Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-06-12
GEN. aRANTA DESPERATE PRAo-
TICAL JOKER

great issues of the day. And it has
come to pass, from this r%etieence, and
from his grim reputation during the,
war, that people fancy there is no COAX
in him. No greater mistake could be
made. Very likely he is Of a much
more serious turu Of mind now than be-
fore the war. But only ten yeays ago he
was a terrible practical joker. In 1886
he resided At Knights Ferry, San Joa-
quiu county, California. And there
resided his brother-iu-law, John Dent,
and there dwelt J. Vantine, now a
Front street merchant, in San Francis
CO, and there cumming with, and me-
gotiating for sheep ranches in partner
ship with the now famous Gen. Grant,
was DR.. Cleburn, recently Of Grass
Valley, Cal, and now enjoying a large
practice in this county. In Knights
Ferry, in those days, there was a cos
mopolitan edifiSe, erected by means of
the coin in Il common pot-purse-scbool
house, church for all sects, and open to
s,rolliug playetsaud Mins,rels whenever
such CHANGED along. Now it came to
pass that in the year 1856, there was a
religious revival started Tor attempt
ed to start at knights Ferry. The
following partly described practical
joke was played on the an~Iious-seat por-
ton of the audience, and on all those
who occupied any Of the front seats Of
the unconsecrated synagogue. The
front seats were usually left vacant un-
til the "anxious" call. The heads of
full half a paper Of pins were removed,
and by the aid Of sundry watch keys
1.-THE boys understand this, unto this
dayl several dozen Of cruel prickers
were placed in bayonet position for re-
sisting-auy quietness Of mind on the
part Of the charging sitter. The preach
err on that occasion, preached N "cou-
viction Of SIM" and the necessity Of the
iron entering the soul. The finale is
said to have been fearful and amid the
irrepressible and unexpectedly fierce
yells Of the convicted and sentenced siu-
ners, who went forward" the great
hero Of the War for the Union rushed
out of the building and into his room,
grooming with laughter.
Many more anecdotes illustrative of
General Grants delight in E Clamspu,
Hitus impositions have been told US, at
different times, BY persons who have
been intimate with him but certainly
sufficient point in his character in this
direction has already been supplied
when the above is published. The bed
ridden puns, and sickly drawl which
constitute Mark Twain's . humor,' ev-
identity would not tickle the General;
but playing the highwayman on Mark,
or administering Cro,on oil to a band of
rowing actors would evidently be on
his line"
When Grant lived at knights Ferry,
he was known as " bitterly Southern "
in his political views but when to be
called bitterly Southern was to be
named q traitor, Grant became as bitter
ly Northern.
Grant ian thoroughly enjoy joke,
when it is sharp and cutting.
VoTNG.-Under the rough heading,
"a plan to protect property from po-
litical thieves" the San Francisco
Alta of Saturday, has the following
significant quotation and remarks:
"The New York Times, discussing the
question Of that city'T government,
takes issue with the Express against
universal suffrage" in municipal cleo
tions. The Times demands to know
why a modified form Of suffrage, one
that will secure a cooperation Of the
great mas Of the people who need pub
lie works, and of hat class which must
pay for them, cannot be instituted.
"Why not have a Common Council OF
two Boards, as now-oue being elected
by universal suffrage and the other by
the taxpayers alone2 Would not the
rights and interests Of all DO promoted
in this way more effectively than they
are now What the Tfaes urges is
becoming popular in New York, and the
vast %corruptions exposed by the press
have made it so. Property cannot stand
tue constant plumbers to which it ssub-
jected by the Ring"
We long ago expressed the belief that
universal manhood suffrage" if adopt
ed, will by some discovered route, some
''circle," swing round to a system of
franchise far more restricted, than the
n existing in the majority of the States
prior to the war. The above is a hint
toward such ultimate result. Under
the pressure Of one substance and form
of Argument and another, the rule will
be sought to be narrowed, and a "prop-
erty qualification" is the most apt to DO
the new standard for a prerequisite.
And this will be on the direct road to
the destruction Of the Republic. Let
the nation once adopt a property quail
fcatiou for all classes, the right of
women to vote being denied, and the
descent from Republicanism has COM
menced.
THE TROUBLE WITH THE RICHMOND Ne
GRors.-There was another riot among
the colored people Of Richmond, Satur.
day night May 18th. The police had ar
rested a drunken and noisy negro and
they attempted to rescue him, using
bricks, clubs and pistols with great
looseness. Four policemen were badly
beaten and one severely injured. and