smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874




From the Hearth and Home.


A sweet home place, and l turned to look
again. An old farm cottage among the trees,
the hazy hush of summer over all; the gleam-
ing sunlight drifting through the leaves, rest
ing in golden patches on the grass and blossom
ing clover, tossing the shadows hither and
thither. A sweet voiced bird chirped in the
maple by the gate as we passed and the pale
lips of locust blossom, peered forth from leafy
in tiny seas, and the dancing footsteps of a
little stream left cleaning line across the low
green meadow. A beautiful home farm.


"FARM FOR SALE"


Yes, these were the words in rough chalk
letters above the gate, "Farm for sale" Why
sell the farm? Have hands grown tired of
plough and sickle and hoe, hearts wearied with
oft returning seed time and harvest? Has am
bition cast her apple of discord in the midst of
your sweet content, whispering of riches and
honors and splendors Jared in upon the heart
music? Have visions of yellow gold and the
worlds proud shows shadowed with their de-
lusive wings the simple hopes, the every day
happiness which blesses the little farm? All is
there grave Death has cut deep down through
the blossomng sod, ploughing up grave so
deep, so chill, so dark, that from its shadow
your heart can be lifted never more? Has she
the dearest, most blessed-even the home





out from those gentle eyes-the light of that
soil, the embodiment of love and peace, and
faith and patience-has it passed on to the
awaiting glory Isit thy desolation, oh Death,
that has compelled the EARN for sale?"


All how many EARNS for sale ?" and with
what longings will hearts that go out from
these farm homes crowned with joy, turn back
from the summit ofmany years to look upon the
dead face of that old-time joyousness, wonder
ing at the strange happiness of the farm child ;
wondering that never more is sky so blue, never
sunshine so gorgeous, never earth so full of mu-
sic as before that EARN for SALE" How will
tired feet pause, mid the dust of life's high
ways, aching to press the whispering grass be-
meath the locusts, and hands hard with count
ing gold pine to pull again the violets down by
the valley spring How will heads grdled by
thorns of care, rest again in dreams on the soft
moss, swept SO oft by child curls in the long
ago, and hearts, weary hearts, and longing
souls will pause in the great world strife to
catch again the far off laughter of those waters
in the meadows, and the singing of the bird
lings in the naples And how will eyes grow
tear-dmmed in this far seeing, as a vision
sweeps by, revealing above the little gate,
HFarm for saleo
Year: 1874




The idle rumors that have been set ahoat in
regard to intended removals by Mayor Vance
are set at rest by the sensible announcements
of the Mayor that he means to oonfine himsef
to such official acts as it may be necessary for
him to perform during his brief term OF
Office. The supposition that he could mako
n removals. if he were disposed to make any,
until ten days after his accession to office, is
altogether erroneous, the ten days restriction
in the charter referring only to cases in which
the President Of the Board of Aldermen may
be called on to act as Mayor "in consequence
of the sickness or absence from the city" OF
the elected Mayor As Mr.. Vance is abso-
lutely Mayor he could have performed any
act Of the executive Office Immediately after
having taken the official OATH


While Mayor vancs's announcement is .
proof Of his good sense we do not suppose
that he will evade any duty it may be proper
that he should perform The interests Of the
city require that he should replace in Office
the Commissioners of Accounts who were ar
bitrarily removed in order that the reports
Of their investigation Of some Of the public
departments might be suppressed. As mem-
Der Of the Board Of Apportionment and a.
President Of the Board of Aldermen Mr.. Vance
is aware Of the injustice and impoicy of tho
removals and of the motives by which they
were prompted. The charter requires that "the
accounts of the City Treasury shall be annu-
ally closed on the Last day of November and
shall be examined in the month of December
in said year by the Commissioners Of Ac-
counts" The late Commissioners had been
year and half in Office when they were
removed, and had become familiar in that
time with the business and with the intricate
accounts of the Finance Department. The
new Commissioners are entirely without expe-
rience. It is desirable that the city should
have the advantage Of the old Commissioners
services in making this examination during
the present month, especially as they have
received the salary attached to the Office as
the price Of the experience they have gath
cred. One of the first official acts done by
Mr.. Vance should, therefore, be to replace tho
old Commissioners Of Accounts and to instruct
them to complete the Investigations in which
they we're engaged at the time Of their re-
movaL.
Year: 1874

THE REPORT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL is
summarized in another column; and, though


it is close array of figures, it is none the less
interesting on that account It will be OBJ
served that Mr.. Williams has some sugges-
tions in regard to jury law for the United
States Court, subject which ought to receive
the immediate attention Of Congress, but is
likely to 90 over to more convenient season.
Year: 1874

PRzmxNr MAcMAHoN's MESSAGE to the
French Assembly is positive in the demand
for the deAnitive powers Of the septennate
and unqualified in the avowal of the chief of
On intention to hold Office for the full term
for which it was originally granted This
makes direct issue with the Assembly and
that body must either accede to Mac
Mahons demands or dissolve
Year: 1874

IT Is To BE REoRErTED that Governor Dix
has thought proper to veto the bill for the
extension of the Greenwich street railroad.
This is the only rapid transit we at present
have, and the extension of the road, which
has proved practical success, would have
been great accommodation to the residents
Of the west side Of the city.
Year: 1874

BUTLER's LAMENT.-The feature of the last
meeting Of the Woman's Suffrage Association
was letter from General Butler in which he
evowed his belief that his advocacy of woman's 8
suffrage cost him five hundred votes Like o
good little boy, the General is not disheart-
ened by this untoward result, and he is still
for the cause. We presume the good women
of the Suffrage Association join with him in
his lament
Year: 1874

JARVIS AND JACKSON, the two colored men
on trial for the South Oyster Bay murder,
have been convicted and sentenced to death.
The murder was at first one of those mysteries
for which Long Island is remarkable, and it
is matter Of congratulation that the real
criminals have been discovered and condemned,
especially as unwarranted suspicion at one
time attached TO Innocent narsons.
Year: 1874

THE LENENcY TOWARD TWEED which it is
alleged has been shown by Warden Liscomb
circles. Commissioner Laimbeer has resigned
in consequence and the Warden has received
intimations that unless his conduct is capable
of explanation his removal will be necessary
Year: 1874

NEW HAMpsHIRE PoII1cs-THE TEMPER
ANcE PARTY. The temperance or prohibition
party Of New Hampshire have resolved, as an
independent party, TO stand their ground here
after. They have accordingly nominated their
State and Congressional ticket for their coming
State election, and as these prohibitionists are
nearly all drawn from the republican ranks
the republican party in the approaching New
Hampshire election will most likely suffer an
other defeat. If SO it will for the republicans
be gloomy beginning Of the campaign Of
1R7k
Year: 1874

THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA ON THE SOUTH
AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, in his Message
to his State Legislature, is very enthusiastic
in his estimates from the late elections of the
near approach Of the millennium to the South.
He thinks it will come with democratic res
toration at Washington, and that this impor-
tant event is looming into view all round the
political horizon. But 1876. our centennial
year, is still good way off and, meantime,
in this age Of rapidly changing political events,
conditions and forces, we know not what o
day may bring forth. It is enough for the
present that, while the late elections express
the general dissatisfaction with the existing
national administration, they do not establish
the relative strength of the opposing parties
or their character OF pretensions for the grand
national contest of '76 nor for the preliminary
State skirmishes Of 1875.
Year: 1874

JUDGE DURE1I, of the United States District
Court of Louisiana, explains, in an interview
with reporter of the HERALD that he has
resigned simply to be able to speak out and
set himself right before the country. This
is great task, and the Judge will astonish
most people if he accomplishes it.
Year: 1874

IMPORTANT ACTION IN THE LICENSE CASE
In our law reports appears the clear and Co
gent opinion of Judge Donohue allowing q
writ Of error with stay of proceedings and
bail, in the case Of the convicted unlicensed
liquor dealer. A strong appeal was made to
the Court in the nature Of argumenhm ad
hominem by the District Attorney against this
course but the Judge, very properly relying
upon q General Term decision that was par
ticipated in by Justice Miller, just elected to
the Court of Appeals, and Justice Daniels, of
this district holds strictly to the legal rights
Of prisoner to have his conviction sustained
upon the law as well as upon the facts. The
legal question will reach the upper Courts
early in January. Meanwhile the District
Attorney has announced that he is on the war
path for fresh victims.
Year: 1874

ion. 1t is condemned Legislature, and has
consequently lost its best power and
usefulness. Every act will be jealously
watched by the country. Nothing will
do the republican party and The Presi-
dent more harm than for this Congress
to take liberties with the Treasury.
By this we mean to attempt any extraordinary
legislation, under the feeling that now is the
only time and that it must be employed. The
motto of the true men in Congress should be,
Economy, patience, retrenchment and
peace" And if Congress can only be held
true to this legend then it may, in the closing
weeks of its life, redeem something of the
confidence which brought it into power two
years ago, and which has passed away in SO
sudden and extraordinary manner.
Year: 1874

driven the Spaniard and the Frenchman
from the northern part of this Continent.
We have annexed Alaska, and thus
extinguished Russian power in America If
Grant had been wise we should have probably
had St. Domingo and Cuba by this time
Mexico gravitates more and more toward the
United States, and there are no statesmen in
England who do not see that union between
Canada and the United States h as inevitable
as the union between Prussia and Hanover in
Germany.


1t is interesting to mark this progress of the
British Empire, and when the administration
passes into better hands than those which have
governed it within the last few years we shall
probably mark the same progress in our own.
Year: 1874

probably marx Cne same progress IN our OWL
General Nswton's Report-The Harlem
River.


General Newton's report of the work of
river and harbor' improvements done by the
United States engineer corps during the Last
fiscal year, some further extracts from which
we publish to-day is full of interest The &C
count of the survey of the Harlem River is
especially attractive to the citizens Of New
York. The full improvement Of the passage
between the Hudson River and Long Island
Sound will be most valuable aid to the COM
merce Of the metropolis. and the day will, no
doubt, arrive, when it will be the highway
for large fleets of vessels passing from river
to river The distractions to safe channel
navigation in the Harlem River are first, three
piers Of the old bridge of the foot of East
Hath street; second, the candle factory reef
at 122d street; third, the fat rock off 125th
street; fourth, small mid-channel rock off
the same street. between four and
five hundred feet from the shore, and.
fifth, q small rock at the mouth Of
Mott Havsn Canal TO remove these
distractions and secure q minimum depth in
the improved Harlem River Of not less than
twelve feet at mean low water will, according
to the estimate, cost q little under one
hundred and sixty-eight thousand dollars,
including fifteen per cent contingencies on the
estimated items. The old piers can be easily
removed at cost Of about four thousand
dollars. The expense Of removing the mid
channel rock is also set down at less than five
thousand dollars. The most costly Of the
proposed improvements is the removal of the
candle factory reef. the expense of which is
estimated at nearly eighty-four thousand
dollars, or about half the whole amount As
this reef has already been the cause of a num-
Der Of accidents and of considerable loss of
property it is matter OF surprise that the
work was not done long ago. It is not en-
couraging to read that only ten thousand dol
lars is now available from the appropriation
of the present year for the removal of these
distinctions This sum will be used for the
removal of the piers of the old bridge and the
small rock off East 125th street.


The annexation of the Westchester towns
to the city gives additional importance to the
improvement of the Harlem River and the
opening of the water channel between the
North River and the Sound to navigation. It
is curious to think how trifing viii be the
cost of the improvement when we reflect upon
the benefits it will confer on commerce and
the revolution it will work in the business Of
the metropolis. The time may come when the
Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvl Greek will
form the boundary Of the business portion of
the city, and when beyond its busy docks
will stretch out into tho new wards and into
what is still at present Westchester county
the private residences Of our merchant princes
The report suggests the necessity for well
considered system Of local improvements in
connection with the bridges and tunnels at
the Harlem River, and reminds US that those
works should be conceived and carried out
with view to the future use to be made of
its waters.
Year: 1874

The Cheap Transportation Convention
which has been in session at Richmond does
not seem TO have had much practical value,
although the debates are interesting. The
value Of conventions of this kind is not 80
much in what they do as what they say. II
is impossible for company of able men, who
have special knowledge on any subject to
assemble without throwing light upon it
This question of transportation largely con-
prodigious growth of New York is due to the
genius which inspired the Erie Canal and
there is no element in reconstruction so valu-
able as the proposal to open up lines Of com.
munication in the Southern States. Whoever
connects Virginia, for instance, with the West
by . shorter route than any now existing will
| confer upon the people Of that State the
greatest benefit


One of the gentlemen-a Mr.. Southall, OF
Virginia-presented report in which he
argued against the idea that railroads would
answer for heavy transportation, and insisted
! on four great water routes-the first, the con-
nection of the city with the great lakes the
second, central route between the Ohio
River and the Chesapeake Bay, via the James
River ard the Kanawha Canal third, the
opening of the Tennessee and Georgia Canal !;
fourth, the improvement of the Mississippi
River. Much has been said in favor of these
two plans Of transportation, bgt the balance
of argument would seem to rest in favor Of
the railway.


The mistake of part of the members of this
Convention is to insist upon Congress sub
sidizing certain railroads; nor do we think it
wise for them to discuss the question of
national interference in railway traffic. 1t
would be great misfortune for Congress to
enter into any scheme for snbsidizing the
proposed railways to the Pacific. We can
understand that such measure could be
passed under pressure, and that the dominant
elements in Congress in the last days Of the
term, with no hope of returning to power,
might rush through the required bills
Nothing would be more certain to destroy the
republican party than the passage Of these
measures, not SO much that we do not
desire the building of the Pacific railways, and
as many railways as the country needs, but
the time has not yet come. A railway run
ming through the wilderness, from nowhere to
nowhere, without population to support it,
without agriculture to give it traffic, seems
an idle waste of money. Our experience with
the present Pacific Railway has not been cal
culated TO increase our confidence in corpo-
rations. The developments of the Credit
Mobilier affair showed that it was possible
for the highest intellects in Congress to be vir-
tually bribed into silently acquiescing in q
scheme Of robbery. What assurance can we
have that the men controlling these Northern
and Southern Pacific railways would deal
with the government in franker spirit than
the men who control the present enterprises
However, the whole question is one of trans
cendent importance. There can be no harm in
giving it the widest discussion. It is one Of
those things to which we had better grow in
the natural process of events than seek to
anticipate bya premature, artificial and forced
legislation.
Year: 1874

THERE has been several elections in the
last two weeks under the Local Option act :,
N different parts Of the State, and it seems
The people are still, in spite of all the cru
sading. as much disposed to allow licenses
as they are to putting down the liquor itself
1t is bad time of the year to vote on this
question. We have had such hard win
ter that the people are afraid of water
Year: 1874

From the Danbury News Budset.


In dlngy room sat an old man
writing with Roman nose aud tall
hat. Not far from him, q broken-back
chair supported his daughter with
rickety legs aud cracked rungs. In
the same identical roou was an old
woman blowing the flre with lean
cat under an old stove being the wife
Of the old man writing with Roman
nose. In corner might be seen a
hungry boy eating onions with bow
legs aud red hair from table which
he swallowed without chewing. The
whole scene was overlooked by an old
clock ornamented with Pocahontas
saving John Smith with three legs
covered with cobwebs aud wound up
every eighth day by the old man with
n brass key. Ever aud anon the door
was ratified by a cold dog without any
hinges nor knob. Through tho broken
window might he seen woman cut
ting cabbages with baby on her arm
through the shattered panes OF which
daylight feeb'y shone. Another win
dow looked out upon the street where
stood little man wiping the sweat
from his face with hand organ, car
rying a monkey on top, by grinding
which he had tried Ia vain TO get
few cents from the old man writing
with tall hat. Such were the lodg-
ings OF the mlser being the old man
writing with the Roman nose so slu,-
lid and miserable that IL seemed as IL
no thrifty broom had ever catered
there.
Year: 1874

THERE are two Indian tribes In
Maine, the PassamaIuoddles and PEN
obscots, and each are represented la
the Legislature by one OF their own
number. These two representatives
Of tho red man take no part In lcgis-
lation. but are allowed To draw their
pay Just the same rs the representa-
tiyes Of the white man. They spend
most OF their time during the session
Ia the rotunda engaged In pipe
smoking aud In chatting with each
other In the dialect OF their fathers.
Year: 1874

When the Confederate army surren-
dered, and the Southern leaders preten-
ded to accept the situation'-as they
termed it-that is, to submit to the Con-
stitution and the laws of the United
States, large numbers of disbanded SOL
diers and young men who had come of
age since the peace, renewed the war by
Ku-Klux bands, their aim being to estab-
lish a reign of terror by killing black men,
whipping or numbering all white men
who were friendly to the blacks, robbing,
torturing or driving out emigrants from
the North, so as to restore the same So
cial and political absolutism of the old
slaveholding Rebel class, as existed be-
fore the Rebel surrender.


These Ku-Klux atrocities were carried
on until their murdered victims were
counted by thousands, and their whipped,
plundered and driven off black and white,
by many thousands, while partizan
press at the North derided all publication
of them, and affected to ignore their ex-
istence. The history of the cruelties
which have made the ears of mankind
to tingle will have to be searched to par
allel these cold-blooded atrocities upon
an inoffensive people and their white
friends. At length the public sentiment
was aroused, and it awoke the govern
ment from its supineness. The so-called
better class in the South was under the
Ku-Klux reign of terror, if not in
sympathy with this warfare. Only
the military arm of the nation could
deal with it. Some signal captures and
convictions, aided by the moral influence
of the military, suppressed the Ku-Klux
in those States where it had been boldest,
although in some parts, and particularly
in the State of Kentucky, which has a
peculiar genius for warfare under the
guise of peace, it has kept up course
of outrages.


Yet when we speak of the suppression
of the Ku-Klux, and of a comparative
cessation of the atrocities in the South, it
must not be understood as what we, in
the North, understand by peace, and the
due protection of person and property.
For, in the chivalrous South, it is always
considered in order to shoot negro if
any occasion can be made; and to this
chivalrous mind, the fact that the negro
is free, and that he wants the rights and
consideration due free man is sufficient
cause for making an occasion to shoot
him. Close observation of the Southern
accounts of riots, disturbances, alarms
and killings, shows that the negro is
never the aggressor; that he is always
the one who is put upon, and is inyari-
ably the victim. 1t is the old story of the
wolf and the lamb.


But the war which the infamous Ku-
Klux carried on is now declared openly
Year: 1874

Formerly they were in the enjoyment
of great wealth, and now in consequence
of the war, they are reduced to the actual
necessity of working for living. Two
OF the daughters have opened a school,
and work like slaves"


The condition of the family thus
brought to our notice is not peculiar, and
it touches our sympathy only as it is fol-
lowed up by the statement that it is very
hard to find work to do, and the young
ladies can not secure scholars enough to
make their labor profitable


We know hundreds, and there are
hundreds of thousands of families who
soork for living as we do, and do not
find it irksome, or a hardship, or an evil
lll-requited labor is very hard to bear.
But it is better for the body and the soul,
for the family and the State that all
should have work to do, and do it, Life
is more enjoyable; even the sleep of the
laboring man is sweeter than that of the
idle, and play is more delightful that fol-
lows upon work. So that being obliged
to work" is not such dreadful thing
after ALL Thank God for something to
do. Do it with will And great will
be your reward.-N T. Observer
Year: 1874

A priest the other day, who was e1-
amining q confirmation class in the south
of Ireland, asked the question: what
is the sacrament of matrimonyY A lit
tie girl at the head of the class answered.
cts a state of torment into which sowls
enter to prepare them for another and
better world" Being" said the priest,
"the answer for purgatory." Put her
down, says the curate, put her down to
the fut of the class" Lave her alone, "
said the priest; "for anything you or l
know to the contrary she may be par
fictly right"