smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

A correspondent of the New York
San calls attention of all consumers of
kerosene oil to the pernicious and I'M
healthy practice of using lamps filled
with that article with the wicks turned
down. The gas which should be con
sumed by the flames is by this means
left heavily in the air, while the cost of
the oil thus saved at present prices
would scarcely be one dollar q year for
the lamps of household. His atten-
tion was called particularly to this Gus
tom by boarding in the country where
kerosene was the only available light. A
large family of children living in the
same house were taken i'll one night,
and on going to the nursery the mother
found the room nearly suffocating. with
a lamp turned down, whereupon the
physician forbade the use of lamp at
night, unless turned at full head. He
said he could quote many cases, one of
a young girl subject to fits of faintness,
which if not induced, were greatly in
creased by sleeping in room with the
lamp almost turned out. Besides the
damage to health, it spoils the paper
and curtains, soils the mirrows and
windows, and gives the whole house an
untidy air and unwholesOme odor,
Year: 1875

Niagara Falls, whose hackmen have
long been the bane of travellers existence,
have finally developed quite a romance
in connection with one of the craft,
named Thomas Burke. A few after
moons ago, as Thomas was sitting be-
hind his team and dreaming of new
customers to be feeced, he was sur
prised by the appearance of lady and
gentleman, who requested a converse
ton. AS they came near Burke recog-
nized the lady as one whom hehad saved
from drowning by swimming with her in
his arms to the shore, on the occasion of
an explosion on the Ohio, fourye ago.
The lady explained that the gentleman,
wealthy banker, was her husband, and
then put a valuable gold ring upon
Burke's finger. Then the gentleman
offered him pecuniary assistance, but
thiswa declined. Then he proposed to
buy the team and hack that Burke was
in charge of, but the poor fellow refused
this also, saying that he was addicted to
drink, and could not make good use of
them, and they would pass from his
hands in a short time. The gentleman
thereupon treated him to o very kindly
temperance lecture and departed.
Thomas will undoubtly try to reform,
for he knows the eyes of a sincere friend
are on him, and that there is chance
for him in the world if he proves him
self worthy of it,
Year: 1875

BEFORE MARRIAGE.
My Maggie my beautiful darling,


Come into my arms, my sweet,
Let me fold you again to my bosom
So close that can hear your heart beat.
What these little fingers been sewing2
Ones been pricked by the needle, 1 see;
These hands shall be kept free from labor
When once they are given to me.
All mine, little pet, will shield you
From trouble and labor and care,
will robe you like some fairy princess,
And jewels shall CLEAN in your hair;
Those slippers you gave me are perfect
That dressing gown fits to a t
My darling, wonder that Heaven 'l
Should give such treasure to me.
Eight --nine-ten- eleven my precious,
Time flies so when l am with you,
1t seems but moment I've been here.
And now, must say it?-Adieu


AFTER MARRIAGE.
oh, Meg, you are heavy-Im tired;


Go sit in the rocker pray;
Your weight seems hundred and ninety
When you plump down in that sort Of way;
You had better be mending my coat sleeve
I've spoken about it before
And l want to finish this novel


And look over those bills from the store.
This dressing gown acts very badly;


These slippers run down in the heel
Strange, nothing can ever look decent;
wish you could know how they feel.
What's this bill from Morgan's? Why, surely,
It's not for another new dress?
Look here I'll be bankrupG ere New Year,
Or your store bills will have to grow less.
Eight o'clock Meg sew on this button
AS soon as you finish that sleeve;
Heigh-ho! I'm so deucedly sleepy,
I'll pile off to bed, believe.
Year: 1875

1t is related for verify that aman set
a trout line in the river at Macon with
one hook baited with live frog. On
going to his line next morning he was
surprised to find it lifted out of the
water and into the branches of neigh
boring tree. A close examination re-
vealed the fact that his live bait had
been gobbled by an owl during the
night, and the owl in turn had been caught
by the hook. We simply tell this tale
as it was told to us, nothing prevaricat-
ing and nought set down to test the
credulity of the people.
Year: 1875

A new counterfeit of the five cent
nickel piece has just been discovered.
1t is of genuine nickel, but the execu-
ton of the work is poor. The cross is
out of line, and the lettering generally
indistinct.
Year: 1875

Cupid plays havoc with young peo.
Piles hearts, and would with their fu-
ture prospects in life, were there not
stern, practical parents enough in the


world to control emotion and enforce
discipline. Legal enactments are of
but little effect Where ministers have


80 much discretion and power In their
hands, and society In this matter re.


eogniEes that IL owes its comparative
safety to parents alone. A case in
point was reported In the Eagle of So


turday, wherea young boy OF seven
teen was prevented from marrying q
child of sixteen by the interposition
Of the father only, And the rash youth,


In years to come, will have but his fa-
ther to thank for saving him, for there
would have been found no difficulty
whatever In securing the services of a
minister, and then, under whatever
circumstances the ceremony might
have been performed, the oae fact Of q
legal marriage would have remained,
The power vested In ministers In this
matter ls too great not to be abused,
and it Is not singular that shyster
parsons, like shyster lawyers, are to be
found for the hunting. II is only sim
gular that the State does not throw
some safeguard about the people by
limiting the authority or such men.
In no State should 1t be lawful for
minister to perform q marriage cere-
mony without first ascei tanning the
facts plainly required Of him to make
the marriage legal. And It is one of
the most cruel odenses against the
happiness and we'll being Of society
that marriage ceremonies should be
performed ii any but the most solemn
and satisfactory manner. In every


instance the rights Of the State, the
happiness Of individuals, and the fu-
tnrs prospects Of children are at stake,
and q ministsr who can oarelessly con-
slider all these sacred obligations and
deliberately marry any couple that
comes to him should be punished
Year: 1875

Chicago, April GA special dis
patch from Oshkosh gives the follow
ing account of the fire there yesterday.
1t broke out in the saw mill of Nor
gan & Brothers on the north side of
the river. The building was rs dry as
tinder and filed with combustible
material, and in an incredible short
time was enveloped in flames. The
neighboring lumber plies caught and
the fire spread with lightning rapidity
up Sawdust Avenue, sweeping every
thing before it. A dozen saw and
shingle mills with all the lumber
piled around them soon succumbed to
their fury. By this time it was found
impossible to check the work of de-
structiun famed by a brisk wind,
the fire. The demon then spread to
the small frame residences OF the
operators at the mills, which seemed
only To whet the appetite of the fiend.
The families fled in blank dismay be-
fore its approach scarcely finding time
to save few articles of clothing.
They surrendered everything, well
knowing the hopelessness of any at
tempt to save their worldly goods in
the face of such storm of fire. The
firemen for time fought bravely in
the face of terrible odds, to stay the
progress of the fire but were driven
back step by step. One after another
the business buildings on Main street
were licked up by the insatiate fire
From AlgOna to CeOpe street were To-
Gated all of our principal dry goods
stores, banks, hotels and newspaper
Offices, all Of which went down before
the resistless hurricane. Merchants
had time to save but little, for their
facilities for transportation of goods to
place OF safety were limited. A few
succeeded in carrying a few loads of
their most valuable wares away from
the track of the fire, but far greater
number lost their all.


1t is impossible at this hour to even
estimate the losses. Over 200 resi-
dences and over one hundred stores,
hotels and banks, the Opera House, a
valuable structure, costing nearly one
hundred thousand dollars a score of
saw and shingle mills, besides an in
calcuable quantity Of timber were de-
stroyed. The loss, upon the whole,
cannot fall below 81, 600, 900, while it
may reach double that amount. The
scenes in the city battle description.
Everything is confusion worse con-
founded. Hundreds of families are
homeless, and women and childen
are lying about the streets or roaming
around in search of place of shelter
from the chilly night air. The hea-
vens are lit up with the lurid glare of
the fire, which is yet burning fiercely
within the limits to which it has been
confined.


A gang of desperadoes are prowling
about, seeking whom they can plum
der. They have succeeded in inspir-
ing the greatest terror, and the citizens
are organizing among themselves for
mutual protection. The police are
powerless, for their number is small,
aud their discipline in this, the time
of our emergency, is very lax. Fears


of outrage are felt on every hand, but
some of the plunderers may decorate
lamp-post before the day dawns, il


they allow themselves to be caught bv
an indignant populace.
Year: 1875

EEFoETED ExPEEssLr FOR rHE MORNING LEADER
MIG HIT RE OR It
The great fire at Oshkosh.
Destruction of the town.


Loss over Two Million.
Death of Mrs. Conway.
Importation of a mixture of


salt and arsenic.
Year: 1875

Washington. Nov. lO.-President
Wilson was taken suddenly i'll to-day.
about ten O'Clock, at the capitol, but
ut noon he had considerably improved.
His physicians say he is now in a
comfortable condition and that they
apprehend no danger and think he
will be able To be removed to his
lodgings this evening.


Vice President Wilson was compar-
atively comfortable at midnight,
though he has been very restless and
has slept but. little during the night.
His physicians are still hopeful and
think 10y morning that there viii be a
change for the better. The pain in
his head and shoulders has ceased, but
although he does not rally as rapidly
as desired 10y his attendant physicians,
they think from the present symptoms
that he will recover in the course of a
week, as there is no indication of par
Hlysis. All necessary arrangements
have been made for his comfort and
treatment.
Year: 1875

Flatulency, Sluggish Digestion, want of Tone and
Activity in the stomach and Bowels, Oppression
after Eating, are sure TO be relieved by single
dose taken after each meal. great want exists
for
Year: 1875

Whether produced by indigestion, improper food


change OF water or diet too free indulgence in ice
water, exposure to sudden changes OF temperature,
are Immediately relieved by IL. One ounce added
to q gallon OF =. t-t.
Year: 1875

STATE PRINTING OFFICE.-One o. the
"fat takosp of State politics has disappear
ed from our politics. There will be no
State Printer TO elect this Fall, that Office
ceasing with the present incumbent. The
State will again try the experiment of do
ing its own printing, we hope with all the
saving the makers Of the law hoped for.
The building designed for the State Print
ing Office is nearly completed.
Year: 1875

Mrs. TILToN wrote an eloquent appeal
to the Court to be allowed to testify in the
case in which all must admit she has the
deepest interest, but the stern law will not
permit it and her appeal was denied. But
her letter will be read by the public, and
form a part Of the evidence with it, law or
nn lou,
Year: 1875

A DISCHARGED conductor by the name
of Blink!cy sawed through the end of an
express car while in motion, in Ohio, and
demanded the messenger to surrender
On his refusal, the robber shot him twice
when the messenger shot and killed the
rascal
Year: 1875

SIsKIYoU has a candidate for Sheriff,
who proposes to make the fight without
buying any whisky. His name is Will
lam Cooley and we propose to keep an eye
on his progress. 1t certainly marks new
era in California politics and should bring
him the support of temperance men of all
nortios
Year: 1875

RIGuTEoUs JUDGMENT o. A San
Francisco jury tried Mrs. Smythe for an
attempt to murder Lawyer Cobb, and ac-
quilted her on the ground of insanity
Then another jury tried her and found her
sane. And yet the women want to vote.
Year: 1875

SPELLING BEEs.-It is an ingenious mad
ness on the part of many pleasant people
to come forward and show that they do
not know iSJss to spell. Yet Spelling Bees
have become national institutions, and, as
our dispatches show, even Washington city
has been invaded Fortunately, no one
knows how to spell, and the people who
blunder have the consciousness Of knowing
that the public is with them. Indeed, if
.orthography were decided by the majority
as things Of greater consequence are
there is not a word in the dictionary but
would shrivel away to such shape that
the oldest schoolmaster in the community
would refuse to acknowledge it, while Of
every word of five syllables it would be
written as it is of the innOcents chronicled
i'll the Philadelphia Ledger, "gone to join his
grandmother" Perhaps the worst spoilers
in the world are the people who make the
dictionaries. There was Noah Webster.
What cad! lie spelled shad with c,
which was worse than the honest old Mr.
Creamer, Representative from PENNSYLVANIA
whom John Randolph accused of breach
of privilege in spelling Congress with X
By any of the learned pundits who form til,
jury at the spelling matches old Webster
would have been put down as the wors
speller and the most ignorant man in tn,
United States. Only he was caught anc
exposed, and like many another man caugh
in the act, he invented a theory to cove
his delinquency and pretended to spe
wrong OH principel. 1t was like Bill Kinl
who, while the subsidy investigation was i
progress, turned up in Canada "lOoking fc
stock" But this difficulty with the maker
of dictionaries softens the fall of the val
man who goes down in wrestling with har
words for he has only to claim to be judge
by some other standard. And what is tn
standard? Here are Webster and WorcestG
and Walker and Richardson and johnson
and many less famous authorities, and the
all differ on many words; and who ca
decide the differences of these doctors ?


NJ y. Herald.
Year: 1875

The most notable speech made dur
ing the close of the debate i'm the
United States senate on the Louisiana
resolutions, was made by Mr.. Wallace,
the new democratic senator from


Pennsylvania, who takes a practical
common-sense view of the results of
keeping up carpetbag governments In
the south with federal bayonets. He
warned the senate that the action Of
congress towards the southern states
was ruinous to the whole country. He
declared that 1t was like building a
wall around the southern portion of
the republic and thus destroying the
markets. The effort of executive in
reference and military usurpation in
the south was plainly visible in Penn
sylvania, where the pine and iron, he
tells us, lie In piles at the mines and
furnaces and at the mills; the busy
industries of the Lehigh and Schuyl-
kill were no longer heard, and now the
people were becoming convinced that
the prostration was largely due to the
federal bayonets in the south, and to
the violation of the rights Of the peo-
pie Iy the federal government Mr..
Wallace tells us that the people of the
north now ask that the people of the
south be allowed to control their own
affairs. Give them the power to grow
rich. Take away the federal bayoaets
from the throsis Of the people Of the
soath apdrestars its prosperity. These
Year: 1875

The estimate too often formed of
the character by society is erroneous.
1t is based principally upon deport-
ment outside of the home circ'e. There
are men who are considered so enter
tanning and irresistible, by their circle
of associates, that to question their
powers of amiability or fine taste, is to
bring down every body about your
ears. The delightful man will take
twice the trouble to please another
mans wife or sister or child he will
his own. At home he is gloomy, irri-
table and morose. He meets his
women folks with a scowl and takes
every thing done for his comfort as a
matter of course. His utter seliishness
is shown in wanting every thing of the
best, and anything that interferes with
his comfort must he stopped. AS for
consideration and disinterested unself-
ness, the delightful man In society
never exhibits them. He reserves all
of his delicate attentions and smiles
for society. Home to him is n place to
reek his i'll humor upon patient depend
ents and fond fools. His counterpart
the delightful woman-is familiar to
usall. This fascinating creature, whose
ravishing smiles and bewitching CO.
quetries make her the belle of every
occasion, when,off social parade and at
home, is IA restless, nervous, hysterical
being, all nerves, attacks and aches.
She fancies herself entirely uncompre-
hcnded by her husband and family
and is eternally longing for the soul
sympathy ofsome other unappreciated,
sublimated spirit. She is often SLOW
enly dowdy, who does not think it
worth while to dress to please her hus-
band, having no natural love of neat
ness and order engendered by proper
sense of cleanliness being next to god
illness. She is fond of going about the
house In dishdbiile and curl papers,
that sort of thing being good enough
for that matrimonial coolie, her hus-
band; but lie her hear another mans
step at the door, and all of her delight
ful ways are immediately resumed,
and the loveliest of toilets is made to
receive him.
Year: 1875

To the Editor of The Dallas Herald:


The nth legislature, before adjourn
ing, concluded very wisely to yield to
the demands of the people and give lis
constitutional convention. On the
first Monday in August next the
people of the state are To cast their
votes for delegates to the convention,
and ut the SANG time, vote for ol
against the convention. From the
present state of public opinion. NJ
shown hy the newspapers throughout
the state, and from the often repeated
demand of the democratic party
for this convention, there is but little
doubt that it will he held. Now sucl
being the fact, it beh0Oves us to he
making preparation to secure rs dele
gates To the convention oul ablest,
purest and hest men. The future,
prosperity of Texas for hundred years
perhaps, depends upon the action ol
that body when it assemblies. Wisdom
and moderation should mark all the
delibcration of this the most august
and important body that has o: per-
haps ever will assemble in this state.


We need II constitution that will not
only he adequate to the present wants
of our state, hut one which will serve
us well when our population will be,
instead of one million, ten times that
number; one that will foster and build
up the many diversified interests Incl.
dent to such population. We need
our wisest and hest men for delegates
to this constitutional convention.
How are we to secure the services Ol
such men. We answer. Let the
chairman of this senatorial district call
democratic convention of the dis
trict. Let each county send fair rep.
resentaiion to that convention nd lei
each precinct in the respective cOun'
ties be well represented ia the county
conventions 10y delegates elected 10y
the different precincts. We submit
the above, hoping to receive more light
upon the subject from your nl'le pen.


CITIZEN.
Year: 1875

All will admit that the shortest
way to fill up this state with n hardy,
thrifty white population is by immi-
grafton. If Texas wishes to get immi-
grants she must provide for the general
dissemination of information about
her soil, climate and advantages.
There is no state in the union attract
ing more favorable attention than ours,
but there still remains much 10 he done
in the way of furnishing information
about Texas to the people of those see
tions of the country who are desirous
of coming. 1t is the duty of the state,
as well us each county, to organize
ample means of furnishing to immi-
grants gratuitous data upon which to
base their decision of coming among
us. The appropriation made by the
legislature in view of the magnitude
involved in a well managed bureau of
immigration was simple contemplate,
parsimonious. If it had been for mile
age, perhaps that body would have
shown more liberality towards itself
than it has towards the great interests
of the state. We might. as well
abolish the bureau altogether
as to carry it on in the
meagre and pitiful way it now is.
Some of the money paid superiluous
judges, If laid out in Information for
distribution, would do more good than
so much mediocrity OIL the bench and
political favoritism. THE HERALD,
while it Is democratic to the core, is
not so blind or prejudiced as to shut
its eyes to any of the shortcomings of
the party, or its representatives. They
must toe the mark or look out for hot
shot. Whatever the legislature has
done wisely deserves commentator,
but its folly must not go unrebuked.
knowledge Of Texas is the corner
stone of immigration, and the only
antidote to the malicious lies persist
emily circulated about the state. We
are satisfied that when those who are
looking for locations know the truth,
they will come; but 1t costs money to
disseminate 1t, and the state should
have provided more literally for a
buseau of immigration than the paltry
sum of A,3OO-nOt enough for the
stamps to answer letters of inquiry
about Texas.
Year: 1875

When a man deliberately presents


himself as candidate for an Office


the first thing the people have to do i


to decide, first, upon his fitness, and


secondly, upon his claimsupon the peo


pie. Whenever an Office is conferred


for services rendered, it is NJ


honor, but when 1t Is scIllled fo


or claimed with brazen effrontery, II


is II different matter. A man may ruI


for an Office rs II means of support
only, or he may run because he is am


bilious of the honor, or he may run


because he thinks there is money in it,
and he is what is vulgarly known n
"on the make.'


The claims of u man for Office are
only those the people accord after re.
cognition Of private character, public
service and social, moral and business
standing. A man whose election cail
be carried by money, whisky, wire.
pulling or slander, is not fit for Office.
Instead of representing the respecta.
BILE and business elements of II commu-
nifty, he will represent the ruflians and
vice of it, and his ambition will be to
make all that he can out of n position
and continue the work of corrupting
the morals of society.


Whatever mans public service
and private character may be, unless
he has the requisite capacity, it is an
experiment to elect him, for he will be
round peg in square hole. Mere
popularity is the very thing which
deprives the people of the services of
the best men. They seem to think
tnat the only requisite is popularity. 1t
is the mantle which covers lack of ad-
ministrative capacity and results in n
disappointment after trial. If our can
vases and elections could be conducted
in spirit of courtesy, fairness and
truth, and the habit of misrepresenta-
tion, falsehOOd and slander made
odiOus, the change wOuld he welcome
one and would secure better men. But
who will not hesitate to enter the polit-
ical arena, however so flattering the
"calp may be, when his present in
firmities, family history and private
affairs are dragged into the contest and
made political capital of? No wonder
gentlemen dread to lave anything to
do with politics and say that as things
are now in this country, it is no career
for IL gentleman. There i, IL high ro-
sponsibility, however, resting upon
them not to permit public affairs to he
managed entirely by the rOughs, or by
corrupt venal men. In self defense
they will be compelled to take an ac-
tive part in the politics of the day.
Much of the degraded standard of
political honor is due to their having
left politics to take its course and have
held aloof rather than be contami-
mated by having to wallow in political
mire and filth.