smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

that nobody will be rich enough to afford
the expense. The fact that the new Nor
mon chief inherits a great fortune, which
he will be tempted to use as other wealthy
men use theirs, will hasten that invasion
OF fashion which is incompatible with
polygamy. The efficiency of this remedy
depends on the fact that only the
wealthier Mormons have plural wives. That
a large majority of them possess only
one is evident from the figures of the last
census, which show an excess of males IN
the population of Utah. In 1870 there were
Al, l21 males and only 1865 females in that
polygamous Territory, which is conclu-
sive demonstration that large majority OF
the men have not more than one wife. Even
with one wife apiece there are not women
enough in the Territory to go round. If
there are some Of the rich who have plu-
rality Of wives there must be q larger
number of the poor who cannot get
even one in community where the
males outnumber the females. A majority
Of the Mormohs are not polygamists, and
cannot be in the present proportion OF the



spend acquire taste for Gentle social
lite polygamy will disappear before the
expense Of maintaining one fashionable wife.
The railroad has brought the Mormons into
such near connection with Gentle customs
that they could not long have been resisted
even by the despotic authority of Brigham
Young; and if his son, who inherits his
wealth but lacks his ayarice, shall prefer to
live like gentleman and court the society
Of cultivated people. his example will be SO
contagious that it will cause social
revolution.


But this natural tendency is no reason
why the government should not make short
work with polygamy. The tendencies to
which we have alluded operate with full
force in all civilized communities and yet
bigamy is a not infrequent crime which our
laws punish with relentless severity. There
is much stronger reason for Furnishing it in
a community where it has taken deep root
and calls for extirpation.
Year: 1877

middle of Africa The holding OF the Ex.
hibition does not depend upon France
alone; for if the present war should
entangle other nations, such as Eng
land and Austria, or if Germany that
big neighbor Of France, should quarrel
about the Notifications of the frontier, the
arts and industries of other countries would
remain at home. Nor is an extensive
European war the only danger OF the Ex-
hibition, for politics in France are stormy,
and no one can say whether q revolution
will not follow the elections this fall.


Every one hopes that this calamity will not
happen to this Exhibition, but its postpone
ment for another year might not be unfortu-
nate for this country The United States
have missed an opportunity of repeat
ing in Paris the grand display of
their inventions, productions and manu-
factures which they made last year
in Philadelphia. Our government has not
appropriated dollar for the purpose; its
own superb collection has been given to the
Smithsonian Institution, and the country will
be represented only by individual exhibitors,
who are expected to appoint their own COM
missioners. 1t thus appears that the i'm
preston we made at the Centennial
will not be emphasized in Europe.
Many of the advantages we then
gained will not be improved, and our
trade will suffer material loss by our indif-
ference to the opportunity. There should
have been a bridge over which all that was
best in the Centennial Exhibition could
have been carried to Paris, but we fear it is
now too late to build it. Still, little may
be done at the next meeting of Congress.
and if the kings and emperors should con-
clude to have general war next year, or if
the legitimists, republicans and Bonapartists
should create revolution this winter the
United States would have ample time to
remedy the blunder they have made.
Year: 1877

which could give Importance to the assem-
blage. and it is to be hoped that the worthy
gentlemen will not permit themselves to be
made show of by designing politicians,
Aldermen and other people, who al waysjump
at the opportunity of obtaining notoriety.
We trust that when they come to this city
they will be received AS what they really
area respectable party Of Governors on va
cation-and that the Jack Bunsbyism which
often makes our hospitalities ridiculous will
be more honored in the breach than the OBJ
servance
Year: 1877

Probably the French Ministry already
regrets its proposed prosecution of Gam
beta. 1t was u step that certainly never
originated in any proper conception that
the law had been violated and that its asser-
tion was necessary not even in a cool view
of an advantage to be gained over an adver-
sary Irritation, the loss Of temper and q
willingness to make the law an instrument
against an opponent these were the sources
from which the purpose arose and in poll
tics the player who acts on all of his own
ill regulated impulses playsa short-sighted
game.


As the government proceeds in this case
the ground gives way beneath it. 1t pro-
posed to try the republican orator for
exciting the people to hatred against the
government" but on that charge he was en-
titled to jury, and the Ministry was afraid
a jury would not see the case SO clearly as
might Judge who hoped for promotion.
Besides, it could not prevent the publication
of the proceedings, and it feared these
would make tremendous campaign docu-
ment for the republicans. 1t abandoned
that ground, therefore, and proposed to try
the orator for insulting the President. On
that charge he could be tried privately
before a judge. But the banquet at which
his discourse was pronounced was private.
He had not, therefore, violated the law in
speaking, and that ground was abandoned.
But the speech had been published. They
who had published it should be tried, and
Gambetta, who presumably furnished them
their copy, could be accused as their accom-
plice. TO such an attenuated form is the
official vengeance already reduced, and if
the government that has initiated this per-
secution does not already regret it it is
wanting in common sense But if it does
regret it that hardly mends matters, since
it has not the moral courage to abandon a
case of this sort once undertaken. 1t
would be sneered at for cowardice by its
thorough" supporters and laughed at by
the whole country. Such possibilities it
dare not face.


The most remarkable feature of this event
is that the speech on which the prosecution
is based is noteworthy for the almost Judi
cial calmness of it's tone and the absolute fair
ness of statement by which every part of it is
distinguished. It's most important points
are published elsewhere. There is scarcely u
harsh passage, save when the orator endeav-
ors to characterize the Bonapartists; and in
that passage if his words are sharp, it will
be agreed by every one, except the Bona
partists themselves, that they are strictly
just. 1t is in everybody's mouth in France
that what is imminent is u coup dftdt There
is little concealment of opinion, and as lit
tie disguise of speech on this point Yet
Gambetta says I'VE must not depart from
strict observance of the law. We must
watch our opponents to see that they do
not depart from it, as do not believe they
will. But that is not point to be exam
ined here. We will do no one the injury of
believing that he intends illegal acts" If
an orator thus moderate is prosecuted for
violence of speech the government sadly
needs pretexts for applying the repressive
machinery OF the law.
Year: 1877

The Arrival Oh the oyster ana MOS.


quito.


Mature" said the Englishman, as he
surveyed the Swiss landscape from the Mat
terhorn, mature is an internally fine thing,
after all, and there is considerable truth in
the remark The invention of the oyster
alone would justify even higher praise than
this, but when We consider the ingenuity
with which Nature has djus.ed the habits
of that exquisite fish to the wants Of men,
cold approval is changed into wonder. II,
for instance, the oyster had been created
wild animal, like the bison, Nature might be
Justly accused Of acting with malignant and
tantalizing purpose; but its tame DISPOSE
tion is one Of Its greatest merits. Another
example Of the order which exists in ma
ture, but one which Paley forgot to mem
ton, is the adaptability Of the oyster to the
seasons. 1t is well understood that oysters
can only be eaten by intelligent per-
sons in months which have an r in them,
and in this connection we find remark
able proof OF the adaptability Of means to
ends. Had she SO chosen Nature might
easily have placed an II in only one month,
but instead of that she placed that noble
letter in the names Of eight months, omit
ting it from four months only, and
those by singular coincidence the
very months in which the oyster is
most watery and thin. Thus, whether he
be raw, fried, scalloped, stewed, broiled,
panned or picked, the oyster furnishes
fruitful theme for the optmist. II. W. En-
erson, however, atfirms that Nature never
gives any OF her blessings, but always sells
them; and here we approach the darker
side Of lite--one Of those gloomy mysteries
which cause the heart of the pessimist to
throb with JOY. This is the tact that the
arrival OF the oyster and that of the mos
quito are almost simultaneous. What secret
sympathy exists between beings 80 different
in their tastes and characters is unknown,
but 1t seems to exist. Just ut the period
when the oyster leaves his beds Tor our
pleasure the mosquito enters our beds
for our punishment Some philosophers
are OF the opinion that pleasure can
only be appreciated by the contrast
with pain; but it is difficult for the common
mind to appreciate the theory. Nature re-
mains inscrutablc, and we can only put the
best Interpretation on her acts. Suppose
the oyster were as small as the mosquito
how many oysters would be needed in o
stew7 Suppose the mosquito were as large
as the oyster-what would not be our mis-
cries? Here we see the benevolence Of
Nature again beautifully exemplifed tor
though the mosquito and oyster come to-
gether they do not depart together. The
one must soon vanish, while the other will
remain till May, according to the Darwinian
doctrine Of the survival OF the fittest. Let
us then endure with patience brief evil for
the sake of lasting good, and agree with the
late Mr.. Pope that whatever is is right.
Year: 1877

MIR. CORNELL preserves a mysterious silence
in regard to his position, but some information
is promised by HIM soon. The ofiice-holders are
dying to hear from him and ii Is cruel in him TO
keep them waiting No one else takes much in
terest in the thing.
Year: 1877

A NAvN. BATTLE may possibly take place in
the harbor some time to-day between large
force Of deputy sheriffs, under Shore Inspector
Ferguson. and the garbage feet. The former
have chartered a steamboat and fast yacht.
What preparations the garbage squadron have
made not known. They may dump their
cargoes on the yacht and the steamboat for a
change.
Year: 1877

The MASSACHUSETTS RAILROAD conductor
who ran train into crowd Of people, killing
four persons, was probably jealous of the other
sections and ambitious to show what the Bay
State could do in the disaster line.
Year: 1877

GENERAL HOWARD will thank the War De-
partment for ts determination to keep Sitting
Bull away from Joseph. If they ever get to-
gether ne will have to make quicker time than
he has vet made
Year: 1877

When the head Of u Bulgarian
family perceivcs that he is about to
die, be sends for the priest and be-
gins to bargain with him about the
cost OF his funeral. The moment
he dies all the pots, pans, aud kct-
ties in The house are turned upside
down to prevent his soul taking
refuge in any ono Of them, and
great care is taken to prevent eth
CT man or nninal-cspesially u cat
or dog-from stepping across his
body, as otherwise, in the opinion
Of his family, he would turn into
II vampire, aud be II continual nui-
sancc to them and to their neigh
bors. Tho body is buried without
any coffin, in a shallow grave, and
left there for three years, during
which time many offerings Of food
and wine are plased upon It. At
the end of The third year the bones
OF the dead man are dug up and
carefully washed, put into linen
bag, laid before the altar in the Vii
lage church, and after receiving
the blessing of the priest, arc fl.
nally buried for good.
Year: 1877

A very tall, thin Highlander said
he had a cold in his head, origina-
ting in wet feet. She looked at
him SLOWLY from head to foot and
back agan, as II measuring the dis
tance the cold had to travel, and
then calculated: Gracious me
you must have got your feet wet
some time last year."
Year: 1877

A medical student who got very
drunk ono evening, told his father
that he was suffering from ceph-
alalgy, induced by the ductility Of
Il glandiferous stopper placed In
the mouth of q Silreous vessel con-
tanning distilled grain" The old
gentleman gave him an order for
o new suit of clothes, in order to
still further encourage him IN his
studies.
Year: 1877

San Francisco, Oct. At is ascer-
tanned that the recent connection made
by the Southern Pacific railroad by a
bridge over the Colorado river was in
direct opposition to the orders from the
U. S. Government. 1t appears that on
August 22d Adjutant General Town
send granted the company permission
to build road across the Government
reservation at Fort Yuma, subject to
the grant by Congress of the right of
way. The company proceeded in the
work of building bridge on this per-
mission, and it was nearly completed
when the Secretary of War, on Sep
tember Sd, countermanded the permis-
sion until both the Southern aud Texas
Pacific companies could be fully heard,
or Congress should determine the con-
troversy. The Southern Pacific author
tiles then asked of the department
commander permission to continue the
work as far as it was necessary to pre-
serve the bridge. This was granted.


Shortly after midnight on the morn-
ing of September 30th, employees of the
company began laying track to make
connection across the bridge. Major
Dunn, commanding at Fort Yuma, on
learning the fact, at once ordered the
work stopped. The whole force under
his command consisted of sergeant
and one enlisted man. The latter was
stationed on the bridge, but in few
moments the railroad men resumed
operations, and track laying continued
until morning, when the connection
with the Arizona side was completed.
Major Dunn then ordered the superin-
tendent of construction, Green, 10
consider himself prisoner, but having
no force to carry out his instructions,
returned to the fort. Soon after the
regular train from San FTaucisco
crossed the bridge.


The railroad people claim that this
action on their part is in conformity
with the permission granted to do such
work as is necessary to preserve their
property, as connection was necessary
to enable them to run trains over the
bridge carrying stones for rip-rapping
the piers, and that in building the road
across the reservation the interests of
the Government and the public have
been consulted at every step. They
oISn claim, that Uioa- praci6apt pro,up
of the Texas Pacific, made an ex parte
statement to the War Department
which caused the withdrawal of its
permission to build. Gen. Mcdowell
says he believes the matter will be
amicably arranged.
Year: 1877

Washington, Oct. A heavy rain
storm to-day did considerable damage
to the Interior Department. The en-
tire north hall, occupied by the Patent
Office, was flooded. The ceiling of the
north ball being expected to fall, guards
were stationed to warn people of the
danger. Business in the Land Office
is generally suspended and the land
records suffered considerably. 1t is
feared that some of them will be
destroyed before they can be placed in
a dry room.


The damage to the Ninth and G
street wings of the patent Office from
the heavy rain of to-day is very great,
many records and public papers being
thoroughly saturated. The water flowed
into the Ninth street room and hall
so fast this afternoon that it was found
necessary to cnt hole through the i'm
mense wall of the building to let it out.
1t is now feared by many that the
damage by the flood may prove nearly
as great as that by the late fire.
Year: 1877

AT the tenth annual session of the
Grand Division of the Conductors
Brotherhood of the United States it was
unanimously resolved that in case any
brother shall engage in a strike of rail-
way employees he shall be expelled.
Year: 1877

The engineer and conductor cannot be
found.


At Waynesburg Junction, on the
Wilmington & Northern road, the en-
gine and baggage car Of the train ran
into culvert. The fireman was
badly scalded; the engineer is missing.
Year: 1877

We do not wish to be considered as finding fault, just for the sake of hay

 ing something to write about. Our at

 iention has been called to the condition of the road at the foot of the mountain. between Berkshire, and Bennett's Bridge It is in terrible condition, and should be attended to- It is at this season of the year the worst road in the town. II Is never at any ime the best, and if we can believe our own eyes, and can tell bad road by riding in wagon over it, we venture to say that this part of the road to which we refer is the worst that we ever saw. In the Spring of the year the water gathers in the road, and it is almost impossible A few dollars, and little work, properly applied, would do much good on this road, and if it is not dUne this Winter, the road will be in bad condition nsxt Spring, for travellers
Year: 1877

ODD FELLOWS UNIFoRM.--At the
recent session Of the Grand Lodge
of the United States I. D. o. f., in
Baltimore, the report of the special
committee on Uniform was adopted.
This report provides for uniform
street dress for subordinate lodges,
which consists of such style of hat or
cap as may be determined by the
several jurisdictions. but in all cases
to be uniform, plain white gloves, q
jewel collar n inches wide, uniting
in the front, made of light blue silk
cloth, or other material excepting
velvet, which shall not be used), Of
the shade known as silver-blue, edged
with silver lace or braid, a quarter
of an inch wide, without embroidery
or other ornaments OF any kind what
ever. A resolution was also passed
for the appointment of u committee
to prepare o system of tactics of drill
for the use OF the order.
Year: 1877

ATTEMPTED TO BURN A SCHOOL,
On Saturday afternoon about 5 o'clock
Mrs. Francis Sharper, janltrix of No. 9
school, discovered that an attempt had
been made to set fire to the building.
During the morning as is usual she had
been TO the school for the purpose of
cleaning it, and when leaving she left the
heater burning for the purpose Of drying
up the floors that had been scrubbed.
When she returned at the time above
stated for the purpose OF fixing the
fire, she discovered all the doors open in
side the school, books and states strewn
over the floor, and in Miss Smiths room
she found two smouldering fires made by
books and paper. The floors were slight
ly burned. An investigation into the
matter will be held to-day.
Year: 1877

FIGHT AT THE OLD CHURCH. Between
one and two OF clock yesterday afternoon,
Frank Becky and VIM. Dugan engaged
in fierce fight at tho corner of Seventh
and Church streets. Admiring specta-
tors formed a ring around the combat
ants, and the fight continued without
interruption until Beekley was declared
the winner. The quarrel originated by
throwing easter eggs at each other.
Year: 1877

THE Sultan is a martyr to toothaeho
and the tooth being decayed dentist was
sent for who recommended that it be
drawn. To see how this was done n slave
was brought in and operated upon. The
sight of the blood cured the toolhache for
a time when tie operation was repeated
and now eight slaves have lost tooth
each while the imperial grinder still aches.
We don't know that we blame-his high
ness for being timid. We know a soldier
who was in seventeen pitched battles dur
ing the rebellion, who says he would rath-
er go into the eighteenth than sit down
to have n tooth drawn.
Year: 1877

THE papers report the death of gen
tleman in the lower country from the
sting Of a scorpion. There are plenty of
scorpions all over this State, but this is
the first ir stance in which we have heard


Of the sting OF one proving fatal. We
have been stung by them ourself several
times, with no worse result than would


follow the sting of a "yelOw jacket" d"
There was doubtless some other reason


why the sting proved fatal. Oscar Wei
lendorff, who clerked in his brothers.
drug store at this place some years ago,
was bitten by one of the " China bugs "
erysipelas supervened and he died. Per
haps there was some reason like this con
nected with the case of which we speak.
Year: 1877

A DEMOCRATIC VIEW. - 1t is very
rarely that Democratic journal is seen


which appreciates the beauty of civil ser


vice reform. The Merced Express has
been sitting in judgment upon the case of
Governor Irwin for removing the fore
man of the State Printing Office because
he was Republican, and after fully de-
liberating arrives at the conclusion that
the only Teprehensibe circumstance
about the matter is that "a Republican was
appointed 10 the position in the first place.
Year: 1877

New VoLUME.-T The Lake County
Bee commenced its sixth volume with the
last number and speaks encouragingly rs
to its prospects. The Bee comes out in
new dress on the occasion and presents a
fine appearance. We are pleased to hear
Of our cotemporary's prosperity.
Year: 1877

A SAN FRANCISCO Court has recently
decided the value Of kiss to be 800,
gold. At that figure it wouldn't take
n fellow over hail an hour or so to run
through with pretty considerable Of for
tune, and he'd have nothing TO show for
it, either. .--Deh'0H Press.
Year: 1877

LITTLE Johnnie Smith, Of Heads burg,
found an empty whiskey barrel on the
sidewalk, and thought it would be fun to
point his toy pistol into the bung hole
and snap percussion cap, Gas had gem
Grated in the barrel, and young earth
quake resulted. Sticking plaster made
little Johnnie all right.
Year: 1877

THERE is an indignant young lady in
Eureka. The other day she sent twenty
five cents and postage stamp in reply to
an advertisement in an Eastean paper of
show to make an impression," and got
for an answer, "sit down in bowl Of
dough.n
Year: 1877

AN Iowa paper tell of a smart wife who
helped her husband to raise seventy acres
of wheat. The way she helped him was
to stand in the door and shake a broom
ut him when he sat down to rest.