davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15
letter from John smith, A. G..

S. H. STACKuoUsE

To the Editor of The Comet
S1R-Foolish indeed is he who essays to
restrain the torrent Of grief; for strong as
Niagara's overwhelming food, it will rush
on despite every obstacle, until spent by
the process of exhaustion and swayed by
tho influence of this everyday truth,
shall not, though my sympathies are deeply
moved, attempt, by one wold, to soothe
the poignant sorrow occasioned your wide
circle of readers by my absence from your
columns during two consecutive numbers
of The CoMtT.
The truth is, l have boen luynriating in
one of those pensive moods that take pos
session of me occasionally, and which,
while continue subject to their exstatic in
walks and interests of men. At such times,
realize that am blessed in having my lot
cast far away from cities, and as l stroll
away in the wild woods, beyond the reach
of interruption by the voice of man, the
vanity of ambition and the pursuit of
wealth appears to me with wonderful clear
ness, and 1 rejoice that did not enter up
on those glittering but thorny paths, in the
days of my youth.
I do not hope to make this understood
by that plodding class of people that are de-
nominated practical, address a higher
grade of minds.
Byron was in the mood have mentioned |
when he wrote:
"There is pleasure in the pathess woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore;
There is society where none intrudes
By the deep sea, and music in its roar"
Now, however, that I have come down |
from the clouds, SO to speak, and as have
been brought, by a combination of circum-
stances with which all the world is familiar,
on speaking terms with the public, which,
like a deaf man at public meeting, stands
with his hands at his ear, in an attitude of
eager attention, L proceed to enunciate
few more instructive remarks.
Your candid recognition of the influence
of my letters upon the success of your
newspaper is commendable, but would be
wanting in that courage which every classi>
cal writer should possess, if failed to de-
clare emphatically that the staggering
manner in which you express yourself is
The departure from the rules Of dignifed
which began to crop out in the !
press some thirty years since, and which
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15
A CHAPTER IN TIE HISTORY OF
MISSISSIPPI THAT OUGHT
NRF TO BE OV EREOOK-
ED BY TBE HE
TOWHAN.

We call the attention of Col. Claiborne,
, the historian of Mississippi, to an episode
in the government of the State which he is
likely to overlook We allnde to the brief,
but brilliant administration of Governor
Joseph Bennett.
When Alcorn was elected Governor, 10
Bennett was elected Senator from the free
State of Rankin, and was chosen President
of the Senate upon the organization of that
body Very soon, Gov. Alcorn was elected
to the United States Senate, and Lieutenant
Governor Powers became Governor, and
President Bennett became Lieutenant Gov
ernor.
Lieut.. Governor Benefits opportunity to
seize the reins of Government and steer
the ship of State occurred when Powers
made n visit to New Orleans. Gov. Powers
was gone two whole days, and the destinies
of the State were thus left in the hands of
Gov. Bennett for all that time. Did he
revolutionize the Government, turn the
the Capitol over, pardon everybody in the
penitentiary, or call the Legislature together,
as he might have done?
No. He eheld the reins like the true states
man that he is, holding to the sound max
i'm, that people governed least are gov
erned best. His entire administration
stands out without single blot. None of
his bitterest enemies can pick flaw in
it, He did nothing that could be con-
demned; he did nothing calculated to alarm
the populace; he did nothing to stir up
strife and dissatisfaction; he did nothing of |
any sort. 1t was the most placid adminis-
tration the State has ever had. Not |
ripple disturbed its even flow. All honor
to the Statesman who can WELD power and |
yet not abuse it. All glory to the here
who can sit in the chair Of State, clothed
in all the authority of the Zone man power,'
and yet cut no fantastic tricks before high
Heaven.
The only official acts of Governor Ben>
netts brilliant and successful administra-
ton were the issuance of a proclamation
offering a reward for the capture of thief,
and roquisition upon the Sheriff of Ram
kin to bring burglar over and incarcerate
him in the penitentiary.
Can any Governor of Mississippi show a
clearer record, or one more absolutely free
from taint or blame? We answer confident
ly, there is none.
Governor Bennett retired from official
life several years ego. He now lives con-
tentedly on his farm near Madison station
in Madison county, uuostentatiousy pur-
suing tho avocation of the husbandman,
patiently awaiting, like Cinoinnatus, of :
Rome, the time when the people will call t
him from the plow to be their Governor. G
We hope to see chapter in the new his '
.ory of Mississippi devoted to Governor l
Joseph Bennett. !
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15
AND VEsTRYMAN.
Serious Charge of Fraud Against the
late David j. Ely.

A suit of Robert II. Thompson against
the estate Of David j. Ely, to recover 80, :
600, alleged to have been fraudulently OBJ
tanned as loan on certain worthless bonds
issued by one Roswell c. Peck, of East
! Ha ldam, Conn, was begun in the Superior
| Court, Part 1, before Judge Spier, yester-
! day The case is made notable from the
fact of the life long honorable standing of
| Mr.. Ely, against whom the suit was orig
inaliv brought shortly before his death near
| two years ago, aud from the fact that his
/ standing, in the nature of the suit, is di-
rectly assail d. Another suit similar against
! Mr.. Ely, was brought some time since by
! Mr.. Whittemore, in the Court of Common
! pleas. In that case the action was brought
| by the plaintiff to recover $500 of Mr.. Ely,
the charge being that so much had been
| fraudulently obtained of the plaintiff, by
the same Roswell Q. Peck, Of the present
suit. under the endorsement and represen-
tatiuns of the defendant. In that case, the
plaintiff recovered the full amount. Mr..
Ely during his life, occupied high social
and commercial standing. lie was vostry-
man of st. Georges OR. Tyng) Church,
and in Wall street was |. He left an
estate valued at a million and half dollars.
NJ. Thompson, the plaintiff. was the first
witnes called. Ho testified that his business
connection consisted III buying and selling
claims for per centage IN the case now /
brought before the Court, he had advanced |
SO, 800 to an agent Of Roosevelt G. Peck |
one Dexter G.. Cahoon, taking as his secu- |
rty eleven $1,000 bonds upon certain prop |
erty in East Haddam, Conn. These bonds .
were made payable at the banking house of |
Winslow, Lauier & Co, in Pine street He |
had taken them on the representation Of
Mr.. Ely. and through negotiations made
with him They had turned out utterly
worthless.
Willis Van Zant, paying teller in the
Third National Bank, was the next witness.
He testified that before the conclusion Of
the transaction Thompson had asked him to
see Mr.. Ely as to the value uf the property
and the bonds The witness had seen Mr..
Ely, vino hal told him that the bonded
was valuable Land, with water
power and all improvements; that he had
offersd eighty cents on the dollar on the
loan of S75, 600, and been indignantly re-
fused: that the property was worth ; l25,
900 and would bring half that under the
hammer: that of the S7j,O)0 in bonds
then out. S25. 600 would shortly be called I
in. nud cancelled; aud that the properly ,
,yas mort-agod only to the extent Of $40 4
lUO. This the witness told to Ms. Thomp- c
son. who thCreup0u took the bonds, giving I
e. zoo as a loan at : per cent intcrst there
IN, The case viii be continued to-day, I
Ehen the character Of Peck and his relations
With Mr. Ely VIII appear.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15
Gen. GeOrge and The u. y. Senator
ship.


Gen. ]. z. George was was in our city
this week in attendance On the Circuit
Court, and in response to inquiries from
his friends here as to his position on the
Senatorial election, he declared that he was
in no sense candidate, either directly or
indirectly, for United States Senator, and
that he does not wish his name connected
with the position. He does not believe the
public interests would be promoted by his
aspiration for the place, and he has not the
slightest desire TO enter political life.
Those who haYe heretofore looked to Gen.
Georges election to the Senate as "a con-
summation to be wished for we are sure
will carry out his wishes if they will seek
from the many eminent public men of the
State, one for whom they give q er
support as successor TO Senator Bruce.
His friends, and they are numbered by
thousands in Mississippi, will, no doubt,
read this statement with regret, as they be-
lieve his noble and patriotic action in the
campaign of 1873, and since, entitle him
to any position in the gift Of the people or
the State They believe that be has done
more to overthrow and disband the
Radical party than any man in the State,
by his wise and judicious management of
the various political campaigns he has con-
Quoted as Chairman Of the State Executive
Committee.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15
Women i'm Good Society Who Don
Other WOmen's ShawIs and
Sacques.

Startling stories are told in selec
circles up town Of recent cases of mis-
taken identity in clothing that many
ladies' think, appear like downright steal
ing on t he part of certain women whc
move in good society. 1t is said that
Il lady cannot leave valuable outer
garment in the dressing room, when
she attends an evening party, or "tea
at the house Of friend, with any GER
tainty of finding it on her return from
the drawing room. In its place she
very often finds IL garment of the same
general texture and pattern, but shah
by and unpleasantly venerable with
wear and age. This general resemb-
lance, however, in the event Of the per-
son who made the substitution being
/ discovered, is made the excuse for the
substitution, and the lady gets her own
again with many apologies. So fire.
quent are these cases that it has become
positively unsafe to leave valuable
shawls or sacques even under the sur
vellance of merely the maid stationed
to aid ladies in their toilet.
An instance is known of q lady, whose
name nearly every reader would recOg-
nize were it printed, who left a $4,000
camel's hair shawl in the dressing room
of u handsome house on fashionable
thoroughfare, where tea was given by
hostess also well known in the social
world. On retiring, the lady found, |
in place of her new expensive shawl, |
one faded and worn, with the fringe |
torn in places. On discovering the |
the guest sought the hos
tess, and, with emphasis, declared that,
as the shawl had been lost in the lat
ters house, she would hold her respon-
sible, Nerved to desperation by the
the hostess called upon
one of her guests whom she be-
Iieyed, from the description furnished
by the maid in attendance in the dress
ing room, had exchanged her old shawl
for Mrs. KS new.
She explained her errand, and, while
to assume that the exchange
lad not been voluntary one, spoke with
IN assurance that argued entire knowl-
,dge as to the identity of the perpetra- s
or. The accused woman at once ad-
nitted the possibility of mistake
having heen made, one Of her daugh-
ers coming to the rescue with the as
ertion that, on leaving the tea, she had
wondered what made her mothers
hGwl look so much newer and fre3her
han usual Mrs. Y. is the pos3essor Of
ler $4,000 shawl.
Another story is that a young lady,
Who is the very opposite of Mrs. Y.
IS regards decision of character, found :
hat, during her absence from the
Iressing room, an Old and dingy
acque had been substituted for her
handsome fur lined cloak. Being un- l
Ike Mrs. X, she submitted to the sit
ation in silence, and meekly and mild +.
Y went homo in the old sacque. The
erson who took her fur lined cloak |
as not yet discovered the mistake. L
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15
letter From Sam SIackhsuse.
CRYSTAL SPRINGS, March 10th, 1879.

CRYSTAL SPRINGS, March lOth 1879.
TO The Editor Of the Comet;
THE COMET comes to me as fresh spic
a1d newsy as ever. At is a good paper
and hope that it will be well patronized
have nothing very interesting to com
municate The weather has been beautifu
for farming and gardening operations fol
the last ten days, and they are making goot
use of the genial suns. don't think there
will be more than third of peach
in January. Prospects for an abundant
crop of strawberries are most favorable
now Despite the failures last year, large
acreage is being planted in peas and beans
and tomatoes; and some are planting early
radishes for the Chicago market. Monsieur
Pasquet, Frenchmap, is experimenting
in silk culture, and his prospects for max
ing it success, are very favorable now.
All these industries should be fostered-
as anything that will divert the mind of our
people from concentrating all their energies
exclusively to the growth of cotton, is a
hopeful sign that our present impoverish>
ment may give way to renewed and last
ing prosperity.
A few days since the Rev. W. B. Cooper,
thy kinsman as the good quakers say, spent
the day with Us accompanied by his young
wife. After spending five years as mis-
sionary in Japan, his health failed him, and
since then he has circumnavigated the
globe. In his peregrinations he passed |
through Egypt, visited the most important |
places in Italy and Switzerland, and spent |
two months in Paris and the same time |
in London. His wife has lived in China |
and Japan since she was a child, and speaks
those languages fuently, and has travelled
around the world three times. We men
tion this fact as our young friend informs
us he will soon deliver several lectures on
the customs and pursuits of the Japs-the
inhabitants of one of the most wonderful
countries in the world-and which is max
ing gigantic strides in civilization and i'm
and is destined at no future
day to take a place among the prominent
nations of the earth. AS Rev. Mr.. Coopers
lectures will be free, we bespeak for him
good turnout wherever he may go, as his
subject is bound to prove instructive and
interesting.
Crystal Springs can say, what no town in
The State can say of the same size, there is
n ot saloon here, and since the abolishment
Of those hell hol s, we have the most orderly
and quiet town in the State; before that
we could not say so.
Owing to the prevalence of mad dogs
throughout the county, county ordinance d,
las been issued, ordering that all dogs :.
taught running loose are to be killed.
Since the pronunciamento many CANNES
lave gave gone where the woodbine twineth.
rs I don't wish to weary your readers l
will say al reU0ir and close.
Respectfully,
S. FL. STAoKuoUsE.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15

The following is what Senator Blaine, OF
Iaine, says of his distinguished peer,
lamar, of Mississippi:
| Mr.. lamar offers contrast to Go. Hampton.
Ie generazes and philosophers with great ability,
nd presents the strange combination of "reGned
pecialist," and trustful optomist-embodying
me fthe characteristics of Mr.. Calhoun, whom he
evoutly followed, and of Mr.. Seward, whom he
ways opposed. Mr.. Lamar is the only man in
ublic life who can be praised in New England for Il
arm eulogy of Charles Sumner, and Immediately
terward elect cd to the Senate as the representa-
We Of the white-line Democrats of Mississippi
nd yet, inconsistent as these positions are, it is
le dream of Mr.. LamaT's life to reconcile them
| Q is Intensely devoted TO the South he has ge.-
ous aspirations for the union of the States he is
iackled with the narrowing dogma Of the State
lights, and yet, withal, has boundess hopes for an
|hporial republic, whose power shall lead and di-
ct the civilization OF the world. Hedged in by
pposlng theories, embarrassed by forces that seem
reccncilable, Mr.. Lamar, probably more than any
her man of the Democratic party, gives anxious
1d inspiring thought to the future.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15
The Danger6eIi Family.
NAToHEz, February 90, n


s. Mason, Esq, Editor Southern RepiHe:
| Mr. DEAR SIR-I notice the inquiry mad,
d your paper for the descendants of tn,
lie Henry Dangerfield, who immigratet
rom Winchester, Va, to the Mississippi
Territory. Our then Governor, was Davit
Holmes, who after having represented thai
district of Virginia in Congress, was COM
|issioned and sent here by President
sferson. He induced his relatives ant
|iends, the Conrads, Thurstons and Dang
Fields to move to the Territory, where
| OIL Dangerfeld was appointed Territorial
acretary. He died after the close of the
81 war with Great Britain, and was buried
the old town of Washington, in this
bunty, on the grounds of Judge Rodney,
ZEN United States District Judge. His
idow survived many years at her resi-
snce near Washington. They had three
ms and one daughter, viz:
| William, a prominent Young LAWYER,
| ed Unmarried, of yellow fever in Natchez;
enly, a rising lawyer, killed opposite
afchez in a duel,-unmaTied Edmund
ed d home of yellow fever, unmarried
| arr married Gen. Felix Houston; both
lstand and wife are dead leaving children,
| u do not know their whereabouts.
hess children are the heirs that MI
,r1niab, Hall of Circleville, Ohio, de-
rs 10 find. And 1 write this note in the
,pe that some one who sees it, can inform
+ Hall where these descendants of a pa
iofc grandfather and a heroic father,
| AZ be found.
Very truly, yours,
]. +. ii. claiborne. I
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15
GRANT!
By WILL. II. HERMAN.
From The N. Y. Bcy-Bool

From The N. Y. Bcy-Book.
Shall lanyard tippler from the West
Assume the crown that Caesar wore,
And place new, imperial crest
Upon the flag our fathers bore
Sneak Shall he wrest from you and me
The liberty that is our boast?
Nay nay BY all the powers that be-
by Father. Son and Holy Ghost
BY the pure patriot blood that streamed
In '76 on plains and heights,
BY the proud, patriot swords that CLEANED
In all our grand, triumphant fights.
We swear to keep our powder dry,
Our rifles close ut hand, until,
He in his wickedness, defy
The mandate Of the public will,
When this shall be our battle-ciy:
"KILLW
Aye, kill the tyrant, and thus save
Full many life, full many u home
Just as the Brutus, high and brave,
In the old, matchless days OF Rome
Killed Cesar in his triumph hour,
To wrest the sod from slavery,
And bade the bright, cOnsummate flower
OF Freedom bloom from sea to sea
Then let the Bloody Bo0r take heed,
Nor trifle with forbidden things,
For We, the People, have decreed
WE NEVER Will SUBMIT TO KINGS.
We swear to keep our powder dry,
Our rifles close at hand until
He in his wickedness defy
The mandate of the public will,
When this shall be the battle-cry:
"KILLi"
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI. SATURDAY, MARCH Is, 1879

caused NE to abandon the reading of th,
newspapers, has borne its appropriate fruit
as is exemplifed by both of your para
graphs which refer to me.
Such phrases as ga screw loose are
simply shocking to the educated ear.
As it will crafty you to have me point
out the origin of the defect, i'll order that
you may speak more elegantly in future, 1
have no hesitancy in saying it results from
an affectation of the humorous.
Amongst my varied accomplishments, is
an intimate acquaintance with the natural
history of the literary, and though fore
see that when tell you the funny man is
the monkey among learned animals, you
will retort whimsically something to the
effect that if the wit is the monkey, the
philosopher, is the ass among learned BIZ
peds, yet am sure you will not be able to
satisfy your conscience by such trifinq + G.
ply to a just criticism.
This article, argumentative from the be~
ginning, as any one acquainted with the
rules Of logic must perceive, having now
reached correct conclusion, should be
closed.
Therefore, with profound regard, remain
Your friend, JOHN SMITH, A. G.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15

Mack Robertson Of Crawford, GA,
discharged William Humber As over
seer OF his Plantation. Mrs. Humber
went to Robertson's store to settle an
account. and disagreement arose. In
the heat of a quarrel Robertson said,
"You lie. "You are just as good as a
dead man," Mrs, Humber rctorted, as
she hurried away, ''for my husband
will kill you" An hour afterward. as
Robertson was going to his residence,
he was shot fatally by Humber, who
was ambushed by the roadside.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15

Col. IT. Musgrove, of Jackson, Mississippi for
meriy Auditor of Public Accounts of that State,
will sojourn for time in Austin. He is a gentleman
Of high character and ample means. We commend
|hinl to the people Of the capital.
The above is from the Austin (Texas)
Statesman, it looks as if the Colonel mi ght
have the "Texas Fever."
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15

MAJ. RENO, of the q. S. Army, has been
tried and acquitted. 1t was charged that
he failed, through fear, to go to the relief
Of Gen. Custer, who was surrounded and
murdered by Indians.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15

sT1TTIE ALL-R1GHT," the Japanese aero
bat, has been enjoined from giving exhibi-
billions of his acrobatic skill by the society
for the prevention of cruelty to children in
New York City. Its call right" with us, we
don't object.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15

We observe that our lucky confrere, P. X.
Mayors, of the Pascagoula Star-Democrat,
has been elected petit juryman in the coun-
| ty of Harrison. No man need despair in this
country of ultimate promotion.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15

Little Rock and Argenta are excited over
a most foul and mysterious murder which
occurred in the latter place some days siuce.
The murdered man was a stranger named
Thompson, from Mississippi whose body
was found on the river bank. Supposed 10
have been murdered for his money. Press,
" Washington Ark.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15

Some person abstracted forty indict-
ments from the Court house at Tupelo
recently. Let the miscreant be indicted
Immediately.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15

An exchange notes the fact that there are
other fields Of ambition for young women
than welkjng quarter miles IN quarter
hours. and points TO the record OF Con-
necticut girl vino achieved five divorces in
Eve consecutive quarter years. and she Is
still in good condition. Boston Globe.