davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
National Republican., 1883-02-23
Frogs That would he Oxen.

"Booghus, Repository, devoted to the pre-
servation of history, biography and geneal-
ogy," is the comprehensive title of a new
and very handsomely printed magazine, the
first number of which has just been issued by
Horace Wemyss Smith, of Philadelphia.
The apparent object of this publication
is to furnish genealogical pabulum to the
vanity Of such people as have made
money enough to feel that it devolvcs upon
them to have ancestry. While the editor is
unquestionably earnest in his undertaking,
IL might be wished he had applied his labor
to some more common sense purpose Amer
no family" here in the sense it has
abroad, for the reason that there is no law
Of entail by force Of which property,
home, and central authority may be
maintained and transmitted from father to
son. Each generation pushes out for itself,
diversely. This is as it must be in the
development of a vast and rich continent like
ours. The forces that shape the growth of
nations are too powerfully active here to per-
nit that quesccncc which is necessary to the
crystalization of communities into families.
And the beginnings were not of a sort to be
justly proud of, as q rule. A few genera
tions back Of the most aristocratc houses
there were junlmon or tailors or
squaws or worse-and everybody knows
it so well that an attempt to prove blue blood
simply advortises the foolishness of those who
make it. In country where present char
acter and ability settle a mans position, there
is no demand to know who or what his grand
father was. Family name and an honorable
history Herewith connected may constitute q
standard to be lived up to by those who
really have them but when such antecedents
are not inquired after-as they are not here
IL is in the worst of bad taste to pretend to
them for the mere purpose las the case inva-
riably is) of assuming superiority over others
who are satisfied to stand upon what they
themselves are. To cater to this vulgarity is
in itself vulgar, and very cheaply so.
National Republican., 1883-02-23

being similarly traded in. There was no
question as to the ofIense nor as TO the author
ship and rights in any of these compositions
Yet the courts were without the means Of
measuring Justice to the thieves and nothing
came of the matter.
Few people have any proper notion of the
value of a successful drama. No other kind
Of successful literary effort brings in as largo
rewards. A popular play is far more re-
munorative piece of property than popular
book. That book should be protected to its
owners and play should not, is manifestly
wrong; but mono of the many efforts made
to correct that state of things has como to
any effect. Like all wrongs it will work out
its own righting in course of time; and cases
such as.this of Iolanthe," by directing atten-
tion toward It, may possibly help the time
along,
National Republican., 1883-02-23
Mr.. WINDOWS Supposed Plans.

Senator Window has his eye on Mexico, as
the story goes. Pretty much everything that
is done in Mexico has its impulse and back
ing in the United States, and tho scheme to
build railroad across tho northern end Of
that republic originated in Boston. 1t is said
that the directors of road to run from Eagle
Pass westward to the Pacific Ocean have of
fered Senator Window the presidency, and
he has agreed to accept if the stockholders, at
n meeting to be held on the twentieth OF
March, express desire to have him. The
salary is to be $4,000 year, which he agrees
to take in stock of the company for four years,
which will be his stipulated term if he goes
into the office. The company has already a
stock subscription of 100000, and it is re-
ported that the subsidy given by the Mexican
government is sufficient in itself to pay all
costs of construction. From the senate to
such fat place will not be so bad.
National Republican., 1883-02-23
Reduction OF Duty on Books.

Edmund c, Stedman, L. V. Smalley, and H..
Il. Scuddor, describing themselves as writers
of books" have petitioned congress to make
no reduction of the present tariff, 25 per cent,
upon books on the ground, first, that the
prosperity of authors is closely connected
with the prosperity of publishers and Amer
lean books demand American publishers, and
whatever seriously checks the business of pub
fishing checks the freedom of wri ting; that
the removal of essential reduction of the exist
ing tariff would give the foreign publisher an
advantage over the American publisher by en-
abling him to occupy the American market
with books written and made abroad ut o
lower rate than that at which they can be
made in this county; the effect of which
would be to force the American publisher into
the publication of those copyright books only
whose reputation has already been made, or
of books which serve professional uses, such
as reports of courts and school books and
that higher literature will be discouraged
and the greatest volume of current literature
which is in the form OF reading for the young
will be guided by foreign authors instead of
by men and women of their nation. Mr.
Stcdman adds note in which he says that
he is compelled to sign this petition owing
to the absence Of an international copyright
law.
Mr. Morrill, presented the memorial to the
senate yesterday.
National Republican., 1883-02-23
nRANCM oFFICEs.

The following Is lis vt the branch offices IN
Washington. Others will be added hereafter:
VS.. Ro sEs News Sands 1t the ARLINGTON
HOTEL, WnLARD's HOTEL, and METROPOLITAN
UoTEt.
RooSE & QurES's News Stand, NATioSAL HorEL
IF. QUEEN. ST. JAMES HoTEL.
RiCGs NouSr News stand
ERBITT llHusE News Stand.
AMERICAN IlousE News stand.
W. :. TnoMrsoS's Drug tire.
c. II. FICFuiNGs Drug Store, Georgetown.
J.IRADLEY ApANs's BoOE Su.cs
{. II. BrruuE, Druggist 1915 Fourteenth street.
II. Il. FERGUSON, Druggist, corner Second aud
Pennsylvania avenues :. T.,
S. T. LEWIS, Druggist, corner Fourteenth and /
streets.
G. G. e. srvMs, Druggist, corner Fourteenth and
New York avenue.
VIZ. SCALA, Drugrst, FOO Fast Capitol street.
II. A JOHNSTON, dru gist. corner Tenth aud Q
streets northwest.
s. sLArER's Cigar Store, corner II and Fir.
streets northwest.
National Republican., 1883-02-23
A CemsorIoms World.

The World turns coldly on Senators Bayard
Barrow, Brown, Camden, Davis, German,
Jackson, and Mcpherson. We refer to the
New York World That unimpcachable or
gan of democracy arraigns these gentlemen
for having voted for tariff scheme which
not only runs counter to the instructions of
the late Adam Smith, as set forth in his
valuable work entitled "An Inquiry
into the Nature and Causes of the
Wealth Of Nations" but also to the
views of President Folks secretary of the
treasury as laid down in his report of 1916.
Tho World further charges that these eight
offenders against democratic principles, in
conducting themselves as they have upon the
tariff measure of the senate, had not due re-
gard for the views either Of Lord John Rus
sell, Sir Robert Peel, or Mr.. Richard Golden.
What is democracy coming to when, as the
World charges, eight senators Of that persuasion
are caught in the very act Of attempting to
"read the life and soul and substance of demo-
cratic principles out of the democratic party p"
II is not and il cannot come to good. What
will the World say if the democratic members
of the house shall filibuster for a chance to
concur in the action of those eight senator's
National Republican., 1883-02-23

FoR dignifed expression of disgust Mr.
Parnell's manner under the attack. of Forster
in the house of commons yesterday might
serve as q model Forster threw at him q
charge that his party was working up toward
assassination, and with vgor born of somc-
what unparliamentary feeling laid at his door
or that Of the land league-what seems to
have been an imputation of responsibility
for Che things now undergoing ventilation in
the Dublin police court. Mr.. Parnell's only
reply was a motion to adjourn the debate. 1t
was as though he had used tho Amoricanism,
"You make mo tired"
National Republican., 1883-02-23
AMERICAN WRITER'S.
strong Censnre Not undessrrca.

boOhk kthhhIe ANON
london Correspondence Of NeO York Tribune.
The author of the article on American
novels in the current number of the Quarterly
Reuie,O is Mr.. L. J. Jennings formerly editor
of the New York Times. The applause be-
slowed of late on such American novelists as
Mr.. Henry James and Mr.. Howels seems to
Mr.. Jennings excessive; and he has made an
effort TO readjust the balance by censure not
less excessive, and by pretty sweeping praise
of every American novelist except these two
Mr.. Bret Harte is praised; Mr.. Gilmore
Simms, Mrs. Burnett, Mr.. Cable, Mr.. Sylvester
Judd, Hawthorne, Poe, Cooper, and the au-
thor of Democracy "-of all these Mr.. Jen-
nings finds something amiable to say. OF
Mr.. James and Mr.. Howells nothing is too
bad to say. zone little book of Hawthorne's,"
the British public is told, dis worth all the
labOred and tedious writings of the novelists
who boast Of having founded new
school of fiction, based upon the principle that
the best novelists is he who has no story to
tell" These two unhappy young men have
turned to novel writing as pleasant means
of acquiring profit and reputation without
any natural gifts for the work, and without
any true insight into its nature" They can
not invent plot, they have no imagination,
they are not really Americans, they puff each
other in the same magazine, with accompany
ing portraits softened down from the origi-
mails, their compositions are feeble and dreary,
their splendors are borrowed. Mr.. James's
Daisy Miller" Is remarkable for artificial
mannerisms and tawdry smartness. The plot
of "The American" Is chaotic and Newman
an impossible character. The Portrait Of
Lady" docs not contain single interesting
incident. Mr.. Howells "Modern Instance"
contains no narrative which could not be told
iu ten lines. His men and women are stilted,
unnatural, brutal. Both writers belong TO
the spurious" American school; and the
final criticism on this sort of American novels
is that they are not American and not novels.
National Republican., 1883-02-23
The Uruisers' Ycnr.

Prize fighting as an art appears to be reviv-
ing. When Jem Mace and his Maori returned
from Australia some time ago they received
vast amount of attention, not only from the
sporting men, who are supposed to make
heroes Of such characters, but a certain
notice and great space in newspapers of the
best class, which is simply astounding. The
mania for boxing is raging all over the
as they never were before, and not week
passes but battle is fought with or without
gloves. ~,
There seems to be a kind of periodicity
in these revivals, In Lord Byron's time he
had but one rival in boxing, and that was
Jackson, a pugilist who was courted by men
of the highest fashion in London. The
rules of the ring having been made by the
Marquis Of Queensbury indicates the fact that
men Of rank were the chief promoters of
prize fighting from the beginning. In Phila-
delphia the other day two Cclestials, Mr.. Hi
and Mr.. Loo, went to work pounding each
other in the highest style of western civiliza-
ton Mr.. Loo, after being knocked into a
cooked hat, philosophically remarked, "Me
catchee plenty" Everything possible has
been said against the degrading sport of the
thing, and further remark would be tritc
but when columns of valuable space in the
public prints are devoted to Mace and Slade
and Sullivan, and such like CATTLE is it not
about time to inquire what our boasted nine.
tcenth century civilization amounts tor
National Republican., 1883-02-23

GREAT hullabaloo has been going on in
Now York over prison discipline at the same
time that Gov Butler has very much relaxed
the rules of the prisons in Massachusetts,.
The consequence is that revolt is now in
progress among the 1900 convicts in Sing
Sing, prison which is filled with the most
desperate class of criminals. There is little
danger that anything serious will come of 1t,
but when, as the case now is, men arc i'm
prisonod only for crime, and it is yearly get
ting more difficult to get severe verdicts from
juries, it seems as If there were not much
room for that false sentiment which would
treat a thief or murderer as well as if he had
been a law abiding citizen all his life
National Republican., 1883-02-23
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THE OPERA "poN GIOVANNI,

THE OPERA "DoN GIOVANNI"
"Don Giovanni" was sung last evening
with Scalchi as zerlina, Ciampi-Ccllaj as Don
Giovanni, Ravelli as Ottavio, Fursch- -Madi as
Donna Anna, Dotti as Donna Elvira, and Cor
SIM as Leporello. After Scalchi, this cast was
a masterful mastering OF seconds. Scalchi's
reception was the Of most enthusiastic sort.
The truth is that this admirable
artist has carried the honors of the engage
ment. The favor in which she stands was in
no whit diminished in manifestation even
when she sang in the same opera with Patti.
She is the actual attraction of the company.
Her success throughout the season tells what
she will accomplish next year. Not only is
her voice the most magnificent contralto this
generation has listened to, but her methods
are faultless, and her dramatic capabilities
superb. The delight with which last even
ing's audience listened to her found express
sion in double or treble calls after each of her
numbers.
Corsini is o good comedian, rs well as q
capable singer. His Leporello was an admir-
able performance in every way. AS much
may be said of Ciampi- -Cellaj in the titular
part, but less will do for the Others
Dotti would make her way very pros
perously in company less heavily weighted
with great soprani. Her voice is pleasant
one, though her method of breathing inter
feres with its free and accurate use and in
appearance and manner she is decidedly pre-
possessing. Fursch- -Madi is deferred from
greatness by a strident quality in her other
wise strong and well managed voice. The
opera was satisfactorily performed.
"EsMERALDA"
The interest attaching to Mrs. Burnetts
play is larger than might have been looked
for. The sale of seats at Fords yesterday
opened with unexpected brislSness The facts
that Mrs. Burnett resides here, and that John
L. Owens has always been popular favorite
at our theaters, count for moro than had
been expected of them.
National Republican., 1883-02-23
Their One Motive,

Obstruction or destruction is democratic
policy. Obstruction of the growth of liberty,
or destruction of the nation; obstruction of
the endeavors to educate and elevate the
freedman; refusal of the privileges of casting
and counting the negro's vote; denial of his
right to own property, or destruction of his
life; obstruction of needed legislation and de-
lay on all matters ofpubliC Importance, or de.
struction of national and private interests.
This is an epitome of the history of the dem
ocratic party from its origin to the present
time.
National Republican., 1883-02-23
EstortIons by Spanish consuls.

Mr.. Calls resolution offered in the senate
yesterday requesting the President to insti-
tute negotiations with the government Of
Spain for restitution of money unlawfully
taken from Capt. James Mckay and other
shippers of cattle at Key West relates particu-
larly to the alleged arbitrary aud extor-
tionate head tax imposed by the Spanish
consul at Key West upon cattle shipped to
Cuba. During the past few years this tax
has proven Onorous to shippers. Mr.. Calls
bill authorizing the President to adopt retalia.
tory measures as remedy for this extortion
in the future is pending in the senate foreign
relations committee.
National Republican., 1883-02-23
Dramntle Copyright.

The question of dramatic and musical stage
copyrights suggested by the "lolanthe" de-
cision of Judges Morris and Bond in Balti-
more last Wednesday has in it an interest
nearer home than any rights of European au-
thors. This country needs some sort Of en-
actment for the protection Of its own citizens
in these matters, We have no dramatic copy
right that Is worth the fee that must be paid
for it. The American copyright law In fact
takes little orno cognizance Of dramatic litera-
ture. 1t assumes to protect nothing more than
the title of play, and even that protection
is dubious, An American dramatist seeking
to protect himself must go into court with
less law at his back than though he were
trying to establish his right in piece of per-
sonal property. So lacking is law upon this
subject that in even cases Of broad and
wholesale piracy Of native plays, authors and
managers have found the greatest difficulty
in conducting any kind of prosecution, either
civil or criminal. The experience Of the
Madison Square theater managers in dealing
with regularly organized firm of play thieves
IN Chicago, year ago, might be instancod as
in point of this. The Messrs. Mallory own
several highly valuable American plays,
among them being "Hazel KirlSe," which
was being sold by these thieves to irrespon-
siblo strollors for dollar copy The prop
cry of Mckee Rankin, BARLEY Campbell,
and several other actors and authors, was
National Republican., 1883-02-23
" EshIERALDA.'' -
Tho second Deuree.
Bristol (Vd.) Nous.


Whytheville correspondent of the Lynchburg
Advance so far advanced us to write from that town
n letter under date ofthe fourteenth, which is pub.
lished in the AdUance of The thirteenth, says;
ON the street to-day an alteration took place
between GEN Wm. Terry aud W, W. WoousOn, in
which the latter got three rnps upon his Uranium,
which did not exactly call him to order, but com
pletey Knocked him out of time, WOOd'on is a
new convert to MahOneism, having decided to 60
over to that political faith in the last few days and
in his speech to-day swore everlasting allegiance
To the rules aud dictates of that party. This bnp-
tism in the Bahoneite pool is called in this cou.
try tue first degree, The second degree is gen.
orally thrashing from some true democrat and
MIR. Woodson forced Gen. Terry to administer the
second by using language TO that gentleman which
did not exactly accord with his way of thinking.
The point In the above is that no man is to be
permitted to join the readjuster movement with.
out being threshed by some bourbon. Free thought
and free opinion we have long known were not
apurtenances of bourbonsm, but this is the first
bold acknowledgment Of II from that party.
Nevertheless the readJuster revolution will pro-
coed, all the same,
National Republican., 1883-02-23
VIII the Majority Bestlr Itself,

The republican caucus of yesterday did not
succeed in entirely smoothing the way to
pass bill for revision of the tariff, though 1t
did accomplish something in ascertaining the
conditions under which tho party will stand
together. On one question there was
agreement-that the majority ought to
revise the tariff if 1t is revised
at all. There is no longer any mis-
understanding as to what may be ex-
pected from all classes of republicans, rang
ing from a Pennsylvania high protectionist
to Minnesota free trader They are for re-
publican revision rather than democratic ro-
vision, and will in no event embarrass the
majority. 1t remains now for tho majority
to handle itself effectively, and there is no
time to be lost.
National Republican., 1883-02-23
GasIIglted Knows,

The speaker laid before the house yester-
day letter from the secretary of the treas
ury in reply to an inquiry from congress
concerning the lighting of beacons and buoys.
The letter is accompanied by report from
the light house board, setting forth the sue
cess of experiments with gaslighted buoys in
Currituck sound, North Carolina, and New
York harbOr. The secretary renews the OK
preston in his annual report of the opinion
that experiments in European waters Justify
the belief that gas may be thus introduced
with good effect and with economy to the
sarVice
National Republican., 1883-02-23

LIEUT.. CoMD'R GoRRNGE is given q
chance in another column to express himself
upon the subject of his resignation from the
Aayal service, and his reasons for that action.
If Lieut. Comd'r Gorringo appears unfavor.
ably in the light ofhis own remarks the fault
is wholly his own. In effect he admits that
his own acts brought ccnsure upon him; and
in Wow Of that admission his effort to sniff
discrodit upon the navy office is not wholly
devoid of awkwardness.
National Republican., 1883-02-23
The NIlssls.lnpi nlyer Improyemsnt.

Tho majority report of the honse special
committee on the improvement of the Miss
issippi river was completed and read in COM
mittee yesterday. 1t excited great deal of
There will be minority report
on the general improvements, signed by Mr..
Thomas, of Illinois, and Mr.. Ellis, of Louis
lana, and minority report on the outlet sys-
tom, signed by BIessrs Butterworth, Holman,
and Hazleton.
National Republican., 1883-02-23
TO CITY sunscnGrmI,s.

THF DAILY EErupMcAS delivered u, carriers To
any part oi the cit, aud suburbs, regularly and
early. az the folluving rates;
Per NoIth.......... ......'..'..''.'..''..'''' "
Per Qunrier..,............... Sll
Ter Aenr..........,,........... 60
National Republican., 1883-02-23

lT Is stated in words of soberness and truth
that Oscar Wilde is studying for the stage,
and will make his first appearance as Romeo.
One thing is certain, whatever that astute
young lrishman may be up to, it will nut
money in his purse. For all his long hair
and his knee brooches, one has to get up very
early in the morning to see all around Oscar
and if he be humbug he at least deserves tc
be ranked among the successful humbugs,
National Republican., 1883-02-23
Clvn Service on business Principles.

New York contemporary pertinently calls at
tention to the fact that President Arthur himself
began the work ofreforming the civil service when
he was collector of the port of New York Dur.
ing the five years preceding Mr. Arthurs collec.
torship 1,67S employees of the custom house were
removed during his term, which also lasted five
years, there were only ldi removals, all Of which
were for cause. Moreover all his appointments,
except two Were promotions-iaCts and figures
which show that tho President believes in carry.
ing out strictly business principles in the most
practical way,
National Republican., 1883-02-23

SCARCITY of water seriously affects the
market value and insurance rate of house,
upon the higher points of the city. There il
no valid excuse for this state of affairs. Free
holders should have the same rights accorded
to them wherever they may locate. Discrim
ination in this matter is gross injustice.
National Republican., 1883-02-23

EVANGELIST BARNES lameYts that he did
not find New York and Brooklyn 80 easy to
convert us the western cities, lie saved
four hundred and fifty brands from the burn.
ing in nine weeks of western work, but
neither New York nor Brooklyn appeared to
succumb to spasmodc religion. Hence
Brother Barnes's tears, lie does not think
the sinners of the west as tough as those of
the cast.
National Republican., 1883-02-23
For EIectrlc Light Experiments.

The speaker laid before the house yesterday
a letter from the secretary of tho treasury
recommending legislation by congress to au-
thorize the lease Of site at Hallett's Point,
N. Y, for the erection Of tower for expert
ments with electric lights The experiments
were authorized by an act passed last session,
and now congress is asked to appropriate $i00
for lease, with the reserved right to buy at
$4,000, if it should be deemed advisable, at any
time within two years.
National Republican., 1883-02-23

JOAQUIN MILLER ought to quote correctly
if he quotes at all. What docs he mean by
writing about "on fame's everlasting camp.
ing ground2" That sort of treatment of one
poet by another speaks poorly for the ameni.
ties of the trade.
National Republican., 1883-02-23
The Lost steamer A.huelot.

Secretary Chandler yesterday morning
received the following telegram from Captain
Jos eph s. Skerrett, commanding the United
states steamer Richmond, dated Hong Kong,
Feb. 81 Ashuelot total loss on Samock
island. Eleven enlisted men lost. Remain
der on Richmond. Admiral (Clintz) in the