davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richland beacon., 1873-09-20
Church Accommodations.
Deductions from the Census.

The United States census can scarce
ly be considered light reading, vet we
have found perusal of 1T quite enter
tanning. even in this hot weather. We
have been consulting its solid pages to
see what it had to say about the church
growth. of the last few decades The
census does not undertake to give the
humber of communicates in the several
denominations it only gives the num-
Der of local church organizations, the
number of church edifices, the number
of sittings, and cost of buildings. We
suppose that the church accommoda-
ton furnished by each denomination
bears a weary nearly constant ratio to
the number of its COMMITMENTS so
that the figures Of the census afford us
some measure of the numerical strength
of the various denominations. The
pnpulation of the United States and
territories increased from 1850 to 1870
about sixty-six per cent. The native
population increased during the same
period about fifty-seven per cent. The
number of sittings in all the churches
of the land increased during these two
decades about fifty-twO per cent, and
the number of sittings in the Protes-
tant churches only about forty-five per
cent. It will thus be seen that the in
crease of church accommodations does
not keep pace with the growing popula-
tion. In 1850 there was room in all the
churches for sixty ont of every hundred
of the people; in 1870 there was room
for only fifty-six in hundred. In 1850
the Protestant churches would contaiu
sixty-four per cent. of the native pOpu-
lation in 1870 they would nold only
sixty per cent. of it. The comparison
of the Protestant church accommoda-
ton with the native population is, how
ever, not very instructive for a large
number of our native population are
now Catholics, and about two-fifths, if
we estimate rightly, of our foreignbOrn
population are PrOtestants. The ratio
of the whole population to the church
accommodation of all the sects is the
only sure test of progress; and it shows
that in our facilities of worship We are
not quite keeping up with the growth of
the country. The case is not as bad,
however, as at first sight might be imag-
ined. Fifty-six out Of every one hun
dred of our citizens can now find seats
in our churches. But it has been shown
by careful investigation that m more
Richland beacon., 1873-09-20

-SMD8 0oCulfen0es In real life reeem-
bls 1Ae climax Of bad dream. The
bystamders Who witnessed the followins
n1s1Uw escape, related . French paper,
must have felt extremely anxious TO
wakc. A child of i've and half years
Of ags was playing ae one of the win
doWs Of house in the Rue de IL Trappe,
when it leant too far ont and fell. The
mother daxted to the window in agony,
and saw her child hanging by ita pima
fore 10 N iron hook fastened to the
half-opened shutter of window on q
lower story. In spite of the entreaties
of . neighbor, the unhappy mother
stood gasping for breath. her hands
clutching the window-sill, and her
whole appearance model for . statue
OF despair. Suddenly q voice cried /:
|" Mako haste his pinafors is tearing. /"
Ths mother tainted. but the door had
now been broken in end the porter drew
- shutter gontly invards, and thus ct
y Qpceeded in placing the child
~ on the floor Of the room.
Richland beacon., 1873-09-20

and sugar fore Dem to pour ont and
sweeten to their taste.
This they did, and drank in q jolly
mood. each one having nine hundred
and fifty dollars in his pocket. But in
a few minutes the tables were turned.
One gave up the ghost where he sat at
the table in his chair, and the other got
up. staggered off few feet and tumbled
over into eternity. The good old lady
recovered her money, and on examining
the persons of the black burglarious
robbers they turned out to be the two
witnesses to the act of sale, both white
men, blackened for the occasion-both
her neighbors, and one was her cousin.
Ne,U Orleans Herald.
Richland beacon., 1873-09-20

We ask for long life, but il is deep
life, or grand moments that signify.
Let the measure of time be spiritual,
not mechanical. Life is unnecessarily
long. Moments OF insight, Of fine per-
sonal relations, a smile, q glance, what
ample borrowers Of eternity they are !!
Emersnl.
Richland beacon., 1873-09-20

Advertisements inserted af the nste Oh 80 ~
scusrs 10, ,be first insertion and IS cents FOR esch
subseq uent one. Ten lines or less c0ns'"u~
square. L..
n Professional Cards, 5000 per snnum; for
six months $40 so in advance.
Richland beacon., 1873-09-20

6O1ASA "o
IS, consid-
kented the
|n illuni-
fe writer,
lis a some
|; but no
Ted at ex-
lrticulars.
pr ghosts.
e a good
! 1 had
let some
| with the
ls hear no
brnns. F"
Richland beacon., 1873-09-20

The necessary basis of cnltuie e isnot
money, but content, content with out
ward things, inst as they are, content,
if it must be, with what you 80 plain
lively call subordinate social posi-
ton" It seems exceedingly trite to say
that perception of great thoughts and
great harmonies ennobles a simple no
less than a snowy life, but one would
think you did not believe it. If the
souls Of Mozart and Mendelssohn are
still alive and happy in blessing, and if
they minister to poor mortals sometimes
through the strains that sbundantly live,
as what music-lover does not love to
dream ?.do you suppose they are par
ticular about the locality of the street,
or the furniture of the room in which
they perform their angelic service? o
let us learn the grace to stand still, and
receive what is given Us, instead OF
crowding and struggling after the truly
boorish fashion of the day! 1t il this
selfish and unlovely strife to get up. up,
no, which leaves ms no time for thought,
no room for beauty, and no breath for
sonR.-Hdrriet Preston.
Richland beacon., 1873-09-20

y
than tifty-eight ont of every
could possibly attend church O
Sunday. Counting out the I'M
sick, the aged, and those who
PEELED to remain at home to
these, leaves only fifty-eight
of the population as possible
goers. For fifty-six per
churches of this country ma
sion and we all know that (
will not go, no matter how m
is given them, amount to moro
in every hundred. There isl
the churches of America NJ
enough room for all who cam
be induced to attend divini
Our church facilities are, IN
prehensive view, fully mp I'd
of our population. They 2
large, relatively, as they We
years ago; but then they w4
than the country reQmre'
is not saying that no more chi
needed, or that DR.. Palmer an
of the church builders can su !
offices and go home. New con
ar all the while being gath
they must be supplied
churches. Besides, We must |
that, while, there are churche|
they are not always where q
to be. In the east the church (
dation is often largely in exec
needs of the local community
case is reversed at the ives
could pick up the snperAuous
which are scantily filed by q
sectaries in eastern villages, AZ
port them to the west, We sh
need to build so many new
the machinery with which to d
not been invented. The fact
are too many churches in SOM
mites does not justify us
other communities with too I'd
at all. 1t is interesting to con
these figures statistics which
nished by a number of the
Nonconformist. which has JUS
hand. In the twenty largest
England, London excepted, II
ligiOus accommodation in the q
for ONLY thirtv-nine Der cen
Richland beacon., 1873-09-20

body ou9 - medicine. Every
;;9. ;s;1sissy;s Ety.. mo as - IT Grin ere
Of mirlh. Il il T. - The "a
Every man Ought 10 - anary.
IL A man without mirth s -
gon without springs, which s -
go one = caused disagreeably : r
<Umw pobhle over which it runs.
Connecticut western news., 1873-10-31

suffered herself to be led to the window with strange, immovable calmness. Soon shouts and the swelling murmur of dense crowd reached her ears. The procession was arriving. The gallows was not in sight, but the fatal cart would pass close. It came on nearer, nearer-more like triumph, that dis nal sight, than a human fellow-man hastening to eternity.
 She clsnched her hands, she rose up, straining her fair white throat to catch a glimpse of the criminal. Yes, there he was, dressed gayly, the ominous nosegay faunting in his breast, dull despair in his heart, reaching from thence to his face. AS the train passed Flavia's window, by chance he raised his hot, bleared eyes ; they rested on his pure virgin wife. The wretched man uttered yell of agony and cast himself down on the boards of the vehicle. She continued gazing, the smile frozen on her face, her eyes glassy, motionless, fixed.
 They never recovered their natural intelligence. Fixed and stony, they bore her, stricken lamb, from the dis nal scene. Her old father watched her for days by her bedside, eagerly wait- ing for ray of light, a token of sense or sound. None came. She had been stricken with catalepsy, and it was 0 blessing when the enchanted spirit was released from it's frail habitation-when the pure soul was permitted to take its flight to happier regions. Poor MT. Hardcourt sunk shortly after into Q state of childish imbecility, and soon father and daughter slept in one grave.
Connecticut western news., 1873-10-31
A Desperate Struggle.

Two rope-walkers, Kolter and Pergo- witch, had 0 mortal combat on their rope during late exhibition ill Hun- gary. The acrobats were to meet mid way, and then to pass each other. When the clock struck 12 the acrobats emerged from their respective windows dressed in tights, and without balance poles. Pergowitch suddenly uttered an angry exclamation, and dealt Kolter 8 terrible blow on the head. Kolter stag gered and fell, but in so doing succeed ed in clutching the rope with one hand, while with the other he grasped the left leg of his assailant. Pergowitch now fell likewise, but passed his right arm around the rope, so that he hung upon it in comparative security. And now began lifc-and. death struggle. Kol- ter, with his right hand, tried to drag Pergowitch from the rope, while Pergo- witch kicked Kolter with his right foot, and with the left hand endeavored to loosen his antagonist. The struggle in mld-air lasted perhaps minute, when Kolter suddenly uttered last cry and lost his hold. He fell to the ground, striking it violently, and expiring in- stantly. While the people gathered round the corpse of poor Kolter, his murderer on the tight rope managed to get on his feet again. With diabol.cal expression on his face he uttered yell of triumph.
Connecticut western news., 1873-10-31
Rights of Colored Citizens.

The right of the colored race to go into theatres of New York has been some time before the courts. Two grand juries have dismissed complaints against Farmer X Jarret and Josh Hart for violating the so-called Civil Rights law of 1873. Four cases lately came up in the Supreme Court, Chambers, be- fore Judge Barrett, against Wallack's s theatre.
 MT. A. Oakley Hall moved for a rule obliging the colored plaintiffs to re- ceive unverified answers, and claimed, under special law of 1854, that in all actions founded upon statutes giving fines and penalties such answers were permitted. He stated that his clients were advised to take this course to es- cape annoyance, as we'll as receive legal protection.
 Ex-Judge Culver opposed, and claim ed that this statute was repealed by the Code and that the management must admit or deny on oath whether it ex- cluded for color or not.
 Judge Barrett leaned strongly against him, but took the papers. A similar
 uit in Albany against Manager Rich ardson, of the Opera House, resulted in a disagreement of the jury. New York city managers have, on legal ad- vice and authority both in England and America, as they say claimed and exer- cised the right to view their theatres as private business places, and exclude whom they please by refusing to sell tickets and without reference to either black or white, Heather Chinees, or Jim Yves. And they deny that the Legislature can force them, while man. aging private business, to conduct the latter according to penal statute. It will now be at least year before the cases in question come to trial, if they eyer do.
Connecticut western news., 1873-10-31
Welded Life Only the Beginning.

According to the love-idyl of the period," writes T. B. Aldrich, "when
 Laura and Charles Henry, after unheard- of-obstacles, are finally united, all cares and tribulations and responsibilities slip from their sleek backs like Chris tian's burden. The idea is pretty one,
 theoretically, but, like some of those models in the Patent Office at Wash ington, it doesn't work. Charles Henry does not go on sitting at Laura's feet
 and reading Timothy Titcomb to her forever; the rent of the cottage by the sea falls due with prosaic regularity; there are bakers and butchers and babies and tax collectors and doctor s and undertakers, and sometimes gen. tlemen of the jury, to be attended to.
 Welded life is not one long amatory poem, with recurrent rhymes of love and dove, and kiss and bliss. Yet when the average sentimental novelist has supplied his hero and heroine with their bridal outfit and attended to that little matter of the marriage certificate, he usually turns off the gas, puts up his shutters, and saunters off with his hands in his pockets, as if the days business were over. But we, who are honest dealers in real life and dis dain to give short weight, know better.
 The bushes is by no means over-It is just begun. It is not Christian throw ing off his pack for good and all, but Christian taking up load heavier and more difficult than any he has carried. "
Connecticut western news., 1873-10-31
Young Mechanics.

There is no class of the community upon whom the future welfare of the country more essentially depends than
 upon the rising generation of young mechanics. If they are intelligent,
 sober, industrious, and consequently independent, able and accustomed to judge for themselves, and governed in their conduct byan enlightened view of their own best interests; if they are men of this sort, the mechanics, and es- pecially theyoung mechanics, will form, in conjunction with the young farmers of the country, bulwalk against mo- nopolies and corrupt politicians, and save the republic. If, on the other hand, they are ignorant, idle, dissolute, and, consequently, poor, and depend ent upon those who are willing to trust them-if our mechanics should unhap- oily become such class-they would soon be converted into the mere tools of few rich and artful men, who, hay ing first stripped them ofevery sense of self-respect, and every feeling proper to virtuous citizens, would use them as passive instruments for promoting their own ambitious objects, and for the en- actment of laws which are beneficial to nobody but the artful few and base demagogues with whom they originate. It is true of the mechanical arts as of any other profession that Knowledge is power. ."--Shoe and Leather Chronicle.
Connecticut western news., 1873-10-31
The Bank of England.

In 1894 William III, who was then on the throne, was going to war with France, and he greatly needed money. Had it not been that the credit of the English government was so poor, the money might have been raised without appeal to what was then considered by many to be a desperate and revolution ary scheme. There was fierce opposi- tion to the bank on the part of the lords, who considered it & strengthening of the moneyed power at the expense oi the landed interests. But the money had to be raised; the need was so ur- gent that the aristocracy were compell- ed to sacrifice their class scruples and interests.
 The inventor of the scheme was William Peterson, Scotchman by birth the West Indies his friends said that he had been missionary, his enemies that he had been buccaneer. He was an ingenious ond ardent person gifted with greatpowers of persuasion. The scheme, which he had first proposed in 1891, he succeeded, three years later, in getting the great Montague to take up.
 The plan was simply that the govern ment should borrow twelve hundred thousand pounds at eight per cent, which was then very moderate rate, and which would have been very favorable to the borrowers. In order to induce capi- talists to advance, the subscribers were to be incorporated into company to be called "The Governor and Company of the Bank of England" There was much fierce opposition, but the dream of the obscure adventurer soon became solid fact.
 This was the origin of that great in. stitution which is now the greatest moneyed power in the world, and which was for many years the bulkwark of the English government. During those wars in which France was endeavoring to force the Pretender back upon the throne, it was the bank which supplied the government with money. Had France succeeded, of course the new king would have refused to pay inter. est on money which was spent in resist ing him. The bank was therefore great. ly interested in upholding the existing government. It was, through some generations, whig institution.
Connecticut western news., 1873-10-31
Solar Heat as a Tool.

During the recent building of a bridge in Holland, one of the traverses, 465 feet long, was misplaced on the supports. It was an inch out of line, and the problem was how to move it. Experiment. proved that the iron ex- banded Q small fraction of an inch for every degree of heat it received. It was noticed that the night and day temper ature differed about twenty-five de- grees, and it was thought this might be made to move the bridge. In the morn- ing the end out of place was bolted down securely and the other end left free. In the heat of the sun the iron expanded, and towards night the free end was bolted down, and the opposite end was loosened. The contraction then dragged the whole thing the other way. For two days this experiment. was repeated, till the desired place was reached. We find no record that the heat of tue sun has ever been employed in this way before, but the contraction and expansion of iron bars by fire heat has already been used to move heavy weights over short distances. Broken walls and strained roofs and arches have been brought into place by simply heat ing iron rods till they expanded, then taking up the slack by screws and nuts, and allowing contraction by cold to pull the wall or roof into place.
Connecticut western news., 1873-10-31
The Fate of TheOdOsi0 Burr.

A correspondent of the New York Evangelist writes to that new spaper to correct story now going the round (and founded on tradition) that Mrs. Theodosia Alston, the only daughter of Aaron Burr. was victim of Gibbs the pirate. "It is pity" said the writer, "to spoil this tragic sensation, but happening to know the truth in part, I give it to the public. The history of MT. Burr's daughter, believe, remains Q mystery, as to her fate. She proba- bly, perished at sea in a storm, which is we'll known to cause many a wreck be- tween New York and the Carolina coast.
 "About the year 1880, while the writer was student in Columbia Col lege. the pirate Gibbs was taken on the high seas, put in irons, and brought to dore Kearney, who was for many years Marine Service, was boarding at the same house with the writer. AS soon as an opportunity presented, the Com. modore made known his purpose to in- vestigate the doom of Theodosia Burr.
 Commodore Kearney called at the prison, and as Gibbs we'll knew nothing could save his life, he freely recounted the names of the vessels he had taken, and all the incidents of interest, con- nected with his daring career. But he utterly denied having any knowledge whatever of Mrs. Aston, the vessel on which she embarked, or anything re- lating to her fate.
 Commodore Kearney, on reporting the result of the interview, gave it as his deliberate judgment that the tradi- tion connecting Theodosia Burr's name with the pirate Gibbs was myth. And any person familiar with Commodore Kearney as qualified for the examina- tion, will coincide with his judgment. ''
Connecticut western news., 1873-10-31
Chinese EtiOuette.

In China, visit of ceremony is con- ducted with great politeness. Your card must be sent on before you by Q special herald, & " ting chai "-(the Chinese are we'll up in the fashion of cards, which they have long practiced) ) who should be dispatched in good time to allow of proper preparation by those who are to receive you. Your rank being stated on your card, you are received according to it by the gentle man upon whom you call. He comes out certain distance, in proportion to your rank; he bows and you bow, while each says "Chin chin," and you are in- vited in; but at every doorway he pauses and politely proposes you should precede him, which you decline as DO. 1itely, and at last, after many protesta- tions, he goes first, with some pretty apology. When the room IS entered, and each is seated, attendants enter with cups of tea and sweetmeats, and beginning with "Qua shing?" "What your honorable age? ?" and fifty ques- almost insulting; but this curiosity to- ward an honorable acquaintance is not considered at all so-indeed, it would be, in Chinese gentleman's eyes, ex- ceedingly rude not to make all these in- quiries.
 The orthodox half hour having passed, and the business eff any) to be transacted being over, the guest is con- ducted away toward the door with the same ceremony; and if of superior rank to his host, and he wishes to show him great respect and honor, he sees him to his sedan, and waits as he moves away. lowing profoundly, and exclaiming, WChin chin 1"