring counties sell
ing his wares and by a consistent course
he has won the confidence and esteem of
large number of acquaintances. On Tues
day afternoon about 8 O'Clock the peddler
opened his pack in the kitchen of a taaa
named Eshelstaub, in Albany Township.
The farmers wife purchased what she'd
sired, and the peddler, according to the
custom OF that neighbOrhood, was asked
to remain for supper, which he did, and
subsequently determined to stay all night.


At about 8 O'Clock the peddler was
shown to large garret under the roof,
where he was to sleep. The family retired,
and nothing unusual occurred until some
time near midnight, when the farmer was
awakened by the barking of watch dogs
and the tramping of horses hOOfs. He
arose and looked out of the window toward
the barn, when an extraordinary sight met
his gaze. The dogs were in an adjoining
field, and, strange to say, there appeared
to be ghost riding about on one of the
farmers young horses. The farmer called
the hired man, and on going to the garret
with a lantern they found the bed which
had been occupied empty. and the peddler
gone, but his clOtneS sui Ranging Oh Il
chair, where he had evidently placed them.
The farmer and hired man went down
stairs, and found that all the doors were
locked as they were before they retired.
Going out, they found the horse still on a
full gallOp under the direction of his mys
terious rider. The hired man watched his
chance, caught the animal, and upon clos
er examination found that the rider was
the peddler who sat there like statue,
and was in complete state of somnambu-
lism. he had nothing on him excepting
his shirt, Indershirt, drawers and stock
ings, and notwithstanding the coldness OF
the night he was perspiring freely when
lifted down. They could not waken him
properly until he was led into the house,
and when he came 10 his senses he seemed
to know nothing of what had occurred.
He seemed startled at being out of bed and
down stairs in such apparel. Subsequent
examination showed that the man, in his
strange state, had worked his way out of
a trap door to the roof and thence down
10 roof of back building, and thence to
the ground.-Reading (Pa.) Eagle.
Year: 1875

1t is found by observation that the effect
of g training,'s or the persistent use of
gymnastic exercises, is to enlarge the heart
and lungs both in size and capacity. Arch
ibald McClaren, Superintendent of the Ok
ford gymnasium, and author of physical
Education" SAYS: "One of the army Off
GERS sent to me to be instructed in gym
nastics gained five inches in girth around
the chest in less than three months" That
this growth is not explained by the mere
enlargement of the pectoral muscles is
proved by the increased volume OF air
which the lungs are enabled to expire, as
is demonstrated by the spirometer, and
post-mortems abundantly show an in
creased capacity as well as size in the heart
and large blood vessels. The lungs in
crease both in length and breadth, forcing
the ribs outward and the diaphragm down.
ward. 1t is for this reason that athletes
and gymnasts are enabled to make pro-
longed and violent exertiOns without get
ting out of wind. The capacity OF the
heart and central arteries being enlarged,
they can accommodate more blood. Their
contractile power being increased by this
new demand upon them, they are enabled
TO send on the current through the lungs
with increased velocity, and thus by their
greater capacity are able to oxygenize the
blood as fast as it is supplied TO them, and
so no congestion takes place, and no in
convenience is felt. The normal capacity
of the lungs of an adult male is about two
hundred (200) cubic,incbes. 1t is comput-
ed that an enlargement of three inches
around the chest gives an increase of fifty
cubic inches of lung capacity.
Year: 1875

About noon on Wednesday last, An
drew Smith. a teamster, started from
Mark l.. Blunt's ranch, on the st. Charles,
to 90 to the Cedars, near the Bull Corral,
for load of posts. He took with him
Joseph Green. about thirteen years old.
On their arrival at the point designated


they established a camp, made fire, and


left their bedding and extra clothing.


They then started with their team for the


place where the posts were lying. intend


ing to load up and return to camp that


night. They loaded the wagon and had


travelled some distance toward their c4mp,


when some portion of the wagon broke


down, and Smith, leaving the boy in


charge of the team. started for camp to get


a rope with which to tie up the mules.
He arrived at the camp. found the rope,
tied the mules, and he and the boy tried to
find their way to camp, following the trail
in the snow previously made by Smith.
They went a short distance toward camp,
when the wind begaHt to blow with such
power that the trail was soon Obliterated,
and the two unfOrtuuates discovered to
| their horror that they were lost on the
prairie.


After wandering for some time in the
darkness, it being intensely cold, and


Smith having LETT his coat at camp, they
IOunu I1tlF way 10 Ine CttilIS. iitit
Smith 2 thered Splinters and brush and
tried to make fire, but the wind blew
them out, his benumbed hands being pow
trlesS 10 defend the flame. Again they re-


sumed their wanderings, until the boy,
overcome by that extreme drOwSinesS
which always prccedes death by freezing,


declared he would go no further. Smith
then took him on his back and carried him,


he thinks. for about three hours, when he


found him to be dead. The boy was laid


under cedar tree, and the place marked


as well "a possible. This was near day


break on Thursday morning. Smith wan
dered about nearly all day on Thursday,


and when night came succeeded in finding


his way to the house of a Mexican living


on the HuerfanO, where he was kindly


taken in. On Friday he started to find his


team and the body of young Green. At-
ter searching all day both were found, the


boys face bearing evidences of an almost
painless death, and the mules nearly ready


to die from starvation and cold When
the mules were found they had almost
eaten up the wood rack on the wagon


HrsoTosg Tl-;b5y.p
Year: 1875

After getting drink of water out of the
barrel under the wagon, left to seek as
sistance bidding all be of good cheer, as
relief would reach them in few hours, at
farthest.


had followed the road leading to Vir-
ginia almost to Silver City, when the music
of bells greeted my ears-bells such as are
worn by the big ten and twelve-mule
teams.


soon several big teams came into full
sight, over piece of rising ground.


As soon as L had made known to the
teamSterS-eight or ten in all-the condi-
ton OF the emigrant family, there was a
regular strife among them about going to
their relief. All wanted to go, whereas
but single team was required.


A fine strapping young fellow, about 25
years of age, was driving the leading team
older and had about them the subjugated
look of married men. So l said:


sAs there is a goOd-lOoking girl over
there. and as most of you appear to be
married men, suppose we say that this
young buck goes?'


With shouts of laughter and many sly
Jokes this was agreed to at once.


NV man had splendid ten-mule team,
each mulS wearing UCdishlh musings anu
having above the names a steel bow filled
with bells. His vehicle was an immense
" prairie schooner as these great freight
wagons are here called. and every thing
about team and wagon was in the most
perfect order.


On one side of the wagon, was painted
in red large wing, like the wing of some
sea-bird. In explanation of this hero
glyph be said ''You see, L call her the
Red Wing.'"


| told him that the folks out on the
desert would certainly look upon him as
an angel, notwithstanding he had but one
wing.


When we reached the forlorn family and
our huge craft rolled up alongside their
little vehicle, we looked like q seventy
four-gun ship bearing down upon canoe.
Year: 1875

Nearly'one thousand years ago a lit.
tie female bird flew into the Mikado's
garden, holding in her bill a ver5
small seed, which she tried to bury in
the ground. The Mikado wished to
know what kind of seed it was, so lac
ordered a girl to get it from the
ground, butevery timeshe approached
it the bird suddenly flew down and
took the seed in her bill and carried
it away. As soon, however as the girl
disappeared, the bird returned and
again buried the seed. The Mikado
gave very strict orders that no one
should to uch it.


Just one month after the day on
which the bird first visited the Mika-
dos garden, he found on the
spot where the seed had been bur.
led, a plant having a pair of small
green leaves. different from any be
had ever seen before. The bird now
came to the plant, and sang iOyfully
and plucked out her feathers and
placed them around it, to protect it
and no matter.what the weather was,
she daily visited the plant.


About this time a great many Gu
rious and useful things were imported
from China, such as books, pens, bows,
and arrows, junks, etc. The Mikado
thought it very probable that the bird
came from China, as when he first
saw her flying she was coming from
the west.


BY the MikadO's- order the new
plant was carefully tended and watch.
ed, because he thought it might some
time become very useful to the Japan.
ese. When it had grown about twenty
inches high a single Chinese letter
was discovered on the stem, and two
letters were also found on the same
stem to the right of it. These letters
spelled the work 'fTa-ke," which the
Mikado decided was the name of the
plant. "Ta-ke" is the word that i:
translated into English as bamboo
Translated from the japanese for tn,
[" Commonwealth"
Year: 1875

If any animal but fish were allow
ed to die a lingering death by suffoca-
ton, or should be drowned, people
would be quite unwilling to eat the
meat o: such animal, and would con-
slider it all imposition if a provision
dealer should send such things for
their tables. And yet it is usual when
fish are caught to leave them without
air (6redthed in their tCdy), and they
die an unnatural death, after strug-
gle perhaps for hours. No one seems
to think their flesh is injured by this
suffering. Nevertheless it is. So that
if one has no thought for the unnee-
essary suffering of the fish, he ought
to kill it instantly out of regard to his
own stumach. He would find great
improvement in the quality. Strike
the fish sharp blow, just back of the
eyes, or with knife divide the back
bone. We have called attention to
this before, but are reminded by a
friend that il is not generally ander-
stood.
Year: 1875

running out with such rapiditv rs To
cause smoke 10 arise from the woodwork
of the boat, and the Captain threw water,
Us : the custom, upon the spot By
some unlucky lurch Of the boat he was
canted from his position, and he natu-
rally threw out his left hand 10 prevent
himself from falling; but, in doing SO, he
unfortunately placed it So that the rope
cOiied about his wrist, and he was over
board and ouy of sight in an instant.


He WAS perfectly conscious while he
was rushing down head foremost. and
with An Incredible swiftnesS, and it ap-
praref TO him that his arm would be
torn from the socket so great was the
resistance OF the water. During these
awful moments he was well aware of his
perilOus situation. and that his only
chance for life Was 10 cut the line But
how could he do thiss He could not
move his right arm from his side, 10
which il was So closely pressed 10y the
force of the element through which De
was being drawn. The pressure on his
brain grew more and more terrible and a
roaring rs of thunder sounded in his
ears. He opened his eyes for q single
instant and it seemed as though a stream
of fire was passing before them. And
now came that inevitable activity of the
brain which charaCteriZes all such peril
Gus situations, where ones whole life
seems to pass in review in an instant Of
time. But the Captain was Il very prac-
teal man, cool and courageous always,
and consequently still self-possessed


He began 10 struggle with all his mus
cular power 10 reach the knife which he
wore in his belt He felt that he was
growing weaker every instant and il was
now or never with him, though We
should say parenthetically that what re-
quires So long to describe occurred in
time which was rcckoned by seconds
rather than minutes. On, If hr
could but command his right
hand for one stroke upon that fatal line,
Now his heart began to fail him. He
did not absolutely despair, but his brain
reeled, his nerves seemed 10 relax their
tension, light and darkness appeared 10
alternate before his eye-balls and his
head felt as though compressed in an
iron wise We're these his last moments.
He thought, in spite of the agOnizing
pain he endured, he would make one
more brave effort.


The line pruvidentially slackenei for
second; he reached his knife and, -
quick as thought itself, rs the rope he
came taut again the keen edge of the
blade was upon 1t, and by desperate
effort of the arm it became severed. He
was freed, and then commenced his up
ward passage, caused by the natural
buoyancy of the human body After this
he only remembered feeling of sutio-
cation, 4 gurgling spasm and all WIS
over until he aWoke to IN agOniziDg pHin
pf reviying consciousness in the arms Of
his boats crew. Truly one Of the most
remarkable escapes from death on rec
ord.
Year: 1875




In your last number you say you hear
nothing further on the subject of rent
ing church pews, and as have read moth
ing that seemed fully to meet the ques-
ton, l take the liberty of submitting a
few thoughts for the consideration Of
yourself and readers. In the first place.
a pastor of church is not "employed !"
or hired " or related to his people as a
person who is engaged to work for wages,
which is a common but erroneous Opin-
ion. He is called Of God to preach, and
the place where he does so is, or should
be, indicated by the providence of God
The people have no right to call pastor,
nor he right to accept, unless both have
good reason to believe they have the
leading of Gods spirit. The arrange
ment, when entered into, is governed by
these passages from Holy Writ: HE is
to I" live of the gospel" and "the laborer
is worthy of his hire A minister is to
advance Christ's kingdom on earth, and
he is therefore in Gods employ, not in
the employ of his congregation. When
he is thus employed in Il church or COM
munity he is seeking the best interests
of the people there residing; and be-
cause the members of that church and
community believe this is why they con-
tribute to his support.


/ have written of this somewhat at
length, because the pastors salary is the
chief item Of expense. The renting of
pews believe is just as proper as to rent
house to live in, and the only matter to
consider is which is the most feasible
plan to obtain preaching and other in
struction respecting our eternal welfare.
In very few places, and certainly not in
this, need the question of the poor hav-
ing the gospel preached to them trouble
us. Very seldom here is half the sitting
room of our churches occupied, and
every one who will attend may be sure
of a welcome whether they rent pews or
not. REX,
Year: 1875

BURNED OUT.-SOmetime during last
Tuesday night Thomas Dougherty, con-
fined in Jail upon a charge of burglary
for breaking into Post & VanArsdale's
store, effected his escape by burning a
hole in the walls of the Jail large enough,
by tight squeezing, to let him out, and
decamped. Whether he had become dis
satisfied with the bill of fare furnished
him, or finding his hotel not very well
and not being of solitary
temperament did not enjoy his retire
ment,is not known; but the fact is that,
the ties that bound him
and the influences thrown around him
to induce him to remain the winter i'm
this community, he has departed. How
ever, his departure will be regretted by
few, and the county will be saved a vast
expense in the way of board bill, costs
of trial, &c,
Year: 1875

1t seems that the playing Of practical
jokes has been a source of common
amusement among many citizens of
Clam Lake. Among the most active per-
petrators of the same being both the edi-
tor and publisher of the Ne,os. 1t seems
DR.. Wilcox was among their victims,
and, as the.sequel proves, he is one of the
kind that is always ready when the OPP
portunity affords to get even. The dedi-
cation of the new Odd Fellows Hall at
Traverse City furnished him the occasion,
the editor and publisher both attending
the same, leaving the office in charge Of
"devil." This time it was the "devil I"
that was tempted, and he fell. What
means the doctor used to enlist him in
his service we know not, but he accom-
plished it, and the result was the issue of
an extra number of the News with the
following leade:


I'm advance Of the regular issue of the Neavs we
have thought best to notify the subscribers and pat
rons generally Of the change of base in the politics
Of this paper.


We have long thought that a place like Clam
Lake ought to have real live and respectable pape
one advocating thy moral tone in social circles
reliable in its news reports, and sensible, sound and
patriotic in its politics


The late editor, who vas Black Republican has
left this place to a tend an Odd Fellows Conven-
ton, is probably in Jail by this time We expect to
furnish to his old patrons better paper than the
wretched, misbegotten abortion that he furnished
them. We shall send copy of this extra to each
subscrib and exchange, and il they such fools
as to refuse it the loss will be theirs


The late editor was also the P. NJ OF this place.
We, for long iEle, have been anxious to serve our
country in that caracity, and now the public is
about to receive the benefit of our experience
in that direction. We have long been an observer
OF the wretched manner in which things have been
conducted. Persons come there f r letters who 90
away without them even we have d boz and
more than half of the time there is nothing in it,
We shal attend to this thing.


The pub Usher Of this paper was caught the other
night in company with tie editor and few other
low characters, stealing hens, and of had 10
leave as well as the rest when got after them in
our virtuous Indignation, and we now hope our pat.
rons will have no further complaint to make about
the typographical department of the paper.


We also have full possession of the pill shop. All
will be sure to be heard from.


We have employed first-class printer who will
be ready to do all kinds of work in the best Styles
and to receive cash when the work is DONE"


Tally one for the doctor.
Year: 1875

AT the last session of the Michigan
Legislature, law was passed providing
that Sheriff's deeds on mortgage fore
closures shall be recorded in the Office of
the register of deeds. in book provided
for that purpose, within twenty days af-
ter such sale is made. The old law mere
ly required such deed to be filed in the
Office of the register of deeds-a very
unsafe procedure, as they were liable to
be stolen or mutilated by interested par
ties
Year: 1875

CEDAR PAvEMENTs.AIt is likely that
cedar will take the place of all other
kinds of wood for paving purposes. 1t
has been tried long enough to demon
strate its lasting qualities when used for
paving. In Grand Rapids pavement
put down with cedar blocks something
over three years since, was taken up last
week and the blocks were found to be as
sound as when put down. With the i'm
mense quantities of cedar growing here
the prospects are that it will become a
staple article in trade from this port.
Year: 1875

The Legislature at its last session abol-
ished the old man fearing clause in the
acknowledgement of deeds and mort
cages. Hereafter married woman ac-
any such instrument the
same as anybody else, without being sex
amined separate and apart from her said
husband"
Year: 1875

The Town Board meets next Monday
to figure up the taxes for next year, and
transact such other business as may come
before them.


The school is being rapidly filled up
with pupils, especially the primary and
intermediate departments.
Year: 1875

Since our last issue the Minutes OF
the Baltimore Conference have been
given to the public. Most, if not all,
Of the denominational papers Of the
Church South publish the entire
correspondence, and we regret that
it has not been published by the pa
pers of our own Church. So far as
we have observed, it appears only in
the Presbyterian Weekly. 1t is mat
ter of grave importance, and it ap-
pears to US that our ministers and
churches should have an opportunity
of forming an Independent judgment
in regard to it. Some of our papers,
which gave an account of the Con-
ference before the correspondence
was published in full, were misled
by the telegraphic report, and pre-
sented 4 view which was not quite
lust to the Committee of the South
ern Church. 1t was stated that they
demanded the repeal of the acts and
deliverances of our Church, of which
they complained. This was a mis-
take. We regret that we are unable
to publish the correspondence entire,
but must content ourselves with Civ
ing a very brief outline.


After giving an outline of the cor
respondence, and quoting the request
of the Southern Committee and the
refusal of the Northern Committee,
the Kcntueky Presbyterian continues:


There are certain points in the
final reply of our Committee, as given
above, to which We desire to call the
attention Of the Church. We regard
Year: 1875

When the last census was taken in
British India, it created not a little
alarm among the natives. The motive
of the government was at first supposed
to be the imposition of fresh taxes, the
raising of troops, or the getting rid OF
the surplus population. The delusion
that an evil wind would cripple all who
were abroad on the night of the census
was encouraged, as it materially aided
the enumerators in their work. The
census of the women, however, excited
the most apprehension, as the natives
could not understand its purpose. That
the women would be taken to supply
wives for the soldiers, that they were all
to be sent to Calcutta for government in
spection, and that the whole census was
a mere subterfuge by means of which to
obtain two virgins from every village in
India to fan Queen Victoria, were the
theories current with the natives.
Year: 1875

Nine. Senyah has been doing some
terrific leaping in South America. The
Lima papers tell, for instance, of one ef-
fort far more than usually thrilling.
Nine. Senyah was to make a flying leap
in open air from stand fifty feet high.
In the leap she was to catch stationary
rope suspended perpendicularly; swing
ing on this she was to catch another
rope fifty feet away and then swing to
the trapeze. In making her swing to
catch the last rope, she flew past it, but
seeing that she could not catch it she
threw back summersault and caught
the extreme lower end of the rope as she
was going down. She was saved. The
excitement was intense, and many ladies
tainted. The feat mentioned is simply
impossible but the story is pretty
nearly as good for all that.
Year: 1875

The custom of dancing on Christmas
eve is very old. 1t would be hard to
say that it began in 1912, but that is the
first Christmas dance on record, and the
circumstances attending it were as re-
markable as they are we'll attested. Sew
eral young persons, 80 the story goes,
were singing and dancing in church
yard on Christmas eve, and their doing
so disturbed Father Robert, priest


ho was saying mass in the church. He
asked them to stop, but the more he
begged the more they danced. Since
they would not cease dancing, Fat Ter
Robert, as the next best thing, prayed
that they might dance without ceasing,
and so they did for whole year, feeling
neither heat nor cold nor hunger nor
thirst nor weariness nor decay of ap-
parel; but the ground on which they
danced, not having the same miraculous
support, wore away under them until
they were sunk up to the middle. At the
end of the year the dancing was stopped
by Bishop Hubert's giving the company
absolution.