davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

of homes The natural love of the
boy for sensational, novel, and stirring
scenes OF romance and adventure, is
being taken advantage Of by specula
tive publishers of cheap literature, and
the result is 4 flood Of publications,
weighing down the counters Of every
newsdealer, that is injurious alike to the
morals and intellects of its juvenile
readers. 1t is a fact, which appears to
have been hitherto very lightly consid-
cred, that much of the popular reading
of our boys to-day consists of cheap
exciting stories of border life, rebellion
in schools, and boy outlawry in every
conceivable form Few, except parents
of spirited BOYS, know how insidious
and widespread the disease Of a per-
verified taste in reading has become by
the general and unrestrained indulg-
ence in this taste for the sensational
and extravaganza a news item, in Il
New York daily, giving some Of the
net results of the dime novel epidemic,
is pow before Us. The publication Of
Connolly's curious series of front stoop
novels at one cent each, or the entire
series for dime has led to an abnor
mai condition of the juvenile mind.
BY this wonderful Improvement in the
sale of blood curdling romances by the
yard, small boy can enjoy perfect
feast Of trappers, injuns and things, at
cost which, in his grandfather's youth,
would have barely suiiiced for the pur
chase of ball of taffv. The names of
the romantic scalp hunters of fourteen,
whose imaginations have been excited
and inAamcd By the bloody" litera-
ture of the border, aud who the police
authorities of the city had Intercepted in
their flight westward, is given, and forms
but small portion of the great aggregate
YET TO START on their QuiXotic juvenile
errands: William Bird, Brooklyn, IA
wears, armed with i; slungshot; p. Car
roll, Brooklyn, Is years, armed with a
pistol; Il. johnson, Brook yn, l 1 years,
armed with pistol; Harry Stacey,
Brooklyn, - years, armed with a knit;
- Demonett, Brock!n, Is years,
armed with ,,sStol; August Davis,
New Yox, Is years, armed with a
!nre; John O'Conner, New York, Is
years, armed with Il knife; John Smith,
New York, Is Years, armed with a
pistol.
In the list given, the WEAPONS adopted
are suggestive to parents of pacific dis
positions. Trashy and worthless, how
ever, as the Injun =" and border cheap
literature may be, it is really the least
Objectionable as a class morally. The
unsatised longings for Indian scalps
andtrophies, ofan unsuspectiug and SEN
t!mental youngster Of fourteen, can be
easily got over without serious results.
Such, however, is not the case with
the more specious and insidious moral
poison underlying so large class of
more pretentious and far more danger
Gus literature equally current. We
have active associations for the sup
preston Of vice in almost every other
FORM now let their attention lie turned
to the field Of cheap literature, in which
the scope for popular "reform is am
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04
THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE.

The Maryland State Temperance Al
lance met in Baltimore, on Thursday,
Cecil county was represented by Rev.
D. c. Ridgway, John w. Morgan, T.
p. Jones and j. w. Davis Alexander
NJ. Garter delivered the address of wei,
come, to which Mr. Ridgwav responded,
saying the country militia had come
-tn~sUnd side by side with the city
troops in this m>ost fearful war, and tt
boys with hay seed in the,.;,s- hai'would
10 all in their power. Though the
capital had fallen, Baltimore
still stands. lie was confident that Or
ganized effort in favor of temperance
would bear down all opposition and
result in glorious victory. 32l dele
gates were present, l3S from temper
ance societies, lO4 from churches and
10 from Sunday schools.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THIS COLUMN IS OPEN TO ALL.
THE RIGHT SIDE.

Mr.. EDITOR: Having noticed "Fair
Plays" grand and glowing account of 'the
other side in last weeks issue of Tile
Wig it seems to our mind only to verify
the old adage that thirds of a feather flock
together Fair Play has not surely
forgotten the time when he, too, was iii
equally as bad Il fix as Devine, Benjamin
& Co., and might have been serving q term
in prison for changing $40 note into an
$50 one, with our signature on the back,
and was only saved from the disgrace by
going before horse jockey No. /, on Bonded
knees and eyes brmful of tears, acknow.-
edging the fact and pleading for mercy.
And does he so far forget that it was the
grandfather of the child who had to re-
move numerous piles Of rails, wood. etc,
that happened to be lying il close proxim-
ity to his house to keep the niad from
blowing them away. Then, Mr. Fair Play,
why use that grand old adage-" Folks
who live in glass houses should not throw
stones ?''
Why, my professional friend, ii was the
grandfather of the child, the uncle by mar
riage and horse jockey No. | that have
been so dlligent soliciting necessar!es for
you and family in your reversed circum
stances. And would perhaps nave Solicited
your Council in their behalf, had you not
left civilized part of the country and
taken up your abode in a place where only
the hooting of the owl is heard, aad where
the burly and formidable man capnot enter.
And now, Mr.. Editor, it is a well known
fact that more money than &c Fair Play
says was obtained, and gotten for the sole
purpose of going into the fishing business.
But they 50 far forgot their business as to
mark their trunk in "Geo. Halls name
and "go West OF course, the notes
have not matured. Neither have they gone
into the fishing business. unless it be ii
the head waters Of the Missouri, where a
hook and line is only used, and 1t is rulnor-
ed that fish ale very scarce NJ there. And
who pays the notes? Let Fair Play >
answer. BUSINESS
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04
SUICIDE NOT EVIDENCE OF INSANITY.

Judge Palmer's admirable paper,
Suicide Not Evidence Of Insanity
read before the Medico-Legal Society
of New York, in March, has been pub
lished in pamphlet form by the Mutual
Life Insurance Company. 1t is "a timely
subject, forcibly discussed from the
standpoint of history, morality, philan-
thropy and social economy Starting
with the premise that the common be-
lief is that no man will take his own
life unless demented or insane, Judge
Palmer proceeds to show how unsound
this opinion is, and marsbals an ire
sistible array of facts and authorities to
prove its unsoundness. Law as well as
logic sustains the principle that sanity
is the normal condition of the mind in
all its diversities aud variety of charac-
ter And yet, when it comes to so
common an affair as suicide, the average
mind ignores this and hastens to excuse
or condone the sin of self-murder, no
matter what the circumstances, by ac-
quiescing in the heresy that because a
man commits suicide he must perforce
be insane. In showing the fallacy and
injustice of such view Judge Palmer
cites decisions of our highest courts,
State and national, which establish the
doctrine that there is no presumption of
law, PRIMA FACIE or otherwise, that
selfdestruction arises from insanity.
The fact that both Church and State
agree in regarding suicide as crime,
would seem to involve the idea that
self-murder by no means presupposes
insanity else the laws of State and
Church, referring to the subject, would
be monstrous, and the teachings of
courts and pulpits for centuries past
become themselves criminal. In this
connection, Judge Palmer presents
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04
ANCIENT COINS.

Mr.. EDIToE:- was much inIereste! il
the description Of the Connecticut cent
III your last issue, not because am read
up on the subject of COINS bat hecaRe |
have Of late become the DsscsSor Of quite
q number 2 fold and valuable coins, and
Especially, because but day OF so before
the article alluded to appeared | had found
the identical cent thus described among
my collection. This coin belonged, as has
been correctly stated, to the State coinage,
before there had been established any rrgu-
lar national coinage. This Connecticut
coin was made III New Haven; the coinage
there was begun in 1875. 1t would be Il
possession, still more valuable, to get Il
cent of that year. But have two more
cents, each dated 1877, which belong to the
same unsettled financial period. The arti-
Gle III Appleton's new Cycopedia on coins
describes them as follows: These cents
were coined at the New Haven mint, and
are of the following description: Ga one side
thirteen circles linked together. a small
circle in the middle, with the words United
States around il, aud in the center the words
We are one On the other side. a sun
dial with the sun above it, and FugiO, 1877,
on opposite sides, and below the dial, Mind
your business a few of these pieces are
said to have been struck in the Vermont
mint at Rupert" But | think have two
moro coins which belong to that period
during which we had no regular coin. which
are still more valuable and rare. One is a
Washington penny having upon one
side the head of Washington, surrounded
by the words " Washington and independ-
ence," and below is the date 1888. Upon
the other side is female figure holding q
liberty cap and an olive branch. | have
been told that Washington stopped the
coinage of these cents on account Of the
prominence given to him upon them. An
other cent i'll my possession | cannot name,
but perhaps some Of your readers may be
able to place it. Upon one side is the sun,
occupying the center and surrounded by
rays and thirteen stars. with the words
Constellatio nova" Upon the other side
the letters L. s. occupy tic center, with a
wreath around them, surrounded by the
words 6! Justitia Libertas, with the date
1873. These coins, with large number of
others, both copper, silver and brass, and
belonging to different countries have been
biackened and corrodcd. Some of them
are very ancient, but | am not yet able to
Gecipher their notices or dates. | have
written about these "cents,' since they
belong to the same period of our financial
history as the Connecticut coin mentioned
il your last. W. ". HEEERToE.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

SEA SICK BRIDEs.-Mr. c. G. Fulton, of
the Baltimore american, writes to bis paper
that on his recent trip across the great AT
lantic frog pond there was quite number
of newly made brides, and, as usual, they
suffer more from sea sickness than any of
their lady companions. They are among
the first to get sick and the last to recover
They seldom recover sufficiently to avail
themselves of the lovers retreat behind the
wheel house, and start out upon their new
lives as miserable as it is possible for human
beings to be. But their happiness will re-
turn with their appetites as soon as they
set foot on shore. 1t must be q terrible
modification, however, to a young wife to
have her husband holding her head during
the first ten days of the honeymoon, and
not to have energy or life enough in her to
even brush her hair or attend to her rib
bons.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

Mrs. HAYES CONDEMNED. - Washington,
.iprH 2T.-The Mrs. Rutherford b. Hayes
Temperance Society last evening adopted
the following:
WHEREAS, This Association was formed
and named in honor of the declaration of
Mrs. r b. Hayes that she would not allow
wine to be used at State dinners; and
WHEREAS, On the occasion of a banquet
given at the Union League Club, Philadel-
phia, Mrs Hayes said: g | do not use wine
or liquors myself, nor in my family, but
have 20 thought of stunning those who
think and act differently. 1t is mistake
to think that | should want to be SO dicia-
torial. | want people to enjoy themselves
in tie manner that is most pleasing to
them" And
WHEREAS, She countenanced the use of
olaret punch at dinner on board the excur-
sion steamer on the Delaware river; there
fore, be it
Reso!ced. That this Society discards the
name of Mrs. X. b. Hayes and pronounce
her rs complete " fraud " as her husband
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

abundant references to the text books,
and'enlists on his side the Bible, an
cient history, and modern writer's, with
a profusion of illustration whose effect
is conclusive upon any fair mind.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

THAT good old hymn, when | can
read my title clear" is said to be a
favorite of Rutherford b. Hayes. We
hope for his sake, that it has not been
omitted in the new Methodist hymn
book.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

GEN. B. f. BUTLER has made an an
nouncement to the American people of
a somewhat startling character. He
saws he is made in the image Of his
Maker-LouisoiUe Courier Journal.
But he has always claimed to be a
selfmade man, so that the announce
ment is not so startling, after all.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

To-DAY's WING contains three inter-
esting letters from abroad. Broad
brim's welcome epistle from old ocean :;
Mr.. Seymour's second Entertaining let
ter, on the first page, and Mr.. Haines
letter from notes taken personally at
Pompeii.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04
ELkTON. MAY 4, ISIS.

JOHN MoRRIssEY, the well-known
New y ork politician and sporting man,
died at Saratoga, on Wednesday. He
had been i'll for several months
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

Is Prejudice often rules in the physical
treatment Of Babies. They are allowed to
suffer and scream with pain from Collie,
some simple. reiiable and safe remedy as
DR.. Bulls Baby Syrup, would give almost
immediate relief AMI perfect ease to ti,e
sufferer.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

Ex-Governor YOUNG, Of Ohio, who
was Lieutenant Governor under Hayes
says that the President has few, if any
friends left in Ohio and could not be
elected to the Legislature in his own
district. There is nobody in Ohio
who speaks well of him, and none of
his friends haNo tut slightest influence
with him." This is strange lang.sc~e
to come from personal friend, but the
Washington correspondent of The
Philadelphia Times declares that Mr..
Young uses it without reservation.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

THE General Conference of the South
ern Methodist Church, which began at
Atlanta, on Wednesday, will be watch
ed with great interest in all sections of
the country, in view of the action that
is expected to be taken toward a union
of the Northern and Southern divisions
of the church.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

eY Finest Mackinaw Straw Hats.
GLASS FRONT.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

PATTERSON, of Colorado, the reform
er, who occupies seat in Congress
which belongs to another man, declares
with moving soemnity that there can
never be any peace in this country
while the question of fraud" hangs
over the people. He thinks the proof
against Hayes is conclusive, and hopes
he will be ousted if there is any way to
do it. The people of Colorado will
treat YOU to all the ousting" you
want at the next election, Mr.. Patterson
so try to calm yourself
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

PROVIDENCE is smiling on all parts
of this land, and the promise Of tre-
mendous crops Of all kinds was never
so cheering as at present. The Gin
cinnati {" Gazette has full page of
reports from all parts of Ohio, Michigan
Indiana, and Kentucky, as to the pro-
spects Of fruit in that vast region. 1t
says that the peach crop on low lands
is reported damaged to an extent pro-
badly so per cent. apples, cherries, etc,
with but few exceptions, are reported
to be in an excellent condition. "Our
reports show large increase in orchard
acreage within the past five years
The total acreage of Ohio is over 400,-
600, being an increase within the time
specified of nearly 20 per cent. Grapes
although not far enough advanced to
allow an accurate estimate of future
prospects, are said to be in good con-
dition, and large yield is promised
The entire fruit crop, like all other veg
citation, is fully three weeks advanced
in development over former seasons.
The reports have been gathered and
compiled with care, and may be relied
upon as accurate as it is possible to OBJ
tain tbnm y
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

THE Democratic House is evidently
determined to give the party no chance
for success this Fall, or it would not
attempt to throw an obstacle now in
the way of resumption. The Tariff
Bill, income tax, Southern claims and
Glover are burden enough without put
ting on top of them an entirely I'M
necessary yell for the salvation ofthe re-
firing greenbacks. Besides, if their
will is accomplished, the silver dollar
will be prevented from floating into cir
culation, and the people are hungry for
Il sight of it.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-04

The Cecil Wing.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-09

at once seen that such a wire would
be consumed before the tree was half
severed from its trunk. However,
the attempt was made. The burning
wire performed its part very well as
long as it lasted, but as anticipated,
the wire continually broke, and at
length there was no wire left. There
can be but little doubt that with a
stronger battery and a thicker " ire,
the experiment would have been en-.
tirely successful. AS it was, the tree
was sawn one-fifth through. 1t is
calculated that under proper condi-
tions a tree, which at present takes
two hours to fell, will come to the
ground by this process in fifteen
minutes. 1t is almost needless to
add that there is no waste of wood,
no sawdust.-EngIish Journal.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-09

Shadows of Investigation loom
over the concluding session of the
present Congress. The Potter Com
mittee has been forced out of business
by the revelations of the cipher de-
spatches and the retractions made
by James E. Anderson but the
Senate can institute its own inquiry
into the ''frauds" and call the wit
nesses and it is rumOred that such an
intention is entertained. 1t opens a
limitless vista. Suppose we should
be compelled to see Mr.. Tilden on
the stand, swearing that his wicked
partners were altogether to blame
for attempts to buy electoral votes in
his name; suppose that Nephew
Pelton should be obliged to toe the
mark, and rehearse everything con-
nected with his trip to Baltimore
with the $4,000 there was to give
Smith Weed wherewith to execute
the contemplated bribery in South
Carolina suppose that Mr.. Marble
should be brought down from his
dignity and asked to unravel himself
under compulsory process and,
finally, suppose that the ingenious
Anderson should be requested to spin
another yarn? These are fruitful
subjects of contemplation, but per-
hapS we cannot make history until
they are reali zed.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-09

pleasure in commencing DIR. C. w.
Benson's Celery and Chamomile Pills
to all who suffer from Nervous and
Sick Headache, Neuralgia and Ner-
vousness. To me they are an in
valuable Remedy, and worth their
weight in gold.
REV. JOHN F. SPENCE.
President E. T. w. University
Price so cents box, or boxes for
$3.50 mailed to any address. Postage
free.
Office, No. LOG N. Eutaw St. Balti-
more, Md.
See Advertisement in an other
Column.
-150 sacks G.. A. Salt for sale at
VIM. P. Totten's Cheap Cash Store,
Oakland, Md.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-09
A Sad Event.

Our entire community was startled
and panied yesterday evening by the
sad intelligence of the sudden death
of Mr.. James j. Shaw, Secretary OF
the Blaen Avon Coal Company,
About fifteen minutes before )
O'Clock, Mr.. Shaw left his office to
call on DR.. Carr, in reference to his
little son who had hurt himself by a
fall, and after visiting the doctor,
started for home. At the Baltimore
street bridge he met Mr.. Patrick Fay
and Capt. Roger p, rry, with whom
he had a brief conversation, after
which he walked along Water street
to the corner of Green, with Mr.. Fay.
Several times he put his hand to his
head, and complained of pain. Upon
reaching Green street, he staggered
twice, and Mr.. Fay took his arm to
assist him, when suddenly he fell to
the grouud heavily. He was at once
taken up and conveyed to his home,
when DR.. Carr was summoned. An
examination showed that death must
have quickly succeeded the fall. The
Doctor examined the body, and de.
clared death to have resulted from
apoplexy.-C Cumberland CiriLida, 4th.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-09

assume tremendous responsibility.
Democrats have tried to meet the
disgrace Of the cipher disclosures by
saying: "Oh, Marble was a fool {:
throw him overheard. Coyle and
Woolley and Weed were politicians
of low grade, whose transaction
were not approved by their en-
ployers; throw them overheard.
Pelton was a Dresuming and schem-
ing rascal: throw him overheard,
too" But for this new development
of the plot there must be a different
sort of answer. They cannot throw
overheard a man with $4,000 in his
pocket. Who supplied him with
that big purse? Who sent him to
Baltimore to deliver it to the bribe-
broker 3? Whose hand invisibly
moved this weak and insignificant
young man, and DESPATCHED him
with "three paroles, one of S65, 200,
one of $4,000, and one of $1,000" to
buy the Presidency of the United
States? Until a serious attempt to
find the answer to these questions is
made by the party for whose benefit
the crime was attempted, it is upon
the whole party that the crushing
weight of shame must rest.-N. Y
Tribune.