smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876




It is not little remarkable that until
the present century the word "mahog-
any," though now in common use, was
not to be found in any dictionary
But the reason of its absence is plainly
accounted for by the fact that up to the
end of the last century the word was
not known in England. The story of
its first introduction is but another in
stance of art and chance meeting to-
gether.


DR.. Gibbons, an eminent physician
in the neighborhood, then fashionable,
of Covent Garden, had brother, q
West Indian sea captain, who had
brought over some planks of mahogany
as ballast to his ship. As a house was
in the course of being built by the doc
tor in King street, Covent Garden, his
brother happened one day to take it into
his head that tho planks which had
done work for himself, might be of SER
vice to the doctor; so he sent them to
King street. The carpenters. however.
found the grain of the wood too hard
for their tools, and SO they throw the
planks aside. Soon after this Mrs. Glib
bons wanted q candle-box; and was
anxious as she told her husband, to get
one that the mice could not nlbble. A
bright thought struck the doctor. He
would have one made out of those bits
of hard timber that were lying about
the back yard.


He called on his cabinet maker. one
Wallaston, and explained to him what
he wanted. Mr.. Wallaston tried, found
his tools not equal to the wood, and was
inclined to give the job up. declaring it
was too hard by far. The doctor was a
man not easily to be beaten, and accord
ingly said that he must get better and
stronger tools. The tools were ordered
and got. Mr.. Wallaston set himself to
the task with hearty good will, and
the work was done. Mrs. Gibbons had
the new candle box brought to her, and
declared that it was excellent. It re
sisted the efforts of the mice, which had
played terrible havoc with the candles
ends wien defended ty deal only. The
doctor caught the infection, and vowed
that he himself would have a bureau
made out of the same planks. The
tools of Mr.. Wallaston were again called
into play, and the bureau was made.
The next step was to polish it; and here,
too, fortune favored him. The polish
was all that could be desired; paint was
unnecessary.


The doctor was so rejoiced at his
triumph that he invited his friends from
Bedford and Tavistock streets. and
from the Piazza. to see and admire it.
Among others who came was the Mar
chioness of Buckingham. Her lady
ship came, saw. and was conquered" p"
She begged the doctor to give her some
of the spare planks. and commissioned
Wallaston to make a bureau for her
boudoir at Stowe, and another for her
drawing-room in Pail Mall. This done
the King and Queen were called in to
see the wonderful wood; other commits
sions for "the Queens house" followed
Mr.. Wallaston had more work for his
new tools than he coald get through,
and at the most remunerative prices.
His fortune was made. The wood soon
came into general use, and in 20 years
there was not a gentleman in town or
in the country either, who did not ex-
change his oak or beech-wood dining
table for one of mahogany. The word
Is now,.it is almost needless to add,
embodied in our dictionaries.
Year: 1876

A CAPE COP VILLAGE As nearly as
one can ascertain in a residence OF q
few hours, there are bat two streets in
Provincetown which in any other New
England town would be dignifed with
that title. They appear to run parallel
to each other. but q careful investiga-
ton is necessary to a verification of that
supposition. Indeed, the popularity
which strikes stranger most forcibly
is the absence of streets such as one. is
used to. The two to which allusion
has been made are narrow and crooked,
indeed; but the cross streets are in most
cases wide enough only for.the passage
of one wagon. and in many cases they
are open at but one end. The main
street, narrow and winding, the houses
irregular and low in most cases. and the
plank sidewalk of different grade every
foot or so. But, after all, it is pleas
ant old street to stroll through, espec-
tally at night. when there is clear view
of the moonlit haibor, with its fleet of
fishing vessels. On pleasant evening
the shops are all open and lighted, and
their keepers stand at the old-fashioned
half-doors and gossip with their GUS
toners in just such way as to remind
one of the descriptions he has read of
old French and Dutch fishing towns.
Above the main street, and not far dis
tant, is the second street in importance
and is occupied almost entirely by
dwellings. 1t is between these two
thoroughfares that the strange passage
ways that serve as streets run.
Year: 1876

The man who does nothing don't
amount to much. 1t makes but little
difference whether he is millionaire or
q pauper. He is only stagnant pool
without even energy enough to start a
ripple. He diffuses a moral miasma
over everything around him. Do some
thing; don't stand on the corners gaping
with your hands in your pockets like an
idiot. The world was made to work in,
and if you fill your hearts with good
angels. the bad spirits will keep out be-
cause there is no room for them.
Year: 1876

reciprocally perpendicular, two of them
being parallel, and the third at right angles
to the surface on which tho characters or
designs are written or engraved.


Etching on crown glass is a very simple
process. The glass is first heated in sand
bath, and then rubbed over with purified
beeswax, the temperature of the glass be-
ing such as to cause the wax TO melt COM
pletely and uniformly over its surface


When every part of the plate is covered
with wax it may be set aside to cool. A
paper having design bold drawn upon it
may then be attached to the unwaxed side
of the glass, and the workman traces the
lines through the wax by pointed instru-
ment, care being taken that She point clears
all the wax from the glass wherever the
design comes. This done, some coarsely-
powdered fourspar must be placed in
vessel, together with a quantity of sui
phuric acid, well mixed together, and as
soon as they are Incorporated, the glass
should be placed over the vessel, the wax
surface downward, when moderate degree
of heat must be applied to the bottom Of
the vessel. The fumes of fuoric acid soon
arise and attack the unprotected portion
of the glass. In half an hour it may be
removed, washed, and the wax scraped off,
leaving the design perfectly etched upon
the surface of the glass.-FWnitwe Ga
zette
Year: 1876

The London Builder offers the follow
ing suggestions Keep matches in metal
boxes, and out of the reach of children !;
wax matches are particularly dangerous
and should be kept out of the way Of rats
and mice. Be careful in making fires
with shavings and other light kindlings.
Do not deposit ashes in a wooden vessel,
and be sure that burning cinders are ex-
tinguished before they are deposited.
Never put firewood upon the stove to dry,
and never put ashes or light under
staircase. Fill fluid or spirit (kerosene)
lamps only by daylight, and never near a
fire or light. Do not leave candle burn
ing on bureau or chest. Always be
cautious about extinguishing matches or
other lighters before throwing them away.
Never throw cigar stump upon the floor
or into spit box containing saw dust or
trash without being certain that it contains
no fire. After blowing out candle never
put it away until sure that the snuff
has gone entirely out. A lighted candle
ought not to be stuck up against frame
wall or placed upon any portion of the
woodwork in stable, mandatory, shop
or other place. Never enter a barn or
stable at night with an uncovered light.
Never take an open light to examine gas
meter. Do not put gas or other lights
near curtains. Never take light into
closet. Do not read in bed.


The principal register of furnace
should always be fastened upon. Stove
pipes should be at least four inches from
woodwork, and well guarded by tin or zinc
rags ought never to be stuffed into stove
pipe holes; openings into chimney fues
for stove pipes which are not used ought
always to be securely protected by metal
lie coverings. Never close up place of
business in the ewing without looking well
to the extinguishment of lights and the
proper security of the fires. When retir-
ing to bed at night, always see that there
is no danger from your fires, and be sure
that your lights are safe. To these the
Scientific American adds Never keep
or leave oiled rags or oiled cotton waste
in any place where their burning could do
any harm. Do not allow accumulation of
combustible rubbish about, especially in
out Of the way corners"
Year: 1876

The projected tunnel under the English
Channel has SO far assumed the form of
reality that the French and English Gov
ernments have for some time had a Joint
commission celebrating upon the basis of
a treaty to settle their mutual rights in the
premises. Some time before the commits
sion met the necessary concession was
granted to the Tunnel Companies, and the
official movement towards treaty looks
as if the tunnel were really in serious con-
temptation. This joint commission has
just submitted its report. 1t is proposed
that each nation shall give the construc-
tion companies concession for SO years
from the date of opening the railway, at
the end Of which time it is to revert to
the two Governments. By July 1st next
year the preliminary work is to be begun
each company digging its own section
there being an English and French COM
pany, In August, 1879, by which time
it is thought the feasibility of the under
taking can be demonstrated and its cost
approximately calculated, the companies
must declare whether they will retain or
abandon the concession. If they decide
to construct the work they are to have
twenty years for its completion and the
opening of the railway for traffic. Either
company may, at any time, abandon the
undertaking, on proving, to the satisfac-
tion of its Government, the impossibility
of continuing work. After 80 years from
the opening, the Governments are to have
the right of buying out the companies,
Each Government, without consulting the
other, can at any time suspend operations
on the tunnel and railway. This is to
provide for the contingency of war, and it
is also stipulated that each Government
may damage or destroy the works or any
part Of them, within its own territory, or
flood the tunnel with water. To prevent
the tunnel being used by any railway to
the exclusion of others, it is provided that
equal facilities shall be afforded trains of
all kinds, whatever their points of depar-
ture or destination. This outline of the
proposed treaty, it is considered, will be
substantially adopted by both countries.
The liberal allowance oftime twenty years.
for the completion of the work is more
than double the time thought by contrac-
tors to be requisite. The tunnelling ma
chinery, it is stated, can bore drift nine
feet in diameter across the channel in two
years, at cost of S4,O00,000. -Four
years more, and an additional outlay of
S20,OOO,OO0 will complete the tunnel.
The laying of the railway afterwards is
comparatively an easy task. Use esti-
mates are based on the theory of con-
tinuous chalk bed underlying the channel,
free from percolations or subtcrranean
springs. Increased difficulties would in
volve longer time and more expense
1t will be noticed that this huge work is
projected without even the suggestion of
a Government subsidy or loan Of credit
circumstance which confirms the faith
of those who hold that Government aid is
not necessary for the construction of COM
mercinl works IF admitted ut;l;tu
Year: 1876

For kitchen and pantry floors there is
nothing better than coat of hard paint.
The cracks should be filed with putty be-
fore it is applied, and the paint allowed to
dry at least two weeks before using. 1t
is easily kept clean by washing (not scrub
bing) with milk and water. Soap should
never be allowed to touch it. Red lead
and yellow ochre are preferable for color
ing; the former makes hard paint that
wears well.
Year: 1876

To REMOVE MILDEw.-Wet the cloth
mildewed with soft soap and salt, let it lie
a short time, then wash it in good suds
and lay it out to bleach. Repeat the pro-
cess if necessary. Or, rub on soap, then
scrape fine chalk on it, rub it in well, lay
it on the grass; as it dries, wet it little;
repeat the process aud the mildew will
disappear.
Year: 1876

How TO WASH BLACK CALIooEs.-
Put the calicoes in boiler with enough cold
water to cover them well, and let them come
to a boil. Then take out and put into
clean water, and soap and rub any part of
the white (if there is any which still looks
soiled, after which rinse, wiring dry as pos
sible, and dry quickly.
Year: 1876

An excellent recipe for removing paint
or grease spots from garments may be had
by mixing four teaspoonfuls of alchohol
with tablespoonful Of salt. Shake the
whole well together, and apply with brush
or sponge.
Year: 1876

A simple and harmless application for
rlng-worm is found by washing with So
luton made from the root Of common
narrow-leafed dock, which belongs to the
botanical genus Rumex. Use vinegar for
the solvent.
Year: 1876

To put to use bits of soap which arc
still too good to throw away, but are-o.
nuisance in the soap dish, place all,
to the smallest pieces, in small ba
flannel, and they will be found to rr
the most delicious lather for the baS "
Year: 1876

The European steamers for Europe
continue to take out large numbers of
steerage and second class passengers,
chiefly artisans and mechanics and labor
ing men, who are said to be returning
home, unable to find employment here.
On the other side, it seems, there has
been some incredulity as to these
r, asons fer this rehux of human tide,
and so correspondent of the London
Daily News, determined to ascertain the
truth of the matter, boarded one steamer
on her arrival at Queenstown, which had
four hundred and fifty steerage passen-
gers on board, and the following is the
version of the causes of the British exO-
dus from America: He says he found
both hopeful and despOndent people
among them, but on the whole the san
Cuine had the best of it in numbers and
in argument. The few described America
as going to the dogs altogether. There
was no work to be got, and they were
coming hsme to try their luck once
more in the land where, when they went
away, they believed no luck was left for
them. The majority, however, had come
back with more or less of saved money
i'm ther pocket, some tn visit their friends,
some to live on their little store until
times got better in America. and others
because the low railway fares produced
by the centennial exhibition, and the
general holiday temper that event seems
to have aroused, gave them such an oP
pOrtunity as might never recur of visiting
England eheaply and without inconven-
ience. There were among them all sorts
and conditions of men and women, but
the bulk were quite contented with
their lot in the land of their adoption,
whittier they intended sooner or later to
raturn
Year: 1876

Report Of Indian Inspector VandeHVere.


Indian inspector Vandervere reports
that at council with the Indians of the
Red Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies,
June 18th, the chiefs and others ex-
pressed a willingness to relinquish the
Black Hills country on the terms offered
by Vandervere. The chiefs all promised
to keep their people at home and to re-
main about the agencies. They declare,
and evidence here sustains their declara-
ton, that very few Sioux are absent,
and that it is chiefly Cheyennes who
have committed depredatiORs in this
neighborhood and who have gone north
to Join the hostiles. The inspector says:
"Ths Arrangement with the Indians
that | regard is practicable at the pre-
sent time is an agreement between
them and the government by which
they shall ,relinq uish all rights to the


Black Hills, and consent to such di


minished boundaries Of their reseTva-
ton as shall secure this object. In
consideration of this REIMBURSEMENT,
the government shall guarantee to
continue the supplies of food and other
articles to them, as under the former
treaty, for five years from date of new
agreement. | would further stipulate
with the Indians that they shall, when
ever the government requires, consent to
the removal of their agencies from their
present location to any point that may
be designated for them on or near the
Missouri river, where better farming
land can be found, or to wherever the
government may choose to transfer them
to better their condition. As an induce
ment to their consent to such removal or
transfer, there should be offered them a
reasonable supply of stock, cattle, oxen,
farming implements, lumber for houses,
cooking stoves and utensils, wagons, etc,
to be distributed to those only who take
land and settle upon it for cultivation,
or who engage in stock raising or other
useful industry. Provision also should
be made for schooling the children and
for the instruction of the young men in
the mechanic arts. Law should be es-
tablished among them and the jurisdic
ton of our courts extended to them the
same as to white men. would give the
Sioux tribes the privilege of sending one
of their own people to sit as delegate
in congress. Nearly the entire force of
the agency Indians are here now and are
anxious for peace. Statements repre-
senting a different state of things are not
entitled to credit. Nothing could be
more unfortunate than to stop the
rations OF these Indians at the present
time, and thus drive them to the altern-
alive of stealing or starving"
Year: 1876

When people feel the need of an acid,
if they would let vinegar alone and use
lemons and sour apples, they would feel
inst as we'll satisfied and receive no in
iurv. And a suggestion may not come
amiss as a good plan when lemons are
cheap in the market. A person should


in those times purchase seyeral dozen at
once and prepare them for use in the
warm days of spring and summer. when
acids, especially critic and malic, or the
acids of lemons and ripe fruits, are 30
grateful and useful. Press your hand on
the lemon and roll it back and forth
briskly on the table to make it squeeze
more easily; then press the juice into A
bowl or tumbler, never into tin; strain
out all the seeds, as they give a bad
taste. Remove all the pulp from the
peel and boil in water--a pint to a
dozen pulps-tO extract the acids. A


few minutes boiling is enough; then
strain the water with the juice of the
lemons; put pound of white sugar to
Year: 1876

The ieaIousies of great men have
caused more sorrow and ruin TO the
world than have the iniquities of the
lower classes.


/ believe mankind generally are
prouder Of their bad luck than of their
good fortune.


Habits, even the smallest of them, are
most arbitrary. The peg we hang our
hat on, the corner where we stand our
cane, are as necessary to us as our coffee
| for breakfast.


Those people who watch their health
or the weathercock too closely, don't
generally watch anything else much.
If this life were To be the end of mans
existence he would not be filled with de-
sires for something he hadn't got and
couldn't define.
In case of doubt ask your wife about il.
Happiness, after all, is gift from ma
ture. All the world given to some
wouldn't make them happy, and taken
away from others wouldn't make them
unhappy.


Disease and pain are great Jewelers.
the highest and the lowest have the collie
Just alike.


1t is the little things that show CHAR
! acter. When / see man pick up a
piece of orange peel from the sidewalk
that some thoughtless cuss has dropped
there and heave it into the gutter,
want to kiss that man and call him
cousin.


"Mother," Home" Child" are
the three tenderest words in any Ian
guage.


Building air castles is kind of gam
bling which at first excites, then de-
praves and finally eXhausts the energy.


People who have nothing TO do are al
ways in great hurry to do it.


The human heart is like a very rich
piece of ground-capableo of producing
great crop of weeds or flowers, just as it
is hoed or neglected.


Humility is the best teacher ] know
of; it is always safe and generally sure.


1t is harder work TO be a second-rate
hypocrite than to be irst-class chris
tian.


IdIeness is the great bane Of life. The
devil always enters the idle mans house
without knocking.


Ingratitude is the devils creed.


The most comfortably matched family
team that / ever saw hooked up, has
been where one ef the party wanted
everything their own way and the other
party was willing they should have il.


1t is a noticeable truth in the market,
that the value of all our luxuries de
pcnds entirely upon the price that other
folks put on them.


The hardest lesson to learn, and the
easiest one to forget, is humility.


There are but few folks who are as big
fools as other people think they are and
there are less who are as wise as they
think they are themselves.


1t is always best TO give it up when we
get beat, but it amt always necessary TO
acknowledge it.


The man who looks to his own con-
science for pap, is always sure of getting
all that is due him.


Millions of books have been written TO
teach mankind how to be vigtuous and
happy. The following little sentence is
worth more than all OF them put together:


"Do as we would like to be done by"


If we could live our lives over again,
even with all the experience we have
gained to guide us, the best we should
do would be to make a new set Of blum
deTs.


Hypocrisy is not only the most diff
cult 10 detect in others but is one of the
most difficult things to detect in our
selves.-sIOsh BiUinJS.
Year: 1876

Very recently, a gentleman giving a
dinner party was persuaded, much
against his wishes, to allow his young
hopeful, a spoiled child, to join the COM
pany.


Thinking that many of the rich dishes
TO his partaking of them, but eventually
gave way on the child threatening :
q If I am not allowed to have it, I'll
tell ~


This went on for some time, until the
father made a stand, refusing firmly to
let the boy have any wine, adding


And you may tell, if you like"


Amidst roars of laughter, the child at
once called out with glee:


NV new knickerbockers are made
out of a pair of mas old curtains %
Year: 1876

l find that what is called great and
powerful life-the administration of large
affairs in commerce in the courts, in the
the state, is prone to develop narrow and
special talent, but, unless combined with
a certain cOntemplative turn, taste for
abstract truth, for the moral laws-dOes
not build up faith or lead to content.
There is a profound melancholy at the
base of men ofactive and powerful talent,
seldom suspected. Many years ago there
were two men in the United States sem
ate, both of whom are now dead. ] have
seen them both one of them ] personally
knew. Both were men OF distinction, and
took an active part in the politics Ul
their day and generation. They were
men of intellect, and one of them, at a
latter period, gave to a friend this anec-
dote: He said that when he entered the
&c nate he became in short time init
mate with one of his colleagues, and,
though attentive enough to the routine
of public duty, they daily returned to
each other, and spent much time in con-
versatiOn on the Immortality of the soul.
When my friend at last left congress they
parted, his colleague remaining there,
and, as their residences were widely dis
tant from each other, il chanCed that he
never met him again until, twenty five
years afterward, they saw each other
through open doors, at distance in a
crowded reception of the presidents
house in Washington. Slowly they ad
vanced toward each other As they could,
through the brilliant company, and at
last met, said nothing, but shook hands
long and cordially. At .ast his friend
said: "Any light, Albert?" None !"
replied he. They looked into each 9th
er's eyes silently, gave one more last
shake to the hand they held, and then
parted for the last time. Now, | should
say that the impulse which drew these
two minds TO this inquiry through 50
many years was a better affirmative
evidence than their failure to find a
confirmation was negative.-R. W.
Elneraoll