davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27
Idolatry in Georgia.

A phase of hero worship, says the Americas
(Ga.) Recorder, has cropped out among the ne
groes of certain part of Lee county, which is
peculiar and at the same time very suggestive
Of an interesting chain of chronological points.
Lewis Barber, colored preacher of the Bap-
fist denomination, had in his charge a men,
bership numbering perhaps three thousand,
making up his four churches He was a typi-
cal specimen of the negro preacher, and
welded almost an absolute power over his
large congregation "Brudder Barber's"
word was law and gospel unto his followers,
and none ever dared to question his authority
or dispute his sway. Vehement, magnetic and
powerful, one swing from his long arms and
chant from his strangely musical voice would
set hundred sisters swaying their bodies to
and fro, and as many brothers keeping time
to the weird rhythm with beating feet in aw-
full interest the sermon would grow, medley
OF defamation and recltative, until one wild,
deafening cry brought to climax the ecstatic
Joy in shouts and frances and meanings. Last
Summer the preacher died and his friends and
followers refused to be comfOrted. He was
honored with burial rites beyond precedent,
and such a funeral was indeed "seldom SEEM
The deeds and memory left by the good pastor
were not sufficient for his members, and not
comforted with these, they have set up a sort
OF craven image, SO to speak, of Barber which
is placed above the pulpit of his principal
church. The image itself is work of the
crudest art, made of white and black cotton
cloth, stuffed with straw and painted with
charcoal. To an unbiased critic it looks more
like scarecrow set up to brighten hawks than
anything else; but devout member informed
the writer that it was very striking likeness
OF the preacher. We marvelled somewhat at
the strange thing withanother brother of this
church, and asked him it's object. He gave
us to understand it was a remembrance Of the
beloved dead, and said "although Brudder
Barber is gone, we still has de shapes of him
wild ne -
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27
A Reporters Device.

another reporter In western city heard a
pistol shot one Sunday night, on a deserted
commercial street, rushed in the direction of
the report. heard the rapid patter of mans
heels on the sidewalk, and saw a figure under
dark awning. 1t was very respectable
looking man with his silk hat crushed at his
feet. He was shaking all over, and held still
smoking revolver in his hand. The reporter
arrested him at once in lhe interest of journal
ism, and on the way to the station got from ths
quaking man, who never doubted that he wac
an officer, the name of the person at whom he
had fired. A real policeman appeared. and
nothing more could be got out of the shooter
Reference to a directory showed that the man
shot at was one of the wealthiest foundry1nen
in the city. The reporter fastened to his
house, which was not very far distant, and
found 1t deserted. Inquiry at the next door
disclosed that the foundryman few weeks
before had moved to an adjoining street. Did
the reporter Immediately hasten to the new
residence3 Not at all. He sauntered leisurely
along into a neighboring saloon got a cigar and
quietly asked for pen and ink. In moment
he had neat little placard prepared, saving
that Mr.. - had removed to Mo-. Van Ness
avenue, about three miles away. Procuring at
an apothecary's some wafers and creeping back
to the door of the late foundrymans residence.
the reporter athxed his "hb' to the panel and
then sped to the home of his victim. A fam
ing two-column social scandal enriched one
newspaper the next morning, and the gratif-
cation OF the reporter was worth years SALARY
to him as he found that his rivals, who had
worried the victim at the station into giving
the name OF his intended prey, had been sent
on on barren hunt to Van Ness avenue.
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27
DOMESTIC PORTS,

SAN FRANCISCO Cid oath, ship Wandering
GALvEsToN-sld 18th, sch Normandy, Adams.
NEW ORLEANs-Cld oath, ship Andrew Jack.
son, Bartlett: Liverpool; sch Daisy Parkhurst,
Sagua; sch Fostina Philbrook. Matanzas
,SAVANNAH-Ar Oath, brig Katandin, Dodge,
Cid Path. sch Loretto Fish, Watts. Boston.
go! NokFoLKICld I'D, sch City of Augusta, John
Cid Path. ship VIM McGilvery Nickels New York
HAMPTON ROADS-ln port oath scbs Kate M
hilton, FOR portland; Paul Seavey for Port Spain:
frank Harrington, for Boston; D ii Ingraham, for
BALTIMoRE-Cld 23d, schs Walker. West
gate, Boston; Tower, Adams, wilmington. ''''
H. fHad I'll. 23d, barque Ada Cros-
CID oath, barque Allen, Shaw. Havana.
r, Sld I'm Delaware Breakwater Odd, sch L Gregg
Havener. from Philadelphia for Portland.
NEW YOKK-Ar Oath, schs Quoddy. Tanning
Lnheci Annie Collins, Cousins, Providence; Adri.
anna rId FAX baker III. Newport lsTi. s.,,
lay HayI'; Harry White, Hopkins. Jacksonviile; VIII
card Crabtree. Jacksonville; D Ellis. Torrey Nor
folk; Seabird Doyle, Providence.
Passed the Gate oath, barque Moonbeam. Dunbar
IRON new YORK Tor Liverpool, (and anchored: schs
Seabnd, McMullen, do for Warren F Hall Law.
renee Hoboken for arblehead; u M Strout do 1 for
Providence; Gar, do for do; W Allen PORT ob u
son for Boston. " oonn-
+, Iut back to City Island oath, brig Clara M Good
Bangor. -' "0oooi'
n NSE,WPOkT-Ar 22d, sch Francisl Coffin, Kelley.
,, IN port, schs Mindora. Baker, for New York. Ella
FRANCES, Bulger, Calais for Baltimore
Scn charter Oak will winter at Newport,
whey 23d schs Geo ID Perry
ppynn, and Almena, Thompson, from Hoboken for
PROBATIONARY 23d. schs Princeton John
for New f RGa for Boston Champion Norton do
Sailed 23d, schs Moses Eddy, Warren. from
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27
MONDAY MORNING, DEC. %.

cumstances of its surrounding. To under
stand fully why the moral conditions of war
Will still bear conspicuous a share as ever
IN ITS successful conduct, it must be borne in
mind that IN the term moral is comprehended
the spirit animating every branch of warlike
administration and every soldier with colorS.
The prescience which takes account of the
preparations and potential force of possible
Toes, which provides for the intelligent in
struction OF its own instruments, which recog-
nizes the value of mechanical improvements
and takes measures for securing the best arm
aments; the virtue, the patriotism which
aim at making of honest citizens dutiful and
valiant soldiers such are the moral and in
teliectual arms furnished with which nation
moves into the field with bold and confident
front. But, though art has not lost its impor-
tance, and though war is not at all likely to
degenerate into vulgar matter of "hammer
and tongs," it must be allowed that many con-
ditions are now exploded under which certain
feats OF strategy were possible. In some ways
the strategical art has found greater limita-
tons to its exercise during the last few years
than IN all the centuries separating the passage
OF the Alps by Hannibal from the turning"
of the Alps, as he himself expressed it, by Ma
poleon. 1t would be found impossible now to
pursue undetected the maneuvre which led
to Marengo Again, the celebrated maneuvre
OF the Count Nero, when, leaving in his
lines before Hannibal small force-a
dummy array-to blind him, he marched
north to forestall the succoring army
OF Hasdrubal, was a feat which might
have heen repeated with success down to the
other day. 1t would be little likely to succeed
now. Telegraphs, railroads, improved COM
munlcations, balooning, signalling, messenger
pigeons, all such means as have been devised
for cheating time and distance, have, as it
were, blocked some of the sources of strategy
TIE Stream, however, is but damned up to
overflow on other lines, as we shall presently
see,
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27
Loves Strategem.

Captain G. Shoup, who lives near Harris
burg, Va, and was daring scout during the
war, has pretty daughter of sixteen years,
with whom young farmer named Reed fell
In love. The captain objected to the sutton,
who is only twenty years old, but the latter
was determined, and the father, finding that
she encouraged his passion, determined to
send her to Missouri to break up the affair.
The young lady acquiesced without murmur
when she received orders to pack up. 1t was
Harper's Ferry few days ago and take the
train at an adjacent station, her grandfather
accompanying her. When they reached the
large fatboat used for ferrying passengers they
saw in one corner clerical looking gentleman
and near him was bundle of something rolled
upin blanket. That bundle was Mr.. Reed
the lover. Before going aboard the young lad,
slyly dropped her shawl and just as the boat
was showing off she exclaimed to her father
that she had left that useful article and he
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27
THE STORM.

A Violent Gale With Snow in the Middle
and Southern States.
NEW YORK, Dec 25.-It has showed most of
the day. 1t is cooler tonight and cloudy.
DANvILLE, Dec. pa heavy snow storm
commenced at II o'clock this morning and
continued all day. The snow was several
inches deep at sunset and still falling.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 25.--Telegrams report
const Mt heavy snow all day between the lon
gitude of Vincennes and the Alleghenies, and
from the latitude of the southern line of Ken
lucky north.
GLOUCESTER, Dec. 26-Storm signals have
been up all day and it is blowing fearfully
from the cost. At Thatcher's Island the ye-
locity of the wind is "a miles. Steamer Dallas
and several coasters are at anchor in the har-
Dor.
LONDON, Dec. 26.-The weather is very Sc
we're in Scotland. Trains on several lines are
nearly every point north of the Champions
with light snow has prevailed along the coast
all day and continues undated. Thus far no
wrecks or damage to shipping is reported.
LEwEs, Del, Dec. GA heavy easterly
gale set in early yesterday evening and still
continues. The wind changed this morning
to northwest and increased in violence. Bark
w. T HARDWOOD, here for orders, is high upon
side-wheel steamer Wanderer from New York
hound south has gone to pieces. The
crews OF both were saved. But few vessels
are in the harbor and no further disasters are
heard of. This is the severest gale here since
October, 1877, when 50 many vessels foun-
dered in the harbor. The gale has been &C.
companied by heavy rain which this after
noon changed to a binding snow storm.
FREDERIoKsBURG, Va, Dec. GA severe
northeast storm, hail rain and snow, has ragged
here since early last evening. Trains are con-
siderably delayed. The Baltimore steamer
was compelled to return on account of the ice.
Country roads are badly blocked and commun-
ication is very difficult in all directions. 1t is
the severest weather for many years.
BALTIMORE, Dec. ga heavy snow storm
is raging here today. AT IL o'clock this morn
ing there was one foot of snow.
BoRDENTowN, N. j., Dec. 26.-A heavy
wina and snow storm has prevailed all day.
There are large drifts on the line of the rail-
roads. Nine inches of snow have fallen.
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27
FATAL ARRAY.
Ex-Gov. Scott Of South Carolina Kills q
Man in q Quarrel.

Ex-Gov. Scott Of South Carolina Kills q
Man in q Quarrel
NAPOLEON, Ohio, Dec. 25.-Gen. r. X.
Scott, Ex-Governor of South Carolina, now
resident of Napoleon, shot and killed a young
man named Drury last night. The affair was
the result of quarrel in relation to a son of
Scott. Drury was clerk in a drug store and
was young man in good standing. He was
to be married Tuesday next.
TOLEDO, Dec. 25.-The shooting of Wal
ter G. Drury at Napoleon, Ohio, by Gen.
Robert K. Scott, formerly colonel of the 68th
Ohio infantry, and afterwards Governor of
South Carolina, which occurred this morning,
causes intense excitement and the danger Of
lynching SO great that military company
guards the hotel where Scott is detained by q
sheriff unoer arrest
TOLEDO, O., Dec. 26-Gen R. X. Scott, who
killed W. G. Drury at NAPOLEON yesterday
morning. was last night taken to Defiance for
safe keeping in consequence of the feeling
against him at the former place. The evidence
thus far indicates that the deed was done in a
fit of anger caused by the refusal of Drury to
admit Scott to room to which Drury had
taken the son of Scott, whom he had found
upon the street in an intoxicated condition.
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27
AFRICA.
The Transvaal Republic Not Anxious for

The Transvaal Republic Not Anxious for
War.
DURHAM, Dec. 25.-Sir George Pomeroy
Colley has received a dispatch from Pretoria Of
the 18th inst, communicating decree of the
Transvaal Republic, declaring that there was
no desire to revolt, nor did the republic wish
for war. 1t rested with the British whether
the republic would be forced to appeal to arms
in self-defence. which would be with all rev.
erence for the Queen, and with the full
knowledge that it was struggle for the sane.
tity OF the treaties which had been broken by
British officers. 1t was hoped an amicable ar
rangement could be arrived at with Mai. Han
yon for the republic was anxious to cooperate
with England in everything leading to peace.
This could only be done when its independ-
ence was acknowledged. An answer was ex-
pected within twenty-four hours.
1t was in answer to this decree that Major
Lanergan issued the proclamation Offering
pardon to all who Immediately withdrew from
the malcontent camp.
LONDON, Dec. 25.-The Sixth dragons have
been sent to Natal from England.
DURHAM, Dec. 26-The Beers fred on de-
tachment on the Pretoria and Lydenburg road
under cover of flag of truce.
At Potchefstrom the greatest excitement
prevails. -Four persons have been murdered.
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27
Eloquence at the Bar.

Your note on the decline of eloauence at the
bar brought to my mind passage which re-
gard as one OF the gems of our judicial litera-
ture. 1t is from William Eden's principles
of Penal Law" published anonymously in
I'LL. at is a consequence of that wisdom
which characterizes the English, as a people
in the Whole system and administration of
their laws, that all articles of speech are BAN
ished from the bar. The passions ought not to
be addressed in appeals to the reason. The
unsubstantial harmony of defamation may be
well adapted to the ears of an arbitrary tribu-
nal; but the decisions of English judges are
founded on the argumentative differences OF
strict statutes and recorded precedents Our
courts have furnished proofs indeed, that the
strains of ancient eloquence are neither mimi
table nor unattainable; but nobler and more
proper theatre hath been found for the exer-
ton of that talent. Plain sense, delivered in
accurate expression, is the true eloquence of
law"
Lord Bacon said: "When the famous case
of the copper-mines was argued in this court
1.-THE ExchequerI, and judged for the king, it
was not upon the fine reason of wit; as that
the kings prerogative drew to it the chief 'in
quaqse specie;' the lion is the chief of beasts,
the eagle the chief of birds, the whale the
chief of fishes, and so copper the chief of min
erals; for these are but dalliances of law, and
ornaments; but it was the grave records and
precedents that grounded the Judgment
of that cause; and therefore would have YOU
both guide and arm yourself with them against
these vapors and fumes of the law, which are
extracted out of mems invention and con-
ceits.'
Having thus displayed before us in the old
books the true model of forens ic eloquence, it
is not to be wondered at that the highest legal
talent should aim at calm and temperate
method of speech. AS in the progress of the
nation all the arts become more refined and
subject to the rigid laws of TASTE it is but nat
ural that our profession should feel the inf1u-
ence of this progress. The fervid flights of
Patrick Henry and the vehement defamation
of Pinckney would hardly be deemed fitting
at the present day in the discussion of grave
questions before a competent court. The fin
est exhibitions of legal eloquence to which it
has been my fortune to listen have been made
by the late George Wood of New York and by
Judge b. r. Curtis. Their arguments always
filed the mind the ear and the sense of tit
ness and good taste. And of the two always
thought the style of George Wood the more
admirable. 1t was chaste, yet rich in choice
legal dictien, pervaded by the odor of juris-
prudence. as parchments with the sandalwood
in which they are kept, and conveying the i'm
preston that it was the law itself, and not an
argument upon the law which the advocate
was unfolding.-Associate Justice Joseph p
Bradley in Albany Law Journal.
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27

-Four Americans, calling themselves Wills
and wife, and Calbert and wife, have been ar
rested and imprisoned in Florence on suspic-
ion of selling Tunisian, French and other Sc.
curities, which are forgeries
John Hittson, one of the best known cattle
men of the West, was killed at Denver yes ter
day by being thrown from carriage.
Chas. f. Stevens, an Eastern railroad en-
poyee, was burned at Portsmouth, N. H.,
Saturday. in a shocking manner, by pulling a
kettle OF kerosene over which subsequently
caught fire.
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27
How Emerson Writes His Essays.

A. Bronson Alcott, in one of his lectures de-
scribing how Emerson's essays are composed
said: Like other great men, he keeps a COM
mon-place book or diary; he puts in this what
ever interests him at the time, without refer
ence I further use; if he sees sentence that
pleases him while reading he notes it down; if
he takes walk and sees anything that inter
ests him or suggests thought which he wishes
to preserve he puts it down; if he is writing
letter ii he pens sentence which arises
naturally, he puts that down; if he visits pic
ture gallery, or wherever he goes, he notes
down all that he may wish to remember. All
these things which he notes down have an in
trinsic value, but they need setting; he does
not let any of these sentences drop. How
then to arrange and string together these
pearls! lie employs no iogio in this; they are
gems when he has set them. That is his art.
He copies them on paper and sees how they
will come together. One jewel after another
is examined until he finds one which he thinks
will do in certain place. After having ar
ranged his lecture, he goes on the platform
and dips in at the fifth or sixth paragraph per-
haps, according as he feels. He is as ant to be-
gin in the middle or toward the end of his lec-
ture, as be has arranged it beforehand, and 90
backward, as any way. After trying his lee
ture in this way four or five times, it is printed
and goes before the public.
There is no ordinary conference in his es
says, Each paragraph is written at a time,
and is complete in itself Whatever he writes
is finished and good, but he considers every
sentence well before it is put on paper; it is
slept upon, dreamt on, and they are printed
Just at his audience have heard them. A law
yer or divine would begin with beginning
and proceed according to logic, but he works
by analogue. In pictures, each paragraph must
be read caaefully to get the value of it. You
can't read one of his books at sitting and get
any good out of it. Each word almost must
be pondered over. Emerson is now seventy
seven years OF age. but he seems to have all his
wits about him, except the loss of memory for
proper nouns. That he will write any more is
not probable, but he has written great deal
not yet published, and we shall probably have
as much new as he has already printed. An in
telligent editor has been engaged to publish
his writings after his death. Emerson's voice
is very charming, and no one can forget it who
has once heard him lecture"
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27

landed to get it. The boatmen were then told
to pull smartly, which they did. and when the
father returned to the river bank the boat was
in midstream, the blanket assumed an
an animated appearance, and then jumped up
and clasped the hand of the faithful one. The
clerical gentleman stepped forward, the oars
men rested on their oars, and while the lovers
Joined hands the accommodating Bap-
tist minister pronounced them man and wife,
The Infatuated father stood on the
shore and stamped his feet and wrung
his hands in impotent rage. The welded pair
kept on to the opposite shore and subsequently
sent the grandfather back to conciliate the
irate father, which he finally accomplished, and
happiness reigns in the two families.
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27

IN Cape Elizabeth, Dec. "a, Miss Sarah Davis,
aged 85 years.
In Gorham, Dec. 26th, Charles E. Usher, aged
SO years.
Funeral Wednesday, at 2 P. NJ, from the resi-
dence of A. M. Benson.]
In Scarboro, Dec. IL, Miss Stattra, daughter of
Samuel and Abigail Newcomb, aged % years and
months.
In Phipsburg, Dec. H. Col. Jordan Colder, aged
rs years.
In South Poland, Dec 8, Mr.. Levi L. Soper. aged
73 years.
In West Pennington. Dec. 81, Mr.. Reuben Hos
mer, aged 70 years.
In Browntield Dec. 16, Octavia c., wife of L. o.
Wentworth, aged about 80 years.
In Litchfield. Dec, TO- Mr.. Rufus Smith, aged
Sc years.
In Pittston. Dec. 16, Mr.. Benjamin P. Thompson,
aged 81 years months.
James E. Dyer, formerly of Cape Elizabeth, aged
81 years.
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27
BY TELEGRAPH.
MAINE.
Fire In Dexter

Fire In Dexter.
DEXTER, Dec. 25.-Fire this morning de-
stroyed Hamilton block, on Main street. 1t
contained two stores, law office and jewelry
shop. The cooperative store, groceries, was
largely damaged by water. Insured for $500.
G. e. Moore, meat market stock, was dam
aged, not insured. The building was owned
by George Hamilton, and insured for 1880.
Cause, defective chimney.
Fire in South Gardiner.
GARDINER, Dec. pa house owned by
Charles Eldridge, in South Gardiner, was de-
stroyed by fire last night. Loss $1,000; in
sured for $500. Cause unknown.
The Portland daily press., 1880-12-27

The sales of Wool for the week foot up $3.50, 700
pound which is large business for the week be-
fore Christmas. slight shading is reported in
feeces, but the market generally mas been pretty
steady. The receipts from domestic ports for the
week have been $3.50 bales against $3.50 bales the
corresponding week of 1879, and 1896 bales in
1878. The imports of foreign have been TAP bales,
against 1908 bales in 1879, Is bales in 1875