davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-06-02

IL You ever watched an icicle as 1t
formed, you would have noticed how it
froze one drop at time until It was foot
long or more. If the water was clean tho
icicle remained clear and sparkIed bright
ly in the sun, but if the water was slight
ly muddy, the icicle looked foul and lie
beauty was spoiled. Just SO our charac
lers are formed. O1e little thought or
feeling Of time adds its influence. If
every thought be pure and right, the soul
viii be bright and lovely, and will sparkl.,
with happiness but il there be thoughts
and feelings Impure and wrong, the mind
will be soiled, the character depravtd and
dnkened, and there will BE- final defor-
nifty and wretcedness. How important
then that we should be on our guard
against every evil impulse and desire.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-06-02

At one Of the hotels the other day. a
drummer went to settle his weekly bin.
which he thought amounted TO seven dol
lars ADD a-haf The clerk told him il
vas only seven dollars.
Amt your rates seven dollars and a.
half per week 2 asked the drummer.
They are
'Dont you advertise your rate. 10 be-
seven dollars aud s-half?' inquired the
drummer.
we do.
Then why don't you charge me seven
dollars and halt2 don't want To live
for less lhan any one else. The house Is
footing roy bills, ard there Is nothing
mean about me-
Seeing the drummer so angry, the clerk
took 81 biz diamond and explained
we arc charging you The same az any
one else
Then Why isn's IL seven dollars and
a-balfY
'Bccau5e you were away from dinner
the day before yesterday, and that take.
of hfty cents, The regular reducl
But . duh tbui interrupted the clerk.
who looked around and saw the drum
mer stretched dead on she GJor. lie viii
play on bis drum 10 more. Subsequent
investigation proved that tho man bad
formerly resided 10 q metropolitan board
Jug bouse aud lbo jury rendered dts yer.
dict accordingly giving &. So Hs opinion
Chat Doc had died Of excitement super.n-
ducod W sudden surprise.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-06-02

New Zealand has introduced the Amer
lean common school system, and has $50
schools and 81, 400 scholars.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31
n-ioss and Personals.

Rev. DIR, G.. IT. Read, the beloved pastor
Of tle Grace-Street Presbyterian church,
while dressing yesterday morning had an
attack probably OF paralysis, affecting his
face and one arm. Ills condition last night
was gratifying. and his early and complete
recovery Is most earnestly hoped for by the
entire community.
CAPTAIN James II. Deaton, ex-chief Of
police OF the city OF Petersburg; Mr.. J. s.
Beasiey, deputy sheriff; Mr.. w. ). Cope
land, OF The Mail; and Mr.. ID. A.. Lyon
ali OF Petersburg-were in the city yester-
day.
The State Conservative Executive Com
mittee meets on the 14th Of February OF
this year.
The Riddlebergcr funding bin was pass
ed on the 1ith Of February OF last year.
DIR. ]. J. Lafferty went down to Norfolk
to lecture last night.
Rev. J. n. TYLER and family left the city
Yesterday for Augusta, Ga, followed ny
the best wishes OF the people OF Rich
mond.
The clear weather and bright sun
brought the ladies out in numbers yester-
day, and their presence on the street was
really cheering.
No vessel arrived or left the port OF
Richmond yesterday, and only one or two
were i'm the harbor.
A good audience greeted Bishop War
rem in his lecture at Mozart Hall last night.
The sale Of reserved seats for Frederick
Warde commences this morning.
Rosa Williams, sentenced TO the peniten-
tiary for two years, and Cephas Johnson,
for the same time, both from Petersburg,
were brought over to the State prison yes
'terday.
Yes. Hazel kirke was well performed
last night. Never was so well done here.
There was great deal OF feeling shown by
the players and the people.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31
PAGES Block.
AND SOME SMALL MENTION OF THE BUSINESS
MEN THEREIN.

AND SOME SMALL MENTION OF THE BUSINESS
MEN THEREIN.
When Mr.. James B Pace bought the site
of the old SpotswoOd Hotel many coniec-
lures were made as to the character OF the
building which ii was thought would be
built bv him. The most oi the knowing
ones said that following out the natural
line OF events it would be best to raise
from the ashes Of the old hotel new
building devoted to the same purposes,
and ornamented and adorned with all
the modern conveniences and appurte-
nances that the man OF the Pc
rod requires for his happiness and
comfort in this fast age, not that we nave
not hotels in Richmond whereat the inner
man cannot be cOmforted, and in which
the substantial old Virginia ham and cab
bage. the succulent oyster, the never-to-Dc-
forgotten mint and apple brandy, and the
hundred of other good things cannot
be found at proper price and in endless
profusion, hut simply that some innoya-
tions in the matter OF looking after the
wants OF the travelling public could
be made with reasonable eXpecta-
ton that profit thcrefrOm would follow.
But Mr.. Pace did not build hotel. lie
thought it would be better TO build busl-
ness block, and he did so. To-day it stands
as his monument, and "Pace's Block " is
becoming traditional. Some sharp critics
look at it and complain; the more c0nser-
yative make suggestions about the dimen-
sion Of the house, the color OF the paint,
&c. but everybody stops, looks at, and
talks about the block. That is, everybody
that passes up Main street, and almost
everybody visiting Richmond does this.
Enterprising merchants soon filled the
stores. and to-day there are five firms doing
leading business work in PAGES Block.
They are X. Z. Richardson, the we'll
known dealer in carpets, oi-cloths, &c. !;
Carlton Mccarthy, books and stationery
the first to move in); Joseph NJ. Blair,
groceries; J. A. Grigg, boots, shoes,
trunks. &C.; and last, but not least. j. i.
Stevenson, who has taken No. S07, and
opened one Of the finest houses south oil
New York. Anything in the shape OF gas
and oil-fxtures, marble mantels, &C., IN
any variety and at all prices, is here. The
store is beautiful Of its kind, and is daily
visited by hundreds OF people.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31

MANCHESTER AND VICINITY.

Briefs.-A jury was empanelled In the
City Court yesterday to try the case OF
Smiths administrators rs. The Richmond
and Danville Railroad Company. Smiths
administrative il his wife, who claims
$1,000 damages from the railroad COM
pany for killing her husband about two
years since at the depot in this city, as she
alleges, by negligence Of their employees.
The unfortunate man at the time OF his
death was amongst the ears, as il was his
duty to be. attending TO ht business.
After the jury were sworn yesterday they
went to the scene OF the casualty and had
the surroundings explained TO them. De-
cedent was a cnr-greaser.
The action OF the late grand jury OF the
City Court in presenting certain liquor
dealers here for selling the ardent on sun
day has had The result Of largely increasing
the Saturday sales of the merchants in
question. A man formerly content with
one or two drinks on the Sabbath now
braces his nerves in anticipation OF sunday
by carving home on Saturday his quart
tickler and demjohn. A Manchester citi-
zen will never consent 10 be legislated OIL
otherwise done out of any constitutional
privilege like that OF tlking drink when
ever he feels like il.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31
Death Of a Former Citizen.

Mr.. james l.. Waldr0p, who had resided
at various intervals since the late war IN
this city, where he was occupied as a rail-
road official, died at $40 =. NJ. Monday
night at the hotel at High Point, North
Carolina, winch he was conducting at the
time. His disease was typhoid-pneumonia,
and the attack had continued about five
weeks. Deceased was once Richmond
agent Of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company, and afterwards was general
eastern passenger agent of the Piedmont
Airline, with headquarters in New York
city. He had had other railroad employ
ment, but it is believed he was not at the
time Of his death connected with any line.
He was about forty-tvc years OF age, and a
native OF Pottiesville, Louisa county,
where his relatives now reside.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31

The Old Main.strect L,ght.Hou.e.

Mordecai, i'm "Richmond in By-Gone
Days. says "Isichmond may claim tne
honor Of being among the first, IL not tne
very first, city lighted with gas. An au-
venturer, OF a philosopher, named Hen
frey. in the infancy Of the present century,
visited Richmond and induced some OF ns
citizens. scientific or curious, TO witness
his process OF pouring flame instead OF
steam or water from the spout OF a tea-Ket-
tie. His experiments with better appa-
ratus were also successful. Money was
raised by subscription. and lighthouse
IAN octagonal tower OF brick) was erected
on the then highest point easily accessible
on Main street, which was in front OF where
the American Hotel now stands [soutn-.
west corner OF Main and EleuenhI:
A large lantern with many jets surmounted
the tower at the height OF some forty feet.
The gas was generated in kind OF still IN
the basement, and conducted by pipe 10
the burners. The experiment on the hrst
night and for several subsequent ones was
more successful than we would now think
possible, comparing the simple apparatus
then used with the complex one and the
large and numerous structures now re-
qured. Mr.. Henirey's light was to shine
along the extent of Main street, and 10
send its superfluous rays TO the Capitol ana
the Basin.
"Thc novelty expired, and so did the
light, but the tower long remained-a inonu~
ment OF enterprise, il not OF science ana
wisdom; and we may now boast that
although our gas did not burn well, we
were the first 10 light it.
"Some wears later the line OF Main street
was lighted according to the system OF
those bcnighted times but this, also, was
done by private subscription, and diligent
ones were wanting to keep the lamps trlln-
med, mischievous boys broke them, and the
lights ceased TO shine.
sAbOut half q century after llenireys s
light went out new and more permanent
one was kindled [gaS-works on Cary street,,
and this had been burning only few years
when the cry of give us more light caused
the erection Of new and more extensive
gas-works on The outskirts OF the city near
Rockets, which will probably suffice for
two or three generations, as would It's pre-
deceSsor have done for the present one."
Now i'm 1883 the cry "giye us more
light" is again heard. More light and
cheaper ight is wanted. For a city OF its
size Richmond uses very little Gas. Gas
has by no means yet displaced the oil-lamp
here. Thousands of people still use oil
who would gladly have gas but Tor the
price. Our gas is not always good, but IL
is always high. A reduction from = to
$1.AO would probably increase the con.
sumption 33j per cent. and in that case, II
the estimates submitted to the Council are
at all correct, the city would make more
thar she did last year.
The people will have no faith in the won
derfu economy OF any plan selected unless
with the adoption OF that scheme goes an
ordinance reducing to consumers the price
OF gas to figures corresponding with the
amount which it is alleged the improve
ments will save the city.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31

me q stamped envelope, The Brush E'ec-
tric Company. $40 Euclid avenue, Cleye-
land, Ohio. Brush only lives SIX doors
from my residence in Cleyeland; bis lac
tory one block from my sons properly on
east Prospect street. II the gas company
lower their price say 10 $3.50 per thousand
feet. then I for one will have two new
burners put on, and shall consume nearly
twice what now do.
i will tell the PAS company twb0 are gem
orally wiseacres, know-nothings, and no
less old fogies) that ] remember letters 3D..
each in England-now they are Id. and de-
liyered; salt was 44d. or 0 cents--now II is
half cent. and manufacturers Of salt live
in palatial residences, rich. II this gas
company can be induced 10 pm: gas at $3.50
per 1000 feet the increased consumption
win pay them just as much as now, and i
need not be at the trouble to invite Brush
here to light up Richmond.
have no particular interest IN the gas
question anyway, az / leave (u God spares
mel I'm about nine or ten months for the
south of England, hut 1 do think that
Richmond, the best-located city In the
Southeast for wholesale and retail business
next to Baltimore, ought to wake up. II
Il well built, connects with the whole
Southeast, the streets are well paved. and
the water washes il clean with single
good shower, and il would please me, who
has had such wonderful patronage in six.
teen weeks, to hear when in England oi
its great progress and general prosperity.
Yours respectfully, john GOODMAN.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31
processor Alexander Dinisry.

Last nights telegrams announce the
death, at his home in New Orleans, OF the
distinguished scholar and educator, Pro-
SCISSOR Alexander Dimitry, in the seventy
ninth year of his age. Deceased was well
known in this city, where he and his family
resided for the most part OF the late war,
after being driven from their southern
home. His education was Of very high
order, he being versed in all the classics,
ancient and modern, and speaking fluently
some dozen languages. During his long
life he for many years held the position Of
superintendent OF Public Instruction
for the State Of Louisiana; was also prin-
cipal in his native city Of its leading scho-
lastic institute, and had represented the
United States as Minister TO one OF the
Central American republics. Alexander
Dimitry descended from some Of the best
blood OF France, settled in Louisiana, was
man Of hopor, and gentleman whose
word was as good as his bond. Peace to
his ashes.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31
venus as She Will Appear i'm the Feb
ruary Sky.
providence Journal


Venus i the morning star, the brightest
and fairest OF the thrOng that grace the
morning sky. She rises now three hours
before the sun, shining with the serene ra-
diance that distinguishes her, and cOntin-
mes to be visible long after the lesser stars
have melted away. On The 10th, ut 2
O'Clock in the morning, Venus reaches her
greatest western elongation. Here her
westward course ends. She is forty-siX
degrees tifty-two minutes west OF the
sun. ard can 90 no further from him.
The inexorable laws that rule her
movements compel her to retrace her
stems. 1t Is easy TO keep the run
of their paths, especially in the case OF We
nus. No planet in the system presents so
many points Of interest, or Is so closely al-
lied TO the planet on which we dwell, as We
ms. She is our nearest neigbbor except
the moon. is nearly like the earth in dimen-
sions, in the length of her day and night,
i'm the possession OF an atmosphere, and In
the probable mountainous condition OF her
surface. Besides, she gratifies our aesthetic
perceptions by being the most beautiful
Star the eve beholds, and she is the
only planet that is visible in the
nresence of the MONDAY sun. She is
therefore II HOrt ihtfiNothE
study. Those who were eye-witnesses OF
her recent transit have tangible point
from which to commence observation.
They saw for themselves the inferior con-
function when Venus passed between the
earth and the sun, the transit when pass
ing over the suns disc. she changed from
.an evening to a morning star. deserting the
SUMS eastern side and appearing upon ms
western side. Since that time she has
been moving westward, rising earlier
every morning, passing her period OF
greatest brlliancy and turning more OF her
illuminated surface towards us.
On the 10th change occurs. She Is
stationary for few days, and then CON-
mences TO make her way back towards the
sun, for she has passed her western elonga-
ton, one OF the four prominent points in
her path. She will move slowly, retracing
her steps towards the sun until she reaches
superior conjunction In September and
completes her course as morning star, aud
completes also half her synodic period.
Observers, following the path OF the
beautiful star, will see that after
eIongation she rises later, and that her
bright face perceptlbly pales until she APP
proaches the sun so closely as to be lost to
view In bis bright beams. She Is charm
ing object in the telescope during the
month, shining a. crescent until elonga-
lion, then taking on the lovely aspect Of o
half moon.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31
To The Editor Of the Dispatch:

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
"Yet little while and | am with You"
said the great Israelite the Bethlehem
ite. and he tried to teach them to be a
moral and upright people. Had they
needed his sayings and carried out his pre-
cents. which he learned in Alexandria
from the writings Of Confucius and Ia
hada the Cushite, founder OF IIindoostan,
then would their good sense have taught
them the folly OF an infant State warning
against the most gigantic military power
on earth; and Titus Vesparlan would not
have destroyed Jerusalem, and the glori-
ous Temple OF Solomon, in part, would
perhaps have remained 10 this day to feast
the ewes OF modern travellers.
When I was fourteen years OF age gas
company started in my native town. The
papers said they must have lbs. thousand.
/ suggested Gs. They thinking 1t from an
influential citizen OF my name, made 1t 0s.
NV last letter from there shows II Is only
5s., and they are SO rich the company that
they own most Of the shares In one OF the
richest canals In England. have before
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31
The Theatre Last Night.

Hazel Kirkc is n play Of deep pathos, and
wonderful power over the hearts oil the
peope. IL draws well everywhere, and
deserves to. for there Is nothing in 1t
vicious, and while not story OF everyday
life, there Is nothing In II but what "might
have been.- Ii had q splendid audience at
tha Theatre last night-splendid in COM
position rs wen as In numbers. 1t was
played with charming smoothness, and that
precision which only comes Of long prac-
tice. Mr.. &. w. Couldock was Dunstan
Kirke, the iron-hearted old miller, loving
his daughter well, but his own way better.
Mrs. l.. l.. Davenport was Mercy, his wife.
portraying Il character which her name de-
scribcs, standing between the anger OF her
husband and the disobedience OF her child.
Miss Carrie Wyatt was Hazel, and mighty
pretty she looked rs the simple child Mt
the mill, as Carringford's wife, as the
wronged wife, and as the pleading picture
before her blind father. Miss Ada Gilman
was Delightful Dolly Dutton, and capital
little actress she Is, as our Theatre-g0ers
well know. Pittacus Green, ,Dolly's lover,
and "a mutual friend" was eXceilently
performed By George w. Howard, who
sent stream OF humor into the midst OF
all the sorrow, grief, anger, hatred, love,
and suffering of the piece; was, in fact, an
oasis OF fun in desert OF despair. All the
other characters were well rendered, and
the play was success. laughter chasing
away the tears OF the susceptible. There
was no complaint to make unless it was
that Hazel was too numerously loved. and
that her sorrows bore rather heavily upon
some OF the ladies OF the audience.
c. w. Couldock the miller is "an old
timer" and good one. Age but mellows
his rare genius.
Hazel Kirke will be repeated tonight.
The sale OF seats guarantees fine house.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31

THE RIVER INPROyENEN.-May Car
rlngton recently forwarded to our senators
and representatives in Congress the resolu-
tlons adopted by the City Council with .
ference to the desired appropriation 70 she
Improvement OF James river, and hiss re-
ceiyed the following cordial reply from one
member:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE, !.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., January 20, 1888.
W. q. Cari,gton, ESP Mayor, de-,
Richmond, Vd.:
Sir,--I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt OF your communication Of date
18th instant, enclosing resolutions OF City
Council relative to Improvement channel
OF James river, &C., and to state that 1t
will afford me pleasure to cooperate with
your faithful representative, Hon. George
ID. Wise, in anything and everything that
will advance the interest Of your city.
Very respectfully,
JoHN +. DEzEND0RP.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31

MASQUERADE LAST NIGHT.-Leyy's Hall
last night presented a brilliant and unique
scene in the gathering OF maskers there
assembled to participate in the private
masquerade gotten up by the ladies aud
gentlemen in the employ OF Messrs. Levy,
DAVIS Il Drake. The affair was a success
even beyond the expectation OF those who
inaugurated and carried il out. There
were nearly a hundred present in cos
tunes. embracing the Nomadic Gypsy, the
Predatory Turk, the Rowing Indian (in full
feather and paint, pretty shepherdesses,
German and Swiss peasant girls, Heathen
Chinese, the Goddess OF Liberty, Brother
Jonathans, bold soldier boys, the Daughter
OF the Regiment; Night, brilliant in
crescent and stars; pair OF clowns, the
Fat Boy. the Backwoodsman. Sunflower
lassies. the inevitable Oscar Wilde, rollick-
ing sailors, the dark Mexican, and
the iIrepressible negro. Besides these,
there were numerous nondescript, tasteful
as well as comic, costumes-all tending to
make up pleasing conglomeration.
A march with intricate eyolutions, in
which the varied costumes intermingled in
the most incongruous blending OF the So
lemn with the ridiculous, was the initiative
OF the dancing en- mdSqne, and for two
hours the efforts Of each masker to dis
cover the identity Of Others caused many
ludicrous contretempS, which were the more
heartily enjoyed when at IL O'Clock the or
der to unmask was given and the numerous
mistakes made were exposed. The dancing
was then continued "fast and furious"
until the small hours Of morning, with only
an intermisson at midnight for the enjoy
ment Of a substantial supper. Those ladies
and gentlemen who had the management
Of the details OF this festive frolic may well
congratulate themselves upon its success
and the pleasure they thereby furnished to
their associates and invited guests.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31
Supreme Court Of Appeals.

Cole rs. Cole and others. Appeal allow
ed and superSededS awarded to II decree
pronounced by the Circuit Court OF Smyth
county on the 10Th Of September, 1882.
Cassell rs. Casscll Appeal allowed and
superSededS awarded to decree pro-
nounced by the Circuit Court OF Wythe
county on the 18th OF March, 1881.
Wimbish rs. Breeder. Writ OF error and
SuperSededS awarded to judgment rem
dered by the Circuit Court Of Mecklenburg
county on the 29th OF May. 1882.
Orme and wife against the city OF Rich
mond. Writ Of error awarded to a iudg-
ment rendered by the Circuit Court OF the
city OF Richmond on the 23d day OF Feb
ruary, 1881.
Carr and Others against Mead's eXecu-
trix and ais. Argued by Major John NJ.
Orr for the plaintiff in errorand submitted.
Roper and ais. against McWhorter and
ais. Argued by Captain John S. Wise for
appellant, and Captain f. $. Blair for ap-
pellee.