smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

The tenor of Washington dispatches is to
the effect that the Democratic Congressional
majority are troubled at the general express
sion of indignation which their threatened
action in regard to the appropriation bills has
provoked, and are now seeking to effect
compromise. The compromise suggested is
such only in name, for it requires that the
power to enforce the laws guarding one ballot
box shall be surrendered. 1t is the genuine
old-fashioned compromise in which the party
gains everything, and the other party gives
everything. The country has been made ac-
quainted with that sort of thing, to its cost
and has no desire for repetition of the per-
formance. 1t has been too often misled that
way by the Democratic party.


That this apparent yielding by the Demo-
Gratis will be responded to by greater conces
sions on the part of the Republican Congress
sional minority is of course out of the oues-
tion. The laws which the Democrats are
now striving to repeal were passed by Repub-
licans for the purpose of securing free elec-
tions, and in order to achieve that object Ger.
tain necessary powers were given to the Fed
eral officers in attendance at the polls. The
Democratic proposition is in effect to let the
Law stand, but to repeal the provisions which
provide for its enforcement. tits the doctrine
OF Ensign Stebbins made national in its scope.
The supervisors are to be ''vsiting statesmen''
sent round to see fair count but with no
authority TO prevent fraud or to punish those
guilty of it. Their presence at the polls will
be farce. They will have no power, no
influence at all, and as they cannot enforce
their authority it will be found easy to
make their supervision entirely imperative.
Thousands Of fraudulent votes NAV be nut
into the ballot.boxes in New York city, and
they cannot prevent the casting of these bal
lots, nor secure the arrest or punishment of
those perpetrating the fiaud. They will be
as useless as the buttons on the back of a
coat and their position about as honorable.
10 agree to an emasculated law of this char
acter would be to give up the case at the
start. The Republicans in Con gress recog-
nize this, and are determined not to yield.


Nor do the Democrats expect the Congress
slonal minority to consent to this surrender.
Their hope is that the President will come
Into the arrangement and suffer the appro-
priation bills with the proposed political
legislation attached to pass without a veto.
That the President will accept their terms we
cannot believe. He has taken his position
and there are no considerations, political or
patriotic, that ought to be of sufficient weight
TO move him from it. He owes it to the
country to stand firm: and there Is no good
reason to suspect that he will betray his
trust.
Year: 1879

The Chicago Tribune thus speaks out:
"Fhe Presidents message is brief, pithy aud
pointed. 1t tells its story and stops. The
sting of it in the last sentence: 'Regretting
the existence of the emergency which re-
quires special session of Congress at time
whenit is the general Judgment ofthe country
that the public aoeyfare OiU be the best pro
NOTED By permanency in oar legislation and
ty peace and rest, I commend these few
necessary measures to your considerate at
tention.' The words in italics ought TO com.
NIT the President in advance to veto of the
political amendments, if they are presented
to him, for it is his sworn duty as an officer
to do what in him lies 'to promote the pub.
lie welfare by the use of the veto power or
otherwise as occasion may arise"
Year: 1879

THE election of Mayor Nash in Augusta
gives great comfort to the Argus, the Bangor
Commercial and the Maine Standard How
is this? They are not wont to rejoice over
Republican tiiumphs. 1t is certain that the
Augusta election if not Democratic victory
is a Republican defeat.
Year: 1879

HE Shoe and Leather Reporter thinks
that one of the most ill-advsed, short-siehted
and fatuous performances of Congress was
the repeal of the bankrupt law, aud it adds:
The member of the next Congress who shall
Introduce at an early period, and urge the
passage. OF uniform law providing for the
just accounting of every man who fails. to
those whom he is indebted 70, and securing
to him release when he has surrendered ali
MS property, without reservation OF conceal
ment--the member, we repeat, who will en-
deavor to accomplish the enactment of such
law as that will deserve the highest need
OF praise. 1t is the one thing needed, above
all Others, to give stability and security TO
the calling of merchant. In fact, until we
have it, we are practically, without any safe
guard whatever against spoliation by dis
honest debtors who are weak enough and
base enough to barter whatever claims they
may have to the respect of their fellow ci,i.
zens for the gain they hope to realize by
deliberate failure and knavish compromise.
The vcissitudes incident to the changes of
markets, to the rise and fall of prices are
OF course, inseparable from the prosecution
OF business. But the reverses that come ot
the betrayas of trust make their approaches
stealthily and without warning. They are
disguised beneath hypocritical pre- etensions
and false statements. They are brought
about by the practice of bald msrepresenta-
tions, which carry with them all the guilt of
perjury without involving its penalties. Law
in its best estate, affords very inadequate re-
dress for human grievances, but ii its func-
tions are to be suspended at the very point
where it may be turned to use in punishins
rascality, the mercantile public will begin to
inquire whether the machinery of govern.
ment is not altogether too costly and cum
brous in comparison with the services the
State renders to the people who maintain it,
Year: 1879

We 90 not read anonymous letters and commuui
cstions 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 coua-
municatiors that are not used.
Year: 1879

A circus has been exhibiting at San Antonio, Texas, and the other day mother who had let all her children go " to see the animals found her two sons, nine and twelve years old, prepar- ing to shoot their three-year-old sister from a cannon improvised from flour barrel. The boys had procured pow der, which they made into cartridge, and the little girl, squatting patiently in the barrel, awaited with solemn forti- tude the return of her brother from the kitchen with coal of fire to touch off tho piece of hooped ordnance. A sheet had been swung from the clothes line and begged to log of wood to shoot the child against, and she was swaddled in damp coffee sack to protect her from the flash of the powder, of which the cartridge contained two ounces, and unless the little innocent hung on nail inside the barrel, many of which stuck in from the hoops, it is probable that hers would have been double act, en- bracing, besides the role of a projectile, the leap through the canvassed hoop. And now we expect some solemn old owl who don't believe ill children having any fun at all, will cite this as a proof that they oughtn't to go to cir cuses. .-B0ston TrGnscript,
Year: 1879

Once upon time an editor dreamed that he was dead and in another world. He approached a city before him and knocked for admittance, but no one answered his summons. The gate re- mained closed against him. Then he cried aloud for an entrance, but the only response was sc ores of heads ap- bearing above the wall on the other side of the gate. At sight of him the owners of the heads set up dismal howl and one of them cried: "Why, didn't you notice that big egg gave you P At this ho-rid and most unexpected in- terrogation, the poor local turned in the direction of the voice to learn it's owner, when another voice shrieked: "Where's that piece you were going to write about my soda fountain ?" and close upon this was the awful demand: "Why did you write a piece about old Tomlinson's hens, and never speak of my new gate ?" Whatever answer he was going to frame to this appeal was cut short by the astonishing query: Why did you spell my name wrong in the programme ?" The miserable man turned to flee, when he was rooted to the ground by these terrible demands: "Why did you put my marriage among the deaths ?" He was on the point of saying the foreman did it, when a shrill voice madly cried: "You spoilt the sale of my horse by publishing that runaway?' and another

 eff I catch you alone I'll lick you for what you said about me when I was before the police court" Another ?' "Why didn't you show up the school question when I told you to ?' And this was followed by the voice of g female hysterically exclalming: "This is the brute that botched my poetry and made me ridiculous!" Whereupor hundreds of voices screamed: "Where | is my article? Give me back my article !" And in the midst of the horrid din the poor wretch awoke

 perspiring at every pore and screaming for help.-Staneford Advocate.
Year: 1879

A bad habit is like 8 cat in that 1t has nine lives. And like cat also you must kill it nine times before you can be sure that it is dead.

 A great many story writers who flood the market with their trash could get large sum for their last novel if they would only promise that it should be the last.

 -Patrimony may be defined as some thing which everybody is glad to get. There is only one thing which has great CT charms, and that is matrimony.

 Rich people can better afford to be religious than others-for they can con- pei their servants to keep the lasts of the church, while they themselves keep the feasts.

 Tt is somewhat sad fact that some people have higher polish on their boots than on their manners. If their heads were only where their feet are how they would shine.

 The Parisian papers are giving this bit of good advice to bachelors : "Either marry 8 woman who is beautiful enough to live without a fortune or one who is rich enough to do without beauty"

 If we would have powerful mind s we must think if we wonld have faith full hearts we must love; if we would have strong muscles we must labor, These include nearly all that is valuable in this life.

 The man who professes to believe that evil Is only the under side of good, the dark side of the moon, and properly a component part of human life, will never have the satisfaction of dying from inflammation of the brain.

 All things must change. Friends must be torn asnnder and be swept along in the current of events, to see each oth- CT seldom, and, perchance, no more. Forever and ever in the eddies of time and accident we whirl away.

 We all love pleasure and abhor sor- row. No one will choose cloudy sky and rough path but these evils have their good parts, and those who really long for peace and happiness will try to find out and extract them instead of hur- rying along resentfully or with forced gayety.

 The old theory of getting up early is, at last, happily exploded. One can now go to bed and get up when he pleases without having that fatal prov erb flung in his teeth. The higher phil osophy tells us that even if we do "shorten our days," af the saying is, by getting up late, we at least lengthen our nights by the same process.
Year: 1879

Many years ago we knew man-a good-natured, harum-scarum old sailor who, though an inveterate smoker and even more improvident than the average of his class, was great hand to save in the expenditure of matches. He would fill his pipe and then wait for an hour until he saw some other smoker pre- pairing to light up, when he would stand by to get 8 light himself ; and if the two pipes were successfully kindled with the one match he would exultingly remark, "I say, matey, aint that maxim economy tremble!' Then when Satur- day night came he would go on a spree, and spend as much money in whisky as would have kept him in matches for year.
Year: 1879

A TEST CAsE.-An Iowa landlord bound his tenant with cast-iron leasing contract, which provided that the rents, "whether due or to become due, shall be perpetual lien on any crops and other personal property of the lessee, whether the same be exempt from exe- cution or not" The legal force of this clause was made the chief issue in 8 lawsuit. It was ordered that contract making subject to seizure property which the statute declared to be exempt from execution is contrary to puhlic policy. This is the first case of the kind which has been before the Iowa courts, and the Iowa Supreme Court recently decided to the effect that the contract was valid.
Year: 1879

A STRANGE RELIC has just been pre- sented to the State of Arkansas. It is a white leather belt wi5h the imprint across it Of bloody hand. It was worn by Col. Archibald Yell, who, fighting desperately on the field of Buena Vista, got fatal wound, and in trying to tear away the belt left red finger marks.
Year: 1879

To PEOPLE in the New World 1t is strange to read accounts by cable of wolves ravaging France, causing the peasants to organize midnight hunts, in consequence of an early snow Driving these animals from the forests. Here in America the wolf question was main ly settled so long ago that only in the far West IS it now of consequence.
Year: 1879

THERE is but one way to cure badness, and that is by using CARBo LINE, a deodorized ex- tract of petroleum, the natural hair grower. As recently improved it is the only dressing for the hair that cultur ed people will use.
Year: 1879

A liberal reward is ready for any one who can essentially improve Warmers Safe Bttcrs as pleasant and permanently effec- tive tonic, blood purifier and preventive of disease. It is good for all diseases.
Year: 1879

Paris InteIligencer: We regret very
much to learn of the unfortunate con-
dition of the health of Judge Ayers,
of Dresden. He had been suffering
physically for some time past, and it is
now feared that this suffering will re-
suit very unfavorably upon his mental
condition, at. least temporarily if not
permanently. He is now in Nashville
iu order to seek snch medical attention
as that city affords. and We hope will
receive substantial benefit. He will
not be able to attend the courts in his
disteict for some time to come, and il
may be that bis health will not permit
him again to undertake the arduous
duties OF the bench.
Year: 1879

4 Boston telegraph clerk smiled
when he gave man this message from
his wife: Unto us Il child is borH, nine
feet long by two feet wide;" but the
man understood it meant that be should
buy an Illuminated Easter text.
Year: 1879

THESE GOODS have been carefully selected from the best markets
Continent confidently
goods have been offered such extraordinary low We buy
strictly and sell strictly for cash. We credit and
will themselves from embarrassment a credit for an hour
We the people Milan that under circumstances deliver
goods % being prepaid We keep books account of cash
thus the enggnga This
done with enables sell goods from 10 cent below regular
selling prices.
Year: 1879

large that will only be able give small list Of the goods


that have hand We ask the people of this country look
before buying elsewhere Our goods cheap and good that they
sell themselves Each clerk thus enabled to wait several customers


nCome early morning and avoid the rush. You will be better
waited upon, and can have time to select goods
Year: 1879

A landed proprietor, kind and SYM
pathizing person, but at the same time
curiously absent minded, called on a
tenant to tell him he forgave him 991
per cent or something of that sort, and
was then asked to condole on the death
of valuable cow-a very valuable COW.
The cause of the misfortune had been
enveloped in mystery. The farmer be-
gan long winded history Of the un-
toward event, his landlord soon going off
into the clouds. The last words of the
narrative were, sAnd can you believe it
sir2 When we opened her we found she
had been checked by large turnip that
was sticking in her gulIet." AT that
point the sympathetic but absent minded
landlord woke up and said, in rather a
congratulatory tone of voice too, "Ah,
yes, and so you got your turnip."
Year: 1879

Washington Post.


Intelligence received in this city
within the past two days from several
OF the most active and best informed
Democrats in Maine states that the
Democrats and Greenbackers are a
great deal stronger throughout the
State than last year and that the major
ity against Corporal Davis will exceed
by several thousand that against Gov
ernor Conner at the last election. The
Republican leaders themselves have
given up all hope of carrying the State
as they plainly see, and some of them
freely admit, that the current is strong
ly against them. Numerous desertions
have been announced within the past
week Of prominent and active Repub-
licans. Large numbers of Republicans
in the western counties of the State
have no heart in the campaign, and are
giving Corporal Davis but a merely
nominal support, Sherman's visit
proved complete fzzle, and it is tbc
opinion of the best informed men that
his speeches did not have the effect n
save single vote.
Year: 1879

sioux City Journal.l


A young boy, eighteen years of age,
a member of the Eighteenth infantry
band, and a son Of the leader of the
band, fell in love with young lady
early last winter while the band was
posted at Atlanta, Ga. The young
lady was sixteen, and it was a case OF
love at first sight After brief en-
gagement they were married. Soon
{. :. ..te""ord (! 70 the regiment was ordered to
Fort Assiniboine, Montana. The sol
diers got ready to depart, and the
young wife also prepared TO accompany
them, and not until the last moment
did the young married couple learn
that no provision had been made for
taking her along. She had to remain
behind, in spite of protestations and
tears. II was then arranged that he
should send for her just as soon as he
got fairly settled in his new quarters.


But the little wife didn't propose to
rest on downy couches in Georgia
while her husband was blowing a horn
away out in the wilds Of Montana. So
as soon as the regiu ent departed she
procured a pass to Cincinnati. There
she succeeded in getting one to Chi
cage, AT Chicago she stated her case
to the quartermaster general. He
gave her a letter to railroad officials,
by the use of which she got a pass to
st. Paul. There the officials of the
Northern Pacific gave her a pass to


Bismarck. AT Bismarck, thanks to
the managers of the Coulson line, she
secured passage to Coal Banks, and
thence by wagon to Fort Assiniboine,
and without warning or notification,
she dropped down upon her boy hus-
band at the fort. She is described as
very pretty, Of medium size, with dark
hair and eyes, a good alker, but
withal q modest and well behaved
Year: 1879

THE bankers at Saratoga resolved
that congress should be informed that
profits were small and taxes were
large in the banking business, and
that something must be done for its
relief We know great many decent
people whose profits are light and
whose taxes are heavy who cannot
afford to sport around Saratoga and
partake of expensive and luxurious
entertainments. The volume of tears
that will be shed over the tribulations
of banks would not make coalboat
rise, ror is it likely the people will
initiate the clerks in government en-
ploy, and voluntarily rush with their
monthly pay to their relief, as they
are doing for the Republicans of Ohio.
Banks own bonds on which they pay
no taxes, while others pay taxes and
own no bonds.
Year: 1879

Dcs Arc Citizen: Memphis is in a
fearful condition. While the fever
has driven away nearly the whole of
the white population, and the disease
is rapidly devouring the few left,
hordes of shiftless negroes threaten
mutiny and plunder unless the gov
ernment feeds them in the city. Tents
and provisions are provided for them
in camps near the city, but they refuse
to so. What spectacle to behold in
an enlightened country"
Year: 1879

GENERAL ROBERT TooMBs left his
comfortable quarters at White Sui
phur Springs the other day that he
might travel fifteen hundred miles to
attend a meeting Of the board of trus-
tees of the Athens (Ga.) University,
from which institution he was ez-
PEELED when boy for indulging in a
fist fight with his room mate.
Year: 1879

suffering from the effects of the shock
brought about by the tragic death of
his wife. When he went to the bal
cOny, attracted by the screams of Mrs.
O'Brien, something bounded past him
striking him in the face. This he sub
sequeutly ascertained was the cat,
which was also frightened by the unto
ward commotion in the darkened
apartment.
Year: 1879

SUBSCEIBERS who wish TO re-
new will do uS a favor by SEND
ING MONEY before their time
expires, as our mail list is very
large, and our force 10 do the
work small. NO USE TO SEND
ORDERS WITHOUT the MONEY.
Year: 1879

The subscription price Of the DAILY
PUBLIC LEDGER is $5 per annum and
SOC per month fOrless than one year. The
WEEKLY LEDGER is 81 per annum-
postage free,


Persons leaving the city for the summer
can order the DAILY LEDGER at soc per
month in advance, with the privilege Of
changing postofice.
Year: 1879

Galveston News.l


Yesterday morning there was land
ed on the wharf by Pericles Sagados
and his associate, who are engaged in
supplying the demands of this market
with fish, a splendid specimen of the
Pristis Cirratus, or saw-fsh. 1t
measured from the tip of the saw to
its caudal extremity little more than
fourteen feet, The saw, which is
thickly armed with hard, white teeth,
is little over four feet in length, and
across the head, from which there are
two fabby fnlike attachments pro-
jected, the width is exactly four feet.
This fish is said by those who are
thoroughly acquainted with its char
acter, growth and development to be
the most formidable enemy of the
whale, notwithstanding that it rarely
ever attains a greater length than ff-
teen feet. 1t is closely allied to the
shark in many of its characteristics,
but, withal, its flesh is said to be of a
very fine quality, and in many parts of
the world it is esteemed as a luxury.
The fishermen report that they fire.
Quently capture this fish during the
present season of the year, as we'll as
the sword fish, some Of which are of
huge dimensions. The specimen ex-
hibited at the wharf this morning was
taken in a seine near San Luis Pass,
while sporting about in water less
than four feet in depth. The propri-
etors of the monster obtained the use
of a room on Central wharf, and
placed him on exhibition. They were
not required by the city authorities to
take out a license, the fish being re-
garded by the latter as one of those
natural cgriosities excepted by law
from such taxation.
Year: 1879

CHAMPAGNE.-Tha red wine Of the
Champagne sparkled on the boards OF
mouarchs in the middle ages. Tits re-
lated that King Wenceslaus Of Behemi ia ,
a mighty topper. got so royalty drunk day
alter day upon the vintages of the cham>
pagne that he forgot all about the treaty
with Charles VI that had formed the
pretext Of his visit to France, and wou Id
probable have fingered, goblet in hand,
the old cathedral city till the day OF his
death, but for the presentation of n bill
for wine consumed which sebered HIM
and led to this abrupt departure.


This was for red wine, whereas the
champagne of to>day is white as il ha,
been since the close OF the seventeenth
century. The change WAS brought by q
monk named Perigon, one of the breth.
rem of the Benedictines, who lived on the
slopes of the NJ ernc, near Epernay. This
monk was a heaven born csliarman, with
a strong head and q discriminating pa
late, and be it was who luckily discover,
ed the way Of making an offervescent
wine. 1t was at one of the famous sup
pers at the Palais Royal that the Marquis
de Silery first introduced the sparkling
wine bearing his name, and why it
sparkled so was mystery even to the
very makers themselves.