smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

Fashionable young gents, who must have
their clothes fit lust So patronize Pierson Hews
having found out by experience that these gents get
goods of the best New York houses and that they
always have large stock hand from which to make
selections.
Year: 1875

The Court of Assizes at Viterbo, in
Italy, has lately had to deal with case
of brigandage of more than ordinary ce-
lebrity. 1t involved the murder of q
country gentleman, the father of Signor
Faina, well-known deputy, who was
captured by the band lately tried when
driving near Orvieto in the spring of
1874, and carried off to the mountains
Signor Faina received letter soon
afterward informing him that his faith
er's ransom was fixed ut Ca, 900, and that
the money must be delivered at n GER
tain spot by fixed date. It was sent,
but By mistake 30 The WRONG place and
the brigands, having observed party of
gendarmes moving i'll the vicinity,
thought trap was being laid for them,
and ordered the youngest of the band
at once to blow out the brains of their
prisoner, who was a man of seventy
years of age, and could not be forced off
in the hurried retreat they designed.
They gave out publicly that the murder
was. designed as a special example of
their justice ). and this boast, following
such an act, caused SO effective pursuit
to be undertaken by the authorities that
the gang was at last, after many escapes,
fairly hunted down. The actual muir
derer has got off with imprisonment for
life, on the ground of his extreme youth
and his having acted under compulsion.
But the leader, who was formerly in the
Papal gendarmerie, was condemned to
be executed. On hearing his sentence
he sprang over the dock, precipitating
himself like tiger ON the accomplice
who had turned approver. But the po-
lice mastered and manacled him, and it
is now devoutly hoped that he in his
turn will be made an example of the
prompt justice he professed to execute
on his unfortunate captive.
Year: 1875

William G. Ralston did not care enough
about money to keep it after it was made.
What welded him to his work was the
excitement attendant upon making i'm
mense trades and moving millions. AS
for keeping the money he made, that
never entered his mind--he scattered it
broadcast on every side. 1t was rs
though n man should pnmp away for dear
life and all the while have nothing but
bottomlcss vessel to hold his pumpings
yes, as though one should pump away,
with clang and nose, but have never a
valve in his pump. Men do this some
times, for exercise. But exercise is not
work. One must have serious purpose
in view, or even the swinging of dumb
bells avails not And if 1 had not reso-
lutely resolved to refrain from pointing
a moral, would say right here that the
want of worthy purpose is just the
hole in which William G. Ralston and
his bank went under. But prefer that
each reader should apply the great
ethical blister, which 1 have 81 gener-
ously spread for himself. Place it where
it will do the most good, please.


William @. Ralston was not bad man
in reality. True, he did very many
things which are commonly esteemed
bad but 1 do not think that he put
much heart into them. There was little
of earnestness or vim about any of his
dissipations seeing another person do
thing he thought it was the thing to
do, and there must be fun in it. He
Dever wanted to be counted out on any
thing. In a very similar way he did
much good. So did the Bank of Cali
fornia. 1t encouraged many praise,
worthy enterprises, developed valuable
industries, lent its shoulder frequently
to public improvements, where a bank
conducted on prudent principles would
not have lent finger. On one occa
sion it even lent money to me-is there
need to say more? Then again the
Bank of California gave aid to some
schemes most outrageously corrupt. But
nature in her own way turns most rmal-
feasances to good. I do not know, how.
ever, that in such cases credit mark
goes down in the book to the account oi
individual or institution, unless good
was intended. JOHN PAUL.
Year: 1875

A Kansas City paper says that as Mr..
Anthony Matheny was coming in from
his work on the Midland road, he over
took an old man near the four mile
bridge, in the Kaw bottoms. He ap-
peared to be staggering along under the
influence Of liquor, and, from his ragged
and dirty condition, Matheney at once
came to the conclusion that the old fell
low was tramping pauper coming into
Kansas City for relief. He passed by
him without speaking, and thought no
more about it. Next day, when he
started back to his work, he was some
what surprised to find the old man lying
upon the side of the railroad track, in o
helpless and apparently dying condi-
ton. He approached him, and on in,
quiry found that he was quite sick, and
had been lying out in the open air all
night, and was unable to walk. He gave
his name as Angus McGregor, and that
he was on his way from Fort Dodge to
Kansas City. Mr.. Matheney came in
and procured the assistance of an ex-
press driver, and brought the old man
to his house near the water works, and
left him with his wife. He maintained
stolid silence until night, but ate a
hearty meal, thus showing that it was O
want of food rather than sickness which
had caused him to fall by the wayside.
But he was too far gone for food to re-
vive him at once, and when night came
on he was dangerously ill, so i'll that
medical aid was deemed necessary.
When he was offered bed he declined
it, and positively refused to take off or
allow his dirty rags to be taken off his
body.


He slept upon q blanket on the floor,
and under no persuasion would he take
off his boots. The old man being un-
able to help himself, however, gave up
and ordered his boots taken off. To the
surprise of every one present, he took
from his boots between two and three
thousand dollars in greenbacks, nicely
wrapped up in oil paper, and used as
pads for his sore and blistered feet.


In explanation. the old man said he
had been soldier in the United States
army for the last twenty years had
served in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona
and Colorado. He had recently been
discharged from McKenzie's regiment,
in Arizona, and started from Fort
Dodge, Kan, about two weeks ago, to
walk to Kansas City. He says he is
going home TO Glasgow, Scotland, and
that he has been afraid of being robbed
on his way home. He is close and pc.
nurious, and says he could not afford to
pay SO much for railroad fares. He was,
after great difficulty, persuaded to de-
'posit his long-hoarded wealth, and take
drafts OH New York for the amount de-
posted. He is very suspicious, and un-
usually reticent about his own affairs.
He paid Matheney literally for the care
bestowed. upon him, and proposes to
continue his journey east as soon as his
health will permit him to move.
Year: 1875

In Paris quite commotion was
created by the entrance of very singu-
lar party. 1t consisted of two tiny cava-
iers mounted upon exquisite little
ponies. One of these small riders was
a / andsome boy about seven years of
age, and the other was large monkey
strapped to the saddle of his steed. A
servant in livery followed on horseback
at the distance prescribed by etiquette.
Finding that this strange cortege was
attracting crowd, the police interfered,
and the young gentleman and his COM
panion were forced to return home. On
inquiry being made it was found that
the boy was the only son of Portu-
guese count, at present residing in Paris,
s terribly spoiled child, to whom his
parents can refuse nothing. Conse-
quently, when he took it into his head
to take his monkey, which is his special
pet and companion, out riding with him,
he found no one bold enough to oppose
his whims. That duty was reserved for
the police.
Year: 1875

During the prevalence of the recent
flood on the Wabash river in Indiana,


two young men were carried away by
the water, and were saved from drown
ing only by climbing .up on the limbs of
an overturned tree which had stuck in n
narrow chapnel. Here they clung for
day and Il half. When they were taken
off, they passed the following night at
a house where twenty-four families were
quartered.
Year: 1875

I
Into the garden walked; ne'er had seen her be


fore;
Under budding white rose she stood in the shade
Quiet and pale was her face, but maidenly bright
Fair as the newy-born moon, when low in the east


eriy skies.
There as stood by her side, my spirit grew happy


and free.
Would had said what I thought. that none would


marry but theei
The far-of bells were toling, for twas some ones


funeral day,


moving tie hay
Into the garden walked; but once had seen her


before,


standing the door;
Then silent aud listening went up TO the curtain
Where she lay shrouded in white, all wintery,
There was look on her face, as if she'd been think
inc Of me.
Dear Ms-garet," then whispered I, ''none viii 7


marry hut thee -
And the far-oh bells were ringing, for twas some


ones wedding day,
And in the meadows close by the mowers were


moving the hay.
Silent and dark was yon lake as under the desolate
hill,
Lit by no CLEAN from the sky it slumbered there;
dreary and still.
Till with its swallow like wing the wind in its wau-
dering flight
Touched into music the reeds. and broke in rip
ples OF light.
Silent ana dark Was my heart till suddenly thrilled
by the tone,
Tender and pure, Of the voice, which told me 7
not alone,
Yet how I long to be dead, wheneer, on calm
summer day,
The far-Of bells are ringing, and the mowers are
moving the hay!
Year: 1875

The Patterson papers tell the follow
ing distressing story Mrs. Post, wife
of Thomas V. r. Post, residing on the
Erie railway, near Ridgewood, sent her
children to the store, about half a mile
distant, on an errand. They were so
long absent that she feared they would
be late for school, and accordingly
taking her youngest-a little boy of less
than two years along with her, she
started out to look for them and found
them. They not having been 20 the
store or else having forgotten something
she concluded to go herself and send
them on to school. She left the little
cne behind, and started, not intending
to be long gone. Upon returning some
half an hour later she observed as she
neared the track express train No. u
come laundering along at the rate of a
mile a minute, it being two hours be-
hind time. She also saw her child
sitting, carelessly tossing up the sand,
directly between the tracks and In the
way of the incoming train. She rushes


forward and wild with alright almost


precipitated her own body beneath the


iron wheels. So near was she that the
locomotive struck her hands in pa sing,


as she held them forth in her sgonized


attempt to do something for her child
The train passed and the little one vas
| discovered with its head completely
| severed from its body-in fact, eye
witnesses aver that the child's head
/ rolled on one side as the body fell OF
/ the other. The mother is said to have
/ become 8 maniac.
Year: 1875

The pencil marks you see around this
paragraph (thus) mean that your sub
scriPtior is out or unpaid, and that
yon are requested to pay mp at once
We would take great pleasure IN extend
ing credit to our friends and patrons.
but cash alone VIII pay expenses, and
We are forced to adhere to strict cash
rule. We hope you VIII comprehend
and appreciate the necessity OF such q
course, and renew your subscription
without delay. We solicit your favor.


81 We enter No neE names on our
BOOKS without the money 10 advl' ee-
Year: 1875

The train-boys think they haven't
much OF an opportunity in this world,
and other people think they are a
nuisance. One of them tells the New
Orleans Picayune the way in which
they impose upon their employers ::
You see," he says, "each boy is
furnished with just so much fruit, so
many books and papers, and he is
either obliged to show them up at the
end of the route or else turn over the
money for which they must have been
sold. The only way it can be done is
this: We sell book to a passenger
for a dollar and a half. He reads it
and then we give him new book worth
fifty cents for the one he has read.
He is generally willing to make the
exchange, and reads the new one
This, when read, he is ready to swap
for a ten cent paper, which he leaves in
the car when he gets out. This paper
we pick up and put back in our pile,
having all our books and papers and
SI.5O. That is about the only show we
have without it we could not make a
decent living"
Year: 1875

ONE OF The many good points Of the
new constitution of Arkansas. adopted
less than year asO. is the provision for
the payment of The state debt This
provision is Low being carried out under
the means provided by the last legisla-
ture
Year: 1875

A PRIVATE soldier of Prof. Jenney's
escort, in his geological survey of the
Black Hills, writes that he found gold
10y means of pick and a shovel. while
the geologists we're trying to find it by
scientific principles. His advice is that
those desirous of going goldhunting
should hold themselves in readiness,
and the instant the Indian treaty is an
nuned to hasten on. The party had
encountered three mining camps on
French creek. They were panning out
about $40 day, each, and were of the
opinion that, when they get their work
ing apparatus in good order, they will
be able to make $50 a day. The soldier
had washed four pans of dirt and got
about five cents to the pan of scale gold,
some Of the pieces being little larger
than a pins head. He did not have to
dig a loot down for the dirt, and declares
that all that Custar told concerning the
treasures OF the country was strictly
true.
Year: 1875

The point to which we now call at
tention is that our farmers and fruit
growers have ignored, or rather been
ignorant of, the Importance OF wood
ashes as q vegetable stimulant and as
the leading constituents Of plants
Even coal ashes. now thrown away as
useless, have been shown, both by ex'
pertinent and analysis, to possess
fair share of alkaline value. we VIII
relate only one experiment: Some
twenty five years ago we treated "a an n
old hollow pippin tree as follows: The
hollow, to the height Of eight feet,
was filed and rammed with q compost
of wood ashes, garden mold and llt
tie was line (cardonate). The hiling
was securely fastened In by boards.
The next year the crop Of SOUND iruit
was sixteen bushels from an old shell
Of tree that had borne nothing OF
any account for some time and Tor
seventeen years after filling, the old
pippin tree continued to flourish and
bear well.-ScisatI9e American.
Year: 1875

Do you know of any way to exter-
inmate liv0Jorerer and tansy, except
grubing them outs l purchased a farm
which has both the above pests. Per
haps some of your readers may be able
to help me, by knowing some way to
get rid of them. A. V. NJ. Probably
the easiest and simplest way is smoth'
ering. On q small scale. this Is most
easily done by burying deep under the
soil. On large scale, by plowinl
under with an extra large double Mich
igan plow, when they will not see day
light tor a year, and the task will b'
finished. In some particular instance
they might be deeply covered Will
tan or sawdust and smothered. l-Courl
try Gentleman.
Year: 1875

WHAT is this mystery between Spain
and the United States? There must be
something important going on, Or Spain
would not be getting her gunboats in shape
, and ordering them to that coast. The
authorities at Washington are as silent
upon the subject as the President usually
is in his speeches, while the Castilian blood
is boiling and the papers are talking of
teaching the people'of the new world what
it is to attack THE Traditional honor of
SPAN and fighting to the last ditch.'
Year: 1875

cad, sweet story is told Of the daughter
of Spotted Tail, the noted Indian chief. which
illustrates most iorcibly the truth Of the off
quoted remark. Zone touch Of nature makes
the whole world kim" During the latter
years of tho recent war, the family Of Spotted
Tail resided at Fort Laramie, and among them
was his favorite daughter, young girl Just
emerging into the mysterious realm Of woman
hood. The fort was garrisoned by regiment
Of Ohio volunteers, and among the officers was
q young man of good address and handsome
appearance, with whom the young Indian girl
became infatuated. Her passion was not ros
ciprocAted by the young officer, who had
honor enough to tell the child Of the forest
ths, he did not and could not love her or
marry her. She, princess, and daughter Of
the haughtiest Indian chief in the West.
could not be made to understand Why she vas
not fitting bride for any one. Day aflsF
day she would dress herself in her most Ror.
geous apparel, and, going to the fort, would
sit down on the doorstep ofthe young ofissr,
content with being Dear him, and happy Whsn
her eyes rested upon him Spotted Tail uaa
absent, but when be heard Of the sad story Of
his daUghter's infatuatiOn. he cAme % her
and demonstrated, but to no avail. Finally
he had her removed 10 the Rocky mountains
where she might not see her soldieF-lO -lOysr.--
Soon a messenger csme to the father. The
daughter was dying Of broken heart. He
hurried to her side, and heard her, with siI
the simple eloqueDcs of her race. plead that
he would remain at peace with the palsfacoS,
because the one she loved was Of them, and
they could not be bad. She wanted her body
carried to Laramie and buried near the fori.
that in death she might lie near him for love
Of whom she died. Tbither they carried her
and laid her in tho grave as do the paIefaeeS
their dead. and this is the story Of Spotted
Tails daughter told to-day around tho
camp-f:es in the grcat West.
Year: 1875

Here is the obituary mans latest, and the pre-
sumption Is that it will be his last. Acme is
written all over it
While had . purple monkey climbing on yellow


stick.
And when he sucked the paint all OF it made him


deadly sick;
And in his latest hours he clasped that monkey in


his hand,
And bid goodbye to earth and went Apto a better


land.
No more he'll shoot his sister with his little wooden


gum
And no more hen twist the pussys tail and make


her youl for nun.
The pussy tail now stands out straight the gun is


laid aside:
The monkey doesn't jump around since little Willie
died.
Year: 1875

A few days ago a merchant in Detroit,
Mich, was called upon by person who
informed him that dying man desired
to see him. Following this person the
merchant was led to house, where, in
chamber, he found singularly hearty
looking invalid in bed, who, addressing
him in sepulchral tone, referred to Ger.
tain facts in the merchants previous
business career, and confessed that in
1857, at st. Joseph, where his visitor at
that time was in business, he had stolen
from him pair of boots and cap,
worth perhaps six dollars. He could
not die without making restitution and
asking forgiveness. The merchant,
though unaware of ever having been
robbed, readily accorded the forgiveness
but did not care to accept any money.
The dying man urged it, however, and
finally consenting, the merchant was
handed 800 bill from large roll the
penitent had in his possession, the sum
to be given in restitution being s54, all
he had about him. the visitor took his
leave with the understanding that the
sick mans companion was to call at the
store for the balance in the afternoon.
The balance was called for; the mer-
chant felt queer, looked at his 800 bill
and found that it was queer also, and
then started with an officer to hunt up
the dying man, whom he found to be, as
far as he himself was concerned, de-
funct. That merchant has now no faith
In death-bed repentance.
Year: 1875

A gentleman who holds seat in the
upper branch of the New York Legis
lature, but at the time was member of
the Assembly, relates the following:


Perkins was as honest man as ever
set foot in Albany. Money would not
buy him, and L knew it but | thought
L would have little fun with him, SO
went down into his room one evening and
said


" Perkins, what do you think of that
underground railroad bill? Are you GO
ing to vote for it {"


Well,' said Perkins, "I have MT
made up my mind yet exactly. l am
inclined to think it good bill. But
why do you ask ?"


81 thought you were in favor of it,
said |, and as long as you have conclu-
ded to vote for it, / just wanted to say
to you that the men interested in it are
paying five hundred dollars for votes,
and as it is coming up on its final pass
age tomorrow, you can just as well have
the money as not you'll vote for the
bill any way"


Vote for the bill I'll be hanged
first " cried the irate Perkins. mo,
sir if improper means are being taken
to pass this thing, as you say, for one
will vote against it every time. You
can put me down MOI"


81 don'tcare anything about this bill, !"
said |, " was only trying to do you
favor, aud | think l can yet; for to tell
you the truth, the rival companies are
in full force, and are moving heaven and
earth to defeat it. They are paying the
same sum for noes" and as long as you
are bound to vote that way, can get
you the five hundred dollars all the same.


"Can such things be?" exclaimed
Perkins, rising from his seat and tearing
up and down the room in whirlwind of
righteous wrath and virtuous indigna-
ton. What state of things this is |!
A plague on both of your houses /
won't vote at ALL"


All right" said |, as laid my hand
on the door. I'll get you the five hun
dred dollars for being absent"


And as the jolly Senator brought to
mind the horror of perplexity in which
this last proposition involved Perkins,
he roared with laughter.
Year: 1875

OUTwITTING A CoNGREGATIoN.- Old
DIR. Strong, of Hartford, was not often
outwitted by his people. On one occa-
sion he had invited young minister to
preach for him who proved rather dull
speaker and whose sermon was unusual
ly long. The people became wearied,
and as DIR. Strong lived near the bridge,
about the time for the commencement of
the afternoon service he saw his people
hocking across the river to the other
church. He readily understood that
they feared that they should hear the
same young man in the afternoon. Gath
ering up his wits, which generally came
at his bidding, he said to the young
minister My brother across the river
is very feeble and | know he will take it
kindly to have you preach to his people
and if you will do SO l will give you a
note to him, and / will be as much
obliged to you as 1 would to have you
preach for me, and want you to preach
the same sermon you preached this
morning" The young minister, suppos-
ing this to be commendation of his
sermon, started off in good spirits, deliv-
cred his note, and was invited to preach
most cordially. He saw before him one
half of DR.. Strong's people, and they
had to listen one hour to the same dull
humdrum sermon that they heard in the
morning. They understood the joke,
however, and said they would never un-
dertake to run away from DR.. Strong
again.
Year: 1875

The Grass Valley (Cal.) Union tells
this story Some time since resident
of Grass Valley had occasion to go to
Siskiyou county, and while travelling ov-
er Mount Shasta he saw four large Cali
fornia lions. Not knowing much OF. their
savage characteristics, he stopped his
horse and gazed at them. They looked
at him for some time then turned and
slowly trotted away. He had no weapon
and had they been hungry he would not
have returned to tell his experience.
When he came to a stopping place that
night he told of his adventure, when one
of the residents there told him that one
of those lions had short time before
stolen a child under the following cir
cumstances The mother of the child
had occasion to do some washing, and
for this purpose she had to go into the
inclosure that surrounded the back door.
She placed the child-a girl about eigh-
teen months old-on the ground and
gave it some playthings to amuse Itself
with while she busted herself with the
work, with her back to the child. A few
minutes after this she heard scream
from the child, and turned just in time
to see full grown California lion leap
ing over the fence with the unfortunate
child in its mouth The mother tainted
and, no one else being near, she lay in
this condition some time. When she
recovered, an alarm was raised, and
pursuit made, but no trace could be
found of the lost child"