davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31

The eolored folks gave an entertain
ment under the auspices of the McClel-
Ian Guards, at the Exposition building,
Christmas eve night. watch was to be
voted to the most popular young lady.
The favorites were Miss Indiana Jeffer-
son and Miss Lula Holmes. Each one
had a book and collected the money
voted. There was a difficulty about the
count, and the chief Of police was
selected as an electoral commission
aud sat on she cast this forenoon. Miss
Indiana had forty dollars collected, but
no names. Miss Lula had ten dollars
and the names Of the forty who paid a
quarter q piece in her favor. She gave
up her pile cheerfully to the chief, but
Miss Indiana refused to do SO. There
fore there is trouble in camp. Somebody
wants to turn that forty dollars over to
proper authority, but how to get it is the
serious question which agitates several
disinterested bosoms.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31

there is anything which is unalterably
fixed in the minds and hearts of our
people it is the determination to support
the Memphis high school This issue
was not pressed by the LEDGER at the
last election as it will be this time. We
propose to discuss the question upon its
merits without any feeling in the matter,
except that pride of opinion which is
based upon q strong and growing con-
viction Of what is right. Owing to the
of our cotemporary's able article
shall have to take it up by piecemeal
but shall certainly notice all the points
made, and go over all of the ground be-
nov and the election.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
F allure Of John bonner q Co.

New York, December 3l.-Consider-
able excitement was caused on the streets
this morning by the announcement of
the failure of John Bonner & Co., 80
Broad street, one of the oldest houses on
the street. The firm has made an assign
ment to B. W. Griswold. 1t is said that
the firm pursued the same methods
charged against Meter & Co., in a re-
hypothecation of securities. Their La
bilities are said to be quite heavy, and
several prominent spectators are men.
toned as considerable losers. Intelli-
gence Of the failure has had a depressing
effect on the stock market, and some of
the leading shares are down one per
cent.
The failure of John Bonner & Co., has
involved the suspension Of the Bankers
and Brokers Association, an institution
availed of by small operators for clear
ing stocks. Bonner cannot be found.
1t is thought Bonner & Co.'s liabilities
will exceed 5000, 900.
An evening paper says: Following
the suspension of John Bonner & Co,
came that of ]. T. jackson, a small mem.
Der of the exchange, who was also short
of Lake Shore and Western Union. Some
Of the large stock houses in this street
are suffering by these failures, their loans
having been violated, and, it is reported,
their securities sold out without author
ity."
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31

CAIRO, ILL, December 3l.-Arrived-
Thomas Means, st. Louis, 8 pm; Vint
Shinkle, Memphis, midnight; Maude, 81.
Louis, 2 am; E. H. Durfee and Lioness,
St. Louis, I; St. Genevieve, Memphis, Z.
Depsrted-Thomss Means, Ohio river, 8
p m; Vint Shinkle, Cincinnati, l am;
Maude, Vicksburg, 8; St. Genevieve and
Lioness, St Louis, IL. Cloudy and cold.
CINCINNATI, December 3l,-River IA
feet 6 inches and rising. Cloudy and
cold.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31

WASHINGTON, December 3l.-Great ex-
element has prevailed here since Satur-
day because of a terrible outrage perpe-
trated upon young lady in the eastern
part Of the city last Saturday. A move.
ment is on foot for the organization of a
vigilance committee to patrol the streets.
Two negroes we're arrested yesterday on
suspicion, and but for the strong protests
Of the police the crowd would have taken
the matter in their wi hands and sum-
mary punishment would have been visit
ed upon at least one Of them then and
there. A largely attended indignation
meeting was held last night.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

LONDON, December STA London
correspondent of the Manchester Guar
dian telegraphs that journal regarding
the government policy IS follows:
There is no idea Of the acquisition Of
Egypt, which would be an abandonment
of the policy opposing the partition Of
Turkey. It is believed that should Rus
STA reject mediation Lord B~escons6eld
is prepared to appeal to the county on
the question Of declaring wal for the de-
tense Of British interests"
A Bucharest dispatch says: The
bridges crossing the Danube at Simnitza
were taken up to prevent their destruc-
ton. 1t is hoped that the bridge at Pc
troshani, just reported as having been
carried away, car be repaired.
Nine hundred horses persisted in the
vicinity of Sistova during the recent
storm. The total loss of draught ami
mails must be numbered by thousands.
Details are slowly coming in nee
ing the sufferings of the Turkish prison.
ors from Plevna on their way to Rou.
mania. The prisoners were unaccom.
panied by any vehicles for the purpose
of picking up those who fell by the way.
side. These were left by the guards to
freeze, as they had no means of carrying
them, and a halt would only have been
to increase the number Of victims. The
absence of wagons is not due to de-
liberate cruelty, but to that of thought
l~essnesS, which so frequently subject
Russian soldiers to unnecessary suffer-
l learn through the Roumonian
officers who came from Nikopolis to
Plevna, after the passing of these pris-
oners that they drove against a number
of dead bodies in the snow. No provis-
was made in Bulgarian villages for
proper s~ustenance Of the captives, but
when the Danube was passed supplies
we're provided, and from that time their
lot was never hard to bear.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
HELENA.
Trade and Business OF the place
A Local Lecturer in the Field.

Trade and Business of the Place
A Local Lecturer in the Field.
To the Editor of the Ledger:
Notwithstanding Memphis thinks that
Helena is putting on airs" l am per-
shaded that you are not so far swayed
BY prejudice as to deny me the privilege
of saying a few things through your
columns. We have great expectations"
which we think will be fully realized at
no very distant day. For days proceed
ing Christmas our merchants enjoyed a
good trade. Though we fully appreciate
the fall meaning and feel the crush.
ing weight Of the hackneyed phrase
hard times" our people seemed resolved
on burying their troubles in temporary
forgetfulness.
In the midst of the business whirl Of
last week we had two delightful enter
tainments. On Wednesday evening the
programme was enriched with choice Sc.
lections Of vocal music, and an appro.
pirate reading from one of our popular
American authors. On Thursday even
ing Rev. Jas. L. Denton, of this city, de-
livered a capital lecture for the benefit
Of one Of our Sabbath.schools, on the
" Nature and Curiosities of Habit"
The audience was respectable in size
and represented the culture and intelli-
gence of the place. The lecture was
over an hour in length, and the interest
was so thoroughly sustained from first
TO last that no one was conscious of the
flow Of time. The unanimous expression
vas one of regret that it did not last
longer.
The lecture displayed superior on
structive talent, and q wide aequsint-
ance with human nature and books. 1t
abounded in uncommon common
seRse," scolding satire, flashes of spark.
ling humor and pungent wit, and out
bursts of lofty %eloquence. 1t contained
some passages of mastery word.paint-
ing that held everybody sp~ellbound.
The inconsistencies and evil habits Of
the race we're handled without ceremony,
and the sly motives that skulk in the
dark behind the outward show of things,
we're pursued to their hiding places. 1t
may appropriately be said Of the lee
turer that his enthusiasm kindled as be
advanced, saa Ehen he arrived at his
p~eroration it was in full blaze We
hear it intimsted that he expects to en-
Ter the lecture field regularly. / say
withoa. hesitation that be will delight
any lecture committee or audience. Ly.
managers will run no risk in en-
gaging him.
Thanking you for your valuable space,
l remain, yours truly, C%ARLIvALLI.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
VIII California be DIvIdsnr

The division Of California into two
commonwealth is q subject now engag.
ing the petition of the people in the
southern portion Of the State, where il is
being urged with considerable zeal. Los
Angeles is named as the seat Of govern.
ment for the new State. The Southern
Californians claim that they have their
own peculiar industries; that they are
devoted strictly to the pursuits Of pomol-
ogy aud horticulture, while the central
and northern portions are devoted to
mining and manufacturing industries.
The area Of the proposed new State
would embrace about 10000 square
miles, with a population so small that IL
does not number one-half OF the iuhabi
tants in the State, and would scarcely be
enough to entitle the new State to a mem.
Der Of congress.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
THE H1eH sCHoOr QUESTION.

The Appeal of Sunday morning con-
tanned an article on High School Edu.
cation according to the caption, which
WAS really a laborsd effort to prove that
the Memphis High School should be re-
tanned IS part Of the system. The wri-
Ter assumes hat this is a normal school
to turn out teachers competent to teach
in the common public schools Of the
city, when in fact the graduates are not
required TO become teachers any more
than % pursue any other profession. AS
matters are running now we will not
need teachers much longer, unless they
are wiling to teach for nothing aud
board themselves. We do not, however,
rest entirely upon this single view of the
question, but upon the higher ground,
that the principle is wrong, and the high
school system Of public expense a
mistake, as we shall show from
time 70 time. The Appeals article
OF a column and a half betrayi
an anxiety on the subject quite i%nconsis
tent wiihthe closing assertion, that l
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
T%ELEGRAPHIC MARKETS
STOCKS AND BONDS.


LONDON, December 81, 2 p.m.-Consols
for money, "a ll.l6; on account, IS;
United States new four-and.a.balfs, 1898;
United States ive.twenties Of 1861, 1861
United States ~ten-forties, 1911; new 6ves,
1865; Erie, 81
New YORK, December 81, 1850 am
United States skies of 1881, l06s@l065;
United States skies Of 1881, coupons,
lO95@llOt; new four-and-s-halfs. l033@
1893; coupons, = @lO33; ive-twenties
of 1865, new issue, lO54@lO55; ive-twen.
ties of 1867. lO3s@lO8B; 6ve.twenties Of
1868, coupons, lO95@llO; ten.forties,
le6s@lG7; ten-fortics, coupons, lO64@
lO7; new tours, lOl@l0l5.
BREADsTUFFs.
LIVERPOOL, December 81 Wheat, win.
ter, lsOd@lls6d; Milwaukee red, los Cd
oils Sd; California white, Us Sd@
Us lid; California club, lis lld@l3s Sd.
Germ, 29s 9d@SO Cd. Pork, 56s I'd,
Beef, S6s Cd. Bacon, long clear. 9,2s 0di
short clear, 34s Cd. Lard, Ais Cd. Tai
low, 4Os Cd.
CHICAGO, December 81, 1850 am
Wheat, llOb@llO3 for February. Corn
423@42 for January; 4l4@42s for Feb
ruary; 43t@43 for May. Pork, IL roo
IL 721 for February; IL S73@ll 80 fol
March. Lard, I 1907 793 for February
Z 774@7 80 for March. ReOeipts-Flour
ll,26S; wheat, 37,476; corn, 1856. Ship
ments-Flour, 1923; wheat, A, 1874
corn, $40.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31

will fail to convince. The audience
was profoundly courteous, and esti.
mated, no doubt. at more than its
proper worth the nervousness and
excitement which for a few moments
rendered the utterances of Mrs. Wood
hull nearly ~inaudible. But no encour.
agement or liberation could give sufi.
cient strength to her voice, and no stten-
ton succeeded in adding repose and dig
nifty to a too rapid manner. She vas very
anxious and terribly in earnest Der
manner Of relating anecdotes was anus
ing more from the accent and pronuneia-
ton OF English than from any dramatic
effect; but to include such q lecture in
any division of the art Of oratory is, to
say the least of it, an objectionable ex-
aggeration.
As to the matter Of the lecture, per-
haps, remembering the courteous recep-
ton awarded last evening. the less said
the better. Mrs. Victoria Woodruff may
be advised to fashion her lecture to the
country she visits; and in the most pro-
found spirit of courtesy may be asked to
omit such feeble illustrations of women's
ignorance as those connected with the
Penge mystery and the lad born with the
Of a row Of giu bottles engraved
his breast. This is indeed descend.
ing from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
Paying His own RIIIs
New York Sun

NtH AOIh Jun
General Mcclellan took up his quar-
ters in Trenton on Thursday. His ap.
panages we're six servants, four horses
and two carriages. While the servants
we're setting his house in order. he put
up at Peters. At the proper time he
called for his bill.
Its all right, general" said the
g clerk, rubbing his hands, your
bill is paid"
Ny bill paidl" exclaimed the enc.
raj. Who paid my bill2"
The clerk, astonished at the generals
stern, curt question, an unusual one 10
Trenton, fsltered out, Secretary Kelsey,
general, paid your bill this morning"
Then just return the money to Sec
rotary Kelsey, sir" said General Nc
Clelland; II allow nobody to pay my
bill. for me-"
Opinions are divided as to whether
Mr.. Kelsey will succeed himself as sec.
rotary OF State or not.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
DELTA, MISS.
The Shooting ARRAY There ON
Christmas Day.

The shooting ARRAY There ON
ChriatmAs Day.
DELTA. Mss. December q. 1877.
To the Editor Of the Ledger:
AS various and erroneous reports are
circulated in regard to the shooting af-
fray at this place on the 18th instant, /
will state the facts of the Ease briefly as
follows, viz: 1t was purely a personal
matter between two negroes, one Mack
Tremble and julius Gill. They had
quarreled about some trivial matter on
the plantation of Mr.. D. Il. Rodgers.
Mack left the premises and came to
Delta to take a boat, as he said, to keep
out of a difficulty. julius Gill followed
him to Delta, hunted him up, drew his
pistol and fired at him. Mack returned
the fire, killing julius Gill instantly.
Mack has been examined by Mayor
Fisher, of Frisr's Point, and honorably
acquitted. I. B. HooKER.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
The vicksburg and Memphis Mails.

Nv - AAAAAos
The following article from the Vicks-
burg Herald of the goth is of such i'm.
portance to our business men and the
people below here on the river that we
give it entire:
10 looking ever Postmaster. General
Keys advertisement for bids to carry the
mails between this city and Memphis we
notice that it reads for " once q week, in
suitable and safe steamboats, Is there
not some mistake about this 2 Can the
acknowledgement have deliberately
determined to cut down this important
service to once a week. II he has done
so, he is justly chsrgeable with doing the
cities OF Memphis and Vicksburg, and
the people of the valley between the two
cities, a great wrong. This route was
served until recently three times a week,
then the service was reduced to twice a
week, and new the department advertises
for bids for once a week only We re-
peat, the postmaster general must be
laboring under some mistake about this
business. The route between here and
New Orleans is advertised for three
times a week, and it is net a particle
more important than the Memphis route.
We will mention the important towns
and offices that the department proposes
to serve with mails only once a week:
From Memphis (Teun.), by DeSoto
Front, 0thello, Commerce miss J,
Council Bend ARK, Austin, O. K.
Miss J, Mouth Of the st. Francis river,
Helena ARK Delta, Doud's Landing,
Friar's Point Miss, Old Town (Ark.J
FULLERTON Miss, Modoc, Wildwood,
St. Louis Landing (Ark), Robertson
vile Miss, Beirth's Landing (Ark.)
Australia miss } Laconia ARK J, Car.
sons Landing Miss !, Graddy's Land.
ing (Ark,), Terrence miss J, White
River lark J, Rosedale, Riverton miss J,
Napoleon (Ark.), Prentiss, Neblett s
Landing, Stormville, Bolivar, Mound
Landing Miss }, Arkansas City, Gaines
Landing, Luna Landing ark 0futt's s,
Greeneyills Miss, Sunnyside (Ark. J.
Lake Washington, Refuge Miss J, Lake.
port Ark, Hsrwood's Island, Eggs
Point Miss J, Bernard ARK J, Carolina,
Leota miss J, Sterling lark j Alexan.
der, Ben Lomond miss }, India (La) J,
Duncauby (Miss.) Wilson's Point la !,
Mayersville Miss, Lake Providence
lLa Tallula, Hays Landing Miss J,
lllawara (La), Ingomar, Brunswick
Miss, Henderson, Milliken's Bend
(La.), Forest Home Miss and Duck
port (La.) to Vicksburg (Miss.), 40S
miles,
The importance Of these places iusti.
fes service daily instead Of weekly mails
as is contemplated, Any route in the
North of as much importance as this one
we will venture to assert has daily mails
The people along this route have suffered
great inconvenience in not receiving tht
mails by the last contract only twice {
week, and if this new arrangement il
completed by which they will only re-
ceive mails once a week until 1882 Il will
be a cruel imposition. We hope Genera
Chalmers will give this matter his imme
date, earnest attention, and that he viii
secure the assistance il necessary Of tn,
whole Mississippi delegation to proven
SO great a wrong. We hope the Memphi
papers will join us also in demandinl
/ Justice in this matter.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
The Eclipss,s Fast Run.
From the Louisville Courier JOurnal.l

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
A great many people have been under
the impression for years that the Eclipse
and Shotwell ran a race when they made
their Drag time, some years ago. The
fact of the matter is this: They never
ran a race. In the summer of 1854 it
was noised around in New Orleans, by
the knowing ones" that the j. M.
White had made the fastest time on
record to Cairo, and that the Eclipse
could not beat it. Large sums of money
we're stsked upon the result, and the
Eclipse made the attempt, which was sue
c%essful. She beat the Whites time to all
points and to Cairo, and the money was
handed over to those who had bet on the
Eclipse. At Cairo Captain Sturgeon
gave the Grew a =" free blowout" and she
came on up the Ohio river in the "even
tenor Of her way" making no attempt
whatever to run, for it was the slowest
trip she had made from Cairo to this
city of her FIVE preceding ones. AS to
the Shotwell, no one on board the
Eclipse knew the Shotwell had left New
Orleans on I" fast run until kilograms
notified them of the fact. The Shotwell
left New Orleans =" cooked and primed E"
for q quick run to this city, and the
Eclipse made no endeavor to run in the
Ohio, as she had done in the Mississippi
to Cairo. II she had, the Shotwell would
have been most beautifully beaten.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
A LEGISLATOR COMES TO THE FRONT.

Although Hon. Henry &. Smith barely
had time 10 get home Saturday after the
legislature adjourned Friday at noon, he
managed to publish a card of q column
and a half in regard to the extra session
of the legislature in which he figured so
oonspicuously as the advocate of Porter's
compromise and of consequent high
taxes. Aside from an argument about
the validity Of the debt, and the faith
and honor Of the State, such as we have
been reading in the remote country
newspapers on that side for the past FIVE
years, we cannot discoger the object Of
this remarkably Aorid and uDintelligible
piece Of composition unless it is meant
to cover Governor Porter with q certif.
cate of character as with a long-tsiled
ulster overcost several sizes too large.
He says: ut is due to the governor to
state that be is a man of sturdy integ.
rity, and no possible suspicion exists Of
his being sctuated in his course in regard
to the public debt by any but honest and
patriotic motives and purposes" Gov.
Porter may feel obliged, but we feel that
this renewed assurance" was altogether
unnecessary. The governor has been
misled and has erred in judgment so
often that he will go out Of office with q
smaller personal following than any man
who ever had his opportunities; but his
integrity has not been assailed. The
most insiduous way to excite an IN.
spoken and hence unanswerable suspi.
cion is to continually exonerate q man
from Some charge never made against
him. Porter's friends are doing this
very industriously. Judge Smith, after
the usual recitation about the faith and
honor Of the State which be stands
pledged to sustain, states, if we under
stand him, that he was willing to vote
for the fifty cents proposition at six per
cent, but that a lower rate of interest
would have been reputation, because
not nominated by the bondholder. Less
than three years ago the high tax
organs aud stump speakers and card
writer's in the State denounced all
opposition to the funding bill Of
1873, and all suggestions looking 10 a
settlement at less than dollar for dollar
as reputation. This word they gene.
rally commenced with a big r." and
printed in italics. Now the terrible
word has a new definition. 1t means a
lower rate Of interest than 6 per cent.
unless with the bondholders' consent.
This will stand until the next legislature
meets. Il has an arbitrary meaning &C.
cording to circumstances. John II. Saw
age is q very bad repudiator now, but, il
he holds his position, before two years
longer he may be pointed at as high
tax advocate. So he had better look tC
his l%aurels, Really this bugaboo abou'
reputation has losti its terror. The PEG
pie are willing to pay what is right tt
the extent Of their ability, and no more
There are equities on both sides, but III,
necessities are felt only on one side. Th,
great bulk Of the bonds are held b,
spectators who are not suffering.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
Boss Tweed C~OnfesseN Judgment In
all CITY Suits.

New YoRK, December 3l.-Wm. M.
Tweed has offered to confess judgment
in all city suits now %peuding against
him. These include the two suits on six
million dollars claim, the same as that
in the peoples suit, in which judgment
has been recovered, and a suit of $50, 900
against Mariner aud Tweed, and one
for $4,000 0 against G. s. Miller and
Tweed. The corporation counsel has
accepted the offer in the last two suits.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
DIED,

BAYLISS- AT 20 minutes to 9 O'Clock am. 4,
December 80, 1877 mrs. CHARLOTTE G. BAYLIss
widow Of the late John Y. Bayliss), in the
10th year Of her age.
The friends and acquaintance Of the family
are invited to attend her funeral from the
family residence, No. So Madison street, to-
morrow tTUESDAY) morning at 10 o'clock.
Services by Rev. DR.. Landrum. Carriages by
Flaherty.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
severe Storm.

NoRFoLK, Va, December 3l.-The
storm Saturday night and Sunday was
the severest since last April. Hundreds
of vessels arrived here for harbor. The
steamship Isaac Bull, from New York,
arrived this afternoon with three disabl 4
schooners in tow. She reports great
disasters, with loss Of life, outside.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31
Mrs. woodruff IN England.

london Telegraph, December 81
A goodly gathering Of curious men
and a meager sprinkling of strong.mind.
ed women assembled last evening to
hear Mrs. Victoria Woodruff deliver
her startling lecture entitled THE Hu.
mar Body the Temple Of God" Neither
10 manner nor matter did Mrs. Woodruff
come up TO the expectations of the curl.
Gus or the strong minded. AS regards
manner, the famous American female
orator" fails to impress; with regard to
matter, it cannot be doubted that she
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-31

To.MoRRow, New Years Day, beirg a
national holiday, the LEDGER will not be
issued. We wish our readers and friends
an auspicious opening Of the new year
and a fulfllment Of all its promises and
hopes, as we'll as many happy returns.