smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

ANECDoTE OF THE RAIL.-Some years
ago there were engaged upon the Boston and


Providence Railroad two men, as engineers,
who are now eminent as master mechanics OF
railroads. They we're both skillful men. AS
they ran regular trains, they each had loco
motive which they ran daily, and they be-
came as much attached to their machines as
any gentleman will be to fine horse. They
could perform any task with them, and OBJ
tain such speed out of them as no other engi-
neer could. One of them, whom we will call
Green, used to say that he could stop his en-
CINE within an inch of mark to be put up
on the track. In fact, he used to do it at the
Roxbury shop frequently (when the cold
man" meaning the master mechanic, was not
aboard) to his admiring associates. The 9th
er man-Brown-was equally proud of his
machine You would think he had circus
trick horse to hear him talk. These men, of
course, had little rivalry between them,
which was always encouraged by the other
boys on the road. Green stated one day that
he would hang up his gold watch on the back
of Browns tender, and would run fifteen hun
dred feet at full speed, and stop with his
draw.bar within one inch of the watch.
He was dared to do it. He accepted the
challenge and accomplished what he said he
could. Brown was astonished at the daring
of his associate, and concluded that if he did
not take the wind out of his sails his (Brown's)
fame would be under cloud. So he said
that it was luck on Green's part that he
could not do it again; would he bet So. The
bet was accepted, and Green sailed back to
the starting point, and in due time came back
at full speed and went at Browns tender with
an awful whack. The watch was somewhat
enlarged specifically; it was quite thin, and
the crystal was in more than one piece. AS
time-keeper its avocation had ceased entire
ly. The reason of the smash-up was, Brown
had quietly moved his machine several inches
by leaking steam into cylinders This he had
managed to do unperceived by the bystand-
ers, who were very intently watching Green's
movements The latter was wonder-struck at
the failure of his feat, but be never for mo-
ment supposed that Brown had played him
false. He never tried the thing again. In
after years Brown presented him with valu-
able watch, with due explanations, which was
to the receiver an astonished revelation.
Year: 1875

A GU1NEASERMoN-We have from the old
country the story of dissenting minister who
was paid to preach sermon on some special
occasion in the chapel of neighboring towr.
AS the congregation was not very rich, he
was informed beforehand that they could not
pay him more than guinea for his discourse.
When the service was over he received in the
vestry the congratulations of the elders, who
were loud in their estimation of his eloquence.
He turned around upon them with almost
smile of contempt, and said, "Do you call
that an eloquent sermon I should just like
you to hear one of my three guinea ones" !"
Year: 1875

CARE OF THE PIANO OR ORGAN.-Instru-
ments of this kind should be closed when not
in use, in order to prevent the collection of
dust, pins, etc., on the sound-board, and also
to preserve the strings and faction" from the
ill.eAects of sudden changes of temperature.
Nothing Injuries piano so much as extreme
heat, whether arising from bright fire in
front of it, or what is worse, the heated air
from the furnace Care should be taken to
prevent moisture of any kind getting between
the keys, as it causes them to stick. Moths
are very destructive to pianos, and should be
kept out by lump of camphor wrapped in
paper in the inside corner.
Year: 1875

THE MYSTERIOUS Box.-A station keeper
near London received one day box Of
very mysterious appearance, addressed to him
in his official character. Opening it he found
healthy infant. 1t was not his fancy to
rear other peoples children, and he thrust it
aside; the porter, taking pity on the infant,
and with the consent of the agent, determined
to adopt it. When the child was lifted
from its crib e8O0 sterling were found in the
box. The station master Immediately be-
came interested in the little one, but the
humane porter declared he was too late. The
moral is obvious.
Year: 1875

b@ The New York Economist says there
will be a large reduction this year in the
rent of stores and still greater in that of
dwelling houses. Real estate has fallen great
ly in the commercial metropolis, and rents
must fall in proportion. In New Jersey and
Long Island great number of houses have
been recently built, which are quite as acces-
sible as city residences, and will come in com.
petition with these, and still farther depress
city rents. "To Let" is already seen in unu-
sually large quantity in the principal thor
ough-fares Business of all sorts is dull, and
everything dependent on it must sympathize
with it.
Year: 1875

A GREc1AN LEGEND.-When Bacchus
was boy, he journeyed through Hellas to 60
to Naxia and as the way was very long, he
grew tired, and sat down upon stone to rest
As he sat there, with his eyes upon the
ground, he saw little plant spring up be-
tween his feet, and was so much pleased with
it that he determined to take it with him and
plant it in Naxia.


He took it up and carried it away with him
but, as the sun was very hot, he feared ii
might wither before be reached his destina.
ton. He found birds skeleton, into which
he thrust it, and went on.


But in his hand the plant sprouted so fast
that it started out of the bones above and be-
low. This gave him fresh fear of its wither.
ing, and he cast about for remedy. He
found lions bone, which was thicker than
the birds skeleton, and he stuck the skeleton
with the plant in it into the bone of the lion.
Ere long, however, the plant grew out of the
lions bone likewise.


Then he found the bone of an ass, larger
still than that of the lion so be put it into the
ass's bone, and thus he made his way to Naxia.
When about to set the plant, he found that the
roots had entwned themselves around the
birds skeleton and the lions bone and the
ass's bone; and, as he could not take it out
without damaging the roots, he planted it as
it was, and it came up speedily, and bore, to
his great Joy, the most delicious grapes, from
which he made the first wine, and gave it to
men to drink.


But behold miracle when men first drank
of it, they sang like birds; next, after drink
ing little more, they became vigorous and
gallant like lions; but when they drank more
still, they began to behave like asses.
Year: 1875

TRUST HER-Con6dence is everything be-
tween husband and wife; and woman who
loves, desires above all things to be trusted.


She would not be glad when he was sad.
She would not be ignorant of troubles and
anxieties. Anything is better to her than to
be shut out from the innermost of the life of
one who would be all hers as she is all his.
Women generally are averse to keeping things
to themselves, and husband is often over
dosed with confidence; but many really afec-
tionate men lead, as far as their wives are
concerned, double life.


Of that which is not domestic they think it
right to say nothing. Some grievous troubles
may be upon them-dread Of failure, certain
ty of loss, rumors of some mistake which has
plunged them into anxiety and they make
no 81 gn of it save by change of manner,
which to the women who are ignorant that
they have any cares, is incomprehensible


The wife would gladly be sympathetic, but
when frowning brow, silence, and the lack
of usual caresses, are all the tokens that she
has Of her liege lords trouble, all her boasted
intuition cannot keep her from flying to the
conclusion that it is personal matter-that
she is no longer loved, or that ne loves some
one else And I believe that much domestic
misery has been caused in the first place by
the mans secretiveness when he had no Sc.
crets which might not have been shared by
his wife.


You may say, why should he talk to one
who cannot understand or give counsel to a
being with such vague ideas of stocks, and
banking, and speculation, that she can only
wonder why things have gone wrong? Well,
there are many reasons: the woman who
holds him dear will give him more sympathy
than any living being, for one thing; and he
needs sympathy, whether he knows it or not.
Year: 1875

And then she has her rights, for she is q
partner in firm of two, and the books should
not be closed to her.


She is mate of the vessel in which he is
captain, and surely should know what shoals
are near.-Mary Dallas.
Year: 1875

PITY.-We are taught, by law Of civili-
zation which we call humanity, to feel for the
sorrows and distresses of our neighbors
Without the sentiment of pity, society would
be little better than menagerie Of wild ami
mails, wherein each fought for his own hand,
and no one gave thought to the suferings or
the rights Of others; but pity makes these
wild animals into men, and substitutes for the
sel6shness of individualism the community of
race and the duty of mutual help.
Year: 1875

A very searching investigation was
carried on few years ago, in the north
Of England, by two families who we're
searching up their respective ancestry.
The strife was great between them, each
one determined to look back into anti
qBities further than the other One Of
Che famiIiev, su'hSscsnnue was Spencer,
employed an artist to paint a historic
scene representing the building Of the
ark, and the loading up Of the ship by
Noah and his son with its multifarious
and various cargo. On the gang plank
leading TO the deck Of the lark two men
were seen rolling up n large box, on one
side of which was painted in large letters
"Relics insignia, and papers belonging
to the Spencer family" This was con-
sidered coup d'etat hard to beat; but
the other family, determined not to be
outdone in the antediluvian pretsnses Of
their name, prepared at great cost and
research a record Of their antiquity. In
describing the exploits of one Of their
ancestors, at a very early day, who was
represented as a man Of some authority
this remarkable passage occurs: During
this year Adam and Eve were driven
out of Paradise"
Year: 1875

A reporter of Baltimore thus describes
one of the many processes of making
shot in one of the shot-towers of that
city:


One of the secrets of the manufac-
ture is the mixing of the lead with
certain proportion of a combination of
mineral substances called temper. The
temper is fused with the lead, and gives
the motion metal that consistency which
makes it drop, and without which the
lead would be moulded by the sieve, and
would form little pencils instead OF
round shot When 'B b shot, for-fn-
tance, are to be made, the lead is pour
ed into pan perforated with holes cor
responding to that size.


The little pellets come pouring in a
continuous shower, and fall into a tank
filed with water on the ground floor.
In their descent of two hundred feet
they become perfect spores, firm and
dense, and they are tolerably cool when
they strike the water, although the swift
conclusions make the tank foam and
bubble as if the water was boiling fur
iously. The shot must fall in the wa
ter, for if they would strike any firm
substance they would be 1attened and
knocked out of shape. II get the little
pellets perfectly dry after they have
been in the we'll is the most difficult and
troublesome process of the whole man.
ufacture.


An elevator with small buckets, livery
much like those used in -four mills) car
ries the shot up as fast as they reach the
bottom of the well and deposits them
in box sixty feet above the first 6oor
The water drips from the buckets as
they go up, and not much is poured in
the receiver above, although it is in
tended to be a sort of dripping machine
From this receiver the shot runs down
spout into drying pan, which great
ly resembles a gigantic shoe, made Of
sheet-iron. The pan rests at an angle,
which permits the wet shot TO roll slow
ly down TO the chamber below, and the
pellets become perfectly dry as they pass
over the warm sheet-iron.
Year: 1875

In case tried before Judge Ludlow
in Philadelphia, witness testified that
the defendant Cunningham had deliber-
ately driven his wagon over a man who
was crossing the street at Market and
Front streets, and then refused to stop,
and was oyertaken at the top of the hill.
The defense was that the horse started
suddenly and the injured man was run
down accidentally. Judge Ludlow, in
charging the jury, said that the foot
ways and crossings belonged to the
pedestrians, and persons driving were
bound to notice the crossings and excr-
else care in driving over them, and If,
by negligence or after warning, the
driver drives over foot passenger upon
the footway, he would he guilty of as
sault and battery or aggravated assault
and battery, as the injury might be
slight or severe, or even of murder, il
the person was fatally injured. If a
horse starts suddenly, and is beyond the
control Of the driver, Of course he could
hardly be held responsible for accident
The jury were To judge from the evil
dence whether has injury was inflicted
unavoidably or by negligence. The ju-
ry found Cunningham guilty, with a re.
commendation to mercy, and he was
sentenced to three months. A few such
cases in Pittsburgh would be Of service.


Teamsters seem to think that pedestrians


have no rights which they are bound 10
respect
Year: 1875




pa. if you do not object, to
open up the Yellowstone River by send
ing G,Eeral George A. Forsyth and
Colonel Grant, of my staff, up the Vel
lowstone to the mouth of Big Horn as
soon as the ice breaks, which will give
the lowest tide water, having already
secured steamboat TO make this ex-
ploration. If General Forsyth is sue
cessful will send General Custer with
a command from Fort Lincoln across
the mouth of Powder River, thence up
on the south bank of the Yellowstone,
crossing Powder River, Tongue River.
Rose Bud, and on TO the mouth of Big
Horn. This country is as yet entirely
unexplored. and the expedition may de-
velop a very valuable auriferous section,
and make the Father DeSmet story to
some extent true But I am Of the be-
lief that the mountain of mica has not
changed to gold.


1 will also send an expedition down
Wind River, through the Owl Greek
Mountains, from Fort Stambaugh, via
Fort Brown, to the mouth of Big Horn,
and will bring it back through the
parks about the headwaters of Powder
River, visited by Captain Mills and his
command last summer. These parks
are, for beauty. fully-squai 70 those de-
scribed so graphically by General Custer
as existing in the Black Hills of
Shyenne. l may also say, from my own
knowledge, that the valleys of Big and
Little Popaagle, Little Wind River and
Main Wind River, can scarcely be ex-
celled in beauty and fertility, while the
student of Nature will find there the
most extraordinary upheavals of earth
crust probably to be found on this con-
tinent. l am of the opinion that this
country is gold-bearing, but ofits abund-
ance there can only be conjecture at
present.


feel quite confident of our ability to
prevent intended trespasses on the rights
of Indians, and cavalry and infantry in
the department Of Dakota are being
moved at the present time to NEST avail
able points, TO carry out my directions
of September 8, of last year. Were it
not for these precautions on the part of
the Government, there might be re-
petition of the California Gold Beach
and Gold Lake humhugs, with still
greater suffering, as many of the persons
now crazy to go to the Black Hills, new
er think of how they are to exist after
they get there, or how they could return
in case of failure, If they will wait for
further information from the Govern
ment, which now seems to be desirous of
making concessions to meet these new
interests, there will be no one more will
ing than myself to aid in ascertaining
their value. So far as the troops are
concerned, will promise activity in the
present emergency and the conscientious
performance of duty. Should the point
from which miners start be so remote
as to make it impossible for our scanty
force to watch them, We can occupy the
two or three gaps in the Black Hills,
and efectually exclude trespassers.
Very respectfully.


P. II. SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant General.
Year: 1875

What a wonderful contrast there is
between st. Paul, as described in the
following sketch, and some of our mod
ern apostles who think the only way to
oppose anything which does not not ac-
cord with their peculiar views is by bit
ter and insparing denunciation:


The Apostle Paul was eminent for
tact. He was courageous, Independent,
even impetuous; yet he had not parti-
Gle of that fanaticism which desplses
prudence as worldly policy, and pushes
forward, reckless of expediency. His
ardor, however high it might fame up,
never consumed his perspicacity. He
could adapt himself with marvellous
hexibility to times and persons-could
make himself all things to all men. He
did not bring forward the same argu-
ments to everybody, but selected such
as would serve his purpose with the in
dividual or the assembly he happened
to be addressing. Capable, as his writ
ings show, of uttering sharp language of
denunciation when there was call for
it, NJ also understood how to gain the
ear of opponents and bad men by mild
and polite phraseology. He does not
feel obliged to tell the Roman Procura-
tor that he is miserable idolater, but
courteously salutes him as "most noble
Festus." He propitiates King Agrippa
by compliment respecting his acquaint
ance with Jewish affairs. When he
stood on Mars Hill, in the midst of the
monuments of paganism, he character
lied his Athenian auditors as extremely
devoted to religion. A more marked
exhibition of the Apostles tact was oi
the occasion of his arraignment befor
the Sanhedrim. Perceiving that hi
judges were both Pharisees and Sad
ducees, he managed to stir up a strif
between the two rival parties on the doc
trine of the resurrection, which he de
clared TO be the ground of the accuse
tion against him; and in the dust of tn
conflict thus adroitly kindly he mad
his escape. One is struck with surpris
to see so large measure of practice
shrewdness in union with such fervC
and heroism.
Year: 1875

THE CURATIVE PoTATo.-Dr. Street.
er, Of Santa Barbara, tells the Alta"
that the worst case Of gravel may be
cured, the deposit dissolved and passed
away, by using the water in which Po-
tatoes have been boiled to pieces; strain
the water, sweeten to taste, and drink
for two OF three weeks. This is pain
less cure. The same authority states
that the furring or coating deposited on
the inside Of steam boilers may be east
ly removed. making the surface appear
like new iron, by placing a quantity Of
raw potatoes in the boiler and let them
boil TO pieces. After two or three days
open the manholes and a sandy deposit
will be found; brush It out and the boil.
or will he as good as new.
Year: 1875

TAxING CHURCH Property The
Michigan Legislature undertook to
grapple with the question Of taxing
church property, and bill was intro.
duced taxing all church lalda over che
value Of fifteen thousand dollars Then
one class Of members was alarmed be-
Gauss 80 much was proposed, another
class dissatisfied because no more was at
tempted, and the largest class were
afraid to go on the record In any shape.
So the bill died In nearly empty house.
Year: 1875

The WREN CAsE-SESTESCED PRONOUNCED.
The motion made for new trial in the case
of John Wren was overruled on Saturday
morning. Judge Crump took an appeal on
behalf of the prisoner. Judge Gu'gon pro.
nounced sentence of ten months imprlson-
ment in Jail in addition to the line OF S2OO
fixed by the jury. He said he would not ln-
pose labor, As this was the first conviction
ever had in Virginia of any one for being an
accessory after the fact to felony, but II IN
the futul e any public officer came before BIN
on like charge he would feel it his duty to
infiict the severest penalty known to the
law. The prisoner was then committed TO
Jail. His counsel will take the necessary steps
70 carry the case up TO the Supreme Court.
Year: 1875

One of the feminine newspaper correspon-
dents closes critical review OF Senator
Booths physiognomy with the remark that
IF there is any destiny in a mans face,
Senator Booths will carry him to the White
House." But there isn't. The person who,
Of all others whom we have met, has the
most poetical cast of features, and seemed
destined to become the Byron of the present
aye is now clerk in New York coal-yard,
and has no idea of going into poetry. The
most sensitive, refined and spiritual counte-
nance we ever had the pleasure Of gazing
upon belonged to q young man who was
regular ':big bonanza, of awful blasphemy.
we remember seeing meek-looking little
bow. with faxen hair. clear blue eyes, and a
delicate blush on his smooth cheek, bashfully
enter Sunday school and take seat in the
corner. One of the young lady teachers ap-
preached him and tenderly said: Little
boy. won't you recite your verses to me Z!


The little boy did not burst into tears, as the
teacher evidently expected he would; but
with marked emphasis he planted his heel
npon the desk in front Of him and delivered
himself of a negative remark Of such start
ling profanity that it is not permitted us to
indicate, even by initials and dashes, the sub
stance of his speech. He is now grown to
be :. man. The same clear blue eyes contrast
! with the delicate pink on bis cheek, the same
flaxen hair wreaths his forehead and gives
him look of sensitive innocence; and when
last heard from he was pursuing the avoca-
ton of river thief on the Lower Hudson
! Worcester Press.
Year: 1875

1t is better for you to pass an evening once
or twice week in lady's drawing room,
even though the conversation is slow, and
you know the girls song by heart, than in
club, tavern or the pit OF a theatre All
amusements of youth to which virtuous wo-
men are not admitted, rely on it, are deleteri-
Gus in their nature. All men who avoid fe-
male society have duh perceptions, and are
stupid, or have gross tastes, and revolt against
what is pure Young club swaggers, who
are sucking the butts of billiard cues all
night, call ladies' society insipid. Poetry is
uninspiring to jockey; beauty has no
charms for blind man, music does not please
poor beast who does not know one tune
from another; but as an epicure is hardly
tired of water sauces and brown bread and
butter, can sit for a whole night talking
with well regulated, kindly woman about
her girl Fanny or her boy Frank. and enjoy
the evenings entertainment. One Of the
benefits derived from woman's society is
that he is bound to be respectful to her. The
habit is of great good to your moral man, de-
pend upon it. Our education makes us the
most cminently selfish men in the world
ITNckerU.
Year: 1875

The Pal 1NdN Gazette says: AN admirer
of Mr.. Bright writes to Manchester paper
that he has discovered the secret of the power
this great speaker possesses of riveting the
attention of his audience. This he be-
lieves to lie in the fact that he uses monosyl-
lables very largely. The grand passage IN
Mr.. Bright's speech on the Burials bill de-
scribing Quaker funeral begins, 4 will take
the case of my own sect, and on counting
the words of that remarkable oration it will
be found that out OF one hundred and ninety
words one hundred and forty-nine, more
than seventy-tive per cent, were monosylla-
bles. On this it is urged that those IL charge
of youth should teach them the use of mono
syllables. An American journal lately men
toned school where such pains had been
taken to instruct the boys in the art Of public
speaking that if they had learned nothing else
they had acquired the greatest contempt for
all the devices of stump oratory. The course
of study prescribed left to the imagination,
but doubtless includes the translation into
monosyllables of the ponderous verbiage
which passes current in most political assem-
blies as genuine eloquence. 1t would, how
ever, be cruel to insist on the introduction Of
such teaching into the standards. Many
are obliged to speak who have less to say
than Mr.. Bright, and to them the sts2'apel70-
Tia per3n are Indispensable