smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

Speaking OF babies, Max Aleler says:
Ii is an old fact that no baby ever did,
aud no baby ever will, behave well in
company. The mother always brings 1t
into the parlor where the visitor is,
dressed in its clean dress, and its father
and its aunt come in smiling at the
same time. After the visitor has kissed
the baby and taken it on her lap, and
declared it is the dearest little thing she
ever saw, the baby's mother and she
begin to talk. Each talks about her
own baby as fast as she can rattle. and
both talk at once, apparently without
caring what the other is saying. In the
midst OF the conversation the baby
throws up" on the visitors dress, and
is suddenly handed TO its mother.


The visitor smiles a sickly smile, and
says it makes no difference, but she is
mad. The conversation is resumed, but
presently the father winks furiously AT
the mother and frowns, and clears his
throat and makes mysterious signals al
the side Of the chair with his hand. The
mother looks down and decides that some
of the baby s undergarments are slipping
off, and she snatches up the infant and
flies from the room. When she returns
the child cries to 90 to its father; and no
sooner is it settled on his knee than it
betrays an irresistible yearning to go to
its aunt, after which it cries furiously
because its mother won't take it.


Then the aunt gets piece Of candy to
quiet it, and when its hands have ac-
quired sufficient sickness, it reaches
over and mauls the visitors bonnet.
Then the mother tries to show off its ac'
complishments; but it utterly refuses to
make display; it is stupid as an owl.
1t wont say mamma" or papa" and
it wont show how big it is. Its father
tries to coax it to say papa" but il
pays no attention to him. He tries
again and again, getting madder all the
time, and dreadfully afraid the visitor
will think the child is dull.


At last he grabs the child by the arm
and shakes it and yells, why don't you
say papa as / tell your Then the
child screams like backyard full OF
cats. The more the mother soothes it,
the louder it gets, until at last the father
exclaims, Gimme that brat" and picks
it up and dashes cut of the room, and is
heard spanking it in the entry. Then
the visitor goes home looking at her
dress, and deciding that the end Of that
infant will be the gallows, if its charac-
teristics are allowed to develop fully as
| it grows up
Year: 1873

Rather Too ntivc-Mark Twain


Called I" s. fake IL" Fairly Trntn.''


Mark Twain's Letter to the New York Herald.


1t was All excellent hotel; the utmost
care was taken that everything should
60 right. went to bed at 10 and was
called ut II to stake the early train. I"
/ said was not the one, so the servant
stirred up the next door, and he was
not the one then the next door and
the next-no success-and so on till the
reverberations Of the.'knocking we're
lost in the distance down the hall, and
fell asleep again. They called me at
IL to take another early train, but I
said was not the one again, and asked
as a favor that they would be particular
to call the rest next time, but never
mind me. However, they could not
understand my English they only
said something in reply to signify
that, and then went on banging up the
boardcrs, none of whom desired to
take the early train.


When they called me at one, it made
my rest seem very broken, and I said if
they would skip me at two, I would
call myself-not really intending to do
it, but hoping to beguile the porter
and deceive him. He probably sus-
pected that, and was afraid to trust
me, because when he made his rounds
at that hour, nc did not take any
chances OH me, but routed me out
along with the others. I got some
more sleep after that, but when the
porter called me at three I felt de-
pressed and jaded and greatly discour-
aged. So I gave it up and dressed
myself. The porter got me cup of
coffee and kept me awake while I
drank it. He was a good, well-meaning
sort Of founder, but really drawback
to the hotel, I should think.


Poor Mr.. Blank came in then, look
lug worn and old. He had been called
for in all the different trans, too, Just
as had. He said it was good enough
hotel. but they took too much pains.
While we sat there talking we fell
asleep and were called agaiu at four.
Then we went out and dozed about
town till six, and then drifted aboard
tue Lively.
Year: 1873

amount of labor without giving evi
dcncc Of mucl, progress. When money
was obtained AMI tho work became
visible, it rose rapidly. The order Of
architecture is Doric. with some mod
iiicaton after the style of the Rcnais-
sance. Attached columns projecting
beyond the line OF the various fronts,
and inclosing large arched windows,
produce at the same time u varied and
ponderous effect, which is in measure
augmented by the rustic treatment of
the first floor.


It seems reasonable to infer, from the
work, that the early part of 1874 will
see New York in possession of such q
postofice building as it has for some
time needed, and such an architectural
structure as will be commensurate with
the Importance Of the great Metropolis.
Year: 1873

A Troy paper compliments upon her
good memory woman who identified
on the street dress STOLEN from her
four months ago. Considering the
frequent changes in the style, it w,,s
rather singular that she could keep it
in mind,
Year: 1873

SO friend asked Us the other dsy.
We replied, yes-when the straw, af-
ter the grain is out of it. will bring
slS to S25 per ton for manufacturing
purposes. 1t does bring this in many
localities and is grown for no other
purpose. Besides, the grain itself is
growing in favor as material for
bread. The consumption Of rye bread
annually increases. Germans use
it extensively its sweetness and nu-
triton as served in the German res
taurants and beer saloons is attract
ing the attention Of Americans. 1t
makes a delicious bread; and our
people should know how to utilize
the grain and the straw, and remem-
Der that it is not only an excellent
late fall, winter and early spring for
age crop, but an excellent summer
soiling crop, as well as good green
crop to plow under. But the profit
TO be realized from rye as crop will
differ in different localities and IN
der different circumstances-hence
when we recommend rye as apaying
crop, we do not recommend every
man to make it one of his crops until
he has found out what its straw,
grain, or it, as a forage, soiling or
green manure crop is to him. This
can only be done BY knowledge of
the facts and figures.
Year: 1873

4 most remarkable scence occurred
a few days ago in the Probate Court
in Washington, ID. C. For some time
there has been controversy over the
late estate Of Thomas Price, a woman
in Ireland claiming to have been his
wife at the time he was married in
this country to another woman. The
American wife had possession Of his
effects. and collector was appointed
by the Probate Court some time since
to hold and manage the estate until
the claims Of the rival widows could
be determined. The American wild
ow has, however, declined to surren-
der the effects in her possession, and
appeared in the Probate Court in an
swer TO a monition.


Judge Olin told her she must obey
the order of the court, which she
firmly refused to do, making quite an
effective address to the court in behalf
Of her right. At last Judge 0lin
said II am sorry, but I'll have to
serd YOU to iail," where upon she re-
sponded that she would as leave stay
in jail as anywhere else, if all she
had was to be taken from her. Judge
0lin offered her much advice, but she
steadily persisted in her purpose, and
left the courtroom, not for the jail but
for her own home.
Year: 1873

The Boston Journal of Chemistrl
gives the following method of cleans
ing blankets; Puttwo large teaspoons
ful of borax and pint bowl Of soft
soap into tub of cold water
When Dissolved, put in apsir ofbIank
cts, and let them remain over night
Next day rub and drain them out
and rinse thoroughly in two waters
and hang them to dry. Do mot wiring
them. But this is not the only use
to which borax may be put. Says
the same journal: Borax is the bes,
cockroach exterminator yet discover
ed. This troublesome insect has q
peculiar aversion to it, and will new
er return where it has once been scat
tered. As the salt is perfectly harm
less to human beings, it is much to
be preferred for this purpose to the
poisonous substances commonly used.
Borax is valuable for the laundry :
use ID. TO about ten gallons of boil
ing water, and you need only one
half the ordinary allowance of soap.
For laces, eambries. &c, use an ex.
ira quality of this powder. 1t will
not injure the texture of the cloth in
the least. For cleansing the hair,
nothing is better than a solution of
borax water Wash afterwards with
pure water if it leaves the hair too
stiff. BoraX dissolved in water is
also an excellent dentifrice, or tooth
wash.
Year: 1873

An average Atlantic steamer con-
sumes fifty tons Of coal in twenty
four hours. Therefore, if FIVE tons Of
coal are sufficient to feed an ordinary
CRATE in our dwellings during the en-
tire year, the coal consumed on board
steamer in one day would last
small family, burning one FIRE ten
years If a ton Of coal is left out Of
doors, exposed to the weather, until
it is burned up in one CRATE, say
month, it lOoses one-third of its heat
ing quality Ifa load otcoal is dump
ed on the ground and left there, and
another load is under shed, the lat
ter loses about twenty five per cent.
of its heating power, the former forty
seven per cent. Hence it is a great
saving of coal to have it in dry place,
covered over, and on all sides.
The softer the coal the more it loses,
because the most volatile and yalua-
bic constituents undergoe slow COM
husfinn
Year: 1873

A young officer in the Mexican
army fell in love with lady in Pue-
bla. She promised him her hand in
case be would resign his commission.
He did so, bought a hacienda, and
then returned to claim the pledge.
She in the meantime, had been WOO
ed and won by another. Upon the
first visit of her lover she informed
him that her heart had undergone a
change. The passionate lover be-
came frantic, and upon leaving old
her that he would call the next day,
if she persisted be would kill himself
in her presence He called the next
day, was persistently refused in the
presence of her mother, whereupon
be drew q revolver, and exclaiming
that the love which was not for him
should not be enjoyed by another,
fired at her heart, but she rose snd
received the ball in her abdomen.
He then shot himself The insane
assassin died the same afternoon, and
his victim closed her existence on the
third dav.
Year: 1873

In the morning of life We paint
with the brush of fancy, our bsauti-
full ideal of the future lying out before
us-s picture of cloudless skies and
brilliant sunshine, of fower-strewn
paths and tropic blooms picture
where joy and love, and friendship
and fame stand holding out their
beautiful offering, and We the central
figure of the whole. But how differ
ent the pictures painted each day Of
lite by the brush of pitiless reality.
Not one picture but many, for the
scenes are ever shifting. The skies
are elouded, and the sunshine faded.
The flowers are withered, and hide
the thorns no longer. Sorrow steps
in where joy had stood hatred takes
the place of love; friendship, that
We had planted with beautiful face,
takes on the hideous look Of trssch-
cry. At the eventide Of life we gaze
at the pictures in the gallery Of memo
ry, and comparing the ones that fancy
painted with those stamped upon our
hearts by the stern realities of life,
We wonder where fancy got its beau
tiful false colorings.
Year: 1873

Almost anyone has it in his power
to keep mp the fertility Of his soil, if be
does not lay out too much work, and
undertake to do more than his time or
money will permit him to do we'll
1t is because a man is poor that his
farm runs down, and there is no surer
way to get poor and to keeppoor than
to occupy more land than one can
work well. When one has so much
land that he cannot work it well, and
has not money enough to employ 9TH
ers to work it for him, hundreds of
things which could be done to profit
are not done; and thus one. half often of
what the land might yield does not
come from il. Then he has but half
manure enough to raise crops for so
much ground properly, and so but half
a crop results. Thus be loses at both
ends, and gets poorer and poorer each
year.


Nothing helps q farmer so much as
to have full relief from being '.driy-
en- at this season of the year. If the
bitches are all cleaned out the surface
water which Injuries crops so much in
the spring will have better chance
to drain away. So also will 1t help
his roads. The water passing of, the
frost will not penetrate as deep, and
thus there will not be 50 much cutting
up in spring. But best of all the
ditch-cleanings are about the best top
dressings for grass-lands and orchard
trees that one can possibly have


Then there is always about an i'm
mense amount of waste vegetable
matter in odd corners where the plow
cannot get at, that it wosld paw well
to get together and put in the stock
yard to rot up and make manure, which
dries up and goes to waste when one
bas no time to attend TO it at this
season. Where there is any wood
land, leaves in profusion lie around
loose which would serve the double
purpose of warm litter for stock and
subsequent manure as well. All this
the man who lets bis work drive him
instead of leading it along has to
lose and no one can calculate the
great loss every year from all these
little things added together.


We do not know that We could
suggest better subject for farm
winter study than how to avoid be-
ing driven" with work or "pinched"
for money. Whenever one gets to
this condition there is assuredly |
something wrong which needs right |
ing; aad which must be righted be-
fore much money can he made.


The lazy man never makes money;
but the one who never has any
time" or who is always behind with
his work." is about in as bad fix,
ifnot worse, for very often be is no bet
ter off than the lazy fellow, with the
sad reflection including. that his la
Dor has been spent in vain. !
Year: 1873

The following incident illustrate:
pretty forcibly the idea that some
people appear to have of encouraging
newspapers:


The editor and proprietor of a pa
per of one of our inland cities, had, a
few years ago, among his subscribers
quite prominent individual OF the
place who had been d constant reader
of the paper since the commencement
of its publication, but who had never
paid penny for subscription.


The collector of bills having re-
turned that against the delinquent
to his employer as one impossible to
convert into cash, the editor resolved
to give the party in question a broad
hint as to his remissness the first
time an opportunity should occur in
public.


He did not have to wait long, for
in a few DAYS, he discovered bis neg
ligent patron seated in the Office OF
the principal hotel, surrounded by
quite group of friends, and dispos-
ing of cigars and other little luxuries
sufficient to have liqui1ated at least
one years subscription.


When the laugh at the last joke
had subsided, the editor approached
the group, and, after the usual salu-
tstion to his subscriber, remarked:


Colonel, you have had my paper
now for five years, and never paid
for it, although the bill has frequently
been sent should like my pay for
it."


PAY !" calculated the colonel,
with genuine or well feigned aston
ishment- did you say pay?"


Certainly" was the reply, you
have had the paper, and l want the
pay for it."


PAY - said the colonel again :
why it can't be that you expect me
to pay anything for that paper.
Why I oaiytook the blamed hing to
encourage yoa"


The laugh from the circle Of listen
ers came in here like the bursting OF
a bomb-shell.
Year: 1873

1t is an ordinary custom in leases to
have covenant that the tenant shall
keep the premises in good order and
repair As to just what this covenant
may mean, however, there is consid-
cradle difference of opinion, sometimes
the Intervention of a Judge and jury
are necessary to sttle the question. A
case of this kind has been on trial in
the Superior Court of Baltimore, in
which the judge in charging the
jury, described the legal aspect of
the matter. The word keep" he
said, implied an obligation to put
the premises in repair when received,
and to keep them so, for it would be
idle to xtipulate to keep in repair what
is not in repair, and the covenant
was therefore; equivalent to "put and
keep and deliver up, in good order
and repair. The real difficulty, how
ever, was in the words good order
and repair" These words, he said,
meant such a reasonable condition OF
things as belong to houses of their
age, class and condition, as good re-
pair for one might not be for another
1t was not necessary that an outgO-
ing tenant should repaint and repa-
per, but only keep the paint and pa
per in such condition as is consistent
with the use not allow the house to
be defaced; use it with proper and
reasonable care, and deliver it up as
it may be left after such care. The
Judge remarked that there was no
custom or rule by which an outgo-
ing tenant was obliged to repair and
repsper, unless under distinct and
well-defned agreement to that effect
On the other hand, there is no i'm
plication that the tenant shall keep
the premises as received. The Oh
legation to keep in good order and re-
pair does not mean to keep the house
in the condition in which it is receiv-
ed, but in condition that is reasona-
blo
Year: 1873




The BIRD THAT FOULS ITS own NEST.
Some months since young man in
this city. in fit of ill-humor at the ac-
ton of the Trustees of the Seattle nd
Ealla Railroad in matter in which he
felt personally interested, viz: the cleo
ton of the Secretary of tho Board, vsht
ed his spleen in a very indiscreet letter
written in confidence to An intimate
friend in walla Walla county. By an
act of base treachery to the obligations
pertaining TO confidential communica,
tions, that letter fell into the hands Of
an emissary of the enemy to the rail-
road project, and was given to the pub
lie through tho columns of journal
subsidized to an adverse interest. and
created feeling Of intense indignation
in this community. The author of the
letter was hunted up and almost hunted
down by the anathemas and denuncia-
tons of an outraged people. We do
not say that the young nan who wrote
the foolish and ill-advised letter was too
severely censured; but we do claim that
the same measure of condemnation
should be meted out to all like offend
ers against the common veal of the
community. Every damaging statement
made IN the Objectionable letter, saving
only the vituperative terms in which
they we're expressed, had previously
appeared in journal published in this
city, instigated by the same cause. and
carrying with it the additional weight
of a home endorsement by journal
affecting to represent the populer senti-
ment of the town; and the strangest
Year: 1873

labor and invoke the military power of
the Government to aid them in this ne-
Iarious and lawIess scheme. 1t Is said
twill be public calamity and incalcula-
bls damage to the Company to stop the
work. 1t is much greater public anc
private calamity III sparsely populate
community, to rob four hundred men o
their wages for months, aud then throv
them and their dependent families per
nyless and helpless upon the public. Ii
the affairs of the Company had been
honestly conducted, this wsuld not
have happened. We understand that
there is now due the laborers about
sixty thousand dollars One hundred
thousand dollars in gold coin was paid
bv the Company short time since in
the purchase of Tacoma property for
speculative purposes. The laborers to
whom large portion of that money was
due for labor, were as literally robbed of
it as if i; had been stolen from them af-
ter they had come into possession of the
same. The same is true of the vast sums
paid out of the treasury of the Company
to build town at Kalama for the exclu-
sivs benefit of the Land Ring.


The Governor has no lawful authority
to call out the milit,ry to dispossess
these men until civil process has been
exhausted or the public peace is iMmi
nently imperilled, neither of which
events have yet happened. For Gen
Spragus to call upon the Governor for
military aid to dispossess men of prop
erty upon which they have an equitable
claim, without the interposition of the
courts, exhibits An audacity which could
only come from ignorance. If at any
stage of these proceedings The Governor
should deem it his duty to use the mill
tary against these swindIed laborers, We
warn him that in enforcing the bond
he "sEed not one drop of Christian
blood" at Lis peril.
Year: 1873

The RAILROAD WAR.--We learn from
Mr.. Lamb. Superintendent of the Tele-
graph line, that the men who took pcs
session of the railroad track to secure
their pay for wages, are yet In posses.
sion and have stopped the track-laying,
Gov. Ferry, Judge Greene, Gen. Hazard
Stevens and Gen. Sprague went out to
their camp on Monday, to hold a talk
with them, the result Of which We have
not yet learned There is an easy solu-
ton of the difficulty, and but cne. The
men ask nothing but what is conceded
by all to be their just due tho pay
ment of the money acknowledged to be
honestly due them for their labor, for
which they and their families are now
suffering dep,ivations to which poor
house or Jail would be welcome re-
lief. Can TIE Governor and tho Judge
60 from their comfortable and we'll pro-
vided homes and in conscience advise
these men to surrender their rights to
the slow process of the law, which to
them is sealed book without golden
key to unlock il; to return to their des
olate cabins to be greeted by the wall
of famishing wives and children, and
leave the hard earnings of months of
toll in the hands of the scoun irels who
are speculating and living in luxury on
the money belonging to them and upon
which they are dependent for bread for
themselves and their helpless families
Would it not be more manly, more in
accordance with the dictates of that
Christianity which they both profess,
to throw the power of their high official
position for the protection of the op-
pressed and rebuke the oppressor. Let
tho Govern or say to tie men who invoke
the Executive power to aid them in de
frauding the laborers of their hire: "He
who demands the protection of the law,
must be in allegiance to tho law; you
have no special privilege to claim what
you do not concede to others; give to
the men against whom you ask protec-
ton what law and equity demands at
your hands, and then you will have the
whole power of the Government, civil
and military, to protect your person OF
property from lawless aggression: bat
the Government is not bound to disarm
or hold the hands of men you propose
to rob-"


If that is not the view the Governor
and the Judge take of this question, it
is the view taken by nins-tenths of the
people. When the laws or the admins
tration of the laws become destructive
of the ends of justice, resistance is a
right and revolution duty.
Year: 1873

Nobody will be disappointed that Senator
Pomeroy is whitewashed by the Committee
which has been investigating his case. The
indications that this would be the result have
been apparent. The report of the majority is
one-sided and superficial; it assumes that
Pomeroy was innocent, and his generally
doubtful reputation goes for nothing. AS Mr.


Thurman shows in his minority report, the
whole charge is not compressed in the York
Year: 1873

The special report of the engineers on the
cause of the two months water famine which
has distressed the residents in the upper part
of the city, is special plea for water meters.
Very good: if that is the remedy apply it at
once and relieve us but let it be understood
that the imposition of the Navarro meter upon
us is the carrying out of one of Mr.. Tweeds
incomplete frauds, and that we will have none
of IL
Year: 1873

At Twin Lake. inlFreeborn County in Minnesota
housekcepers have been made happy by the discovery
of boiling spring. No fires will now be necessary
there for washing and culinary purposes in the days
Of the sultry Summer But the Twin Lake ladies
not entirely contented for they are ungratefully
asking why Providence has denied thom a soap
mino