davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

This retiring House has mOdestly request
ed the Commander in Chief of the Army
and Navy to inform it what reasons or what
business he had to send company of artil-
ery or regiment of infantry to one part Of
the country rather than to another. The
airiness of this request will be appreciated
when it is remembered that if the President
of the United States sees fit TO order every
soldier in the Army and every vessel IN
the Navy to Eastport, Maine, OF to Calves
ton, Texas, that is his own affair, and strict
ly within the scope of his authority This
meddlesome House has arrested and i'm
prisoned in the common Jail private citizens
for refusing to reveal the contents of their
ledgers and secrets of their private business
1t has dragged across the continent citizens
and officers of distant States, deprived them
of their liberty, and treated them with con-
tumely, because they would not produce
before a subcommittee of the House books
and papers used in the discharge of State
duty, which official record had actually and
legally passed out of their control and posses
sion. 1t has ransacked and riaed telegraph
offices in the maintenance of the monstrous
doctrine that no citizen has a secret SO sacred
that it c,nnot he given by the House to the
whole world. Its committees have COM
PEELED telegraph operators, who perform
their duties under solemn caths of secrecy.
to violate their oaths, thus, while acting as
lawmakers, heing guilty of the crime of the
subornation of perjury. Not content with
suborning witnesses, this House has en-
couraged its committees to make indecent
assaults upon the public and private charao-
ters of all citizens who stand IN its way to
power, and have put forward the advocate
and defender of an Infamous public thief to
bully and insult honorable men who testify
against either this brszen attorney convicted
client or the one not yet brought to trial and
Justice Y. Times.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16
The Louisiana Returning Board.

The Democrats are endeavoring to make
political capital out of their evidence against
the Louisiana returning board, as they have
right to do. But the other side CT the
story is coming, and, when the case is con-
cluded. doubt if the public will be entire
ly convinced that Wells is a forger, or that
he stood ready to sell out to the Democrats
for moderate sum of money. The charac-
ter of the witnesses against him is very bad.
1t has already been proved that they have
sworn to falsehoods, incidentally Senators
Allison and Howe, Secretary of War Cam
eron and Gen. Grant assert that the refer
ences of Maddox to them in his testimony
convince them that he is untrustworthy. lie
knows how to peryert the truth, and in
geniouSly mixes truth with falsehood. Evil
dence is on the way from New Orleans to
confound the statements of Littlefeld, and
when the case is concluded, the country will
be divided in its opinion of Mr.. Wells. Here
is Senator Wadleigh, very conservative Re
publican, and one of the most honest in Con-
gress, lust back from Louisiana. where he
has spent six weeks, and he is perfectly GER
tain that W ellis is an honest man, nor has
he doubt that, with an honest, fair cleo
tion, Louisiana would 90 overwhelmingly
Republican. How shall we get along with
such a fact az this? Mr.. Wadleigh is not
Il violent partisan, and he is an able and
upright Senator But there are Democrats
as honest and able as he. who are equally
sure that Louisiana gave fair, honest
vote to Tilden.
Looking impartially at both sides, | am
satisfied that the leading politicians on both
sides in Louisiana are very bad men. The
returning board may have been ready tC
sell out. if it could have done so with safety
but believe also that the Democrats oi
New Orleans and in New York were ready
to buy. if they could do so with safety-al
the evidence points to this. No wonder
that the leaders should fear to treat witt
such scoundrel as Maddox. The genera.
belief here is, that he was simply trying IL
make money out of either side or both, and
that, if Wells was not iooling him, lis idea
also was to make some money out of the
Republicans. confess that l believe thi:
old man Wells is, to-day, as honest a mar
as Field, though he is by no means so in
genious.-U Washington Cor. Springfield Re
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

At one o'clock, on Saturday, the joint
Convention of the two Houses reassembled
to proceed with the count President Ferry
presented the opinion OF the Electoral Trlb-
unal, deciding that the four votes Of Florida
were to be counted for Hayes and Wheeler,
on the ground that evidence could not be
taken to 20 behind the Governors eertif-
cate, and that Humphreys was eligible. The
report was signed by the five Republican
Congressman and by Justices Miller, Strong
and Bradley.
The President then called for objections,
when David Dudley Field sent protest to
the desk protesting against the decision, on
the ground that the evidence of the lnvesti-
eating Committee was excluded, that the
right of the courts of Florida to review the
action of the returning board was not I'D
mitted, and that to count the votes OF the
Hayes Electors would be violation of the
Constitution of the United States.
The two Houses then separated to con-
slider the protest.
No sooner had the Senate withdrawn than
Mr.. Lynde, of Wisconsin, evidently in ac-
cordance with the Democratic programme,
moved that the House take recess till
Monday at 10 o'clock.
The Republicans Immediately made point
of order that the Electoral law required the
two Houses to Immediately proceed with the
consideration of the objection.
Mr.. Kassor insisted that if the Demo
cratic majority should force postponement
Of the count for two days, the people of the
country will want to know whether the
Democratic party intends to defeat the final
accomplishment of the count.
Mr.. McCrary, one of the Republican mem
bers of the committee which framed the bill,
insisted that the authority to take recess
had been exhausted when the Florida case
was submitted to the Tribunal, and that
delay was defiance of the Constitution.
After protracted debate, Speaker Ran
dali at go ruled that no recess could be
had if the two hours debate had been en-
tered upon. but that the objection having
arisen and no debate having been entered
upon, the recess could be taken. lie init
mated, however, that no further recess could
be taken after Monday until the Florida case
was sealed.
The House then, by party vote, ordered
the recess until Monday.
The Senate, on its part, after considerable
fllibustering and opposition on the part of
the Democrats, voted to affirm the decision
of the Commission, and having learned that
the House had voted to take a recess, also
took a recess till Monday, at 10 a. IN.
To-day the count will probably proceed
till Louisiana is reached, when there will be
more work for the Commission.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16
The First Party.

BYJosEPHISE POLLARD.
Miss Annabel McCarty
Was invited to party,
Your company from iour 10 ten." the Invitation
SAID
Athe maiden was delighted
Totink she was invited
To situp till the hour when the big folks went Il
bed.
The crazy little midget
Ran and told the news TO Bridget.
Who ciapped her hands and danced a j's to Anna
bells delight
And SAID, with accents hearty,
Twill be the swatest party
II ye're there yerselt, me darlnt wish 1t wal
10 night"
The great display of frilling
Was positively killing
And, Oh the little booties and the lovely sash 81
And the gloves 80 very cunning,
She was altogether " stunning"
And the whole McCarty family regarded her Win
pride.
They gave minute directions,
With copious inter rjsctions
o. Sit up straight !" and :. Don't do this. or that
-twould be absurd"
But, what with their carressing,
And the agony Of dressing,
Mics Annabsl McCArty didn't hear single word
There was music, there was dancing,
And the signt most enhancing,
IS If iairy-land, and floral band, were holding ju
bilee;
There was laughing there was pouting;
There was singing there was shouting
And old and young together mad carnival OF slee
Miss Annabel McCarty
Was the youngest Of the party,
And every one remarked that size was beautifully
drest,
Like doll she sstdemurely
On the sofa, thinking surely
would never do tor her 10 run and irolie with the
rest
The noise kept growing louder:
The naughty boys would crowd her;
4" think you're very rude indeed =" the little lady
said.
And then, without q warning,
Her home instructions scorning,
she screamed I0dnf my supper and Uan'
10 go 10 bedt"
Now big folks, who are older,
Need not lsug gh at her, nor scold her,
For doubtless If the truth were known, we've often
. ielt inclined
To leave the ball or party,
Az did Annabel McCArty,
Bu: we hadn't half her courage and VIC couldn't
speak her mind,
ST. Nicholas.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

AN IMPORTANT DECISION A hearing was
had before Powers. Chancellor. at the
Pavilion hotel, in Montpelier, on Jan. 2Gth
and eth. in the great mining case of Bick-
nell and Pollard, of New York, vs. The
Vermont Copper Mining Company and
others. The orators had procured writs of
sequestratiOn. authorizing soquestration of
the companys property to the amount of
$3.50, 900, and by virtue thereof had caused
the ore on the roast beds of tte company to
he duly sequestrated by deputy sheriff.
The company continued to use ore from the
roast beds, notwithstanding the sequestra-
ton, and the orators moved that the com
pany s officers be dealt with and punished for
contempt of court. j W Rowell and ex- Gov.
Peck, on behalf OF the orators, contended
that the sheriff. in serving the writS of Sc
questration, was an officer of tho Court of
Chancery, and that 1t was a contempt of
court to interfere with his possession of the
property sequeItrated R. Farnham, g,
W. Clark and Judge Poland for the de-
fendant. admitted that 1t the officer was to
be treated AZ an officer OF the Court of
Chancory, it was contempt to interfere
with his possession Of the property, but
contended that he was not to bo 81 regard
ed, but was only public officer, and
must resort to the ordinary remedies Of
public officer when his rights are in
yaded But the Chancellor held that he
was an officer of the court. and that
using the ore in disregard OF the sequestra
ton was contempt of court, and ordered
that the company paw to the orators tho
whole expense of tho application and hear
ing. including solicitor = fees that tho com
pany execute bond to the orators, for the
ore sequestrated, in the sum OF S6O,0OO,
conditioned to respond in that amount to
such final decree as the orators might oh
tam; that the company, its workmcn and
servants. he enjoined ircm mining on the
orators property. and that L. II. Phelps
make and an Immediate survey OF the work
ings, to ascertain the present limits there
Of, and that BE- have lho right To enter
the mine monthly, see to If the injunction
is being respected
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16
The Seven Ages.

At Two, she is tiny lass,
And Joy she scarcely knows from sorrow
She scarce consults her looking glass,
She has no thought of sad tomorrow
AT Four, sh Q is merry maid,
And looks on nau.ht but play as follyi
Che can't believe bright flowers fade
That only saw dust is her dolly
i'll.
At Eight, her troubles come in scores,
For oft she is perverse AMI naughty
pouring puss IN pinsfores-
Who's sJnetmes whipped when she is naGshty
At Twelve, she is a saucy tease,
Who knows full we'll her glances rankle,
Her petticOats scarce veil her knees,
And fairy frills scarce kiss her ANKLE
At Fitsen, she's the pearl OF pets,
And ieels assured hor power IS strengthened
Her snowy schoolgirl trouserettes
Arc hidden when her skirt is iengthensf
W.
At sixteen, she's the sweetest sweet,
And dresses in the height Of !ashlU1
She feels her heart meath bodice bsIt,
In earnest for the tender passion.
VII
At Eighteen p'raps she may be bold
Her lot to snare for worse or better
She'll either sell her heart for gold
Or give it for golden fetter
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16
How Frederick the Great Cured PrIma Donna

There is curious story told of the man
ner in which Frederick the Great could deal :,
where other men had failed with prima dom
ma of the period who was inclined to set too
little store by the public. This great artist
seemed to catch cold, which had the effect
of rendering her hoarse and consequently un-
able to sing, whenever anybody or anything
had displeased her.
One day certain opera was to be per-
formed at Berlin before the king himself At
the appointed hour the manager came for
ward and said Ladies and gentlemen,
we grieve TO inform you that our prima DON
ma has a sore throat, and that the representa-
tion announced cannot therefore take place. 3"
The stOlld Teutonic audience seemed no whit
surprise, and was moving out TRANQUILITY,
when the king rose and commanded the mu-
sicians to keep their places. The audience
sGt down again and waited patiently on
events.
In less than quarter of an hour the man
ager reappeared and spoke as follows la
dies and gentlemen. have the most unleign
ed pleasure in informing you that our prima
donna is completely cured Of her sore throat,
and will have the honor Of singing before you
tonight" Surely enough the famous singer
soon appeared, and never had she sung bet
ter. Her triumph was complete.
The kings prescription b, d been very
simple One The prima donna, having dis
missed the unhappy manager, was sitting
comfortably before the fire in her own room,
and rather pleased Mt the idea Of having
spoiled the pleasure of several hundreds of
persons when the door was violently thrown
open, and there entered an officer followed
by four dragons. "Mademoiselle. quoth
the officer, 'thc king. my master, has sent
me to ask after your health Tho king
is very good Il have bad sore throat"
Ills majesty knows it, and has charged me
to take you at once to the military hospital,
where you will be cnred in few days"
Madem0iselle turned pale. "You are jest
ing" she simpered but Prussian officers,
she was informed, never jested. The leu
tenant gave the order to his men, who seiy-
ed niademuiselle and carried her out of the
theatre.
A coach was in attendance the lady was
deposited therein the officer took his paco
beside, after shouting his address to the dri
YER 1.-THE military hospital" and of they
went, the Dragons riding alongside. In II
few seconds, Stay" said the lady; Il
think feel better "The king is anxious
mademolselIe, that you should feel quite res
tored, ard even that you should sing to-
night" 81 will try" murmured the pris-
oner Back to the theatre,' cried the OIL
Ger to the coachman. Arrived there, mad
emoisele began to think she had yielded too
easily 81 will sing, since his majesty com
4 H. b,,t I, H..
"you will sing" replied the officer, like
the great artist you are 81 shall sing like
au artist with bad cold 81 think not "
"And why ?" because couple of dra-
goons will be in attendance behind the scenes,
and at the least eoaac they have orders to ar
rest you and carry you off again to the mill
tary hospital" The hoarseness was now
completely gone.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR CHANDLER has
the reputation OF being generous man.
Last week a rubicund person called on him;
he had lost his vile and had no money to bury
her. H. &. was suspicious, so he gave IN
stead of money an order for plain but
decent ready made coffin. Soon after bill
was presented; as Il. c. read it. TO one
collin, $50" 'liolv Moses :" he cried,
"you don't mean to say YOU let that beggar
have a $50 coffin ?" 1T is not charge Of
$50, Mr.. Secretary, but so cents" This
was equally pulling What sort of
coffin is 50 cent coffin?" The undertaken
had delivered the coffin according to order,
but the widower acted 40 queerly that
clerk followed him and saw him pawn the
coffin for 50 cents. and that was the charge
the cabinet officer had to pay. lie had un-
willingly furnished the tramp with funds
for the drinks.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16
The scored session Of lhe ELECTORAL Commission.

The Secret Session of the Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission, after hearing
the arguments of counsel, on the Florida
case, closed and locked the doors of the
court chamber, and held their further delib-
erations in private. Washington dispatches,
however, give many details of the session,
which have, of course, been obtained from
the members of the Commission, or from the
Marshal or Clerk of the Commission.
1t is known that the five judges of the
Supreme Court on the Commission sat as if
on the bench, constituting an Imperium IN
Lmperio, and listened to arguments made by
the Senators and Representatives. The mem
bers rose while addressing the Commission,
and the proceedings were conducted with
unbroken dignity and decorum.
Senator Edmunds opened the discussion,
speaking in behalf of Hayes. He was fol-
lowed by Senators Frelinghuysen and Nor
ton, both of whom urged the impolicy, ile-
gality and absurdity Of going behind tho re-
turns of Florida, or any State.
Senator Thurman followed Mr. Morton,
making an argument on the Democratic side,
which was succeeded by one equally cogent
and intensely earnest by Mr.. Bayard. Judge
Hoar then made an extremely able presenta-
tion of the Republican case. Messrs.
Hunton, Garfield and Abbott spoke after
ward, the latter closing the first day
debate.
The second days discussion was opened
by Representative Payne, of Ohio. The
Judges then gave their views. Judges Cliff
ford, Bradley and Field read their speeches
from manuscripts. Judges Strong and Miller
spoke from notes. Judge Field is said to
have taken as strongly partisan Democra-
tic grounds as any of the Congressional mem
hers of the Commission. Judge Clifford, it
is reported, went outside of the pending
preliminary question to declare that he had
no doubt that the Tilden Electors had been
fairly elected in Florida. Some OF
the speeches are said to have been
exceedingly powerful and brilliant. Among
them that of Justice Miller is highly praised.
1t was based on the statement that no in
stance can be found in the history of our
Government where the Judicial power re-
versed the acts of the political power.
Justice Strong made effective use in his ar
gument of the clause in the Florida Election
law which empowers the Board OF Canvass
ers to determine and declare the result of
the election. This he held to be conclusive.
Judge Bradley's opinion was clear and for
chile against the power of Congress to go
behind tie returns to investigate the elec-
tion or the acts of the canvassing authority.
At the conclusion of Judge Miller's paper
the vote was taken,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

Nine metaphysicians, perched aloft
On the top Of a dry pine tree.
Have talked all day in a marvellous way
OF divine philosophy.
No wild COleridgean ramblers they
All over the realms OF laws
TheV stick to their text, however perplexei,
Inc doctrine (and pIae lce) Of caws.
The biggest crow on the nearest limb,
Uave hrst. with never a pause,
clear, profound, deliberate sound
Discourse OF proximate caws.
theolosue in cassock clad
With choker under his laws
And cold in his head, eItner sung or said
treatise of second cIws.
fsh-hawk lit on the tOpmost limb
With Lickerel in his claws,
When small and great began TO debate
Concerning efficient caWs-
And when. at the close, The con gress rose,
/ saw two old crows pause,
And what they said, as they flew O'0rhe1d,
Had the sound OF final caws.
No longer in me, Philosophy,
Thy GevOtse expect
In spite Of thy laws, hero's chain OF caws,
And not one single effect.
Washington Glatden In HGrpe''s Magazine for
February,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

liz sat alone in her fathers perlor,
waiting Tor the far ones appearance, the
other evening, when her little brother
came cautiously into tho room, and gliding
up To tho young mans side. held out II
handful Of something, and earnestly in
quired. IL say, Mister, what'r them ~
Those p replied the young man, soemnly
taking up one in his fingers. 'thoso are
beans "rherc," shouted the boy. turn
ing to his sister, who WAS Just coming in,
Il knew you he'd You said nc didn't
know beans, and hc does, too" The
young man stay was not what You could
call prolonged ono that evening. ChWdgo
JJLru1I
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

A CoNPLETE destruction of salmon and
trout in the upper waters ot tho river Lunc,
England. has taken place. owing To the
emptyIng into 1t OF barrel of creosote.
used Tor the preservation of railroad sleep
ers. ln addition to this 1t Is feared all food
ior the fish has been killed, which will
make the river barren as fishing ground
Tor years.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

"TRIPLETs" said the doctor, contentious
ly The husband of year rushed out on
the back porch, thought upon bis slender
income, gIared upon the snow-clad yard
and exclaimed with wild, mockiDg laugh !:
" Son-struck in January ~ Missouri Re
publican.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

Mr.. MooDY's resemblance to President
Grant is specially noticed by Bostonians
and adds to the satisfaction of being con-
verted BY him. Graphic.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

WHEN Farmer Bulge, read that bull
PARTED by Rosa Bonhcur, sold Tor $4,000,
he remarked to his vito that be dldn { see
how cant of paint could 50 greatly en-
hauce the vaGe of the anima., but 1t Rosa
DIDN'T charge more than $40 he would get
her To paint his bull in the spring. And
his economical wiio replied that she thought
he might paint it himself, and save his 80.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

Der East, recently. man took hog to
fat ON shares, and the very next day the
beast was killed and a tair half promptly
delivered tu the owner.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16
Gave many a courteous Thank -

They died miserably, did those children. and
deserved SO TO die, since "Thank" is even
more atrocious than Thanks" Can any
one imagine in the last scene of Lear
scene so tender and so true the dying king
saying:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

The chairman introduced Prof. n. Cressey
of Amherst, Mass. who spoke on vcteri-
nary matters. He dwelt largely upon
founder, exploding the popular belief in
''chest founder" There is no such thing
founder being in the foot of the horse
He also discussed the imaginary disease of
horn-ail in cattle, and other matters of
practical interest, and answered satisfacto-
rllY Numerous innulrIes
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

SIX MILLION PEOPLE STARVING, WITH LITTLE
PROSPECT OF RELIEF; THE INDECENT CAST on
THE AUTHORITIES HANDS by HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

REPORT OF THE VERMONT MERISo SHEEP BREED
ERs ASSOCIATION, HELD IN MIDDLEpuRY,
JAN. 10, 1877.