davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26
Nigh, B,Indne.. and Collision. n, sen.

To TIE EDITOR OF THE SUN-.SU: sun
days SuN gave an interesting account OF three
children who daily lose the power 81 sight at
shutdown. recovering it next day at sunrise
This apparently strange phenomenon Is very
common among the Russian pcasantry and is
known by them rs night blindness" II Is at
tributed TO the want Of fatty secretion resulting
from the long Lenten fast 10 which the pcasantry
Of the Greek Church adhere In spite Of the re-
monstrancos Of their priests.
With Ash Wednesday in Russia the peasants
give up eating eggs. lard, fat Of any kind. and
the use Of milk. Tho consequences are that in
the majority Of cases toward the end OF the fast
ing period the pcasantry are night blind"
They cannot discern any object or form after
si2e or shape 20 them. With daylight this defect
disappears and the blind men Of the night may
De tho most keen-sghted in the day With
Easter ari its accompanying ieasis the peas
ants entirely recover from this malady-only
to suffer from 1t again the following year when
they rccommenco their last.
Perhaps ut this season Of the year. when tho
public ar" startled 10y appalling collisions M sen
a. ompnnied with great loss Of lie, II may ho
ouportuue To draw attention 10 this little known
form Of blindness.
Investigating committees in cnses of shin
wreck often find that the evidence Of the sur
yivors diners IN regard 10 the lights seen. Some
declare the lights were clear and distinct others
that none were discrrnble
While color blindness Is acknowledged and
care rs taken on railways and steums h ips that
the employees shall Ice FREQ from this defect. No
precauton is taken against night blindness.
soldiers ana sailors entering the Government
service are examined and their eyesight tested.
but IN the mercantile marine no such prccau-
ton is taken, One man with defective sight.
stationed rs lookout may hurry hundreds
To premature death. BY drawing attrution Ia
this and inviting medical discussion. TIM sun
DEC. "a 1873
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26
Distractions 10 Commerce.

According TO tho report recently commu-
,icatcd to CQngress 10y the Department Of
state. the fess collected by consular officers
Of the United States for the year ended Dec.
81, 1877, aggregated S649. 1898. Mr.. EvARTs,
ike his predecessor, boasts from these re-
turns and others that have preceded them,
that the consular system Is more than self
supporting. and contends that the consular
salaries, for that reason, ought to be in
,rcasci. These fees prove that more money
Is collected from legitimate commerce than
4 eau afford to pay for the transaction Of
business Every American shipmastcr who
enters a foreign port complains of the exac-
ions levied by his own Government abroad,
which often exceed the local port entries
and charges. Wherever he goes tax con-
fronts him. which must Ice paid before get
ting clearance. Acknowledgements, au-
thcnticating copies Of papers. authcnti-
rating signatures. certificates, declarations
and oaths, estates Of American citizens. filing
documents IN consulate. consuls orders aud
letters, passports. protests, preparing doou-
mcnts, recording documents. receiving and
delivering ships papers, shipping or dis
charging seamen. miscellaneous services.
sealing cars coming from Canada. copies
and the like are among the general heads
covering a multitude Of items upon which
Toll Is levied 10y cOnsuls.
Mr. HEWITT recently exposed TO the House
case Of almost daily occurrence where
The consular fees exceeded thrrciold the
charges under the British system. In these
times. when profits are small, every prudent
merchant has 10 consider the details attend
hIS his imports OF exports, and these fees
enter into the account as no insignificant
part OF all foreign ventures. II was never
intended that revenue should be derived
from this source. because the encourage
ncnt Of commerce Is far more important
than any income to be obtained from tax
which In any way ob-tructs its perfect free
dom. The Treasury could well afford to
bear the cost Of the whole consular system
and even 10 extend it, II any advantage ac-
orued to trade from that policy. because it
would soon he repaid many times over by
augmented revenues from other sources.
II Mr.. EvARTs will turn his attention 60
these abuses which have become chronic by
time and almost intolerablc from UNDECIDED
complaints. and have the consular fees re-
duccd 10 the lowest point practiscd 10y other
nations, hc will be far better employed than
In distributing circulars, which have no bct-
Der value than waste paper. He has been
sending such circulars To- the four quarters
OF the globe, urging inquiries Tor the ex-
tension Of commercial intercourse, and the
net result Of that work has not added %
dollar 10 our trade, simply because enter
prising merchants and men Of business
know the wants Of commerce and the state
OF tho markets far better than these of
fcials do But a sensible relief might Doe
given to commerce by the simple procc--
OF reducing the consular fecs.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26
Had Held the Place too Long.

The testimony OF Mr. GEORGE W. CHASE
one Of the Committee OF the Onondaga
Board Of Supervisors ON County Buildings.
In reference to the Onondaga Poorhouse, is
coupled with the expression OF his opinion
as TO the main cause 10 which the lament
able condition Of that institution Is at
tributable. The insane inmates were found
In dark, dismal, unventilated cells, or dun
geons. When the doors were opened the
smell was terrible. A colorcd man in one Of
these cells had nothing la, n short shirt on
him. Most OF the men had not much cloth
ing on. The straw in the cells was not clean,
and there were other evidences OF neglect.
This IL the substance OF Mr.. CHASSIS tcsti-
mony as reported in the Herald. Certainly
Il shows the institution TO have been In dis
graceful condition.
Now Us to the cause. One OCoNSELL had
charge Of the attendants. In Mr. CHAsE's
opinion he was not a III man. He was too
old and had heidhe place too long,
This Is n forcible illustration Of a truth
ON which We have often insisted, namely,
that the arguments in regard TO retaining
men permanently In office are not all on one
side. There are certain men, in certain
Offices. whose place ii would be very difficult
to supply. Mr. CLYSCH, who was in the
New York Custom House 50 many years,
may be taken a. an example in point. But
his very case also serves to show that even
under our fuctuating politics a person Of
preaminent fitness may remain in Office
almost an ordinary lifetime.
But where one man becomes peculiarly
valuable by long-continued service there
are many who grow careless and inattcn-
tive, a. well 40 insolent and disobliging
They come TO look upon the Office as their
right, as il 1t we're in the nature Of a heri-
tage, which may be retained whether de-
servedly or not
The frequent changes in public Offices,
II attended with some inconvenience and
some disadvantage, tend greatly 10 keep
people on democratic level, n republican
equality; while on the whole, it may be
doubted whether the public business Is not
better done than IL would be If the civil
service system for which there has been 81
much clamor were introduced. Many man
in public Office II inefficient because he has
held lis place too long. We see this in every
branch OF the public service. newly
appointed officer feels that he is bound To do
something to earn his pay; while he who
has held his place too long is inclined 10
look upon his salary as a sort Of mama
from heaven, which he has only 10 gather
up with as little labor as possible, and Ia
which he has become SO accustomed that he
even ceases to feel grateful for it.
The American people instAnctivcly feel
this truth, and il is potent argument with
them against political party that it has
been in power too long.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

To THU EDtToR OF THE SUN-Sir; Mr. Hey
wooi is ana educated anu ronncd gentleman AMI his
book, Cuuiis Jokes Is an arSuiueutatlve enort to
show what he deemed tho morals Logically resulting
from uaturah,n and freedom IN rcn-on Detective
morals MAY hc called. erroneous in some ofits con
illusions ~ doubtless b.. hut not obscene Passionate MAJ
u.s. dfN affair
rIu SIS nsnu, condemn. ,iic Con,io.. law II wa.
sW!ti lunn'A passed, g. tnahl, hil.N o. Itr-.eutr
under Afc pft trnHre Haywood f secuted for hi.
heuucl uttIHirc, ou rti-iur. anita monopoly nuI
'oNrtnueWt robbery hut knowing that ", MA not do
lnf i rye. ihis book Uniff the prrtrusp TIF
NtN aiN,i', ~ another cutolM Justly / tuluA e., a
'f'uHl. .lIu'lr What uutN o. t.t u fIr 1ui-r WliH
fu-,rlel ilnNNuol cnuNl.uuu. iftn4r.u.t rcUoriri
Dul have ,,ta hu contradiction of u.r frporU d. was
nN unjust Rulings tnd coutrOlns thc Jury. lee cuuliu
get lloA Wud u'' iNu On, lruu Nuf iN .lp u,Nt tN O,
lore uuu"A lHIfNr tI I-Iu. f.r Do
You Nlii uul Mr. ilrNvlui -uit, 900 ...ut Wien
lc ini"tu m ihr IHrN u.trd. AnuI li'ur. arc Wp tu
.,h' W. 100" tNlt goo ll IuII.4 70. vtlH. ou
ulv room. tpfu. Wl.k,
last In.ift Nfll .ff.,t
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26
SARITOHIIN mINTER.
Hotels BEARDED Up-Even the Hack uaan's
voIcc Silent for the While.

SARATOGA, Dec. 24-The Saratoga Of to-
day. when compared with the Saratoga Of the
summer months. presents strange contrast.
From Division street down broadway TO Circu-
lar. which ia a continued b!aze Of light in tho
summer evenings, it Is now dark and dreary.
The United States Hotel. at Division street and
Broadway. is n drcary looking and tcnantlpss
building. its monstrous walls looming up 10
the sky in the sombre darkness Of a winters
night. like some old castle Of the ancients. The
piazza and lower windows are enclosed in sub
stantial coverings Of boards. The gas Jets
which dot the front plaza at regular intervals
In the sumner are now gone. and in their stead
nothing remains except tho pillars that sup
ported them; the winter winds whistle
through the wings and lofty corridors. Below.
the Adelphi, the Union. the Congress. the
Windsor, and the Clarendon are alike reposing
in solitude. each battened in front with weather
boards. The Clarendon. that SO narrowly es-
capped from being burnt to the ground In No
Vember last. and which was damaged consider
ably. IL yet unrspaired and Il close surve ilance
il kept for fear Of incendiarism. You may 70
past there at all hours OF the night. and you
will see the shndowy form ~ the Waterman
standing by one OF the huge pillars. or skulk-
ing along the spacious area Of tho piazza The
Union and Congress are alike protectingly ar
ranged for the winter. and are also under
watch. The voice OF the hickman IL heard no
more at the DEPOT. The express wagon comes
and goes. but II carries not mountains Of " Sara
toga trunks. The sleighinR Is exeollent u the
avenue TO the Geyser Spring and that 10 Sara
I.aha
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

Tie total outlay since 1863 aggregates
S26,21G, 6IG9G, or an average Of about a mill
lion and threc-quartors every year. Capt.
taliHed, this sum represents the interest on
fOrty-iOur millions of four per cent. bonds
Excessive prices are paid IN every branch Of
this Office, and it has been notorious for
years rs IA house of refuge for dependents
Of members of Congress and others of
political position or influence. The scan
dals associated with its administration, like
those Of tho Bureau of Engraving and
Printing, are familiar TO the country, and
the plumber has been vast as shown by re-
pcated Investigations.
Tons of costly documents issued by this
Office, aud wantonly ordered by Congress
and the departments, some Of them In
costly Russian half binding, at an expense
81 five, six, seven, and eight dollars vol
umc, find their way 10 the junk shops to he
sold for waste paper, The reckless prodi-
gality and destruction almost exceed belief (;
and it is only since the Democrats got pos
session Of the House that any pretcnce Of
AN improved condition has been at all yisi-
Tile, and that is already abandoned, as will
be seen BY the returns Of tho printer, above
citcd
The old methods stil prevail, Just a. they
did years ago and in an investigation now
going on before the Committee ON Public
Expenditures, II was proven that in a
recent purchase Of some forty-ono thou
sand dollars worth Of typo, moro than
thhtythreo per cent. was paid above
the highest market prices, While pli-
vatc persons bought the same grade Of
articles at discount Of ully thirty -thrcc
per cent. by seeking competition among
lulnishers. That WAS tho testimony Of
THoMAs j. BRADY, the Second Assistant
Postmaster General, who lately had occasion
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

OF our treaties with England since the
founding Of the republic, the treaty Of pence in
1888, JAYS treaty ol 1894. MoNRoE's II 1906 mot
ratified, the treaty Of Client in lsl4. the treaties
Of 1873 and 1878 and the four troutios Of 1876
and 1927 were negotiated by special comms-
sioners while the AsHBCEToN treaty ~ 1872
the CLAYTON -BuLwFR convention of 1850 the
LLGlN reciprocity treuiy Of 1854. aud tho Lyons
slayr-traie treaty Of 1862 wcro negotiated at
Washington 10y the Department Of State. Tho
latest great treaty. the ATTY Of Washington.
was negotiated 10y two sets OF special commits
sionors.
Thus all our most wcighiy treaties with Eng
lnnd, without exception, have boon u .Eotated
either ut Washington, or, ii in Europe. by
special commissioners. OF our trcatias with
Trance, those of alliance and commerce in l77s
the treaty Of 1900. and the Louisiana treaty of
1909 were negotiated 10y special comm lssioncrs
and that OF 1922 Mt Washington, Tho kIyEs
claims convention of 1881 WIS the only treaty
OF prime imporlnnro negotiated by our Minister
Ia Paris Among these special commissioners
fsure JouN and J. =. ADAMS. lRANKLIE. JAY,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

Trials made Of the improved blasting
agent woody fibre prepared with nitro-glyce-
rine-n various mines in Upper Silesia. ure
stated TO have proved. on the whole. not unfa-
yorabie, though the action was not in all cases
regular, The substance has not AS claimed by
the inventor, five times the force Of an eaual
weight Of ordinary black blasting powder and
even four times WAS doubful-athreefold force.
however being plainly exhibited. The ndvan-
taR IS claimed for tho new agent are les, danger
Ms il does not explode on contact with open fro.
ana 10 hy no means easily exploded by friction
or concusSion and III" fact that, To cflcct lis cx-
pIo-ion in a blast hole. the strand match may bo
used. Tho powder is very light and in the
loose state burns very slowly.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

Only the white, crisp snow and the jingle
Of sleigh balls We're needed 20 make the proper
sort d old-fashioned Christmas Day. 1t was a
very merry and enjoyable Christmas "a Christ
masses 90. The mir was frosty but kindly
churches were gay with evcrgrccns and now
ers the sermons were short the congregations
attentive. the music iubilant; the Christmas
dinners We're duly oaton; many n humble home
was frightened 10y Christmas charity; and after
dinner the city gave itself up to amusement aud
iestiyiiy. Wthal il was n sober Christmas; few
drunken mon werc 10 be seen in the streets.
The great majority OF New Workers celebrated
the day rs it should always he celebrated-with
the mlrth that after no repentance draws
Doubtless the hard times count Tor something
in this but IT is largely reiorabe 10 better social
customs andamor enlightened public opinion.
Hard drinking is going out Of fashion in this
country.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

Some timid persons have been seriously
disturbed by the periodical announcement that
this or the other scientific gent has detected
something out Of gear in the machinery Of tho
solar system. They have followed tho discus
sion Of the suns spots with breathless interest.
and have noted every case Of unreasonable
weather in recent years rs additional proof OF
an impending crisis. This weeks news from
the region Of tho great lakes should go far to
dispel these fears. BY all accounts the snow
storms out there have been old-fashioned
enough to satisfy the most exacting octogena-
ran. and to show clearly that nature has not
yet lost the secret Of making winter.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

Elsewhere in to-day IS sun we publish three
communications in cxculpation Of +. II.
Haywood. and in justification Of Mr.. HAYES
for pardoning him.
There s nothing like tho freedom Of the
press. Where both sides are accorded a fair
and full hearing, It is next to impossible that
any great injustice should permanently
pravaU
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

The best part OF Christmas TO the boys
and girls Of the suburbs was the skathg. Over
in NcwJerscy. especially. the ponds we're in fine
condition. and the young people almost grudged
the time needed to do justice to the Christmas
dinner, so eager we're they to get the steel again
under their feet.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

MoNRoE. PINKNEY. BA1ARD. CLAY. JONATHAN
RUSSELL. GALLAriN. Rush. ELLSWORTH LIv-
INasFoN and others.
All these historic facts were set forth before
Congress by Mr.. HEWITT ON the nth Of March
las, yet the Senate then refused. and has now
again refused TO diminish by a man or n dollar
our supernuous standing diplomatic establish
monts.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

To THE EDIroR or THE SUN-SU l. there no
way 10 punish the touluouthcd Williams, calling them
selves gentlemen who persist passing disagree able re.
marks upon. or even insulting, unprotected women A
rrcni nunhcr of them u'c,t the railroads haze oc.
th'lun o. iir over tr Newark ANA NtW York KlliuuI
every W"ruu-. and very often reach here almost s,k
alter N'nrius their vale taN. 10 Is ut misfortune 3D. Ia,
rather ue'ht AMI AMY woman Whois anyway cuuspicu.
ga. s shYtrti To- uor siafrs and words have api ,t
o. thc authorities bon vain and send this To Tut SrS hnt
ing ~ VIII arouse public INDIGNATION A Lam,
NlN iuHk Dee
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

One Of the stock arguments for letting
girls into boys schools and colleges has been
that their refined ways and gentle manners
would speedily transform their classmates OF
the rudcr sex from hobbledehoys into young
gentlemen. 1t didn't work that way at q mixed
college in Illinois where a fight in tho college
hall between a freshman girl and sophomore
girl recently gave the signal for general and
active hostilites between the two classes. at
tended with physical and disciplinary casual
tics
What II. instead Of refining tho manners OF
the boys. the girls should pattern aite- them
That is "A possibility. it appears. in practice.
however improbable In theory and il calls for
consideration.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

Great ceremonies are necessary 10 get n train
oh ~ HclmanY When all is ready he'll ring, 1hcn
another bell rings Then the ruAiuc whistles or rntl
tuott"ot gently Then The conductor toll, DE sutton
master that all II ready Thou the sauoniuiStcr lunA
llacily around aud SAYS Sof" Then the conductor
shouts "frrugt. mcfroiauNciy Then the ,intiua.
master replies FcruE " positively. Then the conductor
blows horn, tho engine whistles. the BON rings. t.r
"ihfr hcll rings, the station master tito ua~-
@httfs swear n various tou-ucs-ani the train star.
u"ti unr.s there Is holat,l tat ulau-iu WhtA rn,,
they do 10 all over again ~
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

Academy 80 M~stc tt,ihu orsrA
naath's Theatre Kvsnreire.
no-ery rsestr~-Neok snd Nect.
RrosdvvSy Ib-stre-uncie p,nL
Dras stas Roe-, rsessr- m snd on, ~ Plaza
Ftsh Avenue ts-str~-Rr vsa wiusie
Giob- ThsStrs-oRiy = PsfH.t's i'-Hshtsr
{ - nd op-rs sa>--CoriolAuas Matinee.
Lyeessa uh-stro-Doutis A,rriAse.
. Nsrh Aqusrt"as- clnds slis.
Ntbts's Csrdes- New YafE AMI London.
Olympic Theatr- m. 1ictst Leave Nan.
Fsrh rhe.tre-BAiss 10 ths wood
sssFrssciseo uis-t-ei- Bra.ivAy, cor istAsL
Standard Theatre Almost q Life
ste away tall Tie Lie q Jssus.
rs-s Pastors Op~~s uo.se-varitty.
Hhestr- Cor.tau~-varety
ts.iss square rsestre- Inc Ranksrs Daughter
NsIIaek's Thsafre-My Sou.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

There was strange sight in a Second
avenue tenement house on Tuesday afternoon
"A mother standing guard over her dead baby
while the father struggled with a we'll dressed
stranger who. Ms both the parents firmly be-
lieve had slipped into the room to steal the
little body. The well-dressed stranger is now
Mndor lock md keY
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

THOMAS DowD ami ELIZA WARD are 10 he
hanged at st. Andrews, New Brunswick on the
l4th Of January for the murder of THOMAS Ed
WARD WARD. the husband Of the woman. The
evidence was wholly circumstantial. WARD was
farmer, and led m unhappy life with his wife.
mainly on account Of her intimacy with DowD,
who boarded in their house. WARD disappeared
on tho 9th Of September. Mrs. WARD made
contradictory statements as TO his whereabouts.
and Down proiessed Ignorance. The neighbors
searched. and Wards body with the skull
smashed, was found in n clump Of bushes
about half mile from his house. II
WAS shown on tho trial that DowD
had made threats against WARD; that Down
owned an axe the pole Of which might have
been used in committing the deed. and on
which a human hair was found and that blood
stains were found on Downs clothing. Mrs.
WARD was seen on the road with Down on the
day the murder was committed. Her contra
dictory statements regarding her husbands
whereabouts told against her. The jury con-
yicted THOMAS Down and ELIZA WARD after
twenty minutes elaboration. Both the prison
ors protested their innocence in the most solemn
manner when sentenced.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

Many young men on salaries, who made
costly Christmas presents 20 young women. are
rueiully contemplating their collapsed pocket
books and wishing they hadn't. We advise
these young men 20 make a New Years resolu-
ton on the subject and 10 stick 10 il when the
holidays come around again. just this sort Of
ostentatious extravaganza has landed more
than one poorly paid clerk In state prison; and
besides. no sensible young woman ever thinks
the better Of q young man for giving her pres
cnt that she knows % be above his means.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26
Found Dead on chrI.,ma. Morning.

The body Of man, seventy years Of
n-c was found at the corner Of Fifteenth street and
Hamilton avenue, Brooklvn, yesterday morning at
about o'clock. II wa, taken 90 the nolice station in
hntrr street where u was subsequently identified ~
ihAt ul Jnih Ndllfln, hcsedr, Wlu had uu family on
liNhls ana iNtd alone m a funul NJ Si Hicks
phc dollar am! ten cnis ~ pennies and nycecnt rces
was lound oi las person.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26
Notice 90 Ns~.de.,er. and Advertisers.

Az New Years comes on Wednesday. THE
HpNSir svS will he publ.hed the tuesday morning
preceding that holiday Advertisements must he handed
N on the Monday before.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

Young WILLIAM MANLY should not have
asked policeman on duty 10 take Christmas
drink. But hi offence was not a very hc.nous
one and IL. MS he asserts. Policeman HARVEY
throw him down with such violence MS to break
HIS ankle. and then tried 10 kick him. Police
man HAEyEy's case should have the attention
Of his Official superiors
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26

The Rev. Mr.. LoYsoS's attempt 10 resur-
re't the "Galican Church" will probably
result very much n lid Mr.. HlYEss attempt to
resurrect the Wing party