smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

The annals of the Tower as a state prs on are replete with gloomy and fearful events. A detailed account of these would fill volumes list even of the renowned and the notorious, who. during the past eight centuries have pined within these walls in captivity, would far exceed the limits of this sketch.

 Secret passages, torture rooms and dun geons, abounding within and beneath the fortress are alluded to in history and the assertion comports with the dark age in which it was built, and with the dread scenes it has witnessed. But history here, unaided by tradition, is sad enough. Let us pause before that gloomy archway, the Traitors Gate. How often have grandeur, and even royalty passed beneath it's omi- nous portals, to exchange the dreams of honor and ot glory, and the festive brillian- cy of courts for the realities of the prison. lodging, the torture room and the fatal block and axe! The drowning gateway of the Bloody Tower admits us to the Inner Ward. We glance around at the towers, those chill and lone lodgings where illustri- ous captiyes have sighed out life time ! The eye at last rests on the simple Chapel, within which the bodies of these prisoners moulder in the dust; and in front of which is the spot which marks with SO indellible a stain the Tudor race-the spot where was erected the scaffold which taught English men to look upon woman's life blood, held sacred in the most ruthless Norman age, ,eb- ping beneath the headsmsn's stroke!

 We entered the prison and bedroom oc- cupied by Sir Walter Raleigh, who spent twelve years of his life here, ,and such years must they have been 10 him in this msera- ble place. To remain even for only day in his bedroom of solid stone, with no light and only the slightest ventilation is pun ishment for crime of considerable magni- tude. It would be equal to the dungeon or solitary punishment in our prisons. In front of his door stood the block and axe with which Lady Jane Gray was beheaded, and on the block are too plainly visible the cuts left by the axe in the execution of the barbarous and bloody decd.

 Of all the towers, none possessed such deep interest to us as the Bloody Tower When attending school in the modest and unassuming red school house at nine or ten years of age, the Easy Reader used in our class contained in Lesson 24,' story of Tho Murder in the Tower,' and which sell dom failed to bring tears to the eyes Of the more sensitive in the class every time it was read. Those two little innocent prin . ces, sons of Edward tho Fourth, and who after the death of their father were placed in charge of their uncle Richard, Duke Of Gloucester, aud who hired ruffians to cru ely murder them the details of the mur- der being SO vividly pictured in that prim itiye reader, were always too much. This murder was executed in this Bloody Tow
Year: 1874

Lee and New Haven R. R.-The com- missioners appointed by the governor of Massachusetts to view the line of the Lee & New Haven road and to report the facts in the case to the next legislature, gave hearing to all parties interested at the ho- tel in Otis on Wednesday at 9 AM, and to be continued at the Lee town hall on Fri day at the same hour.
Year: 1874

How TO MAKE A CIsTERN.-I see
some Of your readers wish to know
how to construct cistern. The best
way is to dig your pit the size you
wish and to will it with brick; build
a partition wall across it, leaving two
thirds on one side. Leave a number
of holes through the bottom of the
partition wall about four inches square
then plaster we'll with not less than
two coats. Fill up to the smallest
side of the partition wall with charcoal
then fill up the other side about three
feet with coarse sand. Let the water
in on the charcoal, letting it pass un-
der the partition wall up through the
the sand. 1t will be as pure as a free
stone spring. 1t will have no taste of
rain water.
Year: 1874

THE DIFFERENCE is a good
deal OF difference in u speech made up
while sitting in the Congressional libra.
ry with pen, ink and paper, and all the
aids one has at hand under such circum-
stances, with the speech carefully writ
ten out and lying on ones desk beside
him in the Senate, and one delivered by
word Of mouth from rostrum improvis-
ed for the occasion. '-Republican.


The editor had been listening to Lof-
land before he wrote the above, no doubt.
and the remarks are intended as an ex.
cuse for that functionary's bad logic and
worse grammar, to some one who had
been commenting on comparison be.
tween the speeches of the Democratic
Senators and the Radical Congressman.
Year: 1874

Our information from Kent and Sus-
sex counties leads us to believe the ma
jority to be given the Democratic ticket
willexceed any calculations that have yet
been made by our friends, and we have
now no doubt that every county in the
State will be carried against the negroes.
Still every Democrat should be sure that
nothing is left undone to increase tho
vote. Be watchful of the tricks of the
enemy. Let none vote who arc not en-
titled to vote.
Year: 1874

No negro who has been convicted Of
felony has right to vote in this State.
All who have been convicted Of stealing
have lost their right to vote, and are
subject to arrest. fine and imprisonment
If they offer to vote. Look out for them
Year: 1874

Finding he could affect nothing by abusing
the next Governor the Republican has COM
menced TO hurl through the weak and ycnal
organ of the Ring his foul detractive
language at Senator Bayard. The silly
stuff is laughed at by every decent citizer.


'Cease viper, you gnaw at file"
Year: 1874

Don't make bargain to stay away
from the polls if your Republican neigh
Dor does. That is an old Republican
trick, and the Radical bargainer general
ly sneaks off and votes before night. Go
and vote.
Year: 1874

The Democratic ticket has been en-
dorsed in every Hundred as one Of the
best ever put before our people, and
every man on it should be elected. Vote
the whole ticket; and vote early, SO that
you may assist in getting others to vote.
Year: 1874

The sanitary statistics of London for the
week ending December furnish one of the
most startling illustrations on record of the
little understood relation between mortality
and cold. The week in question was one of
very low temperature, and the death rate
mounted up to correspondingly high figure
The popular impression has long existed that
the severe depreasions of temperature, except
to the ragged and ill-fed classes, were to be re-
garded as sanitary boons, giving tone and
solidity to the human frame; and 80, under
certain circumstances, they are found to work.
But, practically, as the most rigid analysis Of
the death rate statistics proves, cold snap is
scarcely less fatal for the time it lasts than an
irruption of cholera or smallpox.


The mortuary register for the week ending
December 5, in London, shows an amazing
excess for heart and lung diseases, ranging
from fifty to two hundred and twenty-four
above the average, falling most heavily on the
extreme ages, senile and infantile Such
result cannot be explained by supposing that
the shock of the winter fell upon homeless
and half-clothed victims, but must be regarded
as another striking proof of the deadliness Of
cold itself. - .asas>


That the great thsffnsl vicissitudes are
faithfully reflected in the schcess and NOR
tahty Of all geographical sections is >Secoming
clearer as the records Of disease are more
carefully compiled. Dr. ~Pfestel of Emden,
who for over thirty years lhas observed and
discussed meteorological phenomena, collating'
them recently with the sanitny statistics of
Friesland, maintains that from the nature of
the prevailing winds the relative salubrity of
q district can be- determined. Giving the
cause time to have its due effect, be concludes
that ventilation or agitation Of the atmos-
phere is as essential to The, health of q dis
trct as the renewal Of air in sick room,
and that Gains are as dangerous as any other
meteoric conditions No doubt the calms
that precede the rapid barometric rise with
its accompanying frigorifc temperatures, by
vitiating the air we breathe, weaken the
human system and prepare it for the invasive
force of the wintry blast The Philadelphia
registers for 1872 graphically show how the
curves indicating the course Of mortality from
most winter diseases rapidly rise with the
thermal decline and decline with the thermal
rise. The smallpox fatality, usually greatest
in March, then occurred in January whose
themometric mean was the lowest of any Of
the winter months. And the inference sug-
gested by these facts has been corroborated
by an Austrian medico-meteorologist OF Pesth,
who finds that the meteorological changes
reflect themselves in the amount and aggrava-
ton Of sickness.


The subject is one Of such vital importance
to oil classes, especially in our clmate-where
from proximity on the one hand to the
warm Gulf Stream and on the other to the
cold, semi-Arctic Canadas, the changes are
most sudden and severe-that it should more
engage popular as well as medical attention.
Prudent recognition OF the philosophy which
Year: 1874

it teaches would enormously mitigate the
sufferings of the poorer classes and rightly
direct the skilled charities which are now
seeking to guard the public health. When the
Thermometer falls below thirty degrees the
shock on the system is quickly succeeded by
reaction, which makes heavy drain on the re-
serve vital energy, which must be rePlsnished
by increased consumption of solid food, or,
this fuel failing, the animal heat falls below
the health point. Then it is the famished and
Unprotected most feel the tooth of hunger and
need the most generous diet. But with the rise
of temperature the food supply should be pro-
portionately abridged and held in store for the
more trying season.


A little care Systematically bestowed upon
children, regulating their clothing and food
in accordance with the showing of these facts,
would immensely increase their comfort and
reduce the mortality which at this season pre-
walls
Year: 1874

Wickham finds cause for his immediate re-
moval Governor Tilden cannot interfere to
save him without violating fundamental
principle of the democratic creed. In the
recommendations which Governor Tilden will
make in his message for o revision
of the city charter there are only
two courses open to him SO fur as the
Finance Department Of the city is con-
carned One is TO restore the election of the
Comptroller to the people, as in former times,
which would be a virtual repudiation of the
charlatan Green and the other is to make the
elected Mayor entirely responsible for the
success of the municipal government by con-
ferring on him the absolute power of appoint
ing and removing all city officers according
to his sense of the public interest. Either of
these methods would be fatal to Green.
very elaborate argument of Mr.. Tilden, pub
hshed three or four years ago, puts him on
record MS q strenuous advocate OF SO amending
the frame of our city government that the
people would be able in every election (and,
if our memory be not at fault he favored an
nual city eectons) to change the whole per-
Somael of the city government 1t was on this
ground that he opposed that feature Of the
Tweed charter which gave such long tenures
to the heads of departments and made it i'm
possible for the people to change the entire
body of their rulers in any one election.
These published views, which Mr. Tilden can
not now repudiate, thoroughly commit him,
in point of consistency, to sanction the re-
moval of Comptroller Green when it is made
by Mayor Wickham, and it is impossible that
a man Of his high sense Of character and con-
sistency can stultity himself by contrary
courSa
Year: 1874

A peculiar phase of the discussion now rag.
ing in England between the Catholics and tho
Protestants is shown in recent correspond
son of an English gentleman was a student
at Oxford. Just before examination he left
the English Church and entered the comnu-
Mon OF Rome Upon doing this he sought
counsel from Archbishop Manning as to his
future course and was instructed by the
Archbishop that it was his duty to leave the
university, ''the Holy See having expressly
condemned the English universities as danger
Gus to faith and monls" The father Of the
young man, surprised at this advice, and
naturally anxious that his son should COM
plete his course at Oxford, wrote to the Arch
bishop to know whether his son really under
stood the episcopal meaning. The Arch
bishops secretary sent the father copy Of
the pastoral letter of the bishops, containing
the directions of the Holy See as to the English
universities, showing that the young man had
rightly comprehended the meaning Of His
Grace. The secretary added few words Of
commiseration from the Archbishop on "tha
trial" which the father had to bear ''The
cause of it cannot be regarded by the Arch
bishop except as q benediction for the SOM,
nevertheless he cannot but feel sympathy for
those who feel otherwise" This direct
avowal on the part of the head Of the Catho-
lie Church in England that it will not permit
young men to study in the English universe
ties has produced deep impression and illus
trates the earnestness with which the religious
controversy is now being waged.
Year: 1874

TWEED still beats at the bars Of his Jail.
He yearns for freedom. His lawyers have
prepared return to the certimari 1t is an in
teresting if perhaps technical pleading. But
1t omits one point-namely, the proffer to the
treasury of all the money stolen from the city
during his tenure of power. This would be
brave act It would show that the old man
really wanted TO get out of Jail. 1t would be
an act of justice properly preceding an act
of mercy. What eloquent speeches David
Dudley Field and Judge Comstock could
make on this offer Let us have justice be-
fore mercy. Pay back the money
Year: 1874

A.SAuoR's MARRIAGE on board the three
turreted monitor, Roanoke, is brilliantly de-
scribed.in our columns to-day. The "event"
took place in presence OF the officers and crew
and the far bride and the gallant groom had
reception more brilliant and more congenial
to them than \if they had been married in
fashionable church and had fashionable re-
ception ON the Avenue. Well might Jack have
said on this occasion, as he<oncs did in
storm at sea, Lord how pitcs them poor
folks ashore"
Year: 1874

The AWFUL CALAMITY of the burning at
sea OF the emigrant ship Cospatrick is lesson
that should not be disregarded by shipowners.
Although we have received but meagre de-.
tails as yet of the disaster, yet they are suf--
and completeness of the life-saving apparatus
on board the ill-fated vessel. We learn that
only two boats succeeded in getting away,
containing very small proportion of the
crew and passengers. The investigation which
must follow will probably throw some light
on the subject.
Year: 1874

WE AS Yer have no answer from Wash
ington as to the connection of the Pres
ident with the stock-jobbing despatch
about Cuba and Cuban affairs which
appeared lin the newspapers snticipatory
of the Message, and which produced SO
profound an impression upon the minds Of
the Spanish people andupos the funds in Lou
dom There was never more shameless stock
jobbing fabrication, and. worse than all, it
has been traced directly to the President, who
gave it to the Washington correspondent of
the Associated Press. Should this not be
made o raatter for inquiry by Congress?
Year: 1874

The announcement that General Sheridan
portant event in the history Of reconstruction
As we understa nd the nature of the instruc-
tons given to the General he simply goes
South on an errand of inquiry and observa-
ton. Although not assigned to the actual
command of the unsettled States it is under
stood that in the event of any disturbance he
will by his rank alone, naturally assume COM
mand. Should there be no trouble his trip
will be somewhat like that of General Grant
himself, when, at the end of the war, he
made a tour in the South. The temper of the
people is such that we hardly think there will
be any necessity for the Generals active inter-
ference. There is no disposition, SO far as we
can learn, on the part Of the conservatives to
dispute the federal authority. That being
so it makes little difference whether the
actual military commander is Sheridan or
Emory. General Emory has done his work
well. He is acceptable to the Southern peo-
pie. He is good soldier, conservative, loyal,
and commands the confidence of all classes
Should there be, however, any outbreak, the
presence Of Sheridan means stern and swift
repression.


While we have every confidence in the wis
dom and valor Of Sheridan, and while we feel
that his presence in New Orleans will be an
assurance of peace to all classes, and that
from his fame and his rank alone there will be
the best guarantee Of his impartiaity, recon-
struction in Louisiana is in such a condition
that no military man is needed. Sheridan 8
assignment to an active command would be q
menace and not an inducement to peace and
compromise. We cannot pacify the Southern
States by the sword The general sentiment
of the country will be that the logic of Sheri-
dams appointment means o menace to the
South. To that extent it is mistake. Our
confident hope Is that the Lieutenant General
will disappoint the hopes OF those who regard
his errand as support Of the carpetbaggers
as well as those who regard him as messen-
ger of fury and despotism. BY his tact he
will do away with the unpleasant fears now
excited by his appointment and at the same
time secure that even-handed justice which is
only needed to perfect reconstruction.
Year: 1874

KING KALAKAUA respectfully declines q
visit to the institutions under the direction
of the Commissioners Of Charities and Cor
rection. He does not care particularly to
inspect paupers and criminals, and perhaps
he wishes to avoid speech of welcome from
the ex-BOSs
Year: 1874

THE ELECTION of Charles O'Conor to the
Senate would be like return to the time of
the Revolution, when sages and statesmen ruled
the Republic. But, unfortunately, it would not
suit the ring OF gold-spectacled statesmen who
regard the democracy as long postponed in
vestment on which they are about to realize.
Year: 1874

BUILDERS should be reminded during this
weather of slush and mud that there are
rights to which the public are entitled. In
many of the streets up town portions of the
sidewalk have been removed or are encum-
bered with timber and bricks, and after dark
pedestrianism is extremely perilous in those
localities
Year: 1874

All AND = OlAA14So. QuCotAOA WuCCueK
the eagles of the Empire are to remain on the
new Opera House in Paris excites some dis
cussion in the French journals. A bronze
eagle, facing the entrance to the Emperor s
box, was taken down after the Fourth of Sep
tember and has not been replaced, but the
others still. remain. The architect advances
the opinion that changes in politics should
not affect art '\and that every monument
should be allowed.to preserve the emblems OF
the time when it was> built. The government
seems to have adoptedthis idea, especially in
regard to the ColumnsV endome. 1t was in
tended that this column, which has borne the
figure of Napoleon in two oAices-as emperor
and general-should be crowned by statue
of French soldier This was the. idea of the
Prince de Joinville, son of Louis Philippe,
whose father, by the way, restored Napoleon
to the top of the column after it had been
pulled down by the Bourbons But the gov
ernment evidently feels that the Column ven-
dome without the Emperor figure on the top
would be more eloquent monument of Bona
partisan than to replace it as it was before the
SomMuuc pouleu tue Columu OOWu.


NEGLECT OF THE Foo HoRNs-It is seldom
we have dense fogs in this city, but whenever
the weather Is very foggy, as it was on Mon
day, an accident on one or other of the ferries
is almost certain to be the consequence. No
precaution that has yet been displayed has
been able to avert disasters like that on the
East River, where the Golden and Alaska COL
hded. 1t must be confessed that the passage
of the boats from New York to the neighbor-
ing cities is public necessity, even in the face
of danger We believe the officers of our
ferry companies are disposed to decrease the
risk as much as possible, but the passengers
on some of the lines notice neglect that is
censurable. The law requires that on such
days as Monday the boats shall continually
sound their fog horns, but this rule is not
always observed. Sometimes minute inter-
venes between the, alarms. Two boats nearly
collided in the East River yesterday morning
from the neglect Of this rule, and it may be
that like neglect was the cause of the COL
lision between the Golden and the Alaska and
the consequent loss of life. In any event the
rule should be faithfully observed, tor by
doing SO many lives may be saved.


,oh 10
Year: 1874

As the waters roll in on the shore with
inccssant throbs, night and day, and al
ways. not alone when storms prevail, but
in calms as well, so it is with mothers
heart bereaved of her children There is
no grief like unto it-Rachel weeping for
her children and refusing to be comforted
because they are not, With what long
patience. what burden and suffering does
the mother wait until the child of her
hope is placed in her arms and under the
sight of her eyes. She remembered no
more the anguish for Joy that a man is
born into the world.


Who can read. or, if he saw, could ut
ter the thoughts of u mother during all the
days and nights in which she broods the
helpless thing. Every true mother takes
home the full meaning of the angels word: :
that holy things which shall be born of
thee shall be called the Son of God. The
mother does not even whisper what she
thinks, and the whole air is full of gentle
pictures, every one on the back ground of
the blue heavens.


The child grows: grows in favor of God
and man-and every admiring look cast
upon it, even by stranger, sends light
and gladness to the mothers heart Won
derful child, The sun is brighter, for it,
The whole earth is blessed by its presence. !.
Sorrows, pains, WEAKNESS, self-denials,
for its sake are eagerly sought and delight
ed in.


But the days come when the little feet
are weary: when the night brings no rest :;
when the cheek is scarlet, the eye changed,
and the smile no longer knows how to
shine All day, all night, it is the moth
er's watch Her very sleep is but yelled
waking JOY; the child is coming back
to health. Woe; it is drifting out again,
away from consciousness and pain are
never more known. 1t is far, far out TO
ward wilight-toward darkness. 1t dis
appears.


The mothers heart was like heaven
while it lived; now it has ascended to
Gods heaven and the mothers heart is as
the gloom of midnight. Wild words of
self-reproach at length break out. as when
frozen torrent is set loose by spring days.
She that has lavished her life-force upon
| the child turns upon herself with fierce
charges of careleSsnesS, of unskill, of
! thOughtlessness. She sees hundred wavs
| in which the child would have lived but
| for her! All love is turned into selfcrim-
! nation, Tears come at length to quench
the fire of purgatory. But grief takes
new shapes every hour, till the nerve has
| lost its sensibility, and then she coldly
hates her unnatural and inhuman heart
that will not feel,


A child dying, dies but once; but the
mother dies a hundred times. When the
| sharpness is over. and the dullness of an
over spent brain is passed, and she must
take up the shuttle again and weave the
web of daily life, pity her not that she
must work, must join again the discordant
voices. and be forced to duties irksome and
hateful These all are kindly medicines.
A new thought is slowly preparing. 1t is
that immovable constancy and strength
which sorrow gives when it has wrought
| the divine intent.


Now no Christening for the present seemeth TO be
nevertheless afterwards yield
eth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto then
which are exercised thereby-HEB- XIII IL