smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

How SOIL WAS MADE.-Prof Agassiz
says that all the materials on which aglicul-
tural progress depends are decomposed rocks,
not so much those that underlie the soil, but
those on the surface, and brought from
considerable distance, and ground to powder
by the rasping of the glaciers. Ice all over
the continent is the agent that has ground
out more soil than all other agencies put to-
gether. The penetration of water into the
rocks, frost, running water and baking suns
have done something, but the glaciers more.
In former age the whole United States
was covered witd ice several thousand feet
thick, and this ice moving from North to
South by the attraction of the tropical warmth
or pressing weight of the snow and ice behind,
ground the rocks over which it passed into
the paste which we call SOIL These masses
of ice can be tracked as game is tracked by
the hunter. He has made a study of them
in this country as far South as Alabama, but
he observed the same phenomenon in Europe,
particularly in Italy, where, among the Alps
glaciers are now in progress. The stones
and rocks ground and polished by the glaciers
can easy be distinguish from those scratched
by running water. The angular boulders
found in meadows and the terraces of rivers
not reached by water can be accounted for
only in this way.
Year: 1872

The HUSBAND. Ladies sometimes do not
value their husbands as they ought. They
moi unfrequently learn the value of good
husband for the first time by the loss of him.
Yet the husband is the very roof-tree of the
house, the cornerstone of the edifc-, the
keystone of the arch called home. He is
The bread winner of the family. the defence,
and its glory; the beginning and the ending
of the golden chain of life which surrounds it;
its consolcr, its law giver and its king. And
yet we see how fra that life is on which so
much depends! How frail is the life of a
husband and father. When he is taken
away, who shall fill his place? When he is
i'll, what gloomy clouds hover over the
house. When be is dead, what darkness
weeping, agony. Then poverty. like the
murderous assassin, breaks in at the win
dows; starvation, like famishing wolf,
howls at the door. Widowhood is too often
an associate of sackcloth and ashes. Or
phanhood, too, means desolation and woe.
Year: 1872

WHAT Is DIRT odd DIR. Cooper, of
South Carolina, used to say to his students
"Don't be afraid of dirt, young gentlemen.
What is dirt? Why, nothing at all offensive
when chemically viewed. Rub little alkali
upon dirty grease spot on your coat, and
it uadergoes a chemical change and becomes
soap; now rub it with little water and it
disappears. 1t is neither grease, soap, water
dirt. That is a very ordorous pile of dirt
you see yonder; WELL scatter little gypsum
over it, and it is no longer dirty. Every
thing like dirt is worthy our notice as
students of chemistry. Analyze it; it will
separate into very clean elements. Dirt


makes corn, corn makes bread and meat, and
that makes that very sweet young lady, that
| saw one of you kissing last night. So after
all, you were kissing dirt, particularly if she
wh;tened her face with chalk orfuller's earth
though | may say that rubbing such stuff
upon the beautiful skin of young lady is a
dirty practice. Pearl powder | think is
made of bisnnth, nothing but dirt. Lord
Palmerston's fine definition of dirt is matter
in the wrong place. Put it in the right
place and we cease to think of it as dirt.
Year: 1872


est we clip from the Grass Valley Union.


We are glad to notice that gold notes are
being introduced into general circulation in
this State. They are just as valuable as
coin, because they will buy as much as the
coin can in any market, and the holder can
get coin for them at the bank. These gold
notes are not greenbacks, to be discounted,
but are at par with gold. A twenty dollar
gold note is as good for twenty-dolar gold
piece as one twenty-dollar gold piece is good
for another. These gold notes are, moreover :,
just as safe as is the government itself. The
government is acknowledged we'll founded,
and not liable to break up. In short, gold
notes are as good as the gold itself The
advantage is in convenience. Two or three
hundred dollars in gold coin is cumbersome
in the pocket. Gold notes, to any amount,
are not inconveniently heavy. We have
not, as yet, tried the weight of many of them
but we know that we are correct in the state
ment we have made There is every advan-
tage in the nse of gold notes.
Year: 1872

PRoTEcTIN FROM THE SUN.-Our expert
eince gathered ia the hay and harvest field
has taught us that the protection of the back
of the head and neck from the suns rays is
imparatively necessary. A white pocket
handkerchief fastened to the back part of the
inside of the hat and allowed to hing and
cover the neck, will conduce much to the
wearer's comfort. The handkerchief loosely
hanging is stirred with every breeze, and
causes continual current Of air around the
back of the head, which will tend to relieve
or preqent many tiresome headache that
would otherwise interfere with the labors OF
the day or the nights rest.-HearM and
H0pae. fiA
Year: 1872

FIDDIING Down BRIDi E.-Professor
Lowering of Cambridge, Mass. read an in
teresing paper before the American Science
Association, upon the subject of sympathetic
vibrations. The Tribune gives the follow
ing synopsis of his remarks:


1t was presumed that the members were
more or less familiar with Mildes experiment
with tuning fork and vibrating thread
This optical method of Milde is very much
improved by using a large bar of iron and
pcrpetuating the motion by means of mag
netic excitement, the vibration being thus
maintained for any length of time. A cord
20 or 80 feet in length is thus thrown into
vibration. When the first suspension bridge
was built in England fiddler offered to I'D
die it away. Striking one note after another
he eventually hit its vibration note, or fun
damental tone, and threw it into such extra
ordinary vibrations that the bridge builders
had TO beg him to desist. Only recently a
bridge went down under the tread of infantry
in France, who had not broken step, and
800 were drowned. An experiment is often
referred TO of tumber or small glass
vessel being broken by the frequent repeti-
ton of same particular note by the human
voice 1t is said, and may be true, that
certain German tavern-kcepcrs increase their
feat. In the Tamud there is a curious
question raised as to what would be the
damages if domestic vessel were broken
by noise made by animal, such as bark
ing dog.
Year: 1872

AS the time for burning coal has
come, and most people want to econ
OmiZe as much as possible, the ad-
vice of the London spectator
might be of some practical benefit:
The most practical suggestion yet
made toward economy of coal seems
to be the use of solid bottoms in or
dinary fire-grates. 1t is proved
that in any fireplace not excessively
small, a plate OF iron placed upon
the CRATE viii halve the consump-
tion of coal, reduce the smoke, and
leave cheerful, free-burning fire.
Quite sufficient air enters through
the bars, no poking is necessary,
and the fire never goes out till the
coal is consumed. There is no ash
and no dust, every particle of fuel
being cons umed. ANY householder
can try this experiment, and reduce
his coal bills say thirty per cent. at
the cost of a shilling.
Year: 1872

An absorbing desire in the minds
of many parents, j. the ambition to
leave large possessions to their chill
dren. In some instances this ambi-
tiOn results in the want of adequate
mental culture; for gOod schools are
thought TO be needlessly expensive,
and to waste money in the child's
education would to some extent de-
feat the chief ambition of the un-
wise parent.


Whenever we see parents in mod
crate circumstances using their best
efforts and submitting to self-deni-
al, in order TO meet the expenses of
schooling their children, we cannot
but admire their prudence and wis
dom. Such efforts and such self
denial are worthy of the highest
praise, and one Of the most encour-
aging signs of the times is the grow
ing number of such examples of pa
rental devotion.


The father, devoted to the un-
righteous Mammon, and resolved to
make his children rich whether they
are educated or not, little knows for
what a destiny he is training them.
Wealth is no substitute for intellec-

tual culture-and sometimes fail in
effecting its own poor and unwOr-
thy aims, for want of sense and in
formation enough either to use il
profitably or even to keep it safely.


The instances, not unfrequently
presenting themselves, of wealthy
men withholding the advantages Of
education from their children, be-
cause of the unavoidable expense,
may well shock our feelings. Pains
should be taken with such men. to
convince them of the ruinous folly
and improvidence of their course
He who fails to do what he can to
make the next generation enlighten-
ed and virtuous, has forfeited every
claim to the name of a good citizen,
and disposes himself to the marked
disapprobatfon of philanthropist
and patriot.
Year: 1872

A bee loaded down with pollen
and honey, seeing y choice blossom
near the edge of a brook on its way
home, stopped to see If is would
not take ION board" another drop
of honey. Alas! a gust OF wind,
which suddenly came up, blew the
bee into the water. a dove flying
by, seeing the bee in the water, eth
er Intentionally, or by accident,
dropped twig which il had in its
bill, carrying home for the purpose
of making a nest. The tWig fell
within the reach Of the bee, who
struggled on it and was waited TO
shore by this little boat.


The next day the same dove was
sofly cOOing in her faVorite tree,
when a sportsman with dog and
gan, came by, and silly raised his
deadly weapon TO fire, when, 10, a
bee came buzzing around him, in
such n threatening manner, that he
failed in his aim. The shot was
scattered, and the startled dove was
of on the wing. The bee went
buzzing on its way-a happy bee
Tor it had paid debt of kindnc IS
with kindness in return.


"And thus in the world the rule WAS n.s,le,


That each should his fellow creature aid;
One does the other a service To-day.


Tomorrow the other the deed can repay


L. c. Waite, IN Bee Journal.
Year: 1872

No homel What a misfortune!-
How sad the thought There are
thousands who know nothing of the
blessed influence of a comfortable
home; merely because of a want of
thrift, or dissipated habits. Youth
spent IN frivolous amusements. and
demoralizing associations, leaving
them at middle age, when the phys
ical and intellectual man should be
in its greatest vigor, enervated and
without one laudable ambition
Friends long since lost, confidence
gone, and nothing to look TO in old
age, but a mere federation in the
community where they should be
ornaments. No home to fly to when
wearied with struggles incident to
life; no wife to cheer them in their
spOndency; no virtuous household
to give Zest to the joys of life. All
is blank, and there is no hope or
succor except hat which is given
out by the hands of private or pub
lie characters. When the family OF
the industrious and sober citizen
gather around the cheerful fire of a
Wintry day, the homeless man is
seeking a shelter in the cells OF 3 sta
ton house, or begging for a nights
rest in the out-buildings of one who
started in life at the same time, with
no greater advantages; honesty and
industry built up that home. while
dissipation destroyed the other.
Year: 1872

What is the use of living uni SIS
YOU can better some soul and bring
il nearer to God? What gain like
to this can the davs give one? To
cheer the despondent; TO lessen the
grief of those who mourn; to draw
by the irresistible attraction Ofsym-
pathy and personal goodness the err
ring to your side; to impress the
fretful with the nobility of patience,
checking their noisy complaints by
gravity or your silence; 10 Tighten
the burden of poverty pressing on
so many backs; to supply the young
with a worthy ambitiOn-that is TO
live. Woe to such as die unregret-
ted, whose departure brings no
moisture to the eyel Woe 10 the
rich man whom the poor of his
neighborhoOd do not miss at death;
whom the widow and fatherless dc
not mourn as a departed friend
whose departure is advertised, not
in the obituary of the press, but in
the sudden absence of little luxurie:
from the bedside of the sick, and
needed comforts from the home OF
the poor!
Year: 1872

INDIAN Summation beautiful
and charming the weather is at this
season of the year An nature
seems to be undergoing a change.
The song OF the birds IS hushed-
vegetable matter going TO decay,
and the leaves of the trees becoming
sere and yellow. A change is also
taking place in the human system,
and it becomes necessary to assiat
nature in her work
Year: 1872

To those who are bent on matri-
monY, but have not found a suitable
partner, we offer urgent advice. Let
them pack up all their property and
start Immediately for the mountain
Gus districts TO the extrems east of
Hungary. They win find that at
this season of the year Fair is held
of the marriageable young men and
women. From all quarters long
trains of chariOts wind their way to
the plain of kalinosa. They are Ia
dened with household furniture, and
followed by the cattle of the family.
In the midst of these goods NAV be
seen the Young lady whom her fam
lily has brought to seek a husband at
the Fair. She is dressed in her best,
with brilliant silk scarf and scarlet
petticoat.


These caravans take up their po-
sition, one after another, on one side
of the plain, while on the other side
a cavalcade of young men approach
es and deploys along the whole line.
The men young Wallachiaes, for
the most part-are dressed in their
best goatskins, and make what show
of hOrsemanship they can. After
both parties have taken up their re-
speetive quarters opposite each 9th
er, the fathers step forward and be-
gin to negotiate marriages for their
children. The questions asked on
these occasions are, we fear, of a
somewhat sOrdid character. s'How
many bullocks % How much mo-
ney :" ''YOur daughters furniture
looks rather old; that chest of draw
ers does not shut properly. must
find something better than that for
my SON"


Such would doubtless be COR
rect report of the conversation held
in this primitive II not practical Ar
cadia previous TO clinching the mat
rimOnial bargain. The business is,
however, carried out with a promD-
titude equal TO its frankness. AS
soon as the parents are agreed, a
Priest, who is always ready at hand,
is summoned. He chants a hymn,
and gives benedictiOn; the bride
then kisses her parents, mounts the
chariot, and starts for some un-
known village with a husband she
has never seen before, the furniture
and cattle which her parents have
allowed her as marriage portion.
following in the rear. Thus every
year many unions are contracted by
this primitive people, and there is.
we must confess, q plain honesty
and absence of sham in this style Of
proceeding. One is apt to compare
it with the deceptions and articles
employed in civilized society by
those who, pretending to love, only
seek TO marry fortunes.
Year: 1872

There is not a thought that is not
striking blow; there is not an i'm
pulse that is not doing mason work;
there is not q passion thrust this
way or that, that is not a Workman's
thrust. The Imagination in all di-
rections is building. You think
you are throwing out the net for
game ; you think that you are lay
ing plans for your accomplishment {;
but behind all the conscious work
tnat is going on in you-behind your
visible attainments-there is amoth-
er work going on. There are as
many masteF-workmen in YOU as
there are separate faculties and
there are as many blows being
struck as there are separate acts of
emotion or vOlition. And this work
is going on perpetually. Every sin
gle day these myriad forces are
building, building, building. Here
is great structure going up, point
by point, story by story, although
you are not conscious of it. 1t is a
building of character. 1t is build
iRg that must stand, and the word
of inspiration warns YOU to take
heed how you build it, to see to II
that you have a foundation that
shall endure; TO make sure that you
are building upon it, not for the
hour in which You live, but for that
hour of revelation, when YOU shall
be seen just as you are.
Year: 1872

| MuCn interest mas DGeu eXclleQ IN


maritime circles by the invention of
an inextinguishable and seif-ignit-
ing signal lamp, which is likely to


be Of great practical value under
many circumstances Its peeuliari-
ties are that il is self-igniting-that
its flame caz neither be eXtinguish-
ed by water nor any other means,
and that IL is incapable of setting
IRE to objects; while, at the same
time, its light is extremely brilliant
and of long duration. The new
lamp consists of cylindrical vessel
of tin, with a conical point, and pro-
vided below with a tube six inches
in length. The vessel is to be filled
entirely with fragments of phes-
phide of calcium, and the tube sol
dered up air-tight, so that the pre-
paratiOn can be kept for many years
without change. When the lamp is
to be used, the tip Of the cone is to
be cut off, and an opening made at
the end of the narrow tube referred
10, and the lamp inserted in a wood
en- float and thrown into the water.
The water penetrates through the
lower end of the tube and comes in
to contact with the phOsphide of
calcium, and is decomposed, with
the formation of a phosphoretted
hydrogen gas, which is developed
in great quantity, and which, escap-
ing through the open tube of the
cone, becomes ignited and burns in
contact with tile atmospheric air
An experiment was lately made with
this signal light, in which the lamp
was thrown overheard from a sfea-
mer, and drawn along behind by
means of string, at a short dis
tance from the stern. When the
lamp touched the water, a brilliant
flame shot out Immediately from the
opening; and although it was con-
tinually dragged under water by the
motion of the vessel, the light re-
mRined unextinguished even after
the lamp was submerged. After a
time the string was cut, and the
lamp allowed to float behind, and it
was visible for long distance from
the light disseminated around il.
Year: 1872

In answer to NJ. NJ, FairmOunt, ILL.,, Col. G. s.
Innis gives the following directions for construc-
ting a hot bed for sprouting sweet potatoes:
"The hot bed should be located on high, dry
pieces of land capable of being drained about two
feet below the level, being drained about two
feet below the level, unless it is made naturally
dry by being underlad with gravel or sand. The
frame should be constructed of two inches boards
ten OF twelve inches wide, and should incline
enough to the south to allow the water to run off
the glass. Throw the earth out of the inside of
the frame from sixteen to eighteen inches deep,
and if the land needs it, drain it to the very bot


tom, with covered drain. For sweet potatoes
throw in manure to the depth of fifteen inches
This should he well trodden down, well wet up
if at all dry, and covered with eight inches Of
sand from river or water course. If the sand
contains little loan all the better. The bed
should be made to suit sash on hand. Put in the
glass until the bed heats up to about the tempera-
ture of summer. After the bed is well heated up
and its first rank heat has passed off, from the LIST
to the 10th Of April remove three inches of the
soil or sand loan, lay the potatoes evenly on the
bed, about one half-inch apart, and cover with
the soil removed. Cover the bed now with
boards rather than glass, removing them on warm
sunny days and replacing of nights or in cool
weather. The plants will begin to appear in
about three weeks, and if kept moist will grow
rapidly: They will be more hard. and staiky if
exposed to the air and sun. The best time for
setting plants is from May 20 to June L."
Year: 1872

Persons exposed to atmosphere tainted by de-
caying vegetables are generally supposed to be in
more danger than if exposed to the odors of de-
caying animal matter


large collection of weeds, pulled from the
fields and exposed during a damp and hot season.
gives of sickening OdoOr that is intOlerable.


Sink spOuts that empty themselves into a rank
growth of weeds at the back door, where some
portions of the weeds are constantly decaying
are supposed to give rise to some of the most
virulent forms of fever. In some cases nearly
every member Of family has been prostrated
with typhus fever in its worost form, where the
cause has been supposed to rise from such pollu-
tion about the house.


50, decaying vegetables in the cellar-turnips,
cabbages, &C., may prove like death in the pot1
Their OdOr sometimes pervades the whole house,
and is as disagrecable as it is pervading.


Our caution to all is, if vegetables must be in
the cellar, to keep them in as low temperature
as possible and prevent freezing Then give the
cellar all the ventilation that can be had and as
frequently ms the air can be safely admitted. At
the earliest moment in the spring remove all
vegetable matter, and cleanse the cellar rs
as the good wife does her pantry.


Wherever there is . barn cellar, the cost would
not be large to prepare room in one corner of it
for roots. This would probably be the
cheapest course in the end.-NeW England Far
mer.
Year: 1872

To REVIVE FADED BLACK CLOTHs-Boil two
or three ounces Of logwood in vinegar, and when
the color 10 extracted drop in piece ofcarbonate
Of iron, which is of the same nature rs rust Of
iron, as large as q chestnut, let il boil. Have the
coat or panfaloons well sponged with soap and
hot water, laying them on q table and brushing
the nap down with sponge.


Then take the dye on the table and sponge them
all over with dye taking care to keep them smooth
and brush downward. When completely wet with
dye, dissolve teaspoonful Of saleratus in warm
water, and sponge all over with this, and it sets
the color 10 completely that nothing rubs Off
They must not he wrung or wrinkled, but care
fully hung up to drain. The brownest cloth NAV
be made . perfect black in this simple manner.
Year: 1872

WEARING FIANSEL--Ths majority of people are
not aware of the benifcial effect of wearing fan
mel next to the body both in cold and warm wealth
er. Flannel is not 80 uncomfortable i'm warm
Weather as prejudiced people believe. Frequent
colds and constant hacking coughs have left me
since adopting flannel garments. There is no
need of great bulk about the waist, which con-
demrls the wearing Of flannel with those who pre-
fer wasp waists to health for in that case the fan
mel can be cut as aloosely fitting waist, always
at the back. There are scarcely any of
the bad effects of sudden changes of weather felt
by those who wear flannel garments, and mothers
especially should endeavor to osecure such for their
little people, in preference to all those snowy
outside trimmings which fashion commands.
Year: 1872




In Northern Kansas winter wheat is believed
to be generally killed. A. J. Evans writes to the
Atchis0n Champion:


As much as regret the loss Of the winter
wheat CROP it is better to aecept the situation
and do the next best thing, which is to replace it
with spring wheat. Spring wheat has been
abandoned almost entirely becanse winter wheat
has been no successful. We shall therefore have
to get seed from other States. There should be
no delay in getting it. as early sowing is the best
remedy against the chinch bug. Our grain mer-
chants and miIlers will probably procure seed for
the farmers, and in doing so they should be very
careful to get pure seed, and get the varties the
hest adapted to our soil and climate. The tea
leaf has been successful here, and makes better
four than almost any other variety.


As wheat is the only grain that pays the far
mers now, think we should try spring wheat
again. When our winter wheat failed heretofore,
spring wheat succeeded.


To show what calamity the loss of wheat
crop is to US, give, below the crops for 1871, of
a few neighbors in this vicinity, taking all in
body, Omitting none that the are in the body: