smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

For good or evil the press of the country
wields mighty power. 1t shapes and
controls public sentiment by a silent inau-
ence always at work A good paper is
like the pure sir-it imparts health and
purity wherever it goes 4 bad paper is
like the noxious gas that steals unnoticed
from the earth carrying pestilential breath
to corrupt and destroy whole communities.
Yet good men are to be found who permit
bad papers to enter their household to
poison the minds of their children. The
seeds of depravity are scattered by the
evil hand, and no effort Is made to prevent
it. Parents may not approve the senti-
ments uttered by these papers, but many
appear insensible to their bad effects, and
neglect to apply the correction. While
they are careful to provide for the physi-
cal growth Of their children they neglect
their moral training. They provide fresh
air and wholesome food for the body. yet
allow the mind to feed upon the poisonous
elements of corrupting literature


This should be stopped at once. The
paper that contains immoral sentiments
should be as carefully excluded from the
family circle as if it came from the pest
house stamped with certain contagion and
death. A rigid exclusion of these organs
of wickedness from the decent families in
our land, would confine them within limits
where their influence would soon be lost.
They might still tend to encourage vice,
but their power to corrupt and destroy
would be gone forever. Every good citizen
should have at least one family paper. 1t
should be chosen from among the many as
friend would be, or daily companion.
Its tone should be elevated its sentiments
pure; its integrity unquestioned. With
such silent companion in your family,
you can feel confident that good i'm
pressions are being formed in the minds Of
your children. These impressions may
not be noticed in day, or year, but in
sensibly they will mould the character
that is to lead the youth through the
Temptations of early manhood, protect and
advance him through active life, and sus-
tain him in honorable old age.
Year: 1873

If this is true story which the
Bracken County, KY, Chronicle tells, it
certainly is singular:


"Just after the last snow fell little son
of Mr.. Alex. Keene took his gun and
started out after school one afternoon to
see If he could scare up rabbit He
wentup over Bakers Hill, near the cemetery,
and, not finding any rabbits, was coming
home, it being about dusk, when he
accidently ran into flock of partridgcs
which raised and started to fly down the
hill, but being blinded by the snow the
entire flock brought up plump against the
side and roof of tabaceo barn with such
force that fourteen of them we're killed.
The boy brought them home, when it was
found that the craw of every bird was
bursted. They had just had big feed of
grain, aud the shock of coming in contact
with the barn bursted their craws, and
they were captured. This is rather a
singular circumstance nevertheless It is
true"
Year: 1873

art of war and the veteran warrior,
long after he had left forever the bloody
scenes of the battle field, enjoyed this
more innocent mimicry of war in the chase
of the fox. Another English officer Of
note at the present day, Sir Garnet Wool
sey, teaches young officers that field sports
are better training for practical service
than books, and the following the hounds
than Caesars Commentaries or Jomini's
Art of War"


Such are some of the Englishman's mr.
guments in favor Of his fayorite national
sport. If all people must have amusement,
what, he asks, is more conducive to morals,
health, pluck and prowess, than the glori-
Gus pastime of following the hounds and
the fox?


Lord Cairns, the late Chancellor and one
of the greatest and best men of England,
defends the fox hunt us one of the best
amusements. He never held his court on
Saturday, but spent the same in the sad
die in pursuit of the fox. This he did,
and does now conscientiously, on account
of his health.


Whatever the merits of the argument
may be, whether in favor of the hunt or
against it, | am very much of the opinion
that were l an English country gentleman,
with leisure and money, should not be
able to resist the excitement of the hunt
when | should see every day the red coats
in full gallop over the fields and hear the
deep bay Of the hounds in full pursuit of
the g little red rascal Charley"


One thing am assured of, if Americans
would work less and play more they would
live longer and stronger lives, physically
and mentally, and be greater and better
nation than they now are. It is certain
we are becoming degenerated by the ex-
citement Of moncy-making and by brain
work, The adage, 1t is better to wear
out than to rust out" has no application
to America. No man has any more right
to break the law of God, which is written
on his physical constitution, than he has
to break one of the Ten Commandments.
Year: 1873

RABBIT BREEDING-In the West Of
ireland the landlords have turned their
attention to rabbit breeding, and we are
told that they find It more profitable than
sheep breeding. The manufacturing towns
consume enormous quantities of rabbits
for food. In Manchester dealer reports
that he sells on the average during the
season 1000 pairs of rabbits every Satur-
day morning, and from $50 to $50 pair
every other morning, in addition to large
lot of game. Here is hint for us. When
our sheep farms fail, we can try rabbit
breeding As mutton and beef command
such high prices in thickly populated dis
tricts, and as the prices seem to be in
ereasing all the while, possibly it would
be a good thing to experiment with rabbit
culture here as they do in Great Brit
ain.-- 7surf Field and Farm.
Year: 1873

The world is full of poetry the air
Il living with its spirit, and the waves
Dance to the music Of its melodies,
And sparkle in its brightness. Earth is veiled,
And mantled with its beauty; and the walls
That close the universe with crystal in,
Are eloquent with voices that proclaim
The unseen glories Of immensity,


In harmonies too perfect and too high
For aught but beings of celestial mould,
And speak to man in one eternal hymn,
Unfading beauty and unyielding power.
Year: 1873

STORY TO BE ADDED TO THE POsT-oFFICE.


Since the walls of the new POst-Ofice build
ing have reached the hight originally contemplated In
the plans and are ready for the Mansard roof much dis
satisfaction has expressed at its dwarted appear
ance when compared with the buildings surrounding
on all Sides large covered by 1t making 1t seem
lower than really Is consideration of these criti
cisms Superintendent Hurlburd and Mr.. Mullett, the
architect decided to add another story to the build
ing provided they receive the necessary authority
and appropriations. bill for this purpose s be-
fore Congress, and Messrs Hurlburd and mulett are
both in Washington advocating Its passage. The add
tona cost is estimated s75OOOO. and the entire
pense of the building 1t is thought, will exceed the
original appropriation Of $ooooo by not less than


OOOCOo Steinwtz, the Assistant Superintendent,
claims that the defect In the appearance Of the building
could not have been foreseen, It is only when
pared with other buildings that this dwariei


IL IL not probable that this consideration alone would
have had sufficient weight with the superintendent TO
induce him TO deviate from the first plans but the Post
Office officials believe that within very few years
room will be needed than they have provided. A
TRIBUNE reporter Informed at the old P0stOfice
that by tho year 1880 tho building would be as
crowded the old one now Is, since the business
doubles every years. This discovery made some
time ago, when 10 determined TO finish the upper
story for postal uses. Even ;this, however IL was
thought. would not be sufficient and the additional story
was determined upon.


however due this change OF plan. there enough
10 DO in tho interior OF the building 10 keep the
busy. large amount or material Is on hand and
constantly arriving and II IA said that the work Will
pushed forward US tho question OF eonstruc
on IA settled
Year: 1873

REV. FATHER DUGGAS, the scceier
from the Catholic Church in San Fran
cisco, is SO exhilerated by his relief
from the burden OF his former religious
notions as to act az if he had been over
pressing lis cordial. The rltra-mon-
tanes accuse him OF being drunk on the
streets.
Year: 1873

CoKE.-The Manager Of The Ruby
Consolidated has recently received about
twenty tons of coke from the East, with
which it is proposed to make thorough
test as TO the relative cost Of reducing
ores by this means, as compared with the
old mode of charcoal smelling. We will
endeavor to place the result before our
readers.-Eurekd Sentinel, N0r. =.
Year: 1873

ONE OF LINCOLN's LITTLE JOKEs.-A Ken
tucky paper relates the following in connection
with an account of an interview a citizen of
that State had with the late President Lincoln
at the breaking out of the rebellion:


'"The subject of the war was being discussed,
and MIR. r. was asked his opinion by the Pres
ident as to the contemplated policy of coercion
or war. MIR. r., being a State $ rights man,
suggested that to prevent the effusion of fra
tricidal blood and strife, the wayward sisters
be allowed to depart in peace, or at least
bloodshed should be avoided Mr. Lincoln
replied that whatever his sympathies and feel
ings might be for the people of the South, he,
as President, was sworn to protect and defend
the constitution and laws of the United States.
He said he was in the condition of the boy who
went out in company with party Of coon
hunters, when a small young coon was caught,
tied with string and the young lad requested
to hold the coon until the return of the party
from the pursuit of more game The coon
tugged at the string to get loose, looked wist.
fully at the neighboring woods and then at his
guard, whose sympathies for the little prisoner
were thoroughly aroused. After witnessing
the vain struggles of the coon for some time
with feelings of sorrow fully aroused, he solil.
oquised aloud as follows: 'Cooney, am sorry
for you; was told to hold you promised
to do so, and can't let you go; but do wisl
this string would break. F."
Year: 1873

THE WREN's REQUIEM.-It was on morn
ing early in the spring, few years ago, that
we heard an unusual twittering outside our
bedroom window, above which is deep
thatch. On looking up, we saw two curious
festoons hanging from it., apparently in mo-
ton. 1t was, in fact, two half circles, COM
posed of little wrens clingng to each other by
foot and wing to the number of twenty or
thirty. They clung together thus for the space
of about two minutes. 1t might be more or
less-for, as we did not mark the time by a
watch, | could not with certainty say now.
They twittered mournfully all the while, so diff.
ferent to their usual joyous little song; then
suddenly, as if by one consent, they in a
moment broke loose and flew away. On
descending, shortly afterwards, we found a
dead wren lying just under the window, over
which these festoons of wrens had been hang
ing few minutes before. 1t looked as if these
affectionate little creatures had been singing a
dirge over their dead friend below-at least,
we could think of no physical cause for the
unusual appearance. FROM that time the
wrens deserted that locality for more than two
years. On speaking of this to one who had
made natural history his study, he told me it
was called the the ''Wrens Requiem" and
was an established fact, though very rarely
seen. Possibly some reader may be able
to throw light on the subject
Year: 1873

The OCEAN BALLOON VoYAGE.-The
enterprising publishers of that marvellous sue.
cess in journalism the New York Graphic,
have determined to furnish the means for the
proposed balloon voyage across the Atlantic, by
Messrs. Wise and Donaldson, agreeing to
devote as much as $4,000 to the project il
necessary. The Graphic Company is to build
the balloon, under the superintendent of the
two aeronauts. The only assistance they
receive will be from the Domestic Sewing
Machine Company, which has put one of the
floors Of its magnificent building at the
disposal of the Graphic Company for the
work of building the balloon, and volunteered
to do all the sewing, over six thousand yards
or four miles, of seams.


1t is expected that the balloon will be ready
to start on its voyage about August goth, anC
the bargain on the part of the aeronauts is tC
communicate their arrival and full prrticular
of the voyage exclusively to the Daily Graphit
Immediately after arrival in Europe. The
aeronauts are confident that they can make
their remarkable fight across three thousanC
miles of ocean in sixty hours.
Year: 1873

THEY Y."-"They Say" often tells that
which is not true. He is about the worst au-
thOrity you can produce to support the credi-
bility of your statement Scarcely ever is a
suspicious report put in circulation but this
MIR. "They Say" is the author of it and he
always escapes responsibility and detection
because, living nowhere, he cannot be found.
Who said that Mr., the merchant, was in
failing condition? Why "They say So
On what authority do you affirm that neighbor
J. has been in bad company? Why, "They
Say so. Is it fact that Miss v is not so
circumspect as she should be? Why They
Saw" SO. Have nothing to do with that Mr..
They Say" He is halEbrother to Mr..
Nobody, who always does all the mischief, ond
lives nowhere but in the inventive brain of
those who, underserving respect themselves,
are desirous to pull others down to their own
level. We always suspect the truth of re-
port which comes from the authority of 'They
Say"
Year: 1873

How noiselessly the snow comes down You
see it, but never hear it, 1t is like true charity.
Charity makes no noise in the world, but dis
tributes wherever there is poverty. A person
who does good out Of pure benevolence never
spreads it abroad in the circle in which he
moves, nor makes it public through the news.
paper.
Year: 1873

AN ACT authorizing deputy collectors and other officers Of


the customs to act discussing agents in certain





BE enacted by Representatives OF
the United States America Congress assembled That
in OF the sickness unavoidable absence Of collector
or surveyor Of customs from his office he with the
povR the Secretary OF the authorize
clerk him to act in his place and to discharge all
duties required by law OF such collector in his
capacity disbursng Provided. That the official
given by ths palO the Office shall held
apply to the acts OF the appointed to act in his
such


Approved March 3, 1873.
Year: 1873

A GOAT STORY-A retired clergyman sends
US an account of little affair that happened
in his place. 1t appears that there was a
young woman, fine spirited girl, engaged at
a wash-tub, opposite an open door. Just be-
hind her was young man. as is generally the
case, and in the yard was an old buck that was
allowed the freedom of the premises, which
is not always the case, we are glad to say.
Well, this buck came up to the door and looked
in, and the young man, going close behind the
young woman, pointed his finger straight to
the buck, and the old fellow recognizing at
once the pressing character of this mute invi-
tation, put down his head and dashed forward,
and the miserable man stepped aside and the
young woman, all unconscious Of the arrange
ments, received the awful shock without warn
ing, and passed over the tub, and the air for
an instant appeared to be full of slippers and
wet clothes and hot water and suds. And the
next minute that goat came flying out of the
door at a dreadful speed, bald the whole length
Of his spine, and with look in his eye. And
for an hour afterward he stood back of the
barn, scratching his chin, and trying to recall
all the circumstances in the unfortunate affair.
Year: 1873

In pronouncing judgment the judge dssented
entirely FROM the argument of the learned
counsel. Either, meant one of two, and did
not mean both Though occasionally, by
poets and some other writers, the word was
employed to signify both, it did not in this
case before the court"


We might present other instances of the in
veterate misuse of words, but content ourselves
with drawing attention to one of daily occur.
renee. We refer to the Yord none, which is
simply a contraction of 7'no one," or mot
one, and is accordingly to be used in applica-
tiol to only one thing. Instead, however, of
speaking of it in the singular, as "none is, or
mot one is, or mot one was," it is almost
constantly pluralized, writer's saying none
well say mo one were," which they would
hardly think of doing.
Year: 1873

me misuse OF either is not new. The
error occurs several times in the authorized
version of the New Testament. Two instances
may be given. They crucifed him, and two
others with him. on either side one," st.
John, xix. Is. "On either side of the river
was there the tree of life" Rev., xxi. 3 1t
says little for the scholarship of the translators
that they should have perpetuated this abuse
Of our vernacular, and sanctioned an error so
lnveterate as to be now almost past correction.
Perhaps sound has had something to do with
the improper use of either" Consisting Of
two syilables, it may be considered to be more
fluent and elegant than the little word leach"
in which way sound is probably preferred to
sense. Fashion, however, cannot be permitted
TO alter the plain meaning of the English
language, and we are glad that, according to
newspaper report, the correct definition OF
either" was lately vindicated in suit in
Chancery. We give the matter briefly as it is
related. IA certain testatOr left property, the
disposition of which was affected by the death
OF either of two persons. One learned coun-
sci contended that the word either meant
both; in support of this view he quoted Rich
ardson, Webster, CHANGER, Dryden, Southey,
the history of the crucltixion, and passage
from Revelation. The learned judge suggested
that there was an old song in the Beggar S
Opera, known to all, which took the opposite
view
Year: 1873

From a strange freak the term "either'' has
been very commonly employed to signify each
OF two, or both. For example, there stood a
pillar on either side of the gateway )" or,
they were seated on either side of the fire.
place - or, to take two examples from Lord
Lytton's last novel-"A pleasant greensward
bordered it on either side y ''the mouth singu
larly beautiful, with dimple on either side =
the meaning in each case being both sides :
quote from the the comic " song @ Of the Bear Gear Siu S
COut:
Year: 1873

The blue-birds and the house-wrens
more frequently come into collision. A
few years ago put up little bird-house
in the back end of my garden for the ac-
commodation of the wrens, and every sea-
son a pair have taken up their abode
there. One spring pair of blue-birds
looked into the tenement and fingered
about several days, leading me to hope
that they would conclude to occupy it.
But they finally went away, and later in
the season the wrens appeared, and after a
little coquetting were regularly installed
in their old quarters, and were as happy
as only wrens can be.


One of our younger poets, Myron Ben
ton, saw little bird


"-runied with whlrlwind of his ecstacies,"
which must have been the wren, as
know of no other bird that so throbs and
palpitates with music as this little vaga-
bond. And the pair L speak of seemed
exceptionally happy, and the male had a
small tornado of song in his crop that
kept him "ruffied" every moment in the
day But before their honeymoon was
over the blue-birds returned. knew some
thing was wrong before was up in the
morning. Instead of that voluble and
gushing song outside the window, IhearC
the wrens scolding and crying at fear
ful rate, and on going out saw the blue
birds in possession of the box. The poo
wrens were in despair; they wrung thei
hands and tore their hair, after the wreI
fashion, but chiefly did they rattle ou
Year: 1873

their disgust and wrath at the intruders
| have no doubt that If IL could have been
interpreted it:would have proven the rank
est and most voluble Billingsgate ever ut
tered. For the wren is saucy, and he has
n tongue in his head that can outwag any
other tongue known to me.


The blue-birds said nothing, but the
male kept an eye on Mr. Wren; and when
he came too near, gave chase, driving him
to cover under the fence, or under rub
bish.heap or other object, where the wren
would scold and rattle away, while his
pursuer sat on the fence or the pea-brush
waiting for him to reappear.


Days passed, and the usurpers prospered
and the outcasts were wretched; but the
latter fingered about, watching and abus-
ing their enemies, and hoping, no doubt,
that things would take o turn, and they
presently did. The outraged wrens were
fully avenged. The mother blue.bird had
lain her full complement of eggs and
was beginning to set, when one day, as
her mate was perched above her on the
barn, along came a boy with one of those
elastic slings and cut him down with a
pebble. There he lay like a bit of sky
fallen upon the grass. The widowed bird
seemed to understand what had happened,
and without much ado disappeared next
day in quest of another mate.


In the meantime the wrens were beside
themselves with delight; they fairly
screamed with joy. If the male was be-
fore "rufiled with whirlwind of his
ecstasies," he was now in danger of being
rent asunder. He inflated his throat and
caroled as wren never caroled before.
And the female, too, how she cackled and
darted about How busy they both werel
Rushing into the nest, they hustled those
eggs out in less than minute, wren
time. They carried in new material, and
by the third day were fairly installed
again in their old quarters; but on the
third day, so rapidly are these little
dramas played, the female blue-bird reap.
peared with another mate. Ali how the
wren stock went down then! What dis
may and despair filled again those little
breasts! 1t was pitiful. They did moi
scold as before, but after a day or two
withdrew from the garden, dumb with
grief and gave up the struggle. .-JOhI
burroughs, In Scrtbaer's Monthly.
Year: 1873

STEwED TOMATOES Select very ripe
tomatoes, skin and slice them, rejecting
the hard parts. Put in porcelain sauce
pan, with little salt and pepper, and
simmer for one hour and half Add a
piece of butter, or two tablespoonfuls of
beef mutton veal or chicken gravy,
mato will be served turn the contents Of
the saucepan over H.
Year: 1873

THE following is a Turkish recipe for a
cement used to fasten diamonds and other
precious stones to metallic surfaces, and
said to unite surfaces of polished steel
Dissolve five or six bits (tears) of gum
mastic in just enough spirits of wine to
render the gum liquid. In second YES
sci dissolve sufficient isinglass previous.
ly softened in water) to make two,ounce
vial of strong glue, and add two bits OF
gum ammoniac, which must be rubbed
until dissolved. Mix the whole with heat
and, when wanted for use, place the vial
in boiling water.
Year: 1873

Certain Congregational ministers in
Massachusetts being reported out of health
and actually suffering for the neeessaries
of life, the Observer thinks that, if the
churches are unable or unwilling to
remedy the evil, application for aid should
be made to the Sandwich Islands or to
India.
Year: 1873

The statistics of the Presbyterian
General Assembly show that eighty-eight
of the ministers Of that church died with
in the last year, some Of them OF pre-emi-
nent ability and usefulness,
Year: 1873

Young women should no longer be
described in law as spinsters, for they
toll not, neither do they spin. 1t is
equally certain that solomon in all his
glory, was not arrayed like one Of these