smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

There is scarce child or grown person
who ever goes to the circus but rernem-
bers with pleasure the performances of
Dan Rice's famous trick horse Excelsior
For the last eighteen years, on each re-
currence Of the season, he has been one OF
the arenic attractions of that famous show,
and whenever he appeared in the ring it
was to receive the plaudit Of the thousands
who were gathered around it. Though
totally blind, he exhibited an intelligence
that was almost human, and in the tableau
pieces and posturing, which wasthe grsaas
er part OF his cuisines" he was pro-
nounced by all to be the handsomest horse
they ever saw.


Dan Rice came to the city last week
and pitched his tents on Union Grounds.
Excelsior, of course, came with him, and.
as usual, was the admiration Of every one
who went to the show. The old horse.
however, did not seem in his usual spirits.
He seemed to be too sick to take his part,
and though at times he would fire up and
go through part handsomely q sudden
tremor would come over him, and he
would sink down exhausted. The CHEEKY
voice of his old master failed to meet with
the quick response as Of old. and the kind
hearted Snowman found that his pet had
become deaf as we'll as blind, and that
Excesior's course was about run.


On Saturday night the old horse was
brought into the ring for the las: time. He
went through part of the performance
but before II was half over had 10 'be led
out, trembling and scarce able to walk.
Mr.. Rice then, in little speech which
was full of pa;hos, told the crowd that
Excelsior. who had travelled with him tor
the past eighteen years, and who was al-
most a child to him, could not live much
longer. He had been his constant COM
panion. and had helped to make most Of
the money he had had during that time.
He loved him not for this 30 much as for
the almost human traits and human intel
ligence that he possessed. and now that
he was about to die he felt pang in his
heart rs if he was indeed human. The old
horse, he said, would be taken to Mr..
Connelly's stable on Baymiller street.
| where every thing that was possible would
be done to make him comfortable. and
when he died he would have an honora-
BILE interment. The father Of this horse,
"Old Excesior' when he died at Balfi-
more many years ago, was buried with
great pomp, and he (Mr. Rice) would look
to his friend Griswold, the Fat Contribu-
tor, to see that Excelsior's remains receiv


ed similar attention. At the conclusion
of his speech the showman's eyes filed
with tears, and not few of his auditors
joined with Cincinnati Enquirer.
Year: 1872

4 MUCH-NEEDED IMPRovEMEST.-The citi-
Zcrs of the northern portion Of the city are
circulating Il petition to induce the Council
to open First street from jackson to Duval.
This is Of great necessity to that portion oi
the city, and if accomplished will make di-
rect passage from Baccn's Quarter Branch
to James river. There is no improvement
more neccssary.-Ercning Nears.


The Ne,cs might have added that although
there are thousands of people living north of
Duval and west OF Second street, there is not
one of them who can get to Broad street
without going square or two out Of the
way. Not one street runs through.
Year: 1872

school law of this State, and held that the
organization Of separate schools for coIored
children Is not in conflict with the provisions
Of the fourteenth amendment TO the Consti-
tuition Of the United States.
Year: 1872

WAsH1NGToS, May SIT is stated that at
the Cabinet meeting yesterday the resolve Of
the President to rest our ease as it stands be-
fore the Geneva tribunal, and to allow Secre-
tarv Fish to seek further means Of accOlnmo-
dating it, came UP under formal discussion,
and was sustained by all the members pres.
Year: 1872

somebody was behind him, and he put his
chair with the back against the wall. and
sat down again. He had been hard at
work all day, and in spite of everything
he grew sleepy. Finally he nodded and
snored.


Suddenly it seemed as if somebody had
touched him. He awoke with start, and
saw nobody near, though in the center of
the room stood white figure. Course
you, get out of thisp he exclaimed, in
fright, using the very first words that
came to his tongue. The figure held up
its right arm and slowly approached him.
He started to his feet. The specter came
nearer, passing him in the corner.


''The deuce take your cried Barney,
in his extremity.


Involuntarlly he stepped back; and the
figure advanced, coming nearer and near
er, and extending both arms as if to take
him in ghostly embrace. The hair start
ed up on Barney's head, he grew desper-
ate, and as the cleaning arms would have
touched him he fell upon the ghost
like whirlwind, tearing off the sheet,
thumping, pounding, kicking and beating
more and more at the resistance he met,
which told him the truth.


AS the reader knows, Barney was big
and Fritz was little, and while pummel-
ing the little tanner numerically Fritz
was trying to lunge at Barney's stomach
to take the wind out of him, both plung-
ing and kicking like horses, they were
petrified to hear voice cry, "Take one
of your size, Big Barney"


Looking around, they saw the corpse
sitting up in the coffin This was too
much. They released each other and
sprang for the door. They never knew
how they got out, but they ran home like
painting stags.


1t was Barbara herself who came and
opened the door upon Ernest the next
morning.


cit is very early, one more nap" said
he, turning over in his coffin.


So she married him; and though she
sent Fritz and Barney invitations to the
wedding, they did not appear. If they
discovered the trick they kept he knowl
edge to themselves, and never willingly
faced Barbara's laughing eyes again.
Year: 1872

THERE are doubtless few persons, espe-
cially among gentlemen, who do not suf-
fer from the inconvenience of dandruff.
Physicians seem to consider it not of suf


ficient Importance to engage their atten-
tion, and the poor victims are left either
to practice their virtue of endurance, or
for cure to try some of the many nos
trums advertised in the public prints.
The intolerable itching which frequently
accompanies the troublesome complaint
is not the only unpleasant feature, as to
persons of any pretentiOns to neatness
the appearance of the white scales on the
coat collar and shoulders is very objec
tionable. The writer. during a number
of years, tried the different alcoholic So
lutions of castorOil, and many other
preparations, without permanent benefit,
and as last resort was led to adopt the
plan of cleaning the scalp with borax
and carbonate of pOtassa This proved
efectual, but after persistent treatment
of some months the hair became sensibly
thinner, and perhaps would have soon
disappeared altogether. The belief is that
dandruff arises from disease of the
skin, although physicians do not seem to
agree on this point, and the knowledge
that the use of sulphur is frequently at
tended with very happy results in such
diseases, induced me to try it in my own
case. A preparation of one ounce of
flowers of sulphur and one quart of water
was made. The clear liquid was poured
off, after the mixture had been repeatedly
agitated during intervals of few hours,
and the head was saturated with this
every morning. In few weeks every
trace of dardruff had disappeared, the
hair became soft and glossy, and now,
after discontinuance of the treatment
for eighteen months, there is no indica-
ton of the return of the disease. | do
not pretend to explain the modus op6randi
of the treatment, for it is well known
that sublimed sulphur is almost or wholly
insoluble, and the liquid used was desti-
speaks for itself Journal Of Pharmacy.
Year: 1872

The great secret of putting any saw in
the best possible cutting order consists in
filing the teeth at given angle to cut rap
idly and of a uniform length, so that the
points will all touch a straight-edged rule
without showing variation of a hun
dredth part of an inch. Besides this,
there should be just enough set in the
teeth to cut kerf as narrow as it can be
made, and at the same time allow the
blade to work freely without pinching.
On the contrary, the kerf must not be so
wide as to permit the blade to rattle when
in motion. The very points of the teeth
do the cutting. If one tooth is a twen-
tieth of an inch longer than two or three
on each side of it, the long tooth will be
required to do so much more cutting than
it should, that the saving be well done.
Hence the saw goes jumping along, work
ing hard and cutting slowly. If one
tooth is longer than those on either side
Of it, the short ones do not cut, although
the points may be sharp. When
putting cross-cut saw in order, it will
pay well to dress the points with an old
file, and afterwards sharpen with fine
milestone. Much mechanical skill is
requisite to put saw III prime order.
One careless thrust with file will shorten
the point Of a tooth so much that it will
be utterly useless, so far as cutting is con-
cerned. The teeth should be set with
much care, and the filing should be done
with great accuracy. If the teeth are un-
even at the points, large fiat file should
be secured to block of wood in such a
manner that the very points only may be
Joined, SO that the cutting edge of the
same may be in complete line, or cir
Gle. Every tooth should be cut little as
the saw is worked. The teeth of hand
saw for all sorts of work, should be filed
feaming, or at an angle on the front edge,
while the back edges may be filed 1eam-
ing, or square across the blade. The best
way to file circular saw for cutting wood
across the grain is to dress every fifth
tooth square across, and about one twen-
tieth of an inch shorter than the others,
which should be filed fleaming at an angle
of about forty degrees. Industrial Month
Year: 1872

A RECENT French paper relates an ex-
traordinary punishment inflicted by
horse on its master, for an act of brutality
by the latter towards one of the animals
stable companions.


A currier, named R, not tender in
his treatment of his four-footed servants,
returned one night in state of semi-in-
toxication from Marmont to Givors. The
mans natural barbarity was at this time
aggravated by the drink he had taken,
and being dissatisfied with the efforts of
one of the hOrses-a poor sack which had
almost served its time-he decided that
the animal was no longer worth its feed,
and resolved to put an end to it. For that
purpose he tied the brute to tree, and
taking massive lever used in moving
goods, he struck the animal several vio-
lent blows on the head, until the unfortu-
nate creature sank to the ground insensi-
BILE.


The master thinking the animal was
dead, left it on the spot, intending to re-
move the body the next day. The horse,
however, recovered his senses a short
time after, and found his way home, and
entered the courtyard at daybreak. Its
arrival was welcomed by the neighing OF
its companions in the stable, which noise
awakened his master, who was now furl-
Gus at having failed in his cruel purpose
He tied up the animal afresh, and com
menced again to shower blows on It's
head


This act of brutality was committed In
sigbt of two other horses in the stable;
and at length one of them, young ami
NAL. became so frantic with rage that it
broke its halter, and, rushing on the man,
seized him in its jaws, and after shaking
him violently, threw him down and tram
pied on him with such fury that, had not
the mans cries brought some persons to
his aid, the master would most certainly
have been killed.
Year: 1872

A ooUNTRYMAN stopped an express
train on the Kentucky Short Line Road,
by waving his hat. The conductor check
ed up, and was disgusted to see the fellow
deliberately proceed to shoot a squirrel
out of a tree.
Year: 1872

Mayor Brown, in an address TO the
Sunday School scholars of st. Louis,
made point that is worthy the at
tention of older people in these day s.
DO right for the lore of it, and not to
keep an account with your own con-
science. charging up any good act you
may have performed as an offset to
the wrong YOU may commit. The
man who only refrains from commit
ting a crime from fear of punishment
is but poorly fortified against tempta-
ton; but the man or woman who
does right without other incentive
than because it is right, lives in an
atmosphere through which tempta-
tion cannot penetrate, and no beset-
ting sin will ever take possession of
that man or woman.


"Selfishness is a besetting sin, and
is half brother to crime. 1t shrivels
the soul and huries within the man
all the nObler qualities of his nature.
1t leaves its i'm press on the features,
and the soul looks out glOOmily from
its living sepulchre as if it were tired
of its tenement. Pride is Of all the
vices or follles Of our nature the most
foolish, for we are what we are only
by comparison, and who is there that
ia his pride looks down upon his
brother, but if he looked up would
find himself beneath ten thousand
others" @
Year: 1872

O During sleep the brain is compare
lively blOodlsss, and hence any thing
that will produce this result, causes
sleep. Muscular exercise, taken af-
ter brain work at any period of the
day, will draw The blood away fro M
the brain more effectualIy and health
lily than any other agent. DR.. Oil
yer Wendell Holmes tells us that.
during exercise, tthe muscles suck up
blood like so many sponges.n Where
do they get it from Obviously, most
largely from those parts which con-
tain the most. And so reader, if you
have counted backward and forward,
and said endless multiplication table,
or watched sheep jump over wall or
rolled your eyes until the muscles
ached, or tried any other or all other
of the popular and Intellectual modes
of ebticing MOrpeus, in all of which
you are advised to keep the brain at
work in order to get it to rest,--noW
try 3 rational plan. Set the muscles
at work, and so ueplete the BRAIN
thus giving its overstrained vessels
chance to gain their elasticity. Ten
minutes vigorous exercise, Just before
going to bed, is worth more than
twenty grains of hydrate of choral
to procure sound, refreshing, healthy
sleep. Cumulative exsrcise,--be-
cause no other character exercise uses
so much muscular tissue with so little


brain-wOrk, and in such brief time
and, consequently no other exercise
will 50 speedily and cheaply produce
that engagement OF the muscles with
blood, and to secure the comparative
ly bloOdless condition Of the brain


which we have seen to be Necessary
to tile rest OF that organ, and thus in
vite "tired Natures sweet restorer."
Year: 1872

Some clear, still night, Jack Frost
will find bis way into the lady's par
lOr or chamber, in which she keeps
her plants, and, ah me extmorning
her sweet pets will be as rigid as the
artificial flowers on her bonnet. Now,
what shall be done? Don't hurry
them into a warm room by the side of
q stove, as you would a frOst-bitten


chicken. Let them remain where
they are frozen close the window
shutters or drop the curtains so as to
make the room quite dark then


sprinkle the plants with Id water
direct from the cistern, and wait for
the result. Do not allow the room to
become warmer than forty seven de-
grees for rwenty-four hours. Ifa few
drops of spirits of camphor are thrown
into the dish of water before the
sprinkIing it will be all the better.
P ants treated in this way, though
frozen so badly that the water will
freeze on when sprinkled, yet by keep
ing the room dark and cool for all en-
tire day they will come out uDharmed.
Year: 1872

A Darien, n. Y. man discovered
that the fumes of burning birthstone
were a preventive of the epizootic.
and fired some in his barn, and then
went to dinner while it burned. He
subsequently admitted to neighbor
that that barn never did suit him
where it was, and that Cicero never
owned horse and yet was happy.
Year: 1872

Charles Reese in Country GeLtle-
man, gives a novel plan for growing
hyacinths in the living room. He
saws: / procured a large coarse sponge,
such as coachmen use in washing
carriages, and making a number OF
iucisiOns about three inches deep and
two long, with a sharp knife, in the
top | inserted the bulbs in the OPEN
ing and the sponge closed over them.
arranged them i'll two cOncentrie
rings around a large one in the CEN
ter, making fifteen in all. then
placed the whole thing in the top of u
large vase holding nearly two gal
Ions, and filled the vase by pouring
water through the sponge until about
half the sponge was below the surface
of the wate-. The wafer was slightly
warmed TO produce bottom heat. To
hide the unsightly appt arance of the
sponge 1 scattered few thimblefuls
of grass seed over the surface, which
sprang up and covered the whole
with q fine moss-like mantle. The
plants grew to asTOnish erybOdy
with their large size and perfect
forms.
Year: 1872

One of the new branches of indus
try that demands no capital and no
special endowments is the mat trade.
The way to obtain stock in trade is
to walk up to the front door Of dwell
ing, take a mat, go home and wash it,
and then go back and sell it to the
former owner. The profits are inn
mense.
Year: 1872

WHAT OF ANNEXATION ?--Sometime since
committee was appointed from the Manches-
ter trustees and citizens to confer with Like
committee from the Richmond City Council
ON the subject of annexation with full powers
to do all that was needful in the premises.
The committee met and organized, but took
no definite action. Nothing has been heard
of the committee or the project for some
time. 1t has been binted- that well-known
legal gentleman is engaged In preparing o
bill. but that does not seem to be labor OF
such magnitude as to require months. Let
the committee meet and take immediate
action before the adjournment Of the Legs
lature, or the golden opportunity may be
lost. "Strike while the iron is hot" Under
certain conditions the question of annexation
will be an almost unanimous matter with our
people, and if the conference committee Will
prepare bill and urge it. this work, that Is
to rebound so much to the good Of both COM
munities, will be an accomplished fact.


The AFRICAN CHURcH.-Sometime since
this edifice, used both as place Of worship
and as a high school for our colored citizens,
was badly Injured by fire, and the repairs ars
progressing slowly, as Edwardss Hall, a
present used by the congregation, Is hardly
Year: 1872

New HOOK AND LADDER TRUcK.-Ata meet
ing of the Council Committee on the Fire
Department held yesterday it was decided to
open correspondence with the leading manu-
facturers of fire apparatus in the country with
view of securing the best hook and ladder
truck, Which was ordered to be purchased by
the Council at their meeting on Monday
night. For this purpose 81 600 has been ap-
proDriated,
Year: 1872

There are more places of amusement open now
than ut any time slucc the war, but at no place are
the people so well pleased as ut LEVY BROTHERS,
where ut this time they selling the best bargains
In Dress Goods ever offered.
Year: 1872

u The Collector of State taxes and licenses
for our parish announces that all those who do
not pay their licenses before the 1st of April
next will incur costs for the collection of the
same. This is the 23d of March there are only
seven days left and that is but very short
time-in fact the time is too short for those who
reside outside of Opelousas, and we hope that
no penalties will be imposed upon them if they
fail to pay by the time fixed, considering that
the law was approved only on the 5th inst, and
that the Collector only received it on the 18th.


The law will be found on this page
Year: 1872

D Magistrates blanks for sale, and other
job work done on short notice, at this office,
cheaper and more neatly gotten up than in any
other office in the Parish. Call and examine
specimens and prices and see if this is an empty
boast. We guarantee good workmanship at
fair prices indifferent or cheap ~ work not
solicited nor bids made in competition for inte-
riof printing.
Year: 1872

U At the urgent request of many of our
readers, Mr.. Mancel, the Photographic artist,
will remain here one week longer, in order to
allow everybody time to secure their pictures.
Our Washington friends will please make note
of this, and excuse MIR. M. if he does not reach
that town before eight or ten days.
Year: 1872

1t has long been a custom with
blacksmiths to burn horses mouth
with red hot iron, to cure a disease
called "lampas.n 1t is a cruel and
q useless practice as will be seen from
the following opinion of an eminent
veterinary surgeon =


"The symptoms of this imaginary
disease are, the horse Quids his hay,
or refuses his food. It is most COM
mon in young horses the groom
looks into the mouth of the animal,
and perceiving the bars to be almost
on level with the incisor teeth, he
pronounces his charge to have the
lampas, and takes the poor creature
to be burnt within its mouth accord.
ingly.


"It is true the animal has recover
ed its appetite By the time the effects
of the burn have passed away, but so
it would have done had no hot iron
been cruelty employed, The fact is
the young animal is then cutting a
molar tooth, and a day or two having
elapsed, all the fever and pain occas-
ioned by the process would have
been over. No man should allow his
horse tn be burnt for the lampas. It
is torturing, an idle and a wanton
operation, and tends rather to do
harm than good.


"If an old horse be reported as hav
ing the lampas, examine his mouth
and something may be found wrong
with his grinders, or, to certainty,
the cause is to be sought in another
part of the body than the roof of the
mouth. 1t is somtimes indicative of
stomach. ."-Olr Dumb
animals.
Year: 1872

While Waterbury, Ct, farmer was
moving his door yard, sly puppy
hid in the grass and then jumped out
to take the scythe by surprise But
the puppy turned out to be m ore sur
prised than the scythe, for he found
hims elf in two places at the same
time.
Year: 1872

A plan for making cats earn their
living iL the garden has been put in
operation in England. Awire is fixed
at two posts, one at each end of a
strawberry bed, and stretched be-
tween the rows in the middle Of the
bed; to this wire cat is attached by
means of a ring in a collar. When
birds depredate upon the fruit, the
cat can traverse the length of the
bed from end to end, and either catch
or drive them away. A eat accom-
panied by several kittens is recon-
mended.
Year: 1872

The Plattsburg (Mo) Register gives
the following:


A few days ago VIM. Hamilton, resid-
ing near the Missouri Pacific Railroad,
went into the timber about mile off to
shoot squirrels. Nothing being heard of
him all night, several neighbors the next
morning went iu search of him. About
three o'clock in the afternoon they found
him up leaning tree, thirty feet from
the ground, fast and unable to extricate
himself. After some trouble he was taken
down, and it was seen that one foot and
ankle were badly torn ond bleeding.


He said that about three o'clock the
previous day he came across large black
bear, and shot at but missed him. The
bear made for him with all his mi ght.-
He ran, and 6dding the bear gaining on
him, threw away his rifle, and partly
climbed and partly ran up a leaning
sycamore tree, with the bear following
right at his heels. The top of this tree
had been broken off and was hollow
He thrust one of his legs into the hole
to keep himself from falling, but soon
found that his leg was fast. He tried to
extricate himself but could not The
bear in the meantime had torn his boot
off. and was gnawing and eating the flesh
from the foot aud ankle. Mr.. Hamilton
took his pocket knife out aud cut at
bruins eyes but with one sweep of his
paw the bear stauck the knife from his
hand, with part or two of his fingers.


Mr.. Hamilton could now see no help,
and gave up to die, expecting to be eaten
up alive by the bear. But soon happy
thought struck him. That morning he
had put some salt in his pocket to salt
some cattle he had running in the timber.
He took small handful and sprinkled it
in the bears eyes. 1t had the desired
effect. The bear shook his head, growl-
ed, and went down. He soon returned
however, but little more salt drove him
away the second time, and to MIR. Hamil-
tons inexpressible delight he trotted of
into the forest.