smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

The last sessions of Old and New School
Presbyterian General Assemblies have been
held. The New School body adjourned on
Monday, the Old School on Tuesday. They are
to meet together in Pittsburgh next Novem-
Der, to hear the reports OF Pres
byteries, and complete the fOrmalltes
of the Union which is already virtually
declared. The hOarse voice OF Robert. j.
Breckenridge, who is rarely happy save when
singular, is almost solitary in breaking the
general unanimity of approval with which the
conciliatory and Christian action of the Assem-
blies has been received. Yet even DR.. Breck-
enridge, we should think, might rejoice with
us at the political, if not also at the re-
ligious bearings of the memorable step which
the Assemblies have taken.


For ourselves, indeed, we count it politically
unfortunate only in being four years later
than it should have been. If organizations so
intelligent, wealthy, and powerful as those
controlled by these two Assemblies had chosen
the year that witnessed the surrender at APP
pomattox for their present abandonment OF
old schisms and sectional strife, the example
would have been benefcent, and the effect
upOn the lately warning sections most salutary.
In the spirit of good feeling and har-
mony which it would have evoked we
might well have looked for speedy
return of the Presbyterans South, and even for
the reunion of the MethOdists, North and South.
Years of the wisest political action could not
have done so much for the settlement of the
South and the return of an era of good feel
ing, as would this practical illustration
of fraternal feeling by these powerful
churches. The Centennial Celebration OF
Methodism, two years ago, might then have been
more and better than it was-might indeed
have been a jubilee of the leading Protestant
organizations of the Country over restored har-
mony, reviving goodwill, and the friendly
struggles of the rival sections in deeds OF
charity and peace.


Yet to-day we prefer rather to rejoice at the
consummation than to deplOre its slow-coming.
We welcome the erasure from the Christian
life of the Nation of some blots that Slavery
helped to make. We welcome the evidence
that the year of Grace on which we have en-
tered is to be indeed year of Grace-a year
that shall mark large and liberal progress to-
ward the union of Christians in their Masters
spirit for their Masters work. We welcome
the sign that the churches are helping to har-
monize the Nation. And on all these accounts
we reckon the late sessions of the Presbyterian
Assemblies in this city worthy of wide and
grateful remembrance.
Year: 1869

Elder Cummings (Shaker) said at Conven'
ton of his sect in Boston last week, that when
"women were allowed to vote, war would
"cease.r How Elder Cummings knows this
we are not informed; but We must say that his
dctum strikes us as one of those loose gener'
alities of which, in the discussion of this ques'
ton, we have had too many already. As rule
we suspect that women are more combatiU
than men. This feeling has been modified by
social and political arrangements into passion
for interminable debate and circular argumenta-
ton; but when women take an equal part in
the practical management of public affairs
what proof is there that they will be less ready
than men to invoke the dire ordeal of battle
AS for Elder Cummings we do not consider
him to be authority at ALL for he thinks that
nobody should be married, and that no more
children should be born into the world We
are willing to admit, if the faith OF Elder
Cummings should be universally accepted, and
Hymen with inverted torch should. flee from
this purified land, and nurseries should be
vacant, and the dear babies disappear alto
gether, that woman would have a plenty OF
time to attend the caucus, to vote, TO go to
Congress, and even to lead armies. These con
troversies would be soon ended. if we could
only put maternity out of the question.
Year: 1869

So far from desiring to give up their Cana
dian possessions, the British authorities have q
steady tendency to make the most of them.
The Under-Secretary for the Colonies has just
announced that the cession of the Hudson Bay
Company's territory will receive the ratification
of the Canadian Government. The cessiOn is
not question simply of purchase but of colo
nizatiOn and development generally, so that
the New Dominion shall DO extended from one
ocean to another. Viscount Bury is 80 charmed
with this extensive prospect that he regards
Canada as the future highway to the Indies,
and scouts the notion that the United States
viii absorb the British Territories. Several of
the London papers have just been urging the
speedy imitation by English capital Of the great
Paclnc Railway enterprise. The recommends
tion made in the Canadian Parliament for the
opening OF communication at once between
Lake superior and the Red River settlement is
a step to this distant end. There will be every
necessity for great Northern road to the Pa
Year: 1869

The fact that the Messrs Laird have been
driven to the publication of letter in defense
of their construction of the Alabama, only
proves that the currents of public sense and
of public opinion are setting strongly against
them in England. Mems minds must be chang
ing there when these arrogant shipwrights,
who for the sake of private gain have endan-
gered the peace of nations, find it necessary to
Justify themselves at the bar Of society. 1t
was not so a few years ago, when the build
ing of the Alabama was declared by thousands
of Englishmen to be a meritOrious action and
legitimate enterprise. The letter of the Messrs
Laird is the first rational and coherent and
Ineligible response to the speech Of Mr. Sum-
neT.


The plea set up by the Lairds is merely an
attorneys bubble, and however much it may
help them, it proportionately damages the Gov
ernment of England. The just complaints OF
this Republic cannot be successfully met by a
resort to tecbnicalities. If q ship is built in
England, in every respect q man-of-war ex-
cept that she has no armament; if that ship
then proceeds to another port for men and
arms; if from port of England men and
arms are sent out TO her, then we say that IN
equity all thes circumstances must be taken
as part and parcel of one transaction, and that
(as in the case Of the Alabama) the oiiense
which was cOnsummated at the Azores was
initiated in England, and that the beginning is
equally tainted with the end.


But the quarrel of the American Govern
ment, it should be understood, is not with the
Messrs Laird. In demanding compensation for
injuries we ignore them altogether; and whether
they publish five or five hundred letters, our
dispute will stll be with their betters. They
NAV plead, if they please, that England had no
laws TO prevent them from perpetrating o
grievous and contemplate wrong, for the sake
of pecuniary proft-a crime against the spirit
of the age, against humanity and against the
public peace What have we to do with the
defects of English legislation How are we
10 be held responsible if that legislation has
failed TO meet the requirements OF Public Law
That Law should create the statutes, not the
statutes the Law. IL is not for nation to plead
its own neglect. 1t is not for England, In her
own defense, to aver that her legislation has
been clumsy. We know nothing about that.
We are not responsible for her failure to pro-
vide the machinery through which doctrines ad-
mitted by the whole civilized world could be
enforced, just when their enforcement was
necessary. The inadequacy of the law proves
only the incompetency of the lawmakers.


When the history Of these transactions comes
to be considered collectively, the intelligent
reader will be surprised to notice how COM
pletely, from the beginning, and especially in
the cases Of the Alabama and the Rappahannock,
England has relied upon special pleading. She
has never considered, she has never ventured
to consider these questions in the light of the
great, predominatinG principles of Public Law.
Year: 1869

We are reluctantly compelled once more Oh
call attention to the extremely inefficient and
clumsy manner in which persons capitally con.
victed are put to death. On the 2Sth nit. a
man named Truman was hanged, near Frederick
Md, in the presence of an enormous mob Of peo-
pie, who came from all quarters to see and enjoy
the sight. Amateurs in this refined and ami.
able assemblage had, in our opinion, reason to
complain. Instead of being neatly turned of
and dying on the instant, the hempen crayat
being most inartistically adjusted, Truman died
very slowly, and in fact was, we presume, simply
suffocated. There may have been those in the
miscellaneous crowd who enjoyed this prolonga-
ton, and found a heightened sweetness in
these tardy convulsions but humanity ana
art unite in demanding that the thing should
be done quickly.


Again, we implore lawmakers to consider
the propriety of introducing the guillotine or
the garrote. These are instruments which can.
not blunder When the AK falls, off comes the
head When the screw is turned. the painful
but necessary work is completed in an instant
The halter has done good service in its day, as
everybody assures us, save few fanatics,
who signify nothing; it has been main ele-
ment in the advance of civilization; it has
been the grand conservator Of human life, and
it is not to be spoken of with disrespect but
with all the countless Improvements in ma
chinery, it is very odd if we cannot have an
Improved Life EXtinguisher.
Year: 1869

There is pregnant paragraph of six lines
in the Washington dispatches, which is better
than a volume of arguments, in answer to
the carpers at Secretary Boutwelrs policy
He has sold, it tells us, five millions
of Gold, during the month, receiving
therefor seven millions of Currency,
while the three millions Of National
Debt get aside during this time for q Sinking
Fund, has cost less than three quarters of a
million currency premium. Any merchant or
manufacturer who could not see the advantage
of that operation in the conduct of his private
business, would be set down as an incompetent
OF lunatic. But is there after all, any reason
why the same honorable business thrift and
sagacity should not be employed for the bene-
fit of the whole people that are constantly en-
ployed for the benefit of individuals Why
should public affairs, other things being equal,
be managed more loosely and extravagantly
than private affairs
Year: 1869

The work of the WOman's Educational Asso-
citation is an earnest showing of the best that
woman can do, and the good that may be done
for her. The resolutions passed by the Associ-
alton impress us as more eloquent and prac-
teal, if a little less sublime, than those which
have been read on bolder platforms. They
insist that it is necessary for young women
not otherwise provided for to be trained
to self-help and taught domestic economy, the
social fault being want of variety, adaDta-
bility, and right remuneration in their employ
ments. This is common sense, and it expresses
a phase of woman's rights, to be helped and to
help herself, which we commend with our whole
heart. Whatever may be thought of other
movements seeking the amelioration of WOman's
condition, this at least is one on which all can
unite, and to which all will wish God-speed.
Year: 1869

We present in another column some hints
of the discussion among the Friends in session
at the Twenteth-st. Meeting House concerning
the Indian policy, with the execution OF
which the President has intrusted them
1t is pleasant to observe that the
first determination they have reached is
that their representatives in charge OF In
dian affairs must peremptOrily stop the sale Oi
liquor to the savages. Their effort to stop also
the sale of arms may be less successful
but it can scarcely fail to tend also
to good. They are already able h
count one conflict between the Sioux
and Cheyennes, prevented through their inter-
ference. Meanwhile the dispatches from the
frontier, though doubtless more or less e1.
aggerated, continue to show the grayer ano
grayer nature of the task that is upon them'
Year: 1869

A correspondent writes us at length in DEM
onstration of the great Importance OF rail
that cannot break OF be broken, which we
omit, as superhuous-two-th thirds of the acci-
dents that occur on our railroads being caused
by broken rails. He proceeds to say that:


"The invention by j. L. Booth OF Rochester, n l., OF
process for Gaping iron rails with solid cap OF steel
about or ihs OF inch in thickness in the opinion Oh
the most experienced railroad men who have examined
IT, meets the requirements Of safety and durability The
rail consists of an iron base with steel cap united TO
the base not by bolts ryets or welding but SIM
ply by campng The iron bar rolled of the required
form and weight after which 1t is passed through the
compressng machine which cenches powerfully upon 1t
the heavy steel cap The subsequent actien OF weight
upon IT, as the passage OF heavy trains Is to grip
the IRON more and more firmly, until the
base and the cap become as firmly united as
fthey we're q single piece Of metal over the expert
mental rails down two years ago near the depot IN
Bualo have passed 10000 engines and 100000 cars The
iron rails adjoining opposite them have, in the interval
hoen ak times renewed No change is as vet observable
in the steelcapped rails and 70 all appearance they bid
fair TO wear out twenty successive sets Of the ordinary
sort.


1.-TWO OF the rails were also laid on tho New-York
Central Railroad, Rochester n. " June T. 1861 On
one tho cap loose and even ratngi on the other
WAS firm They laid continuously, and with the old
stye Of chairs They were placed where seventy engines
and trains daily passed them on the main ine and
where the track used constantly for switching and
making OF trains The rate OF speed over them varies
The through freight trains frequently Joined at this
point three or four in one TO ascend an upgrade They
pass over these rails often at the rate OF twenty-five or
thirty miles an hour The loosecap ra became tight In
very short tme and both in perfect order -Four
sets OF iron rails have completely out and new
sets replaced the opposite side OF the track during the
period Of time these duplex rails have been down"
Year: 1869

We Judge the action of our State temper
ance Society concerning the propoSi'ion " as
ford 70 oiionate any from the Temperance
cause by raising needless tests OF poltical or'no
doxy and whatever may be said oil It's snort
comipgs, the Republican party has certainty
done enough to warrant the continued conn-
donce and support of all Temperance men,
Year: 1869

A member Of the Nova Scotian Parliament
speaks of Annexation or Starvation as the
policy of the United States with reference to
British America. The annexation resolutions
had not yet come up in that body.
Year: 1869

Fisk is at it again, livelier than ever nm
time it is the Pacific Railroad people who ia'ely
sought to carry the war into Africa whom no
is after. We cannot say that at the emu u sd s
last round for the first day he had much au-
vantage.
Year: 1869

WHAT Constitutes AN EDrroR.
qualities Of successful


editor, however, are of a. much
higher kind than, Carlyle defines
them to be. It is not nero thrash
ing straw without wheat that is
required of him. He must have
ability. energy and tact. His il


lustrations and arguments must
always be within call. The best


newspaper writing is only brilliant
talking; but what a rare Gift il
that7 Let any person who thinks
it easy to write a newspaper ar
ticle try it. But one article will
be no test of success. An editor
must be able, like the celebrated
French cook of the play, to pre-
pare twelve courses Of fish, flesh
and fowl from one square lump
of veal. He must be ever spark
ling and fresh, never tagging or
dull for moment He must
mingle the grave with sthesga i,
the lively with the severe, fact
with comment, speculation with
He must have a ver-
satile taste, a weEl-stored memory
a light and playful imagination,
a logical mind, an unswerving
Judgment. If any thinks it is an
easy task to edit q newspaper, day
after day, let him try it.
Year: 1869

The world looks with cold res
pect upon an act of justice, but
throws up it's hat at display of
mercy. Yet the one is the strength
Of virtue, while the other is most
often it's greatest weakness.
Year: 1869

An eccentric candidate for. the
Indiana Legislature, during his
canvass, said, in a public speech:
"My fellow-citizens, to secure
your votes, I will kiss your big
toes, and after / have got your
votes, you may kiss mine." A
Roman Emperor, according to
President Harrison, expressed the
same idea in more classic lam
guage, when he said that there is
Il great difference between'promis-
es before and performance Of them
after an election. The Radicals
of Boston are illustrating the
truth of the remark of that expe-
rienced Emperor in the treatment
they are meeting out to the VEN
doris of lager beer. Before the
the election of two weeks ago, an
exception was made by the State
Constable in his enforcement. of
the probibitory law of lager beer
saloons; and it was given out that
cider and beer were exceptions to
this general prohibition. Now
the State Constable has inaUgu-
rated a raid upon the lager beer
saloons Of Boston, seizing all the
lager he can nose out, and hav-
ing the proprietors fined. The
man who carries the brains of the
Republican party, and pioneers its
great movements, prOnounces the
selling and use Of Intoxicating
drinks the great sin Of the age,
now that slavery is abolished,
and that prohibition is the only
true way to get rid Of it-prohibit
both the making and vending.
Sumptuary laws spring, naturally
from New England soil, and are
an outgrowth of the disposition
that is never so contented as
when it can regulate other peo-
pies affairs, and dictate what they
shall eat, drink and wear.-Er-
change.
Year: 1869

The New York Sun imagines
that the nomination of Gen. Sher-
man at Louisville will not be
adopted by either of the great
parties, but that it will remain
without any substantial conse-
4uences. When he came to
Washington last spring he was
prevailed upon to accept a pres
ent of q hundred and two thou
sand dollars, raised at General
Grants special request, from va
rious citizens of New York and
New England. His obligations
toward Gen. Grant will keep him
in the background for some time
to come. Gen. Grant is UNDER
stood by those who are in the way
OF seeing him intimately to cher
ish deep desire for reelection.
This feeling will naturally grow
stronger as the decisive year
of 1872 approaches; and the in
huences which the President can
always bring to bear will doubt
less be exerted to secure for. him
the nomination Of the Republican
National Convention. As long
as Gen. Grant is candidate, Gen.
Sherman cannot and will not en-
ter the field; and when it is de-
termined that, the Republicans
will not have Grant, it will be too
late for Sherman to. fish for their
nomination; indeed, his relation
to Grant would make it difficult
for him to accept a nomination
which Grant had failed to secure.
though it should be unanimously
rendered to him.


Beside, it is now probable that
IN 1872 either party adopt a mill
tary candidate. The experience
of the Republicans with Grant
has been such as to give them a
distrust of shoulder-straps in. civil
office; and even if he should now
forsake his fo1lies and make a
sensible and successful admins
tration, he eau hardly cover, eth
er for himself or for other states
men of military education, the
confidence he has forfeited. And
as for the Democrats, while there
is nothing in General Sherman's
antecedents, Or in his political
convictions, to forbid their taking
him up, it is almost certain that
they will be less inclined to run
a military candidate in 1872 than
they have ever been before.
Year: 1869

plate on which the boilers had stood, and
she had neither burned or blown up, and
yet the boilers and machinery had gone
out, and there was no trace or sign of how
they did it, and no living man can explain
it. She had been seen only the day before,
and was next found floating, and there
never had been found either captain or
crew to unravel the mystery-none of
them ever having been heard Of She is
yet running, having been raised, convert
ed into tug, and is now towing on the
ST. Lawrence under the name of William
the Fourth


Yes, we get pretty good pay-$40 and
500 day, and sometimes more, but our
outfit costs 1,500, and there is a good deal
OF wear and tear. And the lonesome, un-
easy feeling is worth round sum. Up
here, you seldom think of accident or death,
but hundred feet of water washing over
your head would set you to thinking A
little stoppage of your air pump, leak in
your hose, careless action on the part of
your tender, and the weight of mountain
would press the life out of you before you
could make a move. And you may foul
your pipe or fine yourself, and in your
haste, bring on what you dread l often
get my hose around a stair or rail, and
though am not called cowardly, and gen.
orally release it without much trouble, the
bare idea of what slender thing holds
back the clutch of death off my throat,
makes cold sweat start from every pore"
-D,trOit Free Press
Year: 1869

IT is easier to be good business man
than a poor one. Half the energy dis
played in keeping ahead that is required
to catch up when behind will save credit,
give more time to business, and add To the
profit and reputation of your work Honor
your engagement. If you promise to meet
a man, or a certain thing, at certain mo-
ment, be ready at the appointed time. If
you go out on business, attend promptly
to the matter on hand and then as prompt
ly go about your own business. Do not
stop to tell stories i'm business hours


If you have place of business, be found
there when wanted No man can get rich
by sitting around stores and saloons. Never
"foOl on business matters If you have
to labor for living, remember that one
hour i'm the morning is better than two at
night. If you employ others, be on hand
to see that they attend to their duties, and
to direct with regularity, promptness
and liberality. Do not meddle with any
business you know nothing of. Never
buy thing simply because the man that
sells it will take it out in trade. Trade is
money. Time is money. A good bust
| ness habit and reputation is always money.
Make your place of business pleasant and
attractive; then stay there to wait Oh Gus
| toners.


Never use quick words, or allow your
self to make haSty or ungentlemanly re-
marks to those in your employ, for to do
so lessons their respect for you and your
influence over them. Help yourself, and
others will help you. BE faithful over the
interest con6ded to your keeping, and all
in good time your responsibilities will be
| increased. Do not be i'm too great haste
| 10, rio l,.rilI
arranged and laid good foundation. Do
not--as you hope to work for success
spend time i'm idlcness If your time
| is your own, business will suffer il
you dc. II it is given to another for
pay it belongs to him, and you have no
more right to steal it than to steal money.
BE Obliging. Strive tn avoid harsh words
and personalities Do not kick every
stone i'm the path; more miles can be
made day by going steadily on than by
stopping to kick. Pay rs you go. A man
of honor respects his word rs he does his
bond. Ask, but never beg. Help others,
when you can, but never give when you
cannot afford TO- simply because it is fash
ionable. Learn to say no. No necessity
of swapping it out dog fashion, but say il
firmly and respectfully. Have but few
confidants, and the fewer the better. Use
your own brains rather than those OF
others. Learn to think and act for your
self BE vigilant Keep ahead, rather
than behind the time. Young men, cut this
out; and if there is folly in the argu
ment, let us know Erctange.


A WRITER (unmarried) suggests thai
Solomon's wisdom was due tO the fact tha
he had seven hundred wives, whom Ii,
consulted on all occasions.