smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877



 carpet-baggers give them, or we must frankly acknowledge that Hayes has not fair majority of the electoral vote. Sup posing, however, that Mir. Hayes is in- sugurated, by the separate action of a Republican Senate and executive? Were he then to select 8 cabinet of Republican extremists, the four years ending in 1880 would see the utter ruin of the political organization that preserved the Union. Were he to try to effect an alliance with Southern conservatives, it would fail al- most as disastrously, through the refusal of that clement to uphold an administra- ton they could not consider honestly elected, and through the opposition oi Republican extremists. Mir. White him. self evidently cherishes small hope of the success of such scheme.

 Let us suppose, however, that the Re- publican party should decide to reuounce the carpet-bagger and all his works-es- pecially that supreme work of his, a Re publican electoral majority of one What would be the probable future of the two great parties? MT. Tilden would apportion the offices among his hungry followers scandalous spectacle, we should guess He would have to commit himself to some positive course as regards cur rency, tariffs, and other troublesome questions. The Hampton government in South Carolina and the Nichols govern ment in Louisiana would be recognized, and the carpet-bagger would be ellmina- ted from American politics. If the whole Southern Democracy lost their heads and pursued vindictive policy against the negro, there would be party that carried all but four of the Northern States in 1876, ready to bring them to terms in 1880. Ii, pn the other hand, Mr Whites view is correct, there would ensue split in the Southern Democracy which would open the way to an honorable alliance be- tween the true Southern conservative and the Northern Republican, against the Southern 'Last Ditcher" and the North srn "Copperhead." Then, at last, the negro would be sure of the guidance and protection he so much needs. Says Mir. White

 I doubt if forcible interference in their behalf would be necessary at any time am sure that the moment considerable number of the white people of any South ern State ceases to act with the remainder politically, no Federal interference of any kind will be necessary to protect the ne- gro in the free exercise of the right of suffrage. The negro vote will divide the moment the white people cease to act as a political unit, and when that occurs the managers of neither party will allow their colored allies to be bull-dozed.

 There can be no concealing the fact that good many Republicans believe that Tilden and not Hayes was elected in November. A great many more are trou- bled with grave doubts that make them regard with special dislike the violent methods extreme Republicans are pursu- ing and proposing. A waiting game" is not popular one; but, viewed merely as a matter of policy. we believe it the best now open to the Republican party. Any other simply sacrifices excellent future prospects for what will be very generally regarded as a dishonest present advan- tage.
Year: 1877

DRIDGEPORT, Dec. ZStn, loIo.

 MIR ED1ToR:-Thinking that some of your readers might be interested in the capital of the Fourth Congressional Dis trict I send you few lines from that place.

 Business is dull here as elsewhere. Both the sewing machine factories of Wheeler & Wilson and Howe's have stop ped work. throwing nearly two thousand men out of work. It is expected that the Wheeler & Wilson will go to work soon, but nothing certain is known. Several of the leading dry goods merchants are di- minishing the number of clerks, and it will be hard winter for the poor.

 Christmas was celebrated quite exten- sively, and many presents were made by those who could afford to make presents. The various churches and Sabbath schools had trees and suppers and all went on as merrily as usual.

 It. seems as if the last week was week of accidents. On Saturday night, Dec. 23d, as pair of valuable horses, attached to sleigh, were trying to cross the rail- road track in front of an approaching train, one of the horses caught his foot in the track and fell. They succeeded in getting them away before the train reach ed them. but it was found that the horse had broken his leg and had to be killed. On Sunday night, Dec. 24th, a pair of horses attached to sleigh standing at the depot ran up to Main Street, then up Main Street, till they overlook Q light cutter in which man and his wife were riding. The pole ran between the man and his wife; the sleigh was smashed and it's occupants were thrown under the horses feet, but luckily they were not seriously injured. The runaway team went on up the street till they ran into g horse car and were finally captured. On Wednesday night, Dec. 29th, lady iv- ing on Main Street dropped'a kerosene lamp. It broke and set fire to her cloth ing. She ran to the window and called for help and her husband with several others came in and dragged her out of doors and by rolling her in the snow and wrapping overcoats about her succeeded in extinguishing the flames, but not until she was seriously burned. It is thought she will recover. K.
Year: 1877

Dr. Afford, Dean of Canterbury, says l:

 "Avoid in conversation all singularity of accuracy. One of the bores of society is the talker who is always setting you right; who, when you report from the paper that 10000 men fell in some battle, tells you it was 9,970; who, when you describe your walk as two miles out and back, assures you it wanted half furlong of it. Truth does not consist in minute accuracy of detail, but in conveying right impress s1on; and there are vague ways of speak ing that are truer than strict fact would be. When the Psalmist said Rivers of waters run down mine eyes because men keep not Thy law he did not state the act, but he stated truth deeper than fact and truer. Talk. as sensible people talk; use the easiest words in their commonest meaning. Let the sense conveyed, not the vehicle in which 1t is conveyed, be your object of attention" X.
Year: 1877

On our first page vii be found le'- ter from an estimable and intelligent young colored man who learned the printers trade in our office, and who is now employed at the Hampton Institute, of Va. This is probably the best of the Institutions that have been organized in this country for the benefit of the col ored race, and any information regarding it will no doubt be as interesting to our readers as 1t is to us.
Year: 1877

The Democrats of Georgia seem to be doing pretty fairly in the matter of negro education. Over seven times as many colored pupils are now in the public schools as attended when they came into power.
Year: 1877

The test case of milk adulteration m New York city, last week, ended in the conviction of the prisoner. There was a great effort made to prove that the lac- tometer is unreliable, but the verdict shows that the jury couldn't see it."
Year: 1877

A disintcres;ed government officer, who had lately been to Prescott and had been kindly received and enter lained while there, and feels kindly disposed, remarked in our hearing the other day that Prescott was one of the deadest places he had ever seen on Gods footStool. That the pc, pie stand up bravely aud present a fair outside. but the whole place and its business IS the veriest shell. He said they were threatened with a dry season, ani if it comes God help the poor man who Is fastened there.

 We are very sorry 10 learn this. However wicked and interruptions some of the politicians of Prescott may be, there are many poor and in du-trious people more or less con- nected with that vicinity and we are pained to learn of this bad prospect. Southern Arizona has been blessed with abundance of rain. thousands of new acres have been and are being planted, the approach of lhe railroad and pros perity IS sending scores every week to our mines and valleys and in our abund ance we ply and sympathize with Prescott. May the early and the latter rains come down yeJ upon them, for If they get dry season now, we fear it will virtually ruin that section. But under the circumstances it would be better for settlers in Northern Arizona to stop on tue Little Colorado where water can be obtained for irrigation. Around Prescott every other season about is a dry one, there is no waler whatever for irrigation and in dry season farm becomes an uainhaJitable desert
Year: 1877

PETITION. Wilbur has petition,
designed to be presented to the County
Commissioners at the next meeting of
the board, praying that honorable body
10 increase the tax on timbered lands in
this county. All who IRE favorable to
such increase can Call at the Post Office
and sign the petition.
Year: 1877

A Coos REcFPT.-Re.d the follow
ing recipe for killing your town; it
is an admirzbls one. and cannot fail
10 do its work. We have seen it
going the rounds Of the press and
highly recommended:


l. Put up no more buildings
than you can occupy yourself.


2. If you should have an empty
building to rent, demand three times
its value.


3. Look sorry at every new conner;
give the cold shoulder the very me-
chanic who desires to come among
you.


4. Go abroad for your goods and
wares. BY no means purchase of
your merchants and manufacturers
even at the same price or less.


5. Don't contribute one cent to
the cause of religion or education.


Finally, put q thorough finish to
your work by killing your local
papers, refusing to subscribe for or
advertise in them, so that persons at
distance will not know that any busi-
ness is being done in your town, or
they may want to come and settle
among you, or buy something from
you and that would put you to extra
trouble.
Year: 1877

A dcvout negro woman prayed in a
Milwaukee meeting that she might es-
cape the fires of future punishment;
and in the midst OF the petition she
backed against rcd hot stove, and
was burned.
Year: 1877

spectacle dimensions, for even one night;
but in this instance they have been carried
on for fortnight, with all the time an in
creasing interest. Hence we are led to
infer that there must be something like an
awakening.


Another point: The meetings seem to
take moral suasion as the issue, like Muir
ply, the Philadelphia reformer. And too,
like him, there is not that branding of
liquor sellers that has heretofore character
lied temperance addresses. Mr.. DuVal, on
Sunday said "he was not there to brand
the man who sells liquor as a thief, not
there to ostracise him, for some of the best
friends he ever had were of this class. "
Both of these issues are a departure from
the usual routine of the temperance re-
form, and hence are noteworthy.
Year: 1877

THE PROPERTY OF MARRIED WOMEN.-We
clip the following from the Baltimore Sun:


Connecticut has taken step in advance of all
other States in this legislation for women. The acts
of this years legislation place the wife on an equality
with the husband She is secured the absolute con-
troll of her property during life and the death
of either party to the marriage contract the survivor
inherits third of the real and personal estate of
the deceased"


Connecticut is not much ahead of Della
ware in this respect. The only difference
is in the matter of inheritance; widow in
this State is entitled to "her thirds in her
husbands estate, but widower has only a
life interest in his wife's estate. 1t then
goes to her "next of kim" But here, as in
Connecticut, the wife has absolute control
of her own property, and further, can con-
duct business in her own name, entirely
independent of her husband, and no debt
he may contract can be collected out Of
her. This law was passed four years ago,
we think, and was enacted to prevent par
ties who allow drunken, profigate hus-
bands to contract debts from collecting the
same from wives whose business has to sup
port the family.


But as equitable as the law is admitted
to be, and as popular as it has heretofore
been regarded, we really fear that it will fall
into disrepute if persistingly abused, as it is
believed it is. Men are accused of getting
behind the law to cut creditors out of debts
that are honestly due and could be paid,
and furthermore would have to be paid if
the debtors did not dishonesty place their
wives between their real estate and a
fraudulent intent. Americans are particu-
larly intolerant Of laws that are violated in
their spirit and purpose, however good that
spirit and purpose may be, and generally
such laws have to be eXpunged from the
statute books, sooner or later, if safeguards
are not thrown around them. Such may
be the fate of this one, and the daughters
of the men who were responsible for the
expurgation may reap the whirlwind OF
their fathers acts.


To save wife's maiden inheritance from
a husbands misfortune or folly, in which it
had no part nor lot, is one thing, but to per-
vert the law that does it to a fraudulent
purpose is quite another thing-a very bad
thing for both the law and the public good
Public opinion is always sitting in judg
ment and its decisions are almost unfailing
We thus speak in general terms, to call
attention TO the danger that we believe
really threatens this wise enactment.
Year: 1877

Mrs GAINES GAINS AT LAsT.-Feminine
pluck and perseverance have had another
triumph, and Mrs Myra Clark Gaines, the
oldest lady litigant in this country, and
plaintiff or defendant in we do not know
how many suits for we as little know how
many years, has secured decision in the
United States District Court of Louisiana
which, if it be sustained, viii put her in
possession Of $30,000,000 in real property.
We shall not attempt to rehearse the story
of these wonderful lawsuits. Mrs. Gaines,
it is we'll known, is the daughter of Daniel
Clark, who was very large owner of real
property in New Orleans. Upon his death
his estate passed to other heirs upon a sup
position of Mrs. Gaines's illegitimacy, and
by virtue of what was supposed to be
Clarl's last will and testament. Judge
Billings has now decided that Clark left a
will in which Mrs. Clark was recognized as
his legitimate child ard universal legatee.
The estate long ago passed into the hands
of persons who came into possession by the
deeds of those who profesGed to hold under
a prior will. Those, however, who sympa-
thze with Mrs. Gaines in her lifelong
struggle to vindicate her mothers honor
| and to secure the wealth which her father
gave her must not be sure that the troubles
of this courageous and persistent woman
are over. 1t is hardly probable that she
can escape an appeal to the Supreme Court
| of the United States Even if she could
| the decision of Judge Billings does not put
her in absolute possession Of the many mil


lions her title to which it establishes. Title
is one thing: possession is another, anC


nine points of the law at that. One cannot


help wishing this indomitable old woman a


little practical success; but we fear thai


her last days will find her still litigant, anC


only partially, or we may say theoretically


victorious.-N Y. Tribune.
Year: 1877

There mas bean such deep cutting into the
salaries Of county officials in Texas by Gov.
Hubbard S administration that they are resign
Ing ensmasse.-E Exchange.


We want that kind of deep cutting in
Minnesota And il our county officials
resign we will find plenty willing te
take their places.
Year: 1877

The New Orleans Republican
tells this wicked story: A sugar.
maker, who might as well be call
ed Onesimus Smith as any thing
else, died recently in one of our
country parishes. He was not
long i'll, and the day before be
died be had ordered a bill of goods
through his commission merchant
in New Orleans. The news of
the mans death flew on the wings
of wire, but the requisition for
supplies came along on a slow
steamboat way; and arrived two
or three days afterward. A por.
tion Of the order was sont 10 a
wholesale drug house for an artic
lie used largely il sugar making.
1t was we'll managed drug house,
and its order clerk below was in
the habit of communicating
through a speaking tube with the
book-keeper above before filing
an order, the object cf this shoot
ing of whispers back and forth
through the tin communication
being TO ascertain if the person
ordering goods was entitled to
credit. In the case we refer to
the order clerk shouted up,
SLOWS account of Onesimus
Smith p and the information was
slid down, Accounts o K, but
we've advices that Smiths dead"
"That's all right" said the man
below; she's sent for ten barrels
OF sulphur"
Year: 1877

A party of converts stood at the
chancel rail in Sandusky church
ready to be made members. One
was a girl who had been regard
ed as the belle OF the place. She
interrupted the ceremony by say
ing that she desired to make
confession. She knew that she
had been looked on as a good girl,
but she wasn't. She was guilty
of a dreadful sin, Of which she
had not even been suspected This
little speech excited the curiosi-
ty of the congregation to a high
degree. She then said that she
had been married a year; that
the ceremony had been regularly
but privately performed, and that
she had kept the fact secret be-
cause she was not ready to fore
go the fun Of going into society
as an artless, unfettered maiden.
The husband stepped forward and
corroborated his wife's story.
They went to housekeeping on the
following day.
Year: 1877

Five converts were immersed
in the Schuylkill, near Green
Tree, Penn, on Sunday last by
the Rev. Jacob Gotwals, Dunkard
minister. The water was very
cold, but the current was so swift
that no ice had formed where the
ceremony was performed. In ac-
cordance with the Dunkard ritual
each convert was immersed three
times-in the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Ghost.
One lady nearly tainted from the
effects of cold and exposure. An
other lady, who was rather stout,
was taken off her feet by the
strength of the current, and the
minister was so cold that when
he caught her he had not strength
to hold her and was carried down
stream with her. Two bystan-
ders on the bank plunged in and
rescued them just as they were
on the point of being swept under
the solid ice. The converts had
been urged to wait until warmer
weather, but were unwilling to-de-
fer the ceremony.
Year: 1877

The Washington (Mo.) o.
serUer of a recent date has the
following: "Last Sunday night,


at about ten o'clock, there was


an immense number Of grass
Ihoppers passed over and through
this town. The night was very
dark but the choppers" came


butting against the buildings,


rafting against the windows,
entering the houses at the win
.dows and doors, and playing


havoc with the oyer-superstl-


tious, for many persons had


gone to bed and were in their


first sweet sleep, as the chop


pers" commenced to rattle a.


gainst the glass Of the windows


and jump about the rooms, ma


king an internal small noise like


unto parcel of baby spirits


out on their first spree. It was


a strange experience for those


who were awake and took the


pains to go out doors and listen


to the odd small noise that filled


the air, produced by the concus-
sion of their wings and the but

ting of their heads against any
obstacle in their way. AS far
as could be judged from the
noise they made, they were in
great force, and came from the
north going in southern direc-
ton; but many thousands came
to grief in town, either giving
out through fatigue or the many
accidents Of attempting to make
night trips without good pilots,
as the next morning thousands
of dead and manned grasshop-
pers were lying about loose on
the streets, in the yards and
houses. They were Of the larg-
est type Of Rocky mountain
species, some Of them measur-
ing fully three inches in length
from "head to toe" They evil
IDENTIFY came across the Missou-
ri river, which at this place is
fully three-fourths Of a mile wide,
and those that did not perish III
town kept on toward the land
Of perpetual green.
Year: 1877

The body Of a man who wen
to California to regain his healtl
was recently shipped in a metal
lie coffin for his former home il
the East. When the Centra
Pacific train arrived at Ogder
Junction the corpse was con
signed to the Union Express
Company, and placed under
charge of Express Messenger
Frank Burgess. While the
train was in the western part Of
Nebraska, Mr.. Burgess heard
sounds from the coffin which led
him to believe that the dead man
had come to life. 1t was in the
night, and he heard the sounds
when he was doing and half a
sleep. Again the noise was
heard, and the attention of the
Messenger was riveted to the
coffin, and the horrible possibil-
ity that the dead might be alive
thrust itself upon the Messen-
ger so forcibly that he called
the attention Of other employees
to it, but, after listening a mo-
ment, they merely laughed at
him. The convictions of the
Express Messenger, however,
were so strong that he had
heard means from the coffin
that he had the case opened
when the train made its next
halt. The weather was very
cold and upon the inside Of the
glass plate of the coffin there
had accumulated a thin film of
frost, such as might have been
deposited by the breath of a per-
son confined in such narrow
quarters. The face was also
drawn up against the glass plate,
and other disturbances indicated
life. While Burgess had no
doubt that the man, though dead
then, had been alive in the coffin
the other employees explained
that the accumulation Of the
frost upon the glass as the nat
ural exhalatiOns of the dead
body, and the disturbances of
the corpse as due to the move
ments in shipping.


A private dispatch, received
from Chicago last night, says
that when the coffin arrived at
its destination and was opened
unmistakable proofs of the ter
rible truth were discovered.
The hands were clenched, the
lips bitten and the mouth filed
with bloody froth. The man
had been alive, and it was his
that had been heard,
but not recognized Omaha
Herald.
Year: 1877

ONE LIE BRINGS ANOTHER.
There's just one thing l want to say,
My sisters and my brothers,
And that is, if you tell one lie,


You are sure to tell some others.
Iknow at times it's very hard


To own a naughty action,
But truth, once uttered, fills the heart
With joyous satisfaction.
While, if you stOop to tell a lie,


To cover up wrong doing,
Your heart is filled with guilty dread
With hopeless woe and rueing.
You dare not brayely meet the eye


Of father or Of mother,
And to cover up the lie you've told,
You're sure to tell another.
A child's first lie, like mans first glass
Of rum, or ale, or whisky,
Makes way for more to follow fast;
And is dangerous and risky.
Without the first glass you are safe
From the drunkard's thirst Of fire,
And if the first lies never told,


You'll never be liaI!
Year: 1877

When Deacon Smith, of the
Cincinnati Gazette, paws over his
copy Of the New York Times and
finds bigger lie than even he can
tell, be retires into a cave of gloorn,
from which he finally appears with
his war paint resolved to overtop
the lie or perish in the attempt.
He has not yet perished, as he
never fails to fall back on bis Cen
eral Cary falsehood.
Year: 1877

J. Blyth Smith, foreman in the
office OF the New York Star, has
absconded with the money which
he was expected to pay to his type
settlers. His reckless manner of
spelling blithe onght to have sug-
gested, to the proot.reader at least,
that there was something wrong
about him.
Year: 1877

81 have fully resolved" he said
at the breakfast table yesterday
morning, "not to touch a single
drop of the Old Thing this year,
so help me gracious" His wife
looked pleased, and all his friends
congratulated him when they
heard of the new departure. At
night when ne went home, at IL
o'clock, he was hurrahing for Gen.
eral Jackson, and calling on the
Louisiana Returning Roard to
throw him out if he ever touched
a drop OF the Old Thing in bis life.
Subsequent developments revealed
the fact that the Old Thing was
water.
Year: 1877

A New Hampshire editor re
ceived q stem winding watch as a
Christmas present, and at once
traded it of for a dog and a shot
gun, and some other articles
nee led ln a newspaper Office.