davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07

When. Jean Vatican, the hunted convict,
crawls out of the black mouth Of the Paris
sewer only to confront The c.ucl majesty of
the law in the person of the police SPY jaw
ert-who has not felt in his own veins the'
numb horror that seized upon the man In
the romance and the play these things stir or
chill the very blood in our hearts, but in real
life how many Of us arc unsclish enough To
be moved by them? 1t is strange fact that
mankind, as n rule, begrudge even the
gift of their emotions, and, by one cf Nature ;
contradictions, those who are quickest with
the words of charity are sometimes slowest
with its deeds. Truth is stranger than
fiction, but far less attractive. Jean Val
lean translated from Paris to New-Ycgli,
his background of romance stripped away,
his magnificent HugonIan dialect exchanged
for the rude grammar OF Baxter-st., lis
name transformed into Mike or Pat
Jean Vatican standing before the bar of Il
duh and gloomy criminal court in New York
and not behind Paris barIlcadc-Jean VAL
lean with the bad smells of the slums about
him. with n bad eye. ard reported by the
police IS an incorrigiblc thcf-ah, that is n
vcry different thing!
Ii was only this last week that he VAS ar
ragncd there, and told his story with a sort
of clnuuence TO the kind hearted Judge Jean
admittcd-we forget his American name. and
if is of little cons, qurncc-that he was
an old offender; he had been in prison
before, and now was on the point
of being sentenced again. but what
could he dol A man comes out of State
Prison." he said to the Judge. with five
"dollar note in his pocket. Almost always
"he wants to lead better life lie begins
to look FOR work. ~ lie can't 20 back
"to the old place because everybody
"knows lie is an ex-conyict, aud every
bcdy shms the ex-c0nvict, your honor.'
We suspect that the reporters have actually
extended to this miserable outcast the same
charity they show to the grammar of the
hOnorablc member from Peoria County or
the distinguished chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the Jcllyby Association. Ii
is barely possible that they have COM
mittsd the crime of making this poor
iail-bird's speech a little smoother than
il really was, but no matter. If he finds
work. be goes on TO say, in new place.
,hc police give the hint, and out he goes
His money goes, and hc has no friends to
$50 t0-l haven't friend in the world,
"Jnige-and 80 he turns back to the old
"lifc." Perhaps it was all speech, aud
nothing mere. Perhaps he was merely trying
to melt tie lc.ri oi the Jgdgc. Perhaps lie
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07
NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE SHEET

had been incouigble from the start. Per
haps it is fairly impossible to reclaim man ol
woman who has once been led into crime. Al
these things, which the practical man VIII "a
once suggest. NAV be true, aud siill tn
story itself will he true-sbockingly irue. Lei
the State and the prison reform societies cxer
all their power TO prepare the criminal for al
honest life; let the usual machinery, sucf
as it is. be put in motion to give hin
respectable employment when he emerges, and
yet the chances ere that by the ineXOTbl,
operation Of certain social laws, because oi
'man's inhumanIty to man." lie Will be
driven in spite Of himself along Tn,
road this ex-conyict bad travelled. and end
at the goa lac had reached. There are moral.
here in plenty but for the present let them
go, while we tell another story which Will
serve. as sequel and argument both.
This time Jean is a woman. She had served
a long sentence in Ncw-England Pentcn-
tiary, and had determined to lead a new life.
After her discharge she was enabled in some
way to obtain position in Il dry-goods slcp,
where she did her work faithfully, quietly
and mOdesty. But the social Fatcs were
on her track. Wcl-brcd morality learned
that the womaa had been 4 convict, that those
quick hands had expiated crime by years of
labor In prison. Was this to be endured
The representative OF outraged social decency
she was woman and one OF the wealth
lest in the town-waitod upon the proprietor.
Did he know tbat this woman had been a
convict He did, but she did her work well,
and he felt that it was ms duty to help her
% regain fOOthold in the world.
Then he received the uitmatum-either
he must discharge the ex-cOnvict or
lose tho patronage or one Of his best
customers. The rest OF the story need hardly
he told. The traditional cowaidice of shop
keepers decided the question. The poor
woman was discharged, bat was said, at last
accounts. 10 have found place in Lowell
factcry whore she was still Lravely and qui-
city working Lcr way.
When, therefore, Mr. Dividend, the banker,
sits III his cushioned pew to-day or rolls
downtown in his easy coupe tomorrow
morning. or when his brother merchant
counts up The profits upon his cargoes
from tho Trails, let each ASK himself
whether hc can a;iOId 10 be mere GuOus about
the conyict's speech. Let him consider
also what would be likely to become of
him If be were TUNED loose with n
dllh social brand upon him. with every
policcman's finger pointing at him, and
without friend in the woYld." There is
something wrong here. The world win never
be what it ought TO be, in our time, at least /;
but i can he made better than il is. Mr..
Dividend, what are you going 20 do about
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07

The whole stupendous panorama OF passing
history is before him nations come ana go,
wars and famines on the other side of the
Globe are within his sight and hearing. He
sees what his brothers in France or Egypt
or Central Asia are doing to-day. II Is
all so gigantic, so vivid, SO real to him that he
is ant 70 think there is nothing behind
this world of war, famine, event, politics.
murder. love and gossip; to fancy that ii con-
trolls itself. We shall not feel that THE TRTB-
UNE usurps .he place of the pulpit II, when
we placo before our readers on Sunday morning
this great, living picture, we venture from time
to time to show him the moving Hand behind.
The news of the day should he n height from
which he can better trace the currents of Or
der and Progress in which God is directing
every nation of the world to-day as certainly
as He did the Hebrews from the Red Sea
to Jordan. Ii is of no use that the further
most nations of the earth are brought near
to us by telegraph or newspaper If the near
ness does not make them more our brothers
The great laws, the system oi rewards ana
pnnishments laid down eighteen centuries ago,
in the Bible, prove their truth in the events
which TIE TRIBUNE publishes this morning
rs clearly as they did III the everyday lives
of the fishermen of Gaiilee (; and II we some
times call attention TO the working of these
old fashioned. neglected truths, THE TRIBUNE
will not only give its news more truihiully,
but may help its readers TO 20 back from sun
day to the work of the week with more con-
fdcnce in the Power which Overrules for good
ali chance and change and work.
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07
luocs 10 Advertisements.

ArreFxrNrs- I'm PHnc- 6ip
B,NEgSC Eousrs AND 6AHKEEs- ION paqe-2d co'um''
Ra.kEUlT NorICEs-l1m Pd0e-2d column.
RoArp AN HCOMs-l1h IA SD column
BUSINESS CHANCEs-l0ta Pags-3d column
BUSINESS NOTICES-6W IaCc-lsf cotumi
CoranINFnsi.u NOrlCfS-ioh Plugged coiumh'
CoEruRAIIOS NOTlCIS- In PdCe-2d 'oinn"
DANCING ACAuENIE>--llM Pdgc-lst column
IIvtrRNp NOTlCRs-lOM I'd comm
Day GOOns- IL N Pa0e-3o An and OH coiumus.
tINkNCiAi.-lOh pdge-lst aud 2d columus
FURNiTURE-1iM PdQe-3d column
GRATIS AMI FENDERs-1ON P00c-2d column
HIIr wANTFp--lOn Page e-4th soiun'u
Eotsys AND ROOMS WASTEi-llH P1ge--1 column
ICt tRrAN-1l n PdOe-2d column. =.
INsIrrcnON-Sh Poce-6th column lin fd0e-ls'
Law sCHOOIs-1l In fGCc - comm.
lECTTRfS AND MEETINGS ~ Iuct-Oih coiEhn
loss AND FOuNp-l1M Page ~ column
MARRIJ ND SIAIE MANTElS-lOth FGGr-2d coumn
MAhilAoFs AND pt.rHs-7M Page 0gh cnlnmn. o.,
Ms rTIASFOUs- I'm PGge-2i column; I'm Fipe--"'
81, 4th 9Th and 9th ccinn'Ns
Mrslc.l. lSsTPrMR kIs--li IL FG0e-6th column
MN PrrlIc ATOMS SN i'Vge-O column
Iy.r tsTar arr-llsa Ir0-- 20 coumu.
rTllclors NoTIcrs-lOh Pd0c-ita and 5th cnnimnS
S,qIt1Io>s WAsr,I,- NJ MALks-lOth Pagc-4h Ia column
FtNAr>- Ion Pa e-ith c".nnrs
SyFCTAl NouCfe IN P9ge- 5ih 4rf 6th eo,nniN
STEAMBOATS, AND RAILno DS ION PtGc-5u cOlumn
SIrAntIs- CCEAN-l0th PG0c-G.h ruiuah
1pp,pFrs-llM Icct-3d column. 49,
10 WHOM II MAY CONCTRN-lOh P0cs-lth coumn'
WINTER EtsORTs-llm Fdse I'd column
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07

Several considerable delegations of gentlemen
from M.x.co, ard g,ntlenon Of consequence, ioj,
have recently visited this part OF thccoun,y. some
of them remain hcre still, and number left for
home by late steamer. There is rumor 0m the
street which can be cla sihed rs " important
but lacking confirmation" 10 the effect that this uil-
usual visitation has more of political than n com
mercill importance. These gentlemen. who repre-
sent much capital and culture said TO be weaTiod
out with their increasing struggle with iaw ssncs-,
and long FOR resi-. They Me tired OF ever
recurring revolutions and threats OF revolution,
by which All industry IS discouraged, enterprise
palsied, oLd hope itself murdered. They therefore
propose TO correct all this by truly Mexican
method.
Casting about tor n man Of marked administri-
five talent they have been attracted to
General Benjamin T. Butler. and him they
have solicited TO come dowl. as the COM
binod Man on Horseback and Savior of
Society take possession OF the LAID as Dictator.
Under the form of a strong government, however,
they hope ia encourage. by some new process. the
spint of individual liberty and sclt-guverr-
mcnf, so thai at no distant day the
b undary lrc of the United States can
hr safely advanced from the Rio GranGe 10 the
Pc fic Ocean. Unfortunately for Massachusetts,
Gcucril Bmtler has not yet definitely accepted the
profcred pro:cctoratc. but several distinguished
soldiers aud civilians are said to be wiling 10
be wnoci, il the General continues ohdu-
ratc. TIC proposed visit ot General Grant
to Mexico j. invested in this report with tie
dtgnity of "5issi1n." He Is authorized. Il scoms
t0iuycs.lg8to ihe matter aad report to somebody
rs 10 waclh.r the SMALLER Republic ia ripe fer
absorption and digestion hy lcr big sister. If this
ihiugis properly worked up during Presi leGtial
year a boom Of the first magnitude and probably If
Il highly rcactionary character could easily be en-
gcndcred.
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07
TIE SOUTH AMERICAN VAR.

No later news has been received from the
seat of war in South America than the two
dispatches published in Fridays TRIBUNE.
One of these announced Il considerable victory
gained by the Gillian army Of invasion at
Tarapaca, after stubborn fight, while the
other was to the effect that 1500
Chilians after battle at Loa, near the mouth
of the river waich forms The boundary line
between Peru and Bolivia, had surrendered
To superior foIce of Bolivians. There are
reasons for receiving this last dispatch with
some caution. il was dated at Valparaiso rs
long ago as November H. and since there i
a clbe crossing the Andes under the snow,
telegram 10 Bucnos Ayrcs and thence
10 RIO Janciro, which is connected by
ocean cable with Lisbon, would not naturally
hc 30 dilatory in reaching Europe OF the
United States. 1t should also be remembered
that the Peruyians held Iquiqlc until the
middle OF November, and this port is con-
nectel with Clllao by cable Callao is lut
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07
TRIPLE SHE L I
NE NEUS ms MOANING.

ForsIGy.-spccial cable kilograms 70 THF
TnlGUNg report Mr. Gladstono's success
his Scotch canvass as overwhelming John
Brghrs opinions on the lnsh land
question are also given IN the same dispatches.
- Several hundred persons have been drowned
bv storm wave at Monkishkhal Island, IN the Bay
of Biscay. -- The Anglia is still stranded
IN the Fnih Of Clyde. - The eX-Emprcss El-
genie j. TO go from Spain to Zuiuland. @-- Mr.
Potter and Mr.. nolyoasc are bOtn Ia London.
DouIsiC-Aboui 200 colored people from North
Carolina remain in Washington. == The Egyp-
tan o5clisk is safe. according to news received at
Washingion.= Iao report of the Surgeou-General
Of the Marine Hospital Service has been made. -
Navigation on the Erie Canal closed last night.
g. decision IN Tavor of the Phia-
deiphia Elevated Road has been made -= The
Hoosac Tunnel and Western Railroad has been
opened.
CITY AND SUBURBAN.-A lire at Bellevue Hospital
last night burned three chld.cn to death.
- The 9Th Regiment Fair was closed. ==
Max Maletzek was reported to be missing. "A
plot to rob a Flushing bank was foiled. &C.
General Giants visit to New-lork has been
deferred. -= The st. Nicholas Society
had its annual dinner. - thief COM
mttsd suicide on the New-liaven line -
Gold value of the legal-endcr silver dollar l12l2
gTansl. SGf1 cents. Stocks, after being duh all
day, were active and higher just before the end and
closed strong.
1nE MTATHER.-IEIDUNE local observations in
dcate cloudy weather with hight rains, followed by
clearing and cooler weather Thermometer yes.ci-
day: Highest, Sc lowest. 42o average 50ll'
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07
Congr.ss S. is running sort Of Sunday edition also,

1t IS a sheer waste Of time t. correct the misstate-
mcnts of Werd Il Phillips. Is a lecturer he has an
entirely unique me,hod Of entertaining the pnhiic.
He selects for subject that question upon which
he j. the most profoundly ignorant and proceeds 10
hang upon /; n brilliant assortment Of misaloFma-
ton and deliberate invention. Ills last >qn.stiol
on the shortcomings oi the press contains more mls
statement. than all the newspapers If the country
contain together IN whole yeas. Perhaps he Go5>nt
mean to I'll uutmths perhaps his friends night
when they say, rs the hest eXcue they find for
him. that his love for saying sharp things prompts
him 10 seek his iac.s manly in his own oXuneraHt
lmagmaiun ana that he really means uo harai. For
tunalely ior the living and the dead whom he 80
reckios.y raduces. the public has p.ctiy gem
orally 10 take this view Of his performances. 10
seems TO enjoy himself best when mntlng most
loudly about things which ale not ao.
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07

The Musical Protective Union having SAT IN
Judgment upon Pinafore in the back paslor of
beer saloon has solemuly declared that popular
piece to he no opera at ali, but merely an extraya-
ganzl and the musicians have therefore been
allowed TO aiiGe by their contracts lioIe
seems to he "A new rule OF morality. which
recognizes the validity of agreement only
when the work to which 1t applies Is not
very coed, and requires that rs the
ambition of the composer Uses the honor o. tie neT-
formers shall decline. Mr. sullivan viii accept this
warninc-perhaps- take care that the quality
Of his future productions is kept down TO Ihe level
of the musicians consc.enccs. The Union. how
ever is hardly consistent. II enforced . sinhe at
the Academy of Music early in TIE season, and get
some of the approximations given there at that
time" Rigoletto." for instance-were certainly ox-
trayagaaZas.
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07

As Congress is evidently in mood to take up
sharp political sues. and is somewhat al loss to
know how TO Kill time until the appropriation bl!ls
are ready venture TO suggest that II take mp the
question Of National marriage and divorce law.
Such Law could not probably be passed without
an amendment to the Constitution, but the Whole
question of iis advisaiiy might come
I'D on the Introduction of an amendment
explicitly granting to Congress the right to lcgs-
late upon the subject la the early days of the Re-
pubic, when oDle seldom went outside the state
where they were born, tie marriage institution was.
perhaps wisely. lett TO the regulation Of State au-
thorities; but that m0d'm facilities
for travel are constantly shifting thousands
of men and women from State 20 State, the
annoy auce of this immense body OF conflicting local
statutes, ami of the Judicial decisions bis.d upon
them becomes serious affair. St worse, these vari-
Gus laws and decisions tend to weaken respect for
relation which lies at the basis of Cnristian society
1t. may be- that there are obj ,ctO 20 PASS
ing over to the General Government tae authority
over marriage and divorce. II there could be
10 better way of bringing them out AMI wing
them we gh than a general discussion ci the sub
Jet III Congress-. Such discussion would attract
instant attention and create very LIVELY interest.
Mention has already been made of the little anti
tobacco incident of Friday but something by way
Of moral remains to be said The Third Avenue
Surface Railway Company furnishes occasional
cars for gentlemen addicted TO the bad habit
of smoking. \ lady got into one of these.
of course by mistake, and instead of getting ont
AGAIN at onc., sensible woman would have
DONE sine demanded the instant cxtingnshment Of
every cigar Her request not being complied with.
az II should have been. she committed assault and
battery upon one of the smokers for which she
was locked up and bound over for trial. Perhaps
her conduct was just lit;le unreasonable Here
was which she was expressly wdraed not to
get into. She had no business in it. Once IN it,
her business was to get out of IL as soon pOss-
bic. Instead of which she committed assault
and battery. II was all very unnecessary.
Half OF more of the troubles which arise on our
street conveyances proceed from wiful or g-
norant disregard of the rules established, of the
plain and indrsputablc rights of others. Sometimes
the servants of the company are to blame-some-
times tho passengers; but the moral of the matter
is in either he same.
No wonder the butter merchants are a little rtstiye
about oleomargarine. which iS not butter any more
than chalk is cheese, or than heas are loosters.
There may be people who have 10 choi G.
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07

An unexpected change is announced in the
date of General Grants visit TO Newly orll.
1t was supposed that he would reach this city
during the latter part of this month. and
definite dates had already been fixed for sew
erdl appearances in public. The General now
writes from Galena. however, that his trip to
Florida and Cuba is likely to be hastened,
and in that event the visit to this city cannot
be made before his return next Spring. The
metropolis must reserve ITS welcome, then, for
several months TO come.
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07

The Church of the Strangers, whose ed nee
was the gift of the late Commodore Wander
bili has placed a tablet upon its walls in
memory of its benefactor. A description of
the memorial is gwen elsewhere.
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07

Police Commissioner MacLcan has an opportunity
which many an aspiring politician might envy. lie
has special charge OF Tie business of cleaning the
streets ample power of removing Indifferent labor
ers has been placed in his hands and they say that
he is going 20 work in earnest. Very well; we
wish him success The public more than usually
excited now about the dirty streets, ard they VIII
haIl anybody who cleans them as beneiactor
and paragon. There is no doubt that Mr. Mac
Lean can do something: he can make sure
that the sweepers really sweep, and that tn" sweep
inps are really collected. He find ont what
further powers aIe necessary hr ha. not cDongh
already-to make New-York as decent as Paris or
London Ii somebody will tell us what 10 rcc""d
the people will not hesitate to snpDy It, '-es. Mr..
MacI.oan has great chance. Il may occur 10
municipal politicians some day-wno knows that
the best way 20 manipulate votes is to earn tie
gratitude of the voters.
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07

Yesterday witnessed one of the saddest OF
crimes. If there is any profession III tins weak
and wicked world which is supposed to be
walled and buttressed with adamaniine re-
spcctability, whose members are looked upon
rs beyond temptation, beyond emotion.
beyond the vices and weakness of mere
mortal men, that profession is that
OF the family butler. English by birth,
episcopal in appearance, majestic in man
ner it was impossible to conceive of his
unbcnding so far as to commit a crime But
the incredible has happened. An English but
Ter has just been detected in forgery
which is certainly, when the necessity
of alertness in mind and body is con-
sidercd, about the most unlikely crime
a butler could be suspected of. The forgery
was well executed, ana the plan was well laid.
lie drew the check-which was for an amount
probably oqualling months salary, inasmuci
as it was larger than the annual stipend OF
the average clergyman-and sent it to the
bank by a messenger. But when the messen-
ger returned. maid servant answered the
bell and the whole scheme was discovered.
The explanation is easy. real old English
butler wouldn't answer the bell even to save
himself from detection in forgery. Imagine
him doing it. And then he ran away. Bat no,
we cannot imagine an English butler running
anywhere. This is too much. We draw the
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07
Governor Robinson tniaks a SUNDAY IaIaUSE
entirely unnc, gSSlly.

No one can read unmoved the pathetic accounts
of the efforts OF the Southern frledm 10 reach
homes free from persecution. Their willingness to
bear any kind of hardship to reach p'pce where
a Niger has some rights which white man -
bound 10 respect - cyidllce iai ihc many stories
oi their iuhum1n treatment IN the SJuth ats not
Radical lies"
There is Il remarkable peculiarity about all Of Tie
gifted Buckners financial bills. They arc aimed IN
one direction bui invariably do execution in an Eli
tirsly opposite one.
Every u noc-at shouli read Tnr SUNDAY TnIB-
CNE. and thus keep himself in apous frame OF tmin-.
Thee Is a prospect ihat Congress Will take long
holiday rcccss-thres weeks and perhaps ;nofc-bc-
ginning "A week fpm tomorrow. Nobody viii
grumhlc over National boon ike that.
Doe, it over occur to the Democrats who are 50
persistent in advocating the candidacy of Seymonr
that they viii find themselves in a curious position
when they reach the point where Scymoui's nOu-
ination will b. be impossibleG They have
driven all except NeW-lo.k candidates from the
field by confession that nobody from any other
State will do. IL Seym Is tound To be unaVai-
able, the reasons which bar hm out wil be found
To be- equally powerful against all other antl-rldcn
aspirants. They VIII then discover that nllen -
the only candidate left. ana they will have To sWl-
low their crow aud mcchly beg him To sep 10 the
font and tap tie barrel. He ioreStes all ;s now,
aud Is pretending 10 he entirely indifferent 20 ITO
whole business IN order that the partyS suDlss.ol
may be more complete IN the end.
Senator TIoar says II Senator Bayari were as
sound on the question Of human rghs rs on the
finances, nothing could prevent hs rlsenon TO the
Presidency next year. This a a,t. Il sound
ness IN the money ques:.ol makes -.a --lopa-ar
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07

when the old soldiers at the Invalides rcnon-
strated with the cook for sending mp cavalry boot
III the soup they added, "We know 1t isn't dirty.
but it takes Up roOm.' In tine same apologeuc spirit
we wish 10 ronon strate with the too enthusiastic
and, oA. .ry ,poutaneous public. which Will break
out 90 the theatres with unexpected tributes oi
fowor-bas sets Il the most inconyenicnt time6 we
know tho are very nice, bat they take the atten-
ton of IT, ac-ress OFF her work. When captain Cor
coron presented Sir Joseph Pore's photograph to DO
s,phiuc and bade the young laly retire with
II to her cabin-t might "help 10 bring her 10 a
more reasonable frame If mind 1T was her cue to
reply. My own thoughtful fatbcr' which Is very
funny. aud a sure point Bat At that moment the
matchless girl caugnt sight of spontaneous tru-
ute which had been deposited in front Of the con-
duc:or. She forgot the photograph. she forgot her
lines. she took the picture mechanically without
looking at il, and only whispered u CoreofaH,
"Plea,c get that basket" The Captain started oil
brsl.lv Tor the flowers, ,Joscphiae sairkod at the
audience and the audience smiled.
New-York tribune., 1879-12-07

No wonder the butter merchants n little r,stive
about oleomargarine. which is not butter any more
than chalk is cheese, or than heas loosters.
There may be people who have 10 choi G.