davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-04-16

~ % llyDuo 81 tss 10 - & y y
lhe large ,teamefs.Plyirg betSsea NsT
Orleans and the pOris above were eals
led. Now the railroads have dJiyen
nearly allthe fine boa!c off@thC river
audsleft The field to tie freight bOals'
whose accommodations for passengers
ore by no means palalial. The former
class Of stssmers werc'in many respects
delightful, bit they never ceased to be
the object of dread 10 Otimid people, for
II the racing, which on that stream was
reduced to a system, did not result in
the loss Of the boat, there were sure 10
be ono. or mora oupiers between the
more lawless portion of the travellers,
10 which pistol bullets would fly rather
too thick for tho comfort Of steady
going people, The cause for such dis
lurbances vas generally qu'Fsl oyer
the gambling table. The regulations of
the boats usually required that all such
amusements should be conducted in a
saloon provided for tina, purpose iu the
'Texas,' Officers cabin situated on
the hurricane deck, but the sporting
gentlemen were by no means careful to
observe thisruie. and the gaming was
nfoIt commonly carried on at the table,
in the main saloon on the steamer, to
tho great annoyance of TWO thirds of
those on board.
Many professional gamblers used to
make these boats their home, travelling
back and forth with them, Gcecing ell
who wSrc foolish and vcrdant enough 10
fall into their hands. So well, indeed,
was the system managed, that the vari'.
Gus membera seemed 10 have their diff
ferent sieam,:s marked out for them by
common consent, so that no one would
respOss upon the domain oi tho other
OF course these men were warm friends
of the officers OF the boat, who were
either TO sincere in their friendship TO
put a stop to the practice, or too much
afraid of the gamblers 10 care to pro-
woke quarrel with them, for in those
days it was common Offalr for such
men to resent any lancied insult With q
pistol shot,
One Of tho most remarkable men oil
this class was man named Daniel Slur'
divant, the son Of brokon'down
scion of nobility, who had GottIsdin Ne"
Orleans before the transfer of Loui'Snu
to tho United States. Sturdivant had
been raised gentlemen by his ari'to-
cratic father, but on coming of age, and
finding his fortunes very bad, had token
10 cnrdu Os q means to bcttcr them
His succeun vuu 80 great that he was iu-
duced to continue II, until tho timo oi
which I write he Was one Of the most
ur ltOriOu, gamblers between st. Louis
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-04-16

NJ. Iudennerich, the EYecuIionor Of
Paris, has improved the guilloino and
its management to such an extent that
ho can cut of a mans head in SIX sec
conds from the time no reaches the scaf'
fold, if the victim ia only accommodating
He Is rich, but follows his profession from
philanlhroplc motives
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-04-16
1LAn rkhIfIll1 QUARREh.

aINGULAR EAAL4 y VAlSltEtl
Tora st'F,opi lAieh Hs Y
formerly alF6Sidsnt Of this cIIy, now
twouty. tspycars Of age, commenced q
suit against his father, Mr.. William
Griffin, in Indiana, for eleven thousand
dollars. The circumstances rotating to
tho cause Of the suit we have not been
apprised Of. but it appears from a lot.
tcr sent 10 us by the sou, that there was
a suit pending between two railroad
companies in Indiana. 10 which the IA.
thsr and son were to somo extent inter.
ested, and that tho latter opposed the
proceedings of the former. Subsequent
" the son commenced his suits stated
above. Then, the father, il is alleged,
appeared before the proper authorities
in Jefferson county, lndiana, and had
an order Issued for the arrest Of the son
on the ground Of insanity. The sheriff
found the young man, who, when taken
into custody stouily esscrtad that he
was not insane, demonstrated against
is arrest, and failing to see that he
would bo released, refused to 20 with
the officer, and was finally taken to the
Insane Asylum at Indianapolis BY force
This occurred on the lth inst. While
tho young man was al the asylum, ac
cording to his Own statement, he had to
keep very close company with even ne
groes, and suffered many indignities.
He says that he was forced TO take med
icine twice day, and had he refused to
do 50 il would have been pumped into
him He also spsoks os though he
had been terrified by being whipped
Whenever he complsined, he says, he
was met and treated a, though hc was
confirmed unatic.' But ho resolved to
escape, and managed to do so on the
evening Of the 2lst instant. Alter es.
Gaping le wentto Cambridge City Ind,
whore ho was at last accounts. In the
letter which hc has written to us he says,
/ was sane enough to manage 10 get out
of such place, aud | think sh'lI prove
that have wit enough to keep out
This IS case which, with tbs limiIsd
facts relating to it 10 our possession
we must IOnvo 10 the public 10 Judge
whether Mr.. Griffin, Sr., hal his son
confined on ustifabIe grounds, or
whether the oct was ono of retaliation
for tho suit commenced by the sou
A
against him or whether there were 9th
or and ulleliOr motives.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-04-16

The newspapers 'GrO oil having a tit
at the tllllng hoops Of tho ladies' One
inconSiderate follsw OallS their prevalent
uSo the 'hlnder.pest.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-04-16

Hartford is called tho City Of Stub
tailed Churches There Oro moro unfin
isheL church spires thero than in any
place OF It's size in the country.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-04-16

Nancy said girl to her pompaOion'
(which railroad train to do YOU ike the
bsslr That one, replied Nancy
which furnishes a spark calcherF
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-04-16

An exchange tells US of q man whose
memory is so short that 1t only reaches
to his knees, And consequently never
pays for his boots.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-04-16

A farmer, when aagelladug tvpl OF
his Oldest boys. was 'skOd what he was
doing, 'ThroShiug wild ooIa' was tue
reply
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-04-16

.yiek ksburg, sand. .yaES Needing rnsrfiiy
.do@alhe river, when .sIufdivaut came
TO the group which had gathered around
tLa s,oyc, HI. had b.en drinking, and
was smptiug'a 6ue cigaras he approach.
ed IAN made w4S,iol him. b
swell! gentlemen, he said in an. un
steady tone; sou seem untertiby dtil,-
WHO wants 10 ploy for twenty dollars
ante!'
There wss no reply. All present
seemeddo know the. man, Snl no one
ostOd to voluhtcerrO place himself in
his clutches, ~
+ 'Umphp he exclaimed with an OF,
preston of contempt, 'aFraid to try your
luck with Daniel S'urdivant, eb? Or
may be you want little cooziug. Some
Of you must play with me. can't
stond such irostment. Come, let's sec
who it shall be.
He glanced around tho crowd as if to
select his victim. For the first lime |
noticed the guze Of one of the group
Fixed steadily upon him. He was a
stranger to me, aud was dressed in o
plain homespua, and his face was par.
lulIy concealed by broad brimmed
sombroro which was drawn down over
lit, Ho wasa malbuI powerfully made
man, and in The decided expression OF
his we'll shaped head | read q ftmness
and intensity of purpose.
Arc you Duoiel siVdigGnt, tho gam.
blorl he asked in calm tone, without
rising.
Sturdivaut flushed drrkly, anl gave
the stranger dark glance.
Some persons call me so behind my
back hO said insolently, 'but no one
would care TO apply that tenn TO me be-
fore my face,'
Nevertheless, said the stranger
quietly, a wont an ahiwor-yes OF no.
''Woll then am said the gambler
augrily, what ofiIl'
Simply this, replied the stranger, q
have heard it said lha, you claim 10 be
tho best card player in the Southwest
l have como two hundred miles 10 prove
you lior.'
s,urdivOnt strobe forward step OF
two, and thrust his hand into hS breast
as If 10 gasp weapon.
STOP said the stranger. IF you
shoot me you will simply provoyonr''l
afraid of me Take your seat OF tho To-
bio, and will make my words good
There was something in the calm
stern manner of the slrnngorIhat SEEM
cd to render tho gambler poworlOSs,-
Ho hOsita,od o moment, and then said
bulIyingly'
Il never play with man whose Inc'
! cannot Seol -
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-04-16
R, s. RROWN,

ATTORNEY AT LAW,
NAJILL practice in the counties of Mason
w, jackson and Writ. Address, Ravens
wood, West Va. [April IL '67-ly
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-04-16

WE arc prepared to do all kinds Of job
w Printing In tho very best style and
10 the ,Sou reasonable terms o
New-York tribune., 1868-03-20
HOW 1T IS DONE.

The World makes the following attempt to
break the force of Gen. Van Wycks report on
the monstrous frauds which disgrace the Rev
enue service. especially with regard TO the
Excise on Whisky:
"Take this matter Of removals and nonremoyals which
Rollins and Van Wyck laboring so ndustrousiy TO
befog Here facts from the official records OF the
"a. The average falling of Of the receipts OF internal
revenue in the 90 collection districts 1851 compared
80 In the ie districts in which removals OF collectors
and were made the recommendation OF the
Commissioner OF Internal Revenue Rollins the aver
age falling OF per district was t1eo,A2 81
S The average falling OF In the lol districts IN whioh
no removals were made was. per district s952S 81 ~
-. The average falling on per district IN tne ~ re
maining districts In which President Johnson isaae re-
moyaIs without consulting the Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue. whose Is honest Dir. h. A Rollins was
only $t6S7O 81"
Assuming the facts to be correctly set forth
by The World, we submit that they prove ex-
actly the reverse of what that journal would
deduce therefrom. Here is district we will
suppose, wherein the Revenue officers are
capable. vigilant, incorruptible; so that no
whisky can there be passed or certified which
does not pay the tax. OF course, no whisky
will there be made since no one can afford to
pay Se excise per gallon on a product which is
abundantly offered and sold 20 to 80 per cent
below that figure. The distillers and their con-
federates will leave or shun such districts, con-
centrating their operations on those wherein
they are in league with dishonest officials, so
that they can put the bulk of their product
on the market without paying the tax; and
here they will, as a blind, pay the duty on
five to ten per cent Of their product, and smugge
the rest. That is just the way the business Is
now managed and that is just why less rev.
enue is collected where the officers are honest
than elsewhere.
New-York tribune., 1868-03-20

toned by the newspapers in the same column
with Cora Pearl" who squander money III
tasteless display and who are laughed at OF
lied about for their pains, would confer
favor upon plain people at home, and really DO
something for the honor of their country, IL
they would show little more republican SIM
plicity, or at least be content with making ah
exhibition of themselves on this side OF the
ocean. We do not think them very bad or III
much danger Of becoming SO; but we are
angry when they are sneered at; we are grleVea
when they are sandered; we do not like "
have their names upon the foul tongues VI
Partisan cOxcOmbs, of fellows VINO DOast VI
favors they never received, and pass
their lives in seeking reputation tor un-
bounded and shameless RIGHTEOUSNESS. we
do NOT expect our women abroad to emulate
their grandmothers in thriftiness or III
industry; but since they have great deai oi
money to spend, and are bent upon spending
il so lavishly, we wish they would be patrlotlc
enoueh to spend it at home, and III those
peiphborhoods in which, by trade or by me-
chanical labor, it was reputably acquired. A
woman NAV be very weak without being very
wicked, and we do not know any weakness
whether of man or Of woman, more lamentaDle
than the vulgar love Of notoriety, OF making
an impression and of being mentioned, Oh
figuring as an arrogant leader, OF as more
humble follower of mere fashion. 10 be dls-
tingushed for wit is one thing, and for perfect
good breeding and refinement of demeanor
another; but simply to be talked about for
what one wears, for splendOr of equipage, for
the possession of jewery, for having fine eyes
or fine hair, or fine shape, is what no rational
creature should care for, or ever did care Tor
since the creation of humanity; is bad
fame, which satirists have stigmatzed and
humorists laughed at and moralists condemned
in every age and in every language which ever
had literature. That woman who in Paris
or anywhere else seems to be mainly devoted
to this degrading kind Of exhibition of herself
should be classed, however unjustly, with colr-
tesans, is merely natural; because she who has
charms to sell of course exercises her ingenuity
in rendering herself as brilliantly attractive as
possible. The mystery is that women who
would die before plying the most fearful OF vo-
cations, should initiate women who have aban-
doned themselves to ignominy and moral ruin.
This perverted love of appreciation general
ends in a wig, q set of teeth from the dentist
and a pot of paint from the perfumer. We hope
that our American women in Paris Will come
home. or be brought home by their husbands
or their fathers, before the degradations OF the
toilet have succeeded to the impudent cOmpi-
ments Of the French newspapers.
New-York tribune., 1868-03-20
THE PRESIDENTS TACTICS.

II seems to be agreed that the President pur-
poses meeting the charges of the impeachment
Committee by prOcTaStnatiOn. The counts OF
the indictment upon which he is to be tried
have been pretty well known since impeach-
ment was first resolved upon. There is but
little controversy as to facts No intricate
points of law or conflicts of testimony are likely
to be presented There is no reason why the
trial should not proceed at once. No more time
is needed for the preparation of his defense,
and if his only anxiety has been throughout
what he processes that it has been to test the
constitutOnality of law, and ascertain exactly
what authority the Constitution cOnfers upon
him. he ought to use every effort to hasten
the trial, and have the controversy set at rest
But, far from doing this, he resorts to every
legal bubble to postpone the ISSUE We have
all along deprecated undue haste in this inn
portant affair. We have urged that both par
ties should have ample time for preparation, so
that no one need hereafter accuse MS OF acting IN
the heat of passion. But the President ought
not to abuse the popular patience. The line
of defense he has chosen-to cavil, object, delay,
until the nation grows weary and abandOns the
whole prOiect-is o proof in itself that he
richly deserves removal If he has his way,
the country will be kept for mOnths-perhaps
till the end of his term--in the most
unfortunate of conditions. Look at the
result of his conduct! The Government is In
chaos. There are two officers claiming to be
Secretary of War, each asserting the right to
direct the operations of one of the most im-
portant of the executive departments The
army is probably divided in its Judgment whom
it ought to obey. Now Mr.. Johnson is trying
to secure the presence in Washington of some
prominent General who will be his partisan in
any case, and whose reputation may secure the
adhesion of good portion of the rank and
file. This is situation fraught with deadly
peril. An accident, mere trihe, an imprudent
word. may whelm us in anarchy. 1t is the duty
of the President to put an end to the suspense
from which all this danger springs. lie has
only to meet his trial boldly and promptly.
We have given him all the time he needs, and
the Senate will weigh the charges with the
calmness and deliberation which ought to be
expected from such an august tribunal. But
no legal technicalities or subterfuges must be
invoked to stave off the trial, and the more
Mr. johnson resorts to them the stronger proof
will he give of his bad faith. Let there be
Justice, but let justice have wings
New-York tribune., 1868-03-20
FRAUD IN NEV-HAMPSHIRE.

A few weeks ago, Portsmouth and Manches-
ter chose Democratic Mayors-the former poll
Ing n larger vote than ever before; yet NOBODY
cried Fraud At the recent state election,
when every nerve was strained by b0th parties
these cities polled an increase on thelr NUM-
cipal vote. and gave small Republican maJofi-
ties, while the State gave some 2,'Vo agains'
3,1OO last year. In other words: the hepuon'
can vote of New Hampshire was conslderapiy
increased, and tho Democratic q llttle inoIe
considerably. There is no great gam
anywhere but u regular, UNIFORM IN
crease almost everywhere, as might nave
been expected in view of the determined efforts
made on both sides. Forthwith, tho cry OF
Fraud is raised by the losers, in defiance OF
the fact that no name is placed on the check
list of any town or ward until after scrutiny,
and no man can vote whose name has not
been so registered and posted up for public
scrutiny for days before that OF the election
The formation of the checklist deyOlves
on the "SelectmeD" of the township or ward,
and is in effect a judicial proceeding. OF course,
the Selectmen are of one party in this town,
another in that, and IN times OF high party
feeling, are often accused OF partlaDiy; Dut
they have regulations to uphold; they are
eagerly watched and badgered; and We pre-
sumo they generally do about right They
have seldom more than four or five hundred
voters to register-Often less than two hundred
and we know no rival system better
calculated to preclude fraud and partiality than
that of New Hampshire.
The. World finds proof of fraud in the alleged
facts that
1.-THE total vote Of the State at the late election bears
TO tho population the ratio OF to a. whereas IN most
the ratio is 10 T. aud never was greater IN new
Hampshire than to s."
These facts are falsehoods. The vote OF New
Hampshire exceeded to in 1910, when she
went strongly Democratic. Her population was
326.073 in 1SGO--almost wholly natiye-and, there
having since been a large increase in the cities
and manufacturing villages-is probably not
now less than 100000. The vote just polled is
lust about 1900, which is not to 4. of the
population And the per centage of increase is
greatest, not in the strong Republican counties
of Cheshire, Rockingham, and Hllsborough, but
in wild and mountainous Coos, the Democratic
stronghold, where there are scarcely any manu-
factures, and where there is probably least in
crease of population
New-York tribune., 1868-03-20

SENATE, March 19.-The bill TO relieve K. r..
Butler, Representative elect from Tennessee.
from political disabilities, came up and after
debate was laid aside for the special order, the
bill to relieve certain manufactures from inter
nal tax, which was passed. The amendment
removing the tax from refined sugar was lost !;
that reducing the tax on petroleum One-half
was agreed to.
HOUSE. March ia bill to regulate labor and
the compensation thereof in the NavyYards,
was introduced
The bill providing that on the removal, by
death or otherwise, of the Chief Justice, the
Senior Associate Justice shall perform the duties
of the place until the appointment of successor,
was passed.
The bill to continue the Freedmans Bureau in
existence was taken up, and after speeches by
Messrs Woodward and Eliot, was passed.
The pending amendments 10 the Sundry
Civil Expense Appropriation bill was taken up,
and after considerable discussion Mr.. LOgan's
amendment reducing the appropriation for the
Printing Bureau of the Treasury Department,
and Mr.. Randall's amendment prohibiting the
use of any part of the appropriation for COM
missions on the sale of bonds, were agreed to.
An amendment directing the Secretary of the
Treasury to lay up and withdraw from COM
mission all revenue cutters on the Atlantic
coast not needed for constant USE was adopted.
Several other amendments we're disposed of,
but the vote on the bill was not reached.
New-York tribune., 1868-03-20

We have felt a warm interest in John Dean
and his own Mary Ann" (nee Boker0 ever
since we heard of their romantic marriage
We have rejoiced in the accounts which have
from time to time reached us of their prosper
ity, happiness, and unfalterpg devotion to each
other. We still pray that they may be ever
blest with health, general esteem, mutual alfec-
ton, good children, and generous portion oil
creature comforts and worldly goods. And, III
further evidence Of our warm regard, we do
most affectionately counsel and admonish them
to steer clear of shysters evermOre, and not
attempt to enrich them selves by sueing editors
for libel.
Mr.. Moses S. Beach, we believe, has retired
from any active prominent connection with
journalism, after career of over twenty years,
wherein we are confident that he never willfully
wronged any man, and in which he has won
the esteem and good will of all who knew him.
The battle for the rights Of the Press which
he has just so gallanty and successfully fought
is the fitting close of an honorable and useful
public career. 1t seems to us that we who
remain in the field, and who are to reap the
fruits of his victory, ought to render him some
token Of our appreciation and our gratitude.
We therefore proffer our subscription OF 500
toward any medal or other testimonial that
our brethren of the Press may see fit to tender
him in acknowledgment of the service he has
rendered. the triumph he has won for us.
New-York tribune., 1868-03-20
STOCE-GANBLING.

Whoever owns stock in any railroad or kin
dred enterprise has perfect right to sell or
pledge it to any one who ehoOses-not being
deceived with regard to its value-tO buy it or
loan upon it. Whoever, having the means where
with to buy or loan, chooses to purchase or lend
upon such stock, has q perfect right to do so.
But we strenuously deny the moral right OF
any man who owns no stock in company to
sell what he does not own and promise to de-
liver it on future day-in plain terms, to bet
that the market value of a certain stock will
at that time be less than it is now or less than
some one else bets that it will be. No one has
n right wantonly to subject himself to tempta-
ton to disparage unfairly the value of ansther
mans property. lie who has fairly acquired
stock in n certain company, and who may wish
or need to sell that stock, is wrOnged if you,
having bet that you can do so, depress the
price of his property.
The wrong is monstrously aggravated when
director or other influential officer of COM
pany sells its stock short that Is, bets that
it will be cheaper at a specified future day.
This bet places his interest in clear antagonism
with fidelity to his trust-makes it his interest
that depression and disaster should overtake
the concern which he is pledged to use his best
Efforts TO protect and preserve from such mis-
fortunes. The simple fact that he makes such
bets is of itself damage to the property and
breach of faith with those who have trusted
him with its management.
A law forbidding and furnishing as q misde-
meanor every sale or purchase of stocks or
bonds "on timer is imperatvely required; and
it should provide that any trustee, director, or
other officer of company who should make
such sale, should serve term in some State
Prison
New-York tribune., 1868-03-20

Another life, at least, has been sacrificed by
the -carelessness of railroad managers, and half
a-dozen more of our fellow citizens are made
to hobble through life by the same inexcusa-
bic Encouragement. We are informed that
the accident on the Long Island Rail
road, reported yesterday was the result Of
running trains over the road when it was
totally unfit for use, when the sleepers were
most of them rotten, and the rails.mismatched
and insecurely fastened. 1t is reported that
one hundred and fifty of the passen-
gers have signed a remonstrance against
having their lives and limbs THUS
jeopardized. Why will not the proper authori-
ties look into these matters.