davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1877-08-26

Tie say6: Every enc remembers the story
of the old pensionor who received the com
mand Attention from bystander while
he was returning from market with his din
ner in his hand. At the word Of command
ho instantly and mechanically dropped his
dinner in the mud, and took the proper po-
sition." It is pity that Mr. BIooKs did not
have the instance of the old cannler and
Democratic orator Of this city, who un-
consciously ducked his head in the midst Of
one Of the finest oratorical flights at the cry
of I" Low Bridge" from an opponent in the
audience.
We have not the space to devote to the in
tercsting arguments which A1r. BRooks
makes upon these premises. We can only
briefly state his general deductions. He finds
that all living things present us with series
Of more or less related actions. First, we
have the mechanical and reflex actions Of
plants and animals; then the instructive
action, then the hereditary habit, then the
acquired habit; next the action governed by
general rule, established by experience !;
aud finally the rational action" Notwith-
standing the vast distance between the two e1-
tremes, there is d regular gradation in the
series, and they all hare something in CON-
mon.. They are all directed to the accom-
p1ishn1cnt Of purpose, and the cause Of tho
action is change, external to the organism
and distinct from the purpose. In closing,
Mr. BnooKs says:
in tic adjustment of this change to q relation
1mA- $-.f %nfi-
purpose, we hayo something which has no parallel
except in living things, and perhaps some Of mans
contrivances, such as the automatic governor OF
the steam engine. Living things are distinguished
from those which have not life by their Adjustment
and life consists In this adjustment. Finally, I
wish to call attention to the fact that natural selcc
ton is constantly acting through the law Of the
survival OF the flttcst, In such way US to bring
each organism into more and more perfect harmony
with its environment; that is, 1t is constantly
bringing about more and more exact, definite,
and perfect adjustment between external and in
ternal relations. II this adjustment constitutes
vitality. and il natural selection furnishes an eI
planatton OF tho manner In which the adjustment
has been brought about, have we not In the law OF
natural selection, explanation OF tho origin Of
life!
Whatever our readers may think Of the
law Of natural selection, there are but few
who are not interested in the matter of in
stinct and intelligence, and who will not re-
gret that one who could trace so closely the
harmony of instinct and intelligence with
the theory Of evolution of organisms through
natural causes did not 60 even deeper into
subject he has studied so curiously, and
give us his views upon the ve1ed problem
of the reasoning powers Of animals and their
nnssession of mind.
, 1877-08-26

kr. O. C. G1BBs, who has had considerable
experience in connection with the Chicago
Relief aud Aid Society, recently wrote an
article for The TRIBUNE in regard to the re-
mora1 Of the surplus city population to farm
lands. He closed by inviting persons inter-
ested in the subject to call on him. The re-
suits are reported in an article printed else
where, which is oven more interesting
thnn the first Up to the pres
ent time more than 800 persons
have called upon l1r: Gmps, and they have
represented not less than 1000 fnmilles who
are willing and anxious to move into tile
country. The figures show that the nrgu-
ments of TIE TRIBUNE predicated on the
supposition that such desire did exist were
not erroneous. The existence Of the desire
being proved, the means of transportation
for these needy people ought not to be
wanting. tits subject that may well en-
gage the attention of philanthrop'sts-
, 1877-08-26

The third article en- the business situation,
printed this morning under the heaaing Of
~ Hard Pm, will he found as interesting,
we feel confident, us either Of its predeces-
eors- The endeavor Of the first two articles
was to point out briefly the surface indica-
tions Of renewed business prosperity, and
some of the more obvious proofs Of it were
adduccd- This morning we 60 deeper, and
trace the rise of this business prosperity and
the causes Of it. No argument is required to-
show that Chicago and the country tributary
to it are no1 in peculiarly favored position
They are gaining all, or nearly all,
the increase in population; and the
trade area p" is extending almost as fast
es the facilities Of Chicago for supplying it.
The signs Of the times, rs shadowed forth
BY this series Of articles, are highly encour-'
aging. Our farmers are growing zich almost
in one season; our railroads and shipping
, 1877-08-26

A cable dispatch day or two ago announced
the death OF JUSTIN MCCARTHY, a fine novelist
and an able political writer. Mr.. MCCARTHY
was IN Irishman By birth aud feeling; he was
born in Cork in 1880, and consequently had only
reached his 47th year. An exchange thus no
ticcs his career:
In1S53 he secured position as writer on Liver
pool paper md from thnt time remained devoted to
Journalism. In 1860 he was appointed Parliament
arr reporter on the London AoFnsig Sf1r, Il paper
OF extreme Radical views. and in the following
autumn was given the position Of foreign editor on
that paper, and became chief editor IN 1864. THAI
position he retained until lS6S, wncn he reaigncd
and spent the next three years in extensive travel
in this country, visiting thirty five Srates, studying
carefully the institutions, and making many
on ''psohibitofy Legislation in the United
States" giving MI account OF the work
inz Of the liquor laws in the several States.
He also contributed 8 series OF articles about
British public men to FoESErs Philadelphia Press,
which Attracted much attention, and we're widely
copied and read in this country. or late yelns he
had been engaged rs political writer on leading
London dallY, his writings being marked 6y viSor
Of thought and cicarncss Of expression From first
to last he has been Liberal Of Radical type Mr.
MCCARTHY has been most widely known in this
country as n novelist and contributor to penodi-
Gals. Iic hns furnished many papers to the Lon
don, 11esfns,nster and Forta,ghfly Rerie,c and to
these papers have been collected in volume. Az
novelist he has been steadily growing into faror.
His first novel THE Waterdalc Ne:ghbors, " was
published in 1857: Others followed, and most of
Ills latest nuvcl, 'taiiss Msanthropc," ana his
best, is in courxe Of publication IN the G0!ary
on this side OF The ocean and in London maga-
zine. In the general election Of February, 1874.
Mr. MCCARTHY was invited to stand In the Radical
interest for either OF two Irish horoughs, INT de-
cl:ned, having no taste for Parliamentary houoss.
, 1877-08-26

are taxed to their utmost capacity; money is
beginning to circulate freely, md only 4
slight touch is needed to set every wheel Of
trade in revolution We do not propose to
discuss at this time the one thing needful-
Or rather the two things needful-to re-
store fully business prosperity. Those
things are, as we have long insisted,
the postponement Of the date for
resumption and the remonetization Of the
silver dollar. If Congress, at the approach
ing session, shall accomplish these legislative
enactments, it will have earned the gratitude
of the country, and need do nothing else,
save to pass the Army appropriation bill,
before returning home to enjoy we'll
merited holiday. The people will prove
before the regular session is fairly under
way that nothing is wanting but wise tlnan-
cial measures to Danish the hard times from
the country
, 1877-08-26

tho same date were in great demand ct rents
from 800 to $50 per month. These arc the
houses which are largely occupied BY per-
SONS living upon daily or weekly wages, or
upon moderate sa1ories. These buildings
are, of course, numerous, md the rent OF
them has fallen moro thcn one-half.
If there has been a reduction OF wages )
if laborors, mechanics, teamsters, clerks,
sa1esmen, bookkeepers, and other employed
persons have had their daily or monthly H.
comes reduced, d,-and this has been general
there is some mitigation in the Facts dis
closed by these tables, that in the matter OF
at least three great items Of expenditure
rent, wood and coal, and cloth1ng-the ra-
duction hns been even greater than that IN
wages. Those, therefore, who have been
able to retain their employment, and Keep
in the regular receipt of oven reduced wages,
are possibly as able to purchase rs much OF
the essentials of life and comfort now os
they were under the higher wages and the
higher rents and cost Of commodities IN
August, 1873.
To those, however, who were employed IN
1873 and are ont Of employment now, VINO
are not in the receipt Of any wages, the COM
parative reduction in the cost Of living is
only Of relative consequence. The ability
to purchase is rs wanting in their case as II
prices were rs high Us in 1873. It is, however,
Of some relief that those upon whom they
are dependent for aid arc, in consequence
of the reduced cost Of living, better able to
extend them assistance.
It must not be forgotten that the reduction
Of rents falls with crippling severity upon
another class. The reduction Of the rents
On 10000 or $4,000 buildings of all kinds
has cut off a very large income which existed
prior to 1873. The loss of this income, es-
pecially in cases where property was built
partly on borrowed money, has resulted
largely in the loss Of the property itself.
The loss of this income has reduced the
means Of expenditure for labor, and for all
other purposes, and in some cases has re-
duced the former proprietors to absolute
poverty and want. When the cry against
the Rich is raised, it should DO remembered
that upon the real-estate owners of the city
the reduction of rents has fallen with crush
ing severity, sweeping away incomes in eTen
much greater ratio than that Of the reduo-
ton Of wages.
, 1877-08-26

In addition to this list Of articles entering
into the general nse of all persons must be
added the important item Of clothing, in
Guiding in that term hosiery, underclothing,
hats, and boots and shoes. In these the
general fall in prices since August, 1873, has
beon from IS to 50 per cent. That is to say,
a man can now purchase of either cotton or
woolen clothing, and Of hnts, boots, and
shoes, for 81 rs much rs he could purchase
four yenrs ago for S1-55 to $1.50. Il will
be noticed that in the list Of articles given
and wood Hard coal is now SELL
ing for one-third less than in 1873,
Indiana coal at 45 per cent less, and the BIZ
luminous coal Of this State. at 10 per cent
less. Had it not been for the disturbances
in the mining districts, it would have been
in greater quantity and at lower prices.
There are thousands of workmen in this city
who keep horses and hire themselves and
horses. These persons find in the reduced
cost Of hny-equa1 to On average, on all
kinds, If 50 per cent-an amelioration OF
the fall in wages. Though there has been
no decit1ed full in the prices Of sugar nnd
coffee, there has been q lnrge reduction in
the prices of all kinds of teas In building
materials and tools, in fish, sirups, cheese,
and general provisions, there has been IN
average decline Of 25 per cent. III dry
goods, however, the prices havo receded
from 10 to 60 per cent, especially in those
descriptions of cotton goods which enter so
largely into the consumption for domestic
purposes, and form so large a percentage of
family expenditures.
There is nothing more conspicuous in the
list Of comparative prices than that of rents.
We give the ruling rates for residence prop
erty in 1873, and give the average rates of
rent at which the same classes Of dwellings
can now be had. We have not ventured to
'give any figures for buildings used as stores
and warehouses, but the decline in rents in
that class of property has also been as large
as the decline in the rent Of dwellings,. The
average decline in the rent Of dwellings has
not been less than IS per cent It has been
heaviest in the class of buildings which in the
spring of 1878 readily commanded $1,000
or more rent year, and in those which at
, 1877-08-26

ing oxtent. No contract can get through 4Ene
Board without bribery. No honest jury can
be drawn except by mistake. No reward
can be given to honesty Or punishment to
fraud through its connivnnce. 1t hos ne-
come, wherever it Is known, the synonym
for ignorance, corruption, and etfrontery.
The people have found protection against
it only in the exercise Of constant v1gi-
lance. They havo fought it in the courts
by ininnctionB and in the Grand Jury BY
indictments and it still remains an unre-
pressed and irrepressible evil. reproach to
the good name of our State, and q terror to
taxpayers and good citizens. This Board is
a result of popular suffrage exercised in tho
manner and for the purposes desired by tho
author of the blossoms Of a Century.
How much better is it than the City Govern
ment, which is in miniature the Government
framed by our fathers in 17672 The city
has IN Executive, the Mayor, and Cabinet
surrounding him. It has Legislature,
which is coordinate branch of government
The Government thus constituted is known
throughout the country for its efficiency and
zeal. It reduced taxes more than million
of dollars per annum, and placed the credit
of the City Of Chicago at the highest point
in the money-markets of the world. Its
success is not due solely, Of course, to its
form, any more tlann tho failure OF the
County Board is due to that cause alone;
but there is q lesson to I've derived from the
standing before honest men Of these two
bodies; and the "Lesson of
Century," as interpreted by our author, is
not the one which the circumstances seem to
teach.
, 1877-08-26

THR TRIBUNE prints q special cable dis
patch this morning reciting the circumstances
OF the Turkish assaults on Schipka Pass.
valuable ever received by Western journal,
and it is doubtless the longest. It comes
dirtct from our London Office without an
plidcation or alteration, and is not filched
from an Eastern journal, according to the
practice of ono Of our enterprising contem-
.-ornrinE
, 1877-08-26

gold quoted at 101@103 before New Years.
and perhaps below 101, off aud on, before o
year. The prospects are that there Will Do q
large Importation of gold from Europe dur
ing the ensuing year, porhnps thirty, forty
on fifty millions This, added to the home
production of the precious metals, must
necessarily cut down the premium On gold
over g1oenbacks to very small figure. II
this accumulation OF coin should commune
long enough, it will wipe out all the premium
on gold over paper, aud make the latter par
SO long rs the inflow of the precious metals
continues, .
, 1877-08-26

This morning we print a sketch of TINT
good aad learned prelnte, Archbishop MAN
MING. which ought to be read rs well By
those who do not belong to his fifth as by
those who do. His has been, indeed, busy
life. but not so busy that he has not had
time to devote to scholarly pursuits, while
he has always upheld the dignity of the
Catholic Church i'll England, which some of
his predecessors failed to do.
, 1877-08-26

1t IS rumored that when 1tr. BLAINE received
the Presidents note lagncnting that that visit
couldn't take place, the Senator from Maine
with sigh told an Italian brigand, who with a
ficndtsh scowl and big blunderbuss had been
haunting wooded gorge through which any
visitor to Mr.. BLA1EE's mansion must pass, that
his services would not be required, and sadly
emptied the bright "particu'ar salt~ce;lar he
always sets before honored guests into the
ash-barrcl with the remark, ''Ten cents worth
Of strYchnine Wasted.n
, 1877-08-26

George WILLIAM CURTIS, in Ha1per's Monthly
Nagn=ine, strongly ccnsures the PRINCE or
WALES precedence etiquette which be applied to
his distinguished guest, Gen. GRANT, for whom
he gave grand dinner, and then made him
march in at the tail end OF the procession to the
banquet, behind the very guests who we're In
yited to meet and do honor to him! Hc c1-
presses the opinion which is common among
Americans that Gen. GRANT should have quiet
ly left tho house after he had been thus in-
suited. Says Nj. CURTIS:
II line manners arc naturally associated with
rink, the suppositon would be that the higher the
that the guest OF honor. who also the stranger.
would take precedence Ct all othcra. 1t is there-
fore bewi]dering to learn that when the PRINCE OF
WALES recently gave dinner to Gen. GnAsr, the
distinguished guest brought the rear Of the pro-
ccssion to the dining room. We arc but Doors IN
etiauctte; yet II the rn1ScE or W.tzs 81 had T. been been
States, he would not have been permitted to close
the march to dinner; and he would have preceded
not rs Prince, but as guest; for It would be equally
true Of untitled Mr.. BnlcHr or ME: GLApsrosE as
OF Prince Courtesy is poor thing il it can not
dispense, upon due occasion, with the riSidity OF
ceremonial forms: 1t Is suinored that the Amer
task OF arran:.ing Gen. GRANTS invitations, 50
that he should not be apparently insulted by
being treated ut entertainments given IN his honor
with less consideration than any other
guest, This is hardly credible to an un-
Sophisticated American, because he cannot
comprehend either thar an English gentleman
should oter OR IN American gentleman accept such
situation. The rnles Of really good society.
whether titled or untitled. are everywhere the
same In regard to certain essential points, and 1t is
pity il they are violated in the house Of Prince
TO invite an untitled man into titled company,
upon IN occasion of pure ceremony where titles de-
termne precedence, is to invite him to 60 behind.
II Prince gives q dinner in honor Of IN untitled
guest, ne Is bound to honor him chiefly, and he n-
Tites the counany merely to help him render the
honor. If, therefore, 1t be true that tue fE1e'cE
OF MALES gave dinner especially to Cen GRANT,
and permitted the greater part OF the company to
pseccdc him to the table, Gen. GRANT should
4uietly haze tt nc honse. and all the more it, as is
constantly sd, etiquette end forms arc real things
to European society. For il tha: be SO, the signi
cance OF the situation that an American with
out a title, however iIlustrious, however honored
ut home, and the especial guest OF the OCCASION Is
not to be recognized the equal OF titled people,
Probably. il the story le true Gen. GRANT was
not troubled; but it English gentlemen arc rcquir
cd by etiquette to acquiescc In 80 lagrant a dis
courtesy, they arc greatly to be pitied-
, 1877-08-26

Nothing IS 50 pleasing to the average Ameri-
can as to observe the deep interest taken in
American affairs, and the accurate information
concerning them possessed by European diplo-
matists. Frinstancc. NJ. TR1couP1, the Greek
Minister OF Foreign Affairs, has just submitted
so we learn from the Paris Memorial Diplo-
n,atique, the leading authority OF Europe upon
such subjccts,-a plan for the reorganization of
the Greek Consular service. There are to be sta
toned in the United States, it is provided, q
Consul General, four Consuls, and Vice Con-
sui. One OF the four Consulatcs is to be situ-
ated at Guayaqull.
, 1877-08-26

The British blonde is coming West, leaving
long trails Of sawdust from her symmetrical
calves on every stage en- rou:e. The TRIBUNE
embraces this opportunity to advise parents
whose callow brood of sons betray symptoms Of
being mashed upon British blondes to procure
the publication OF authentic reports showing
how the particular charmer made her debut in
1881, OF has dcyoted herself to the stage to OBJ
tain funds to educate her son, promising and
pious young man Of 20, for the missionary field.
Warranted to cure.
, 1877-08-26

Il will be seen from the real~estato report
:his morning that there is an increased de-
ma1d for moderate-priced property. The
recent failures of savings bnnks in other
cities have turned the attention of the 1nbor-
ing classcs to the security of Investments in
real property, which, on solid basis, is the
ocs: savings 1,ank in the world
, 1877-08-26

Tho watering -places, it will be seen from
p,,1. correspondence this morning, are now at
Tie height Of the season- Saratoga started
ocli,.d in the rnce for public patronage, and
rct even the crusade started by Judge Hu-
ton supplied the needed attraction. Reports
TOW arc more encouraging Newport also is
througcd. and more fashionable than ever
Long Branch, on the other hand, is suffering
from the removal Of the s11nmer-capital.
, 1877-08-26

The impartial observer, gazing upon the, toss
Ing sea Of currency controversy, now singcth
gently to himself, to familiar arithmetical air:
Rcmouetization Is Imitation,
Contraction Is as bad;
The Resumption bill! amounts to MI,
And eyeFybody's mad.
, 1877-08-26

havc given Gov. WILLIAMS Great Anxiety. Mr,
HENDRICKS Is just talking. When Governor
learns that Rebellion has reared its hydra head.
that the streets are running with blood and his
son-in-1aw's steers are stopped on sitse-traes,
it is enough to make any man feel G1cal
Anxiety.
, 1877-08-26
nb!c time

Tia camp-meeting at Desplaines is now
fairly under way, and the first dny's e1-
pcricnce, when tie min descended and the
floods came, is now forgotten or pleasantly
remembered. The hahitntions Of the
brethren, it appears, were founded upon q
, 1877-08-26

The Presidents attempts at Civil Service IT,
form remind tho Democratic press Ut man
carrying ladder through crowd. It isn't
easy or graceful work, and he is always bump
ing up against somebody. Precisely; and tho
man that is bumped against nearly always gets
h@trt
, 1877-08-26

In few days the public schools Of st. Louis
will reopen, and the monotonous voice Of the
scholar will be heard droning over the tables,
" Thirty-six inches make one yard; three yards
make one FOOT" and so on.
, 1877-08-26

The latest freak Of fashion is said to be
the indulgence IN profnsion of flowers,
worn in every conceivable manner, for every
conceivable purpose, and at every conceis-
, 1877-08-26
PRICES IN 1873 AND IN 1877.

We have compiled from The TRIBUNE Of
Ane. 20, 1873, table showing the prices
ruling in the wholesale markets of Chicago
for the week previous to that date, to which
we add list of wholesale prices OF the
same articles for the corresponding week of
1877. The comparison will be Of interest in
its bearings upon the question of wages and
incomes:
, 1877-08-26

Have the people Ut Indiana ever mcditated
what would be the consequences SUPPOSE some
night sneak-thict should insjnuate himself
into Blue Jeans Wals.' bedroom, and, ap.
preaching the other clotheshorse On which tho
historic blue jeans brceches are hung, steal aud
carry OF the Executive Of Indiana?
, 1877-08-26

Mr.. HENDRICKS has great and original
mind, aud q No. ~ hat at least must be
needed to give his brain due space to bulge out.
The railroad strike, he says, after having given
the subject due consideration. was Startling
Movement, and he was Greatly Concerned
about it for Several Days. Hc is Sure It must
, 1877-08-26

Platforms were given to parties to conceal
their convictions. Here are the PENNSYLVANIA
Democrats pitching into Protection which they
favor, aud indorsing 4 Hard-Moncy resolution
that thcY don't believe in.
, 1877-08-26

Old King Coal is by no means SO merry soul
as he used to be in the Pennsylvania mining re.
pfOns.
, 1877-08-26

It is q little rough upon an Ohio friend Of the
laboring man, after be has laid perjury upon his
soul in the matter Of a platform, and given his
record an emetic SO as to turn it inside out, to
find that the honest workingman is going to run
ticket Of his own. Then, indeed, tho Ohio
friend of the L. II. feels as II for BAxQuo's
issue he had filed his soul
, 1877-08-26

The world Of amusements is reported act
;re. Two new plays are underlined for pro-
ductiou tomorrow night