smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

HoPE, ARK, Sept 26th, 1877.

 To the Editor of the DEMOCRAT:

 One beautiful morning the first of this month your correspondent step ped into her hack b und for the s. W. portion of Ark. The morning was indeed lovely--the atmosphere was just the temperature to be pleas ant, the birds caroled forth notes of praise to their Creator. indeed all nature seemed to unite to render the day pleasant; bat l must say that the surrounding scenery was not in unison with my own feelings. Mem ory, sweet carrier bird of human happiness" had waited me pack to dear old Russellvilie and all her pleasant association, to the day when first made my arrival there, thinking then it was to be my home for life, but how tculy may we ex- claim that man proposes and God disposes." A thousand endearing scenes rushed voluntarily across my mind,-tlIe church 1 had so often frequented, our dear Pastor under the sound of whose voice 1 had so often sit and listened as he earnestly cxpounded the way of truth and life; the grave yard where over year ago l deposited the remains of my only darling son, all swept across my mind and was as truly painful as the separation from a dear friend. Oh! how often as the sun was shed ding his last rays on our favored globe have l fingered beside the sacred little mound, surrounded by the sleeping dead. To me it is the dearest of all earthly spots and though far away and will in ali prob ability never behold it again, yet l will often revert to it with the pleas ant thought that

 sswhen we all go home to our Fathers house,

 To our Fathers house in the skies;

 One of the joys of Heaven shall be

 The little boy that dcd'

 The solitude of these sad sweet memories were not intruded upon until we reached the river, and there by the loud coarse notes of the rerry- man, calling some of his fellow la borers to their posts. Here we were pleased to see the pleasant face of brother Crawford and several other gentlemen of Dardanelle, whose kind words and smiling countenan ces did much to cheer us up. After leaving Dardanelle we travelled sew eral miles through a nice level conn try which showed many signs of energy and industry. We passed several neat residences surrounded by well improved farms dotted over by superabundant crops of cotton and corn, but as we neared Fourche river the settlements became consid. erably less and very inferiorily im- proved. The close of our first days travel found us at the foot of Muddy mountain. We stopped with Mir. w.. who after much persuasion consent ed to take us in provided we would make ourselves no trouble. To this we readily consented for 1t was then near dark and several miles to the next house. l was greeted at the door by gawky barefooted girl,
Year: 1877

WASHINGTON, Sept II, 1877.
COLLECTOR ARTHUR IN wAsHINGToS-FAILURE


TO DISCOVER SENSATION


In the absence OF anything more exciting Just now,
In utterly dull condition OF things In Washington,
the presence OF Collector Arthur to-day was seized
upon with avidity US likely to furnish the newspaper
correspondents with something of sensation for their
Journals, and tho Collector in consequence sub
jcctei TO perpetual interview. He disclamcd, how
ever that there anything unusual or significant In
his visit TO secretary Sherman On tho contrary,
he was IN the habit OF coming onco month
or so to discuss details OF government business
at New York In connection with tho Custom
House, which could not very we'll be transacted
through tho medium OF tho mail This was all there
was in his presence here


To Of his many friends who expressed their fear
that tho President, making clean sweep OF the
Custom House chiefs, had done as the farmer did who
fred barn smoke the rabbit out Collector Arthur
replied that no roady to give up his place when-
ever II was wanted OF him. Hc dined this evcning
with Secretary Sherman, Mr. F.. W. Stouehton being
fellow guost and returned to New York by the night
train.


1t is thought his explanation OF the conduct OF al
fairs IN the weighcrs department of the Custom
House has been quite satisfactory to Secretary Sher
man and will strengthen the latter In his disposition
adopt the suggestions Of The special commission
Year: 1877

At meeting Of the Board of Directors, held
on the seventh day of June. 1877 1t was resolved
to declare a cash dividend of twenty per cent on
the net earned participating premiums for the
year ending May 81. 1877, pay able on the third
Monday Of July next.


Also. to pay to the Stakeholder on demand,
interest at the rate of five per cent per annum
on their stock
Year: 1877

Russia may be persuaded to accept this plan'
if Sultan Hamids Government is willing to
give the necessary assurances.


This is very imperfect device. 1t ia vague,
ipadeauate to the purpose and includes within
itself the elements of certain disagreement.
To be effectual, the combined supervision OF
tho Powers must not be exercised for time,
but always. In order to ascertain whether the
reforms are honestly carried out, they must
clearly declare the form and character OF the
latter. Turkeys independence, guaranteed by
the Treaty of Paris, is thus virtually at an
end she becomes political ward, under the
control of five or more guardians. But nothing
is more unlikely than the continuance OF the
present Ottoman Government: its lease OF life
is most precar1Ous, and if the stipulated time
passes by without bona fde reform of any kind,
what will then be the action of the Powers1
Will they unite to enforce their policy, or Will
they stand back, as Immediately after the break
up of the Conference, and wait to see whether
Russia will undertake the task snge-handedf


If the proposition be jointly made to Russia,
it will at least Oblige her to decide upon her
immediate policy. SO far as we can ascertain,
she is fully prepared for war, and she cannot
afford to repeat the expense OF preparation a
wear hence, unless concert of fOrbearance now
means also concert Of force then. Prince
Gortciakolf is far too shrewd and experienced
a statesman to allow Russia to be drawn into
an arrangement which might easily terminate
in the utter failure of its declared purpose,
leaving the other Powers free to Withdraw
and If they shOu | so please, to resume their
present neutrality. On the other hand, it will
be next to impossible to fix at present upon a
united course of action, to be followed III case
of such failure. The plan is part OF that
patchwork policy which characterizes great
deal of modern European diplomacy. If sue
cessful 1t will only make a worse rent than 1t
now attempts to mend; but in its present
himsy state it is not at all likely to succeed.
Year: 1877

II i lust as we expected. There is not much


dissatisfaction with the Presidents Inaugural


Address except within his own party. Demo-
cIatS see in it IA fair promise OF justice and en-
lightenment Independents admire its frank
aud lofty spirit. The great majority of the
Republican party, the brains and muscle of the
organization, look upon it as the harbinger
of grand political revival. But there
are some radical politicians who do
not like it. The average carpet-bag-
ger complains that the new President is
going to throw him out Of business. The eX-
treme advocate of force bills and bay0net
campaigns has no hope for a country in which
the ex-rebel is allowed IA chance i'll public
life. The colorcd Legislators of Louisiana
despair Of the Republic unless Packard is sus-
tanned by Federal arms, and representative
assemblies are organized by Gov. Wells and
Gen. Augur President Hayes meets trouble
already before he has Ieen day III Office.
And there is plenty of it i'll store for him.


But let us give word of friendly advice to
those who believe that "the mission of the
Republican party is to put down the whites
and uphold the blacks in the Southern
"States" Before they claim the right to die
tate the policy of the new Administration. let
them pause and consider what the effect of
their plan has been heretofore. Gen. Grant
tried it faithfully in his executive measures
the ruling majority in Congress embodied it in
legislation. AS a consequence the South has
been reduced to bcggary, the treasures are
bankrupt, the courts are corrupt, life and
property are insecure, the laws are scandalous
and unjust. Nor has the colOred man derived
any benefit from the wrongs done Ostensibly
in his behalf He shares in the poverty of his
white neighbor; he is always the first victim
of the general disorder; whatever is stolen
goes into the pockets of the Northern inter
lopez The cOlored man, with all the aid OF
the Federal patronage and the Federal army,
cannot even keep the political control Of the
South State after State has fallen out
of his nerveess hands, and at the
last election we had almost Solid
South sustaining the Democratic candidate.
In the Northern States the extreme radical
Year: 1877

policy has nearly been the ruin of the RepuD-
lican party. 1t has provoked a schism; it has
given new life to the Democracy; it has COW
cred Gen. Grants administration win dis-
credit it has driven many of our best states
men out of public life; it has filled high places
with dshonored adventures. If the Northern
Democrats had possessed ordinary common
sense they must have secured the Presidency
last November.


Now it hardly becomes the faction which has
mismanaged the Republican party with such
results as these to insist that the country IS
going TO destruction because they are not IN
vited to direct the course OF events any longer
Mr.. HAYES sees that there must be an lmme-
date abandonment of policy in which there
is neither profit nor honor, and he wisely risks
the dissatisfaction of a few extravagant poll
ticians in the confidence that he will he sup
ported by the sober judgment of nearly all en-
lightened citizens. We do not imagine there is TO
he 4 general process of political accommodation
as there was a few years ago under Oeh'
Grant. The old force-bil faction embraces
many sincere and patriotic politicians VINO
have tried to serve both their country ana
their party, and they are not to be turned ont
of doors because they have made mistakes.
There is room in the Republican organization
for men of various opinions; there ought to be
q generous tolerance. But while the party
welcomes the fellowship of all who profess its
principles. and seeks to heal divisions, not to
increase them, it may well Insist tiiat leiucrS
who have failed shall lead no longer.
Year: 1877

The comparative silence and inaction of the
European Powers, for the past six weeks ap-
pear now to have covered last and rather
constrained effort to preserve temporary
peace At best, it is but makeshift, the
provisions of which might be rendered nuga-
tory by any sudden change of situation in
Turkey; yet there is little doubt that England
and France, possibly also Germany and Aus
tria, would be wiling to accept it, in lack Of
anything more effective. The plan is, through
an agreement of the Powers, to accord to
Turkey a stipulated time (some reports men
ton one year. within which TO inaugurate the
necessary reforms in the internal administra-
ton of her government. Her acceptance of the
proposition is to include general control, or
supervision, of the Powers, with the liberty of
action in case the reforms are not accom-
plished within the time agreed upon. The
diplomatists of Europe, in common with the
commercial and industrial classes, who are 80
ardently desirOus of avoiding war, hope that
Year: 1877

Surrogate Calvin does sensible thing in 4
graceful way. He puts his foot on the pIopo-
stion to advaace his salary, and says that at
a time like this he should regard it as a great
wrong TO increase the burdens of the COM
munity for his benefit
Year: 1877

The contributions Of Messrs. Downing, Hopes,
and Foster, and Of Prois. Law and Caldwell, to the
agricultural department of The WEEKLY TRIBUNE
which is published this morning, are not likely to
be overlooked. They may be trusted to speak for
themselves but we wish to call special attention to
the column of notes and queries from contributors
less known to fame. These remarks if brief, will
be found to the poEt, combining experience and
thought in the truest and most practical result The
TRIBUNE has always been fortunate i'll Its readers
and rather proud of them, and in no place does
their merit better appear than in the aid which thT >
furnish the paper and each other III the agricultural
department What is written is not only worth
reading which is good deal. but worth trusting and
accepting which is worth good deal more. 1t
should be borne in mind that this is only one Of
ifty-two equally valuable collections of agricul-
tural information which are offered to THE TRIBUNE
readers during the year. and that the moral is-sub-
scribe for it.
Year: 1877

This interesting social controversy which
broke out in Brooklyn court yesterday. 1t was
all about little dining room skirmish in which
representatives of two families dwelling under the
same roof did vigorously engage. On one side was
mother with two shy daughters, on the other, one
Year: 1877




political complications.


The New-York Chapter of Architects long
ago entered its formal condemnation OF the
modified plans for the new State House at
Albany A number of distinguished architects,
in card elsewhere printed this morning, re-
affirm and enlarge that condemnation, and
vindcate the testimony against it which, as ex-
perts, they have lately given before the Legsla-
tive committee The bedrock of the whole
matter seems to be about this: The plan was
originally ill-consdered and the building
promised to be incOnvcnient as well as enor-
mously expensive. The notifications remedy
some of the difficulties at the cost of harmony
of style. A Gothic top is to be put on classic
base. Now the question is, whether it is
necessary to outrage good taste and all settled
ideas of architecture, in order to avoid having
an extravagant and incOnvenient building.
Taxes are hike bols on the body polite
there is no part where it is pleasant to nave
| them. Wherever they are there is sure to be
an outcry of dissatisfaction. 1t is now urged
that they should be put upon capital invested
in insurance. Arguments for and against such
taxation are plentiful. On the one hand 1t ia
urged that insurance capital at present escapes
burden which should fall equally on all


forms of property. On the other it Is asserted


with show of reason, that taxation would have
the effect of reducing such capital, and conse-
| quently of diminishing the security OF lns'Ir-
ance Moreover, if our State corporations are
taxed and their competitors in the insurance
business are not, we shall injure our own com
nanies and bencft foreign ones. The question
as TO the Justice OF taxing insurance capital at
all is also an open one II is usually invested
in some form or other; if III Government
bonds, it certainly ought not to be taxed II IN
| land, it is probably once taxed already. II the
| legislators at Albany should pass bill Tor
such taxation, it is likely to be thoroughly
sifted by the United States courts on the point
of cOnsttutionallty.
Year: 1877

Two men in the Legislature, it seems, are
willing to take upon themselves the obloquy
of fathering measures for the INVASION of Cen
tral Park-Mr. Langbein in the Assembly ANA
Mr.. BiXby in the Senate. Both men probably
knew what they were about, but Mr.. BlXby' $
fault is the greater because the nature OF Mr
Langbcin's bill had been fully set forth III
The TRIBUNE before he introduced its fac
simile in the upper house. BY its terms That
portion of the Park known as the ball
ground is to be given over to the militia
for parade ground eat least once year
during the warmer months. We all know what
this means and what it will result III. Thus
far the Park has been sacred. Not even the
Tweed Ring. in the days when 1t was drunk
with power, dared to touch it. The only way
TO Or, serve it now from gradual encroachment
and sure deterioration is to stamp the life out
of schemes like this the instant they show
their heads. Mr.. Langbein's bill has already
been reported, as we understand, and must he
beaten in open house but Mr.. BiXby's can be
disposed of more easily. We hope Tie Senate
Committee on Cities viii put its foot down on
it hard and keep it there.
Year: 1877

The train which is to railroad Mr.. Joseph
Coburn to the State Prison has started, and
not all the tugging of his five lawyers at The
rear will stop it. He gets the heaviest SEN
tence the law allows, and, unless some Cover
nor is found foolish enough to pardon him, or
some decision is found weak enough for him
to break through, will pass the next ten years
in hard labor for the State. The community
will find this an eminently satisfactory con-
cluson to the case COburn's career as law
breaker has been bold and shameless. If his
trade was that of a briclllaycr, as he gave il
Yesterday, he has sadly neglected it. He has
made the violation of law so much the
business Of his every day life that his prize
fighting was perhaps his nearest approach to II
respectable occupation, for that certainly in
yolyed some hard work. There was IA time,
and that not so long ago, when rutfans of
this type had friends literally at court, and
could defy the law with entire safety The
prompt dispatch of Columns trial and the
stern Justice of his sentence are sharp re-
minders to his class that that day has gone
by. 1t was time that he followed his epoch,
and the community, while bidding a glad
coOd-by to both, can utter the fcrvent prayer
that neither will ever come back to us.-There
is only one drawback about it all. 1t may
spread abroad the notion that it is wicked to
try to kill a policeman.
Year: 1877

A story has been going the round of
the French papers which, if it had any
truth in it, would show that the atrocity
of the Russian, like the charity of some
less holy Christians, begins very much
at home. The excuse for believing in
the tale is to be found in the supposed
fact that it's truth was proved in court
Of justice by the woman who acted as the
heroine in it, This simple woman seems
to have imagined that she might get
from Russian magistrate some sort of
protection against husband whose fa-
voritc pastime it was cruelty to torture
her. She had been yoked by her play
full husband to the shafts of his cart,
and driven along for sixteen versts, i'll
double harness with the horse, under the
furious blows of a heavy whip. Having
survived this ordeal, she was brought
home again, her head was shaved, aud
after she had been smeared all over with
tar she was rolled in feathers and then
turned out of the house. In this plight
she resorted to the person whom she
fondly imagined to be most benevolent,
OF at any rate the least savage. in the
village. She went to the priest, but in
stead Of obtaining any shelter or relief
was, rudely struck by the pious man, who
called the husband and advised him to
administer fresh castigation. It would
have been well for the woman if she had
taken the broad hint afforded her by this
reception at the pope's residence, and
had returned home to suffer in silence
the torment to which she was fated.
But she was ignorant of Russian law,
and she could not persuade herself that
she was utterly without remedy in such
a case as this. 50 she went to law, and
brought before the court both the hus-
band and the pope. Here the procura-
teur general at once declined to enter
into any argument on the subject of the
husband, explaining that the whole mat
ter was one of merely private family in
terest, and that husband and wife could
always come to an understanding among
themselves without the interference of
the law. The priests case was a little
more difficult. But the worthy man
represented that facts of this sort ''occur
often and inevitably among the lower
orders" " in Russia, whereupon the court
without further discussion acquitted both
the accused persons.
Year: 1877

The Chinese have some odd customs
in connection with death. When per-
son is dying they hasten to dress him in
his best clothes that he may meet bet
ter reception in the other world. He
must be removed from tho kong (brick
bcd) lest his spirit should enter therein
and haunt it. When man is dead he
is supposed to be compelled to cross
over deep abyss, walking upon very
slender thread. This is exceedingly
dangerous, and he is liable to be pre-
cipitated into fearful flames. In Shanghai
II member of the Episcopal church died.
His wife was heather. Some Of the
assistants, in dressing him, wished to
put on pair of boots with leather soles.
"No," said the wife, they are so slick,
he would fall off the bridge"


When the funeral is near nt hand n
tent Of mating is erected at the street
door of the house in which lies the dead
body. This tent is furnished with bench
es and table or two, and is for the con-
venience of the hired musicians. For
two OF three days or nights, the music
(?) goes on at intervals, to foreign ears
making day wearisome, and night hideous
with the din. To the natives it is n real
festival, even more jolly in appearance
than wedding. Friends and relatives
come dressed in white. Even the little
boys are clothed in this way. They gen
orally look particularly happy on such
occasions. The firing of pop-crackers
adds to the solemnity of the scene The
day of the funeral is the gayest of all.
The coffin is placed on bier covered
with clotl,,' which really looks quite
handsome. A number of ragamufiins,
picked up anywhere, wearing the shab-
biest of old clothes, and the most comi-
cal of clowns hats, have been hired to
carry the red banners, which add to the
magnifcence of the occasion. When all
is ready to start to the grave, some pieces
of mating are spread out on the street
The ladies of the family, dressed in
white, some of the younger ones with
their faces painted and looking quite
pretty, come out and throw themselves
on the mating with their faces to the
ground and weep aloud most bitterly
They seem to think it is delightful. They
hardly ever get outside their own door,
and now to be taking prominent part
in such festivities is really charming.
The young ladies look as coquettish as
any Fifth avenue belle, and evidently
enjoy the admiration they excite. When
the funeral moves away, the ladies retire,
no doubt very sorry that the fun is over.
Year: 1877

The grand blunder which almost all
parents and nurse maids commit is that
when the child takes q whim against
doing What he is wanted to do-will not
eat his bread and butter, will not go out,
will not come to his lessons, etc.-they,
so to speak, lay hold of his hind leg and
drag him to his duties; whereas per-
son of tact will almost always distract
the child's attention from its own OBJ
stinacy, and i'll a few minutes lead it
gently round to submission.


I know that many persons would think
it wrong not to break down the child's
self-wiil by main force, to come to bat
tie with him and show him that he is the
weaker vessel; but my conviction is that
such struggles only tend to make his
self-will more robust. If you can skill
fully contrive to delay the dispute for a
few minutes and hitch his thoughts eff
the eN tement of the contest, ten to one
he viii give in quite cheerfully; and this
is far better for him than tears and pun
ishn-eht.