smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

II is, perhaps, the least Of the Compliments
of the season" to congratulate the city upon
the possession of new municipal machinery
new Boards of Aldermen and Assistant Alder
men and new Mayor. Familiar by some
considerable observation with the readiness
and ease with which new boards step into the
places of old ones and adopt their ways
and vices, we are not hopeful for much i'm
provement through any mere change in tho
personality of city government One Board
of Aldermen is like another, and the attempt
to improve the quality Of the second Board by
changing the name from Assistant Aldermen
to ssCouncilmen" and then back again TO
"Assistant Aldermen" has brilliantly failed.
All the boards come from the same source, and,
therefore, cannot differ. An election that ia
certain weeks before election day comes on
that is, the regular and inevitable consequence
of nomination secured and determined in the
viler penetrala of the city slums, in the back
stairways that lead up or down to the ''pri-
maries"-such an election, as it does not in
volve any discussion of principle or any in
vestigation Of mans worth, can never give
true expression of the public intelligence. II
is mere swindle of the electors and cannot
produce governing bodies such as the people
of this city would choose, and certainly can
not produce better body one year than
another. These boards, therefore, may
be looked upon as proper to con-
tinue the same old vein in our municipal
history that is our scandal. and reproach. In
the Mayors Office we have what is rather new
material in city politics, of that level in wh ch
mayors are made. Mr.. Hall is not exactly
the sort of man from which Tammany as a
rule makes it's candidates. Neither is he like
those patent humbugs that have been from
time to time elected Mayor in freaks of spas
modic virtue that have taken the name Of
reform. He is q better sort of man than
either. He is one who may look upon the
Mayoralty rather as the beginning than the
end of his career and thus may have an in
centive to identify himself with the better
interests Of the city and the citizens. In
resolution to do this on his part there might
be some promise of advantage in his admins
trati0n surely man mlgnt nave mucn
worse incentive in the world than the ambition
to stand in the record as the first honest Mayor
of this great city-that is, the first honest one
since those memorable days when it was the
fashion to choose the Mayor from the ranks Of
citizens prominent for their virtues aud their
abilities Moved by such an incentive, and act-
ing in accordance with the suggestions of such
an ambition, Mr.. Hall, as Mayor of this city,
could accomplish one of the greatest revolu-
tions of the age.
Year: 1869

Certain of our theatrical managers have given
currency to some erroneous notions by the habit
Of putting their own shortcomings to the score
of public taste. They produce great deal of
dramatic trash, and when rcproved for it tell
us that nothing else will pay that the en-
deavor to present what is agreeable to metro
politan audiences compels them to run to SEN
sation and the naked drama. But glimpse
at our several theatres proves the falsity of
this charge. Popular perception is so far right
in regard to the stage that year in and year
out the best theatres are best supported. At
Wallack's theatre good plays are always given,
with most exact regard to dramatic propri-
ETY., and the care Of the management is well
rewarded by constant success. This theatre,
indeed, is almost like some refined and ele-
CANT social circle, and recalls those times.
traditional in the theatre, when the whole
world of men of wit and taste were jostled and
seen within the walls Of single temple of the
muses.. So long az the metropolis supports
as II does theatres like this-and wher the
managers gave it chance it supported three
or four of the same character-we cannot
justly reproach its taste. Manager Wallack is
soon to present ''Much Ado About Nothing"
and we shall then see more real enthusiasm
among playgoers than all the sensation mana
gers could excite in century.


His knowledge Of the taste Of the town justi-
iies Mr.. Booth in the splendid adventure of his
new theatre in Twenty-third street. None
can know better than he does that the au-
diences that responded so handsomely to
his grand productions Of Hamlet aud
'sRichelieur 1t the Winter Garden are
always within call 70 manager who de-
pends lpon legitimate means for the
effect he produces. Neither Booth nor Wal
lack can ever appeal to the New York
public in vain: but il l. certain that the
attraction of sensation runs ont. Tbe naked
drama is dead Gaslight, tinse and blue fire
no longer blaze with whole stages to them
selves; bnt where they short time since
were supreme and alone CHASTITY effort is
now making to amuse with sensations of
another sort. Popular love Of amusement has
its vagaries and weaknesses. but is never
obstinate in adhesion to anything not really
good. At one time il win be mad for
''Solon Shinglc J. At another time for
the Irish drama or French ballet again
it can hear no music but "Walking Down
Broadway or Captain Jinks Of the Horse
Marines" or the screaming Of tenth rate
artists in the now abandoned Academy of
Music. This is only the expression Of volatile
fancy. On the score Of true taste it is always
right and sticks to the managers that are the
same, and of these il only makes one demand
that is not readily met--thc demand for
American plays
Year: 1869

SoCrEry nor TnR PREVENTION or CRUELTY
TO MuRDEEERs. This body should Immediate
ly strike medal TO the man who gave choro-
form TO the murderer Carswell on the gallows,
since he has triumphautly shown that where It
is impossible to abolish capital punishment II
can at least as deprived Of it, lerrors 10 the
criminal
Year: 1869

The DAILr HERALD will be sent TO subscribers
for one dollar month.


The postage being only thirty-fve cents a
quarter, country subscribers by this arrangement
can receive the HERALD at the same price it is
furnished in the city.
Year: 1869

The newly-elected City Judge. Cunning ;.


Bedford, Jr., has given notice to landlords and
all others interested that he will not in future
entertain proceedings in his court under dis
possession warrants. Up to within recent
period these proceedings were taken in the
courts of the civil and marine justices; but by
a special act OF the State Legislature, of ques-
tionablc expediency and not demanded by any
considerations Of public interest they were
transferred to the Court of Sessions The in
crease in the emoiuments Of the City Judge
through the monopoly Of this business was
important, reaching some twenty thousand
dollars year; but Judge Bedford voluntarily
gives mp this large addition TO his salary, in
view of the fact that the return TO the old sys-
TEN will facilitate the legitimate business and
raise the character Of his own court, will save
tne time of litigants and Is nothing more than
equitable and fair toward the marine and civil
justices of the city. Judge Bedford has a
proper appreciation Of the dignity and honor
Of his position on the bench, and IL would be
well il this sentiment were more general among
the judiciary. II is the evil Of the elective
system that it too frequently elevates to the
highest courts politicians whose object is to
make all they can during their term of Office.


If our civil and criminal judges were appointed
for life, retaining those Of the present judiciary
who have proved themselves worthy of the
distinction, we might look for more dignity,
independence and unselfishness than are at
present TO be found on the New York bench.
Year: 1869

WHAT A BLIND MAN CAN Do.-Amona
the workmcn at Tarbel's rake factory, in
Mount Holly, is man who works at all
the machinery in the shop, being perfect
ly blind. His name is Warren, and he is
one of the best mechanics in the works,
and can adjust the most complicated ma
chincry, and perform any Of the various
kinds of labor required in manufacturing
the rake from the log. Warren has al
ways supported large family, and has
laid up something for the future Wien he
can no longer work.
Year: 1869

In the county of Franklin, Ks, about
% miles south Of Lawrence, the pioneers
OF a French colony have purchased a wide
tract of land, and are making a large e2-
pendlture of money for the purpose Of
setting up on the now wild prairie a man
uflctory of silk velvet. The manager of
the enterprise has been in the country for
two years, during which time he has stud
led the resources and advantages Of diff
f1rcnt localities, and he has chosen this
point in Kansas. The adaptation Of the


oll TO the growth of the mulberry, and
II the climate to the health Of the silk
worm, and the successful manirhlaiioh 3
he cocoon, together with the healthfulness
Of the locality, determined the selection
The colony will contain within itself all
he forms Of industry necessary to the
success of its enterprise, from the growth
of the mulberry to the last flushing touch
Of the beautiful fabric. Some time mtst
elapse befor the plantation of trees will
yield leaves enough to furnish food for
many worms; but in the mean time the
few colonists who are already on the
grounds will devote themselves to raising
md feeding cattle, and 10 the general i'm:
provement and ornamenation of their es.
tate. 1t is said that the enterprise is
oackcd up by million of francs.
Year: 1869

The National Irish Emigration Con-
yentIon has been In session all morning
discussing the report OF the COMMITTEES
on Object and Organization, but so far
no definite action had been taken.
Year: 1869

If men cared less for wealth AMI fame,
And less for battle fields and glory;
II writ in human hearts a name


Seemed better than a song and story;
II men, instead of nursing pride,
Would learn to hate it and abhor it;
If more relied on Love to guide,


The world would be the better for it.
Ii men dealt less in stocks and lands,


And more in bonds and deeds fraternal;
If Loves work had more willing hands


To link this world to the supernal!
If men stored mp loves oil and wine


And ON bruised human hearts would pour it
If yours and "minep would once combine,


The world would be the better for it.
nmore would act the play of Life,


Afewer spoil it in rehersal;
If Bigotry would sheathe its knife,


Till Good became more universal;
If custom, gray with ages grown,


Had fewer blind men to adore it;
Ir Talent shown for Truth alone.


The world would be the better for it.
If men were wise in little things


Affecting less in all their dealings;
If hearts had fewer rusted strings


To isolate their kindly feelings;
If men, when Wrong beats down the Right,
Would strike together and restore it;
If right made might in every fight,


The world would be the better for it,
Year: 1869

E An American watch maker is
reported to have made chance discov
cry that the balance-wheel in nearly
every watch is, if made of steel, con-
verted into magnet. If this is a
fact, the magnetic character of the
wheel will account for many perturba-
tions in watches which have hitherto
been inexplieable. A key or the steel
blade of knife in the same pocket as
the watch will exert disturbing in
huence. But even if there should be
no piece of steel in the pocket the
magnet will necessarily tend toward
the north, and SO far interfere with the
calculations of the matchmaker in a
very delicate piece of mechanism.
Year: 1869

E A country girl rode into New
Albany. Ind. to do some shopping
When the clerk asked if there was any
thing else he could do for her, he was
amazed by the reply, oh. no sir; un-
less you will be kind enough to go out
and milk the old mare, for I rode her
from home without the colt
Year: 1869

@ Brown had been in love with a
young lady, and asked permission to
call her by the expressive name of
some animal, which was granted on
condition that she should have the same
privilege. On leaving, Brown said,
Good night. deer Good night,
boar said She Brown has since Civ
en- up the company of young ladies'.
Year: 1869

~ you are very stupid, Thomas
said a country teacher to little boy
eight years old. You are like a
donkey; and what do they do to cure
them of stupidity?'


They feed them better, and kick
them less, said the arch little urchin.
Year: 1869

H The New York Journal of
Commerce says, very rightly: "The
Pendleton style of Democracy has had
its day, and everybody who clings to
it will soon be buried in the grave of
the dead past, beyond all hope of re-
newed vitality in our generation" -
Year: 1869

Some curious discoveries have been
made by the workmen engaged in pulling
down the old RockendOrtf House in
Washington. The building had once
been used bv the gambling fraternity and
it would seem that they brought the devils
own ingenuity TO work TO transform 1t
into suitable den for their operations of
yilainy. This machinery, as now laid
bare. shows that immense care and labor
were bestowed upon its invention and
preparation. The gambling rooms were
in the second story froat. over tAem
we're two garret rooms with dorner
windows. In the flooring Of each Of
these upper rooms a tr.,D door had been
cut about SIX feet in iengta and three in
width. The uap being taken up shows
an aperture betwecn the floor and the
ceiling t. accommodate the gamblers
confederate; and series of small perio-
rations in the ceiling afforded him full
view of the cards held by the players at
the table in the room beneath. AT its
side was the end of a thin wire, which
passing along under the flooring OF the
attic to the walls, ran down to the flooring
of the rooms below (playing upon nicely
adjusted pullies at the angles), and so on
until it reached point directly under the
card table. Here very ingenious pedal
arrangement came into play, by which
with springs of spiral wire triangular
piece of iron was made to work up through
a minute aperture in the floor under the
boot of the swindling gambler. The VIC
tim in this operation, it will be seen, had
no show whatever. In following the
course of the wires it is noticed that
packing of soft wool had been placed at
every point where the working OF the
apparatus would possibly make a noise
calculated to warm the victim. The
operator OF the machinery was as silent
as death, and not an indication appeared
anywhere to give hint suspicion OF the
network of villainy in which he was
entrapped. The apertures in the ceiling
which gave a view of the cards 10 the
confederate overhead, were screened from
view by an ornamental oval OF green
figured papering. and the aperture in the
floor under the card table. through which
the spring played. was concealed by the
carpet.
Year: 1869

The Gardner Real Estate Distribution has
been postponed indefinitely. A meeting on
Saturday night to witness the drawing in St.
Louis broke up in row on account of un.
fairness on the part of the managers, who
refused to allow the "Asbbrook Mansion -
worth over $4,000, to be drawn in the lot.
terry for the reason that the short sale Of
tickets would not justify allowing so valuable
prize being. put in the drawing. This
Gardner Distribution is probably another Of
the many schemes TO swindle people who
are simple enough to pay s. or SlO for the
possibility of one chance in one hundred
thousand to draw prize of fabulous value,
instead Of keeping what they know is theirs
Year: 1869

HoMEoP ATHY. Among the inventions
and improvements with which the day is
SO rife, that made by Prof Humphreys is
not among the least. With all the supe-
riority of the Homeopathic System of Med
icine over that OF the old school IN its free
dom from danger and the ease and pleas
antness with its medicines may be taken
or given to children, it still remained an
intricate system for the people to USE
From the fact that single medicine is
given at q dose, and each applicable to
only certain symptoms q large number Of
medicines and large book Of directions
became necessary in order to their Use.-
And what is worse these directions are of
the most nice and discriminating charac-
tor, so that often the longer one looked and
studied, the more puzzled he became, nor
could any amount of learned lumber, in
the way Of Domestic Manuals, explain the
matter.


At this precise point the discovery Of
Prof. Humphreys comes in. He ascer-
tanned, from repeated experiments, what
had been before denied, that certain medi-
cines IN this system might be haTmoni-
ously combined in single remedy which
possessed, in good part, the advantages of
each Of its ingredients, and upon this prin-
ciple forms series Of Specific Remedies
for each of the more common diseases or
ailments. With these all uncertainty and
embarrassment in giving the remedies is
avoided, and they may be properly admin
istered by any person of ordinary intelli-
gence. His improvement is certainly val
liable, and one which throws the benefits
of this beautiful and efficient system into
the hands Of the people, and must prove a
blessing to thousands. His Specifics are
spoken Of in high terms by those who use
them, and we can readily conceive must
prove a valuable addition to the comforts
of q fn1nilv
Year: 1869

strange geological phenomenon recent
~ caused some excitement at Murat, in
France, a village situated between the val
ley of Mount DOre and that Of st. James
A civil engineer had caused a rectangular
well to be sunk to depth Of ffty-three
metres through a stratum of hard tGfa
which covers the primitive formation in
that district. at this depth, which is in
significant compared to the shaft of mine,
the heat, nevertheless. became so intense
that the workmen had to be relieved at
short intervals. Their wooden shoes soon
got intolerably warm, and they could not
lie down to rest themselves on the hot
ground. On the other hand, the appearance
of the tufa denoted that the well had near
y reached the granite. The engineer, on
leaving the spot for a while, had recon-
mended his men to be very careful during
his absence, and to content themselves
with removing the rubble, without going
further down. One Of them, however, in
throwing the last shoyelful into the skip,
took it into his head to remove with his
pickaxe n piece of tufa about thirty inches
in circumference; but no sooner had he
done this than he saw the bottom Of the
hole he had made swell up.


At the same time loud rUmbling noise
was heard. The men in q fright Jumped
into the cage and called to be pulled up;
but they had barely got to the height of o
dozen metres when a thick column of hot
water, preceded by a violent report, rose
up in the air, projecting huge stones up
wards. The water in falling scalded the
men grievously. The jet diminished, and
the well filed rapidly, the poor fellows sue
ceeding. however, in getting out in time.
In the course of ten hours the well got quite
f1I1 and from that time O. rivTI eft of tn a7.yo o
water has been flowing from the spcG into
the Dordogne. The liquid on arriving there
still retains temperature of forty degrees
centigrade. Upon analysis it has been
found to contain upwards of twenty milli-
grammes (nearly half grain) of arseniate
of potash per litre, a proportion unheard Of
before. The Minister of Public Works has
sent commission of engineers to the spot
for further investigation
Year: 1869




The last sensation made by the enter
'pris1ng Mr.. James Fisk, Jr., comptroller Of
the Erie Railway, is the undertaking of q
plan by which it is proposed to make the
line Of the Erie Railway, from the foot of
Chambers street and Twenty third street
to Buffalo and Dunkirk, an unbroken belt
OF light all through the dark nights, both
III summer and winter The Bergen tun-
mel is to be SO brilliantly illuminated that
upon lowering day the eyes of the pas
sengers will be almost blinded as the train
emerges from the mouth of the
tunnel, owing to the difference between
the bright light of the tunnel and the dull
rays of the sun. The means to be adopted
to carry out this great plan, and thus pre-
Guiding the possibility of any further acci-
dents on the road on account of darkness,
is in the application of the electric light to
every locomotive on the line, and stationary
lights at the ferries, in the funnel, and at
dangerous curves along the ro1te The
attention of the Erie company was first call
ed to consider this scheme, by Mr.. E. G.
Morse, and Mr.. Fisk at once authorized
him to 90 to work and see what could be
done. Mr.. Morse tAereupon commenced
to make arrangements for the manufacture
Of a large number of large number Of the
electric lamps at Jersey City, and he is
quite confident that within three months
he will have Erie all ablaze.


Mr. Morse claims to have made several
valuable discoveries and improvements in
connection with the electric light. One in
vention claimed by him Is self-sustaining
battery, and another is device for making
the carbon points, used to give the electric
light, burn for months without wasting
away. This electric light, it is said by
those who have experimental with it, will
cast a shadow behind an opaque body at
distance of ten miles. But when Jared by
the motion of the locomotive, the intensity
of the light is diminished. The light will
ilIumine the track for three miles ahead,
however, so that, where the road is straight,
the engineer can discern any object
at that distance. By another in
genious device, the electricity used to run
the lamps will be collected by the friction
of the wheels as the trains are in motion.
Two lights will be used for lighting Bergen
tunnel with one in the middle, as the tun-
mel is not straight, but curves. Other
lamps will then be stationed at each end of
the Pavonia ferry, which will throw
broad belt Of light across the North river
every night, to guide the traveller safely
to his home in the metropolis. These
lights will, it is said, be so intense that on
the darkest foggy night there will be no
danger Of collision on the water, any more
than in the daytime. Still more, it is pro-
posed to fill Twenty third street every night
with flood of white light from the North
river to the Fifth Avenue Hotel, so that
travellers at the heart of the metropolis may
at all times be reminded of the broad and
happy way.
Year: 1869

The New York Observer has the follow
ing explanation of mysterious disappear
ances:"


Going up to Albany on the boat a few
evenings since, young man approached q
young lady sitting near us and gradually
engaged her in conversation. 1t was car
ried on in low tone of voice, and yet loud
enough to be overheard. She let him know
that she lived in Forty-fourth street, New
York, between such and such street and av-
enue; that he must not write to her there,
but a letter addressed to the care of Miss
b, her school friend at-South Tenth
street. Williamsburgh, would reach her
When the young lady runs off with the
scamp who fattered her into this arrange
ment, it will be called d mysterious disap-
pearance.


Coming down on the Hudson River
Railroad from Troy, young lady was sit
ting in the seat before us. A young man
in the seat before her commenced CONVEX
sation with her from which he learn
ed that she was in Mrs. --'s school at
Troy, was going down to New York to
spend few days at home; by and by he
changed his seat and took one by her side,
and rode with her to New York. Before
they parted, she promised to meet him on
the corner of certain streets the following
day.


"Sueh things are of daily occurrence, and
that they often result in mysterious dis
Appearances is not to be wondered at
Every parent supposes his child to be able
10 take care of herself, and girls are left to
travel alone, exposed to the wiles of bad
men and women who, like the devil are
cont nually going about seeking whom they
NAV deYOur."