davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-12-16

E0pUS3K Ideas DDmmsic8e8 With 94o
ssnAallowen and Rracfoms E1me,,,
Christmas supcrs:itions take many
forms. Though the day vas not much
observed In Scotland It used 10 be con-
sidered nnlucky TO spin. as causing cat
tie TO 20 mad and lame. Dead baked
on Christmas Eve Is said nevsF 10 grow
mouldy. Yule dough kept unbr0ken
through the year - prescrvatiye
against perils BY fire, water or sword.
and the Normans thought from mad
dogs also. The crumbs kept till spring
and mixed with corn the Danes and
Poles give as q medicine for horses and
cattle. To this day, in many parts Of
Wales, eleven Christmas puddings are
boiled, one for each Of the apostles cx-
cept Iscariot The last il only TO be
eaten as the year Is up to Insure good
luck. In Deyonshire hot cake dipped
in cider Is taken to the orchard and de-
posted on the forked branch If an apple
tree: while guns are fired end cider
thrown into the air, the company singing
the while:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29
Prominent ST. Adams Men In
dicIed.

Albert Sowles, Herbert Brainerd.
Edward A. Smith and j. Russell Arm
ington of St. Adams and harrington II.
Marshall, Perkins e. Page and Francis
O. NickersOn of Boston have been in
dicted by the grand jury of the United
States court, i'll session at Windsor,
last week, for violation of the Nation
al banking act in connection with the
Firsl National bank of st. Adams. Mr..
SOwles is the late cashier of the bank
and Messrs. Brainerd, Smith and Arm
iugton are well known citizens of st.
Adams. Harrington II. Marshall is the
Boston produce dealer who failed a
few months since, owing the bank a
large sum of money. The indictments
are of the same general character and
charge the respondents with deceiving
the National bank examiner by means
of false fraudulent drafts. Nickerson,
for instance, signed a draft for S3,4l6.-
05 which was accepted by Page and
made payable to the bank. The draft
was absolutely worthless, bnt it was
exhibited by the cashier to the exam
liner as substantial asset. 1t is under
stood upon the street that the total
amount paid Ply SOwles as cashier on
these worthless drafts was about $780,
900. Some time since a syndicate was
formed for the purpose of operating in
Wall street. They proceeded to buy
Union Pacific and western Union stock
at the very highest point. Soon after
purchasing, both stocks began to fall
and have been steadily falling since.
The syndicate's margins were soon ex-
hausted, and then it began to take
money from the bank, with the result
of practically cleaning out" that in
stitution. In reference to the ficti
tious drafts above mentioned, it may
be said that there are ugly stories in
circulation to the effect that the sig
natures of some of the drafts are for
geries. At any rate, the examiner and
receiver found the affairs of the bank
in thoroughly corrupt and rotten
condition.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29

the nominees of the republican party
in the past on the assurance that the
nominees were temperance men and
would execute the law. When they
have asked that two of the nominees
specifying the office-Inight be tenn
perance men their wish has been ig-
nored. 1t is probably unnecessary to
state here how the temperance senti-
ment of the county has been outraged
and trampled upon--it is history with
which our readers are tolerably famil-
lar. If existing political parties will
not nominate fit men for Office-and
they have not done it-who can blame
the temperance people for nominating
men whom they conscientiously sup
porte
The ring have received notice of the
call for a temperance county cOnven-
ton and undertake TO 60 one better,
calling their convention the Tuesday
before. We shall see what we shall
see
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29
Green Mountain Politics.

{. B. Eddy of Bellows Falls is said
to be preparing to enter the congress
sional lists. Next!
Brattleboro democrats will push F.
w. Childs of that place for delegate to
the national convention. If the young
man is related to the Argus's ''Stark, "
he will probably get chance to go.
The Burlington Clipper says until
lately it has cared little who is to be
nominated for lieutenant governor,
but when it comes to think it all over
it finds decided preference for J. X.
Batchelder of Arlington, "a man of
much larger mental calibre than
Ormsbee and hasn't half the erotchets."
1t may be well to remark incidentally
that Mr.. Batchelder paid Burlington a
visit last week.
Why not give these political schemeTs
the cold shoulder, let the Office seek
the man for once and make s. NJ. Dorr
lieutenant governor ?
The papers all over the state are
calling on Chief Justice Royce to make
some reply to the grave charges made
by the Richford Gazette concerning
his personal character. The charge
was direct and unqualified and if the
Judge stands it without a murmur,
people will begin to believe there is
something in it.
The Watchman bOOms young Mr.
Porter for secretary of state, but it is
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29
The Coming Convention.

The local preparations for the repub-
lican national convention are about
completed at Chicago. John C. New,
who is in charge of the matter for the
national committee, is on the ground.
The convention hall as arranged has a
seating capacity of 5000 all told, which
is less than that of four years ago.
Then the hall was fitted up in the
south end of the Exhibition building !;
this year it is the north end. Every
body will have a chair instead of being
seated on a rough bench as was the
case four years ago. Arrangements will
be made to accommodate 300 working
newspaper men who will have tables
on the floor projecting at right angles
with the stage, and directly in front of
it. These workers will be aanked on
their right by special balcony for
press representatives, who do not have
pressing work during the sessions OF
the conventions.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29
Gen. Grant Involved.

The story of James ID. Fish, as told
in one of the New York papers of the
morning, was the leading sensation of
New York yesterday, involving. as it
did, Gen. Grant directly in response
bility for the scheme of deception
which Ferdinand Ward practlced upon
the public. Gen. Grant is preparing Il
statement for the public, but until that
is ready declines to say anything,
except that there are no letters in exist
ence which he cannot satisfactorily ex
plain, and that he has never written to
Fish about government contracts. The
general, with his lameness and pros
tratiOn, is scarcely able to leave his
bed, and will act wholly under the ad-
vice of his counsel, Roscoe COnkling
and Clarence A. Seward. Col. Fred
Grant is represented as telling the fol-
lowing incident
The only time, so far as | know,
when father heard anything about the
government contracts was in July, 1882,
when Ward told him that money was
wanted to take up contract which a
friend of his was unable to fill. The
market had turned, and there was a
profit of about three cents a bushel on
some corn, | believe, if the order could
be filed. Father was averse to any
thing of the kind, and wanted to retire
from the firm If government contracts
were operated in, but Ward smoothed
matters over and he stayed. This one
instance is the only case, SO far as
know, and, Judging from what he has
said, when he knew anything about
government contracts. As for these
letters, what they are | do not know.
Father did sign letters which Ward. in
whom we all had confidence, would
bring him some of these may have
been sent to Fish Fish would explain
the matter to him, and the general
would sign letters, thinking, of course,
that all was right. The best proof.
however, that W. were all deceived is
the fact that we have lost everything.
Yes, father will be blamed, doubtless,
for signing the letters without knowing
exactly to what they referred and
without questioning Ward about them !;
but lie did not make false representa-
lions with the intentions to deceive.
And then | see that Fish SAYS that
Arthur was supposed to be behind the
contracts i'll some way. have been
in the office for several years, and
never saw anybody representing Ar
thur there, nor did ever hear any
one say anything about Arthur in con
nection with the business. Each man
connected with this affair seems to
shift the responsibility on some one
else The general is the only one who
has not explained his relations with
the firm, but he will do so as soon as
his health enables him to prepare a
statement based on facts. | am some
times afraid, however, that he will
never get well on his feet again. These
financial troubles have been a great
blow to him.
1t will probably turn out that some
letter of equivoeal or partial credit was
extracted from Gen. Grant as basis
for these vast confidence operations.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29
Dartmouth College.

The following is the program for
commencement week: June l7-2l, sum
mer examinations +; Sunday, June %,
baccalaureate sermon by President
Bartlett in the forenoon, address to the
Young Mems Christian association in
the evening by Rev. DR.. r. R. Mere
dith of Boston Monday, annual prize
speaking; Tuesday, anniversary of the
agricultural college, class day exercises
and anniversary of the Chandler scien
tifc school; Wednesday, Grafton be-
fore the Phi Beta Kappa society by
Charles Dudley Warner and poem by
j. T. Tr0wbridge, annual meeting of
the trustees in the afternoon and a con-
cert by Reeves's band in the evening,
followed by IL reception of the trustees;
Thursday, at 1870 a. m, commence
ment exercises, with the orations of
the graduating class and comforting of
degrees. The cOrner-stOnes of the new
library and chapel will probably be
laid Wednesday afternoon, and the at
tendance at those ceremonies will be
very large. The valedictOry will be
given by ID. G. Miller of East Braintree,
Mass, the salutatory by George d.
Lord of Limington, Me-, and the philo
sophical Grafton by j. A. De BOer of
ALBANY, n. Y.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29

thought by good many that. DR..
Nichols will have things ".fixed' SO as
to walk off with the cake. And what
would become of Deputy Porter then 7
Thus the Londonderry Sitter sizes
up j. L. Martin "This gentleman
who sets his political chronometer by
the Growing of the cock at st. Adams"
The Richford Gazette believes that a
worse selection than Roswell Farnham
for congress is "well nigh impossible"
Does the Waterman realize that it
likens itself to an empty headed darky
when it says to the West Randolph
Herald; ''Shoo. fly, don't bodder me" 7
The Argus finds ''an able and infiu
entail gentleman who has been in
Washington all winter" who says no
member of the house has so much in
fuence with his fellow members as
Judge Poland.
Delegates Proctor and Fifeld at
tended conference at New York last
week of some of Edmunds's supporters
to decide upon a plan of procedure.
The result is not officially announced,
but it is understood that if George
William Curtis is made chairman of the
convention, Edmunds will be nomi-
mated by Congressman Long of Mass
achusetts and seconded by Theodore
Roosevelt of New York. If Curtis is
not elected chairman, he will probably
do the nominating.
Frederick Billings has improved so
much III health he will be able to do
active work at Chicago.
'Ormsbee," says the Brattleboro cor
respondent of the Republican, ''seems
practically sure of the lieutenant gov
ernorship unless it should turn out at
the ninth hour that Rutland has a stron-
ger candidate.r
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29

was subsequently arrested and lodged
in Jail.
The Boston Post says: 1t is asserted
that Allen, is not a sane man; that he
was for some time confined iu the
Brattleboro insane asylum, and that
he has a brother now in an asylum.
Some of his friends say that the only
defective spot in his. character is his
fondness for drink. Friday forenoon
his case was called in the municipal
court. The reading of the indictment
was waived by his counsel, +. c. Car
rigan, aud the prisoner was held to
await the action of the grand jury.
When the case reaches the supreme
court Gen. Butler will defend him, and
it is also probable that he will be
present at the inquest.
A dispatch from Woodstock says
Allen, the murderer. is the eldest son of
DIR. S. J. Allen of White River june
ton. He was educated at Dartmouth !;
was in the war very young, and,
several years ago, began to practice in
company with his father. About three
years ago he moved to Plainville, Conn,
but returned to White River Junction
about two years ago. His wife was
Mary Lyman, daughter of the late
Elias Lyman of White River Junction,
and they have a daughter 4 or ) years
old. When not under the influence OF
| liquor Allen is quiet in demeanor aud
generally liked. He has a marked taste
for cunning, is noted marksman and
kept an armOry of firearms.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29
Political Items.

Gen. Bntler has written letter say
ing if there is any portion of the peo-
pie of the country DESTROYS OF voting
for him for president he will not OPP
pose their doing so.
If the adage holds true in politics as
other matters that "the early bird
catches the worm," General Butler may
be said to have wormy prospect be-
fore him Cleveland Herald.
The Toledo Blade says that ''every
man on the republican state ticket in
Illinois was in the Union army, and
that every one of them was wounded
in battle. One lost a leg and another
an arm"
Murat Halstead, who has been in
Washington, predicts that either Sena-
tor Sherman or Secretary Lincoln will
head the republican ticket.
The New Hampshire democratic state
convention elected for delegates-at-
large to the national convention, Frank
Jones, H. o. Kent, F. A. Mexican and
Alvah Sulloway. No instructions were
given but the unanimous sentiment of
the convention was in favor of the
''old ticket"
George William Curtis has been hur-
riedly called to Chicago. His friends
state that an attempt will be made to
elect him chairman of the national re-
publican convention by coalition of
the Arthur and Edmunds delegates
that have been called to Chicago for
the purpose of combination.
A Washington correspondent says
that there was a party of Southern
men at the rooms of Senator Malone
the other night and the discussion
turned upon the ability of the repub-
licans to carry any of the Southern
states at the next election. 1t was the
unanimous opinion of the gentlemen
present that Arthur could carry Nir-
ginia, North Carolina and Florida.
Lieutenant Governor Ames, who is
already in Chicago, says that the Mas
sachusetts delegation will vote as a
unit on the first ballot for Mr.. Ed
munds, more by way of compliment
than for any other reason. He would
not venture to say how the delegates
would vote after they had abandoned
Mr.. Edmunds. He knows that three
of the delegates favor Mr.. Blame.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29

The public care very little for the
Wards or the Fishes or the EnOs, but
many will lie panied if any trouble
comes to Gen. Grant, and especially if
the name is smirched of him who led
our armies to victory and was twice
president of this great republic. The
developments in the failure of Grant &
Ward and the two national banks in
New York city do not leave Grants
name as clean as one could wish, yet
in comparison to Ward he is an angel
of light 1t seems Ward went to these
bank presidents with letter signed
by Grant which said, 81 am willing
that Mr.. Ward should derive what
profit he can for the firm that the use
of my name and influence may bring"
1t will be remembered in this connec-
ton that Ward represented to the banks
he helped wreck that the firm of Grant
Il Ward were dealing in government
Contracis.' Gen. Grant was very I'M
fortunate to say the least in the use he
allowed of his name.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29
Two Opinions.

1t is reported that the Passumpsic
railroad propose to put on Sunday
train this summer, to run between
Wells River and Lyndonville, for the
purpose of delivering the Boston Sun
day morning papers at the stations be-
tween the above named places. A
good idea. Index.
The report current that the Pas
sumpsic railroad is TO put on Sunday
train from Wells River to LyndonviIle
for the purpose of delivering the Bos-
ton Sunday papers to patrons between
those stations we do not credit. We
imagine the patronage to such papers
along the Passumpsic valley would
scarcely pay for second class hand
car. If the train is put on, it will be
to make money from passenger traffic.
But it will try to shield itself under
the plea of urgent necessity. If the
attempt is made we hope a vigorous
protest will be heard from one end OF
the valley to the other Newport
Express.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29
Deep sorrow Follows Joy.

Only last week Judge John Lowell
of Boston was rendered grand din
ner by the Boston merchants on his
retirement from long service on the
bench. The noted men of Boston were
there to do him honor. The praise he
so well merits had scarcely died away
when the sad news comes of the sui
eide of his youngest son in Buffalo.
George Emerson Lowell was but 81
years old he was graduated at Har-
ward last year, standing well in scholar
ship, popular with his fellows, I'M
blemished in character and gentle in
temper, and apparently possessed of
every qualification for worthy and
useful life. He was of so peculiarly
happy disposition that his classmates
would have thought of such fate for
any other of their number sooner than
for Lowell. He was teaching in a
private school in Buffalo. but intended
to return to Harvard and enter the law
school this fall. No cause can be as
signed for his act except that he had
lately been subject to fits of melan-
choly. In one of these it is coniec-
tured. he shot himself as he lay in bed,
where he was found dead with pistol
by his side.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29

Still, we must regard Fish as man of
extraordinary credulity. Fish's dis
closures leave no doubt of the fearful
extent to which Gen. Grants name was
used as bait for the unwary,-and
the most humiliating thing about it is
that for this use it was boldly clothed
with the rankest jobbery which could
be imagined, and by the men who were
most intimate with him. To be coolly
taken for scoundrel by ones every
day associates, and 10 discover that
they are ready to put up their fortunes
on their assurance of that fact, is the
saddest and most humiliating expert
ence that Mr.. Conkling's client was
ever called upon to face, being an
honest man, as we believe him to be.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29
General News.

While VIM. Green was examining Il
revolver in pantry in Buffalo, his
wife, to whom he had been married
two weeks, came behind him playfully
and pulled his arm. The pistol eX-
plOded, the ball taking effect in his
wife's head. The wound is probably
fatal. She made the above statement
aud Green was released on his own
recOgnizance.
The steamer Faraday, with the shore
end of the Bennett Mackay cable has
arrived at Rockport, Me, and the
cable safely landed. The Faraday will
proceed two hundred and fifty miles
northeast and splice with the Dover
Bay end then she will pay out one
thousand miles towards Ireland, 90 to
England with the balance of the cable
and complete it. 1t is the heaviest
and most perfect cable ever laid, and
will conduct messages both ways at
once.
Newspaper reports show 1896 muir
derers in this country last year, against
1880 in 1882 and 1885 in 1881, with l07
murderers hanged and I35 lynched.
There were l2l hangings in 1882.
Kate Frawley, the eleven years-old
daughter of James FTawley of Stafford,
Conn, was killed in a shocking way
Saturday. She went To the Crown hill
schOOl-hOuse to get a bouquet which
her teacher had given her the day be
fore, and finding the door locked tried
to climb in at the window. She fell,
caught her neck on the sash and was
found hanging there dead. She had
broken the glass and severely cut her
hand and arm in trying to free herself.
Her mother is nearly insane with grief.
James ID. Fish, the ex-president of
the Marine national bank, n. Y,
charged with robbing that institution
of over a million, was admitted to bail
in $4,000 by United States Commits
siOner Shields.
Memorial services were quite gen
orally held in the Boston churches
Sunday. The John A. Andrew Grand
Army post went to Trinity church to
listen to special sermon from Phillips
Brooks; Rev. J. w. Hamilton preached
to the Charles Russell Lowell post at
the Peoples church, and Rev. DIR.
Miner preached Memorial sermon at
the Columbus Avenue Universalist
church.
Mr.. j. X. Glover, who was one of the
party whose extraordinary catch of
trout in Lake Winnipiseogee was re-
ported last week returned to Boston
Monday, having caught subsequently
near Wolfboro' trout weighing Just
twenty pounds. This is believed to be
the heaviest fish caught in the lake for
many years.
This year so far is more calamitous
than last year, which was remarkable
for the humber of its disasters.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29
Arfhur's Fair Prospects.

The political dial for the past week
has shown a long step on the part of
Arthur toward the nomination. Blaine
has lost a good many delegates from
PENNSYLVANIA aud Ohio and nearly all
of the alleged dark horses, such as
Gresham, Hawley and Lincoln, favor
the president. Arthur himself is re-
ported to have said he felt sure of the
nomination on the third or fourth bal
lot. "The change in Arthur's favor is
really WONDERFUL telegraphs Edmund
Hudson, careful political observer, to
the Boston Herald.
That there is something in this there
can he no doubt. but how much is a
question. A good many persist in
claiming that somebody less promi-
uently mentioned will receive the nom
nation, as has been the case for twenty
years. Mr.. Blaine, who is said to take
only passing interest in the matter,
says either candidly or for effect that
he does not think Arthur or himself
will be named. but that Edmunds's
chances are the best. Next to him he
thinks Sherman stands the best show.
His reason for bringing Sherman in is
hard to see, for he has not been talked
of at all and has only part of Ohio's
delegation. But New York is cOnsid-
cred essential to republican success
and all predictions and preferences are
qflise liable to undergo changes in the
conferences before the convention.
As it looks now, however, it is not
at all unlikely that the ticket will be
Arthur and Lincoln.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29
The New Postal Note.

The new government postal note,
soon to be issued, is of slate-black
color The design is the result of the
determination of the government to
devise note which could not be
raised" from the amount for which it
was issued. This point is secured by
the removal of the vertical row of
figures signifying dollars in the old
note, and the substitution of set of
coupons at the left of the notes, each
a dollar. For note of
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-29
Town Caucus.

There will be a caucus Of the Republican voters
of St Johnsbury at the Town Hail on Tuesday
evening, June 10 at 4 o'clock, To elect nine dele
gates to the state Convention 10 be held at Burning
ton June Is, for the purpo-e Of placing in nomiua
ton candidates for the offices Of Governor, Lieu
tenant Governor, Treasurer, Secretary of State
Auditor Of Accounts. and two Presidential Electors
at large, 10 be supported by the fresmen of the
State at the next biennial election. Also for the
appointment OF n State Committee.
ALBERT HARRIS,
CHAs. \. CALDERwooD
EMERSON HALL,
t45 TOiSn COIaEHittSe.