smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

The government of the United
States has been cursed long enough
with secrets, and we want no more OF
them. Secret Post Agents, Secret
Treasury Agents, Secret Detectives,
and secret senatorial expeditions. This
government, nor no other respectable
government in the world, has any use
for this tribe of secret gentlemen,
prowling over the world at the ex-
pense of the honest, hard-working
people of the country. 1t is simply a
disgrace for a Republican government
to wink at such a thing, much less to
inaugurate it. A government should
have no secrets. Every man and wo-
man in the nation is entitled to know
everything that pertains to the Gov
ernment. Each one is directly inter-
ested, and one as much as another.
The old despotic governments Of the
world could not exist without tribe of
secret service-men whose business it
is TO watch their enslaved subjects
and prevent their strike for freedom.
Like all unwilling slaves. an espoin-
age must be kept upon them. Bat
what use have we for spies pseping
arouud our kitchens and bed cham
bers. This Government has been in
sinuating this relic of despotism upon
us for the past ten years, and if per-
mitted to 60 on, we will soon have an
army OF spies sufficient to peep into
every map's bread try in the United
States, It is nothing more nor less
than q grand centralizing scheme to
take from the States and the people
their liberties Let us rise up as one
man and put stop to it. There are
but few secrets in private business
that are honorable. A very little sb-
servation will convince any op.s that
the class of men who, in com,~on bus
iness transactions, are always working
on the secret plan, and tRying to keep
their business out of sight, are gener-
ally scheming to get the advantage of
somebody. We want no better sign
OF a grand rascal than to have a man
talk in half whisper about all busi-
ness, or to- see him playing hide-and-
seek in everything he does. And for
n0bles proud government to stoop to
such things is disgraceful in the ex.
treMe.
Year: 1875

And still they come. The people
are pouring into our county in great
numbers. Each steamer from San
Francisco comes crowded with passen-
gers and the different lines of stages
have all they can do. Many who
come are only transient visitors, mere
ly prospecting to see how they would
like this for a home, but the great
bulk OF them are coming to stay. Some
have been here before and have bought
homes and have been back for their
families. Others have come at q ven
ture and brought their families with
determination to drive down their
stakes and live with us. We are glad
to receive them, and hope they may


be even better pleased than they an
ticipated. It Is rather hazardous.


however, to break up family and


move to strange country merely up-
on the advice of other people. If pos
sible, 1t is better to go and look first.
Year: 1875

SAN FRANCISCO, April Sth.-A
drowned man was found in the bay
this morning at the foot of Third
street. The body was removed to the
morgue but 1t has not yet been iden-
titled. 4d 8e4


The body OF Mrs. Andrews, a
widow lady, living with her brother
on Kentucky street, was found on the
beach near Long Bridge this morning.
Her brother is conductor on the Bay
View horse cars. When passing the
house last night, she stood in the door
and waved her hand at him. On his
return home she was missing, and
nothing more was seen of her until
her body was discovered on the beach
this morning.
Year: 1875

A countryman bought shirt in
Raleigh, N. c., which was the first
white one he ever owned. The next
Sunday he was to belmarried, and that
was the occasion that had melted him
to the purchase. The shirt had nice
starched bosom, and was open in the
back-a style that was new 10 the
possessor. After careful study he put
1t on with the opening in front, con-
cluding that the stiff bosom was in
tended as kind of shoulder-brace to
make him stand erect. Thus dressed,
he met the bride at the church door;
but her knowledge was greater than
his about shirts, and she made him go
home and reverse the garment before
she would allow the ceremony to pro-
ceed.
Year: 1875

The proposition to make General
Hancock the Democratic nominee for
the Presidency calls for this comment
from the Cincinatti Enquirer: "Gen-
eral Hancock is very clever gentle
man, but the demand for the conver-
sion of the White House into military
barracks is not as great as it was q few
years ago.


Over one Numbered houses are under
contract to be erected in Santa Rosa
this Summer.
Year: 1875

Either man must be content with


poverty all his life, or else be willing


to deny himself some Injuries, and


save, to lay the base of Independence


in the future. But If 4 man defes the


future, and spends all that he earns.


whether his earnings be one dollar or


ten dollars every day. let him look


tor lean and hungry want az some
future time-for it will surely come.


no matter what he thinks.


To save is absolutely the only way
to get solid fortune; there is no other
certain mode. Those who shut their
eyes and ears to these plain facts will
be forever poor, aud for their obstinate
rejection of the truth, mayhap will die
in rags and filth. Let them so die and
thank themselves. But, mol They
take sort of recompense In eursing
fortune. Great waste of breath They
might as well curse mountains and
eternal hills. For can tell them for
tune does not give away her real and
substantial goods. She sells them to
the highest bidder, to the hardest,
wisest worker for the boon. Men
never make so fatal mistake as when
they think they are mere creatures Of
fate; tis the sheerest folly in the
world. Every man may make or mar
his life, whichever he may choose.
Fortune is for those who, by diligence,
honesty, frugality, place themselves in
position to grasp hold of fortune when
i appears in view. The best evidence
1f frugality is the FIVE hundred dollars
)r more standing in your name at the
savings bank. The best evidence of
honesty is both diligence and frugality.
Year: 1875

At the recent installation of the Off
GERS of the New Hampshire State
Grange an excellent address was de-


livered by Col. u. Wyatt Aiken, from


which we extract the following para
graphs concerning the objects and


benefits of the Grange:


THE founders, seeing how much CO.


operation and concentration were do
ing for every other association, con-
ceived the idea that the same eo-ope-


rative principle might be employed for


the benefit Of the farming class; and


the people for whose benefit it was


conceived saw that it was good, and
took hold of il In earnest.


One great object of the Grange is to
elevate the farmers. From the nature
of their calling, they are much isOla-
ted, and the isolation tends to make
them unsocial and selfish. The far
mer's wife never goes anywhere, be-
cause her husband cannot find time or
disposition to go with her, and she be-
comes unsocial and selfish also. This
is characteristic of the farming COM
munity from Maine to Texas. In the
Grange they are brought together and
their social natures are developed and
elevated. He had been in many States,
but he had found none where the far
mer and his wife did not find time to
go to the Grange after they had once
entered.


Then the Grange is an educating
power. He believed it required more
mind, thought, energy, to make sue
cessful farmer, than any other avoea-
ton III life. This is an age of progress,
and the man who stands still and don't
study 30 improve, will go backward.
Farming must be studied. Agrieul-
ture is large science, and the more
we study it the larger field spreads out
before US. To be true farmer, a man
should study to prepare himself as
much as for any of the professions.-
In the Grange the latent intelligence
of the farmer is brought out, and each
can learn of the other some new idea
or method. Two heads are always
better than one. Not only does the
Grange improve him educa'ionally and
socially, but morally. The farmer
ought above all Others, to be Christ
ian. His avocation should peculiarly
lead him to look through nature up to
natures God. The Grange makes
him charitable.


Referring to the secrecy of. the Or
der, he said it was that which gave it
cohesion and permanency. In all
trades and professions there is de-
gree of secrecy, and the most success
full man is he who keeps his plans to
himself. In the Grange there is just
enough secret to make it attractive.


The Grange also does what no party
or organization has done, unites the
people of all parts Of the country. Ii
says to every man in the Union
Come in, and I'll give you the hand
of friendship" 1t knows no north,
no south, no east, no west. 1t bridg-
es the bloody cnasm which has divi-
ded different sections.


The constitution Of the Grange pro-
hibits the discussion Of religion or
politics, aud neither political nor re-
ligious tests for membership are allow
ed. Yet this means 10 exclude only
and partisanship, for re-
ligion in its true sense is always taught
here, and there is no filter subjects
than politics in its real meaning-the
science of government-for our con-
sideration.
Year: 1875

Very few have a realizing sense of
the true value of kindness. Thous-
ands sink down deeper and deeper in
guilt Just for the want of kind and
cheerful word to encourage them when
their burdens were heaviest.


Fountains of tears have been shed,
and many a yearning heart broken,
when few pleasant words might have
proved healing balm. and out of
nights deep darkness brought forth a
bright and beautiful morning, each sad
and surviving one deriving new hope
and strength from every tone of love.
Turn not upon the offender with cold
and scornful eyes and harsh reproof.
but strive to win with gentleness and
love. Let us all cherish the radiant
gem of Kindness, SOW the good seed in
every soil, feed and nourish it with the
warm rays of love, till the noble soul
of man shall bud and blossom in un-
faded glory, which otherwise might
have went down to a nameless grave,
saved by n few words which cost
nothing, and the value priceless, lead
ing the toilworn feet up to the gates OF
Heaven from toilsome paths below.
then, crowned with life's immortal
star, reap the harvest and receive the
reward that to faithful ones is given


THEY call A. III. Stephens Ninety
nounds of dried Confederaey,"
Year: 1875

Usually this Of the stocks low the best and most de-
public reception of line Of nice
Boots and Shoes Hats Caps which offering greatly reduced
goods stocks hand offering
unparalleled before buying elsewhere
generally the beginning the New
Year Thanking patrons past wishing
all happy and prosperous New Year [ am


Very Respectfully " L. WILLIAMS


STO those who have been trading with this
say this don't do we'll better than
adverseand after trying fail satisfaction then
trading The public where they
bargains until they have looked around Please remember
this andr remember V. u. WILLIAMS
January g. 1S75-tf
Year: 1875

have on hand Clothing propose
People Full weight Cashmere



lined 81 70 ribbed ndersht heavy
In fact will sell anything Stock
Given will also line of Overcoas
of the goods priced this list


And Remember They are At Cost
Jan.23
Year: 1875

Let mc give bit Of my experience rs
regards night dresses for children. Ihave
u little boy of twenty months, and as cold
weather came on I made him some night
rcsscs ofcotton flannel with legs to them,
iat he should not be exposed even if he
got uncovered.


Soon after putting them on, noticed
That lie did not sleep we'll and grow cold
toward morning, notwithstanding tho
abundance Of covering hc had over him.
He gradually lost his appetite, looked
blue and pinclcd and wis losing flesh,
AfterendurinS thisubout six weeks, yainly
trying tn find what nilctl him, we consult
ell physician. lie told us lie was not
properly dressed ut night. He said cot
ton flannel was not the material for chill
dren, for when it gets wet it clings to
them aud Is cold IA ice. He also de-
nounccd the idea of making legs to the
dresses; said that the limbs should not
be separated but should come together.
His directions were to make night dress
of flannel long enough to lny on the floor
half yard, just like big bag; run
string i'll the bottom of this, and when tho
child goes to bed sic it up. In this way
the legs cannot get out aud there is per-
feet freedom of motion. We did 30 ut
once, and it worked like q charm. No
more lying awake nights wondering what
the trouble is. The little fellow sleeps
soundly md awakcs in the morning re-
freshcd and with n good appetite.


feel so pleased with tile result that if
any mother is troubled in tho same way
would advise her to "go and do likewise"


MAY.
Year: 1875




AS a freight train, bound west,
left Bryan on the Union Pacific, a
few days ago, the engineer heard a
singular creaking sound, and think
ing there might be something wrong
with his locomotive, stopped the
train and examined his engine, which
was found in good trim. An ex-
animation of the train was next made
and In the center was found a car
containing some kind of fluid, which
was leaking through upon the track
in drops. The car was opened, and
inside were discovered a number of
huge tanks labeled glycerine. The
car was side-tracked at Granger. In
moving it wheel passed over a
drop OF the substance, when it explod-
ed with report like that of a pistol.
The car was consigned to some firm
in San Francisco, but the company
have as yet been unable to find who
shipped it. 1t is supposed to be nitro
glycerine. The railroad men have
tested it by placing a drop of it on the
track and striking it with hammer
which will cause loud report. A
few shavings that had been lying in
the car became saturated with it, and
were laid on the ground and struck
with stone, which caused them to
fly in every direction. A track has
been built away from the main
track, and the car run out upon it,
where it now remains, every one
fearing to 90 near it. What to do
with it puzzles everyone. There
must be from 1000 to 1900 gallons
in it.
Year: 1875




An elderly man named Beckwith,
residing in one, of the peninsula
counties came to this city last Thurs
day on business. He brought with
him an old-fashioned flintlock rife
to have stock and lock. put on.
On the cars he fell in conversation
with three gentleman from the city,
when one Of them, to test the reality
of some of the extraordinary feats Of
craftsmanship he boasted of, offered
him ten dollars to repeat some of
them, to which the other two offered
five dollars between them. The trial
came off in an old field half a mile
below Rockets, and was witnessed
by about dozen persons.


The old fint-lock was fired seven
times and only once missed its aim.
The old gentleman after making two
shots at small objects to one side, to
get his hand steady, as he said, hand
ed his son a potato and stationed
him at fifty yards distance, holding
the potato between the thumb and
forefnger The rifle cracked, and
the potato fell cloven in three or
four pieces. One of the larger pieces
was thrown into the air, the marks
man keeping at the same distance,
and again the shot told. An inch
and a ha.f auger was then produced
and a hole bored in the fence, behind
which was fastned piece of white
paper. At the distance of sixty
yards the marksman sent q ball
clear through the aperture, piercing
the paper. At the fourth shot, from
sixty yards distance, the bowl of a
pipe was crushed. AT the fifth shot
copper cent was thrown into the
air and hit. The sixth and seventh
shots were delivered at a blackened
tive-cent nickle piece thrown up by
the son, standing about thirty yards
off. At the first attempt the shot
missed. The old gentleman showed
considerable modification and laid
the blame upon bystander who, at
the critical moment, sneezed loudly.
The next attempt, however, was an
entire success. The old man declin-
ed any further trials of his skill, and
when offered a sum of. money to re-
peat his first feat of shooting potato
from his sons hand he refused saying
he didn't care to try such expert
ments unless his weapon was fresh
ly cleaned. The exhibition was the
more remarkable from the fact that
the marksman was an old man, at
least fifty. His eye however, is a
clear bright gray. His appearance is
that of a poor farmer. The young
man showed not the least tremor or
anxiety during the dangerous expert
ment upon himself. The old man
referring to his son, said: "Bob can
shoot just as well as | can"
Year: 1875

Some time since Providence Or.
!. policeman saw a turtle dig hole
and deposit her eggs therein, at
Roger Williams Park, and when he
went to his home at night disinterred
the eggs thirty-fve in number, and
took them with him. Digging a
hole in his yard similar to the one
made by the turtle, and as near to it
in shape and size at possible, he
again buried the eggs, and after ll2
days they commenced to hatch out,
and in short time thirty-four little
turtles no larger than an old fashion
copper cent came to the surface, only
one of the eggs failed to hatch.-
They were put in pond.
Year: 1875

A gentleman in London has sued a
neighbor for keeping bantam cock
that crowed in the morn at four o'clock
so habitually and vigorously that the
recovery of his wife, who was in del
icate health, was retarded by the
noise. The defendant submitted
that he was strictly within his legal
rights In keeping fowls, and that he
could not prevent the plumed biped
from chanting his sweet song. The
Judge suggested to the defendant
the propriety ofabating the nuisance.
Year: 1875

Correspondence of the Troy Press.


was out driving on Saturday, and
few miles from here found two men
in a swamp by the side of the road,
who seemed to be crazy, to judge
from their movements. 1 watched
them from the carriage some time.
and finally made up my mind they
were fishing, but how they could
find water enough to fish in l could
not imagine. Finally l called out to
them, "what are you doing there?"
"Come and see," one of them shouted
back. Ihitched my horse and picked
my way over the bogs to them. They
were catching frogs. They would
strike them with clubs where they
could reach them, but the most of
them they caught with wire ''snare."
They had large basketful-more
than hundred pounds, they said
and l guess they told the truth. One
of them said he made a good deal of
money catching frogs for the New
York market. He SAID that In one
month last season he caught 1900
pounds of dressed frogs, for which
he got thirty cents pound, making
$3.50 for his months work. Part of
the time he had two boys to help
him. Last week, near Hudson, he
said he caught upwards of 500 pounds
and sold them for $3.50, or at an aver
age of thirty-two cents pound
These stories seemed to me incredi-
BILE, and yet he assured me it was
truth. He can clear twenty-eight
cents pound, he says, easily. He
seemed to be an honest man, and,
from the ease with which they caught
the frogs, | was led to believe that
he had not stretched the truth much,
If at all.
Year: 1875

PIERCE CouNrr. The following arti-
Gle, on the resources of Pierce county,
we copy from the Puget Sound Express:


Pierce is destined to become the
wealthiest county in the Territory Of
Washington, if not on the northwest
coast. The Puyallup Valley contains
the best agricultural land on the coast.
and the products of that region bring
into Pierce county. even now, when the
valley is but partly cultivated and only
sparsely populated, an immense sum Of
money annually. Experience proves
that Pierce is well adapted to stock
raising, from which an additional reve-
nue. is to be derived. But the mineral
resources Of the county are looked to-
ward as the great benefactor and pro-
moter. 1t is we'll known that the very
best coal is found within the bounda-
ries of Pierce and that a company has
been organized with the intention Of
building road from the coal fields on
the Upper Puyallup to the Sound. In
the same locality oil was found a few
weeks ago, and now we have the more
astonishing news to relate that an ex-
cellent quality of marble has been dis
covered not very distant from the coal
and oil region. We have seen speci-
mems Of the marble and really think it
asfaa,,ly 80 good 81 taa ,fsaiian.. We are
informed by parties who have examined
the locality that such an immense lime
bed was never before seen as the one
from which they procured the speci-
mems OF marble, and they are confident
that next to diamond and gold diggings
this discovery is the "best thing ever
struck" OF course capital must be
called in ere anything can be realized
from the marble hills, and we trust that
men with few thousands to spare will
use to advantage the information we
have given them. ..#
Year: 1875

one foot and twist their necks of trying
to look at their heels and ask the other
fellars if they saw anything on their
boots beside the backing; and then de-
sired to know who some fellar was;
and then they'd go back and dance
again; and then the rest Of the chaps
went out and looked at their boots and
cussed and eat cloves. and Just said
what they'd like TO do. and they tried
to 90 on with the dance, but It got too
hot and the gals wouldn't dance, but
sat by the winders and said it was awful;
and one or two tainted and the chaps
got white around the gills and the ball
Jest busted. Then every fellar made re-
marks and insinuations against some
other chap, and there was FIVE or six
fights; and when they got home they
went snuffin' around the same way and
finally concluded it was in the atmos-
phere; and then when they pulled them
boots off it was in the atmosphere so
it would we'll nigh knock bull down:
and eleven pair of boots went out of
eleven winders and eleven of the mad
dest fellars you ever see lay awake all
night thinking what they'd do in the
morning with shot gun.


Next day they found out who got the
Limberger, but Sam Jones had gone to
Monterey, He came back in about two
weeks and packed shot gun all the
while. Whenever he came across one
Of them cheese fellars he'd make him
throw up his hands until he explained
it to him.


st were at the ball and I've had no
use for Limberger since" said Jim.
Year: 1875

T The Nevada Transcript has
" sometimes thought that some people
manifest q good deal Of selfshness in
their efforts TO save their souls. What
ever becomes OF the rest of mankind, il
they feel secure they are happy, even if
they should by their actions crowd 9TH
ers out"
Year: 1875

A CrTY WrrH SnvER-P6vRD STREETS. -
Our principal streets says the Virginia
(Nev.) Enterprise, is being macadamized
with refuse ore taken from the mines in
early days, and being coated with rich
ore that has been year after year sifted
down upon them from the ore wagons,
are now everywhere more or less argen-
tiferous. Indeed there is not the slight
est stretch Of imagination in saying that
we never take step in the town but
we are walking on silver that our
streets are literally paved with silver.
While speaking of this fact, day or
two since, young man bet his friend
the price of the assaying and i" cigars
that he would take a lump Of mud of
the wheel Of bus, standing before
them, and would get out OF it precious
metals to the value of $5 per ton. An
ounce or two of mud was taken from
the wheel of the vehicle and placed in
the hands of an assayer. who was not
told where the sample was obtained,
and who no doubt supposed that he
was dealing with decomposed ore vein
matter from one of ocT mines. The as
say was made, and the assayer's certif-
cate showed that the sample contained:
Silver, 7.54, gold, g. 80; total 50. SO. "
After this we may put on airs, even
though our streets are villainously mud
dy occasionally. for the very mud on
our boots contain both silver and gold
lis not the vulgar mud of the " COW
county town." I}
Year: 1875

No more of the ten cent fractional cUrren-
.cy is to be issued, and the dilapidated shin
plasters now in circulation are 10 be with
drawn. The chink of the dime will soon be
heard in the land. Democrats are not ex-
pected to receive silver, as it is in violation
Of their new PRINCIPLES.
Year: 1875

We do not read anonymous letters and cemmuni-
cations. The name and address of the writer are in
all cases Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as a guaranty of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or reserve commu-
nieations that are not used.