smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

Fourteen heirs-at-law of Stephen Girard,
seven of whom are citizens of France and
the others of Pennsylvania, have brought a
bill in equity against the city of Philadel-
phia and the directors of the City Trust.
The object of the bill is to recover the real
estate owned by Stephen Girard in Phila-
delphia at the time of his death, and also
the payment of all income above the ex,
penses of the college for the last twenty
years, on the ground that the plaintiffs are
entitled to its possession because the con-
tingences on which the device was made
to rest have failed. The bill charges that
the testator, in devising the residuary estate
to the city in trust for the maintenance of
the orphans instructed in the one college :;
that the will directed that no part of the
Pennsylvania realty should be sold; that
the rents outside of Philadelphia should be
used for repairing the Philadelphia estate
and erecting new buildings, and that the
rest should have been used in improving g
the Delaware front. Then, after 100000
was given to the Commonwealth, the re-
naming estate, with its income, should
have been used toward improving and
maintaining the college; toward enabling
the city to better the security of the citi-
zens and their property; to improve the
city generally, and to diminish taxation.
If the city violated any of these provisions
the remainder should have been forfeited
to the Commonwealth. The bill then states
that buildings for the accommodation of
other orphans are being put up, notwith-
standing that the college has been compile.
ted to the extent desired by the testator,
making it impossible to apply the whole
income of the college; also, that the devise
yearly surplus of the college belongs to the
heirs at law


AS the case will eventually go to the


Supreme Coourt, a pro forma decree has


been entered, removing the matter to the
Supreme ecourt.-PhiIade{phia Times.
Year: 1879

A LITTLE GIRLS REPRooF.-An army Off
Ger, on returning home from camp life,
went to visit relative, and like some who
initiate their associates, he INDUCED in pro-
fame language. A little girl walked out
with him to his horse, and as he was talk
ing to her in great glee she gently said


81 don't like to hear my cousin swear"


He replied, al know, my dear, it is
wrong"


In the same mild tone she rejoined:


"Well, then, if you know it is wrong,
why do you do it?"


The captain confessed to friend, on re.
lating the story, that he never felt reproof
so much as the one given by that little
child. He had good reason to feel it, for
he deserved it. The old verse says:


"Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise ;
to swear is neither brave, polite nor wise
Year: 1879

All men are equal twice: when they are
born and when they die.-It takes away
some Of the gladness at holiday time for the
tax collector to put in an appearance.--
Mortgage is Latin for "death-grip." This
is living truth if it is in dead language.
This for the girls Over seventy tons
of chewing gum is sold annually in this
country. By guml
Year: 1879

We are sorry to learn that the subscrip-
tions for the Seventh Regiment Armory
Fund are not coming in as rapidly as was
wished in order that the building can be
finished. 1t is stated that under these en-
barrassing circumstances the officers and
men of the command have decided to as
sumo the responsibility and borrow sufi.
cient money to complete the building.
Legislative permission is to be asked to
make this loan as q corporate body, and as
it is doubtless the only way the armory can
be finished there will probably be no op-
position to the proceeding at Albany.
The Armory Committee also intend to ask
the city to grant the regiment yearly sum
equal to the rent of an armory. until they
can pay off all their Indebtedness. BY this
means the burden of interest on the debt
will be somewhat lightened. As the Seventh
regiment will surrender an armory to the
city for some other regiment this PROPOSE
tion seems quite reasonable. Our militia
regiments have done such good service in
the past, with abundant promise of con-
tinuing it in the future, they should be
fostered in every way otherwise we cannot
expect young men to keep the ranks full
and ready for any emergency.
Year: 1879

Absent though his name may be from
church calendars and lacking his counter
felt presentment in collections of holy
mems statues there Is no other saint so
popular with the public as st. Valentine.
Other saints are obliged to get along each
with Q single day to himself and . wee
share of All Saints Day, but Valentine
blessed be the tender sentiment of which
he is sole guardian-is specially honored not
only on tho 14th day of February but dur
ing the six days that follow, while maidens
one weeks for his reappearance, and
stay their souls by staring at the post
man, who is the good saints visible fac
totum. Valentine has no solemn or sad
dening emblem TO identify him-no grid
irons, swords, arrows or skulls He carries
nothing more nffrighting than keys, and as
those ct no locks but those that guard the
portals of feminine hearts the better sex
will vote them little the sweetest thing
that ever existed in sanity fashions. And
now the calendar day of st. Valentine
is upon us. Preparations for 1t have boon
making for months in artists studios,
lovers brains and printing offices, while
postmen have endeavored to accumulate
extra vitality, and letter carriers have won-
dered how much weight the department
imagines that man can carry. Walk as
rapidly as he may, the carrier cannot ring
the bell too soon; be his load back break
ing one, every woman he meets will wish
herself able to relieve him of his entire
burden. Does any gross materialist dare
TO say that the missives from lover to sweet
heart are mere paper and ink2 Woman
Year: 1879

press itself according to its desire and


ability, while the pulpit, that self-afdrmed


source of moral teachings-well, Mr.


Boecher himself has characterized the SUI
pineness of the pulpit more vigorously
than any layman would dare to do. Most
of the men who pray on their knees on
Sunday may prey on their fellow men
during the remainder of the week
without any pulpit utterances to mo-
lest or make them afraid. Who is 10
start the needed reformation that Mr..
Beecher demands? No influence is more
independent, moro familiar with moral
truths or better able to utter them with
authority than the pulpit ITSELF Crate
fully acknowledging for ourselves and our
contemporaries the Plymouth pastors COM
pliment to newspapers as winged pulpits."
we must yet declare thot the duties OF the
press are multifarious. while those Of the
pulpit merge into single one, which is to
make men better The strength of chain
is only that of its weakest part, the foun-
tain cannot rise higher than its source, and
public morality in matters of general im-
portance will never exceed that of the in
dividuals of whom the public is composed.
Let the pulpit cleanse the source IT it
would have the healing stream broad, pure
and powerful.
Year: 1879

A correspondent who does not seem to
favor street railroad on Broadway sends
us the following inquiry as to how the pro-
posed road can be legally laid down and
operated without 'juggle" similar to that
which he alleges was attempted by the'hap-
PLY departed Board Of Aldermen just before
the close of their term of ofice:-


To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-


In view OF the current discussion of the subct OF
horse railroad in Broadway will the HERALD please
inform tho public how, considering the existing
laws. such road can be legally constructcd? We all
liar character through Forty second street and the
boulevard but the '.baseless fabric of that drezm
will not bear moments contemplation by legal
daylight. CONSTANT READER.
enough. A street. railroad may be con-
structed on Broadway under law author
izing its construction upon the condition
that the consent Of the owners of one-half
in value of the property bounded on,
and the consent also of the local
authorities having the control Of Broad
way "shall be first obtained, or in
case the consent of such property owners
cannot be obtained the General Term Of
the Supreme Court in the district
may. upon application. appoint three com.
missioners, who shall determine. after a
hearing of all parties interested, whether
such railroad ought to be constructed or
operated, and their determination, con-
firmed by the Court, may be taken in lieu
of the consent of the property owners"
Year: 1879

General Sherman has been traversipg
Georgia again-not by stage coach, as he
did nearly half century ago, nor at the
head of the victorious and destroying army
which he led from Atlanta to the sea within
the memory of the majority Of men now
living; but he has carried the same sharp
eyes and shrewd brain which accompanied
him on the other tours alluded to; SO his
letter to q prominent citizen of Atlanta,
which we reprint on another page, is full of
interest alike to Northern and Southern
readers. He says of Georgia's natural adj
vantages and inducements everything
that the most enthusiastic Georgian
could desire of him; but comparing
the State with some in the North
and West he finds that it is far in
the rear. the reason being that to all of
the latter ''men felt at perfect liberty to 60,
with their families, with their acquired
wealth and with their personal energy
Georgians themselves will admit that there
was q time when this could not be said of
their own State, and o reason why it cannot
yet be sdid is found in the implication con-
tanned in the Generals request that the





South should ''let up" on its hobby Of
''carpet-baggers. As the writer Of the
letter saye, not one in fifty Of the
men who built up the Western country
were natives of the States in which they
lived. and 'our Supreme Court Congress
and our most prominent and intellectual
men now hail from localities of their adop-
tion-not their bifth." The meaning of
this, which not Only Georgia but the whole
South should comprehend and remember,
is. that American emigration is prompted by
enterprise, and that the distinctive Ameri-
can idea is that one man is just as good as
another. ''Look ahead and not behind" is
the Generals counsel in his closing lines;
when the South can do this the day Of her
prosperity will dawn; until then she will
continually mistake moonrise for the break
of day.
Year: 1879

secrecy to be punished as mere contempt


is an inadequate mode of dealing with SO


grave an offence. If such theft is perpe-


trated in committee room in tho expiring


days of Congress imprisonment for con-
tempt during the few days the session
lasts is no adequate punishment, and
an expiring House. can infict no
other. The offence is so much graver
than more petit larceny that it should not
be left TO be dealt with by the courts on
that doubtful basis. The stealing of a letter
from the mail is not left to be treated rs a
nero larceny, but is made separate offence
punishable by specific penalties. The vio-
lation of private correspondence while in
the custody Of committee Of Congress or
of court of Justice should also be made
specific offence with appropriate penalties
severe enough to be terror to curious and
prying thieves And as in other eases of
theft the receivers of the stolen goods should
be punishable as we'll as the actual thieves,
unless they can make it appear that they
had no guilty knowledge Of the means by
which the stolen dispatches were pro-
cured. The telegraph has nearly super
seded the mail in important busi-
ness transactions. Thousands and thou
sands of merchants buy and sell every
day in the year on confidential
information received by telegraph. They
are compelled to use the telegraph to keep
up with the actual state of the markets, and
the success of their business depends on
the inviolnbility of such communications.
The protection given by the law to the pri-
vacy of sealed letters is of minor \conse-
quence in comparison with the necessity Of
shielding kilograms from intrusion and
lawless curiosity.
Year: 1879

Judging from our special correspondents
despatch from the Pine Ridge Agency there
is good ground for believing that the dis
affected Cheyennes are ondeavoring to join
Sitting Bulls band. These warlike Indians
were we'll armed and mounted and carried
abundance of ammunition and provisions.
The fact that there were no squaws shows
clearly that this band is bent on mischief
Our correspondent also states that the
whites are thoroughly convinced that q
war will break out in the spring,
and he mentions the significant fact that
the ssquiet" Indians at the agency fre-
quently put on war paint and mourn for
tho slaughtered Cheyennes. People resid.
ing in the Indian country are very apt to
magnify the movements and actions Of the
warriors; so it is not surprising to find
them predicting war on an extensive scale.
Sometimes these ''signs" do not turn out
true, but the recent treatment of the heroic
Cheyenne braves at Fort Robinson is cal
culated to infame the breasts Of the red
men, and if they do go ON the war
path it will not be surprising. The
Indian question was never so perplex ing
as at present, and we trust that the govern
ment will grapple with it in such o manner
as to prevent further hostilities and con-
vince the several tribes that peace is for
them tho best policy. Now is the time for
the ounce Of prevention. BY and by it may
need the pound Of cure to bring the Indians
to terms. The first is the preferable course;
for we have had enough OF Indian slaughters
and Custer massacres.
Year: 1879

GREENWICH, Conn, will celebrate this month
the one hundredth anniversary Of General Put
nam's escape from the British. 1t is not very
probable that any one will undertake to repeat
the famous leap of the old hero.
Year: 1879

Among the immediate effects of rapid
transit it appears that some owners Of
dwelling houses are looking for an advance
in rents next May, and agents are in many
instances endeavoring to persuade their
principals TO stand out for higher prices.


There is no reason why rents should go up.


Material. labor and oil general expenses are
lower now than they have been in many
years, and the burden of taxation is grad
ually growing lighter. Any attempt to ad-
vance rents at this time would be great
blunder on the part of property owners,
for it would check the disposition to re-
turn to housekeeping on the part of many
who have been driven to boarding houses
by the high prices of the last few years,
and would deter people who now have their
homes in New Jersey and Kings county
from taking up their residence in New
York. Reasonable rents up town will in
ducc all who can afford to do 80 to leave the
crowded tenement house districts down
town for more healthful localities; but If
rents are advanced tho full benefit Of rapid
transit to real estate will be postponed.
Indeed, the best speculation that can now
be made by capitalists is the erection Of
cheap but comfortable. cosey cottages, such
as are to be found in the suburbs of Lon
don, which can be proAtably let at low
rents. This is just what the people Of New
York whose incomes are moderate require,
and just what will aid, more than anything
else, the growth and prosperity of the city.
Year: 1879

THE SUIT which has been brought on behalf Of
the holders Of the internal improvement bonds
Of Tennessee involves some important legal
questions which are of wide interest. If State
can by legal and legislative chicanery invalidate
a contract it will be an interesting point for
many people to know.
Year: 1879

Can We Create Trade with Mcxicos


In considering tho resources of Mexico,
the foundation on which an international
trade can be built up for the benefit of our
producers and her consumers. people are
npt to forget that something else is wanted
to insure success besides tho presence of
population and natural wealth. Mexico
represents larger area than all
our territory west of the Rocky
Mountains, but, unlike it, possesses no
railroad facilities for collecting and concen-
trating her productions for expectation
Consequently her productive power is
dwarfed, her population is impoverished
and her internal politics are unstable In
the face Of such conditions and although
both the American and Mexican peoples
may be willing to trade with each other.
Year: 1879

DURING THE WAR the ambulance system of
our army won deserved commendation from all
who witnessed its operation or who unfortu-
nately became moro closely acquainted W it'll it.
The majority of New Yorkers who read our
columns this morning will learn for the first time
that ambulance corps, thoroughly organ
ized and equipped and ready Mt o moments no
tice to respond to the click of the telegraph in
strument, is part OF their city machinery.
Year: 1879




bribery was not abetted is proved by Mr..
Tildens recalling Pelton from Baltimore in
impatience and anger as soon as he learned
what he had gone there for, and by Mr..
Marbles destroying Pelton's despatch to
Tallahassee as soon as he had read it and
never mentioning its contents. These facts
wore sworn to. and there is no evidence to
contradict them. There is abundant owl
denco Of intended bribery against Pei
ton and Weed; but rs they will
never be arraigned and tried, and as the
public does not care q straw whether they
are arraigned and tried or not, it is suf-
ficiently apparent that the crime of stealing
the dispatches is not excused by their inn
potence as evidence against any individual
liable to punishment.


The thieves who stole the dispatches
from o committee room ought to be pun
ished. We suppose they might DO indicted
for larceny in the District Of Columbia, and
might also be imprisoned by the Senate for
contempt. We hope the sevorest penalties
may be inflicted which the laws allow, but
there is neceSsity for more efficient legis-
lation. Congress claims the power, and the
federal courts possess and may sometimes
exercise the power of compelling the pro-
duction of private kilograms to be used as
evidence. Careful provision should be
made by law for the protection of such de-
spatches while in the custody Of the officers
Of court or a committee Of either house OF
| of Congress. 10 leave violations Of their
Year: 1879

ORIGIN OF "THE OLD OAKEN
BUCKET" THE Old Oaken Bucket
was written fifty or more years age
by printer named Samuel Wood
worth. He was in the habit Of drop
ping into a noted drinking saloon
kept by one Mallory, One day, after
drinking glass of brandy and wa
ter, he smacked his lips and declared
that Mallory's brandy was superior to
any drink lie had ever tasted.


No, said Mallory, you are mista-
ken. There was a drink which in
both our estmations far surpassed
this.


What was that increduously
asked Woodworth.


The fresh, cool water we used to
drink from the old oaken bucket that
hung in the well, alter returning
from the fields on a sultry day


Very true replied Woodwork,
tear drops glistening in his eyes.


Returning to his printing offi,e, he
seated himself at his desk and began
to write. In half an hour
"The old oaken bucket, the iron


bound bucket
The moss covered bucket which hung


in the well"
was enba!med in an inspiring song
that has become as familiar as d
household word.
Year: 1879

A lady in Portland, Maine. called
at a jewelry store, and after making
a purchase went home. Two hours
later a messenger called at her house
and informed her that she had left
something at the jewelers.. Now, let
me see, she unused, what can it be ?
Here is my pocket book, and there on
the sofa is my fan, and | have my
gold g1teh here, and my bonnet
why where is my bonnet ?-oh, there
it is on the floor, it fell off the table
and really / can't think what
have forgotten. Why, to. be sure
How absent minded | am declare
if I haven't forgotten my darling,
precious little babe = And so she
had-only that and nothing more.
Year: 1879

81. LOUIS hepuDllCan, ~.


1t is the generally accepted theory that
The certain and severe punishment OF
crimes is the best way Of preventing them,
and that if murderers are remorselessly
hung there will be fewer murders commit
ted. But this theory appears sadly demor.
allied OF late There is growing demand
TOR severe punishment for crime, but crime
fiourishes Notwithstanding. There were
six hangings in the country last Friday,
and every few days we hear of one, gener-
ally that of negro murderer or ravisher
in the south. Yet murders do not abate
They appesr rather to increase. The
criminal classes grow defiant in spite OF
the inexorable penalty that awaits them.
There never was time when horse steal
ing was a more dangerous pastime in Mis-
souri, than now; and yet there never was
more horse stealing going on than now.
Year: 1879

In connection with Coles great
circus, which is to exhibit here 10th
and llth instant, is an apparatus which
is to give an illustration Of the won
derful electric light, as it is displayed
by the Brush patent. tits said to be
great success, and as exhibited with
the Cole circus proves conclusively
the practicability of lighting
large areas. A paper else
where gives the following regarding
this illumination and the apparatus
now with Coles circus The
electric machine is driven by thirty
horse power engine, which is sufficient
to produce a dazzling and brilliant
light, SO far surprising all other illum-
nations that the darkest night is pen
etrated for miles with its fiery darts,
and the smallest objects are distinctly
discernible. The light being a pure
white and nearly a perfect imitation
Of the most brilliant sunshine, its
effect On the vast audience present
was very pleasing, and every counten-
ance could be distinguished from the
opposite side of the vast canvas, col
ors of dress and hair being brought
out in marked contrast to the
usual scenes upon such occasions.
In addition to the electric light are a
number of other wonderful things.
Among others are the mammoth NOR
tails, Captain and Mrs. NJ. V. Bates.
An introduction was easily obtained,
and for the first time in his life he
grasped the warm and pulsating palm
of giant and bowed his head to a
giantess. So much has been said of
these phenomenal people that it is
only necessary to state that they are
exactly what is claimed-the largest
human beings on the face of the earth.
They are pleasant in conversation, per.
feet in form and handsome in feature.
In a lengthy interview many things
were learned concerning giants and
incidents, but as these wonderful in
diyiduals are to visit here Wednesday
week, all the facts learned will be re-
.peated to those who attend Cole'sgreat
shows.
Year: 1879

DR.. PORTER has worked his pet
hobby through, and we are to try the
earth closet system on the grandest
scale ever attempted in the world
over forty thousand people are to pro-
vide themselves with boxes, tubs or
buckets and plenty of dry earth or
ashes. The Doctor is an awful earnest
man as well as honest and fearless, and
Eve should live to write his epitaph or
obituary, thirty or forty years hence, we
expect to write a good one and say
nothing about earth closets. His
fame will rest upon something more
enduring and popular Long before
the end of next year he will wish
that the man who invented this sys-
TEN had been still-born or had fallen
into well, at a tender age, when
nobody was about 1t will be cheaper
TO refugee every summer than to
carry out this scheme. To clean
out and fll up the vaults
Of Memphis and carry on the
removal system as proposed will
cost the people of Memphis not much
less than half million dollars next
year-to say nothing of taxes for sew.
crage and other sanitary purposes


Happy is the man who lives outside Of
the corporation line near the woods.
Year: 1879

The approaching Eection.-The election
to take place the 22d OF this month is eX-
pcctcd to be the most quiet one held here
for some time. -.....


1t is thought that the counclmen whose
term OF office will soon end will again be
elected to that BODY, and in case there may
be some who do not desire to be reelected,
the names OF other men will be proposed in
few days to fill their places.
tt should be borne in mind that the regis
traton-books will be opened in all the
wards on the 18th, and those desiring to
obtain transfers from one ward to anotuel
can do so that day.