davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
Ths southern mo.el Fire.

ST. Louis, April ls.-The %coroner's
inquest proceeded with the investigation
of the Southern Hotel FIRE this morning,
but no evidence having any bearing OF
the origin of the FIRE or its management
was brought out. John X. Reese, pro.
fessor Of mathematics, Washington
University, gave a very graphic descrir-
ton of the escape of himself and wife
and two chambermaids, who were
rescued from the window Of his room
on the sixth floor on tho Fourth
street front, by Philip Toole, the
brave and daring fireman, but he
didn't know anything about the origin Of
the Gre. He knew of no alarm being
givea in the upper stories, and only
learned Of the fire by the noise in the
hall. When he opened the door Of his
room the smoke was SO dense that he
was forced TO 60 back into his DON
where they remained until taken down
tho Skinner escape by Toele.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18

A msgpie was ia the habit Of hiding
bits Of food, not Immediately wanted, in
some long grass at the bottom Of a row
iron hurdles. This hoard was discovered,
and often robbed, by a fayorite terrier.
One morning Mag was observed 10 great
excitement, hopping and chat ering in
%cessantly, rapidly repeating every word
in his vocabulary at the dog, who was
busily engaged in riAing the -storehouse.
10 his Sc .rch, however, he passed over q
suft Of grass in which a piece Of beef was
concealed; Mag was at the spot in en- in.
slant, drew forth the treasure, ead Sc.
eurely fixed it on the highest bar of the
hurdles, far above the dogs reach. He
then, at a little distance, began pluming
his feathers, chattering to himself with q
very self atisied air, aad occasionally
hopping back to take another look at his
recovered meal, evidently priding him.
self in bis skill. The conduct OF this
maybe is quite in keeping Vith the old
adage Of set a thief to catch a thief. -
His pilfering habits are notorious. He
is also a sad poaeher. Not only the
eggs, but the young Of ~pheasapts, par.
tridges aud other game, are destroyed by
the m9gpie; nor are the unhedged chick
Gus or dnckliugs OF the farmyard sale
from his mischie7ous attacks. In cap.
tivity he is very amusing, and notWith-
standing his ihisging propensities, no
one a contemplate his dark, arch eye,
his i1quisitivencss bis familiarity, aud
hear bis efforts at mimicry. without in.
That be is not wholly devoid OF
grateful feelings the following anecdote
show: A f%avorite maybe had been nc.
cuc,omed TO rrc~ive dainty bits from the
mouth otiis mistress 0ne day it perched
as usual upon her shoulder, and inserted
its be.k between her lips, not as it proved
TO receive, out (aso one good turn deserves
another the grateful bird dropped az
immense green. fat caterpillar into the
mouth -LLeisure Hours.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
RADICAL LOVE FOR THE NEGRO.

Now that concealment is nc
longer available, or any use, il
practicable, the ultra Radical papers
of the North are free to express
their contempt for the negro and
to state why and how he GENE to
be made a voter. The Philadelphia
Bulletin, one of the ablest journals
Of its class, said recently:
President Hayes wants to protect the
Southern blacks quite as much as Wen.
dell Phillips does; but why should he try
to protect them in Wendell Phillips way,
when that way has already failed utterly
and disastrously? Four more years Of
such q method, and instead Of having a
President who is in sympathy with the
negroes, We shall have a President who.
regards 8 niger as an inferior being who
is under a curse, and whose sbin-bOnes
are an incontrovurtible argument against
his fitness to exercise the privilege OF
suffrage. Mr.. Phillips plan has robbsd
his party Of every State in the South.
Further pursuance Of it will make the
solid South a terrible fact is our politics
and give the Democratic party supreme
control of the government. Where, in
such q case, would be the rights of the
blacks for which Mr.. Philips y%earns2
The mass Of Republicans are convinced
that the best protection Of the negroes
is their possession OF the suffrage in a
community where there are two strong
parties, each anxious to couciliate voters
That vas why the negroes were given the
franchise. That vas the only imagin
able excuse for its conference upon an
ignorant population.
The truth 4 coming out, and in
a few more years we would not be
surprised to hear those same Re
publican papers and orators say
that the enfranchisement Of the
negro to punish Southern rebels
was ~ great mistake growing out Of
war, and that God never intended
the race to be placed on an equality
with the whites.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
aTHE CONFESSION"
TRO Implicated Contradict the Ac-
cusatiOns of the Boss.
Peter B. Sweeney In 1871 Carries to
Europe an Immense Amount
Of Treasure.

New YoRK, April Is. III Everybody
whose name was mentioned in the au'
thentic abstract of the confession OF
VIM. NJ. Tweed, made public yesterday,
either c~ontradiets fatty whatever was
written concerning him, or explains that
all his transactions with TweedSFere of
purely an ordinary business charac.
ter. 1t is felt now hat "The Confess
sion" must be published in its entirety,
and not be picked and ~parceled ont to
crafty a personal or political spite, and
to affect pending legislation.
The Tribune says that James NJ.
Sweeney, brother of Peter B. Sweeny,
in whose name were made all deposits Of
Woodward, Watson and Garvey, amount
ing to over S5OO,OoO. for the benefit of
the Sweeney branch Of the ring, went
abroad in 1871. Peter B. Sweeney soon
after judiciously followed. lie carried
with him an immense amount of treas
ure, though the exact amount is not yet
known, and he was required BY the regu-
~lations of the company in whose steam.
ship he sailed to place his treasure in
the hands Of the purSer, and after much
hesitation and reluctance he did SO. He
(the purser) would not give the ordinary
receipt in full for so much money, aud
Insisted it should be counted. Although
largely in gold notes and gold pieces it
required Eve hours to count the SUM
At Liverpool an equal time was oecu-
pied. The books OF the steamer show
the amount, but the prosecution DO not
at present propose to make it public.
Mr.. Sweeney has lived frugally abroad
and is able 10 settle, as be told Oakley
Hall, without any assistance from him
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
what makes the sea.shem sing.

When the sea-shell is held up to the ear
there is a peculiar yibratory noise, which
the children ASSURE each other is the roar
Of the sea, however distant they may be
from it. Philosophically investigated,
the peculiar sound is o phenomenon that
has puzzled scholars for a long time.
The experiment is easily made by sim.
ply pressing a spiral shell over the cere.
bra Of either ear-the sound is very much
like that of a far of cataract. Now,
what causes it2 Every muscle in the
body is always in a state Of tension.
Some are more on the stretch than
others, and particularly those Of the fin.
ger. Il il conceded that the vibrations
Of the Gbers in those fingers being com.
municated to the shell it propagates and
intensities them as the hollow body Of q
violin does the vibration Of its strings,
strings, and thus the acoustic nerve re-
ceiyes the sonorous expressions. Mus.
cles Of the legs below the knee are said
10 vibrate in the same way, and if cou-
Quoted to the ear produces the same re-
suits Boston Wdtc Imam.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
FOREIGN.

--
LONDON, April Is Information has
bsen received from Italy Of a growing
discomfort among the commercial popu-
lation with the policy Of the government,
and a movement is on foot against too
close intimacy With Russia, whose COM
p%etitisA in the Mediterranean is feared.
Mr.. G!adstone's health Is causing his
family anxiety, md medical men advise
him 10 go abroad.
LIVERPOOL, April l8.--The liabilities
of Lockhardt & Dempster, commission
merchants, brokers and insurance
agents, who have failed, are estimated at
100000.
Thslson, Walker & Co, merchants,
have failed. Their Liabilities are small.
This firm did a large business in the
United States in cotton and tobacco du-
ring and at the close Of the war.
The Liverpool and Texas steamship
company, limited, have determined upon
a voluntary liquidation, in consequences
of depression in freights aud the unprof-
itableuess Of steam shipping trade. The
company's three steamers will be sold,
aud are expected TO realize more than
enough to meet all liabilities.
BUCHAREST, April l8.-0rders have
been prepared with a view to rendering
the immediate mobilization Of the Rou-
manian army as soon as possible. Much
anxiety prevails respecting the design
attributed to the Turks Of occupying the
Roumanian territory, neal Kelafat.
Even before the Russians cross the
Pruth tire government has ordered to be
stopped all telegraphic dispatches an.
uouncing the movement Of troops.
Abdul Kerim Pasha, the Turkish COM
mander-in.chiof, and Achmeteyoub
Pashs we're to leave Rustchuk Tuesday
for Silesteria. Seventy Krupp guns have
reached Rustchuk. The Russian consul
thers has been ordered to prepare to
depart.
The generals staff Of the Turkish
army, has arrived at Varna, going to
Rlstohak and Tultzcha.
Two more Turkish iron-clads, eight
altogether, have arrived at the mouth Of
the Danube
Tae Mo%utenegrin delegates from Con.
stan,inople are expected at Kischsnef,
where probably they will have an inter
view with the Gar and Prince Gorts-
chekaf, who, it is stated, will accompany
the Car.
Cossr4yTHopLg April l8.-The Rus
sian charge d'afaires has been informed
by Telegraph That be will receive ~instruc-
tio1s by courier.
The Russian dispatch boat Argonaut
left today for Olesaa. She will proba-
bly, return next Monday with instruc
tons relative to the expected rupture Of
diplomatic relations.
The staff Of the Russian embassy is
expected TO leave next week.
Nothing is yet officially determined in
regard to Russian subjects who remain
here after the outbreak Of war. Russia
wishes to place them under the prolec.
ton Of the German embassy, but il is
believed that thu porte will require their
expulsion from Turkish territory.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18

fed in calling an extra session I'M
less he has reason to believe that a
compromise can be accomplished.
The bondholderS on the one hand,
and the members of the legislature
on the other, should not hesitate to
communicate their views to the
governor, that he may be able to
act advisedly and for the best inter-
ests of the State.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
rHz EAST TENNESSEE UNIVERSITY.

In common with all patriotic and
public spirited Tennesseeans we
have always cherished a pride and
affection for the above institution
located at Knoxville, on the banks
CT the romantic Holston. This is
strengthened by early recolleetions
and frequent associations with the
alumni Of this ancient institution,
Endowed originally by Che mother
State Of Tennessee, North Carolina,
by a p%rincely gift of the public
domain, admirably conducted for a
long series Of years, and more re-
Gently strengthened by an act Of
congress which enabled the trustees
to incorporate and combine with it
the agricultural State College, it
has become prominent among
Southern institutions Of learning.
aud has attracted to its halls the
aspiring youth, not only of Tenne8-
seebut of many other States. In view
Of these facts We regret the more tc
observe that an unfortunate contro.
vsrsy has arisen with regard to the
management, conduct and policy o
the university. This has been car,
red on rather warmly by the Kuox
vile Tribune and Age on the on,
hand end the Chronicle on tht
other A bill was introduced il
&he legislature increasing the mum
Der Of trustees, and giving thu
names Of well known gentlemen
about Knoxville. The Chronicle
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
RnHnR
The Nashville American, of the
18th, says:

The Nashville American, of the
18th, says:
Tennessee bonds were quoted in New
York yesterday at 434 for old and 43 for
new. Sales of our bonds have been
nearly nominal since the adjournment
Of the legislature, and they have no real
market value" The general belief
among capitalists and newspaper men at
the East seems to be that the present
legislature would, if called together, eth.
er repudiate the entire debt or refuse to
pay more thal % or 30 cents on the dol.
lar. On this account there is no demand
for the bonds.
Such may be the impression at
the East, and it is not unreasona-
able, In view of the fact that the
legislature took no action on the
bondholders' proposition to settle
at sixty cents on the dollar, but
simply reduced the State tax from
forty cents to ten cents on the one
hundred dollars worth of property.
Ten cents is the rate for 1877, and
under the new assessment law prop
.erty viii be SO assessed, unless the
legislature is convened in time to
change it, which is not very likely.
We believe the legislature in re-
.ducing the rate did not mean to
rep1diats, but to make a compro-
niss more certain at a reasonable
rate. The State cannot afford
10 repudiate, and will not we
hope. It would be a last
ing disgrace. We cay this the.
more freely because we opposed and
still condemn the funding ring, and
at the same time always stood COM
mitted to the true principle Of State
credit. The bondholders or their
agents took the wrong course in
the first place; but one wrong does
not justify another. The greater
portion Of the bonded indebtedmss
is just and should be paid if we
were able. Our creditors cannot
collect a cent by law, and we are
thrown upon our honor TO say how
much we can and are willing to pay.
That is the whole issue in a short
sentence. The bondholders seeing
our financial embarrassment. and
alarmed at a growing spirit of re-
%pudiation, fastened to submit a
proposition. Having agreed to
take sixty cents on the dol.
lar, we presume they would,
for the sake of a settlement and az
a finally, be willing to accept fifty
cents This We would regard as
something like an equitable settle
ment. The people can pay that
much without going above a forty
cents tax on the one hundred dol.
lars, and at the same time provide
a sinking fund with which to call
in the bonds from time to time at
the market price. The sooner this
question is settled the better. But
tha pnvarnor would ho,dIu l. "
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
Omaha Mems.

OMAHA, April lS,-There was another
very heavy rain in this section last night,
extending west to Columbus and north
to Sioux City.
The steamer Fauchon, bound up, left
here at daylight this morning. The a.
w. Dugan passed P%lattsmouth at $50
this morning, bound up.
It is claimed by responsible parties
that the recent grasshopper reports tele-
graphed Eastern papers from this State
are mech exaggerated-that it is yet too
carly to Judge.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18

BosToY, April l8-The Herald says
that Edward s.. Rand, jr. a lawyer OF
high standing in this city, and a we'll
known writer upon horticulture, was
lodged in Jail at Dedham, Mass, by his
boudsmen. The Herald alleges that
Rand's financial transactions have been
most criminal, and we're brought about
by ~ezlravagant living, expenditures for
greenhouses, etc. lie is also trustee for
several estates, some Of which may be
heavily involved.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
River TeIegrams.

CINCINNATI, April lS.-The river is
falling; weather rainy and warm.
CAIRO, April l8.-Arrived-St. Gene.
We've, Memphis, 4 am; Chas. Morgan,
New Orleans, 6; Smoky City, New Or,
leans, 9. Departed-Thompson Dean,
New Orleans, 9p.m; St. Genevieve, St.
Louis, 5 am; Charles Morgan, Cincin-
natl, Il Smoky City, Pittsburg, 10. a
heavy rain last night and showery this
forenoon; warm.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18

NEW YoRK, April ls.-At the meeting
10 the Academy Of Music last evening to
raise funds for building and supporting a
soldiers home at Bath, this State, eight
thousand dollars we're contributed, and
numerous subscriptions made. Letters Of
regret at their absence we're read from
ex-President Grant and Generals Nc
Clellan and Dix.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18

charged that they were all Of one
political faith, and that the move
was intended to affect PresidenI
Hume, aDd possibly to accomplish
a reorganization of the entire fac
ulty. The Age retorted that some
years ago, just after the war, the
entire board of trustees, appointed
by a Brownlow legislature, consisted
of Radicals. The bill passed the
last legislature and is a law. The
new trustees are Colonel Moses
White, DIR. VIM. Morrow, Major
Tom 0'Conor, Alfred Caldwell and
several other well known citizens,
whose names just now escape oar
memory. Whether any changes
will be made or not we are not adj
yiSed, yet the newspaper discussion
goes on. 1t is asserted that some
two years ago a student was pre-
vented from delivering a eulogy on
General Robert E. Lee, while some
time previous to this another stu
dent had exhausted his eloquence
in praise of Admiral Farragut, who
by the way was born in Knox
county. The last number of the
Tribune and Age says:
/. We started out with the assumption
that the aforesaid institution was in a
iecaying condition-that it was not as
prosperous As in former years, AID tina
was rapidly losing prestige.
2. That the president, though a clever
gentleman and recognized as such by
our citizens, was not the mar to be OF the
head Of the institution-that he was old
and feeble-that be was not acceptable
10 the South on account Of his intense,
and, perhaps, bitter Republican proclivi-
iies-that the institution had to derive
its chief patronage from that section,
and, therefore, as q matter Of policy
not Of politics--some such mar as Gen.
Joseph &. Johnston should be at its head
Ia order to draw hundreds of Southern
young men to it,
3. Taat the idea of recognizing the
whole concern was purely a business
nstter-dollars and cents-and that a
reorganization would have the effect, as
we and scores of others believe, of aug
nenting the per centage Of students at
east one hundred fold.
Now these are, substantially, the
. statements we made, any one Of
which we hold ourself in readiness to
sustain.
The above statement certainly
demands the attention Of the new
and the old trustees. This uniyer-
sity does not belong to Knoxville
alone but to the whole State and to
The young men of other States who
desire to avail themselves of its
privileges. Besides, it is endowed
n part by the national government,
should, from every possible
reason, be kept free from political
bias and Che prejudices eng6ndered
BY a political management.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, April ls.-Grand Dukes
Alexis and Constantine, with the Rus
sian minister and others Of the royal
party, drove to the executive mansion
to-day and were received by Secretary
EVarts, who escorted them to the blue
room. Here President Hayes and mem
bers of his cabinet we're assembled. After
the formslities of an introduction, Grand
Duke Alexis being the FIRST presented,
the President, cabinet and the royal
visitors engaged in a very friendly
conversation, lasting about twenty min
utes, when then distinguished Russians
withdrew, The President aud Secretary
Of State will return the call this evening.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18

The American Association for
the Advancement of Science is to
meet in Nashville on Wednesday,
the Goth Of August. This will be
a notable event. The leading sci.
enti6c men Of this country belong
to the association. Its annual
meetings have rarely been held in
the West, and only once in the
South since 1858. The people Of
Nashville are looking forward to
the occasion with laudable pride
and interest.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
Chicago marHets.

CHICAGO, April Is, II m::-Whea is
quiet at 81 443 for Stay; l 455 for June
Corn is firm at 47g@47l for May; 49l@
488 for June. Oats are inactive at 81
@374 for May; 373 for bid for June;
nothing doing in cash. Pork is quiet at
SIS 22l@l5'25 for May; Is 37I for June.
Lard is quiet at 50 80 for May; 10 90 for
June. Meats, loose, steady, with sales
of salt rib at I IS for May; 7 80 for June.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
Indications.

WAsHINGToE, April l8.-For Tonnes
see and the Ohio valley threatening
weather and rain continue with falling
barometer, southerly winds becoming
variable and slight change in tempera.
ture.
The Missippi river will rise slowly be.
tween Cairo and Vicksburg Red river
will continue to rise at Shreveport.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
Kewspaper.nakiDg.

Il isn't boys play, reader, to make a
newspaper. Everybody cant do it,
ihoagh most persons think they can.
More excellent qualities Of head and
heart are rrqnired 10 an editor than in
any proic' sion in the world. he talks
to more people than the pulpit does, and
talks to people Of all grades Of life and
ell shedes.of belief II conscieutious-
and no man VINO is not hes any business
in the editorial charlie feels the re.
aponsibility Of his position as if it we're
g mountain on his soul He knows that
the moral growth and peace of the com
muuity depend largely for weekly utter.
ances. Many times does he draw his pen
through the lines which he fears may be
Misunderstood, and do harm TO some Of
those whom be desires to make better,
and not verse. II is not an easy posi-
tion-it lie sc .roely a desirable one; and
yet if he happens to express a sentiment
which does not suit the reader, the lat
ter is uncharitable enough to lose no
time in ceusuri6E him The editor does
not always think os the reader does; be
can't. II he did, and never expressed q
sentiment except such as the reader
cherished, what would be the object Of
taking his paper2 II is certainly foolish
to pay for a journal which simply con-
tains q rehash Of what we have long be-
fore thought ourselves. But, reader,
when you are induced TO find fault with
the editor because he says something that
doesn't suit you remember that you can
get a paper under the sun, II il amounts
TO anything, that will not sometimes say
things that you cannot agree with.