davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-17

Civil service reform proposes to establish
regular grades of promotion. ~ that II man
once in the diplomatic service will remain in
IL for life, on until he is supcrannuatcd.
Mr.. EvAKTs wants to cndow this class
with wealth, or at least with money far "X-
cccding the income Of ordinarily prosperous
business men.
Put the two things together, and we have
an established aristocratic class Of a mos.
dctcstablc character. The security and per-
mancncc Of their tenure in Office united to
their large income would make them proud,
insolcnt. and insuilcrahlc.
To build up such class i in direct oppo-
stion 10 our FREQ republican institutions
Our Consuls and Ministers are none too use
iul now. Whom exalted on these now podcs-
tails they would hold themselves above the
reach of ordinary mortal-.
Frequent rotation in public Office and very
moderate pay impart a wholesome, demo-
cratic flavor to public affairs.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-17

The state prison 1t Trenton is not such had
la'ttur t guilty iails ui New iurk tie
innocent II stranger hatI,us to bc arrested there
nl matter what The charge he B, thrown into prison
where the police aNl legal harucs cumtin, to rob him
OF every dollar ami an the Naluuhlcs h' as IA hi. pos
session. besides hh,h m"iing hIs friends -Hesa k1-
iUfffi.
There is TOO much truth in the assertions Of
the EWrort'na regarding the trca,mcn, Of ac-
Gus Il persons thrown into New York prisons
aud THE Sun has ncy"r hcsi'atcd to expose
such outragcs when brought TO It's notice But
they do not Justify the murder Of convic,s by
slow torture in the state prison at Trenton.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-17

The Republican party OF New York cannot
afford To steal Legislature 10y passing an I'M
Just apportionmcnt law.
II WILLIAM WALDORF AsToR H. looking for
promotion in the future hc cannot AFFORD To-
bear share in q Conspiracy 20 cheat his native
city out of its rcprcsc utatiyc rights for decade
Of years.
HAMILTON TIsn. Jr.. Chairman If tho Com
miitco on Cities IN the ASS mbiy. cannot afford
10 assist ian "a scheme to deprive the two chief
cities ia the STATE ol their Cue representation in
the Senate and Assembly until the session Of
the LEGISLATURE nest following the census Of
ls.j.
Roscoe CoNKLiNG cannot afford TO hn rcccct-
ed a senator ia Congress hy rotten borough
Legislature
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-17

Toronto has been for some time in q fever
IT excitement over u report that O'DoSoyAN
Rosa was about 10 deliver lecture Nor'.
Tho newspapers protested against the T,nian
aeltator~ appolranc" on pubic platform
upon British slil-cNecTt in one capacity-and
inlamcd the feelings Of the loyal Canadians by
repuhii-hnE from lso,,As rciu,ed organ. tho
it,i Nofii. various suggestions as g. the best
method # lighting England. sui as this:
fhl.i. 90. a-c 90 ynaH4'c ana tnricluts-a-,r0l.
with w'i.h nature lasforr forward ~ I4t fir Wsak.
t.c tn.- An tfe 'u.la'cd. 'hDl Warfare lfffNl- Do,
the uuffH Iurc 100 20 aNi lftN puiIHs Ni 1nallfD Ifc
mNle ian match i.r ilc Ni2huvsi if-uc Months %
tlAlauNn hundred. of ut. tlt l-l guns HuI 40
uc An.t iuwo,gmcnt- 80 down tcior, tie apparently
in,l. H4fcant as-auaut
Tho Toronto Ttgram 81 Thursday last states
that the propretors Of the Opera House. in
which KossA WAS To- have delivered his address.
have concluded. by th' advice Of the Mayor. to
clN-o their doors against him. on the other
hand, Ros-A's friends declare that Dos VIII lre-
iure IN Toronto. ifhc has 10 do4oin the orona.r.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14
AN ENORMOUS GOLD BAR.
How one worth over $4,000 was
Cast 1n Montana.
a..

OoeF 81 AAVhA0bNs
San Francisco Alta California; u
In September last we gave an
account of a gold bar cast by Mr..
F. Reichling, au asssyer in this
city. The value Of the gold in the
bar was $50,832, aud was furnished
by the Spring Valley claim at Cher
okee Flat, Butte county. 1t was
claimed that it was the largest gold
bar cast up to that time, and as we
have never heard of its being dis
puted, we are satisfied that the rep.
reservations were correct. 1t un-
doubtedly was the largest bar cast
up to the time of the casting of the
one mentioned below. The ae-
count of the moulding Of this lat
ter bar is taken from the Helena
IN. IT, Independent. The mine
which furnished the gold is called
the Penobscot, and is situated near
Helena, NJ. t.:
+" At 4 o'clock the furnace lid
was raised and the circular tongs
lowered by Stephen Molitor to
grasp the crucible. 1t was the crit
ical moment now, and all eyes
eagerly watch the workmen. The
tongS slip a little; Molitor grips
more firmly, crushes them down
through the living Goals and the
iron band closes like vice around
the pot, The iron hook was low
cred, grasped the hooks below, and
steadily rose the fiery treasure.
Steady cried Molitor, and the
crucible, with it's precious bubbling
fluid, was raised up and landed on
the iron platform. The mould was
ready and the seething vessel was
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14
MEMPHIS TENN: TUESDAY EVENING MAY H. 1875

we think is too we'll secured by the many
and important interests looking through
its gates toward the Pacific, to be mat
ter Of serious doubt.
On this subject, we quote at length,
the views OF Colonel c. M. MeGhee, Of
our city, as developed in an interview
with one Of the editors OF the Memphis
LEDGER 1t will be seen that Colonel
McGhee points out with great clearness
the policy Of concentrating al present
efsrts upon the passage Of the bill as
now pending, leaving the question as to
the Eastern terminus to be hereafter de.
termined His thorough knowledge oi
the various lines extending from Mem
phis in all directions, aud of the .rsls-
tious of the various portions of our
Southern, Western and Eastern railroad
systems to each other, gives unusual
value to his opinions, and it is to be
hoped they will have the effect Of so far
quieting whatever apprehensions may
have prevailed at Memphis, az to secure
the hearty cooperation of that city in
the passage Of the pending bill, without
at present insisting upon her ultimatum
in regard to the terminal point.
ColoEel McGhee's showing should have
the effect of dispelling another fear that
has been extensively entertained
throughout the South. The enemies of
the Texss.Paci6c road have sought-and
not without success-to create the i'm
preston that Tom Scott aud his Penn.
sylvania company were using the South.
ern name as a disguise for a Northern
road, and that, instead Of the South
reeping the bsne6ts secured Ia her be.
halt, the Pennsylvania Central would
divert the great mass Of the Pacific trade
aud travel coming from San Diego,
through ST. Lonis to Philadelphia and
80 on further Eastward But Colonel
MeGhee points out very clearly that SO
far FROM this being true, it will be the
interest of the pennsylvania Ceatral to
bring the road to Memphis.
1t is to be hoped that no narrow, sci
fish views will be allowed to obstruct Q
work Of such vast general Importance to
the Southern States. 1t is encouraging
to learn that the prospects of the meas.
ure are now very promiHing. 1t seems
to be no longer doubted that the united
Southern vote will secure its success
Certainly Tennessee, in Congress, should
be "solid" on that question.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14
CHARLES MORGAN.
Death OF u PremineDt Railroad ant
SteambOAL owner.

Death OF q Prominent Railroad and
SEcambOaL 0WBer.
On Wednesday last Charles Morgan,
the well known railroad and steamship
owner, died in New York city. In 1885
be established steamship llue between
New Orleans and Galveston, which has
been continued to the present time, with
the exception of the interruption caused
by the civil war. After the capture Of
New Orleans aud Mobile, during the war,
Mr. Morgan started line of iron steam.
ers between those ports He became
the sole owner of nineteen steamships,
and during bis business career be built
ITO vessels of various kinds In 1886 be
became the owner Of the Morgan Iron
Works, nov owned by John Roach.
During the early rush to California be
did 4 large business in building aud run
ming ships for the California trade
Mr.. Morgan bought ths New Orleans,
0pelousas and Great Western railroad
for 50 050. 600 after the wsr, and ezpend.
ed upon it more than $4,000 600 more.
To perfect his line of communication
between New Orleans snd Morgan City
be spent 100000 in dredging a steam,
boat cbsnnel through Atchafalays Bay,
increasing the depth Of water from two
feet to ten. He brought the railroad
from Indianola to Cuero Ivas, Texas,
and was also principal owner of the
Houston aud Texas railroad. All these
vast intsrests received his personal care
until within a short time Of his death
Recently he organized the Morgan, Lou.
isiana aud Texas Steamship Company,
embracing his possessions in steamships
aud railroads He distributed a part of
the stock among the members of his fam
lily, aud provided by will for the dispos-
tion of the rest. The value Of his estate
is estir ated at from 100000 to $l3,.
100000. 1t is understood that the whole
is bequeathed to his immediate relatives
he was married twice, and bis second
wife survives him. Two daughters by
his FIRST wife are also living, oue married
to George W QOintsrd and the other
the wife OF Charles A. Whitney. He
leaves several grandchildren and one
great.grsndchild.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14
A TRAGIC HISTORY.
The story Of cop.,snes Lent.


The London Pail Mall Gazette
says;
DIR. J. G. Bucknill, in closing the
second of bis Lumleian lectures on
" Insanity in its Legal Relations "
before the Royal College of Physi-
clans, said: 1t is happy circum-
stance for US professionally that we
have not often to give direct evil
dence Of crime. 1t ispainful enough
to give negative evidence which is
incrimiuating. The most remark
able case in which | have been con-
nected, not even excepting that of
Victor Townley, was the case of
Constance Kent, who murdered her
young brother and escaped detec-
tion. After an interval Of several
years a truly conscientious motive
led her to confess, and the most.
painful and interesting duty fell to
myself of examining her for the
purpose of ascertaining whether it
would be right to enter the plea Of
"not guilty on the ground of in
sanity" | was compelled to advise
against it, and her counsel, Mr..
(now Lord) Coleridge, on reading
the notes Of my examination, ad-
mitted that | could not do other
wise. BY her own wish, and that
of her relatives, / published a let
ter in the Times describing the
material facts Of the crime, but, to
save the feelings Of those who were
alive at the time, | did not make
known the motive, aud on this ac-
count it has been that the strange
portent has remained in the history
OF our social life that young girl,
not insane, should have been capa-
BILE of numbering her boy-brother
in cold blood, and without a mo-
tive. l think the right time and
opportunity has come for me to
explain away this apparent mon
strosity Of conduct. A real
and dreadful motive did
exist. The girls own mother, hav-
ing become partially demeuted, was
left by her husband to live in the
seclusion Of her own room, while
the management of the household
was taken over the heads of grown
up daughters by very high-spirit-
ed governess, who, after the Iecease
of the first Mrs. Kent, and decent
interval, became Constance Kents
stepmother. In this position she
was unwise enough to make dispar-
aging remarks about her predeoes-
sor, little dreaming, poor lady, Of
the fund Of rage and reyengeful
feeling she was stirring up in the
heart of her young stepdaughter.
To escape from her hated presence,
Constance once ran away from
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14

these: She was born in the city of
Syracuse, New York, her maiden
name being Annie Stone. She was
the eldest daughter of shoe deal
er, a man with a good business and
in easy circumstances. Annie was
given liberal education and early
manifested considerable literary
taste. Her great beauty and at
tractive manners soon drew around
her many admirers and exposed
her to temptations which resulted
in her ruin. At the early age of
fifteen she was seduced by a young
man in Syracuse, and is supposed
to have been his mistress for some
time. Afterward she became a
public prostitute, and went to Gin
cinnati, where she soon became well
known. During her stay there she
was an inmate Of an establishment
kept by Miss Frank Wright. Her
numerous diamonds, received from
her many admirers, gave to her the
soubriquet Of Diamond Bessie. "
She first met Rothschild at Hot
Springs, about fifteen months before
the fatal event. Rothschild soon
gained strange ascendancy over
her, which was continued until her
death, in spite Of most cruel treat.
ment. It's on record In the JUS
tiee Court of Cincinnati that he
frequently beat her and abused her
shamefully; that while the Repub-
liean Convention was in session at
Cincinnati he demanded that she
should give him $50 per day, and
when she failed to do this he fell
upon her in great rage and treated
her so violently that he was put
under arrest.
About fortnight before the
murder the pair left Cincinnati and
went to Danville, Indiana, where
they we're married. Thence they
came to Texas, and the tragedy
transpired as above stated.
AT the time Of her death Bessie
was twenty-three years of age and
still very beautiful. But she had
become somewhat addicted to the
use of stimulants, and and at times
drank very hard. She is believed
to have been partially intoxicated
when she was led away to the
woods.
This case has attracted more at
tention than almost any murder
ever committed in Texas, and if
the trial proceeds it will be watched
with deep interest. The evidence
will probably be much the same as
that adduced in the habeas corpus
trial before Judge Estes, last sum-
mer, and given to the readers Of the
Commercial by special reporter,
though new testimony will un-
doubtedly be added.
Judge Estes has reputation fol
integrity and iirmness which vii
give the people much confidence in
his court.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14
An Anecdots Of Peter the Cren,.

Peter of Russia, or Peter the
Great, as he is commonly called,
was man of remarkable qualities
Of mind, and though very arbi-
trary, was still kind and consider.
ate to those who deserved encour-
agement.
One day a young recruit was
standing guard before the door Of
the entrance to Peters private
chamber in the palace at st. Peters
burg. He had received orders to
admit no one. AS he was slowly
passing up and down before the
door, Prince Mentchikoff, the favor.
ite minister Of the czar, approach
ed, attempting to enter. He was
stopped by the recruit.
The prince, who had the fullest
liberty of calling upon his master
at any time, sought to push the
guard aside and pass him, yet the
young man would not move, but
ordered his highness to stand back.
"You foolp' shouted the prince,
"don't you know me?"
The recruit smiled and said,
every well, your highness, but my
orders are peremptory to let no.
body pass"
The prince, exasperated at the
fellows impudence, struck him a
blow in the face with his riding
whip.
"Strike away, your highness,"
said the soldier; "but l cannot let
yon 60 in"
Peter, in the room, hearing the
noise outside, opened the door and
inquired what it meant, and the
prince told him.
The czar was amused, but said
nothing at the time. In the even
ing, however, he sent for the prince
and the soldier. As they both APP
peared, Peter gave his own cane to
the soldier, saying;
" That man struck you in the
morning; now you must return
the blow to that fellow with my
stick"
The prince was amazed "Your
majesty" he said, "this common
soldier strike me 2"
81 make him captain" said
Peter.
"But Pm an officer of your ma
ieSty's household" objected the
prince.
81 make him a colonel of my
life guards and an officer Of the
household" said Peter again.
"My rank, your majesty knows.
is that of general" again protested
Mentchikoff. y q. a'
"Then l make him a general, SC
that the beating you get may come
from a man fyour rank. "''
The prince got a sound thrash
ing in the presence of the czar; the
recruit was next day commissioned
a general, with the title of Count
0rinzoff, and was the founder Of a
powerful family, whose descendants
are still high in the imperial SER
vice of Russia.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14

home, but was brought back; and
after this she only thought Of the
most efficient manner Of wreaking
her vengeance. She thought OF
poisoning her stepmether, but that,
on reflection, she felt, would be no
real punishment, and then it was
that she determined to murder the
poor lady'S boy, her only child. A
dreadful story this; but who can
fail to pity the depths of household
misery which it denotes? At her
arraignment Constance Kent per-
sisted in pleading "guilty." Had
the plea been mot guilty." itwould,
| suppose, have been my most pain
full duty to have told the court the
tragic history which l now tell you,
in the belief that it can give no
pain to those concerned in it, and
that it is mischieYous that so great
and notorious a crime should re.
main unexplained.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14

gradually worked to it, tipped over,
and the moulten mass poured in.
When half full, the mould cracked
like a rife-shot, but the pouring
continued until the last drop was
drained from the crucible.
"In a few minutes the brick was
tossed on the floor, grasped by
tongs and tumbled into a tank Of
water, which boiled, hissed and
foamed over and around the NAM
moth brick. Bucket after bucket
was poured in, and in a. few mo-
ments the monster cast never a
bubble to the smooth surface.
And thus was cast the largest
gold brick that we are aware OF in
the world, all from a mine as vet un-
surpassed in richness. The brick
weighed 3 1896 ounces, valued at
$54,262.62. 1t is 19x6 inches on
top, and 81 inches deep, represent
ing 395.9375 cubic inches of solid
metal"
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14
Tobacco from the west via New
Orleans

Emulating the efforts Of the Western
cities to ship grain by the New Orleans
route, the tobacco shippers propose to
try the same experiment. The freight
rates by the water route are said to be
much lower than BY rail to New York.
One Of the largest houses Of St. Louis
has lately been taking an active interest
in the matter, and has issued a circular
advocating the shipment Of tobacco 10
those markets by way OF New Orleans
and informing The pablo Of the efforts
being made TO perfect such arrange.
ments With river transportation com.
panies and ocean steamship lines. IA
would enable them 10 secure lower
through rate Of freight from here to Liy.
erpool and London by way Of New Or.
leans than by way of New York. The
parties, however, we're unable to make
any definite arrangement fer ocean
ireights, owing to the possibilities OF
rates raising in csss Of . European war.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14
n.lioon At the Paris Exposition.

Balloon at the Paris Exposition.
Cor. Salem Register.
The gamins of Paris are looking
forward in great glee to the balloon
ascents that are to form one of the
features of the Exposition. The
balloon, which will be the largest in
the world, is now in course Of man
ufacture at the Tuileries, while 100
sewing girls are engaged in putting
the pieces of which it is made to-
gether. The car will hold fifty
passengers, and has restaurant
and bar attached. A wire rope,
some 800 feet in length, will be Sc
cured in the bottom of the car and
operated by windlass, so that the
balloon with its living cargo will
always be under cOntrol-provided
the rope does not break. 1t will
take about four minutes, under fa-
vorable circumstances, for the bal
loon to ascend till the end of the
rope is reached, and about eight to
wind it down again, the windlass
to be operated by a small steam
engine. A ride in the balloon will
cost two francs, and admittance to
the inclosure from where the as
cents take place, one franc. The
chances of an accident by the rope
giving away are freely discussed,
and would form, doubtless, an ac,
ceptable sensational side. show tc
the satiated Parisians.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14
NO GA
CATHOLIC VOTERS IN AMERICA.
Are they Likely TO OVertuFn the
Common school System-An En-
gltshman's View.

gitshman's View.
r. W. Dale in the Nineteenth Century
That the Roman Cathulic hierarchy
should so far renounce the traditions OF
their church as to solicit the attendance
of the children of Roman Catholic pa
rents at schools which are not under the
control Of the priests is very improbable.
That, with oil the difficulties created hy
the rivalry of the public system, they
should abandon the hope of obtaining
assistance for their own parochial
schools from the public funds is equally
improbable. The conflict appears to
have come to an end for the present, ard
to renew it Immediately would seem
useless. But the political troubles Of
America are not over. The two existing
political parties are rapidly disselyiBg,
and within few years they will have to
be reconstructed, probably under new
names, aud certainly on new principles.
The priesthood will watch for their
occasion, and will grasp it. In many OF
the States the Catholic voters are 80
numerous that politicians will be under
strong temptation to purchase their
support Here and there the denomi-
nstionalsts may win a temporary vic.
tory. But on the whole l have a firm
belief thst with whatever persistency
and energy the struggle may be sus
tanned, the general defeat Of the priests
is certain. For the American people to
surrender their common school system
would be to confess that they are a con-
quered race 1t would be to acknowledge
that Roman Catholic immigrants from
Europe have been strong enough to
trample under foot the proudest tradi-
tons and to destroy the dearest institu-
tions Of the republic. 1t would imply a
complete revolution in the spirit ard
temper and habits Of the nation.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14

Knoxville Fri bune, May ~,
We have been led repeatedly tn pre-
sent the subject Of the Texas Pacific
railway to our readers, because Of our
conviction that there is not now in pro.
cess Of development a single public en-.
terprise fraught with more beneficial
results, not only to the South in general,
but especially to our own section of it,
We have recently been apprehensive
that divisions among congressman, grow.
ing out Of what they conceive to be rival
local interests, would result in the final
defeat OF the whole proposition now be.
fore congress for the requisite assistance
to enable the company 10 complete the
road. The designation of the Eastern
terminus Of the road has been the chief
source of difficulty. Different localities
have been stubbornly insisting upon diff.
ferent points on the Mississippi, the chief
Jealousy being between the advocates
of Vicksburg and Memphis. We
have heretofore urged the policy Of
postponing the consideration of the ter.
minsl point on the Mississippi, until the
construction of the main trunk line was
secured, and that meanwhile the entire
Southern delegations, in both houses Of
congress, should unite in common ef.
fort to pass the bill as now pending.
Terminating at any point on the lower
Mississippi road from San Diego would
necessarily be fruitful of blessings TO the
Southern country. Tennessee aud es.
pecially East TenneHee--favors Mem.
phis as the terminus, of course. Mem.
phiS means, in the direct line, Chatta.
nooga Knoxville, Lynchburg, Norfolk.
On another line it means Nashville,
Louisville and Cincinnati In still other
directions, it means Atlanta, Augusta,
Savannah and Charleston. That Mem.
phis will become the eastern terminus