smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

The conference meeting through at last,


We boys around the vestry waited
To see the girls come tripping past, sl
Like snow-birds willing to be mated.
Not braver he that leaps the wall
By level musket-hashes litten, ,4-
Than 1, who stepped before them all,


Who longed to see me get the mitten.
But no, she blushed and took my arm!


We let the old folks have the highway.
And started towards the Maple Farm


Along kind Of lovers by way.
l can't remember what we said,


Twas nothing worth song or story,
Yet that rude path by which we sped
Seemed all transformed and in glory.
The snow was crisp beneath our feet,


The moon was full, the fields were cleaning
By hood and tippet sheltered sweet


Her face with youth and health were beaming
The little hand outside her muff-


o sculptor, if you could but mould i'll
So lightly touched my jacket-cuff,


To keep it warm had to hold it.
To have her with me there alone


Twas love and fear and triumph blended;
At last we reached the foot-worn stone


Where that delicious journey ended.
She shook her ringlets from her hood,


And with a " Thank you, Ned" dissembled,
But yet l knew she understood


With what daring wish l trembled.
A cloud passed kindly overhead,


The moon was slyly peeping through it,
Yet hid its face, as if it said


"Come, now or never do it! do itP'
My lips till then had only known


The kiss of mother and of sister,
But somehow, full upon her own


Sweet. rosy, darling MOUTH kissed her!
Perhaps twas boyish love, yet STILL


o listless woman weary lover
To feel once more that fresh, wild thrill,


I'd give-But who can live youth over


C. E. Stednaa's an atlantic Monthly.
Year: 1869

FANCY BALL At THE ExcHANGE.--A
grand fancy ball is to be given ut the Ex-
change Hotel some time during the month
Of September for the benefit Of the State
Agricultural Fair. This will probably be
one OF the finest affairs of the season.
Colonel Darlington very kindly rendered
Tie Society thcuse Of the Exchange for the
DurDpap
Year: 1869

Our President elect is famous for his reti-
cence, but there is one thing he is not silent
about, and that is the necessity of reform in
the government. He has spoken several times
on this subject, and always forcibly, showing
how impressed his mind is with 1t, and that he
is resolved to bring about reform. He is going
to be a reformer, and there is great need of
such President. However, it is no light work
that lies before him. 1t is work that will re-
quire all the resolution, skill and dogged per-
severance that characterized his closing cam
pagn against the rebellion. Nearly every de-
partment Of the civil service is disorganized
and inefficient. Corruption has become so gen
eral and defiant that it mocks the law and is
without shame. In fact, robbing the government
is no longer regarded immoral The Treasury
Department is a sink of iniqnity. The reve-
nue. service, in connection with the whiskey
ring, is the most astounding and bare
faced organization Of government robbers
with which any country was ever cursed.
A hundred millions year-more than
sufficient to support the current expenses
OI RONtTuHcut WuCu cCuuVlulCaHy uuHliis-
tered--have been stolen by revenue thieves
This has all been the result Of ineffcency and
maladministration Of the government. Then,
Congress has shown itself to be the most cor
rupt and recklessly extravagant public body
that exists or that ever WAS known in this
country. Andrew Johnson was Its convenient
6ete noire. While abusing him as the source
of all mischief, for the purpose of throwing
dust in the eyes of the people, this corrupt
body has been carrying out all sorts of jobs,
mously and saddling the country with an over
whelming debt. II has made poor Johnson
the scapegoat Of its iniquity. But this cannot
be done with General Grant. He 10 fresh,
untrammecd and the successful candidate of
the majority in Congress. Let him follow,
then, the honest promptings Of his nature,
begin in earnest the reforms hesees are needed
in the executive departments, making the
head Of each responsible for the faithful execu-
ton of the laws, and cut down the expendi-
lures to the lowest figure. Let him do this in
spite Of the trammels put upon the Executive
by Congress and he will place that body In
the dilemma either Of having to yield to his re-
forms or to bear the odium OF thwarting his
honest efforts to purify the government. He
may by such bold stand and by setting such
an example reform even Congress ITSELF AT
all events he will be sustained by the people
and the Independent press. IF be should tenn
porize or abdicate his constitutional power in
administering the laws he will be in trouble
from the start and his administration will be
failure. lie occupies the advantage ground,
and If he be as skilful n civil affairs as 10 war
we shall have reform.
Year: 1869

Apparently we may now regard the building
of bridge over the East river as certain, and
may even contemplate an early commence
ment Of the work. Five million dollars are
ready to begin with; for 1t is understood that
the subscription of million and half dollars
by this city is to make up the amount that
must be subscribed before the Brooklyn sub
scrption Is due. The total cost Of the bridge
proper is to be eight million dollars, and its
termini will be, in this city the open space
just east of the City Hall, the junction Of
Chatham and Centre streets, and in Brook
Ign the junction Of Fulton and Main streets
Passengers will be propelled from one end to
the other of this line in vehicles moved by
stationary engines.


Practically this grand structure will make
Brooklyn and New York one city, and that
city will inevitably be the greatest in the
world. BY making the points at the two ends
OF this bridge only five minutes apart and not
subject TO the accidents, delay and other
nuisaaces OF ferry or ordinary street car
transit we overcome what has hitherto been
a great obstacle to the proper growth and
room in the proper direction. The East river
ia no longer limit. There is still room on
the upper end Of New York Island, but il is
inaccessible. Now the whole Of Brooklyn,
Williamsburg and the suburban districts, as
1.sll az the level fields Of the country beyond.
Year: 1869

The Civil Service bill of Mr.. Jenckes, which
has been pending some time before Congress,
though good enough in principle, Is altogether
unnecessary and the work spent upon it labor
in vain. The main object Of the bill is to
create efficiency in the public service by put
ting the candidates for Office through an ex-
animation and to check the indiscriminate and
general removals that now take place under
every change of administration. But this could
all be done now under existing laws, If the
President and heads Of departments would do
their duty striotly with Wow to promote the
public service. The President can lay down
at any time rule for the examination Of can-
didates for office. Every secretary can do tho
same. Even the subordinate heads of depart
ments can, unless forbidden by their chief It
is o necessary function Of administration, and II
the power has not been exercised generally, or
as 1t should have been, the President and secre-
taries have neglected their duty. But it may be
said that the proposed law is to compel the
heads of the government to perform this duty.
Such interference with their action and dis
cretion would impair instead Of improve the
administration; for it would make the mbordi-
mates Independent in measure of their
superior and take away all responsibility
Besides, the heads of departments would
neglect the law, override it or get round it i'm
some way to suit their preferences in dis
pensing the patronage of the government.
The effect ofsuch law would be to embarrass
still more the action of the executive govern
ment and widen the conflict between it and
Congress. The only way to make the admins
tration in all its branches efficient is to give
full responsibility to the President and the
President to the secretaries, and to hold each
one to that. The country would look to the
President for the faithful execution Of the laws
and the proper performance of all duties under
his administration, and he would look to his
secretaries for the same. That is the way all
properly regulated business establishments are
managed, as well as governments. In fact,
there can be no good government where
proper discretion of action and full RESPONSE
bity are not left with the chiefs. II is the
same in civil affairs as in military. Instead,
therefore, Of Congress spending its time use
lessly on Mr.. Jenckes Civil Service bill IL
should repeal the Tenure of Office act and all
other acts unnecessarily obstructing the
Executive, clear the track for General Grant
and give full scope for an efficient administra.
tion under his Presidency.
Year: 1869

General Butler In New Character = A


Famous Scene in che White House.


General Ben Butler has come to be almost
universally regarded as fierce, remorseless
and implacable partisan politician, and as
about the last man among the ultra radicals to
make special complimentary social call
upon Andy Johnson. But this opinion can no
longer be entertained; for most conspicuous
among the thousands Of distinguished persons
who called upon the President to pay their
respects on New Years Day was General
Butler. An eyewitness testifes to the fact,
and says that ''the meeting was extremely
cordial on both Sides" that ''Butler grasped
his political foe by both hands, shaking them
with the utmost warmth" that president
Johnson reciprocated heartily" and that
''both stood face to face for at least five
minutes, with clasped hands, chatting and
smiling like the Oldest and closest of friends"
that Buffers eye twinkled, that Johnsons
eyes twinkled likewise; that ''Johnson's face
was all over smiling and happy" and that
Buffers twas radiant as a full moon, beam
ing with mildness, benevolence and affection"


''Behold how pleasant thing it is for men
and brethren to dwell together in unity"
What beautiful illustration is here of General
Grants motto-''Let us have peace!" 1t is a
subject for the finest artist, with pen or pencil,
to set to music or to give to posterity in oil
colors this "Happy New Year. meeting and
greeting between Butler and Johnson-the
great impeacher and the great impeached.
And what is the Interpretation thereof?
It is this: that Butler is not the hor-
rible radical ogre he has been repre-
sented, but an amiable man, who draws
line between his political and his social rela-
ions and between his partisan and his per-
sonal duties. This manly proceeding on his
part shows, too, that he thinks and acts for
himself; that he has mind and will of his
own, and has no fear of the consequences of
acting according to his own judgment. And
there may be still deeper meaning in this
White House New Year cali, which in due
season will be developed.


But where was General Grant meantime
He spent his New Year day in Philadelphia,
and it is generally understood purposely to
avoid New Year call upon the President.
But there is sharply defined question Of
veracity pending between these men, which is
a personal matter, and which must be settled
before there can be any personal courtesies
between them, or at least before General Grant,
soldier, touched in his tenderest point, can
take the initiative. We have, therefore,
peace proposition to submit to General Butler
Reconciled with General Grant in reference
to that affair Of being ''corked up in a bottle"
and reinstated fully in his old kindly personal
relations with Johnson, General Butler is in q
good position to take the part Of mediator
between Grant and Johnson. Let him do SO;
let us see the outgoing and incoming Presi-
dent riding up to the Capitol, like sold Buck"
and ''Old Abe" side by side, and 'let us have
peace"
Year: 1869

The little settlement of ClarksvilIe, on our
side of the river at the mouth of the Rio
Grande, has been the scene Of raid from
band of Mexican banditti, involving the mur-
der OF two worthy citizens and the loss Of con-
siderable property, public and private. The
brigands came, overhauled the town, gathered
up their plunder, recrossed the river and dis
appeared. This affair serves to bring into
bold relief the unsettled condition of things
along our whole Mexican border, and the
unsettled condition of Mexico itself, from the
Rio Grande and the Gila down to Yucatan.
Forty years of revolutions and fighting fac
tons have established brigandage as the
favorite pursuit Of the disappointed or dis
banded soldier or politician, the unlucky
gambler and every order of vagrants and
adventurers, especially in the short intervals
when there has been no intestine war for the
Presidency and no common struggle against
foreign invader


When, in 1864, the Council of Notables was
convened in the Mexican capital in behalf of
Macmillan, their first plea in support of the
empire, forced upon the country by Napoleon's
bayonets, was that for forty years Mexico had
been governed by bandits and outlaws, and
that Macmillan had come to give them a
government of law and order This plea, too,
was held as a justification for the Intervention
by many honest people in the United States who
held that reign Of law and order was the para
mount necessity in Mexico, no matter in what
shape or from what quarter it might come.
But Maximilian and his ill-starred empire
have passed away, the republic under Juarez
has taken their place, and the revolutionary
factions opposing him have been very nearly
suppressed; for there are only few local
troubles here and there to disturb the generally
recognized authority of his government.


This general reign of internal peace, how
ever, in throwing numerous professional SOL
diers out Of employment operates to increase
the brigands and brigandage of every State Of
the Mexican confederacy, for the Mexican
soldier is at best but sort of brigand.
Under such state of things the prospect fer
law, order and prosperous industry in Mexico
is not very promising Our Minister, General
Rosecrans, may possibly do something for our
sister republic (such as she is) in the way Of
an enlarged treaty of commercial reciprocities
but this affair at Clarksville and the general
Mexican lawlessness along our border ought
to suggest to diplomat of the broad and COM
prehensive views of General Rosecrans the
turning over a new leaf of manifest destiny"
Year: 1869

are open to the crowding population Of the
metropolis, to the great amelioration of the
condition of the people.


We believe this bridge is only the first OF
series. We shall by and by look upon the East
river as only an American Thames or Seine,
and join the cities on its shores by as many
bridges as span those intramural streams. 1t
is proper that our Thames and Seine should
be on rather grander scale than those in
in Europe.
Year: 1869

by the alliance and friendship of the United


States.


This is the result that England more par


ticularly recognizes in her present action.


China is guaranteed by us against unreason-
able wars, and England, accepting the necessi-
ties Of her position, relinquishes gracefully all
intention and desire to use against the Chinese
in the future such ''unfriendly pressure" as she
has never ceased to use since she gained her
first foothold on the Chinese coast. She
assents to the necessity of observing existing
treaty stipulations; promises in any case of
alleged grievance to lay these grievances
honestly and fairly before the Chinese govern
ment proper, and not build up quasi potentates
as her fancy may distate and hold China to
their bogus treaties; and finally agrees that
the British flag shall not be used as a cover for
warlike operations in China without direct
authority from London. These provisions will
prevent the troubles that have always been
between China and the Powers that sought her
shores for commerce, if straightforwardly
acted upon, and it is satisfactory to see that
there is some Power in the earth to force
recognition of the right kind of progress upon
such an old and case-hardened sinner against
all international rights as England has ever
been.


1t will be seen from cable despatch which
we publish this morning, that the success Of the
Chinese mission in London is but an earnest
of the success which will attend it in every
capital Of Europe. The Paris Patrie, in an
editorial yesterday, regards the mission with
favor and speaks hopefully of its success.
Year: 1869

Spalu-Ine 1mSurrecllOn IN MuIaS0s


In this mornings HERALD we publish special
cable dispatches giving fuller details of the
late rising in Malaga. The insurrection seems
to have been more serious than we had been
led to imagine. Happily the rising has been
put down, but not until on the part of the
insurgents four hundred were killed and six
hundred made prisoners. The joint strength
of certain war vessels lying in the harbor and
proved too much for the undisciplined masses,
and after brief and, as far as appears, unequal
struggle tranquility was restored.


One unfortunate circumstance seems to have
taken place while the tumult lasted and,
as appears, Immediately before fire was
opened on the Insurgents. One or tne
boats of the American gunboat Swatara,
having on board an American family,
and while proceeding from the shore to the
ship, was fred into. We call this unfortunate !;
for an insult thus offered to our flag is very
liable to produce in this country a feeling hos
tile to the popular cause in Spain. It is graft
flying to know that General Serrano, without
delay, expressed his regret to our Minister
that such vandalism should have been COM
mitted, assuring him at the same time that the
offenders would be brought to justice. We
shall be glad to learn that there has been
some mistake in the matter, and that the insult
was not Intentional In such case it win be
our Ministeg,s duty to plead for mercy. We
have nothing to gain BY blind and unreason-
ing vengeance. For the present it is needful
that we suspend judgment.


We have at the same time a curious
announcement to the effect that it is the inten
ton of the provisional government to
disarm the citizens throughout the pro-
vinces before the assembling of the Cortes
and, so soon as the disarming is completedand
before the Cortes have had time to act
to place Montpensier on the throne. Serrano,
De Roda and Topete are said to be in favor Of
this step. Prim opposes it, If this rumor has
any foundation in fact it shows that the gov
ernment dread the result of the elections The
people generally are supposed to be in favor
of republic; but they are completely under
the heel of the military power which governs
Spain now with an authority quite as high
handed as In the worst days of the past. If a
coup detat be attempted in favor of Montpen-
sier Prim not joining it, or rather opposing it,
the army is almost certain to be divided, and,
as was the case in ancient Rome and in mod
ern France, the successful general will be left
master Of the situation. 1t will not be won
derful If the dictatorship Of Prim be yet ad-
mitted to be necessity. Spain has not yet
reached the goal 1t is doubtful whether she
is near it,
Year: 1869

as to receive interest enough to keep
her comfortable and is nov able to en-
joy the precepts of the old family Bible
without tear or molestation. Her time
and attention is devoted to the bringing
up of her bright blue eyed Alice, and if
the happy smiles of the countenance
may be considered an index Of the heart
snd mind, little Alice bids fair to be
shining star in the community of which
she at present forms but unit


At the meeting house in the center of
the village, may be seen every Sunday,
sitting about half way up the south aisle.
a lady about thirty years of age, dressed
in deep mourning. with face glowing
with the beauty oi holiness, but ON whom
NAV be seen deep traces of passed sor
row. At the public house, in the same
place, and at the same time, may also
be seen being in the garb of man,
bloated and sotting ever the poisoning
bowl The one is the possessing widow,
the other the protesting neighbor.
Year: 1869

During an experiment with an atmo-
spheric pressure gas machine in an Office
on Congress street, Boston, the other
day, an explosion of chemicals took
place, filling the room with flame, and
bulging out the front wall and granite
window caps. The flames spread fierce
ly through the lower story and up the
staircase, cutting off all escape for the
twenty Or thirty persons employed in
the rooms above. The fire had reached
the fourth story before any means of es.
cape was found. Then a ladder was
thrown across an alley fifteen feet wide,
whose length was barely enough to rest
on the sills, and on nothing but
a board placed on this frail bridge, five
stories high, four young women and fif-
teen men passed. trial that made
some of the men SD dizzy that they
straddled the ladder and hitched across.
but all the girls walked bravely over.
Year: 1869

Of no little celebrity among the advo-
Gates of universal equality here is Mrs.
DIR. Mary Walker She forms In her
own person the advance picket of the
reform movement. She is slender,
girlish little body. with thin pale face,
in which one would hardly recognize
her The first time 1 saw her she was
walking up Pennsylvania avenue in her
usual habit, followed by the quick. in
quisitive glances of hundred pairs of
eyes. From her costume, | supposed
her to be youth of the male gender,
there being nothing in the heavy shaggy
overcoat and square cut pants or does
kin or broadcloth to indicate her identi-
ty with the fair sex. A second revealed
the two rolls of long brown hair hanging
down TO her shoulder blades, and sug-
gested that here, sure enough, was the
tabled .What Is It2' Attired in this garb,
she goes quietly and fearlessly about the
citv. into the Capital, up to the White
House, and especially wherever there is
a convention offering the least possible
opportunity to put in word in favor of
the oppressed sex. A friend has given
me bit of her personal history, and,
while stoutly resisting the suggestion
that she is monomanlac, says she is



trine that her dress is the most becom-
ing, convenient and healthful for her
sex, and to that she is bound to cling
with a woman's tenacity of purpose.


She was q surgeon in the United States
hospital during the war, and was cap
tured by the rebels and thrown into Lib
by Prison, where she says repeated eff.
forts were made to assassinate her, by
poisoning her food, and by shots fired
by the guard from the room below her,
at places where she was known to have
been standing moment before. The
reDels demanded q Brigadier General in
exchange for her, and this demand led
to her long detention in Libby Prison.
She is a grass widow. having been once
incompatibly married The local papers
give currency TO statement that she
has repeatedly applied at the White
House for an interview with President
Grant, but has uniformly met with re-
pulse, her card being quietly dropped in
to the waste basket, and she compelled
to retire without the coveted interview.
After numerous rebuffs she is said to
have sent note to the President, inqulr
ing when she could see him, and receiv-
Ell for answer: Not until she came
SEX AS her dress has become her idol.
it seems probable that this reply
amounts to an exclusion from the exec
utive presence.-W ash Cor. Gin. Chron
icle