smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875




The assault of Secretary Bris;Ow ON the
WHISKY Ring las surprised them in their in
trcnclncnts. From the particulars given i'll
the full and exclusive report which we have
the pleasure Of printing this morning, it is
evident that this was no ordinary undertaking.
Tho Ring was not only Iicll and power
ful, it was almost ubiquitous. lis
paid agents were officials in the Govern
mont employ, and corruption extended upward
and downward through i'll branches OF the
internal Revenue service. Livery movement
toward investigation was Instantly telegraphed
from Washington to the leaders of the Ring.
The Secretary found himself surrounded with
spies TO get the evidence necessary 20 prove
known frauds, new men had to be en-
ployed who were unknown to the Ring. 1t was
not merely desirable TO carry on the invcst-
CATIONS without tho aid of the machinery of
the Internal Revenue Bureau, it was absolute
ly requisite that no knowledge of the work
should reach that Bureau in any form.
During one period of tho undertaking, the
Ring actually cndeayOrcd To fOist upon tho
Secretary one of Their own agents TO assist in
the investigation, and this counterplot ycly
nearly succeeded.


Tho ramifcations Of this conspiracy have
been very fully traced ont Its estimated
profits exceeded $l,OOO,OOO per year. A
fixed percentage OF these profits was
paid TO the corrupted officials.
Even the carly steps by which the
corruption was begun when new men were ap-


L.
Year: 1875

There WAS always moro or less doubt about
the election Of the Hon. George l.. Spencer Of
Alabama to the United States Senate. We
record the fact with pain; for Spencer is the
hind Of statesman that should not have his
usefulness impaired by any cloud upon his
title. Bat there has always been more or less
opposition to our ablest men, There has been
to Spencer. And il was owing to this opposi-
tion that there arose dispute about Spencer's
right to seat in the Senate. At the time
Of his election things wcIo very much
mixed in Alabama. Mr.. Spencer. who was
born somewhere else, and would have
been educated somewhere else had he needed
any education, was left, when the tide of war
fell off from Alabama, in the attitude Of q
leading statesman watching for chances. He
saw the State of Alabama strue Cling 10 free
herself from what resources she had left. in
order to take her position abreast with her
sister States, and have increasing taxes, mag
nilicent debt, two Legislatures at IA time, and
some such man as Spencer in the Senate


Never did rural grocery proprietor snap at an
opportunity to trade or ddIoag,d calico fol
early greens icoic suddenly tll.n George f.
Year: 1875

The examination into the corrupt manage
ment Of the Capitol building at Albany has by
no means touched bottom, but enough has been
made known to induce the Senate Committee
on Finance to recommend the entire abolition
Of the Board of Commissioners, SO that the
work may hereafter DO done somewhat on
business principles. This will be vigorously
opposed by all those who regard the building
as their bonanza, and by their friends in tho
Legislature, but it ought TO prevail. The mat
ter is simple Que. The building is only fairly
begun, and Four Millions of Dollars have been
spent upon it already, tho full amount which
il was 10 cost according 10 tho repeated
pledges Of everybody concerned, and an amount
sufficient TO have completed it according to the
original plans. The present system has been
amply tested, and has led only to this vast and
apparently endless expense. The Legislature
ought not 70 appropriate another cent without
taking measures to put stop TO the vicious
system of ii}csponsibiity which has resulted
in such iuinous extravaganza and waste.
Year: 1875

The five per cent redemption fund, which


il not included above. amounted to
$1G7l6,712. II we add it to the real reserve
there will still be a deficiency Of over four
million dollars as compared with the current
money on hand on March /, 1874, when the
redemption fund was not ia existence. At tho
same time the amount due from banks In the
Year: 1875

less of general interest than usual. the debate
on the bill which gives the Governor power to
commute life sentences Of imprisonment being
the chief exception. Our legislators seem to be
unwilling TO attempt anything important, while
they are on tenterhooLs about tho Governors
message.
Year: 1875

It is an aggravation OF evil to be told that,
if there had been telegraph between Bishop
Lighthouse and the shore. the lives OF all
those who were OH board the Schiller might
have been saved. But such is tho opinion OF
the Coroncl's jury at st. Mary's. II this fact
is known now, it must have been known several
years ago. Ii is difficult, therefore, to believe
that the neglect to construct such Telegraph
was not the result of gross nlismanaScment.
Year: 1875

The leading tragedian at our little
theater is named Hammer, and he has
gone away now on a sick leave. They
produced week or two ago a piece enti-
tied the Demon of the Hariz, and Mr.
Hammer assumed the character of the
Demon. The young man upon. whom
devolved the duty of opening and shut.
ting the traps was also instructed TO
fash crimson flames up through the hole
NJ intervals, for the purpose Of creating
the impression that the Internal regions
we're Immediately beneath the stage and
were in condition of terrific and per-
pegual combustion. He was somewhat
inexperienced, but he. seemed to plunge
we'll enough for awhile. In the third
act Mr.. Hammer, the demon aforesaid
had to 20 down the trap, and his pur-
pose was to descend to eternal August
with a sardonic laugh and 6eudish
smEle upon his forbiddiBg countenance
The yoHng man below concluded that
if there ever was time when display
of diabohcal fireworks would be appro.
pria te, it was when the head of the
dem on was coming home after hard
day work; so when Mr.. Hammer was
aboilt half way down, and was laughing
his very sardonic best, the pyrotechnical
pers on let of half barrelul of red FIRE,
in W which the homeward bound Spirit of
Evil was entirely enveloped The rest
of the way he went down suddenly, and
then they laid him under the ire.plug
while the water played on him. As soon
as he was extinguished, he rose up and
sought the fire fiend, and at the conclu-
SION of the encounter the latter was car.
ried round to DR.. Stones office on
stretcher by the carpenter and the low
comedian. Mr.. Hammer then went
home to see what his wife would think of
him without eyebrows or hair, and then
he retired to the country for few weeks
until they grew again, The Demon of
the Hartz " has been permanently with
drawn.-Mdr Adeler.
Year: 1875

" Marriage is a very matter-of-fact
affair. There is little poetry in it; and
all experience shows that il is better to
get rid Of nonsense before committing
matrimony."


| beg to differ. All experience does
not show any such thing. If nonsense
means here, as it seems to mean, all
those things that make the poetry of
life, | say the more you have Of it the
better


A marriage that can properly be
styled a matter.of-fact one promises no
happiness for the man, and misery unut.
terable for the woman, if she has a soul.


What! Because a thing is real, must
it be common place? The light of love
illumines the homeliest duties; and
because there must be eating, and drink.
ing, and sleeping, and earning bread and
butter in its years, marriage need not be
matter. offact arrangement-a coarse
sort of bargain, in which the wife be.
comes housekeeper, aud the husband
banker. Better that there should be no
marrying at all for what shall they do
in those hours of trouble and pain which
come to all of us, when every heart
Graves sympathy, and when none can
give it so well as the lover whose love
has endured through many years?


When two people of opposite sex,
temperament and habits resolve to live
together for the rest OF their lives, there
is need Of sentiment between them.
There is necessity for a little of that
romance that makes people better aud
more beautiful than they really are, if in
time they would not hate each other.


No-if you have no other part in life
that is not commonplace and matter Of
fact, forbid that home life should sink to
this. Have a thousand songs without
words for every day. Nourish yout
most delicate sentiments and weave
them with the hours as they glide by.
Don't have all your poetry in the book.
case, and all your music in the piano.


The woman who is happy wife need
not long to be courted again. There is
no need-she is won; nor are many com
pliments necessary. Mutual devotion il
an ever appreciated compliment. Yet
do not forget those old days which drew
you to each other. Be lovers always
Many people are; and those who love
are safe The meeting and parting kiss
the kind look, the appreciative word
never forget these. Never let marriage
degenerate into the common place. 81
surely as you do, worse will follow; fol
the husband and wife who have no tende
sentiment toward each other will becomt
foes. Mary Kyle Dallas.
Year: 1875

A correspondent of the Paris Figaro
thus describes some remarkable Ameri-
can customs which will be new to most
of us. He says: In winter evenings,
when there comes up one Of those fogs
which are 80 common over in America,
it is no unusual thing to meet in the
streets man carrying q lantern, which
resembles one Of our magic lanterns.
He selects frequented spot, and when
the crowd becomes dense around him he
turns his lantern toward the lowering
clouds. At that instant, as if by miracle
the bystanders behold in the midst OF the
heavens, which do duty for curtain, a
gigantic advertisement recommending
some dry goods establishment or cloth
ing store. The second example is more
simple, but not less ingenious. One
often passes on the street a citizen walk
ing rapidly, and treading with all his
weight on the sidewalk. You draw near,
and on the asphalt, in the track left by
the footprints Of the parsonage in ques-
ton, you read an advertisement, printed
in clear and elegant characters. The
man was q walking advertisement, and
he wore shoes with nailed letters on their
soles.
Year: 1875

LYNCH LAw.-Last week, in Ohio, o
number Of farmers, infuriated at the
murder of young girl in the woods,
broke open Jail, took out of it the man
accused of the murder. and hanged him.
The poor creature had been accused by
his wife. He solemnly denied in his
last moments having committed the
crime, and asserted that his wife
charged him because she was insanely
jealous of him. Now it turns out that
the man was innocent. Unfortunately
he is dead. Unfortunately the men,
who in violation of law hanged him,
are all murderers who ought to be
hanged in their turn. Unfortunately
they will have the unpleasant conscious
ness for the rest of their lives that they
are murderers- not a very comfortable
thought for most of them, probably. II
is scarcely necessary to pursue the
thought further. Lynch law is always
wrong; but this is not all, nine times
out of ten the men who take the law
into their own hands hang the wrong
man.
Year: 1875

do'ssSS A1e sAo A1eSioAosu10 bdOuiu uhV6
an opportunity of examining both eides
of the question. Although the COM
mittee censure me in their report of,
not offering to be sworn before their
honorable body, they fail to inform the
public that they themselves had neg
iected that very important qualification
before assuming the grave responsible
ties of serving on the committee appoin-
ted to investigate the affairs of public
institution. that they had taken no form
of oath whatever to faithfully perform
the sacred duties ,devolvins upon them.
(unless like Shylock they had an oath
in Heaven.) They had gathered around
the family hearth of the contractor. and
while enjoying his generous hospitalities
examined they said. 1.-the charges pre-
ferred against him." and reported in
accordance with their feelings in the
matter. As an official document. we
hold that their report. considered in
connection with the circumstances and
influences brought to bear upon them
at the time-ons of the gentlemen said
that he came at the urgent solicitation
OF Mr.. Harmon and that he had the
promise of the position Of Resident
Physician if, etc.,-is worth more than
any other unsworn statement made
under similar influences. and much less
than the affidavit of persons fully as re-
spectacle as they. which the COMMITTEES
said were all considered unreliable.


l trust. however. that the presen,
Legislature will not be Influenced bv


individual contentious, but treat the


main subject at issue in that broad


spirit Of Christian philanthropy which
Year: 1875

The Milford Ae,os reports that DIR. David
son ia now rapidly improving. He is able to sit
up part OF the time and walk about tho room,
and the prospect is that he will be able to attend
10 business in week or two more.
Year: 1875

Burlington made such brilliant
success of its late Independence Gel
ebration as to warrant proposition
now made to erect an Industrial Ex-
hibition building and make grand
centennial jubilee next year.
Year: 1875

attempted suicide by shooting him
self with a revolver while lying in
bed. The Patriot thinks laziness
was the cause Of the act. The
thought of getting up and going TO
work had greater terrors for him
than death. He sought the latter,
but unfortunately only made slight
wound, and will recover.
Year: 1875

An exchange gives the following
sensible hints for 1873, which we COM
mend to the consideration of all con-
cerned: sit is better to live i'm a little,
mean, two story frame house, than in a
Jail; it is good thing, when you are
talking of another mans defalcatiOn, to
make sure that you could have handled
as much money, with like opportunities
for dishonesty, and not fallen before
temptation. 1t doesn't pay to worry
over what will happen to your wife if
you were taken away; she may get a
better husband; if you are wondering
what makes your former sehoolmate' s
hair so gray, or make such one so
wrinkled, or why such another one is
growing so stout, just take look in the
glass. Do not imagine, because you
have resolved to practice charity and to
speak well of everybody, that everybody
has made the same resolution regarding
you. If you are heartsick with regret
that you were not more tender and
thoughtful towards the dear ones you
have lost, just try to avoid further re-


pentance in the future by being good to
those still left to you. Don't put off
enjoyment. If you are not ready to en-


joy things As they come, when you are
ready they won't come. Planning to
enjoy friends and fortune in the future
is most insecure investment. The
chances are woefully few that You, your
friends and the fortune will all come
together in the future. IL you have any
good deeds to do, or happiness to enjoy,
to-day is the time. IL is only when we
are arguing ourselves into the commit
ting of some act where we believe the
end will justify the means, that it pays
TO wait till tomorrow. In such a case
one cannot wait too many to-morrows." "
Year: 1875

They soy-ah well, suppose they do.
But can they prove the story true?
Suspicions may arise from nought
But malice, envy, want of thought;
Why count yourself among the they"
Who whisper what they dare not say?
They s0y-but why the tale rehearse,
And help to make the matter worse?
No good can possibly accrue
From telling what may be untrue:
And is if not Dobler plan


To speak of all the best you can?
They sdy-well, if it should be SO.
Why need you tell the tale of woe?
VIII it the better work redress,
Or make one pang Of sorrow less?
Will it the erring one restore
Henceforth to go and sin no more?"
They sdy-Ohi pause and look within
See how thy heart inclines to sim
Watch, lest in dark temptations hour,
Thou, too, should sink beneath it's power.
Pity the fraIl. weep DER their fall.
But speak Of good. or not at all.
Year: 1875

New YORK, April 29.-It is stated
that from 1872, when the old South i'm
provement company was abolished, the
refiners who were instrumental in
forming the combination have been
endeavOring to effect an arrangement
which would enable them to control the
production and price Of petroleum.
Their efforts have been strenuous, and
they have succeeded in forming COM
bination which embraces ninety pei
cent. of the refiners in this country,
They expect to control the remaining
ten per cent. before the end Of the next
month, and it is then expected that the
new combination will go into effect. A
stock company has been organized, the
Standard oil company OF Cleveland and
New York city, the principal promoter
OF the South Improvement company, be-
ing the head and front Of the new COM
binatiOn.
Year: 1875

NEW YORK, April 29.-The British
ship Niagara arrived at this port from
Liverpool on the fourth instant, with q
cargo of salt, arsenic and other merchan-
die, principally chemicals. The salt
was slowed in the lower deck and the
arsenic in between decks. During the
voyage some OF the packages Of arsenic
were broken and their contents dis
tributed about decks. Upon the arrival
of the ship the cargo was discharged and
delivered to the cOnsignees, and the salt
was sold and most OF it sent out of the
city. Subsequently fears arose that
some of the arsenic might
have come in contact with the salt. To
ascertain whether this was fact, a pOI-
ton Of the salt was placed in the hands
of Professor Doremus for analysis. The
result showed unmistskable evidence of
arsenic in that portion Of the cargo, and
accordingly with immediate dispatch
the poisonous salt was ordered back to
the city for thorough examination, snd
destruction if found necessary.
Year: 1875

MANY OF the up-river papers predict a
freshet such as we have been exempt
from for many years. The late and un-
usually heavy SHOWS in the Rocky
mountains to which theWesther bureau
called our attention day or two since
here, in connection with the current
news from points on the upper Missis-
sippi and the Missouri, have pointed
significance for dwellers in the lowlsnds.
We are not alsrmists, but we think it
well to warn our river friends Of prob.
able danger
Year: 1875

OH0ULD not be regarded as a trifIng
ailment-In fact nature demands the ut
most regularity OF the bowels, and any
deviation from this demand psves the
way often to serious danger. II is quite
as necessary to remove impure acoUmu-
latiOns from the bowels as 81 is 10 eat
or sleep, and no health can be expected
where a cOstive habit OF body prevails.
Year: 1875

We have grass which grows quite com


monty in our pastures and along the road
side, that is known among us as June


grass, because it grows and blossoms So


early. Ii is the same that Is known in the
West as kentucky blue grass, and in Penn
svlvania as green grass Its botanical
name is Pa 20r0tensis, 1t is, without
doubt, the best pasture grass we have,-
the foundation of the dairy, and the basis
of the great beef producing industry OF the
Western States. and Of the butter and
cheese of the Middle and Eastern States.


In the rich limestone soils of Kentucky it
grows with greater vigor than 1t does with
u.s. but still it is sufficiently common to be
regarded as the most important OF the
turf OF our north fern latitUdes 1t stands
our drouth better than most other grasses,
makes two distinct growths in a year
starts among the earliest and houlishes
among the latest Of our cultivated grasses.
True, no one species of grass can be re-
garded as sufficient for our wants A great
mixture is essential TO our prosperity. since
we want grasses that start early, that start
at different times, and that vary in their
habits OF growth. We want grass that
grow rapidly after being nipped off BY cat
tie. The larger the mixture, the better
as a rule-will be the tnf. But if we
could select any one as more valuable than
all the rest, it would be the June grass


A great many farmers have been apt to
think that our common and modest little
white clover was the best grass they had
and they rejoice when it comes very tree
" into their pastures, and when it does
they call it clover year 1t is not a grass
at all,-that is, it does not belong to the
botanical family of grassea; and il it did, |
it is probable that it could not compare
with June grass in value to the farmer |
MIR. Lewis, highly successful and practi-
cal dairyman OF Herkimer County, n. Y. |
says that white clover is the poorest pas
ture grass we have; that it will shrink the |
milk of any herd OF cows, when it gets up
so as to give them a full bite; and that his
cows, when taken from a rich clover pas
ture and put on the shorter June grass,
will come up in milk al once This is
worth looking into. If it is so (and we
have no reason to doubt it, especially as it |
comes from such good authority, is it not |
better for US to take more pains to cult |
vate June grass, and leave the white clo- |
yer to work its own way into the soil? |
We never sow timothy on pasture lot. /
1t never pays. Sow June grass, orchard I
grass, perennial rye grass. red-top and tall |
oat grass
Year: 1875

1he father and son then unfastened the
dying man, and comprehended how it
happened that he still survived. The rope
instead of COMPRISING the neck Of the
thief, pressed the bottom OF the helmet in
such wise that the patient was suspended.
but not strangled, and that, catching with
his head at sort of ledge or resting place
within the helmet, he had managed to
breathe and keep life existing up to the
moment when our two companions passed
by.


The latter liberated him, and transport
ed him to their own home. where he was
handed over to the nursing Of the mother
and her maiden daughter.


But he who has stolen will steal again.


In the peasants house there We're only
two things to steal; for the money he had
brought from La Poterie did not belong to
him. These two things were his horse
and his daughter, 4 fair haired girl of six
teen Years Of age,


he ex-hung criminal determined to
steal both; for he coveted the horse, and
was smittcn with g passion for the daugh-
ter.


One night therefore, he saddled the
morse, put on spurs in order to travel more
quickly, and seized the girl as she was
t4st asleep, to carry her off behind him.


bIt the girl woke up, and cried for help


lhe father and son came to her rescue
The thief tried to escape, but it was too
late. The daughter told them of the vio-
lent attempt that had been made; and her
father ant her brother seeing clearly that
no real repentance was to be expected from
such mar, resolved to take Justice into
their own hands, but more effectuallv than
the SeigneGr Of La Piroche had done.
They fastened the scoundrel to the horse
which he had sadded himself, conducted
him to the square Of La Piroche. and hung
him exactly where lie was hung before
but they took care to remove his helmet
and lay it on the ground, to make sure that
he should not escape this time; and they
quietly returned home.


As to the Seisneur Of La Piroche, since
he was in possession Of sure and certain
talisman, he joytully set out for the wars,
where be was the very first to get knocked
on the head
Year: 1875

To the following we give place. not because
the matter in controversy has any Importance,
but that each side may have their say. We
suggest that the boys have another meeting,
and play the game again and do it in good
feeling:


ED. TRUE NoRTHERNER In reply to those
facts in regard to the game OF ball between the
Paw Paw and Almena boys, which appeared in
your columns last week, allow me to state a
few facts.


First they are untrue, every one OF them
In reply to the first one, we would say that we
are not regular organized club, and we have
not played before this season. In reply to the
second, l would also say that we played with
the Almena boys twice last year. And in re-
gard to not finishing the game, 1 should think
" an old player" would know that any number
OF innings that can be agreed upon by the con-
testing clubs is game. Such was the case in
this game, five innings being agreed upon, but
when the Almena boys found they were be-
hind they were anxious to play the remaining
number Of innings. These are facts, and we
are able to prove every one Of them,


CHAs HoPPINd.