smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

There are but few duties performed
by town or municipal authorities which
are more important than making and
keeping in repair the common high
ways. 1t is duty, we are sorry to say,
sadly neglected in many sections of the
country; and in some localities the mat
ter of road making is regarded as of no
Importance whatever, and the working
out of highway taxes, by the residents
of the towns or districts, is simply o
farce and fraud. Every good citizen
should feel an interest in good roads,
as they contribute immensely to the
comfort of travelling, and save much in
the wear and tear of carriages. 1t is
true, we must not expect in the rural
districts the well-cared-for, solid roads
Of suburban towns around cities but
there is no excuse for the rocky,
neglected paths which are often found,
and over which it is positively danger
GUS to travel. If towns would attend
to one point connected with their high
ways, that is, carefully remove, once in
two weeks, during the summer, every
stone which is brought to the surface
by rains or drought, it would render
even bad roads very comfortable. These
loose stones are not only cause of
great discomfort to travellers, but also
of intense anxiety. They put in peril
life and limb, as horses are very liable
to stumble in passing over them, and
carriages are often broken. Try an ex-
pertinent Ride over neglected road in
the country..of mile in extent, if you
have the courage; then stop at farm
house and give the farmer couple of
dollars to pick out the stones ride
back over the pathway again, and no.
tice how great is the change. Upon
your return you can trot briskly along,
with a sense of comfort and security :;
whereas, in passing over it previous to
the removal of the loose stones, you
proceeded slowly and in misery.
This illustrates how cheaply and expe-
ditiously bad roads can be improved.
If every town in those sections where
lands aresfull of small boulders would
provide simply for the removal of them
from the pathway as often as once in
two weeks during warm weather, the
roads would be more comfortable than
if ten times the cost was expended in
dumping on loads of sand, or blowing
up roadside soil and piling it on the
driveway. We hope these hints will
not be lost upon those who have our
common highways in charge. Journal
of Che31listJ,u.
Year: 1873

A traveller tells of an engagement he
saw between the Secretary bird and a
poisonous serpent. 1t was easy to per-
ceive that this remarkable bird was
fighting a duel with one of the deadly
serpents of that climate, and fierce
and terrible duel it was, equal skill,
vigilance, and activity being displayed
on both sides. The serpent, with it's
jaws extended, and its poisonous fangs
ready for the fatal bite, reared its ter
rible head, swollen with rage and ven
ON, darting out its forked tongue and
glaring with its fiery eyes, while for a
moment the bird stood at bay. Then,
with one of its large, strong wings
spread out before it's breast, exactly
like a shield, it, with it's other wing,
dealt blow at the raised head of the
foe which struck it to the ground.


Quick as lightning was the blow, and
quick as lightning the dash which the
snake again made at its assailant,
though only to expend it's venom on the
feathers of the wing spread out to
shield the breast. Watching it's oppor-
GunlUy the Dlru, Will announcer Suuueu
movement, sprang upon the foe, this
time to give it kick, and prick and
wound it with its talons then, seizing
it with it's bill, it tossed it into the air.


For few minutes the reptile lay stun
ned and powerless, while its assailant
stalked warily around, anticipating its
slightest movement, for the cunning of
the serpent and the swiftness of its
gliding motions rendered it an equal
match for its larger and more powerful
antagonist Finding it's advantage, the
bird now cautiously approached, and
again with its wing swept the snake off
the ground and tossed it into the air.


More bruised and feeble after each fall,
the deadly snake at length grew wear
led and disabled, till the bird, now
feeling itself secure from a stroke of
the poison fangs, leaped upon its neck
and held it to the ground, while with
one blow of its falcon-ike bill it split
open its skull, and ended this extraor-
dinary duel by gobbling its enemy up.
Year: 1873

Any one wishing to see all the stir
and hurry of a lively city eclipsed in
the country should visit the farm of
Mr.. George Wilkinson, in Goodhue
township. This we were pleased with
an opportunity to do on Monday Mr..
Wilkinson's farm consists of something
over LOO acres, 1000 of which have
been in small grain this season, includ-
ing 800 aeres of wheat. The number
of men employed Has between sixty and
seventy, and at the time we were Gher5
seven Wood reapers were following
each other around one of the two I" lit
tie pieces of one hundred acres each
which remained tc be cnt Forty men
were binding and shocking after these
seven machines. In another part of
the field Champion reaper was finish
ing the cutting in that direction. On
Tuesday morning the stacking crews
were organized with twenty teams, and
not an hour needlessly lost between
reaping and stacking. They will stack
about $50 acres day, and nearly finish
this week. The planning of the work
and the disposition of so many men re-
quire no small amount of management
on the part of the owner of the farm.


The amount of wheat in shocks was q
sight to see stretching far away for
two miles was the heavy-headed wheat
piled in thickly standing shocks. Con-
siderable of this Mr.. Wilkinson thought
would yield 35 bushels to the acre. The
varieties grown are the Lowland Scotch,
Rio Grande, and Odessa, and the seed
raised on the new ground turned
over each year. Sowing this on old
land gives all the advantages of q
change of seed.


There is probably $25, 900 worth of
grain on the place. This will be brought
direct from the machine at the rate Of q
car load a day, and shipped to Mil
waukee. It is remarkable to notice
how few weeds are to be seen on the
farm and mixed with the wheat.


The farm is not one of the largest,
but one of the best in the State. 1t is
gently rolling, and contains not more
than an acre that cannot be con-
veniently ploughed. The soil is excel
lent and the wheat heavy, even on the
highest points. We noticed a number
of thrifty groves which had been left to
add beauty to the place. Water is
plenty and good in various places, and
the farm is q very fine one for either
grain or stock. Mr.. Wilkinson will,
soon offer the farm for sale, and some
of our readers may be interested in
knowing the fact.-Goodhue Repu6H-
Year: 1873

In an article discussing the character
OF the malignant fever in Memphis,
which attacks whites and blacks with
equal severity and fatality, the Mem
phis appeal says: "We have no system
of sewerage in Memphis, and the neces-
sary consequence is that the filth of the
city is left to take care of itself. Our
sanitary police consists, for the most
part, of some half dozen of the chain
gang, who occasionally do little more
than emancipate the confined odors of
the kennels of Main street, and give
wings to imprisoned eff1uvia. Our al
leys and obscure streets are left to the
rag pickers, to porcine and canine scav-
engers, to cleanse them of their super
fuous foulness and were it not for the
rains of pitying heaven, would of them
selves give abundant employment to
our undertakers and grave-diggers.
And yet these are the least objection
able features touching the violation of
the laws of hygiene in Memphis. Near
ly every family in the city is dependent
upon cistern for its supply of water;
nearly every cistern is in the same
yard, in close proximity to, and gener-
ally in a direct geographical line with,
the privy. No intelligent man need be
told of the percolative and absorbent
qualities of the earth, and no Memphian
need be reminded Of the difficulty of
finding cistern water in the city free
from the impurities of animalcules in
duced by decomposition. The train o
evils following these disagreeable truths
will suggest themselves to the intelli-
gent reader without further elaboration.
The great question with us now is to
apply the remedy, and no time is better
to awaken the community to q proper
sense of the situation,
Year: 1873

The reckless slaughter of buffaloes
on the plains continues, and the borders
of Kansas and Nebraska are dotted
with carcasses from which not pound
of meat has been taken. The skinners,
as they are called, go in parties of from
two to ten in number, and destroy whole
herds with their repeating rifles. Two
men, who were met recently on the line
of the Kansas Pacific, stated that they
had killed and skinned four hundred
buffalo on two small creeks not twenty
milesylong. Over thousand pounds of
meat is left to rot on the prairies for
every animal slain, and the price Tor
each raw hide is q dollar and a quarter
only. 1t is evident that measures must
be. taken to stop this wicked waste of
valuable food, or the buffalo will soon
be exterminated,
Year: 1873

Man loves the mysterious. A cloud
less sky, the full-blown rose, leaves
him unmoved but the violet which
hides its blushing beauties behind the
bush and the moon, when she energies
from behind cloud, are to him sources
of inspiration and pleasure Modesty
is to merit, what shade is to figure in
painting-it gives its boldness and
prominence. Nothing adds more to
female beauty than modesty; it sheds
around the countenance halo of light
which is borrowed from virtue. Botan-
lists have given the rosy hue which
tinges the cup of the rose the name of
"maiden blush" This pure and deli
cate hue is the only paint that Chris
tian virtue should use it is the richest
ornament. A woman without modesty
is like faded flower, which diffuses
an unwholesome odor, and which the
prudent gardener will throw away from
him. Her destiny is melancholy, for
it ends in shame and repentance.
Beauty passes like the flower of Che
aloe, which blooms and dies in few
hours, but modesty gives the female
character charms which supplies the
place of the trapsitory freshness of
youth,
Year: 1873

The New York Legislature has passed the bill,
which has been for some time pending, Intended
TO prevent the fiequent accidents that occur from
the careless handling OF firearms. 1t Is now a
misdemeanor in New York to point gun, pistol
or other flrcarm at any one, whether the weapon
Is loaded or not, and the crime is punishable by
fine aud imprisonment. This is a wholesome en-.
actmenty-well worthy Of Imitation everywhere.
Year: 1873

Win be sold at Public Sale, on the premises. on
Those very beautifully located Bdilling Lots front
ing on Sixth, Seventh HaWley and Webb streets.
extended from the city of Wilmington. ami are but
few squares from the eity line. The situation is
high and healthy. and we think there is a large
amount Of building sand on this property. Remem:
Der these Building Lots arc outside Of the city. and
therefore not subject to city tax The ground Is high
and beautiful, with good dry cellars they front on
9th and 7th streets Rs extended from tho city. They
will be sold on easy terms to suit poor nep.
TERMS OF SALE.-rWenty per cent on day oi


SALE and the balance to be divided in two notes pay


able in three and six months with interest from dag


chase money within ten days after sale will be al
lowed discount Of three per cent. of the whole
purchase money. When the above terms are com
piled with deed will be given clear OF all ineum
Il branee3.


Be sure to attend the sale Thursday May :. 1913


at 81 o'clock p. M as they will positively be sol'
i without reserve. OGLE Il MILLER.
| ap25-5t AIetioneers and Real Estate AGENTS.
Year: 1873

TnE LONDON TINES ON PROTESTANT
M1ssIoNs.-The simple fact with regard to
the Missions of the Church of England is that
they occupy a very inconsiderable place
in the interests and even the information
of good and Jealous Church people.-There
really is no human enterprise possessing
organization, receiving subscriptions, and
publishing "Reports', that has so little to
show for itself in the way of fruits, or in
the less palpable influences with which it
might be credited. There are Colonial


Bishops whom every body, from the Prime
Minister to q Metropolitan Curate, takes


peculiar pleasure in depreciating. 1t must
be confessed that they seem to prefer the


pavement of Pail Mall to either Africa
or America or Polynesia, which ever may


be the scene of their triumphs if any. Some
years ago great number of them collected
at Lambeth, and did or said something,
nobody would now venture to say what.
Upon an occasion, somebody can be pro-


duced who can tell of wonders done in some
cities or villages in India a very long time
since, with a careful reticence as to the
last half or quarter century. The most re-
markabie part or the business is the almost
total absence from English society, of all
grades, of the persons who could tell us
something about it. There ought by this
time to be many returned Missionaries aud
even converts nor ought they to be as
bamed of their position. But who is there,
we ask, who can number among his per-
sonaI acquaintance man who has done
some years, or a single year, of Church
Missionary work, in any field An or
dinary EOgiishman has seen almost every
human or brute native of foreign cimes,
but few can say that they have seen
Missionary or Christian convert. There
m ust be something else in the way, when
the Missions of the Church of England are
such failure. They are a miracle that
never succeeds. The rock will not flo W,
II Il
not fall, the water will not divide, the iron
will not swim, the myriad expecrants Of
Year: 1873

To the generality Of nkDd the fascina-
ton which leads so many to take part in
arctic exploration is incomprehensible.
Even those who see some method in Living
stones madness, can discover nothing co
Justify the riskiDg of life aHd treasure in
efforts to penetrate the frozen zone, which
must ever remain impracticable for human
uses. But to tho man of science, the ques-
ton of tue prospective discovery of the
pole and the results which may flow from
it, is fraught with an interest that has at
tached to few other of the great cosmic
investigations. Who knows what mete-
Orological and magnetic. mystersies may
ror - solved when that hidden region
snail have been pierced what geological
and chronological secrets may not be div


ulged There may lie the key to the
laws of storms, of atmospheric and of
oceanic currents, aud of the tides. Behind
that frozen barrier there may be placid
seas and warmer regions rich in animal
and in vegetable life. There may still ex


ist genera and species long supposed to be
extinct, and perhaps vestiges and remains
Of man cut off for ages from communication
with his kind. The possibility that all or
any of these mysteries may be unlocked
by him who first shall enter that charmed
region, lends fascination to artic explOra-
ton not easily appreciated by the masses,
and in Comparison with which the peris
and hardships incident to it arc reckOned
as OF little account. This, as well as tho
love of adventure Inherent in mankind, is
what leads men yearly to tempt those iu-
hospitahle cIimes, and attracts ability and
skill from easier paths to Investigations
attended only by privatton and danger.
Since the days when the adventurous keels
of the Mortimer first ploughed those seas,
nearly all civilized nations have interested
themselves in the arctic problem. The
ships of Venice and of England long sought
Year: 1873

VALUE OF RAILRoADs.-The Importance
ot railroads in the development of the re-
sources of the country may be estimated
from the fact, that the cost of transporting
Indian corn or wheat over an ordinary
highway is about twenty cents per ton per
mile, while those cereals may be moved
upon railroads al one and half cents per
Ton per mile.
Year: 1873

miraculous belief have still to bear their
burdens. The very surface Of the earth
Itself is changed by material miracles, but
the spiritual work that should surpass
them all, lags centuries in the rear.
Year: 1873

Those who predicted that submarine


cables would be destroyed by the inhabi-


tants of the deep sea we're not far from


being right after all, as the cables thus far


laid have suffered more or less from the


attracks Of a species Of teredo, (the ship


worm from whales, and from unknown


fish. The use Of preparation Of silica,


in the form of soluble glass, in the CON-


pound, applied outside of all the cables, is


said to be sure protection from the at


tacks of the persevering shellfsh, and the


other causes of destruction to cables are Of
such rare occurrence that it Is not necessary


to provide against them. The Cuba and


Florida cable was once damaged, as was
supposed, by the bite of some large fish,
and similar accident happened to the


China cable. The species of lance carried


by the "saw-fsh" once penetrated the
Singapore cable, and was broken of in the
efforts Of the fish to extricate it. A sing
ular accident also happened to the Persian
Gulf cable, at point 1ls miles from shore
where the cable hung in deep loop over
a submarine precipice. After the man
ner of the hog which scrapes off parasites
by rubbing his hide against post or a
rail, whale used the cable to free himself
from barnaeles that had fastened them
selves to his tail, and he probably, by a
FLIP Of his tail, wrapped the cable around
his body, and, thus suspended in the
water, died. The cable was wound up to
the repair ship with great dificalty, and the
remains Of the whale, firmly secured with
two and a-half turns Of the cable around
his tail, were broughtto to the surface. The
tail measured twelve feet across, and was
covered with barnacles. The cable across
the Var in the Isle of Wight was once
broken by bullock which, falling over
board, got entangled in it. Such accidents,
however, are uncommon, and the only
living enemy which all cables have to meet
is the persistent little shell fish that bores
his way through wood and guttapercha in
search Of food to sustain life which, we
may hope, is not altogether misspent.
Year: 1873

The new Indian agency between Grand


River and Fort Rice, called Standing


Rock, derives its name from large boul-
der standing out alone upon the prairie
about three miles from the river. There
is strange Indian superstition connected
with this rock, and the Sioux City Qowa)
Journal thus tells it: Many years ago a
powerful band of Indians made that sec
tons their stamping ground. The chief
of the band deserted his old wife for
young squaw. This so grieved the old
Queen that she went back to the river, and
sat upon the ground and mourned for sew
eral days. Upon the ninth day of her
grief she turned into this large boulder.
The Indians at that agency all believe this
story to this day, and worship the boulder
as god. The rock has been decorated with
ribbons, pieces Of red flannel, and every
high-colored piece of cloth they have been
able to get hold Of since time out of mind.
These decorations are replaced as often as
they become decayed or blown away by
by the winds. At the time of our visit il
was trimmed in the most gorgeous trap
pings imaginable. Every portion of it
was covered with either ribbons and rags or
paint. Within few inches of the sacred
stone is pail Of water, which is never al
lowed to become empty; for it is the be-
lief of those ignorant people that the old
Queen Of their ancestors frequently as
sumes the form Of squaw and drinks the
water In former years she drank much
more than at present, they say; but this
is easily explained. Then there was more
game there, which, In wandering to the
pail, drank the water. To disturb this
bucket or any portion Of the trimmings Of
the petri6ed squaw is considered a great
offence against the Great Spirit, and is
punishable by death.
Year: 1873

Let US first sketch the story Of the lions
life, beginning with the marriage, which
takes place toward the end of january.
He has first to seek his wife; but as the
males are far more abundant than the fe-
males, who are often cut of infancy, il is
not rare to find a young lady pestered with
the addresses Of two or three gallants, who
quarrel with the acerbity of jealous lovers.
If one Of them does not succeed in disa-
bling or driving away the rest, madame,
inpatient and dissatisfied, leads them into
the presence Of an old lion, whose roar she
has appreciated at distance. The lovers
at once fly at him with the temerity and
fury of youthful FIRE and evaporation.
The old fellow receives them with calm
assurance, breaks the neck Of the first with
his terrible jaws, snashcs the leg Of the
second, and tears out the eyes of the third.
No sooner is the day won and the field
clear, than the lion tosses his name in the
air as he roars, and then crouches by the
side Of the lady, who, as reward for his
courage, licks his wounds caressinzly.
Whentwo adult lions are the rivals the
encounter is more serious. An Arab
perched in tree one night saw a lioness
followed by a tawny lion, with full-grown
name. She lay down at the foot of the
tree; the lion stopped in his path and
seemed to listen. The Arab then heard
the distant growing of lion, which was
instantly replied to by the lioness under
the tree. This made her husband roar
furiously. The distant lion was heard ap
proaehing, and as he came nearer the lion
ess roared louder, which seemed to agitate
her husband; for he marched toward her
as II to force her to be silent, and then
sprang back to his old post, roaring def
ance at his distant rival. This continued
for about an hour, when black lion made
his appearance on the plain The lioness
arose as If to 60 toward him but her
husband, guessing her intention, bounded
toward his rival. The two crouched and
sprang on each other, rolling on the grass
in the embrace of death. Their bones
cracked, their flesh was torn, their cries Of
rage and agony rent the air, and all this
time the lioness crouched and wagged her
tail slowly in sign Of satisfaction. When
the combat ended, and both warriors were
stretched on the plain, she rose, smelt
them, satisfied herself that they were dead,
and trotted off quite regardless of the I'M
complimentary epithet which the indignant
Arab shouted after her.
Year: 1873

As the shell taken from its home in the
depths of the ocean, still murmurs Of the
sea, so conscience in the heart Of man still
gives the true voice of its Maker, though
far removed from the Divine source.
Year: 1873

When person feels disposed to over
estimate his own importance, let him re-
member that mankind got along very well
before his birth, and that in all probabili-
ty, they will got along very well after his
death,
Year: 1873

and perhaps killed. The purser was
washed from his bunk. and together with
the chief steward found themselves
swimming when they awoke, both bruis-
ed, but not seriously. / cannot close
this article without paying just tIibuto
to the coolness and promptness OF the
officers OF the ship Those that were not
on duty on deck were below encouraging
and quieling the passengers, which was
accomplished in an incredibly short time.
when you consider that they were all
asleep at the time of the accident Alter
the excitement was over. and | had re.
covered one OF my boots which had gone
on voyage of discovery all over the
cabin, went on deck. The sight was q
most beautiful one. The sea, owing to
the rapidly changing winds Of the cy.
clone, was not in furrow6 as usual, but
presented series oil pointed waves.
rushing in every direction. The accident
was of nature not to be anticipated.
and no one who witnessed it could for one
moment attribute it 10 any want ot care
on the part of the officers.


Gov. Kent, wife and child, OF Maine,
were on hoard.