davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-27
A HISTORICAL Renaissance.
Gas Ne the Metre Of the Cify's Progress
EDissolvins Views Of Forty Years Ago.

IL Il no uncommon thing to see workmen laying
gas mains in the streets Of the city. II Is in fact
very common sight-a daily spectacle to be seen in
ali parts OF the city, from the Battery to the extreme
northern terminus Of the island. But there is more
than ordinary significance, or rather history, con-
nected with the putting down Of gas mains now In
progress in Grand street, near the East river.
The history runs back forty years and more-a
time when to live above Canal street was to live in
the country, and when the upper end Of the island
was mainly wilderness. All the city lay below
Gand and Canal streets. The New York Gas Com
psny was then organized and the streets we're 1T by
1t. There we're no rival gas companies. New York
was q respectable seaport town. Richmond Hill
was farm. The old stuyvisant pear tree stood in
spaclsus orchard of fruit trees The Bowery was
a country road. Croton water was not known.
There were railroads, no teegraphs. The leading
daily newspapers Of to-day did not exist. New York
progressed and spread itself mp the island made for
Itself new streets added to itself new wards multi.
ri led and extended its docks and shipping and has
become the great city it is today-the city of mil.
lion population, the great commercial emporium Of
the Western Continent.
In Grand street as suggesting historical renilnis-
cence. AS the city progressed the Manhattan Gas
Company came into being. This company obtained
Grand street to Thrtyfourth street. They laid mains
to light the north side OF Grand street. there the New
York Company already had mains. For forty
years these mains have have, been lying side BY side.
the right to light this side of the street.
and when we say Grand street the north side OF
Canal street is also Included Occupants OF stores
and dwellings took their choice OF Companies from
which to OBTAIN their supply OF gas. Occasionally
there has been some confusion OF bills and accounts
but nothing very serious. At length the two COM
panies have come to an understanding. The New
York Company has given up the north side
to the Manhattan Company, and hence the
have only given single dIss0vlng view OF forty
years ago. We might write of the other gas COM
panie5 now In existence-the Metropolitan COM
pany, that lights the city above Thirtyfourtn street
TO seventy -nnth street, and the Harlem company,
by which the rema ming upper portion OF the island
is lighted we might write OF the increasing price
Of gas and how 10 has kept pace with our Increasing
population, increasing taxes and increasing muni-
cpal misrule but these are foreign 10 the special
Renaissance Of our present thema
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-27
Race for the Commodore,s Plate,

RYDE, ISLE OF WIGHT Angus; 13, 1865.
The race for the vice Commodores pate of on,
hundred sovereigns, presented by the Marquis Of
Exeter, was sailed to-day round the Isle OF wigh,
and created very considerable interest among tn.
yachting fraternity in consequence OF the somewhat
unusual conditions by which the contest was fet.
tered by the donor Of the prize The noble Vice
Commodore 1t should be mentioned has always
been strongly opposed to the system so prevalent
among modern yacht owners and builders which
aims simply at the construction Of tracing ma
chnes'-mere shells without bulkheads or other in.
ternal fittings, In which accommodation and sea.
worthiness sacrificed to the one deslderatum of
speed-and in giving hts annual prize he stipulated
that all the competitors should sail In full sea going
trim carrying their usual boats, life buoys, water
tanks supplied with water SUFFICIENT for a weeks
cruise, and fitted with all the necessary appliances
for yachts when about to leave for foreign station
The race was open to all vessels belonging to the
Royal Victoria Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squad.
ron, without restrictions as TO rig, but subject to
special conditions.
All yachts to start underway
The entries which were made overnight at the
club house were as under.-
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-27

one hundred and ten Cretan families who had taken
refuge In Greece, wh0 having accepted the amnesty,
return to their own country. One hundred other
families were expected from Syria and were to en-
bark on the packet Danube, which arrives on the
9Th OF every month.
The Patrie and the Moniteur Unfpersel, French
newspapers say that petition signed by three
hundred persons has been addressed to the Sultan
asking him to return them to their country. The
petitioners are too poor to pay their own passage
This fact shows that they separated from the in
surgents and that they accept the concessions Of
fered by the Sublime Porte
Army Orders.
Brevet Major -. Twining, Captain in the Corps
o. Engineers has been ordered to report in person
to Brevet Major General Terry, commanding the De-
partment OF Dakotah, for duty on his stan.
The recent order relieving Brgadier General Nor
ris 8. Mn.er from duty in the Quartermaster Gene
RAILS office In Washington, and directing him to re.
port to the Commanding General OF the Fifth Mill
tary district for assignment duty as Chief Quarter
master Of that district has been revoked.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-27

The Pysche and Diane also passed the nag,oat, the
former having carried away her t0psail at he COM
mencement OF the second round, whereby she was
thrown considerably astern. All the others gave up.
The Cambria thus became entitled 10 the prise, hav.
ing defeated the Condor by one minute thirty
eight seconds. exclusive OF her time allowance, and
the Egeria by nearly eight minutes after de(uctlng
the five minutes fifteen seconds,
To-day "wednesday being O blank, so far az
racing is concerned, sort OF "water reviewing the
Royal Victoria Yacht Club Squadron was held In
command Of dag officers, led by the Commolore's
magnificent schooner Guinivere the whole neet car.
ryng their distinguishing ffags and executing the
various man ruvree with commendable accuracy.
Altogether tho spectacle albeit, perhaps somewhat
destitute Of a,eaning ormed an extremely attractive
sight and was vne''e BY large number Of ,pec.
tators from the shore and pier.
The race for the Commodore's Cup tvalre flO0)
takes place to-marrow, starting al nine A. NJ, the
course being round The ISLAND, o distance Of about
sixty miles,
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-27

The signal gun was fred punctuaIy at the appointed
hour. and all started the starbOard tack with
wind and tide IN their teeth the Condor leading TO
windward, followed by the GOshawk, Menai. Cambria
and Amulet the others lying In a cluster some
went about standing straight for Spithead and Civ
ing the island wide berth, the Condor stu holding
her own wen 10 wndward. Nearing Noman Fort
under the sterns or the Cambria and Condor out
to windward all the others still keeping on the other
further south, and the Egeria and Alne closed rap
idly with the leaders, the latter coming into very
dangerous proximity with the Cambria as they stood
compelled 10 shake her up into the wind In order to
avoid coillslon. 1t was now dead heat through
st. Heen's Tor Brembrdges FOreand, the wind
every moment increasing in volume, accompanied by
torrents
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-27

FROM tle above return IL VIII be seen that the Con-
dor accomplished the voyage round the island-a
distance or sixty miles, reckoned from point TO point
OF the coast line, but really much longer from the
course the yachts were compelled to take
in six hours twenty-five minutes and forty-nve Sc
conds, defeating the Allne by five minutes and fifty
four seconds, and the Cambria bv thirteen minutes
and fifteen seconds. According to the conditions of
the races, therefore the Ane became entitled TO the
prize, with nearly SIX minutes to spare her time
allowance from the Condor, while the latter, being
the rst IN OF her class that saved her me took the
second prize.
The meeting of the Aline and Cambria in this race
gave rise to vast amount OF excitement and some
little speculation between their respective parzans,
each side being wonderfully sangune OF victory. 1t
is somewhat curious coincidence that each OF these
splendid schooners should have achieved two tri-
umphs on the Solen during the past fortnight, the
Cambria having carried Off both the Cowes and Ryde
town cups, while the Ane has been victorious in
the two races OF the r. Y G. and r. V. Y. Z. that
have been sailed round the Island.
Friday was dies non so far az yachting was con-
cerned, the afternoon being devoted to the annual
town regatta, consisting Of matches between
pleasure boats, gig and Jolly boat races, duck hunts,
&C., all OF which were OF purely local interest
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-27

Secretary Browning LETT here this morning on q
trip to the White sulphur Springs, Virginia.
Major General Rousseau started this evening for
Louisville, KY, on his way to the Department of
Louisiana.
General @. @. Meade Is expected to arrive here to-
morrow or Friday, to consult with the Secretary Of
War.
despatch received to-day from Postmaster Gene
raj Randall dated Milwaukee, wis.,, August 25 states
that he will return to this city by the Sd Of Sep
TENDER.
Colonel Samuel s. smoot left washington tonight
for Southern Kansas, on important business con-
nected with the Indian Bureau.
It is ascertained from an oflcial source that Mr..
George b. McCartee is at present only In temporary
charge OF the printing division Of the Treasury De-
partment.
Cretap Acknowledges Returning TO Their
Native Island.
Information has been received here that the Rus
stan Arsto transport Bombere had left the waters Of
Crete TO be replaced by small gunboat, ana the
Austrian war vessel stationed there had left for
Syria. The French corvette Forbur and the English
gunboat wizard were the only vessels at the harbor
of Gambia.
On the ~ OF August the steam packet Schild Of
tha Austrian navy arrived ct Crete. having on board
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-27
VentnOr the leaders were timed: !,

Things IVohtu brighter OIL The Fre5hWater CHI,
where the breeze steaded somewhat and gave pro-
mise OF ialr passage round the Needles. At
quarters OF nile, followed by the Aline and Cam
bria, the latter now coming up wen and fast FORE
reacning Mr.. Sutton's schooner. The Egeria, Panto
mime and Mena were q long way asterI. appa.
rently nun down. their white sails barely distin-
guishable through the haze
Passing through Scratchell's Bay both the Condor
and Aine went about the sarboard tack in order to
fetch the Needles but the Cambria held on her reach
seemingly oent on making for the passage-a ma
n1uVre whch would have unquestiOnably given her
q very considerable advantage had she succeeded in
accomplishing H. but the ftful nature of the wind
breeze died away at this critical moment, and she
was compelled to go about, thereby losing great
deal OF the ground she had recently made up.
The race was finally concluded by the six CON-
petltors passing the nag boat OF Ryde pier in the
fol In or nilli i1.aI..
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-27

OF the above fourteen the Fiona, Marina. Psyche
and Dlone failed to put in an appearance. The first
named hosted her racing nag, but hauled It down
before the gun fired, to the great disappointment Of
the spectators.
The start was appointed to take place 10 the east
ward at nine A. NJ, and shortly after eight the CON-
peting yachts began to get under canvas amid a
storm OF rain and wind that burst with tremendous
violence from the east southeast lashing the silver
SOent into a mimic sea- as though the very elements
had conspired with the cOmmandant 10 test the
weathcru Qualities oI the little leet to the uttermos.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-16
RECIPE FOR MAKING RADICALS.

An exchange publishes the following recipe
for making Radicals 1t is said to be infaible, and
warranted to do its work well:
'Take large amount of ignorance; a halfpint
of corruption; one ounce of cowardice; one pound
of hatred of intelligent white men ; one pound Of
negro fattery or deception. Put them all in the
unconstitutional mortar of contention; bruise them
we'll with the pestle of oppression or Brownlow 8
military despotism. Then put the compound in
the kettle of midnight plotters. Add gallon Of
the essence of negro social equality. Boil it over
the fire of confscation, until you can perceive a
scum of falsehood rise to the top. Skim the scum
off with the adle of tratorism. Let it stand till it
settles; then put it in the Freedmens Bureau jug.
Take two tablespoons full every night, and work it
off in the morning with a small dose Of Revenue
officers or Collectors spoils. IF the patient he
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-16
A GAMRLING SCENE.

In 1S49, I was passenger on the steamer "Star
Spangled Banner" from New Orleans to Louis
vile. She was crowded with people and, an hour
after leaving New Orleans, found perhaps twenty
card tables drawn out, and three or four score Of
the passengers absorbed in the mystery of ''old
sledge," euchre, and poker. All that night and
the next day the game went on. As fortune, how
ever, soon singled out and made victims of the
poorer and less skilled players, so the members
gradually decreased until the fourth day out, when
only one table was running. Old Bob Brasher, a
negro trader, and two planters from La Fourche
still held on. Although they played almost lnces-
sanity for four days and nights yet luck had favor
ed neither party, and they were within few dol
lars of even. The "bucking' had been principal
ly between Brasher and Sanford, but henceforthl
they had kept themselves within the gentleman s
limit five hundred dollars After leaving Mem
phis the game was renewed, and the bystanders OBJ
served 'that big play was on the tapis," as young
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-16

Sanford was considerably under the influence Of Ii
uuor, and when in that condition was known to be
heavy player. Late at night the two traders
came together; both had "backing hands, and
Louisiana and Kentuck bank notes soon covered
almost the whole table. The margin Of five hum
dred dollars had been forgotten, and one, two,
three, five hundred better passed between them.
At last Brasher leaned back from the table, un-
buttoned his vest, and took from around his body
q belt filled with gold pieces. Laying itdown upon
the bank notes he exclaimed 'Three thousand
betterl' Sanford became speechless; his face
turned deadly pale; he caleI for glass Of liquor,
which he drank, never once taking his eyes from
the belt of gold He had exhausted his means in
the former bets; all his money lay upon the table.
At last thought struck him.
"Benl here, sir!" he exclaimed.
eyes, massa," and Sanford body servant, fine
athletic pure blood, came to his table.
"Get up on the table, sir!''
Not daring to disobey-as he knew well in that
moment of frenzy his young master would send
bullet through his brain did he refuse-he trem.
blingly stepped on the table, crushing the bank
notes and gold beneath his feet.
"For the good Lords sake, massa Ben, don't
bet this nigger off What will the old missus say
when you go home? Oh, massa Ben, please
don'tl" groaned the poor boy, but in vain.
"Call you, sir" shrieked Sanford, at the same
time laying down four queens and an ace.
Gan invincble, sir, said Brasher, with sneer;
''four kings and an ace!" And, as Brasher reach
ed for his belt of gold, young Sanford fell to the
Aoop the blood gushing from his mouth, nose and
ears. With one spring the slave started from the
table, dashing through the thin folding doors Of
the "Social Hail. out on the boilerdeck, and, with
half uttered prayer for the ''old missus," he
threw himself headlong into the dark waters of the
Mississippi and was seen no more Death pre-
vented Brasher from claiming his spoils. Sanford
for weeks fingered on sick bed but at last recov-
cred, and forever renounced the gaming table. He
"made good" however, the money aoorth Of the
negro to his winner.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-16
BE- It is talked of seriously to form compan.

p@ 1t is talked of seriously to form company
in the United States for the purpose of selling mo-
tive power, transmitted by compressed air in iron
tubes from central focus to any machine shop or
manufacturing establishmentin any part Of a great
city. 1t is contended that such motive power is
equal to any other now in use, and can be trans
mitted to any given point like water or gas This
idea, if properly developed to the anticipated ex
tent wouldcause an immense amount of work now
done by hand to be done by machinery. 1t would
reduce the cost of machine labor one half, cause
tall chimneys and steam engines to disappear, re.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-16
RAIL ROADS AND SOLDIERS.

A short time ago, the Charleston Ne,os furnished
an interesting sketch of the South Carolina Rail
Road, from the organization of the Company to
the present time We extract portion Of the
sketch relating to the 'third year of the war, and
venture the assertion that any one who travelled in
those days, will recognize the picture:
'The position of President or Superintendent
of Southern railroad during the late war was any
thing but pleasant one. Military orders were su-
preme, and every private or corporate interest was
made secondary to movements oftroops and the con-
veyance of army supplies. The passport system
was in full force, and as much embarrassment as
possible was thrown in the way of civilian travel
ers. 1t was sometimes impossible for weeks to-
gether tomoye any quantity Of private freight, and
the railroads, while losing their regular peace bu
siness, had but the melancholy satisfaction Of know
ing that they were accumulating vastsums in Con-
federate paper currency.
Schedules were arranged or disarranged to meet
the exigcncies of coming battles or expected raids
Here and there the cavalry pounced upon train
and gobbled it up incontinently. Frequently a
train would run off the track half dozen times in
the course of twenty miles, but no one cared for the
railroads or gave their managers credit for the al
most superhuman work which they were called on
to perform.
One of the most annoying features Of the times
was the pert perkiness of the smaller officers of the
army, who because attached to the staff of gene
raj officer, imagined that the whole Confederacy
was theirs, and that they could command passen-
ger coach to be emptied for the benefit of their
friends or obtain special car for favorite horse
at a moments notice. They were more annoying
than dangerous, more brass than brains. But the
rugged Confederate soldier, the rifed and blanket
ted private was study in himself.
THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER.
He was acurious compound "a bundle of virtue,
fraitv and old clothes Nine tenths of his charac-
ter consisted of what may be called don't-care-a-
damn-atiyeness. This was his marked Individual
ity, and five years of discipline, hardship and dan
ger did not tame the unruy spirit in the least In
fact, the longer the war continued the worse it
grew.
For dress or personal appearance the disregard
was supreme. Give him hayersack full OF corn
bread and cold bacon, tobacco and pipe, and
soldier on his travels was as contented being as
ever descended from the loins of grandfather Adam.
If without his accustomed ''grub," however, some
body was sure to suffer. We once sawin Virginia
a car load of these empty stomachs, on their way
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-16
WHO SHOULD HARRY.

In the March number of the Herald Of Health
Mrs E. Oakes Smith has an article on Choosing
Wife, " from which we make few extracts;
It is not wise to marry woman Of different re-
|ligious faith, nor one far removed from your own
social rank; nor an ignorant woman.
Do not marry a woman, who is sure to run into
the lackadaisica one let her love sentiment high,
noble sentiment but beware of the sentimental.
Do not marry one of the delicate, die-away wo-
men, who are sure to degenerate into inyalids and
take pride in their feebleness.. .-
Only handsome men and women ought to mar
ry Those having mems sdna IN copore sa',o.
Let others look the matter squarely in the face,
and admit that their imbeciities, their diseases,
their unhandsome looks, their discordant minds,
ought not to be perpetuated and let them 60 to
work manfully to make tie best of themselves by
eschewing marriage etthem be honest, hearty,
old maids and bachelors, earning money for the
good of others, teaching and farming and helping
on good and wholesome ideas
The true, good, and handsome men and women
adapted to marriage ought to be treated with dis
tinguished honor in the world as benefactors Of
the race, as foreshadowing that beautiful future
when we shall be lower than the angels, and COW
cred with glory and honor.
One reason why it is well to marry pretty wo-
man in preference to plain one, is that the former
is more free from jealousy and discomfort than the
latter Being better satisfied with herself, she is
more likely to be pleased with others.
1t is better to marry full-sized woman than q
little one, for the meanness Of stature is apt to go
through the character also A certain roundness
of contour; composure and selfpoise, devoid Of
heayiness and sluggishness; an elastic buoyancy,
bright upplish look, more Of pride than vanity; a
clear, open eye, and pure, child-ike smile; hands
and feet well proportioned, not too small, are out
lines easily Disseminated and constitute safe, re-
liable character. A cheerful woman, one who will
not make mountains of mole hills, who can find
something bright and beautiful everywhere; who
has pretty feminine resources, and knows how to
devise ways and means to make others happy aud
content about her, is jewel of inestimable worth.
The voice fnot for singng) is great indicator Of
character. Swedenborg says the angels know the
state of a man by his voice. Bewareof those high,
sharp tones of voice. as well as the too low and hes
itating; the first belongs to shrew, and the last
to deceit and imbecility. ~
Cheerfulness of temper, candor that rejects every
species of fasehood, and owns to the truth at any
peril; tenderness to be detected by fondness for
and faithful care of pets, rather than by outward
expressions; purity, instinct in thought and ac-
ton, and intelligence to appreciate all that is noble
and good and health sound and elastic, are traits
to insure duty as wife and happiness In house
hold
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-16

much debilitated las he will be very apt to be-if
he has any symptoms Of true unconstitutional gov
ernment still remaining in him) let him take two
teaspoons full of deooction ofnegroleagues, sweet
ened with hypocritcal prayer, and he will be as
confirmed Radical as ever polluted the South
with his presence"
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-16

sa- In England, on railway leading out Of the
city of Carlisle, free passage is given for seven
years to any one who will erect residence Of the
value Of $3.50 in gold, near the line Of road. -
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-16

ducethe danger ofexplosion comparative naught,
and be of great advantage in sanitary aspect
The idea originated in France.