smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

The Brazilian subsidy having been defeated,
and there being at present no subsidy question
to be helped or hurt by the discussion, 1t seems
good time TO suggest that the late contest
appears to have been case of dogs suffering
from bad name We think it quite probable
that Mr.. John Roach would have had his sub
sdy if some years ago the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company had not received one. The
mOnstrous corruption connected with that
business made the very name of subsidy .
stencil in the nO,uils of honest people. The
TRIBUNE suggested at the time that it was
probably death-blow to subsidies for quar-
ter of a century. It has, at any rate. been q
death-bOw to any effort, reasonable or unrea-
sOnable, to get subsidy since.


And yet the subsidy business ought TO be
considered on its own merits. If subsidies
have been found nccdful in the experience of
other countries to secure the opening of new
lines of travel and commerce, it is, at least
possible that similar efforts here might pro-
duce similar results. The United States is the
natural manufacturer for the Am rican CONT
nent, and for the islands of the Pacific. To-
ward these countries, less highly civilized and
with less opportunity for developing manufac-
lures, our efforts should be directed, rather
than toward a competition on their own
ground with European nations. If we can get
lines of travel and trade opened without sub
sides, by all means let it be done. II we
cannot, then what the experience of other
countries has proved beneficial ought not to
be driven entirely out of consideration even,
in this country, merely because of Pacific Mail
iniquities There have been outrageous frauds
on the ballot-box in NewY York, but that is
no reason why We should have no more cleo
tiOns.


If a subsidy is again claimed for anybody,
let it be considered on its own merits. We
are not arguing in favor of subsidies We
gave generally opposed them, and incline the
same way STILL We only insist that reputable
applicants be fairly heard, and their argu-
ments duly considered, without finding their
cases prejudged, and themselves damned, for
Year: 1879

There are so many new-fanged projects for the
promotion of wOman's industry, 80 many pretent0uS
schemes for the development of aesthetic pGsslDll-
ties in the gentler sex. that II Is almost
with sense Of relief that we direct at
tention to an Old-fashOned reform. lhis ~
the restoration of plain sewing as n branch
in the course OF instruction in the public schools
of this city The experiment has been irled
with excellent results in Boston and Providence,
and. indeed in own city sewing IS al
ready taught in some OF the primary departments
In February, 1875, committee OF the Board Of
E,Iucation WAS instructed to consider the Proprcty
OF introducing INTO the girls departments inStruc-
ton in sewing and ncedlework as one Of the prlnci
nal branches of the regular course. Early in June the
committee recommended that in the primary schools
tne girls studying in the irst grade should omit
object lessons, so far they related TO the
human body and animals, and in place
thereof be taught sewing. THIS report was
adopted during tho following month, and in
the present manual OF the Board Of Education
NAV be found this entry: Instruction in sewing
may be given 10 female pupils Of primary schools
aud departmcnts.' But inasmuch rs 1t Is not OBJ
ligatury and as both teachers and pupils already
have all they can do, sewing is not taught in ma
jOrity of che primary departments. The prHciPi'
however seems to have been established. If " must
he gwen can DC substituted IoI may ot Slfth
in the manual ~ it stands. the practice can be
enforced and instruction in sewing be made obllga
tory ON certain days of the week and in certain
grades


This is the object of the appeal which has been
submitted to the Board with the signatures Of
800 ladies of the highest social standing. The
petition has something besides social uiu-
ence behind it. These ladies are direct
ing the work of the principal benevolent
associations which extend helping hand to
the common si,tcrlood Of woman, and they
speak from mature experience when they insist that
sewing must be taught in Our public schools. The
directors of the Wilson Industrial School for Girls
VINO are the leaders in this movement, have con-
ductod sowing department for many years, and have
become convinced that all the grlS who attend the
public schools should have the benefit of similar in
structi0n. We believe that the experience Of nearly
all the ladies' who labor on SUNDAY afternoons
in the sewing schools connected with city
churches is in accord with these con-
cusions This work, which is now either
half done or left undonc in chapel or missIoH-rOOm
could be done systematically in our schools. The
arguments in favor of this sauJary reform are
stated SO compactly and so forcibly wlthal in the
petition which appears in our news columns,
that we have no need to repeat them here
Ii is an appeal full Of sense and we trust
that the Board Of Education will have the good
Judgment to accept the conclusions and to act upon
Year: 1879

sult of the amendment at Albany has been q
great improvement in legislative morals, ana
the prevalence of much more care ana de-
cency in the disbursement of the peoples
money. The result of a parallel amendment
at Washington would be not less marked III
would raise the tone of public life by making
more distinct the separation between political
and purely administrative action in Congress-
and it would he a great help in breaking up
tbe riotous closing scenes of the session when
millions are given away In the dark.
Year: 1879

The man who was fearless and energetic
United States District-AttOrney in South
Carolina will make a firm and intrepid Chief
Justice in Utah. Just such a man is needed
at the head of the Supreme Court of that
Territory to declare the laws against polygamy
without fear or favor. Chief-Justice Corbln
If the Senate will allow us to call him So
will not be likely to yield to Mormon BULLDOG
ing.
Year: 1879

will not be likely to yield to Mormon DulldOz-
ing.


BY an almost unanimous vote the Assembly
passed, yesterday, the Constitutional Amend
mcnt which provides for biennial sessions of
the Legislature. Almost the only arguments
used against the proposed change were
those which urged the need of con-
tinued legislation for so great State
and for the great City of New-YOrk. The
comparative unimpOrtanCe of the yearly mass
of statutes and the appalling confusion OF
laws respecting this city are sufficient indica-
tions that an experiment, at least OF fewer
sessions can be made with safety, and the
Assembly has wisely taken that view.


More unseemly laughter at the Talmage
trial. There was laughter at a proposal to
sing a hymn which Christian people regard
with peculiar affection, and the merriment
arose apparently from a feeling that it would
be ridiculous for the members of the Presby-
terry to assume an appearance of Christian
fellowship There was laughter again and
again when Mr.. Talmage's counsel, who,
whatever may be the result of their
efforts before the Presbytery, are doing
him more harm than good in the eyes of the
public, badgered witness after methods
which even lawyers criticise severely. The
Brooklyn Presbytery should reflect that Its
own reputation is, in a certain measure, on
trial. and that if the conduct Of those who wit
ness the proceedings does not cOmpOrt with
the gravity of the occasion, the remedy is in
the Presbytery's own hands.


The verdict of the board of inquiry in the case
of General Fitz John Porter closes q cOntro-
versy of more than fifteen years standing, and
relieves that officer from a grieyous verdict
rejecting upon his honor as a soldier aud
man. 1t is safe to infer that the case is
closed, because the unanimity of the
verdict leaves little doubt that the
President will approve it, and restore
General Porter to the position he held at the
time of hIs unjust dismissal. The board
found that General Porter was convicted upon
erroneous evidence, due partly to the imper-
feet knowledge of witnesses, partly to mae
curate maps, and partly TO the differences of
prominent officers from both these sources of
information. The board declare that they
rest General POrtcr's acquittal upon ac-
curate testimony from eye-witnCSses and
trustworthy maps. The conclusion de-
rived is. in brief, that General Porter
endcavored under all circumstances to obey
orders with all possible zeal and dispatch,
and that in the particulars in winch he failed
to comply with them, he was merely exercis-
ing the usual discretion of a corps com
mander. AT the same time, however, that the
report acquits him of the crime for which he
was dismissed the service, it ascribes his mis-
fortune mainly TO his indiscreet and un-
soldicrly talk concerning bis commanding
officer, which caused his conduct and his
motives to be misiuterpreted.
Year: 1879

Senator Salisbury not only allowed a report
to be made yesterday by the minority OF a COM
mittee which ne decOrates as chairman, but
actually put the debate forward several days
in order to allow certain Republican Senator
to speak. When we remember Senator Sauls-
bury's theory that the minority in legisa-
tive body has nothing to do with legislation,
this magnanimity seems very beautiful indeed.
Year: 1879

The reason why the City of Elizabeth. N. j.,


has found 1t hard work to borrow money to


meet its payments falling due is plain as the


nose on the face OF Slawkenbergus. The reason
why Jersey City, n j.. is i'll like prcdlcament Is
quite as papable. II we consider either cor
| poraton as a human being who has spent pro-
fusey and unwisely, who has borrowed literally
| merely because he could borrow, with certain


prospect G being able to pay, and who has
| all along PLAYED at ducks ard brakes with
the money thus acquired, there will be


nothing in the present position Of Jersey City or


Elizabeth tO fill us with amazement. spendthrift
town can borrow longer than spendthrift man,
simply because it has naturally better credit to
start with; but the end comes to both equally
the dark hour in which further loans


are impossible. There arc three courses for


corporations i'll pauperlzed cOndition-they


may repudlate, if tho courts of law Will


let them; they may compromise with their credit


ors or they may raise the needed money by rc-


morseless taxation. The most pleasing resource is
to send the debt drifting down to p0sterity; yet
even that cannot be done without paying interest,
and with al empty treasury it is not easy mat
ter TO do But nothing satisfactory can be ac-
cOmpllshed unless tho shfewdest and most
honest ctizons will come forward and take
their share of the burden Of the admins
tratiOn of public affairs. They had better


do it. if not for the sake of the community,
at least for their 1t IL a consolation to believe


that municipalities will hereafter find it more diff


cult to borrow, and that they will thus be forced
into something like prudence and economy. The
debts Of some of our cities and towns are simply


frightful. They will never be so trusted again, and
they ought not TO be.


II is pity the discOntented negroes hocking TO
Kansas, where there is no demand for their Labor


do not rather seek the sugar parishes Of Louisiana


where they could get steady work the year round
and good wages. and where they would have nothing
TO fear from budozers. Thousands OF fertile acres


IN these parishes are growing nothing but weeds be-


cause there is not labor enough to cultivate them
The sugar districts are exceptionally orderly and


peaceabe. and the political rights OF the blacks are
freely accorded them by the white minority A cor


respondent of The TRIBUNE, who visited last Winter


the Parishes of St. James, st. John Baptist Pla1uc-


mine and TeTcbonne, found them all governed


by Republican local officers, and represented in the
Legislature by intelligent cOlored men, Good feel
ing existed between the two races, and colored Ia
Dor was everywhere in demand and well paid.
Three reasons were assigned by our correspondent
for the fortunate condition Of the negroes in tho


sugar country First. the good character of the
sugar-Dlanters, who are, as a rule, gentlemen OF
! liberal education who have seen something


of the world secondly, the fact that the
| poor white element Is composed of French
Year: 1879

Captain james b. Eads answers some cur
rent Misrepresentation of the condition of
his great work at the mouth of the Mississippi
in a manner which his asSaIlants will at least
admit TO be reasonably vigorous. 1t is evidont
that the opponents of Captain Eads and of
the New-Orleans jctties are busy in the hope
of misleading the press and the country, and
his letter therefore deserves wide hearing.
Year: 1879

The public has had much reason to criticisc
the management of the East Side Elevated
Road, but it finds itself compelled now to
admit that, if the two roads, that one is TAX
ing the best stand for the safety of life and
limb among its passengers. The decision Of
Mr.. Cyrus w. Field, announced some days
ago, that he would withdraw from the road
If crossings were used anywhere, was again
Year: 1879

These are two of the great
evils of the day, and we cordi-
ally endorse the following. sem
sible remarks:


ait appears that it is some
times necessary to swear off
other things besides whiskey
drinking. A man up in New
York state, who had lost con-
siderable money by endorsing
the commercial paper of friends,
recently went before a magis-
trate and took a solemn oath
that he would from that time
forth ncvermore endorse any
paper of pecuniary value.
Some man with the ''gift of
gab' who is casting about for
an easy way to make a living
might strike a bonanza here by
the organization of a reform
movement of this kind. The
reason for signing such apledge a
would be nearly if not quite as
strong as those for signing the
temperance pledge. The en-
dorsement of commercial paper
for friends amounts TO almost
as great an evil as social drink
ing. 1t is the cause of IL vast
amount of financial distress. O.
yer the whole country, and we
venture to say that statistics
would show that it produces
nearly as many murders and
suicides as the use OF strong
drink"


OF course there arc cases i'll
commercial transactions and in
legal proceedings where the
practice is proper and necessa-
ry, but we refer to the indis-
criminate methods now in
vogue. A man may not intend
to 'sstick" his friend. bnt un-
forcseen causes may lead 10
that result.
Year: 1879

A lady from Georgia, visit
ing some relatives in New York,
was very much shocked the 9TH
er day at one of her nieces.
They went into a shoe store and
the niece asked to see some
high-buttoned boots, No. 2's.
The handsome clerk brought
them, whereupon the Young la
dy took seat and coolly threw
her leg upon ore Of the clerks
knees, who was kneeling before
her, that he might take the old
boots off, and put OH the new
ones. The clerk began at the
bottom button, and was gradu-
ally going higher up the young
lady's ankle, when the Georgia
spinster became so excited that
she began to bclabor the young
man with her parasol for daring
TO take such liberty with her
niece that down South would
have cost him his life. The
young lady was highly inccns-
ed at her conduct, because what
had passed was of every day oc-
uerrence in New York, and no
ono there thought anything of it.
Year: 1879

4


Not a drum was heard, be-


cause the drummer was not


feeling we'll and asked to be ex-


cused, nor a funeral note Of any


kind, as his corpse to the ram


parts we hurried, not a single


son-of-a-gun of a soldier dis


charged his farewell shot DER
the grave where the remains Of
the late Mr.. Moore were depos-
Iited. The farewell shot ,busi-


ness was omitted on account of


the great scarcity of fammunition.
We buried him darkly at the


dead of night, and did the best
job we conld for him under the
circumstances. We could not


borrow, beg or steal a pick or


shovel in the entire .neighbor-


hood, and were obliged to turn
the sods with our bayonets,


which by the way was the first


thing that had been turned by


said bayonets since we had


been drafted. We did all this


by the struggling moonbeams'


misty light and the lantern dim


ly burning, with just half c.
-nough oil init, and a strip Of an


old flannel undershirt for a wick.
Few and short were the prayers


we said, the captain being home
on a furlough and no one within
forty miles to take his place.


We spoke not a word of sorrow,
our time being somewhat limi-
ted, as the enemy was not for
distant, and advancing with gil
gantic strides. We thought, as
we followed his narrow bed and
smoothed down bis lonely pill
low with a canteen, that the foe
and stranger would tread DER
his head, and we far away on
the billow; but not too far, how
ever, as the enemy out-num-
bered us about seven to one.
Lightly they'll talk Of the spir-
it that's gone, and wonder
where they can get another
flask filled with the same, and
DER his cold ashes upbraid him,
knowing, of course, that lie is in
no condition to defend himself;
but little they'll reck if they let
him sleep on in grave where
Briton has laid him, and not
bother him to get up and take
out burial permit or ask him
to pay ground rent. We wish
here to correct the impression
that slowly and sadly We laid
him down from the field of his
fame, fresh and CORY. we did
no such a thing. The corpse
was washed and put in good
shape, and We defy any man to
show that there was a drop of
gore about him. 1t is true that
we carved not line and we
raised not a stone, because there
was no stone-mason handy who
would do the job at reasonable
figures. About this time we
heard the distant random gun
that the foe was sullenly firing.
so we adjourned the funeral,
left the deceased alone in his
glory, and made ourselves scarce
in that vicinity.
Year: 1879

Charles May and his brother


Robert, in the spring of 1870, Of


fered to pass 60, GOO railroad ties


down the Arkansas river from


the mountain source IN Colora-
do. He says:


"Our offer was accepted, when


we started into the upper en-
trance Of the canon with 4 large


skiff, provided with six days
provisions and 200 feet Of rope,


with which, by taking a running


turn round some firmly-planted


object, we could lower our boat


100 feet at a time. In this way,
at the end of three days, having
set adlift many hundred ties, we
reached the entrance TO the Roy
al George. Here we discovered
that to attempt to descend the
water fall with two in the boat
was certain destruction, ard to
return was impossible. I deter
mined to lower my brother down
the fall in the boat, a distance
of 200 feet, give him the rope
and let him take the chance Of
the canon-life seemed more GER
tain in that direction--while /
would risk my physical ability
to climb the canon wall, which
was about 1000 feet high.


"About 10 o'clock in the NOR
ming / shook hands with my
brother, lowered him in the boat
safely to the foot of the fall, gave
him the rope, and saw him no
more. Then, throwing aside my
coat, hat and boots, and strip
ping the socks from my feet, I
commenced my climbing way,
often reaching the height of one
or two hundred feet, only to be
compelled to return to try some
other way. AT length, about
4 o'clock in the afternoon, / reach
ed height upon the smooth can
on wall of about a thousand feet.
Here my further progress was
arrested by shelving ledge Of
rock that jutted out from the
canon side a foot or more. To
advance was without hope; to
return, certain death. Reaching
and onward j grasped
the rim of the ledge with one
hand and then with the other,
my feet slipped from the smooth
side of the canon, and my body
hung suspended in the air one
feet above the roaring
waters of the Arkansas.


"At that instant | looked down
ward to measure the distance i
would have to fall when the
strength Of my arms gave out.
A singing sensation crept thro'
my hair as my eye caught the
strong root of a cedar bush that
projected out over the ledge, a
little beyond my reach. Ny
grasp upon the rim of the ledge
was yielding to the weight Of
my person. Then / determined
to make my best effort to raise
my body and throw it sideways
toward the root, so as to bring
It within my grasp. At the mo-
ment of commencing the effort /
saw the face of my mother as
she leaned out over the ledge,
reached down her hand and
caught me by the hair. Stran-
ger, my mother died while yet a
young woman, when / and my
brother were small boys, but l
remember her face. / was sue
eessful in making the side leap
of my arms, when / drew my
'elf up the ledge and rested for
! time. From here upward my
was laborious, but less
dangerous. / reached the top
IF the canon just as the sun was
down behind the snowy
'ange, and hastened to our camp
It the mouth of the canon, where
found my brother all safe.
Charley said he, 'have you had
your head in a -four sackY 1t
vas then | discovered that my
hair was as white as you see It
low." .f1fi7
Year: 1879

A1sO ~ - &c.
wonder full often, my darling boy,


My Lad with the bonny blue eye,
What Thy fate in this changeable world


will be- IN


And then answer it with sigh.
For the strangest fancies will come and go


And the arrest thought arise
That ever took shape in mothers brain


Who would fain for thy sake be wise.
| wonder sometimes if The lass is born


Who bis helpmeet in life will be?
Will she love my boy for himself alone,


AS he has been loved by me-?
Will she see his faults in a tender light


And think it no irhsome care, a84v
When time shall come for pain or woe,


His.burden in part 20 bear?
And will he be kind TO her who wears
The mothers bright crown for, him,
Nor make the star of her fond hope set


In tears, aud her day grow dim?
Perhaps il an lies with me TO train


Aud fashion him at my win,
Whether then the sum Of my darling years
Endeih we'll for them both, or ill.
This much | ask: may ] do my part


With the merciful help Of Heaven,
Lest should be called TO last account


For The trust that my God hath given. 2
Whilemy boy ispliant and young and true,
Like 10 wax in my loving hands,
Let me mould his temper and heart and mind
Till MAN among men he stands!