smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

Hon. W. P. FRYE made ringing speech
for hard money at Auburn Hall on Tuesday
evening last. 1t is so full of good things that
we should like to print the whole OF it. Lack
of space forbids, but we cannot forbear to
print one of his vivid illustrations of the char
acter OF the delusion of the believers in
"spook'' money. Mr.. Frye says:


But, says our Greenback friend, we are going
to maze this a legal tender. Admit for the
sake OF the argument you can. What can the
government make it legal tender for? A le-
gal tender for the payment of debt. Oh yes !
Here we are all in debt and the news comes
tnat the Government has printed two billions
OF pieces OF paper which are legal tender for
our debts. Good gracious! how we want to get
at that two billions of dollars! Ho,o can aoea
There is no man in this hall that can tell me
how to get dollar that is worth dollar with
out paying for it in work or worth unless Won
steal II They say they are going to have cheap
money; we'll 1t will be cheap money. L asked
one OF their leaders the other day. He replied |;
b I'VE have not concluded how thu people are TO
get it yet laughter; but my idea is that
the Government should print them and ap-
point sao-treasurer III every county 10 the
United States and send him some of this
money! suppose bale or basketful-and that
he should loan this out to Tom, Dick and
Harry at low rate of Interest, and take mort
cages on ANYTHING man had who wanted
money. What magnificent field this would
be for the Androscoggln bar! 1t would take
every minute of our time to draw up the papers
and protect the sub-treasurer; aud the Judge
would take all his time in entering Up jadg-
ments!


You go over to Augusta and pick ou. the
craziest man in that insane asylum, and you
take that crazy man and you pick out the dark
est night that ever existed, and you put that
man in the deepest sleep that ever was, and
you get an angel to bring him the widest
dream that ever came to the craziest man in
the darkest night on this earth and it would
not begin to compare to this insane delusion
lRoars Of laughter.]
Year: 1878

SENATOR THURMAN is another apostate.
On the Oath of March, 1874, in the United
States Senate, he asked: "Are we prepared
to declare that under a government which
our fathers meant should be hard-money
government, but which has drifted away
from their intention-do we now, against all
the light of experience the world over, mean
to Danish gold and silver from circulation in
this country, for all time to come, and do
the business of the country upon irredeem-
able paper, depending for its volume upon
the will and caprice of the moment, or upon
the views of members of Congress seeking
reelection or aspiring to higher place?
think not. do not think that all the teach
ings of political economy should go for waste
paper. do not believe that we are ready
for this entire revolution upon so great a sub
jest" Now he is prepared for just that
thing, and advocates currency that shall
depend for its volume upon the will and ca
price of the moment, or upon the views of
members of Congress seeking reelection or
aspiring to higher place. He is uncommonly
anxious that all the teachings of political
economy shall go for waste paper.
Year: 1878

RICHARD GRANT WHITE, writing on
Americanisms in the current atlantic, quotes
from correspondent who says that the word
whisker is used in the West to mean hair
growing upon any part of the face. Mr..
White says he never in his life heard whisker
applied to any other part OF the beard than
that which grows upon the cheeks, but hav-
ing never been farther westward than Mag
ara, he does not dispute his correspondents
statement. Had he ever been farther east
ward than Boston he would feel stlll less like
disputing it.
Year: 1878

In the Boston Journal Of about a week ago
appeared paragraph stating that some Of
the Democrats of York county were urging
their candidate. Gen. Anderson, to meet Mr..
Reed in debate on the financial question at
different points in the District. Since that
time nothing has been heard of the matter,
and it seems that the General don't care to
accommodate them. 1t would certainly ex-
cite good deal of interest to have such
discussion, and people would thus be able to
hear both sides from the same platform.
Perhaps Gen. Anderson may think better of
the matter.
Year: 1878

The Republican party fought the war
through to victorious ending with a fire of
rebel bullets in front and fire of copperhead
ballots, conspracies ard draft riots in the
rear. Win it now put these men, those who
fought it at the front or intrigued against it
at the rear, in command? Or will it divide
or fritter away its strength, thus giving these
men the victory?
Year: 1878

We do not read anonymous letters and communi-
cations The name and address of the writer are in
all cases Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or preserve COM
municatious that are not used,
Year: 1878

THE unknown New Orleans newspaper
reporter whom the Potter committee have
been examining is as great romancer as
night editor Anderson. The talents of these
men are wasted on the witness stand. They
ought to write for the story papers or become
Greenback lecturers.
Year: 1878

(From the Fort Worth (Texas) Democrat]


For several days past the resident farmers
in the northwestern portion of this county,
have marked the presence of an eagle skim.
ming the heights in their neighborhood, and
a Mr.. Stringer, Tarrant County knight OF
the gun, anxious to capture this king of birds,
shouldered his fowling piece yesterday morn
ing and lay for the bird on the open prairie
at a point about two miles northwest of town
where q small herd of young pigs were limo.
Gently grazing on the green sward. The bird
came soaring along, and when point had
been reached nearly perpendicular to the
head of the swine-as 1t were-the old ma
tiona" swooped down and around the surface
of an inverted imaginary pyramid. and sink
ing its talons deep into the interior compost
ton of a thirty pound pig, started heavenward
The ascension was tedious and slow, and gave
ample time for Stringer to draw bead, and
when height of thirty or forty feet had been
reached, he banged away and bored hole
clean through our American monstrosity.
The pig and eagle tumbled tolerably well
together to the surface-both dead.
Year: 1878

London Letter to New York Tmes.I


His memory has gone. He will speak to
you earnestly Of special subject one moment
and forget the next After conversation
the other night with Chevalier Wykoff and
his agent, Mr.. Wall, he suddenly left the
room, and on returning introduced these two
gentlemen, each to the other, as though they
had never met. During his recent tour in
the country he was continually complaining
of certain members of his company that they
did not know their parts. AT last, when MIR.
Wall came to inquire into the matter, he
found that it was SOthern himself who had
forgotten his lines. He could not remember
bis most familiar roles. Thereupon Mr..
Wall sent for Sothcrns own doctor, Mr..
Simpson, who at once pronounced it danger
Gus to continue the exercise of his profession
This was at Brmine ham: WhereupOn an an
pouncement was made to the audience that
Mr.. Sothern had been taken suddenly i'll and
could not act The eminent comedian went
straight to London. where DR. Jenner, the
Queens physician, was called in. He declared
that Mr. SOthern must have perfect rest for
six months. DR.. Jenner said any attempt at
work might be fatal saw Sothern driving
to his chamber early in the week, little be-
fore or after his consultation. He looked at
me vaguely, as if we had never met Il made
his acquaintance in the early days of Dun
dreary), and signaled the cabman to 60 ahead.
was in hurry and did not attempt to stop
him; but the vague, strange look occurred to
me at once when heard of his trouble.
Year: 1878

be such valuable accountant that he was
made book-keeper. When a commitment
was made he learned the circumstances, and
If there was any ''dust" (money) back of the
party, he would say to the ''pinched" in
dividual. "You give me 80 much and I'll
shorten up on your time" 1t Was done in
number of instances. and when the prison in
spectors ''got on" to him they discovered that
he had changed the commitment and the
record so nicely that detection was only dis
covered when he gave it away himself. He
was the same man who discovered all of the
frauds in the prison and gave them away.
Year: 1878

The report elsewhere printed OF the
Committee of the Society of Municipal Re-
form charged with the investigation OF our
system of public education does not contain.
amid its copious chaf of rhetoric and
parade of common sense" many valu-
able grains of information or sug-
gestion. and concludes with urging
a petition for Legislative investigation.
It's local estimates are based upon the
figures of 1876 when the figures of 1877
should have been, in part, at least, attainable.
Where it speaks in the direction of certain
economies compatible with efficiency
namely. the superAuity of principals
and vice principals, the consolidation Of
schools, and, above all, the equalization ofthe
distribution of the State tax-it does not take
up anything new, but it certainly supports
useful ideas already advanced in the press
and elsewhere. The essay, however, on the
limitations that should be put upon the
tendency to higher studies is fippant in its
treatment of an important subject as we'll as
narrow in it's views. It is desirable, no
doubt, not to slight the primary schools,
but that argument is not enough to induce
our citizens to snatch away the opportuni-
ties of thorough education from our
youth. Arguments based on the literacy Of
ture of American genius are rather strained.
We want economy, but not the economy
that kills.
Year: 1878

will be in better position to form an intel
ligent judgment 1t will then be known
what the expenses are under the new regime,
and, consequently, how large tax the peo-
pie would have to submit to by the abolition
of tolls. Amendments have to be approved
by two different Legislatures. and the cleo
ton Of a new Senate must have intervened
between the two. Now, rs we are not
to have an election of Senators until
November 1879, nothing can be gained
even in time by acting on such an amend
ment at this session. The next Legislature
will have before it the result of a years
trial of the new system of management and
of second years trial of the low toll sheet.
1t seems advisable, therefore, to postpone
this subject for at least another year. The
ultimate policy must be free canals, but it
will take some time to bring majority of
the taxpayers of the State to that point.
Meanwhile, premature submission of the
question would be selt-defeating, for when
such an amendment had once been voted
down by the people long interval would
be likely to elapse before it would be sub
mitted again.
Year: 1878

Perhaps the most extraordinary feat


the average bank defalcation is the len


time which the crime is allowed to go


discovered. 1t recently struck the Act


Bank Superint tendent that the coMme
cial world would be benefited by an
overhauling OF the Bank of North
America. 1t has been overhauled
and q one hundred thousand dollar
hole found in the cash bag. A much re-
spected bank rat has made the hole, and
all the good bank people push their spec
taces up on their foreheads and look aston
ishment The bank people all know
that the atmosphere of Wall street is
net conducive to morality, but they
took no precautions. Nineteen-twentieths
of the stock transactions there are
merely bets based upon information or
guesswork. They stand to lose or they
stand to win; they do not honestly buy or
sell. 1t is q question of ''margin." The
temptation to win large stake on ''sure
thing" is great. If it can be won by
placing other peoples money in broker's
hands for twentv-fonr hours what harm
Year: 1878

BY Mr.. Smalleys latest London letter to
the Tr,batne, which is copied into the
HERALD to-day, our readers will see that the
hornets nest of London humanitarians is
stirred up about the ears of Mr.. Stanley. It
will be remembered that Stanley did not
get through Africa as pleasantly as butter
fly through rose garden. On the contrary,
there were certain of the savages who, not
having dined on white man for o long time,
were disposed to eat him. He did
not enjoy the prospect of their act
ing upon this highly complimentary
intention. But that was a. circumstance
they needed little. In fact, if we observe
closely the conduct of human creatures in
this particular, we must admit that man
seldom or never stops to consider the in
clinations Of the creatures he proposes to
eat He consults their taste only in sense
that does not regard their volition, and eats
them, rs it were, in spite of themselves.
This was the way with the savages
to whom we refer-who were not to
to be deprived of dainty meal by
any modesty on the part of special cor
respondent about figuring as the main dish
at noble banquet Now, strangely as it
may strike the humanitarian intellect, it
was the duty of the correspondent not to
be killed on that occasion. Even if he had
been inclined to indulge the African fancy
and to respect all the scruples of the
British humanitarian he had not the right.
He was under orders to 60 through, and,
with that purpose, to overcome, if he had
the power, whatever obstacles might pre-


ent themselves. His regard for his own


ife in imminent danger we would not men
Jon to the lofty minded humanitarians as O
motive of any moment. Indeed, it cannot
Dc said that man who dares the many dan
gers Of African exploration, who faces the
fever and the cannibals, the wild beasts and
the wilder men, is intrusive with regard to
conceptions of his personal safety. But it
was his duty to preserve his life as the one
essential condition Of the success of the ex-


,edition he commanded. And consequently


le used that famous elephant gun to good


,urpose. 1t may be that England dis


likes that kind of ''cruelty" or deems it an


instrument only to be employed in her owl
.eryice
Year: 1878

of such result certainly he, Injuries no cps
but himself 1t is weK known fact thas
extensive civil suits, involving large expen-
ditures for counsel tees, are pending In
connection with the Erie Railway, and the
embarrassment of one of the litigants by
protracted police court proceedings may
be just now serious injustice. Besides,
Mr.. Jewett is a receiver, and as such an
officer of the Supreme Court, to which he is
bound to make full and truthful reports.
A Justification of his accounts would be.a
contempt of that Court, to which every
item of his accounts must be submitted.
Hence there can be but little necessity for
any protracted police court investigation
in the particular case now before Justice
MORGAN
Year: 1878

The advocates of the abolition of the New
York College have supposed that there ex-
listed standing offer on the part of Colum-
bia College to take and graduate as many
scholars from the public schools of the city as
might be sent to that institution, duly quail
fed, at total charge of one hundred dollars
for each graduate. AS this would secure
collegiate education to the children of the
public schools at O cost much less than that
of maintaining the New York College it
seemed to offer at least one fair argument
for the discontinuance of the latter insti-
tuition. 1t appears, however. from the
statements of some of the trustees of Colum-
made; that the number of additional stu
dents that could be accommodated
by Columbia would be very limited,
and that there has been no disposition on
the part of the trustees to make any dis
elimination in the fees charged, except that
few students are under special circum-
stances admitted free.


AS the great advantage of the New York
College to the general public is to be found
in the commercial course, which fits young
men for mercantile and other useful pur.
suits, its abolition would be undesirable
even if the alleged offer had been made by
Columbia. At the same time the strictest
economy consistent with efficiency of in
struction ought to prevail in the manage
ment Of the college. An examination and
comparison of the cost Of Columbia and
New York colleges does not substan-
tiate the charge of extravagance against
the latter. At Columbia the salaries
of officers of the college for the collegiate
year ending in 1875 was s7azsal aud of the
School of Mines sS4, Sa5, together
Year: 1878




The acquittal Of Justice Duffy on the
fimsy charges for which he has been on
trial before a. full bench of judges of the
Court of Common Pleas was almost matter
of course. While congratulating him on
this result it may not be amiss to remark
that if the business of our police courts was
carried on with more regard to judicial dig
nifty, strict adherence to the rules Of pro-
cedure and directed by functionaries uni
formly fit for their positions, SUCH a case as
that Of Mrs. Travers could never have been
made the basis of grave impeachment trial.
The manner in which political understrap-
pers without any special knowledge of law
have been pitchforked into the judicial
chairs of our police courts is at the bottom
of the difficulty. Ignorant of their duties,
and therefore either blundering through IN
apprenticeship or relying upon the prompt
ings of subordinates, their shortcomins
have been taken advantage of by te
harpy lawyers who wiring a living
of the dregs of criminal practice. To8
a police Justice browbeaten or sneered
of his opinion by 'shyster" has not
an infrequent incident. Lacking the ks
edge to sustain their dignity, or the
nifty to sustain what knowledge they
have scraped up, the justices have
part in many deplorable scenes. Hen
arisen an attempt to administer
archal sort of justice, tempered by ira
as much as statute law, and enliven
tilts between Bench and Bar. The
commitments of police courts have
successful resort of sharp practitioner
sentences, just in themselves, have
been rendered nugatory time and
There Is no doubt that substantial a
it happened, formal justice was dc
sthe Travers case but the clustering !.
who found his match in the Justice Il


he could as usual detect flaw in Il
and oust the official he believed to


s'oppressor" of his class. If fitness,
of political Influence" had any sh
the selection of our police justices, Il


could never have come to trial. WI
not we have capacity on the police


The salary is high enough to secure


the work is not so hard.
Year: 1878

The WEATHER.-Thc depression noticed ycs
moved to the nortlward of the upper lakes, at
tended, as we expected, by rising winds, but
with precipitation only OH the northwestern
margin. The pressure has increased over the
Middle apd South Atlantic States, due to the in
hucncc of the advancing low areas in the North
and Southwest. The latter disturbance is
already well advanced eastward into
the Lower Mississippi Valley, with high
eastcrly winds on the Gulf coast. General and
heavy rains have marked the advance of this
storm. We may expect that the Westsrn
Gulf. southern and lower central districts Will
have heavy rainfall during the next two DAYS.
The weather on the Pacific coast is stormy, and
heavy rains have caused frcshcts in the San
joaquin and Sacramento River valleys. Very
high temperatures prevail in all but the Allan
tic coast districts, but fall is observa-
BILE in Texas. AS the southwestern storm
is now well defined, it is to bc hoped
that timely warnings will be given along
the threatened coasts of the Gulf and
Atlantic. Present indications point to danger
in the West Gulf which will then be transferred
probably, to the Middle and East Atlantic and
lake coasts. The weather in New York and its
vicinity to-day will be warm and fair, followcd
by increasing cloudiness. Tomorrow it will be
warm and partly cloudy Or cloudy, probably
with rain.
Year: 1878

will it do the other people? Their
money will be put back all right. But some
day big boa constructor of "the street
bolts the ''margin"-and there is deficit.
Thus it begins and the courts or the cor
oners tell tho inevitable sequel sooner or
later. This is the story of Turney, the
latest defaulter. No one will excuse him,
but who will excuse the purblind bank
authorities
Year: 1878

The Russians in Consta N Tin Ople.


Our London dispatches to-day contain
the most startling statement that has been
made since the commencement of the war.
The declaration that the Russians are ac-
tually in the Turkish capital might
conceivably be invented by the organs
of the English government for the
sake ofthe effect it would have in the House
of Commons in forcing an almost unanimous
support to the money grant. But the
chances of the government to carry its
project have not at any moment seemed in
great danger, and if safe on that score
it would not be wise to resort to
this. This story is, therefore. in all proba-
bility, true. even though the London Adrer-
tiser and Post are not famous sources for
important news. In fact, there is no phase
in which the story could be regarded rs in
credible. 1t is known that some SECRETS were
kept between the victors and the vanquished
as to the lines of demarcation for the armis-
tice, and the occupation of some points
in the defences of the capital was in
the number of those secrets. AS the
Russians demanded the occupation
of Erzeroum and the Danube fortresses,
so they have perhaps demanded the
forts of Boyouk and Chekmedje; and the
good reason for all these demands was that
only the armistice prevented an early capture
of all these points. Russia has not
yet, however, violated her pledge
to England, which was that she
would not ''acquire" Constantinople.
An occupation as q military guarantee and
temporary in it's nature is not an acquisition


But if England should treat this as a cause
of war she might very certainly force the
point she has desired to avoid. England
will of course be in blaze over this event,
but Russia is master of the situation.
Year: 1878

If THE LAWYERS can have their own way
there is not much probability that the Merrill
will case will be disposed of for several years.
The old lady, it seems. had eighty trunks, and
the awful proposition is made to read all the
naners found in them.
Year: 1878

THE LAWYERS in the Hicks-L Lord case have, it
is said, agreed to an arnistice; not for the pur
pose of making peace, however, but the better
to prepare for war. postponement will prob
ably be agreed to today.
Year: 1878

able to the public at large.


The Turk As He Is, by E. DeLeon, 10 q fine
and scholarly article, abounding in instructive
details concerning the Moslem race, and dis
playing suoh graoes of style as must make any
article written by the same pen treat to in
telIigent readers.


We have not time to mention all the other
articles In detail but which are generally in
terestipg and well-written. Indeed, the pro-
mise of the book is all that could be desired !;
end il the dead fruit that now disfgure its
branches be pluoked off in time, We have no
doubt the buds and blossoms of our Southern
talent will unfold in rich and most delightful
fragrance.