smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

THE NUMBER NINE.-A Dutchman
went to the lottery Office in Louisville the
other day and inquired for ticket No. o..
He either wanted 0, or 80, or 900, or 99,-
900. But no other number would satisfy
him. On inquiry as TO his reasons for
this particular number, the following
facts in his life were learned He came
to this country when years old. After
he had been here 8 years he got married.
Nine months after the wedding his wife
gave him child. The baby when nine
days old was christened. lie lived with
his wife 8 years, and during that period
she presented him with 0children. Then
he had fuss with her, and she banged
him over the head times with the stave of
a beer keg, from the effects of which he
lay in bed days. lie left that wife then
and had been grass widower just nine
years on the day he applied for for the
ticket. He hoped with ticket No. 8 to
draw money enough to recuperatc his
finances, which were reduced to 80 which
he offered for the ticket. On being in
formed that there was no ticket remain
ing the number Of which was composed


entirely Of 9's he looked detected, but
Immediately weat out and drank nine
glasses of beer. Then he returned and
sad.he would wait until only nine tickets
were left, and then take them all.
Year: 1873

FINDING A BooTJAoK. "A housekecp-
er writes the following plant to the
Cleveland Ledder: When the aver
age husband Of the period wants to find
bootjack he steps to the buttery door, and
leaning against the doorway with his
hands in his pockets, whistles mcdita-
lively as his eyes wander along the upper
shelves. When n break in the tune oc-
ours, you may know he has found the
cake, which he devours absently, still
looking for the bootack. Being now de-
prived of that aid to reflection, whstling,
he executes waltz in slow movement,
sustained by large piece of cake in one
hand, and a sizabe pickle in the other.
After while, as the booUack docs not
make its appearance, the husband does
at the door of the room where you are
getting the baby to sleep, and shouts,
jane at the top Of his voice, under the
impression that you are up stairs-an i'm
preston speedily removed. To cover
the confusion of his retreat, he steps on
the dogs tail and bumps the bird cage
with his head, then wants to know what
you have done with that bootjack, and
why it is that you never keep things IN
their place. If you are wise, and simply
and calmly point, like Columbia, to the
object in question hanging on its accus-
toned nail, he seizes upon it wrathfully,
with the solemn vow that it was not there
when he went through the room before.


The offending boots are finally left in
the doorway where it is convenient to
trip over them, and serenity transpires
unless you have occasion to go around
them, when you will at once see their
natural means of obstructing a passage
way. 1t is estimated that one pair of
boots judiciously disposed about an apart
ment Of medium size, will prevent a
well-disposed person or professional
burglar from quietly making his way
about it.


At tea time the average husband does
not care about any cake it isn't much
like that his mother used to make"
Year: 1873

A HONOLULU paper relates the fact that
one Of the whaleships in the harbor once
captured whale in the Arctic seas that
had in its carcass hOrpoon. This har-
poon was known TO belong to n ship which
was at that time cruising, in the North
ern seas on the other side of the contin-
ent. The whale had evidently passed
from one open sea to another, by way of
the pole. lie must have found open wa
ter, for even whale must come up at
short intervals to blow. 1t is certain that
the polar sea is navigable for whales from
one side Of the continent to the other
But while it does not follow that ships
could follow the same track, the fact cit
cd is one of considerable interest. Ship
masters may be able to navigate the Po-
lar Sea when they know as much about
navigation in high latitudcs as this whale
with harpoon sticking in its back.
Year: 1873

TRANsFIXE shall never forget
that evening we spent at Magruder's
years ago. We admired Miss Magruder
and we went around to see her. 1t was
Summer time, moonlight, and she sat
upon the piazza. The carpenter had been
there that day, gucing up the rustic
chairs on the porch, so we took n seat on
the stop in front of Miss Magruder, where


in her smiles. 1t seems as it the carpen-
ter must have upset his glue-pot on the
spot whore we sat, for after enjoying
Miss Magruder's remarks for a couple Of
hours, and drinking in several of her
smiles, we tried TO rise for the purpose of
going home, but found that we were inn


movably fixed to the step. Then Miss
Magruder said, "Don't be in hurry"
and we told her we believed we would
not. The conversation had II sadder tone
after that, and we sat there thinking
whether it would be better to ask Miss
Magruder to withdraw while we disrobed
and went home in Highland costume, or
whether we should urge her to warm up
the poker, or whether we should give one
terrific wrench and then ramble down
the yard backward. About midnight
Miss Magruder yawned, and said she be-
lieved she would go to bed. Then we
suddenly asked if she thought her father
would have any objection to lending us
his front steps for day or two, because
we wanted to take them home for pat
tern. We think Miss Magruder must
have entertained doubts of our sanity, for
she rushed in, called her father and
screamed. Magruder came down with n
double barrelod gun. Then we explain
cd the situation in a whisper, and he pro-
cured saw, and cut out the piece of
step to which we were attached. Then
we went home wearing the patch, and be-
fore two o'clock crushed out our young
love for Miss Magruder. We never call
ed again, and she threw herself away on
a dry goods man. There is melancholy
satisfaction in recalling these memories
OF youth, and rejecting upon the inhu-
ence of glue upon the emotions of the hu-
man heart.-Saturday EVenin9 Post.
Year: 1873

AN Indiana convict who was hung
three months ago has just been granted
a new trial. lie does not appear to take
a great deal Of interest in it himself; and
when the decision Of the court was an
nounced, he behaved exactly as if it
made no difference at all to him. Some
men are very unexcitable.
Year: 1873

A NEGRO in Columbus, Ga, dreamed
that he found five dollars at a certain
place in a street. He went to the spot
next morning. found one dollar, and is
blaming the ghost who told him of it for
taking the other four.
Year: 1873

A COUNTY assessor asked woman
how many chickens she had and doubt
ing her word proceeded to count them.
She took him out to the bee hive, kicked
it over, and then asked him to count the
bees.
Year: 1873

Too MUCH RAIN.-For the last ten or twelve
days we have had daily rains, and the plant
ers are apprehensive of the advent of the
dreaded caterpillar. The fodder is about to
be completely lost, and the farmers prospects
look ablnep generally Just now.
Year: 1873

FIRST CLASS CIGAR STORE FOR sAIE-I,OCA
"A tion unsurpassed lower part city heart business
sold In consequence OF Ill health extraordinary chancs
Tor enterprising party TO make Call
al 25 Chambers street
Year: 1873

THE BREWSTER WAGON" A.
In all weights Cor pleasure driving or speeding


exquisitcy finished
and embracing in their construction the various improve
ments introduced by during the past 10 years. making
them


the standard for Quality
throughout the United states.
these wagons are exclusively the production Of our
weli-known Brcome street factory and offered in
stock all respects equal in qualify to those built the
order OF the most valued customer, and at prices


uniform TO all
In order that we may not be confounded with Joint
stock company OF carriage dealers who have adopted
firm similar to and impudcntly claim the
reputation have made for the Brewster Wagon" we
beg the public will remember that our only warerooms
at the corner OF


Fifth avenue and Fourteenth street,
and our only Factory on Broome street


BREWSTER & CO.,


OF Broome street.
Year: 1873

The Sunday morning dawned bright
and clear. Mildred was up early
she was organist at the church oppo-
site, and generally practiccd little
before the service began. With her
music in her hand she came across
the road and opened the wicket by
the large gate.


4 tall figure standing in the shad-
ow the porch. In dull surprise Mil
Year: 1873

The way is long, my darling.


The road is rough and steep,
And fast across the evening sky
| see the shadows sweep.
But obi my love my darling.


No i'll to us can come,
No terror turn us from the path,
Forwe are going home.
Your feet are tired my darling
So tired the tender feet;
But think when we are there at last,
How sweet the rest how sweet
For lol the lamps are lighted.


And yOnder cleaning dome,
Before us, shining like a star,


Shall guide our footsteps home.
We've lost the flowers we gathered
So early in the morn;
And on we go, with empty hands,
And garments soiled and worn.
But obi the dear All Father


Will out to meet US come,
And iairer flowers and whittier robes
There wait for us at home.
Art cold, my love, and famished?
Art faint and sore athirst2
Be patient yet a little while,


And joyous as at first;
For obi the sun sets never


Within that land Of bloom,
And thou shalt eat the bread of life
And drink life's wine at home.
The wind blows cold, my darling.
Adown the mountain steep.
And thick across the evening sky
The darkling shadows creep;
But. obi my love press onward,
Whatever trials come,
For in the way the Father set


We two are going home.
Year: 1873




terest with which they We're regarded
The plausible argument was used, and
with the desired popular effect that the
introduction of such sheep would enable
Amer ican manufactures, then in theil
infancy, to produce broadcloths and 9th
er wooden fabrics, of texture that would
compete with the foreign made. Mr.
Clay was one of those who were consult
ed with reference to the sheep, and he at
once decided that they were needed
some of them subsequently finding their
way to Ashland. The speculation was
quite too profitable to stop here, and in
about year there were probably a
thousand sheep in the Union, and they
had advanced to twelve hundred dollars
per head, and they soon went up to fif-
teen hundred dollars apiece, and a first
rate buck would command two thou
sand dollars at sight. Of course the
natural spirit of Yankee enterprise and
love of lucre, were equal to such an
emergency as this, and hundreds OF
merino sheep soon accumulated IN diff
ferent localities. In time the specula-
ton had become so feverish in some
parts of the West, that the sum Ct eight
thousand dollars was paid for a buck
and eve. This remarkable purchase,
which was illustrative of the enthusiasm
that possessed some mems minds at this
period, was made by Mr. Samuel Long,
well known builder, and who is said
to have entered into a similar opera ton
under the following circumstances -
There resided at this time, in Lexington
KY, and but short distance from Mr..
Clay's villa, wealthy gentleman nam
ed Trotter, who had two sheep-a buck
and ewe-and Long was very desirous
to possess them. He repeatedly ban
tered and importuned Trotter to obtain
this pair of sheep from him, but without
success. One day, however the latter
said to the former If you will build
me such a house, ON a certain lot of
land, as | shall describe, you shall have
the merinos." "Draw your plans for
the building" replied Long instantly,
and let me see them. will then de.
eide" The plans were soon after sub
mitted to him, and Long eagerly accep-
ted the proposal, and forthwith engaged
in the undertaking. He built for Trot-
ter four-story brick house about 50x7O
it,, on the middle of an acre of land.
He finished it in the most approved
style, enclosed it with a costly fence and
finally handed it over to Trotter for the
two merino sheep. The estimated cost
of the establishment was at least $4,000
But long while before this beautiful
and costly estate was fully completed
the price of merinos declined gradually
and six months had not passed away be.
fore they would not command twenty
dollars each, even in Kentucky. Many
persons lost their all, but none treated
the goddess of evil fortune more phil
osophically than Mr.. Long. He held
ON to this pair until their price had
reached the par value only of any other
sheep and then he absolutely killed
both buck and eve, made a free bar
bacue, called all his friends to the feast,
and, in the midst of the festival de.
clared himself ruined man, all on &C
count of his passion for merinos.
Year: 1873

The general railway bill, passed by the
New jersey Assembly on Wednesday, will re-
lieve the people, if it become law, OF the
burden of a most oppressive monopoly; but
it is far from even indicating q solution of
the difficulty which is yearly becoming more
serious in the relations of the railroad cOrpO-
rations to the Government and the public.
railroad is essentially monopoly, and it is
not in the nature of things that the relief
afforded by an unrestricted permission to
everybody to build road wherever and
whenever the money, can be raised to pay for
it, should be either complete or permanent.
wherever combination is possible" said
George Stephenson, competition is impOs-
"sible.n No combination of butchers or
bakers can put up the price of meat and
bread, because such tradesmen are too numer-
ous to combine But rival railways through any
section of country must be few, even with the
most liberal laws; and being few they will
inevitably act together to impose whatever tax
they please upon the public. This is what
they have done on the n0minally competing
lines between NewYOrk and the West, and
what they will eventually do in New-Jersey if
the new bill lead to the results its friends an





by statute, or to limit rates, or to exact min
imum of accommodation for freighters and
travellers has ever succeeded. The only effect
of legislative interference has been to fill the
books with unexecuted laws, and to create in
every State Capital as well as at the seat OF
National Government a railroad lobby more
powerful and more corrupt than any other
known to American legislation. Meanwhile,
the influence of the great railway corporations
in politics, and the debasing effect of that in
flueHce, increase at a rate which awakens the
liveliest alarm; and the question is on the
lips of every thoughtful public man, What are
we going to do about it


In discussion of this matter month ago
we suggested one remedy, in the adoption of
few simple general laws, and the creation
of system of competent and permanent
railroad tribunals with broad discretionary
powers, to apply them TO particular cases.
Mr. Charles Francis Adams, jr., has recently
proposed much more revolutionary remedy.
In behalf of the State Board of Railroad Com
missioners he made an elaborate and valuable
address, on the 18th ultimO, before Com
mittee of the Legislature, disposing summariy
of great many prejudices which have almost
become axiOms, and bringing the discussion
of the whole question back to first principles
Mr.. Adams assumes that Gas Mr.. David
A. Wells expresses it) the State Is
bound to interfere when any one
"branch of the business of the COM
"munity is 80 mOnopolized that citizens can no
Year: 1873

representative Committee Of the students of tho
National Academy of Design have issued an address
to the friends of art in America. praying for assist
anoe In founding class for painting in the Acad-
deny. The drawing classes have certainly made ad-
mirable progress during the last few years, aud
there is doubt that If the necessary funds were
raised for the endowment of course in painting 1t
would be equally successful. A great interest is
awaking among intelligent young msn and women
on the subject of art. two hundred studouts having
been enrolled at the Academy last season.
Many Of these have arrived at such a
point that they are now compelled
to choose between journey TO Europe or
practical abandonment Of progress in their studies


Tho plan proposed is TO collect by subscription
fund Of $4,000 To establish in New-York and perma-
nently endow a school of painting No subscriber
will bo called upon for payment until $4,000 arc
subscribed aud tho success of tho undertaking ia
thus secured. Tue money is then " bo paid into
Year: 1873

Members of the last House of Representa-
fives who are not reelected to Congress will
be dismayed 10 learn that, in their hurry, they
have not worded their bill 80 as to insure
their back pay, after all. In case the Con-
troller decides the law to be defective in this
particular, the Treasury will save Sl,6OO,OOe,
and the slippery congressman will have the
name and not the game of stealing.
Year: 1873

1t is proposed that the Senate shall adjourn
next Tuesday. This means that the Louisiana
case, as represented in the rival claims of
Messrs Mcmillan and Pnchback, shall be left
untouched until next Winter. Does the Sen
ate need any more bloody warnings on this
grave subjecti The people of Louisiana may
be compared to a mine of explosives ready to
burst into fame and ruin at any time. Blood
has been shed already, and nothing but severe
repression and cool moderation can prevent an
outbreak against the usurpation, deplorable and
distracting in it's consequences. 1t is said that
the President deprecates any interference with
Louisiana affairs unless to seat Pinchback.
Under the circumstances, it is not easy to see
how that person can get the Endorsement OF
the Senate; therefore. it is proposed that
nothing he done now and that the Senate
quietly go home and leave the President to
fight the thing out. He has told the country
on which side he will fight, and Senator'S
seem willing to throw the responsibility on
him. The XLIId Congress committed great
crime in evading this mOmentous question !;
will the Senate be guilty of the same pusil-
lanimityf
Year: 1873

In the Senate, yesterday, Mr.. Spencer of
Alabama, who had first attempted to sneak
into his seat by mingling in a group of Sem
ators sworn in, like small boy stealing into
a crcus-tent, was admitted by an almost party
vote No facts are more notorious than those
relating to the pretended election of Mr.. Spen-
Ger. The Legislature which chose him was not
a legal assemblsge; and it confessed its irreg-
ularity by dissOlving some weeks after the
farce of electing Senator had been finished.
But the question before the Senate was not as
to the legality of his election; it was, in view
of all the patent facts, whether his credentials
and those of the contestant, Mr. Sykes, (who
was chosen by the legal Legislature) should
go together to the usual committee, as similar
cases had previously gone. But Mr.. Spencer
is an Administration man; he had contract
to carry his State for the party; so he was
forthwith given his seat.
Year: 1873

The spirit of the German anti-Ring- Charter
meeting, last night, was admirable and signifi-
cant The speakers and resolutions treated
but one sentiment-oppOsition to corruption
aud misrule. 1t was amusing to NOTICE that
some disturbers of the peace thought that an
alIusiOn to Credit Mobier frauds was partisan.
The frauds may be partisan, though the allu-
sion is not. If the sensitive souls of ultra Re-
publicans are worried by the opposition of
Mayor Havemeyer to the Charter, they may
find consolation in his reply to the Ninth Ward
Council of Political Reform. The Mayor thinks
that the enactment of the Charter would be a
great political mistake for which the Repub-
lican party would be held responsible by the
people.


The news from Spain affords no clearer in
dication of the probable result OF the present
disagreement between the Government aud the
Assembly. There were hopes of a compromise
Yesterday which might obviate the necessity
of the resignation of the ministry. But on the
other hand dispatch comes by way of Lon
don which is grotesquely unfavorable. The
b. Governor of Malaga is said to have sent in
his resignation on account of being unable to
restrain the populace from pillaging the houses
of the rich. We should think that such per-
formances might well cause longing for prl-
yate life in the official breast. bat 1t is hard 70
Year: 1873

Mr.. James Brooks's address to his const,tu-
eats is better in logic than in temper. HIS
criticism of the report of the House Commit
tee on Credit Mobilier affairs is more nearly
lust than his attack on the individual mem-
bers of the Committee. His letter Is pun
gent; it shows that long and distressing
illness has not weakened his intellectual
forces but we prefer to credit the acerblties
which mark the document to the natural
weariness Of man who has been worn down
with sickness and specially singled out for
investigation to the neglect of others. 1t must
be noticed that Mr.. Brooks does not now pro-
pose to enter into any analysis of the case as
presented by the Poland Committee. His ad-
dress is a promise that he will meet the whole
question, by and by.
Year: 1873

HORRIBLE PICIURE.-One of those fashy
pictorial sheets, published a thousand or
more miles from here. produces full page
picture which is quaint and impossible.
Several young women, in something less
than Black Crook costume, are assembled
around what is possibly intended to repre-
sent the head of an alligator. One of the
undressed maidens has her head between
the beasts wide spread jaws, while another
Of the bareback holds bowie knife, the
sharp point close to the monsters left eye,
as if threatening its sight. Beneath the
picture is a legend stating that young
woman in Opelousas, Louisiana, has sue
ceeded in tanning an alligator. The picture
is horrid affair, and had it not been used
twice previously for other representations
would have been bad enough at best. Our
readers are informed that most of these
stale wood cuts are manufactured from
miserable imaginations, and the less our
people gaze at them the better.
Year: 1873

priations be and are hereby made, and that
the Administrator of Public Accounts war
rant on the Administrator Of Finance in
payment of the same, whenever there shall
be money in the city treasury to the credit
of the appropriate fund, for each account.
and not otherwise appropriated: