smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

Several months since store-boai
sunk near the little town of Rons,
which had on board among other things
several kegs of powder. One keg was
carried upto Mr.. Galey's and was kicked
around the yard for several days, but
at last the inquisitiveness of Mr.. G.
Overcame his accustomed prudence, and
he determined TO experiment upon that
keg. The powder had caked and be-
come, to all appearance, a solid mass,


but was IN fact streaked all through
with little veins of dry powder, which
the water had affected very little Mr..
G. applied torch to the mouth of the
keg, and after considerable scraping
and pcking, the fire took hold a few
seconds before Mr. q. let go. The keg
made puff like an infant Vesuvius,
and bounded up the hill like a fright
ened coon-endwise. It pulled and
smoked a few moments, when it made
another spring into the air, turned over
several times, and made straight for Mr..
g.. who by this time became somewhat
frightened and began to call for water.
This reused the CENTRE family, and while
Mr.. @. and his eldest son were Yainiy
endeavoring to capture the keg, and
kept busy in avoiding it in its peregri-
nations, the other members we're busy
heaving bucketful after bucketful in
the direction of the kicking keg. One
bound, more lofty and vigorous than
any of the preceding ones, carried the
animated keg to the top of the house,


where it sized and buzzed and whizzed
behind the chimney, until it finally
rolled of and landed Just in front of Mr.


g., who sprang astride the smoking
thing and yelled for more water. It
came. Bucketful after bucketful was
thrown upon the man and keg as they
rolled over and over the ground, filling
the air with smoke and SCOT and cuss
words, until the fire IN the keg and the
curiosity in Mr.. q. were both totally ex-
tineuished. The bare sight of a pow
der-keg is sufficient 10 cause a cold


streak to run down Mr.. G.'s spinal


nnInrnn
Year: 1873

He was the ifting-maehine man, and
his instrument was near the corner Of a
thronged, busy main thoroughfare. II
sat in the gutter with q flare of lard
oil light beating full on its round face
in the eyes of all men, and vet th Y
needed it not. It was not much OF a
night for hfting-machines The man
stood In doorway, stamping his feet TO
keep them warm, with his hands deep
down IN his pockets. and keeping keen
watch and ward over the 1ifting-ma-
chine. He looked up the street aud
down the street, and over the way at the
hack-stand, and up at the court house,
and then refreshed his soul by inspect
ing the assortment of fall and win. er
hats IN an adjoining window, and still
nobody came to test thesr muscul ar
powers on the lifting machine. The
more the machine man stamped his
feet and kept feeling nothing but de-
ferred hope at the bottom of his pock-
cts, and the more he tried TO determine
what sort of q hat he would buy if he
only had the necessary ducats, and the
more he looked up and down and all
around, the more nobody seemed to
come and test the hidden mysteries Of
the lifting-machjne


At last brilliant thought appeared
70 strike in upon the machine
man. BE deliberately walked to the
corner and lavishly expended five cents
on paper OF peanuts. When he re-
turned to his stand IN the doorway,
munching his purchase, there WAS a
nibble at the lifting-machine It was
only a nibble; it wasn't bite. It was
q small boy of the bOot-black persua-
sion, who had watched the machine
man go for his peanuts, and then walked
coolly and deliberately up and sneaked
a lift. ssOne touch of nature makes the
whole world kin" The lifting-machine
man took in the situation at a glance,
and he let the small boy OF the boot
b. ack persuasion go en- sneaking a lift
until he grew purple in the face. One
creature in the world was happy for the
moment, and that was the boot-black
boy. And while the lifting machine
man was indulging in the luxury of pea
nuts, why should he interfere with a
momentary pleasure, snatched from a
world of great wants by poverty akin to
his own.-St LOttts Republican.
Year: 1873

Men can live and work on grapes and
bread. The peasantry Of France, Spain
and Italy make many a satisfying meal
in this way, and Of the whOlesOmeness
of the diet there can be no doubt.
Medical men constantly recommend the
use of grapes for their patients.
Scarcely any plant can equal the vine as
regards the beauty Of its leaves and
fruit. As a covering for bare walls and
for affording shelter and shade it is a
climber of the first rank. To sit under
ones own vine has IN all ages been con-
sidered the acme Of rural happiness
and emblem Of peace, a symbol of plen-
ty and a picture Of oontentment. That
pleasure, though perhaps not in all its
fullness, may become the heritage Of
Thousands in these temperate climes-
Neither our latitude. longitude, nor
leaden skies nor erratic climate forbid
the growth OF the vine. In many dis
tricts its fruits VIII rpen more or less
perfectly. In almost al II would r1pen
sufficiently 70 be useful for eating OF
wine-making. Even green grapes are
useful for conversion into vinegar, FOR
making tarts or wine. Ripe grapes are
universally esteemed. No one tires OF
them. IF any declined to eat their Own
cranes or grow more than were needed
| Tor home consumption, there Is ready
market in most neighboFhoods.
Year: 1873

Then Montana said: Tom Car
berry, either you're generous, or else
you're coward. don't think you're
cowardly, an if I'd known you at the
start, it's most likely I wouldn't ha
waded in. But the matter can't be let
drop, for there's hundreds of people in
my section an between here and there
who know that I came here to kill you
so there's but two ways-we must fight,
or you must run. If you'll run, it'll
be jest as good to me as to fight


"Tom's almost suppliant bearing
disappeared on the instant, and he said
Stranger, amt much in the habit O.
runnin, an if we're to fight we may as
we'll have it out now as any time. Are
you heeled?


"Tom asked this question because
we have law against carrying concealed
weapons, which is regarded at such
hours as people think they will have no
use for their arms, and disregarded at
all others.


"The answer was No; left my
revolver with the bar-keeper of the
Exchange


"'Get it," said Tom; I'm wait for
you here


"The Exchange was in corner
building across a street which came in
at right angles to the sidewalk where
they were standing. Montana went IN
at the front door but came out at the
side on the cross street, hoping to steal
up and get the rop' on To Il; but
this was not so easy. Tom was wide
awake; he had crossed the main street
to guard against surprise; so, when
Montana poked his pistol around tie
corner and followed it with just enough
of his head to take sight, Carberry was
not in range. In a moment their eyes
met, and the shooting began. Tom
curled down close to the road-bed, to
present the smallest possible area as a
mark, and because it is comparatively
difficult to hit an object lying on the
ground. Montana sheltered himself
somewhat behind low row of sacks of
potatoes lying on the edge of the side
WuAhS anu pdLbly DchAut o4udl dHu-
ing-post. This last was a fatal error,
for with tall post for a mark it is the
easiest thing in the world to make a
line shot.


"I am making a long story of
the shooting, which in reality was very
soon over. They fired three shots
apiece in as many seconds. Toms third



ball passed through Montana's heart,
and he was dead before his head re-
bounded on the brick pavement. Car
berry surrendered himself at once, and
was kept in Jail until his trial came of,
although bail to any amount was Of
fered.


After pause, the Judge added; 81
don't see how could have done more
for him than I did but che man should
not have been punished-hes should have
been acquitted; and he would have
been but for one circumstance, which
prejudieed the court and jury against
him"


"What was the circumstance so pre-
judicial ?" questioned the listened.


"The Montana chap was the fourth
man Tom had killed in Austin" an
swered the Judge, innocently.
Year: 1873

In case of war Gen. Sherman has no
fear that the American soldiers viii be
able to give as good account of them
selves in Cuba as they always have else
where. He thinks that IL war shall be
determined upon great saving Ia ex-
pense could be effected by raising the
number of men IN each company of the
regular army to one hundred. In this
manner fifteen thousand men could be
added to the army without the necessity
for additional officers. It is no uncom-
mon thing in the armies Of Europe for a
captain and two lieutenants to handle
as many as two hundred and fifty men.
This idea of Gen. Sherman's is unques-
tionably good one. The great trouble
in our late war was that so many of our
patriotic citizens who desired to serve
the country wanted to do it with epau-
lettes upon their shoulders, and Of all
the tenders of service that are made
now, none comes from those who are
willing 10 be high privates. In case
there should be a difficulty, the govern
ment would save a very large amount
by adopting Shernan's suggestion. The
general says there is abundance OF
everything in the way Of supplies for
the army at the different depOts, and
that the aisenals and magazines are all
well stored with arms, ammunition and
ali wRrlike appliances.
Year: 1873

If anybody desires to know what
wife may be to her husband, with what
pure unselfishness and devotion she can
give up everything that she has to his
service, and find a noble happiness in
doing it; what a support and comfort
she can be to him under the inevitable
sorrows and misfoTtunes of life; how
maRnifjcently she can inspire him to
fresh exertions, and stand as a bulwark
between the adverse world and himself,
anyone who wishes to comprehend all
this need only read the story of Mr..
Disraeli's married life It will be found
that in such case the devotion is not
all on one side. The affection oe good
woman kindles the nobler qualities of
a man, and he viii repay her devs tiOn
with lofty fidelity. If Mr.. Disraeli
had, as he once said, the "best of
wives" he, on his part, proved the best
of husbands. Till the last day of her
life he paid to his wife those attentions
which are too often associated rather
with the romance of youthful inter
course than with the routine of married
life. When he rose to the highast point
of his ambition, the only favor he would
accept of the queen was a coronet for
his wife. He was scarcely ever absent
from her side until the dark day when
the fast friends were to be parted. She
knew that she was dying, but refrained
from telling him so, in order that he
might be spared the pain of bidding her
farewell. He also knew that her last
hour was at hand, but kept silence lest
he should distress her. Thus they
parted, each anxious to avoid striking a
blow at the others heart. The domes-
tic lives of public men are properly
= 7 = L r -1.ns~
comment; but in an age when marriage
is the theme of ridicule from Headers of
progress" it may be that this passage in
Mr.. Disraelis career may be pOndered
with some profit by the young.-AttaTa-
tic NOnthkN.
Year: 1873

removed by the pill. This done once
every month or SIX weeks viii be found
of great service to the bilious, and to
those who do not or cannot take much
exercise, which Is the best and cheapest
rouge. MIX or bran-water pUrifies and
softens the skin. Indigestion is a great
enemy to beauty, and all eaters of fat,
pastry, or candy have imperfeet skins.
Year: 1873

The disastrous fire that occurred in
New York city on Christmas eve in
volved, among other heavy losses, the
destruction of the New York branch of
the American Newspaper Union
Cramer, Aikens e Cramer, of Milwau-
kee, proprietors-whose pecuniary loss
is set down at $50, 600. Fortunately,
however, they were heavily insured in
sound and reliable companies, SO that
their actual loss will probably not reach
more than third of that figure.


notwithstanding the heavy blow to
their business at a season of the year
when such disasters fall with unusual
severity, the patrons of the New York
branch are assured that no serious in
terruption of their business will ensue.
The establishment was fully prepared
Tor any, emergency of this nature. They
have always kept a duplicate stock in
store, including presses, type, and other
material, SO that the delay will be only
temporary. 1t is stated that they will
he prepared, III less than week from
the disaster, to supply their patrons with
ready-prlntcd sheets as usual.
Year: 1873

Under new system of telegraphing,
known as the automatic, now in opera
ton between Washington and New York,
it is claimed that the circuit can be
opened and closed n thousand-fold faster
10y machinery than 10y hand. The prac-
teal daily operation between New York
and Washington shows that a thousand
words minute can be sent with the
same facility as three or five hundred.
The rapid transmission shows that,
where twenty wires were required to
meet the demands of the Morse system,
one will answer by the automatic. II is
asserted that this economy will extend
itself in various ways, to the benefit of
the public.
Year: 1873

In paper read before the Chirurgical
Society of Lnndon, DIR. Ogle states it as
his belief that the superiority of the
right hand in works requiring strength
and skill is not due merely to custom and
usage His reasons for this opinion are
that the superior power of the right side
is not confined to the arm, but extends
to the leg, and that it commences in the
arm before use or education begins. and
continues in spite of all efforts To resist
or divert it. This superiority has re-
semblance to some malformations. mas
much as it is hereditary and is met with
more frequently in the male sex, not only
in men, but in apes and parrots. The
author further asserts that the left side
of right-handed man is greater than
the right, and rice Ucrsa, and he sug-
gests that this greater development of
the left side is due to the greater guam
tity Of blood which it receives.
Year: 1873

Or the workers in the first issue of the
Tribune but two remain. These are the
present foreman of the paper, Thomas
l.. Rocker, and McElrath, the publisher.
Rocker was at the time referred to n
poor printer just arrived from Albany,
where he had learned the trade.
Year: 1873

Last evening, about six o'clock, an alarm of
fire sounded from box l3 The engines were
promptly out and the flames were discovered to
be issuing from two story and q half wooden
tenement house on Congress street, two doors
west of the Catholic school house. All efforts
to save the building were unavailable and in a
short time it was a mere shell. On entering
the house after the flames were extinguished,
the fremen found in the upper story the body
of a woman burned to cinder, and presented
scarcely trace of human form. The body
lay near the door, prone upon the face, with
hands pressed over the eyes, and limbs drawn
up. The appearances were that the woman
had attempted to make her way from the bed
on which she was lying to the door, but was
barred by the flames and smoke. The body
was taken to the city tomb. An inquest will
be held to-day.


The body is undoubtedly that of woman
named Black, soldiers widow, who rented
the room. She drew some pension money yes
terday, and invested portion of it in liquor, it
is said. The probabilities are that she was in
toxicated, and so unmindful of the progress of
the flames.


The house was owned by I. P. harrington.
Year: 1873

REGISTERED lNsuRANcE.-We take pleasure
in calling attention to the Annual Statement
of the North American Life Insurance Com
pany which appears in our columns This morn.


ing The distinctive characteristic of this com.
pany lies in the fact the that entire Reserve or
Reinsurance Fund belonging to its Registered
Policies is deposited with the State. This con
stitutes an application of the National Banking
Year: 1873

HOG KILLING TIME-AN ANCIENT ST
prrsrIT1oy.-A letter from Caroline
county, in the Fredericksburg Herald,
says: =,


In about ten days the moon will be
all right for hog-killing. Those people
who want fat, juicy and good bacon for
next year, let them take heed. Pork
killed on a decreasing moon dries up,
and becomes stringy and leather-like; it
will not season cabbage well. That
there is authority ample for this belief
about the influence Of the moon, L could
refer you to the proceedings Of the great
Amphietyonia Council of Nieuw Neder-
landts, fully set out by Washington 1rv-
ing in his history of New York, when
such Governors as William kiett Wou-
ter, Van Twiller aud others, as we are
informeh, were 'doomed to contend
with enemies too knowing to be entrap-
ped, and to reign over people too
wise to be governed" l need not have
referred you to authority so ancient as
| have to prove the control her ladyship,
the moon, has upon this matter of hog
killing and bacon making. There are
now living in our State numbers OF men
young and old, who bear witness to the
necessity, if you would have good meat
another year, meat that pumps out
when cooked, you must kill on an in
creasing, but better still, on a full moon
My grandfather told me himself that he
knew it was so, that he had watched
the moon upon this subject for sixty
years. Mountain people, touched with
German blood, never kill hogs except
when the moon is right, and | have al
ways remarked they have fatter and lar
ger meat the following summer thanthe
lank, lean gentry, who turn up their
noses or smile with contempt at this
time honored and time-tested belief.
These lank, lean doubters never do raise
enough for their families, and are gene
rally hard put up to get lard for biscuit.
The holders of the true faith always
have enough and to spare.
Year: 1873

a GAY TOURNAMENT TO CoMg orr
A number OF Young ladies of Prince
Georges county, Md, near Washington
City, propose giving Tournament very
soon that will surpass anything Of the
kind ever seen in this country. We
wonld like TO be witness when this
wonderful exploit Of female equestrian
ism is performed Just think Of beau.
tiful girl, mounted on the back Of the
fiery steed, lance in hand, dashing at
the ring at a 2:40 speed, with flowing
hair streaming on the breeze, her lovely
bosom heaving with excitement like The
surging pillows OF the ocean in storm,
her eyes sparkling like two Of the
brightest planets IN the heavens, while
between her parted lips pearly white
teeth are flashing like ocean foam
Imagine all this, boys, if yon can, (be-
sides seeing love OF 4 little foot in
each stirrup,) and then you will have u
faint idea OF what the female Tourna-
meDt promises to be. Let's all 90
down, fellows
Year: 1873

Last week some person unknown,
under cover of night and darkness, at
tempted at Cumberland, to shoot Sheriff
Gross with pistol, firing at him whilst
he sat near window in his house. The
ball passed through the window near
his shoulder and buried itself in the op-
posite wall.
Year: 1873

BOASTING or OFFERS or MARRIAGE
Now, if there is one practice ! think
less of than another, it is the chronic
habit some young (and some not 80
young) women have of Boosting of the
number of offers they have received
from would bc husbands Riding on
the cars the other day, happened TO
be seated near young woman who
was talking with great animation 10 u
male friend Her voice was not as low,
winning and musical as it might have
been, else | should not have heard, in
spite of myself, what was compelled
to hear or change my seat, nor were or
manners as modest and retiring as my
grandmother used TO tell me were char
acteristic of girls when she was one, else
she wouldn't have told the young man
beside her all that she did. But she
said she had received a good deal of
''marked attention, "oiiers OF marriage
from every quarter and then she be-
gan to count OH her fingers how many.
And vet she was no firt. She abhorcd
hirts, whether male or female. Shc
loathed men who went about "breaking
hearts and boasting OF it, But she
didn't boast that SHE had broken heart
not she Blu. she had refused many
offers OF marriage. She would therefore
have her friend infer that the men who
made these offers were not sincere, that
they did not love her with all their ma,
lures, that their hearts were rs tough as
sole leather.


Unjust say, bachelor though ! am.
and as susceptible as most men TO the
sweet influences Of women, had no fear
of falling in love with the fascinating
creature.
Year: 1873

ON page 500 Of the new ordnance book, may be
foand law, which says 'lor all work and labor
hereafter required to be done, and goods chattels
wares, machinery, merchandise, and materials iur-
nshed' "where the cost will probably exceed fifty
dollars the officer or committee having such bus
insss in charge shall publicly invite sealed propo-
sails tor the doing of such work, and give the con-
contract to the lowest bidder"


Notwithstanding this law has been in existance
about ten years, and was known to be IN the new
ordinance book, it was deliberately violated by
the chairman OF the committee on Public Build
ings, who presented and was paid bill of Sl5S-
0j, for work, which every member knew was done
without law Ii such exhibitions of awlessness are
permitted by the heads of committees, who should
set better examples, what else can be expected OF
those who do not assist to make ordinances, than
that they will violate and set them asider Ihe
attention of the Council was called TO this matter
as We learn from the proceedings by one or two
members of that body, but no excuse was offered
BY tbs offending committee man.


There is no fine no penalty for the violation OF
ordinance Of this character; and the position
Of councilman is one which secures TO the people
40 responsibility 'chatcrer. He gives 10 security
for the faithful observance of tho laws aud ordi-
nances, except his oaA when he is about TO take
his seat, aud auy one can see how easily 1t IS to
svAde and set this responsibility aside from this
case Ii Job of Sl5s06 will temp: n member TO
set aside and violate law and conscience, what
may we expect when there is large jobs TO do bat
that the law will be regarded SIS obsolete. 1t is
nunsence to talk about the responsibility OF coun-
cilmea under such circumstance. With what face
can Mr. Fo uIk demand of any of his fellow mem
bers or committee men that They shall not do as
he has done. A councilman giyas 10 security, and
is in nowise more responsible than the case here re-
ferred to shows Mr. Fo NIX 10 he for any act he
does of this kind or vote he gives. The majority
may repeal or set aside this ordinance at any time
and divide up the work among themselves; and
s1sp their fingers at the people. They can Tefere
t)re-elect them but what do they care about a
reelection; many of them viii tell you that :hey
10 not desire the office, and would prefer TO be
left Of the ticket.


These remarks are not partlzan and may be sp-
piled to any member who subjects himself to the
charge of violating the law. We have as much
eSpect for Mr.. Folk as his fellow members, and
perhaps should not have called attention TO the
matter had he not been member Of church in
high standing, from whom is expected the
most implicit obedience OF the law.
Year: 1873

The bilI signed by The President. 10 eEcoapaGe
the growth d timber on the Western prairies pro
vides among other things that any person who
shall plant and protect Gnd keep in healthy,
growing condition, for ten years, forty acres OF
timber trees thereon, not being more than twelve
feet aI art each way, any quarter section OF any
public lands Of tho United States, shall bc entitled
to a pateut for the whole of ssid quarter section
at the expiration Of the ten years, ON maAng
nroof of the fact by not less than two credItabe
witnesses The bill further provides that each
and every person, who, under the prescription and
homestead laws having homestead, and who' at
the end of the third year OF his or her residence
thereon, shall have had under cultivation an acre
of timber trees thereon not mere than twelve fet
apart each way, and in good and thrifty cond :
ton, for each and every hundred and sixty acres
of homestead shall, on the proof OF two credloie
and that none of the lands shall become liable Tor
the satisfaction of any debt or debts contracted
before