davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-11-01
An Historical Document.
from the Boston Transcript. ]


The following letter, lately discovered by
Mr.. Washburn among the archives of the
French Government, has, by the permission
of the minister of Foreign affairs, been pho
tographed and copy of it sent the State De-
partment at Washington:
'PAR1s, December %, 1776.-S1R: We beg
leave to acquaint your Excellency that we
are appointed and fully empowered by the
Congress of the United States of America to
propose and negotiate treaty OF amity and
commerce between France and the said
States. The just and generous treatment
their trading Ships have received by free
admission into the ports of this kingdom,
with other considerations of respect, has in
duced the Congress to make this offer first to
France. We request an audience of your
Excellency, wherein we may have an .oppor
tunity of presenting our credentials, and we
f1atter ourselves that the propositions we are
instructed to make are such as will not be
found unacceptable. With the greatest re-
gard. we have the honor to be your Excel
lency's most obedient servants.
4.a'.. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,
s'SILAS DEAN"
''ARTHUR LEE"
This letter was in the handwriting OF
BENJAMIN Franklin, and the transmission of
it was the first official act of the United
States after the Declaration of Independence,
the object of which secured foreign recog-
nition of the infant republic.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-11-01
The Horrors of War.

Mr.. r. Bond Moore. an English surgeon at
Adrianople, writes to friend as follows:
ADRIANoPLE, September 3'--Dear ". =:
Awful work here. No time to write. No
desire to describe scenes of wounded masses.
Do get some subscriptions for Stafford House
Fund. Suleiman Pasha says if it was not
for Stafford House surgeons he would have
to shoot his wounded men. We had two
trains one night; $50 to dress by candlelight,
then 480 in daylight. No splints. no ban
dages, no disinfectants. They are so close
to the Russians that they are simply riddled
with bullets. Yours faithfully, *
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-11-01
The Little People.

The economical baby puts its toes in its
mouth to make both ends meet.
A little miss of Syracuse, on visit to the
city milk.
A little child picked a feather up in the
yard and said that "a dove dropped 1t out OF
his pocket
A little English girl reading that Joseph
heard there was a famine in Egypt, asked:
"Papa, how did he know? Did he read it in
the 7Tmes?"
Policeman ''Now, then move on There's
nothing the matter" Boy in crowd: eyer
needn't tell us that; you wouldn't be here it
there was.''
Little lady of seven to young gentleman
of ten: "You're not yet a man. No, indeed!'
"What notion! Come near and see how
smell of tobacco"
Country children who want to earn some
money should hear of the little girl in the
Delaware Valley, who gathered and sold last
fall over two hundred collars worth of au-
tumn leaves.
Homes the place for boys said stern
parent to his son, who was fond of going out
at night. ':That's just what l think when
you drive me off to school every morning.
said the son.
A small child being asked by Sunday
School teacher, ''What did the Israelites do
after they had crossed the Red Sea ?" an
swered, II don't know, ma'am, but l think
they died themselves"
Mother, mother, here's Freddy teasing
the baby" ''Make him cry again, Freddy,
and mother will give him some sugar, and
III take it away from him, then he'll squall,
and mother will give him some more, and
you can take that, and we'll both have some. -
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-11-01
An Olive Branch for MIR. COnk ling
[Richmond Enquirer.]

[Richmond Enquirer
81 love even my enemies, my son. said
Mr.. Hayes. in one of his Sabbath evening
talks with Webb.
''You don't love Mr.. Conkling, do you,
pa?"
eyes, Webb; Mr., Conkling may be right;
respect all men who fight in support of his
convictions. If vacancy were to occur in
nv cabinet tomorrow l should tender the
portfolio, like an olive branch, to Mr.. Conk-
ling"
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-11-01
Written for the Herald.
HIS FIRE.

HIS FIRE..
The moments speed by, as the moments will.
And the months and the years roll away;
BY his fireside the poet sits dreaming again,
But his song hath this burden to-day:
"Alas! am weary of waiting in vain,
And of laying bright visions aside;
Weary of watching DER shadowy hopes,
And of counting the joys that have died!
'.There are ashes and dust your affairs, World!
Your idols are marked with decay;
And the farest of pictures YOU hung for my gaze
Are silently fading away!
.sAh! sadly muse Der those hours long agone,
When my locks were less sprinkled with hoar
And alone by my treside revced in dreams
OF the good which the gods held in store!
''Oh Radiant Bliss! which yearned to enfold!
Thou Presence! say, where art thou gone?
No more in the CLEAN of my fires golden light,
Doth thy spirit awake to my john T"
With start the lone dreamer turned swiftly about
Has his dream reality grown?
Alas! for the poet if cen thus he deem
Those accents are Xantippes own!
Now, heaven defend us. where can the man De.
o, John :" louder sti-"John, say!'-
IT'S plain that Presence turks somewhere anear-
Be it angel or spirit, or fay.
A football resounds, and the portal swings wlde'
On the threshold the vision appears,
But he hastes not to welcome springs to embrace,
Neither turns he, nor heeds he nor hears!
SWELL Ineverv-a pause to which anger lends stress;
Then, again-'T might call till tire,
And never a word should get in reply,
From you grooming over that fire!
Here, I've baking and ironing and sweeping to do
Not moment can find to spare
There's no wood in the house-none cut I'll be bound.
While you cit and dose in your chair!
"Come, now-draw me some water, and bring in
some wood
Fill the box to the top in trice-
Then step into Gibsons and borrow their irons,
And take back that measure of rice.
Then 90 down to the store and get sugar and eggs
And just stop for jeanette on the way;
That child is nv torment ~ lOathe Mrs. Trent
And she's been there this whole live-long day!
ssCome make baste-it is late-there's end to the
work,
And my fire, of course, is quite out;
And, John, stop at the butchers and order some
steak
I'm just sick of the sight of trout"
The bard's dreaming is o'er-cela saute aur yeaux!
To the real the ideal gives place;
And his heart thus makes moan as he goes on his
way,
With his hoplessness writ on his face.
20, years of our freedom! how swiftly ye glide;
And we turn in amazement to find,
Ye have borne all our joy, all our sunlight away.
Leaving darkness and sorrow behind!
"Alas! and alas! for those, bright golden hours;
And those visions of radiant bliss,
When swung in my rocker-with need for but one
And neer dreamed of such trial as this!
ssAnd alas! and alas for those bachelor days.
More precious than ruby or pearls;
All! could those hours of freedom recall
I'd ne'er yield them for ANY fair GIRIW
..r.t. .t',.l..t, -. C-YGERNE.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-11-01
The War Editors.
(Chicago Inter-Ocean.1,

(Chicago Inter-Ocean.l s-.
Does the average editor pant for war with
the Mexican greasers?
He does.
Will we gentle editor shoulder his musket
and march gallantly to the fray?
He will not
What will ye gentle editor do?
He will print the war news and sell his pa
per to the anxious people who await tidings
from the battlefield.
What should be done with ye gentle edi-
tor who cOunsels war and fails to attend the
matinee when it comes off :?
He should be bounced.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-11-01
Written for the Herald.
EDDYTORIAL.

am the recipient Of picture, taken from late
issue of Haers Weekly 1t portrays and elderly gen.
tleman, known in the vernacular "An Old Bachelor
by his ireside alone. BY the slight of other days.
sometimes called "tallow-dip," he is mending his
and under the picture runs this legend
"sERvEs HIM RIGHT"
needeless to add it disturbed my comphose-ure,
for it scanned to have been set up for and mar
rowed down to my knitting my brows and the follow
lowing sentiments into
A HOLEY DIS-ST1TCH,
Which is dEddycated to all MendI-cant's.
cANro ONE
With fingers battered and worn
He sits by his talow "glim," ..
Lonely and grim and lorn; .
And no one has pity tor him
While stitch, stitch, stitch,
His clumsy needle goes;- w
With many jerk and hitch
He mends his holey hose.
cAN-roE rwo-{Elegy-s) II
After day of hard work, a... ,.....
Tired and almost half dead,
The task most people would shir'
And trunde themselves off to bed!
But stitch. stitch. stitch,
At the needful labor he goes:-
Such toll would frighten the rich,-
Mending his holey hose.
CANT-OwE THREE-(FoOt-nOtes] .
There's honesty lined in his face
And industry limned in his pose
And certainly there's no disgrace
In wearing whole pair of hose!
Then stitch, stitch, stitch,
The rents and assures compose,
'Tis idle to wish he were rich,
That never would "hecl up" his hose.
CANT-TOE THE LAST.
What cares he who said, ':Serves him right"
Because he had ne'er tried to WOO?
Perhaps while the times are so tight,
He'd rather not mend hose for t,co!
For stitch, stitch, stitch,
But shortens his nights repose
And mending for t,co would bewitch
This knight of the Needle and Hose.
lHOSE-ANNA!
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-11-01

Chicago editors are calling each others
attention to the grammatical errors that Green
unobserved into the columns of their papers.
What's the use? The reading public are
aware that much Of the material for a dailv
paper is gathered on the run-sometimes on
the jump-and that every particular sentence
cannot be weighed and rounded with that
care and precision necessary in the prepara-
.lon OF an article for frst-class magazine.
BESIDES, who is there in Chicago that can tell
"hena sentence is grammatically constructed?
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-11-01

Why is it that paragraph in any way
connected with game of poker will be
recognized and appreciated at once, while a
joke with good moral point travels as
economically as a plumber at work by the
y.-Brdgeport Standard
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-11-01
Written for the Herald:
TO MY SISTER ON HER EIGHTEENTH
BIRTHDAY.

Y SISTER ON HER EIGHTEENTl
BIRTHDAY.
Sister, above thy head
Have eighteen summers sped.
Thy life has been
A schoolgirls ken;
As blithe and gay as the fawn
Thy years have come and gone.
Has any care
Had place or share
In thought that chance to find
Birth in thy virgin mind?
Perhaps thy dreams have been
OF some brighter, fairer land;
Such as in fame
Has brighter name
Than the land of thy birth
An Eden place on earth;
But dreams will all
With waking fall;
The happiest place to find
Is contentcd mind.
cS. YOU Will SOUlCllulcS lCCIs
Like mildest sum beams steal
In quiet hour
With enchanting power,
That visionary speil;-
Dreams that know too well;
But fancy not
Thy earthly lot
Is harder than it should be-
Lite is not known to thee.
Prepare for earnest life,
Zen now, ere yet its strife
Has caused thee pain
Or any sin;
o, well thy self prepare
With faith-bound shield of prayer;
For the world, child,
Il all too wild,
And it may make thee bear
No light burden of its care
You, sister, have not known
The bitter sting of scorn,
'Tis in the world,
And those are hurled
Upon its tossing tide
Are stung on every side.
Sister. never,
May you sever,
Unprotected to roam
From prayer encircled home.
know our fathers lot
Was but al humble cot;
But the voice of prayer
Was ever there
At eve and early dawn;
Can we forget life's morn?
His gray locks, now,
His wrinkled brow,
That sacred wealth combine;
0, may such wealth be thine!
Haste not thy school days DER
What days are valued more!
Once hurried past
Rich hours are lost.
All. life is all school,
Wound on vital spool.
A golden thread
Too swiftly sped
From Times fleet axle head;
When unwound, we are dead.
Of its length no one knows;
But sometimes near it's close,
'Tis said they feel
It sNifter real
While the breath will slower run:
Ehen the school is nearly done,
The golden thread
Il near unsped.
May this we call death here
Be Heavens charioteer!
Sister. had thought to say
In a cautionary way
AS brothers do,
A thought or two,
That you might turn to good,
On the verge of woma,fhood.
All, now,-but nay, .
I'll only say,
Lest l should thee alarm,
Stay yet while with ma'am.
[-BROTHER.
National Republican., 1877-07-03
CUBA,

The Cuban war for independence, which
has been going on for over nine years, has
not yet been abandoned On the contrary,
the insurgents clam that their prospects of
success were never so good Ms they are now.
They claim to have control of two thirds of
the island. The devastation produced by
the struggle of the Cuban republicans has
been terrific. During the war they have
destroyed seventeen towns, burned two hun
dred and fifty coffee and sugar plantations
not to speak Of the loss Of life und the cruel
ties and sutferings which universally accom-
pany civil wars.
The gallant Republicans of Cuba deserve
the sympathy Of the world on account OF
the pluck and perseverance they have dis
played in their contest for liberty. Unless
nn end is soon put to this cruel and ruinous
struggle, it may become necessary, in the
cause Of humanity, for some external Power
to interfere for the purpose Of ending it
This duty would naturally devOlvc upon
our Government, and when the emergency
arises it will no doubt he prepared to act.
National Republican., 1877-07-03
PRINTING TIE TAX.LLST.

Some time ago, when proposals were in
vitcd by the District Commissioners for
paving certain streets in this city, they
made a condition that they would not
award the contracts TO any person who
could not satisfy them that they had the
necessary machinery for doing the work.
We objected TO such provision because the
advertisement did not allow sufficient time
between the letting and the time when the
work was to be commenced for the con-
tractor to procure the machinery, and that
II was maniicstly absurd to expect persons
who did not have machinery TO provide ii
before they knew whether they would get
the contract.
Upon our taking this exception to the
advertisement, II WIS modified 30 rs to cx-
tend the time for beginning the work, re-
quiring, of course, as usual, security from
the successful bidders for the due perform
ance of their contracts. As thus modified at
our suggestion, the advertisement was fair
and equitable.
Had the rule rs to requiring evidence Of
ability to perform the contract been OBJ
served in inviting proposals for advertising
the tax-list the Commissioners would have
been saved some Of the embarrassment
which they will likely experience. BY the
neglect of such precautions the contract was
awarded to the lowest bidder, who, as il
turns out, had not the material for doing
the work, and will have to throw up the
contract.
National Republican., 1877-07-03
The Glorious Fourth.

Most everybody will go out OF town to-
morrow, but the day will be observed in a
quiet way in the city.
The day will be ushercd In at 0 o'clock on
Wednesday morning by the playing of the
Metropolitan chimes. Prof widows has ar
ranged the following appropriate selections of
music for the occasion, which will be repeated
at l2 m, with the firing Of q salute on the
bells; /. Changes on eight bells; 2. Hail to
the Chief" 3. Red, White and Blue" I.
Tramp the Boys are Marching" o. "Viye /
America" O. when Johnny Comes Marching
Home;" 7. Marching Through Georgia." 8.
Dixie" ., Rally Around the Flag" 10. my
Maryland" II. my Country, 'Tis Of Thee"
12. The Marseillaise; l3, Russian Hymn; a.
"rhe Watch on the Rhine;" 10. "The Men Of
Harlech, (Wclsh;) 10. Medley of Negro Melo-
dies; II. Medley of Scotch Airs; IS. Medley
of Irish Melodies; 10. Hail Columbia; 20.
Yankee Doodle and Home, Sweet Home.
The District artillery, commanded by Major
Hannemau, will fire u salute of 100 guns at
sunrise, 100 at noon and 100 at sunset The
salute will be fired in Judiciary Square. The
Oldest Inhabitants Association will celebrate
the Fourth in,thcir usual way in the City
Hall. The Declaration of Independence will
be read aud an Grafton delivered
National Republican., 1877-07-03
THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPUTY.
Franks Sent Back to North Carolina for
Trial,

Franks Sent Hack To North Carolina for
Trial.
The case Of Joshua A. Franks, late deputy
marshal for the Western district Of North
Carolina, charged with presenting false
vouchers TO the amount Of Si11.50 to the
Treasury Department, and causing them to be
paid, was brought to close yesterday after
noon before United States Commissioner J. T.
X. Plant, when the commissioner rendered a
decision rcmandipg the accused to the custody
Of the marshal to he taken to Asheville, North
Carolina, for trial.
The text OF the decision gave recapitula-
tion Of the points in the case, and concluded
as follows:
II II very evident that the account forwarded to
the Government for settlement II fraudulent, and
AFTER careful rcvisiOus Of the testimony am Of
the opinion that the Government has made out
sufficient case to justify the prisoner being Ecnt
back to Nortn Carolina where all the necessary
witnesses can easily bc obtained, and null inves-
tigation had of the matter. therefore direct that
the marshal Of the supreme Court OF the District Of
Columbia take charge Of him, and deliver him
10 the custody OF the warden Of the District jail
less such ball as may be approved he given.
Franks immediately gave bonds in the sum
of 5000 for his appearance at the Ashville
IN. c. court November l, 1877, James Tay-
lor, Erastus Il. Hampton, William Il. Rollins
and Pinckncy Rollins of North Carolina, be-
coming his sureties.
National Republican., 1877-07-03
Commerce,

SoHnhtFCt
,,n ,RAtT,NonE' July s-co''on quiet aud Arm mid.
FlS.T steady s,% nna qSIet Howard stree. ard
family ss ;sga ao as Gi'S M,Ils ssPsilns soaN dS
rs DO new ~ a4ss @' a" sn'Ser. SSH!Dta@ oa. 0 4 Ss.
Do, August. sises lx SornMsSufcfn n,Ss SS,si md
sS sroW %S ss %GS ssd "T ssS sniTFa g Snf s.c
August SOC: September Gic bid steamer. tS;.c os
S %%e " %ssiS do scd as S TSn.SiSsss tSGi MSss
and 5 f. mss aps%s p4 81 R at
and hrm, Bulk meats loose shoulders, si.tnShc.;
s s.! S.a ss saf sc ss.enf cures: 1 IT,
Iard-pfncd, loaIO,.c. Iiuiirr qulet-Choice West.
fs fsH ssn .s @ FsSsas0% GSs sSRS "a, I
s; %ssgs s @ wnis,sy sgls, and Il, SwsT sLn
Wheat. 5oso bushels corn, q. 100 bushels ''''''"''
N sSSs 'SS Orleans sa sass fa o. s'Gssyg $ ss
Consolidated net receipts $50 bales Exports-Great
dnn srSics steady modreais m trade demand; Other
kinds dnIl aud heavy closing for medium grades dull
i've s" nSd M SSr S Re n" sy aSS;"'Sd sd
Wheat dnliai2c loa.r shgper, and miller. holding
Sl%1ss red sbsr Winter as and I'd
%c,s4n ss nssnnsSl,E snse Snisg Van aud e Ssf,
ley malt dn Corn about &c better, light supply ni,d
.s %issS s sS Ssw YS1s s As
white, 6,bc Oats about ic lower. and moro doing at
do sc mia iay dsi and f s ITO HSps "S,ii Sa
and u%ShsaSsa oOSSRiS SaIsI and steady quota
is%s :s ss.ii i e. NJ. s. Sssi,
I Hsd g. II & e. cfaH~s ao% casl al sa R5ss
sss new ET . ss % sS prns rSs
aef and s shsess % SSei%nscd Mango wRsSy no%Say sS
'Fsrcishts to Liverpool dun in'' ..
National Republican., 1877-07-03
HON. D1ITD A. HELLs ON THE SITTER
QUESTION.

The New York Herald of yesterday con-
tanned long and able article by DAVID A.
WELLS on the silver question, in which he
makes n strong argument against rcconing
the silver dollar. He exposes the iallacy of
cheap currency, and shows that there
would be no national economy in restoring
the dollar of the fathers.
One of the strong points he makes against
the use Of silver coin is its weight If silver
should be coined again 1t would circulate
universally, being the cheapest currency.
Its Inconvenience for daily use is shown by
the fact that the weight of one hundred
dollars is five and one half pounds, and that
for every thousand dollars man Is paid in
silver wheelbarrow would become neces-
sary if he proposed to move it.
Mr.. WELLS establishes very conclusivcly
that it would be impossible to use silver us
currency in the great commercial centres
and for travelling expenses without such in
convenience us would simply be intolen-
Bile. Mr.. WELLS letter is very timely, and
cannot but have very beneficial influence
in the discussion which is now going on in
regard to the cxpediency of restoring silver
coinage.
National Republican., 1877-07-03

Mr.. LOUIS J. JENNINGS, formerly editor of
the New York Times, and now London CORE
spOndent of the World, is responsible for the
following falschood:
Mr. IIErwORTH DIXON informed gentleman of
Boston that ut dinner given To President GRANT
the other day the Duke of Wellington WAS present
How many men may your mther have com
manded ut one tmef' said the cx.Presidcnt TO the
Duke. why" said his Grace, my father at one
time had all the European forces under him "
"IIOw many might there have beeng' continued
GRANT well, says the Duke, There were sixty
thousand English forty thousand Germans" &c,
&c SAY two hundred thousand In all. chr this
from the PTcsidentl Yes, about that" well |
guess can beat your father, then" says GRANT,
triulnphantly: II have commanded millionH T.
As the Duke of Wellington invited General GRANT
To dinner Immediately on his arrival in England,
and he accepted the invitation, this pleasing mar
rativc beautifully illustrates Mr. iEPwORTH DIXON 5
conception of All American gentleman, not To men.
ton the compliment II involves 70 the historical
knowledge alike Of the General aud of the Duke.
JENNINGS is the same person who once wrote
a series of abusive articles against Mrs. GRANT,
whom he characterized as vulgar person in
her dress and manners. 1t is needless to add
that he is unworthy of all belief, and was dis
charged from the Times for treachery to Mr..
JONES, who had acted as his benetactOr, and
was instrumental In placing him in a position
which he never deserved, and ought never to
have filled,