davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
THOMAN RETIRES.
Another Civil Service Commits iOner
ReSignN.

Another Civil Service COninlissiOner
Resigns.
Civil Service Commissioner Thoman, in O
letter to the President rendering his reslgna-
ton, says:
"While thus asking release from so honor
able q trust, I desire to record my .gratihca-
tion of the proved practicability emedlai
effectiveness of the reform procedure. Tried
veterans in political warfare view
with amazement the facile, though
radical, departure from the ia.
miliar methods Of the spoils system OF
distributing patronage. Strenuous and sin
cere argument, and also deliberate perversion,
mark the opposition of different groups Of
antagonists. And yet it must be concluded
that a majority of the political leaders in
either party is in accord with the Pcndl' ton
law, if its original enactment and emphatl'
endorsement by q subsequent Congress were
honest legislative expressions, and not the
coercion of moral cowardice by popular senti.
ment nor partisan legerdemaln.
Public appreciation Of the fact that this re-
form does not trench upon sturdy partisan.
ship came late. 1t was sedulously maintained
that the civil service was to be composed or
men who should abjure certain rights OF cltl-
zenship. With the gradual, but inevitable
refutation of this false view, the outlines OF
the reform at last stood forth i'll clearness.
1t is a reform which views tho civil service
as a vast business agency; its search is for
the best obtainable merit. In business viii =
is not political it enforces no tests of party
The President replied Us follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, Oct. 24, 1885.
Hon. LeroyD. Thoman, Civil 'Scrrica Com
missioner.
MY DEAR SIR: I have received your letter
rendering your resignation as a member of
the civil service commission, which is in
furtherance of an inclination expressed by
you very soon after my. inauguration
as President. The resignation thus
rendered is hereby accepted, to
take effect on the 1st day of No
vember mex. I congratulate you upon til
fact tina: in the Office which you relln .ulsh
you have been able. by sincere and earnest
work, and by a steady sev"tion to tho cause
which you have in chars &c, to do so much in
che interest of good government and ir-
proved political methods. Yours sincerely,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
LATER NEWS.

PRESIDENT Noah PORTER, of Yale college
has resigned, his resignation to take effect
next June.
THE bodies of two more of the sixty per-
sons who fell through a bridge into the river
at East Saginaw, Mich, while watching a
fire, wore recovered, making three victims,
with a number Of people still missing.
The President has appointed Frederick Fl.
Winston, of Illinois, to be minister resident
and consulgeneral to Persia; William A.
Mahoney, to be collector of customs for the
district of Fernaniina, Fla; George A. Hes
sen, to be surveyor of customs for the port
of Memphis; Walter Goddard, to be collec'
tor of customs for the district Of Fairfield,
Conn.
REAR ADMIRAL J. C. F. De KRAFT died
OF his residence, in Washington, on the 29th.
He entered the service in 1871.
The annual report Of Chief Signal Officer
Hazen, just published, says that thu course Of
instruction for the officers who prepare
weather predictions has been enlarged, and
now embraces lectures by the most distln-
guished professors of meteorology IN
the country. An increase of stations
in the West and Northwest and
in BIRTHS h America would further
improve the service. Of 946 cold wave sig
nails displayed during the year, SIS were JUS
titled. The number of stations now in opera
ton is 4s9. General Hazen asks that Lieu
tenant Greedy, who is unable to engage IN
active cavalry service, be made assistant to
the chief signal officer. He also asks that Ser
geant Brainard, who with Lieut.. Lockwood
reached the highest latitude yet attained, be
promoted, and that the other survivors OF
the Greedy expedition receive government
employment. The number OF stations
for the display Of cautionary sig
mails. on the lakes should be in
creased. The total expenditures during the
year were s1,Ol7,6 sos. The work of the ser
vice is performed by 81 officers, 3 professors,
8 junior professors, $40 enlisted men, and IA
civilian clerks.
A CoRs1cAN fired at a carriage containing
M. do Freycinet, the French minister of Tor
eign affairs, who was returning from a cabi-
net meeting. Before the would-be assassin
could fire again he was disarmed and ar
rested. He asserted his motive for the at
tempted assassination was revenge and -
%nolitica1
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
AT q WHITE HOUSE
Scenes During q Presidential Kocep
ton cranky Visitors.

Scenex During q Presidential Recep-
tiun-CranXy Visitors.
Below is an interesting account of a day
doings ut the White House during one OF
President Cleveland's receptions. 1t is given
in a Washington dispatch to the New YORK
Herald:
The tri-weekly informal afternoon recep-
tions which have been Instituted at the Wni1e
House by President Cleveland are now Inc
most interesting and attractive entertaln-
ments in Washington. The number VINO az
tend them increase every week: ms a11er-
noon :: there we're ere nearly anly two wbon nup fhe Pr ped:
dent entered. OF this number more
than one-half were ladies. The people
who expect sensations to occur there are very
much disappointed. Indeed, the idea when
has got abroad that the White House is con-
stantly infested with cranks is far from being
There were two visitors of this class at the
White House to-day. One OF them ~anteo
to talk on ~shipbuilding. he sald snip
building was more sacred tnan any
other calling or occupation in when men en-
gagged. and that shipbuilders should nave
every possible protection that the government
could give them in the way of bountles ana
rewards. Before he had got very far be was
told to submit his idea in writing to the SEQ
retary of the navy, who was justnoW lnVes5l-
eating the subject. They got rid of MIN.
" The other man wanted the government TO
purchase of him u quantity OF small croco-
diles which he said he could catch in a couple
of days in the lower Potomac, ana piace
them in the basins of the fountains IN puplc
parks. He thought the antics that young
and playful crocodiles would perform Woulu
be more amusing to the children, as wen as
others, than anything else. he sald tnere
and that he possessed a secret by when ne
could easily catch as many as mlght De
needed. This gentleman was referred to the
Fish commission.
The President makes all his visitors rec! ~
home. He seems to make everyone thlnK
that he is specially glad to see them. Ihougn
to the ordinary observer it looks as II ne
shakes the hands Of all who present them
selves the same way, he does not, ami many
of them go away with the Inn,
preston that they were specially 1aVoreu
In the way their han was shaken. Laoies
are always highly pleased with the way tae
President receives them. he never seems 70
pay any attention to their attire or appear
ance, all, rich and poor, being cordlaliy re- re-
ceiyed. though it has been noticed that IN tne
case of q red ladies, and indeed aged men, ne
makes extra efforts to convince them tnat ne
is glad to receive their calls.
The members OF the Utah commission spent
considerable time with the President taking
over the results of their labors. There IS an
impression in some quarters that there Will
be a reorganization of this commission before
long. At present it consists of two Repuoll,
can ex-Senators, Ramsey and Paddock, ana
one Democrat, Mr.. Pettigrew.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
ON THE BRINK OF WAR.
Possibility OF q Collision Betweon
Russia and Austria.

Russia and Austria.
A dispatch from Sofia states that "the
Servians are invading Bulgaria, advancing
by way of Klissura. They crossed the from
tier at Q o'clock t o-night. A force o. Bull.
garians is advancing to meet them. The
Servians had been preparing for the inva-
sion for some time. The public is clamorous
for war"
A London dispatch says: "The news that
the Servian army had passed the Bulgarian
frontier furnished almost the sole topic Of
discussion in the political clubs tonight.
Much anxiety is expressed, and it Is felt that
a great war is possibly impending between
Russia and Austria. 1t is considered hardly
credible that Austria would have al
lowed King Milan to move without
out being prepared to sustain his
An attack on Bulgaria at this time can have
but one object-that of charging Servian
territory at the expense of Bulgaria. If the
attack succeeds, the most fertile section Of
Western Bulgaria will be added to Servia.
This will rob Bulgaria, insult Russia, and
cripple Turkey at one blow. 1t is be-
lieved that Turkey will be too wary to
interfere just now, because she has
invited the powers to a conference about the
general situation, and she would much rather
have the hardships and costs Of war imposed
upon them than upon herself. If the clash
of resounding arms is swept by q northern
breeze to the doors Of the council chamber, it
may lead to q more hasty settlement Of the
question in order to localiZe the war.
"The attitude of England is foreshadowed
by the action of the cabinet council last Fri
day. At that meeting Lord Salisbury pro-
posed that the English representative
should be instructed to support Prince
Alexander and Bulgarian unity as much
cision reached by a majority of the con-
ference. This proposal was debated at some
length and finally adopted. 1t indicates a
purpose on the part of the present govern
ment to steer clear of Eastern complicatians,
and is in line with the waiting policy which
has been indicated by Bismarck"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

A NIGHTINGALE that sings q cnarinins
song is a new S65 toy In Paris.
PATTI is soon to make an artistic tour q,
Europe, going as far south as Austria ano
italy.
A CHORUS OF fifty Russian singers, per
forming national songs, have just starred Oh
q European trip.
AN authority on music says there are
! 3 600 600 professional and amateur plano
PLAYERS in the United States.
] THERE is only one theatre open IN mon,
, treal. and that il q lucent show, patronlzeo
exclusively by French Canadians
ALBAN1 recently sang before queen vlcs3.
| ria and received as q souvenir INC queens
book, "Some Leaves from the Hlgh'ahoS' ,
ANEDoNDo, Fla. has a musical proalgy III
the person Of q four-year-old Doy WHY on
accomplished pianist. Hercan pld Ioo ms'n
curacy and precision any tuhe 10 neais -
Tur Paris Vaudeville theatre has just
adonted a very clever invention, by means
of Which each seat can be at once folded up
into the thickn ass of three inches, rest 1or Inc
nrms and all likewise a hat stand ana a cane
stand.
A FAMOUS violoncello by Stradivarius,
which belonged to the two servaIs, latnsl
! md son. the yioloncellists. is offered 1or saie
at Brussels. 1t is reported that q pia, SlS,-
700. has been made by Herr Won hlenae s
sohn of Berlin, but that Nine. SerVais mas
fixed the price at S2o'oW.
BERTHA FR1cKE, one Of the latest adj
tions to the Abbott Opera company, IS = ma.
tive of Nashville, Tenn, where she won greas
fame in amateur performances. she Is sa'a
To possess a handsome stage presence anu
contralto voice of wonderful purity ana
strength. This is Miss Fricke's first profess
sional season..
HAVE you any idea of the extent OF tne
amusement business?" asked a well know
MANAGER the other day. cit would surprise
YOU to learn how many shows are out trying
70 entertain the public, and at the same Ilme
accumulate the shekels. l have been PoIlng
the ATTRACTIONS on the road, end tnd tnas
there are this week 376 ORGANIZATIONS: ~
thase. 242 are dramatic, GO musical, ~ Var!s'
ty. Is minstrel, II circus and eighteen ml.
cellaneous. This does not include inc nunes-
GUS tly-py-nights or the song-and-dance tea,ns,
who travel in pairs. An organization mas
from a dozen to thirty, and sometimes 9ess se EVEN
ty.five people. You can form some ldea 1rea
these figures of the number of people engaged
in the show business"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
LITTLE MAC"
The Sudden Death Of General
George B. Mcclellan.
A Sketch Of his Career as a Soldier
and Civilian

General George B. Mcclellan died suddenly
at o'clock A. NJ, on the 2Sth, at his coun-
try residence, st. Cloud, Orange Mountain,
N. j. fie was seriously troubled with neu-
ralgia for the first time about three weeks
previous. He complained of severe pains in
tho chest, which he attributed to cold, and
for five days he was in bed, attended
daily by DR.. Seward, of Orange.
A week before his death he was
so far restored to his ordinary
health that he went out driving every day.
Then he had some reminders of the former
INDOORS. On the evening Of the 9th he was
so we'll that a dinner was given by the Nc
Clellans to some of the neighbors, General
Mcclellan taking part and appearing to be
in his usual spirits. The day before his death
he stayed in the house, reading by the fire
most Of the day. During the evening he
was restless, but suffered no pain
until about 10 o'clock, when he began to
walk about the room, complaining Of severe
paroxysms of pain in the chest and neighbour
hood of the heart. As he obtained no relief
from the remedies employed by Dr.. Seward
in treating the first attack, the physician was
sent for, arriving soon after II o'clock. By
that time General Mcclellan was almost
s~enssless with pain; opiates were adj
ministered with a view to relieving
the pain, and he sank into a comatcse
state, which lasted until he died at $40
o'clock A. n. Mrs. McC elan and Miss May
Mcclellan, the only daughter, were at the
bedside with DR.. Seward when he died. Th
only son, a young man of twenty, a studentat
Princeton college, arrived at Orange at J.
o'clock. So far as DR.. Seward knows Gen.
eral Mcclellan never was troubled with neu-
ralgia before the recent attack. DR.. Seward
thinks that, possibly, too much smoking may
have weakened the action OF tn, heart.
For the last sixteen years General McClel-
Ian has lived in summer with his family on
the Orange mountain, overlooking the town
of Orange. His father-in-law, General Mar
cy, lives next door. General Mcclellan also
had a city residence in New York.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
One Mans Work.

A travelerin France recently described
a settlement on the river Disc, which
might borrow the name of Rasseias'
Happy Valley. 1t is the work of one
man, NJ. Godin, who was born in en-
trcme poverty, and obligedt to work when
o child from 5 o'clock in the morning
until 8 at night.
The oppression and misery of his
childhood gave him one fixed resolve
to help the condition of the poor. BY
means Of several inventions, for which
he secured patents, he became a wealthy
man. He bought a tract Of ground in
the valley of the Disc, and erected work
shops on one side of the river. On the
other side he built an immense house,
capable of accommodating 800 people,
lighted, aired and drained according to
the most advanced laws Of sanitation.
The building contained a nursery,
schools, baths, laundries, library, gym
nasium and amusement-hall. He has
enlarged it year by year until it will &C
commodate 1,400 inmates.
Five years ago NJ. Godin formed all
his work-pcople into a vast partnership,
giving each a share in the workshops,
buildings and library. The room in the
home arc rented for less than the Ia
borer would pay for a hove!. The tenant
buys his fuel, provisions and other sup
plies at a cooperative store, in which he
is an owner. His children are cared for
in the nursery, then promoted to the
kindergartens, and next to the school,
until they reach the age of fifteen, when
the boys are received into the shops, and
the girls take part in the domestic work
Of the home. Each workman has free
access to the library and gymnasium.
A pleasure garden of twenty-five acres
is cultivated, filled with fruit and
fowers.-Youth's Companion.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
A HORRIBLE REVENGE
A Woman Throws q Bottle OF Wit.
riol in q Crowded COurt.HoOm.

Z" VI L
riOl in a Crowded COurt.ROOm.
A Paris dispatch says that a very startling
scene of ~vitriolic eloquence at tho Palais de
Justice has caused a flutter of excitement in
the legal profession. The judge and advo-
Gates were about to proceed with the trial Of
a case concerning the seizure and sale
of a small cottage at 11ontreuil belonging to
Mime. Laisier, a pretty widow. NJ. Galas, a
commission agent, had been deputed by a
group of Nine. Laisier's creditors to effect
q judicial sale of a cottage for the bene
fit of her creditors. NJ. CALAIS stood
in the left corner of the audi
ence chamber surrounded by several
lawyers, when Nine. Laisier suddenly walked
up to him, and opening q small basket that
she held in her hands, took from it q bottle
of concentrated vitriol and threw it at the
astonished commission agent.
NJ. CALAIS shrieked and yelled with agony,
fear.ully burned and both eyes were de-
stroyed. His clothes were so %carbonized
by the fluid that they fell from
his body like burned paper. Maitre
Duclos, who stood next to NJ. CALAIS,
had bis right ear burned off. Seven other
lawyers were disfigured and the woodwork
Of the audience chamber was covered with
the terrible liquid. M. CALAIS was carried to
the Hotel Dieu hospital.
Nine. Laisier was seized by gendarmes, who
found in her basket another bottle of vitriol
anda loaded revolver. Nine. Laisier managed
to seize the revolver and placed the muzzle in
her mouth, with the intention of committing
suicide, but the gendarmes we're too quick, for
her and prevented her firing. Upon being
questioned by the judge, whose clothes had
also been sprinkIed with ~vitriol, she said:
II determined since yesterday to vitriolize
NJ. CALAIS, who was about to sell my cottage
and deprive me Of my only home, although
he has in his hands plenty of money to pay
all my creditors. 1 only regret that I didn't
kill him."
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
OF Montreal. Many schools and churehs

OF Montreal. Many schools and churehs
have been closed.
: The empress of Brazil is suffering from a
broken arm, received by falling down stairs.
NJ. PAsTEuR, the eminent scientist, has
lust furnished satisfactory proof to the French
academy of sciences that incubation was
easily practicable and had been successful 10
preventing hydrophobia.
THE Great:Eastern, the largest steamship
in the world, has just been sold at public
auction in England for e26,2OO. She cost
EGO, 900 in 1853.
SPAIN has received an intimation from the
United States government that if the form
er's sovereignty of the Caroline islands is
recognized the American Protestant mission
must be respected and freedom of religion
nermittpd.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
A QUARRY ~COLLAPSES'
MANY Lives Lost by tho sinking of q
Village in France.

Village III EE2inces
Dispatches from Perigueux, France, state
that a ~frightful accident has occurred at the
Chancelade quarries, neal that town.
While a large body of workmen were
engaged in taking out stone the quar-
rios suddenly fell in, destroying a village
situated on the ground above the stone pits
and killing q large number of persons: Many
were buried in the ruins, and it was doubtful
if any of them could be rescued in time to
save their lives. Troops were sent to the
scene of the disaster to aid in the work of re-
lief.
Perigueux is the capital Of the department
Of Dordogne, in the southeast of France, and
is situated on tho right bank of the isle: 1t
has a population of 25.39O, and its chief ediiice
is q cathedral Of the fourth century. 1t has
a college, a normal school and a library of
20, 900 volumes. 1t was the capital of the old
district of Perigord, and has Roman remains.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
WaShtngtOn.

SECRETARY WHITNEY has approved the
report of the naval board constituted to OK
anime the work and materials of thu unfin-
ished cruisers Chicago, Boston and Atlanta,
and to ascertain and declare the fair market
value thereof, including a reasonable and
anu the naval advisory board has been
ordered to 60 on with the work Of conStruc-
tion.
THE President has appointed Oscar y.
Paisley postmaster at Wilmington, n. G. To
be United States. attorneys, Joseph w. House,
for the eastern district OF Arkansas; Month
H. Sandels, for the western district of Arkan-
sas. To be marshals, Thomas Fletcher, for
the eastern district of Arkansas; John Carroll,
for the western district Of Arkansas.
IT is understood that Secretary Bayard
does not contemplate making any changes in
the consular offices in the countries south of
the United States for some time yet. 1t is
the policy Of the state department. to cul-
tivate more friendly relations with
Mexico and the South and Central American
people, and to extend our commercial inter
course in that direction. For this reason the
consuls who have already secured the good
opinion of the people with whom they have
to deal, it is thought by the secretary will be
Of greater service just now than would new
men.
IHE cOurG OF COMMISSIONERS VI fiidoauia
claims, which will expire by limitation De-
cember 81, is making rapid progress with its
business.
ADDITIONAL appointments by the Prosi-
dent: w. Lee Dinkins, Of Mis- ;issippi, to be
United States marshal for the southern dis
trict Of Mississippi; Edmund B. Briggs. OF
the District of Columbia, to be United States
consul at Santos, Brazil; Henry F. Weld, OF
Massachusetts,, to be assayer in charge of the
assay Office at Boise City, Montana.
THERE was received at the United States
treasury department the other day, in an en-.
velope postnarked Newark, N. j.. a $500
Unitet States note marked conscience
money" Some days ago a contribution OF
SOU to the conscience fun was received a
the department from a Washington clergy
man. who had received it through the con
fessioual.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
OFFICE SEEKERS
The President Declines to See any
More OF Them.
The following has been promulgated by.
President Cleveland for the information OF
the public: ~
EXECUTIVE. MANSION,
WASHINGTON. Oct, q, 1885.

EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, Oct, q, 1855.
For nearly eight months a large share OF
the time of the President has been devoted 70
the hearing of applications for office and
the determination Of appointments. Mucn
of the time thus spent has undoubtedly
subserved the public good, some OF
has been sacrificed to the indut-
gence Of the people in their natural insist
ence upon usel .ss interviews, and some
of it has been unjustifiably wasted. The
public welfare and a due regard for the claims
of those whose interests in the government
are entirely disconnected with office
holding imperativeIy demand that In
dent should be differently occupied, and
he confidently expects that all good citizens
viii acauiesce il. the propriety and reason.
ableness of the following plan adopted TO tnaS
end:
After the first day of November the Presi-
dent win decline to grant interviews to those
seeking public positions or their advocates.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays dur
ing the month, from 10 to l.! O'CLOCK
in the morning. he will receive sucn
other persons rs coil on strictly public ousl-
ness: and on the same days, at half-past one
in the afternoon, he will meet those who
merely desire to pay their respects. IN au
other days and times during that montn ne
will receive only cabinet officers ana neaas
Of departments.