smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

For some time q band of loud-mouthed
demagogues have been attempting to intro
duce among the workingmen of America the
favorite tactics of the worst class of European
socialists. These men have abused the
liberty of speech and discussion wisely al
lowed by the laws of their country,
and have persistently directed their efforts
towards creating disorder. If they have been
so far unsuccessful we are indebted to the
strong common sense of our workingmen and
their respect for the rights of their fellow citi-
zens. Only the silliest or most depraved of the
workingmen can hope for advantage from the
agitation which a few designing men are trying
to excite for their own profit under the pre-
tence of benefting the working classes. The
misery which exists among the poor in a
crowded city like New York is we'll nigh un-
avoidablc and is due to some extent as much
to the want of foresight and unthrift of the
poorer classes as to any unfair action of capi-
tai. The inequalities of condition cannot
be removed by declamations against the
wealthy; but the empty words of dema-
gogues may arouse feeling Of antagonsm
between mutually dependent classes of the
community which might lead to conse-
quences from which the workingman
would be the first to suffer. So long
as the emulators of European socialism
confine themselves to airing unwholesome
opinions we would not have them interfered
with, much as we regret their want of common
sense; but when the admirers of the extreme
red republic undertake to threaten the civil
representatives Of the people and i'm
pose by violence their will as law in
the councils of the city, we at once
pronounce for their speedy and condign
punishment Such conduct may have some
excuse in countries where the working classes
are ground down by unjust governments and
privileged classes; but here no such justifca-
ton can be set up. The workingman
in New York enjoys his full share
Of the government Of his country; he
shares in its prosperity, and when season of
difficulty arrives he must be prepared to bear
patiently the suferings incidental to hard
times. The use of threatening language
is certainly not calculated to serve
the cause of the unemployed No
honest workingman would associate
himself in riotous effort to coerce the
city authorities into yielding to demands
which are sustained neither by law nor by
justice. If any foolish men should allow
|. themselves to be ureed to the COM
Year: 1874

In another portion of the HERALD we give
some interesting extracts from the Virginiw
correspondence, which place the peculiar
backsiding of the State Department clearly be-
fore the world. Whoever reads the strong and
strenuous despatch of Secretary Fish, under
date of November IL, will have ample reason
to wonder how such stentorian tones could
possibly dwindle down to the cooing
of dove in the protocol. Can
it indeed be the framer of the latter instru-
ment with its meagre paltering proviso for
proceeding against" the murderers who
wrote to Minister Sickles 1.-The execution,
as it is called, of those persons was forced on
with indecent and barbarous haste, and in
defiance of all humanity and regard to the
usages of the civilized world?" Can
it be the same who says the slaughter at
Santiago ''adds another page to the dark his
tory of bloody vengeance and cruel disregard
of the rules of civilized war and of common
humanity which the military and other Off
GERS in Cuba have but too frequently made
part of the history of Spain's government
and of its colony?" 1t seems impossible,
indeed, that the man who agreed to
the barren protocol on the 29th of November
should but seventeen days previous instruct
our Minister at Madrid that condemnation,
disavowal and depreciation of the act will not
be accepted by the world as sufficient to re-
ieve the government of Spain from participa-
ton in the just responsibility of the outrage
There must be signal mark of displeasure
and punishment to which the civilized world
can point, and which other subordinates or
local officials will have cause to look at as a
beacon on dangerous rock, to be forever
after avoided" Whenever the administration
claims having upheld in the virginius case the
sacredness of the flag or of life under its pro-
lection, the protocol on one side and Mr.
Fish s letter on the other will settle the ques-
ton. While Mr.. Fish was influenced by q
healthy Americanism he spoke worthy of his
Office. When he allowed himself to be led
away by Spanish influence he gave the world
disgraceful protocol.


The tilt between Secretary Carvajal on one
side and Minister Sickles on the other is very
interesting matter. The icebergs of Iberian
insolence which the Spaniard moved down
upon our Minister seem oddly enough to have
heated the latter who, instead of treating the
insolence with freezing politeness, proceeded
to warm the Secretary. This was hardly sue
cessful, although the Minister tried to demol-
ish the icebergs with red hot irony.
Year: 1874

mission of breach Of the peace
they will find the public opinion
of the country armyed against them, and
whatever sympathy may now be felt for their
sufferings would soon give place to feelings Of
Indignation and resentment In view of the
menacing tone adopted by some of the mis-
chievous men who aim at achieving
cheap notoriety as leaders of the
workingmen extraordinary precautions have
been adopted by the police for the preserva-
ton of order. Should any ill-advised people
pass from idle words to illegal acts they will
find the law ready to punish them in prompt
and signal manner
Year: 1874

Committed to Prison.


It is somewhat curious that one of the first
acts of the new Sheriff should be to conduct
his predecessor to Ludlow Street Jail Most
people will rejoice at the lesson which is con-
veyed to the agents of the law by the mis-
fortune of Mr.. Brennan, who may congratulate
himself that the extreme penalty Of the law
for the neglect of duty which sent him to
prison is so light. The attempt of the ex-
Sheriff to prove that the prisoner Genet was
not in his custody at the time of his escape
was Intellectual, and Judge Daniels relying on
the custom Of the Court, decided that the
order Of the Court had been disobeyed by
Deputy Shields and that Mr.. Brennan was
responsible. The point that told decisively
against the ex-Sheriff was the warning that q
rescue or evasion would be attempted, and his
failure to take precautions for the secure
holding of his prisoner. There was no
attempt made to show that either the
Sheriff or his Deputy had assisted in the
escape of Genet. Each was condemned
on the charge of contempt of court in failing
to deliver the prisoner into the hands of the
Warden of the City Prison. Neither of the
accused men had much to say for himself,
but rested his defence on the legal quibble
that Genet had not been committed to the
custody of the Sheriff, and, therefore, was not
legally in that officers hands when he
escaped. This plea was overruled, and
fine of two hundred and fifty dol
lars and thirty days imprisonment was
the punishment awarded by the Court.
During the trial some queer statements
were made as to a conflict of authority
between the City Warden and the Sheriff,
from which it would appear that prisoners at
their conviction are sometimes in the hands of
parties who have no legal right to hold them.
1t is evident from what has happened that the
whole system needs reforming, and the new
Sheriff will do well to profit by the expe-
rience Of his predecessor in Office and adopt
such measures as will remedy existing evils.
Year: 1874

ANOTHER POWDER MAGAZINE EXPLOSION AT
CARrAcENA. .-Cartagena still holds out against
the new government So far Serrano has not
been successful in putting down the in
gurgents. 1t would seem, however, that Car
fagena must soon be compelled to surrender,
If not for the want of food, at least for the
want of gunpowder Another powder maga-
zine explosion is announced this morning.
Cartagena promises to be as memorable in the
history of Spain as is Saragossa The pre-
sumption, however, is that the rebellious city
win not be able much longer to maintain itself
IN opposition to a government which COM
mands the confidence Of both the army and
nau Of the country.
Year: 1874

REPORT OF THE HEALTH OFT1cER-It is
gratifying to read report like that of Dr.
vanderpoel, Health Officer of the Port of New
York. 1t is full of interesting statistics, prac-
teal suggestions and comforting assurances,
and will be found of interest by all those who
wish for sound sanitary administration.
Year: 1874

A famous Western trotting horse,
Ripon Boy, lately died from hydro
phobia. The first suspicion that any
thing was the matter with the horse was
when the groom took him to water.
He drank sparingly, and at each attempt
to drink thereafter would tremble in
every limb. The horse allowed his
keeper to approach, but exhibited great
vice when he attempted to touch him.
He supposed that the horse might have
been poisoned by eating sumac with
the hay. After watching the symptoms
of the animal for few moments, his
owner pronounced them those OF hy-
drophobia. Water was several times
offered the horse, but when he under
took to drink he was seized with spasms,
followed by extreme viciousness. The
doctor says the actions of the horse
we're terrible to behold. He would rub
his head against the stall so forcibly as
to knock out his upper teeth, and finally
fracture his jaw. Finding that the life
of the horse could not be saved, Mr..
Van Brunt ordered the stall to be
boarded up SO as TO prevent him from
doing any mischief, when death ended
his misery.
Year: 1874

"God bless you" Then he had lain
quietly back, with his fading eyes upon
that glimpse Of heaven beyond the lat
tice window, and had died quietly at
midnight.


Whatp The money? Don't ask me
what became of the money. Over those
five notes worried myself at last into
the most serious brain fever that ever
man came back from into life again.
They we're gone. No trace could I ever
find of my old pocket-book, though 1
made it we'll known that the numbers
of the notes had been taken. When l
had offered ESQ reward, and that did
not bring them, I doubled it and offer
ed s100. Who would care to keep them
then Who would keep five notes which
were stopped, when they could receive
FIVE available ones of equal value by
only bringing the worthless old pocket
book to nae? But no one brought it,
and then I advertised anew, offering
G15O reward for those five EGO notes.
OF course, I tried to make out that it
was the old pocket-book I set the value
on, but, after al, L didn't much care
who had the laugh against me if I could
only set this matter straight, and give
it an air of daylight reality. But no
that never brought them.


Another cock-fghtp ? No, I never saw
another cock-fght. Don't ask me any
more. It's fve-and-thirty years ago
Lot II rest
Year: 1874

Many of cur readers, says the New
York Evening Post, may remember the
little piece of verse in which company
of British officers in the Indian service
are represented as getting together, du-
ring an unusually violent epidemic of
cholera, and singing song, the chorus
of which, as we remember it, ran thus;


"Here's health to the dead already,


And health to the next to die"


An incident is reported to have oc-
Cured in Memphis, which indicates the
existence in that city of similar dis
position to make jest Of death. A
man, some days i'll with the yellow
fever, perceived one day that the disease
had taken fatal turn. Remarking that
he was going to die, and that he was
determined to die happy, he thereupon
drank large quantity Of brandy, and
died in the middle of the fit of drunk
enness which was thus produced.


However horrible such a scene may
be, it must be confessed that it is not
unnatural. Few men are able to main
tain an Indifferent bearing when they
are forced to keep still and watch the
constant and irresistible approach OF
death. One may face the danger OF a
desperate charge on battlefield with
comparative calmness, because there is
something to do. But to lie still and
wait for death to make an end OF one
requires q philosophical courage such
as few men possess. The poor man who
got drunk in order 'to die happy" was
probably too frightened to be fully re-
sponsible for what he did; but his con-
duct shows under what q tremendous
strain human life is maintained in those
districts of country where the yellow
fever has been raging for the last few
weeks.
Year: 1874

An Indian bear-boy has been on ex-
hibition in San Francisco, and the


papers have discovered that the mon
strosity is q case Of cruelty. The bear
boy is a born idiot, and that is about
all there is unnatural about him. His
points of resemblance to bear have
been stimulated by barbarous cruelty.
His keepers story is that his mother
was frightened by bear before his
birth. This could scarcely have broken
his ankles and cut the tendons behind,
so that the feet bend beneath the legs,
their upper portion touching the shins
and rendering it impossible for their
owner to stand upright. The inference
is that the Indian boy has been cut and
slashed and hswed into q rude imitation
of an animal going on all-fours. His
idiocy aided the transformation, and


renders him valuable as show. The
matter was brought before the courts
through the efforts of humanitarian,
and the boy was sent to the alms-house.
Year: 1874

The propensity to make the best OF
things is generally found in combina-
ton with those smaller virtues which
are more annoying to ones neighbors
than most vices. The man who rises at
five every morning, who always ties up
his letters with red tape, and who is
convinced of the great truth that it is
better to be half an hour too early than
half a minute too late, is frequently
given to making the best OF things.
The duty OF doing so is a moral maxim
Just big enough for him to understand.
he probably reflects upon it in the early
morning at the time when the cold bath
is bringing out that glow, physical and
moral, which makes him an offence to
all weaker vessels during the rest OF
the day.


The ruddy, iovial person who gets
himself up after the country-gentleman
type, or the more unctious variety OF
popular preacher, is apt to be perspiring
this doctrine at every pore. 1t is q
pleasure to him to meet somebody in
distress. upon whom he may discharge
boisterous comIort through his favorite
aphorism, as a fre-engine sends cold
water through a hose. If he acquires
some dim consciousness OF the fact that
his kind exhortations sound like bitter
mockery to his victims, it only increases
his sense of virtue. They cannot COM
fort themselves under the loss of wife
by the reflection that they still have
several first cousins and money enough
to pay for handsome monument. That
only proves that they have not studied
so we'll as he the great art OF properly
directing their sentiments. For OF
course he will deny in the most pathetic
manner that he would ever advise any
thing like self-deceit. He does not
avowedly ask sufferer to profess that q
toothache is rather pleasant distrac-
tion than otherwise he only recon-
mends him to fix his attention upon his
great toe or some other remote part of
his body which may appear to be enjoy
ing good health.


And, in fact, there are some people
so enviably constituted that small
pleasant object elevates them more than
great unpleasant object depresses
them. They are people, so to speak, OF
small specific gravity, who cannot be
submerged without heavy burden OF
melancholy. The person who makes
the best of things processes to be OF
this temperament. It is not, he would
have you believe, that he does not sym.
pathize with grief, but that his consti-
tutional buoyancy makes sympathy
with him compatible with exhilaration
he does not deny the existence of evils,
but the smallest grain Of good makes
him happy, just as half glass of vino
makes some men drunk. There are, we
say, such people as these-men, if we
may coin q word, easily intoxicable.
But we are inclined, as q rule, to ve-
hement suspicion in both cases. The
man who is upset by the first glass has
generally had number of glasses be-
fore, and the man who makes the best
of things is generally helped to be Sc
rene either by the absence of strong
feeling or by the want of courage to
look at the worst.
Year: 1874

At this season of the year every horse
should be shod. A great many horses
are ruined every winter by the careless. @
ness of owners. Slipping around on
the ice will soon render horse totally
worthless. It is the meanest kind OF
cruelty as well as q criminal extraya-
oance to work smooth horse in win
ter. There is no excuse for this neglect,
and q man who win not see that his
horse is properly shod ought to be
compelled to 60 with bare feet In mid
winter. The horse, OF all animals, de-
serves the kindest treatment at the
hands of man, and there is something
radically wrong about the head orheart
of O man who neglects or abuses his
horse. The practice Of letting . horse
stand in snow-storm, without o
blanket, is cruel in the extreme.
Year: 1874

As the food season is approaching and
all the signs and prophets proclaim high
water this year, we give our readers an in
dex by which each may judge Of the time
and height of the river at each point within
the borders of our State.


The signal service bureau of the United
States army publishes each day the height
of the rivers above low water mark at all
of the important points in the valley of the
Mississippi Except at New Orleans. which
is published as below high water mark)
Now, to make this ineligible to the mass
of the people, it is necessary that it should
be known what is the difference betw cen
high and low water at the point named,
else the information published will produce
erroneous impressions. To make this plain
we will give list of these differences be-
tween high and low water, and then draw
inferences and show conclusions:
Year: 1874

The St. Louis Globe of the fifth says that
the balance of tho fund contribu ted in that
city for the relief of the widow Of Captain
Joseph Fry is still In that office, ready for
transmission. 1t would have been sent
when the contribution ceased-more than .
month sgo-says the Globe, but for the fact
that information was had that Mrs. Fry
was temporarily absent from New Orleans


The first installment of $500 was sent
through Governor Kellogg, and the remain
der will be sen. through the came channel.
Year: 1874

Already are heard notes of preparation


for the spring meeting OF the Louisiana


Jockey Club. The programme OF the meet


Ing is ALREADY published. There will be six


days racing. For the first day, IN the race


for the Pickwick stake. there are thirty two


nominations, and for the Fortuna stake, on


the last day, there are also thirty-two noml-


nations. This is the largest number of horses


ever named to start in one race on any track


South. Of course, it Is not expected that


they will all come to the post, but the indi-
cations are that from twelve to fifteen OF
the flyers at least will show up for drum
tap. There are now wintering here some
thirty horses. Edwin Adams and Nellie


r. arrived to-day. These, together with
the Mobile, Natchez, Memphis aud Charles


ton stables. will give us plenty OF sport.
So much by way of reference to preparation
in the line of horse flesh.


Now for few words concerning the great
Improvement that has been made IN the con-


dition of the track itself. Every one who
has ever visited the Fair Grounds knows


how sodden the track was, how clayey, and
| how severe it was on the racers In weather
the slightest wet. Now all this is changed.
The track is springy and elastic. 1t is firm
and strong. but is jast sufficiently light to


afford play and ease to the horse. This
great change is entirely due to the energy


and sagacity of Captain William NJ. Con-


ner, the popular clerk of the course Few
men know the requisites Of race track;
| they are apt to mako track too solid, and


where they gain in smoothness and firm


ness, they lose in buoyancy. Captain Con-


ner has hit the happy mean, and now pre-
| sents to the racing world q track equal to
any on the continent. We do not speak
now of the buildings or the stands, or the


general appearance of the grounds-we al
lude to the track as q race course. We
speak OF, it for its adaptability for displaying


the greatest speed of which the thorough
bred courser is capable.


The track bed has been raised throughout
| its entire extent from six inches to two feet.
Captain Conner having had experience in
! the matter, observed that the material on
| the old Metairie was what made that track
so service able, and has succeeded in obtain
| ing the same kind Of filling for the Louisiana


course. Some thirty carts and upwards of
| 100 men have been employed for q month
| past in perfecting improvements. The
severe rain of night before last afforded a
fair test of the drainage system now in
operation. Eight hours after the rain the
track was dry and the harrows at work.
Racing men, turtles, all who have visited
| the track, are enthusiastic in their praise OF
| its present condition. The grading and
shaping OF the course has also been much


improved, particularly that por ton leading
down the back stretch. Now that spring
in her "etherial mildness" has come a visit


TO the Fair Grounds and an inspection Of
the Louisiana race course will repay apy
one time and trouble.
Year: 1874

America is candid country, the more so,
perhaps, because it finds concealment impos-
sible. We cannot hide our faults as nation,
nor the imperfections of our government
Credit Mobilier frauds, back-pay grabs, rail-
road swindles, misrule at the capital and
usurpation and chaos at the South, are things
which cannot be put away from the sight of
other countries. We make virtue of this
necessity and invite the criticism we can
not help. But we are fortunate and glad
when the critic is at once 30 friendly and
so capable as the distinguished Englishman
whom the Union League Club Of this city
entertained last evening. The Hon. w. E.
Forster is one of the few public men in
England who during the late war, professed
faith in the stability Of the Union and
defended the policy Of our government
While he no doubt perceives many things in
our institutions which are TO be regretted, he
certainly has always sympathized with
their spirit and recognized their value
The welcome Of this true friend Of
the United States has, therefore, been every
where enthusiastic, and that his prolonged
tour through the country has been a
pleasant one we have his own assur-
ance. In his speech at the Union
League Club last night he said that
he had not heard one mention Of his native
country that an Englishman would not like to
hear, and as we are candid people he may
take this o. o strong proof of good will. His
speech is manly and thoughtful, and its con-
cluding words respecting the duty of English
speaking nations to protect their liberties by
each preserving Its own are those Of true
statasmauship and wisdom,
Year: 1874




The LOUISIANA TROUBLES. The situation
in New Orleans has not been materially
changed by the events of yesterday. The Re-
turning Board met and proceeded to transact
business by investigating certain charges of
fraud; but before any progress had been made
the presiding officer, Governor Wells, re-
ceived information that the White Leaguers
were in the vicinity and contemplated an at
tack. Upon the ground that he could not
proceed with the canvass under the threat Of
violence, and that he did not wish to appeal
to the United States troops for protection,
Governor Wells compelled the Board to adj
journ till eleven o'clock to-day. Nothing
has therefore been done by either party, but
the excitement is undiminished, and the dam
ger of trouble is not removed. The Board
of Returns is evidently afraid to act, and the
White Leaguers watch it closely. If any
overt act of violence is committed the United
States military force is sure to interfere, and
such necessity will be universally deprecated.
Louisiana can win no good by revolution, and
one blow may make her condition more des-
perate.