smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

During the pioneer days of Ionia,
Mich, the town had an editor who was
patient and long suffering. Some of the
members of the church got him to give
500 toward securing n minister then they
wanted their religious notices inserted
free then he was asked for $25 toward
helping 20 build a parsonage, and he
finally found he was giving the church
more than he gave his family He never
theless 4" hung on" for time longer,
until one evening he went to prayer
meeting and was asked to leave his Office
for week and go and help clear the
grounds for camp-meeting. That was
the last straw, and ne arose up and said /:


Gentlemen. I'd like to go to heaven
with you. / know You all. You are
clever and obliging, and kind and tender,
and it would be nice for us all, rs a con
gregation, to go in together, but I've
concluded to leave you and dodge in
along with somebody from Detroit, La
peer or Grand Rapids. It's money,
money all the time, and I've given this
church until, if my wife should die, she'd
have TO go TO heaven barefooted."


The congregation seemed to realize that
free horse was being rode to death.
They let up on the editor, and pacified
him. He even had special tent assigned
at the camp-meeting, and all was well.


IT is announced that gentleman of
New York has signified his intention to
Year: 1875

The man with good, firm health
is rich.


So is the man with a clear con-
science.


So is the parent of vigorous
children.


So is the editor of a good paper
with big subscription list.


So is the clergyman whose coat
the children pluck as he passes
them by in their play.


So is the wife who has the
whole of the heart of a good hus-
band.


So is the child who goes to sleep
with a kiss on his lips and for
whose waking a blessing awaits.


So is the maiden whose hOri-
son is not bounded by the coming
man, but who has a purpose in
life whether she meet him or not.


So is the young man who, lay
ing his hand on his heart, can
say: 81 have treated every wo'
man | ever met as | should wish
my sister treated by other men,"
Year: 1875

A lady who attended an anna
teur opera in Pittsburg sends this
bOmbshell into the ranks of the
performers: "The physical de-
generacy of the men of our day
has seldom been so fully display
ed in public as during the two
recent performances of The Rose
of Castillo by the Gouned Club.
l was there on Friday night, and
was astOunded almost beyond
measure at the exhibition of
shriveled limbs, handy legs and
knOck-kne of their male possess
sOrs. 1t was revelation to me;
for poor, untutored child of nature
that | am, l had supposed, from
frequently seeing these same
young men on the street and in
the drawing room, wearing ele.
giant suits of fine clothes, that
they were shapely and cOmely in
form, but the delusiOn was rude
ly dispelled by the anatomical
display. | desire to say to the
gentlemen of the Gounod Club
that before they sing another
time in public, it would be we'll
for them to make arrangements
with some planning mill for a sup
ply of saw-dust with which to
fill up their outline and tone
down the ragged edges"
Year: 1875

The Hamilton, Mo-, Ne,0S gives
the following as a true copy of a
veritable letter written by maid
en- in that State:


May the %, -, Mo-, Dear
love it tbs with much pleaser that
i take my pen in hand to drop a
few linds in order to let you no
that am we'll and hope that
when these few bad Iinds cum to
hand they will find you The same.
well, jon, henri, want to no what
is the resen you hant ben CUP. if
you Don't want to cum all you
have to do is to rite and let me no
and wont rite eny more. But i
wOuid like to see you and tell you
my minde. i have looked for you
every sunday, but Don't think j
will look eny more till see you
cunning and then i wunt. we'll
jon henri if you Don't want to
cum all you hav to Do is to Say
So. and that will be enuff for me.
/ don't want to run after enybOdy.
well jon henri, this is mi last if
you don't rite or cum now you
can do just as you please, and
will do as can, but will never
forget you while i hav breth, and
i will Dance around your grave
when you lye cold in the erth.
now jon henri. you can To Just as
you think best, not as Car.
would like to see you hat is if
you want to see me-ar | if you
don't want to see me wont take
on abowt it.


the world is wide the see is Deep


my love for you will always keep.


well, jon henri, will quit riten
now and remember that this is mi
last if you Don't want to cum you
Can stay to Home if you want to,
and if you don't want to you can
go where you please, but want
you to anser this as soon as you
get this, if you please, and tell me
your mind, direct to Jackson, Mo.


now you may remember what
hav told you in this letter, for
men what say, and if yu don't be-
Ieve it you will find my words
true. i must quit for this time by
askin you to rite soon.


SARAH-.to M jon henri.
good by for this time.
Year: 1875




"A Cincinnati drummer, who,
with the aid of his feet, filled two
seats on the morning train of the
L. c. and L. road, few days since,
and who was two ugly to move,
though the car was crowded, was
completely upset when the con-
ductOr quietly took out his foot
rule, and after deliberately taking
the measure of his feet, announced
in a loud tone, Eighteen and
and three quarter inchesW The
great roar of laughter all through
the car which followed caused the
fellows feet to come down in a
hurry, as he made himself as
small as possible in the one seat
he had paid for.
Year: 1875




The Secretary of the Navy is talking with
sundry journalists in Washington about the
sudden activity in his department, and nothing
could be better, In its way, than the air of
frankncss and cordalty with which he docs
it. Even in the diluted report of his contiden-
tial talk, as we get it from time to time in
the Washington dispatches, there is charm
ing look-you- -straig ght-in the-ey -clap-yOu-
on -thc-sh sort of downright, breezy
honesty which you hardly ever find except on
ship-board. We see the ruddy old salt unr0lling
q chart bringing his bronzed fist down thump
upon the table, and proceeding, with the GUS
tomary maritime garniture OF speech, to give
the bearings of the Cuban question and lay
out the course of the entire feet Dye see
that, my lad Well, there you have the Gulf
of Mexico, and here lies Portsmouth, and yOn-
der is New-YOrk. Am getting all my ships
into the waters between these pointsi Whereby,
why not The best time to go South is the
Winter, and il is only matter of precauiion
10 station our navy where we can get at it in
case of need. If so, what oddsf Two years
ago. dye see, the navy was put into condition
of efficiency at great expense, because there
was need of it. Now there isn't any need
of it, so | am going to do it again-as mat
ter of precaution. Can any man say otherwise !!
No. The bearings of this observation lays in
the application on it. That aint no part of my
duty. Avast then, keep q bright lookout
for'ard, and good luck to you. And so the
Secretary beams farewell to his visitor, with
the light of honesty in his eye and quid re-
volving in his left check.


This is all very pleasant for short time,
but the patient and perplexed public cannot be
amused by it forever. That there is no cause
for war between us and any power on earth
we are assured, and that our relations with
Spain in particular are friendly is well ascer-
tanned. Yet it is as clear as MONDAY that the
explanations put forth in Mr.. Robeson's name
are ridiculousy inadequate. 1t il rather an
aflront to our intelligence to tell lis that the
spasm of activity which seized tho whole de-
partment about the first of November was
merely the result of Mr. Robeson's system Of
keeping the navy up to the point Of efficiency
established during the Virginius troubles; or
that he has suddenly begun to tit out ships and
put officers on sea pay for the sake of economy.
All these preparations are costly, and Congress
will insist upon knowing what the money has
been spent for. If it should turn out that
there IL or has been purpose to make po-
ltical demonstration on the Cuban question,
if these mysterious movements have been un-
deitakcn either TO meet complications which
Year: 1875

A BRIGHTER LOOK AHEAD FOR BROOhLfA'


The second stage of the Reform crusade
against the Brooklyn Ring has finally been
reached by the appointment OF John Il. Far
sons as acting Attorney General to prosecute
tor the recovery of certain sums from promi-
nent contractors and officials. Exposure by
the newspapers there, as in this city, re-
suited in the overthrow of the Ring
ut the polls, precisely as it did
in this city four years ago. The popular
triumph there, as the ono here, has been
promptly followed by legal proceedings to re-
cover misapprOpriated or stolen funds; and we
hope in time to record greater success there
than we have been able, thus far, to chronicle
as the result of the suits begun in the name
of this city and its plundered people.


That the proceedings now to be instituted In
the New-York courts in the name of the people
of Brooklyn will finally break the power OF
the Ring in Brooklyn We have not doubt
we are convinced they ought to -result also IN
the punishment of some officials and con-
tractors. The last named result remains to
be hoped for, not confidently prophe-
sled. OF the culpable extravaganza of the
Brooklyn Ring there has long been ample
prOOf, WHICH, Ill one UT JNO CtStst NoihP'i'"
restitution. OF the corruption of many OF the
officials and contractors in that city we have
long since ceased to doubt; in fact proofs
furnished largely by ourselves have resulted
in removals. But what there is in
the present cases remains to be learned.
That proof exists il just as certain
as that extravaganza and corruption prevailed,
but whether the judicial investigation now
practically if not formally set on feot VIII
develop it is doubtful question. The Ring in
Brooklyn was shrewder than that of this city !;
thorough examination 81 ia methods convinced
us of that long ago. The members had influenced
the Legislature to organize there commissions
with greater powers and less responsibility
than those of this city and in all their opera
tions they dealt more cautiously and stole far
less recklessly than in this city. They cannot
however, have fully guarded every point, and
it will 60 hard for the Brooklyn taxpayers if
their armor be not penetrable at some weak
point.
Year: 1875

Chicf-Justice Waite has done a sensible ac-
ton in refusing to become candidate for the
Presidency 1t is an honorable ambition to as
pire to the White House, but an innate sense
of propriety teaches the people that It is an
ambition in which the Judges of the Supreme
Court will wisely not indulge The serene at
moslhcre Of our highest judicial tribunal ought
never to be disturbed by the contentious OF
politics and the intrigues of party. The men
upon whom the grave responsibilities of this
bench are conferred are bound to hold
themselves free from the taint of Obec-
tionable associations aud even the suspi-
cOn of prejudice. Political candidates can
never do this cannot even avoid sander and
denuncation, however pure their lives and
purposes 1t would be misfortune to the cOun-
try if Judges continued 10 preside over our
most august court while the mob was drag
ging their ermine through tho mud and pet-
ing them with abusive epithets.


Moreover it is of great Importance that the Chief
Justice should never even DO supposed capable
OF using his high place to promote his OWL
political fortunes. When ho accepts this Of
flee it should be understood that he aims at
nothing beyond, and can never hope for the
favors or dread the resentment of any posi-
BILE suitOr; above all, that he has nothing tC
gain by the decision of constitutional or polit-
ical questions according to the policy of ODt
or the other of the rival parties. As Chief
Justice Waite well says. his duty is not onl,
Year: 1875

article What would stranger infer from this phrase.
applied TO me ~ BY no means totally abstnont in the
Of that which than cheers that H. inebristes


need not answer. Nor will stoop TO resent the info
enee Believing as the result OF long and varied OBJ
servation that tho moderate OF pure wine IA post
tive physical benefit have used II In my household
simply claiming individual right 10 act according 10
my convictions. No who admits that right has any
for publicly sssaiing me, and who denes ths
right Is not worthy OF an answer. am surprised that
the writer In Appieons Journal well the article In
your paper should expect author to fall In with his
tme' In regard ~ many important features OF human
culture the present timo IL far from being satisfactory
There has period during the century whom tho
expression OF honest discon;ent was more needed.
without this, how shall hasten the coming Of
better time But until Reformers acquire aid-
tional moral qusytnat of calmly weighing all opposite
views I'm the Interest OF TRUTH without personally assa
ing those who honestly hold thexe shall never mako
much real progress"
Year: 1875

our Administration means tc create, or to pre-
pare the public mind for an attack OF war
fever, or to test the direction OF tho popular
currents there will bo a serious reckoning 70
be settled. The general opinion has declared
itself emphatcaIly against any interference In
Cuban affairs or any departure from forcl-
BILE but courteous tone in our dealings with
Spain, and this opinion will not be lightly
cbonUed
Year: 1875

to preserve his integrity, but at all times and
in all cases to remain an unbiased Judge in
the estimation of the people. We hope his
excellent letter will be carefully read by his
associates 1t will do much to increase the
confidence of the country in the Chief-Justlce
and in his court. Still more would be accom-
plished In that direction If it were known that
all his associates accepted and acted upon his
viz
Year: 1875

The report on the building of the new Cap
itol at Albany reveals what had long been sus-
pected, that the work is of a very inferior
character. The enormous sums expended and
to be spent on this structure make such job
berry a serious matter. 1t is fortunate that
Gov. Tilden has had the investigation made
before the injury to the edfce is irreparable.
Year: 1875

The acquittal Of John Scannell, tried for the
murder Of Thomas DonOhue, is scarcely a
matter for surprise in view of the abundance
of the evidence for the defense. Insanity
should be very clearly proved in this class Of
trials, to avail at all. 1t is the worst defense
that sane man can make. But the brief
time taken by the jury in arriving at ver-
dict in this case shows that they, at least,
thought tho proof sufficient.
Year: 1875

There will be no room for two opinions az
to the justice of Commodore Shufeldts ap-


peal for better treatment of the men who form
the rank and file Of our navy. We cannot
afford to continue in the old, bad way of
treating these men which is described in the
annual report of the Equipment and Recruit
ing Bureau. 1t is a shameful story. Simply
"a q matter of economy it is poor policy
that reduces our small navy by disease and
death; but humanity cries out against it,
when want of the means Of common clean
iness aud shelter is shown to I've the i'm
Year: 1875

The notion that any serious complication
between Great Britain and this country had
arisen on account of Canadian fishery mat
ters, has probably been evolved by dearth
Of startling topics in the newspapers of the
Dominion. Since GuibOrd was buried they
find it difficult to dig up anything of live in
terest From present appearances they will
have the fisheries to worry over till next
Summer. when the Commissioners appointed
will sit on the matter and quiet it, we trust
permanently.
Year: 1875

The committee waited for long time on
an effort TO obtain suitable block Of Tir.
gnld marble from which TO cut the figure.
Dul FILLING to secure one they finally acted on
the suggestion Of one Of their number that,
though found in the hills of Vermont, the
marble was no! maGe by the manufacturers
OF wooden nulmegs, but was placed there by
the COD whom Lee served SO deyoutly, and
might therefore be appropriately selected to
deck his tomb" The block has proven to be
q splendid one, not single flaw having been
found in any part of it, and the artist
and the experienced workman who has
done the cutting do not hesitate to pro.
nounce it equal to any piece Of Italian mar
Bile they have ever seen, and conclusive
demonstration Of the fact that we need not
cross the ocean for our finest varieties of
statuary marble.
Year: 1875

NEW YORK, June 22.-John Morris
sey was before the Tammany commit
tee on discipline last night, to answer
charges Of dislOyalty. He was very in
dependent, and said he was in harmony
with Tammany, but opposed to its man.
agement; the committee might as well
make out his dismissal, as he should not
resign until he saw fit. The Herald
says that the dissatisfaction which has
of late been manifesting itself against
Tammany hall is gradually assuming
shape. Last night there were assem-
bled in one of the upper parlors Of Del
monIco's, corner of Fourteenth street
and Fifth avenue, large number of in
fuential Democrats, whose object was
TO form an organization which, it is
hoped, will supercede 1ammany. The
latter organization, they claim, has out
lived its usefulness, and the time is now
ripe for party reorganization on new
basis, which will give all the people a
chance to form q general committee,
which will be constituted OF representa-
tives Of the various elements of the par
ty. To this end it was last night de-
cided to get representative delegations
from each Of the city wards, with g
view to arranging the preliminaries for
the election Of the general committee
projected. The first object of the or
gsDiz3tion will be to institute q system
site campaign against Tammany. 1t is
now intended that the general commit
tee shall be provisional one, but that
it shall be permanent, On Monday
next another meeting will be held, at
which about four or five representatives
from each ward will be present, and it
is then expected that important work
will be done.
Year: 1875

Cincinnati Commercials. Brooklyn Telegram


June Eth.


Beach has been on the rampage
to-day. He spTang there at the very
opening of his speech this morning,
beginning at the highest pitch, in the
most emphatic manner, with the strong
est language, and falling on the defend
ant with all his fury. His invective and
denunciation were as bitter as anything
we have heard, and there can now be no
complaint that all this sort of thing has
been INDUCED in by one side. At one
time, with lurid face and fiery eyes, he
hoarsely and slowly thundered these
shocking words into the face Of Beecher,
who gazed at him unmoved: "Seducer,
libertine, false priest, adulterer! These
are names by all these instruments of
utterance engraved on his forehead; all
the waters of Siloam's pool cannot wash
them away. None but the angel Of
mercy eau wipe them out with the hot
tears of an honest repentance. He is
sscrilegious adulterer. He has sinned
at the very altar His priestly robes are
besmeared with blasphemous lust, and
he cannot wipe the stain away with
brilliant rhetoric and glittering sophis-
try. Nor can all the shouts of his gOdly
sycophants still the accusing voice of his
God, or interrupt the current of pure and
undef1led justice. Henry Ward Beecher
must meet his deserved doom, or the
whole world will cry out against the in
fanny ofhis acquittal.n
Year: 1875

Postmaster General Jewell ID expected
to return to Washington on Saturday
next. As soon as practicable thereafter
he will write to the presidents of the
three principal telegraph companies to
meet him there for consultation with a
view to obtaining a reduction in the
present telegraphic rates charged the
government.
Year: 1875

Gov. Smith, of Georgia, is candidate
for reelection.


Ex-Governor Talbot's withdrawal from
the contest for Governor in Massachusetts,
has not simpiified matters great deal.


The friends Of the great ex-senator
Harlan in Iowa are in trouble. OF course
they want to send him back to the Senate,
and he is at present unfurling his silver
tongue on the stump for the furtherance of
that noble purpose. But Ex-Governor
Kirkwood, the Republican candidate for
Governor, has his eye on the seat in the
Senate also, and if he carries the State his
chances for stepping up higher will be a
good deal better than Mr.. Harlan's. The
thing the Harl:n men wish to do is to elect
a Republican Legislature by large
m jority and let Ex-Governor Kirkwood
squeeze in with SO small one that he will
be content to stay in the Governors chair.
Perhaps they can do it, but they stand
good deal better chance of being struck by
lightning.-N. Y. Tribune.
Year: 1875

About dozen Of the water mains in the city
Of Boston froze this winter an occurrence nnpre-
cedented in the history Of that city. At Newark
n. j.. also, they froze at depth Of four and a
I'LL
Year: 1875

Of all the freaks of the Telegraph, the
following is the most laughablc which
has come under our personal knowledge.
Not long since graduate in one of our
Eastern theological schools was called to
the pastoral charge of church in the ex-
treme southwest. When about to start for
new parish he was Unexpectedly de-
tanned by the incapability of his presby-
terry to ordain him. In order to explain
his non-arrival at the appointed time, he
sent the following telegram to the deacons
of the church "Presbytery lacked a
quorum to ordain" In the course Of its
journey the message got strangely meta
morphoscd, and reached the astonished
deacons in this shape: "Presbytery tack
ed worm on to Adam!" The sober
church officers were greatly discomposed
and mystifed, but after grave consultation
concluded it was the minister's facetious
way Of announcing that he got married,
and accordingly proceeded to provide
lodgings for two instead OF one.
Year: 1875

for Memphis with the pleasing certainty
that, no accident Detailing, we could trav
el by easy stages and reach home before
my boy completed the second month of
his little life.


The unwearied tenderness that had
brought me back from the jaws of death
removed oil discomforts from my journey
and arranged for all needful rest.


1t was early morning when we reached
the city and drove across to our country
like home. But the carriage, instead of
stopping before the cottage gate, turned in
the gateway Of the opposite house, driving
up the wide, shaded avenue to where, up
on the porch, Susie was waiting with our
boy in her arms. Icould not ask ques.
tions then. 1t was enough to fold my
treasure in my arms in utter thankfulness.
But when Susie led the way to the wide
drawing-room, furnished exactly as we
had 90 often planned, I cried out In amaze
ment. My mother.in.law. leading me to a
sofa, made me sit down, saying: ..@


"You must let me explain. wanted tc
prepare a pleasant surprise for your home
coming, and Susie has arranged every
thing for me. You viii accept this hous'
from your loving mother will you not
J I have won my lawsuit, Wenever talks,
Year: 1875

While Capt. Harper was taking the cen
sus at Austin, Nevada, the other day, a
lady on whom he called, asked permission
to look at his book. The Captain who is
noted for his courtesy, consented, and af
ter glancing over its pages the lady said:
'Now, look here, you can't fool me that
way; 'cording to this book there amt a
woman in the town over forty years old.
You have got dozen women down here
as being from thirty 1--WE to forty years OF
age, and I'll take my solemn Bible oath
that knew every one Of 'em ten years ago
and they was all the same age then as they
be now. Young man, there must be some
mistake; probably you amt good at fig
ures. You can put me down at forty five
/ amt ashamed to tell my age" The Cap
tain put her down at forty five, but he say:
he'll bet all his money that she is over
sixty.