davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13

general and staff officers and staff employees
France and Germany have each nearly half
n million mon; but the former has Tower
than six Thousand Generals, staff officers.
and stan employees. while the latter has
fewer than thirty-nvc hundred. The United
States, out Of n total of about 27,5OO officers
aud men, has upward of 800 Generals, STAFF
officers, and military stafr employees. Fully
onc-thrd ~ these are private soldiers, en-
ploycd in staff departments.
Were the stan service as now organized
an efficient one, commencing itself to the
soundcst Judgments. there might be less to
say against this prcpostcrous supcriluity.
But it was described long ago even by so
stanch friend Of the army ns Gen. UProN,
as "our present inclastic stafr system.
based upon the comfort and interest Of indi-
viduals;" and he demands that il should hc
superseded by one capable of educating
the greatest number Of officers. and 50 con-
nectcd with the line as to expand and con-
tract with it, The same officer in his re-
Gently published work, offers us the spccta-
Gle OF the empire in India kept In subjcc-
tion without single permanent stan corps.
In our army" he adds. by way of contrast,
all of these corps are closed; the appoint
mcnts are permanent and no means are
provided to weed out the Inefficient or to en-
courage the aspiring" The scandalous rcvc-
lations Of misuscs of forage and other allow
anccs made during the past winter concern
the Generals and stan officers in Washing
ton not the working and lighting officers on
the frontiers. Its disprOportion of fat and
costly stan places has hurt the army within
and out.
Why, then. do Congressman. nomlnally
bent ON reform. handle the staff 30 tcndcrly,
considering the great opportunities of re-
trcnchmcnt il presents? Obviously because
the stan is Il social power at Washington.
convcrsaut with the arts of lobbying and
influence among both parties. And hence,
when economy is proposed in stan system
condemned even by army officers them
selves rs disproportionate, cunbrous, In
efficient, and leading To corruptions, it is
violently resisted, and loud protests are
heard against any effort at consolidation
aud at Topping of supcriuity, even in this
EXPENSIVE and prcpustcrously overgrown
part of the army. II is time that this dilly-
dallying should cease The House Military
Committee should attack resolutcly the
monstrously disproportionatc cluster and
spread of stan departments. When il cuts
out the mere surplusagc, it will be- aston
ishcd to find how little is left.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13

To THE EDITOR or The SUN-SU: How
beautifully the Fall River manufacturers must
conduct their business when they are COM
PEELED TO cut the wages Of their work people
year after ycar-fifteen per cent within tho last
three wecks-bcsides giving them an annual
vacation. without pay. TO enjoy clam bakes
ldiggin their own clans, and stealing potatoes
10 eat with theml and yet treasurer "oi high
social standing can quietly annex t4s0. 600 or
more and no one be any the wiserl
The fact IL, the Fall River manu- farturers ara
representedb y only about twenty names, in ono
extensively crossed and recrossed and double
dovetailed family A man is President Of one
company, treasurer Of another. a director Of
several others and bank or two. His sons,
brothers. cousins. nephews. wife's relatives ths
own blood connectionsl are all similarly pro-
vd"d for, and the salesmen in the stores of the
New York and Boston commission agents are
all in the family, too. And they are all Of high
social ,si9ndlng.' II Is nepotism run mad. |
think Fall River must be- In pretty bad way, or
the family would never have allowed this Chase
atlair To have become public. Print cloths the
staple production Of Fall River. have been "A
drug in the market for three years. because tho
makers all over New England have been trying
t. cut each others thronts on II falling home
market. instead Of boldly shipping tho goods
abroad A. r.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
New York and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Mr.. TRAINS till prohibiting the city Of
New York from apprOpriating any more
money for the Brooklyn Bridge will, it is
said be- reported taVorably by the Assembly
Committee On Cities. The promoters Of
the measure are understood 10 he the
same persons who have heretofore at
tempted unsucccssfully through the courts
10 prevent the construction Of the bridge
because Gifts supposed interference with the
navigation of the East river They fancy.
apparently, that if New York can be made
Ia withhold further pecuniary aid to the un-
dortaking it will have To stop. The only re-
suit. however, that we can imagine rs likely
to follow the passage Of the bill IS more
work for courts and lawyers, with the prob
able payment Of the money after all.
The bridge, 50 far as it has gone, has cost
the city Of New York about S3OOO000, and
the city of Brooklyn about SG0O0OOO. The
additional payments on the part of New
York, authorized by act of Legislature and
the ordinance Of the Common Council,
amount TO 81, 1876, 66G. The city Of Brooklyn
is, i'm like manner, authorized to con-
tribute S2333333 thus giving TO the
trustees Of the bridge 80, 900, besides cash
turc. The expenditures already made ON it
amount to sS,Gls,O0O, and its total cost is cs-
tlmatcd at about $4,000. 900, 50 that nearly
all the means needed for ii are now pro-
vldcd. Assuming, as We have the right to
do, that Brooklyn will not fater in bearing
her part OF tine burden, the only question
to be decided is whether we i'm New York will.
for the sake of saving sl,lGG,GGG, forfeit the
money we have already put in, and allow
BroOklyn TO become the sole owner OF the
bridge. We do not know that we can do
this II We wish to, but even If we
could, it s difficult to SEQ why we
should, and why we should not go on and
fulfil the obligations we have entered into.
The talk OF some people that the bridge Is an
Illegal structure, and will have to come
down, is based upon their own Imagination.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
DO They Condone the Fraud,

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr; Tho Her
~ reports that ou "Wednesday evening last Nj Tilicn
aud Nj Joan B-yluw Joined 90 cnic rtiuug atthc Union
League club, Mr a,,, repre- nat,c lust sent 10 Ger
many. the much dining amt muchdrnkine B,yard Tay.
lor can this bee true Have Mr. nion and M. friend
B-cluW rcaycunduned the Fraud NJ which Taylor
am ocal representative and Ia ,onnecron with which.
and Tor no other reason, lac Was entertained this
cason' ONk ~ EARStsr
We have not thought it necessary to ask Mr..
Tilden or Mr. Bgeow about this matter. but
we answer without hesitation that tho Herdh is
mistaken. They were not there They are not
men. either OF them who would bow down TO do
honor to Fraud in any Of its representatives.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
New Complaint. on an Old Subject.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-SW: OF all nm
noyanccs that theatre eocrs subjected TO- the
ANNOYING Is the being unable To hear any portion of the
hr,tacL or the hrst part of any following act This
oaus,d hy who holding reserved seats would think
II los, at money To come before sufficient number
seated TO witness their grand entrre. Arrivals at
nine o'clock are not unusual Then the hrst act being
over the gentlemen arc IN duty bound file for fir
alton and refreshments each feeling that he looks
tnin- more than grand. and that II were pity 10 hide
that form and style BY sltung quietly IN his seat lie
waits until the curtain rises Then Tor fully one
quarter OF an hour tops ot all ages ana styles
stunter Ia their places. entirely regardless Of the
disturbance they creating one Of our best theatres
unfortunately has very large share o these walking
fashion plates, though the programme requests the
dcncr Ia he seated hN eight o'clock Is There uf
protecting real lovers ol the play against these annoy
auCCsf BELLA BKlAlL
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
PLATTEKILL QUIKERs asTONIsHED.
Friend Birdsan Conrcsscs In Meeting that he
Set Fire to his own House.

NEwBuRGH, April 1.-THE quiet little
Quaker settlement Of Plattekill. Ulster county.
Just across the Orange county line. hns been
shocked by the voluntary public confession of a
great crime committed some nine or ten years
ago by one Of tho most deyout members of tho
society.
Albert Birdsal il one Of several brothers Of
that name all of whom are Quakers. Samuel
Birdsall. one of the brothers. Is a totally blind
Quaker preacher. his field Of labor being the
Patckill settlement in which his brother Albert
lives. Albert Is probably 80 years OF age and
has wife and two children. About nine or tn
years ago he had place in or near ths settle
ment with n neat house upon il. He apparentlv
lived an easy and happy life. One day about
noon time his house took fire and was burned
to tho ground, Tho building had been insured in
the Lorlllard Insurance Company Of New York.
Tho neiEhbors for miles around sent Albert
and his family bedding and furniture Tho
Insurance was paid and the affair passed out Of
the peoples minds.
N Few days ago. Albert arose in week day
meeting and said that he had to free his mind
longer, It weighed so heavily upon him. The nro
which had DESTROYED his house was not acc-
dental. lie had laid all the plans. and, while
his tamil " were preparing for dinner. he had
struck the mitch. Since that day he had not
pruspcred, and he didn't think he could pros
science: His brothers had all prospered, and il
worried him almost to death to see how nicely
they got along. while everything he touched
went dead against him. This he could not
longer endure. Rather than keep the secret
longer. he would give 1t TO the world and suffer
As yet. there has been no action taken in tho
matter by the Quaker Society.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13

The Army bill now pending in the House
of Representatives aims M some degree of
consolidation in the staff departments. but
tenderly trims what it ought To cut root and
branch For example, the Ordnance Depart
ment ought to be wiped out altogether, MS
n separate department; and the Commissary
Department and Quartcrmaster's Depart
ment should he consolidated in one; while
the Adjutant-Gcncrals and Inspcctor-Gcn-
erals Departments should likewise he
merged in one. These are types or examples
OF possible and needed changes. in which
even the economy gained would be less inn
portant than the Increased efficiency.
OF all the anomalies in our army, perhaps
the most remarkable Is its proportion of
general staff officers to other officers. This
proportion is fifteen times as great as in the
Russian army; twelve times as grcat as in
the German; eleven times rs great as in the
French; thirteen tunes as great as in the
Austrian; fourteen times n great as in the
British; and fifteen times n great as in the
Italian. The House Military Committee need
not 20 outside Of the army for testimony rs
10 this mon7trous oVcrgrowth Of expensive
staff departments. More than year ago
Gen. UPTON who has studied the systems of
foreign armies. declared that the AdJutant-
Generals and ln-poctor-Gcncrals Depart
meuts should be- consolidated, and that the
Ordnance Department should be united to
the Artillery; while TECUMsEH SHERMAN
himself has acknowledged that the Medi-
cal Department is too large, and that both
the Ordnance and the Engineer Corps are so
separated from the rest of the army that
both they and the army are losers thereby.
we hnd that Russia, with nearly seven
hundred thousand mon in her peace military
establishment. has fewer than nine thousand
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13

RALEIGH, \. c.. April s.-For the past two
weeks the members OF the bar of this state have
been IN excitement over the approaching cleo
tion oil Circuit Judges. which comes OIL IN Aug
nst, and many bitter charges have been made
against many of In" candidates for these posi-
tons. One man IN the western part OF the State
WAS accused Of having been a ku-kluN leader
during! the reign Of that gang few years ago.
The charges and counter charges stirred IN
the biiierest feelings among many prominent
lawyers. \ discussion yesterday evening cul-
minated in "A fight between Judges Albion Four
gee OF Greensboro. and W. II. Fowle Of this city.
The former, II seems came to the depot 70 take
the tram Tor MS home last evening. soon there
after Judge Fowle asked Fourgcr whether he
WAS the author Of an Offensive letter that had
appeared IN the The N0TM state Of Greensboro.
Fourgre made no answer, whoreupon thequcs-
toner drew a stout cane and proceeded to lay
i with n good VIII upon the back and head Of
Fourgce. The friends of the "ombatants inter-
frrcd before 'riOus harm had been done. II IS
believed that the encounter Will result in duel
hetweon Fowle and Fourgee. The friends Of
the latter seem to think that 1t Is incumbent
upon him to resent the outrage in that manner.
The challenge If one If sentwill be accepted 10y
Fowle. Fourgee came TO this State shortly after
the war from Ohio. and while the Republican
party was dominant he WAS elected Circuit
Judge OI the Seventh District.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
The Vanderbilt VIII Contest.


Isaac A, Bggs was the first witness in the
Vanderbilt will contest yesterday. He testified:
have known Commodore Vanderbilt since ls.a In
lNf2 had conversation with HIM AT his house told
linn had Tor little conversation respecting our
9d friend Horace Greeley, that Understood Cornelius
hal borrowed a large amount u money from him. an
tNis would be an excellent op1ortunit, him u,c
some OF ms money he could ct u bach ltwas the
inl 81 the Presidential campaign IN which Greeley was a
candidate that tins took place The Commoiorc sand he
wasn't disposed 10 pay anything, and asked how
much understood the debt tn Mr. GrcelcV 10 he said
S2Aon or s3nnol lie said lie was great tool 10 1T
him have II when wouldn't | SAID supposed he did
So 9r me best purposes AMI was too bad Tor him 10 lose
II AL Well SAID he, II don't he shall lose II bat
shall not pay to HIM now" asked him II he wouli
not pay portion Of H. and he answered So tn not
pay any Of now don't he shall lose IT. hut he
gratioo for ctung Cornelius have II Think shall make
provision for Greeley some time other that he shant
lose the money, but not now had another subsequent
interview ON the subject and with the result
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
MRS. HUrCHINsoY's DIiMONDs
How they were My-teriou-iy Stolen and how
the Thief was Caught.

About two weeks ago Mrs J. Il. Hutchin-
son. n member Of tho Plymouth Church choir
and wife Of Deacon !. u. Hutchinson Of 100 st.
Marks avenue. missed her diamond earrings
and breast pin. worth over 81 900. which she
had left in her dressing case in her room. She
did not suspect any member Of the household.
and not finding any trace of burglars or thieves.
was NJ loss to account for the robbery. She
had taken tho prccaution TO have photographs
made OF the Jewels, to use i'm the event Of their
loss and as she reported the loss to Police
Superintendent Campbell. she put the pictures
IN his hands. The photographs were sent to
all he pawnbrukrrs In brooklyn.
AT about o'clock yesterday afternoon n stall
wart negro entered the store " Arthur J.
Hcancy. II pawnbrokcr at 2ii Atlantic avenue.
and presented for u loan the diamond earrings
belonging to- the stolen set. Mr. Hrnncy, glanc-
ing at the photograph. saw that they were the
same. and said that he could not give 1925. the
sum asked for, on the earrings alone. but that
hc would give $500 on the whole set. Tho negro
went away to get the breast hin. returning with
IN an hour. After he had given up the whole
him. pinionrd his arms to his Sides drew his
pistol. and told the astonshrd negro that the
diamonds lad been stolen and that he WAS tho
thici. Mr. Hcnney then marched his prisoner
20 tho Police Central OIlrc, whore he surrrn-
dered him with the stolen property. The pris-
oner tremhlcd with frnr. and cold sweat glis
tened on his brow. He said that his name was
John Smith. aged 81, and that he lived at .0SO
warren street. He WIS employed MS Il waiter
IN Mr.; Hmtchinson's house. and was wholly
trusted. He nj length confessed that he had
them up on the sidcboard in the dining room.
lie said that his wife and two children were
sex. and Tor this rrnson he committed the theft.
He remained in Mr. llutrhinson's employ NJ
to the time Of his arrest. and was not sus-
pcctcd.
Superintendent Campbell thanked Mr.. Heaney
for his arrest. md sent the prisoner TO the
washington street police station.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
Old Salt worked himself into a passion

Old Salt worked himself into passion
yesterday because the Assembly voted to take
bill from the Ways and Means Committee and
refer IT to the Committee Of the Whole. 1t had
been before ALvoRr's committee for nearly three
mouths. and the impression prevailed that the
ancient Syracusan was smothcring it, ALyoRD
defended himself 10y saying that the bill was not
constitutional. but others demanded the prv-
lege of discussing it, and the Assembly sustained
them. Thereupon ALvoRD said that after this
rcbuke hc doubted whether he would continue
TO serve MS Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee. and he intimated that his decision
would be ready on Monday. Old Salt has re
ceved some pretty keen thrusts this winter.
but none seems TO have cut 80 far through his
callous exterior rs did this one.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13

S. ANGLER CHAcT, the dcfaulting treasurer
Of the Union Mills. of Fall River has not yet
been arrested. nor even put under surveillance.
1t is even doubtful whether n criminal prosecu-
ton will he instituted against him. as it is not
yet established that he forged any Of the direct
ors' names. They always endorsed notes with
out question and there was therefore no motive
for him to resort TO forgery In order To raise
money. despatch says that Mr.. CuAcE still
remains quietly ut his elegant residence, and is
utterly broken down 10y the disgrace that has
oyertakcn him."
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
The Fir-t National hank Of Tarrytown's
Assets.

Among the assets Of tho defunct First Ma
uonal Bank Of rarryiown number OF notes OF per
sons who have since gone into bankruptcy AMONG
are one Tor siolo and two for s1s6, each drawn by
Athort, Bergman Co. the toy merchants They were
payable 10 charles Athor the senior member the firm
aud endorsed hY him. dated January. 1877 United states
Assistant District Attorney firro called unou them and n
CURED whether they were willing 10 make the dis
position OF these notes ni their other Indebtedness
Ihe nrn referred him g. their LAWYER who claimed that
no consideration had been received for the notes AMI de-
chned To them The receiver has hls hands Sll6
90 OF similar notes. drawn by {. Ncrormick VIM.
johnson Harry Bdwell. I. \ Bdwei. \ &. ANGEL. Jas
A Dorman of New Jersey, and : A llMneld ri Forty
ninth street. New York one nj the notes Is by C. |.
tuuk, a railroad engineer, Tor Slhop
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
10000 square Fee, of Picture for $3.50.

An enormous painting, called Paris by
night WAS brought to tins city three years ago and put
on exhibition in an iron building erected tor the purpose
at broadway AMI Thirty.hnh street The canvas meas
urod 4n0N square feet and hung on the inner wall
o' the large circular structure Looked at from high
central platform. and properly lighted, the effect was
>trkingN realistic Ii sad that s1Orl was put into
lhr rn"rprsr ~ in being paid ur the painting which
hal been exhibited tor Nrhr' IN Europe The show dh
not pay here. AMI wa. removed a. fmadolhn lust h,
tore tle centennial Exhibition ON Wednesday the pic.
turc sold by auction tor $50
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
The bill to pay the College Of william and

The bill to pay the College Of william and
Mary at Williamsburg, Va. for its buildings
burned in the late war was the text yesterday
Tor n number Of eloquent effors-we believe
that is the approved phrasc-in the House OF
Representatives. Mr. GooDE Of Virginia paid
some elaborate compliments to Massachusetts
which Mr.. LoRNG of the latter State returned
with interest in that mellow oratory which has
been the delight of Yankee cattle fairs from
time immemoraL Into these swelling har-
monies Of Cancellation broke rude dscord in
the shape Of Mcssrs. REED Of Maine and Town
SEND Of this State. The Maine man saw in tho
bill the entering wedge that would pry open tho
Treasury doors before the innumrrablo cara
van OF southern claims; and the Now Yorker
suggested that, if Virginia didn't want her col
logo and other buildings burned, Virginia
shouldn't have played with the fire of secession
The debate is to be continued.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
SATURDAY. APRIL 10, 1878.


fm~rt~s. tnsttt"t~ -B,rnums Circu. Matinee
Broad sss rh~str~--Ihc E,ics Matinee
no,~rs rh-ntr--star of Diamonds Matinee.
Booths Ih-nsr~-Estes Matinee.
Fith A,-n"r Theatre -tfncic Tom. cabin. Matinee
fnth t,~a"~ Hsii -rrc.tiiistatnm Matinee.
Grncd Opera tsou~--ii rrusatate Matinee.
ssiinnorc'> Garden -pt,kriils fulon Ctcua Matinee
New S"rh Aquarium uoataay aud s5th IT,
Nibia's Garden Leah. MATINEE
oi,apie Theatre The soldiers Trust Matinee.
Fsrh Th-atr--Onr Aldermen. Matinee
STANDARD Theatre Little Barefoot Matinee
50. Ers.cis~o wn>,r-is -Bo,iwsy aud a9th Matinee
Theatre s.,aig"- VARIETY Matinee.
Tosy rsstor's Op~r. HOUSE variety
u"ios squar- tb-ntr~- Celebrated Case Matins-.
Ntatisrt's Theatre Diplomacy. MATINEE.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
EN-Gov. Moses not "a dew,

In answer 10 the inquiries If several cor
N,phnni' we siilr W.i ilv li'r,ou, rNt,nV. Moose, If
south thruhnd j. nui " Ia, Luncr.Jul-r Nu-t.
Nani tool OF The kaiieh KIM ol south carolina. Wl-
hml "A JEW either They are descended from Do jew
family, hut iorsook the synagogue Tor the Church som,
hrte generations back, in time 10 save Judaism nom tie
disgrace attaching To thcir name. Tine papers rcpurtn-
nN Mosess arrest Tor forgery. speak much ol HI,
Jewish features" We may say that his Jewish ca
lures are tile only Jewish characteristics he has
ieNe lie was formerly pillar OF the Episcopal Church.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
No Nesroe. on the Academy Stage.

Although Uncle Toms Cabin" is being
played in three OF the city theatres, Jarrett A Palmer
thought that fourth with the old play IT on an
extensive scale would be successful Their idea was to
bring Il out In the Academy Music with multitude of
real eoloed folks IN the plantation scenes They verbally
engaged the Academy and went on with the prepare.
tons, but they have been informed by Mr. King sland,
the representative OF the stockholders that negroes will
not be permitted TO perform that stage 30 the enter
prise has been Abandoned.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13

1t is certain to be finished, and to become
the great thoroughfare between the two
cities which IL connects. Litigation may
add to its cost and delay its completion, but
it can do nothing moro.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13

Famine spreading. Cannlhnlism exists. No
rain Worse next Year, was the hrof hut SIGNIFICANT
despatch the United States Scunto Yesterday by
the American Consul at Iien Ism emma -Fie,,
This information. and moro on the same sub
lect. was printed in last Tuesdays sun. in an
extract from the letter of IN English missionary
stationed in the centre OF the famine district.
As rivals Of tho press in the transmission OF
news our high-salaried Ministers and Consuls
abroad are costly failures.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13

The expression which WILLIAM A. WHEEL
Err assumes while presiding in the Senate OF the
United States. is said to be very different from
that which he wears when he has stolen or
where be thinks nobody can see him.