smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

| In O recent issue Of TIE TRIBUNE Young
| lad set forth q grievance. It may not have
| been generally read, especially by those who
! ought to have read it, just because it was a
boys grievance, aud as such was not deemed
Of any pressing consequence or worthy of


more attention than boys grievances usually


are. But this boy in his brief statement set


forth a grievance Of which he had right to


complain, though it may seem at first sight


very simple matter. He is one Of many


who have been fairly educated. He has gone


through the 1owersohools, and graduated with


credit from the High School. Presumably


his parents are too poor to give him a uni


yersity education or he has manifested 70


desire to follow professional career, for he


is seeking position in mercantile life. At


best, such position is difficult TO find, for


all the places are filed, and when there is


vacancy he must take his chances with many


others; but there is still greater obstacle


standing in his way, aud he states it very


concisely. Parties wishing the services Of
young lads almost invariably advertise for


them as follows: Wanted-A good boy;


must write good hand. Reply in hand


writing of the applicant" Now, what is tho


boys experience? Let him tell his own


story: "Any one Of US [there are four in the


family in the same pred1cament as hinnse1f]


can give tho very highest testimonials for


character, discipline, etc., yet can't even get


an interview with an advertiser. Because We


emit write fancy hand, we never get re-
ply to our answers. We see some of the


most worthless boys got good situations, and
hold them for time, solely on account of
their good writing in answering ADVERTISE
ments, when we, who may perhaps be
great deal smarter, more energetic and wor-
thy, are left out in the cold, and can't even
manage to get the opportunity to show any
Of the talents We may possess.
Now, there must be some good reason for |
the deficiency Of these lads in this respect.
Why is it that SO many Of our girls write a
small, cramped, minclng hand, and 50 many
of our boys q sprawling, crooked hand? |
Simply from the fact that penmanship, as a |
study, is almost entirely ignored in our
schools, or is taught in hasty and super !
fetal manner. Our school authorities give |
plenty Of attention to music, drawing, and |
many other fancy specialties Of educa- |
tion which are Of no practical use and can
not even do service as m accomplishment
with the small smattering obtained in the cur /
ricuIunn Of the schools. To succeed in them,
they must Of necessity bo' made special
branches Of education, to be pursued for
Year: 1879




| CONSOLIDATION OF TOWNS IN CHICAGO.


That portion Of Cook County lying within
the limits Of the City Of Chicago is known
to the law as composing thrae "towns"
North, South, anu West Chicago. IN
der the Township law, each of these
towns has local government, consisting Of
Assessor, Collector, Clerk, Supervisor, and
Town Board. These governments have the
power to levy taxes and to expend the
money, aud have at times been guilty Of the
greatest abuses. There is an annual election
in each town for these officers The absurdity
as we'll as the uselessness of these local gov
ernments has long been apparent; but un-
der the general Inv they are part and parcel
of the township organization. Two years
ago the Legislature was induced to pro-
vide that, where several towns were
situatod within ths territory embraced
within an incorporated city, the
sane might be consolidated into one town.
No action was taken under this law because
Of the complications resulting from tho Park
Commissions, SO the business remained un-
acted on until the last Legislature, by addi-





avoiding these park complications. This
law provides that when the County Board
desires to consolidate town with some other
town or towns it shall first submit to the
people Of those towns the question whether
they. will create the town town for park
purposes, by making the Park Commission
ers the corporate authorities thereof. If by
a majority the people SO elect, then the
County Board may proceed to consolidate
that town with another town Or towns for
general purposes. It further provides that
all the powers of the Park Boards shall con-
tinue, y and the validity Of taxes and ASSESS
ments remain as now uuimpaired.


Under the law as it now stands the County
Board has full authority to adopt the pro-
ceedings leading up to the consolidation of
all these towns into one township with one
township government. The first step to be
taken is for the County Board to submit the
question to the people of North Chicago
and West Chicago whether they will crsnte
the Park Commissioners board for park
the Park Board is already distinct corpora
ton tor PARK purposes. This question will
bo submitted at the November election, and,
il decided in the affirmative, there |
will, after April next, be but one
town and one local government. The saw
ing in expense will be considerable, !
and the machinery will be united and har-
monioua. The theory that this city has
three conflicting and opposing interests will
be largely destroyed; the sectional feeling
''divisions" will be removed by ths
ob1iteration of the senseless lines by which
the divisions have been marked properly
will be assessed as the property of the whole
city and Chicago will be consolidated legally
into one undivided city. OF course, the
County Board will in dus time take the
necessary action in this matter lending to
Ibis economical and otherwise desirable
reform.
Year: 1879

years. Of course, it is al well enough to


know something about them, as adding to


the general stock Of ones knowledge, but,


SO far as any practical use is concerned, it is


time wasted, and, SO far as any accomplish


ment is concerned, nine out Of ten know


just enough about them to know nothing at


all But here is a branch of education which


is essential TO success in business life aud


is one Of the prime conditions OF obtaining
advantageous positions. A boy who can


write plain, clean, handsome hand
with rapidity, and is correct in his
grammar and punctuation, has the
"Open Sesame" to almost any branch
Of business he may wish to enter, while
poor writer, with twice his ability and pos
sessed of every other quality necessary to
success, has to wait until accident secures
him position, and then forever to regret
bis bad chirography; for habit Of writing
once formed cannot be changed. Our boys
grievance is serious and common one. It
should appeal to the Board Of Education and
to teachers to give more time and attention
to this all-important branch Of education. If
more time cannot be had, then some other


less important studies should be dropped.
fhe majority Of our boys now studying in
he public schools are destined to go into our
stores, banks, and warehouses, and the first
3emand that will be made of them will be to
'how their penmanship. Is it right or fair


o send them out into the world 80 wofully de-
icient in the very first requisite for business
and success7
Year: 1879

The continued dust throwing and cry OF
"Stop thief will prompt the people Of the
West to demand Of the officer in charge Of
the Insurance Bureaus in the several Western
States searching examination of the New
York and New Jersey companies made by
Departments which arc Independent Of the
Legislatures aad insurance companies of
those States. In no other way will our peo-
pie learn why it is that the companies Of
those States are so anxious to direct attention
from home matters,
Year: 1879

We have received a cow of Sono,or
Clapp's able speech before the State
Senate on the State debt question II
shows a spirit of patriotic indepen1.
ence, which, if there were more of in
the two houses of the Legislature
would be we'll for the State. He ia a
Democrat of the strictest sort, but that
does not prevent him from being a
good State credit man.
Year: 1879

Governor Hall, the new executive OF
Delaware, is said TO be ambitious to
succeed Senator Salisbury and will. it
is alleged, lead in a revolt against the
SauIshury-Bayard influence which
has so long been predominant Ia the
politics of that State.
Year: 1879

OPENING OF THE NEW SECTION TO ONE HUN


DRIED AND TwENTY-FIFrH sTREET-THE CITY


SOON TO ABSORB THE COUNTRY THROUGH


THE MEDIUM OF RAPID TRANSIT.


new section Of the metropolitan "L" Railroad,
extending from 1O4th street aud Ninth avenue to
125th street and Eighth avenue. for the first
time opened for passenger traffic yesterday morn
ing. and trains continued running all day. HERALD
reporter who was instructed to go over the new
stretch of road took the train at the Rector street
station. A few moments of easy travel and the
had left behind the downtown warehouses and the
commercial depots and were being whirled along
Sixth and its extensive retail bazaars. The
brown stone or district of private residences was
soon passed and the train sped up Ninth avenue
Here it is difficult to tell where the city ends and
the country begins. The active goat abounds and
hourishes in this semi-civzed tel rtory aud plays
his bucking antics in and out OF the squatters'
shanties all undisturbed But an evidence OF the
encroachments of the city on the green fields
it a noticeable fact that many persons who but


few years ago thought 1t hardship to ride as far
Fourteenth or Twenty-third street in the horse
perfectly serone while passing the ninetes
their way homeward bound. As the train rolled
by the Park delicious breeze from the North River
swept through the cars. and the former aspect of
red brick walls and brown stone fronts was broken
in upon here aud there by patches OF green sward
and clumps of leafy trees. But where does the
city end and the country begin? On one side is a
sunken square, filed now with stagnant water. which
In the winter time Is converted into skating pond.
On one of the streets which bound the pond. fully
u
houses is in of erection. and this the line
OF the old aqueduct, which is rapidly being demo-
ished. To the left. in the vicinity OF Eighty
street. the natural scenery has been defaced by the
painting OF advertisements in huge letters the
rocks and grand old trees. while to the right small
army of workmen busily employed in build ny
u city palace for some commercial king Tho
kitchen gardens of the thrifty German farmers
to be gradually giving way to loads OF cement. tim
Der and hewsd stone and the long, regular trenches
of hothouse vegetables look pale aud sickly when
viewed by the light OF street gas lamp. From tho
MauhattAnyillo
just the left the west side oouevards stretch out
all alive with the vehicles of people who drive for
pleasure and the question again arises. Where does
the city end and the country begin?


The stations along the stretch OF road just opened
not yet completed, and will not be time
1t Is expected however that the oad will bo opened
for passenger traffic to-day far l35th street.
Year: 1879

Tho owner of Lady Middleton denies the correct
ness of the report of the race at Brighton Beach
Fair Grounds on Tuesday in which his jockey.
Feakes. was accused of pulling the Lady Mid
dleton in the handicap sweepstakes. Fcakes rode
waiting race according to instructions, to make
his run from the threc-quarter pole home. and win
Mt the finish IL he could. The pace, however had
been fast to the hree- pole that she could
not make up the gap, and failed to win
Year: 1879

the New York side superb. They contributed
the largest share toward the victory won by the
Manhattans yesterday. Their batting was admira-
bie and brought forth rounds OF applause from


time to time.
Year: 1879

If THE LEGISLATURE determines io
tax the people to raise six thousand dol
lars year for educational purposes let il
be bestowed upon the public schools in
the districts of the three counties just as
the School Fund is now distributed. We
certainly ought to be just before we are
generous, and we do not think it fair to
tax the many for the benefit of the few
as our friends who desire to patroniz,
Delaware College propose. But W,
doubt the proprety OF adding any more
tax upon our people at this time.
Year: 1879

THE BILL making the Coroner's Office
a salaried one passed the House yester.
day. The salary is fixed at $500, but the
bill does not take effect during the tern
of the present incumbent.
Year: 1879

cire the services Of one so well tried,
and who has shown such remarkable
care for the interests of his party and the
country, and yet made himself so Popu-
lar with the members of both parties.


The Herald correspondent says that in
the reorganization of the Senate it is de-
cded that Senator Bayard will succeed
Senator Morrill, as chairman of the FL
nance Committee, Senator Thurman will
be chairman of the Judiciary Commit
tee instead of Senator Edmunds, and
Senator Randolph or Gordon chairman
of the Appropriation Committee instead
of Senator Window. There are thirty
five standing committees in the Senate
Year: 1879

Some gentlemen talk in very poetic strain about the duty of cheerfulness in a wife. They tell, over end over again, like fiddler playing on one string, the old, old story, that mau can be driven away from home by the fretfulness Of his wife sooner than from any other known cause. But how can any woman bear patiently what so many men do as & matter of courseP The husband goes out, for instance, just to make bnsi- ness call in the evening, and comes back at two 8. m., trying to bring all the lampposts iu the block with him, aud in a maudlin stutter asserts that he only drank one glass of milk. O., when 1t has been decided at breakfast to serve yesterdays cold meat for to-day's d:n- ner in the shape of the sucoulent aad nourishing hash, he brings home three friends and tells them that his wife can cook the beef of old D lgiand to turn. Or he has fit of economy and cant take his wife to the concert, but manages to take another lady to the theatre. He finds a thousand reasons why he should be as cross as bear, but not single reason why she shouldn't be as chipper as squirrel who has just laid in his winter store of chestauts. If men would be more manly and not waste all their ill temper on the family circle they would have less to complain of in their wives.-N. y. Herald.
Year: 1879

For centuries Lots wife has been held up as an awful example of the effects of sinful disobediencs, though among mil lions of worse women who have lived since, history does not record that one has ever been visited with her peculiar fate. We are glad at this late day, therefore, to receive some scientific hght upon the remarkable occurrence which has always been accounted miraculous manifestation of Divine wrath much more severe than seemed necessary to be commensurate with the measure of her transgression. All that the luckless wo- man did was to turn back in violation of her husbands command, when she be- came O pillar of Salt. But Rev. Dr. De Haass, formerly Consul at Jerusalem, in lecture delivered at Syracuse last week, says it was probable that Mrs. Lot inhaled the volcanic sulphur that was failing upon Sodom. and instantly perished from it's effects. He adds that it was not wonderful that she was then converted into pillar of salt. as the 1ac- tion of the atmosphere on the exhala- tions in it would cause salt to crystalline on the surface and also upon corpse lying there. That Lot and his daugh- ters did not meet the same fate was probably due to their superior physical strength, which enabled them to dis tauce feeble woman in their flight. Disheartened and deserted, sue turne d back in hope of finding that her home had withstood the flames, and met the fate that history has assigned to mirac- ulous agency. We are glad to be able to say something of a much slandered wonsu, on the authority of an orthodox and intelligent clergyman who has been on the ground. Livingston Freeman.
Year: 1879

An authority in the London Lancet emphatioally, points cut the danger of the morning tub used iu cold weather without discretion. He cautions the old, and weakly of any age, from the danger of too sudden or too prolonged cold bathing; be exposes the absurdity of the blind faith in reac5ion he explains how persons are deluded by producing factitious redness by hard rubbing with coarse towel, for the circulation thus excited is only temporary, and tho effect of cold on the nerve centres is masked, not changed, by the device i; and, finally, he declares that it is better by far to use warm water to wash with, an to sprinkle the cold lightly, in such quantity es may be most agreeable, if cold effusion does not at once cause horid redness and defined and proper glow. As to cleanliness, it must be patent to everybody who observes how dir}y the hands become in cold weather that the cold bath is mistake. The Lancet points out that "a good wash in slightly warm water, with plenty of soap, is fur better, and has the special advantage of being safe"
Year: 1879

The Boston Herald tells this story: A sewing girl in Springfield has had romantic experience which is worth the telling. Several months ago man of Dubuque, Iowa, advertised in an eastern Massachusetts paper for wife. Among a swarm of answers which he received were two from two girls in this city, who replied just for the fun of the thing. One of them represented her. self as young widow, and her lively account of herself and her circumstances was very largely fictitious, especially that which told Every incidentally, as if it were of no consequence) of the snug sum of money left her by her dear de- parted. She never expected to hear of the matter again, but that WAS the one letter out of all the answers received which struck his fancy. He wrote to the supposed "widow" (who, in fact, had never been married, and who WAS th en earning her living with her needle) photographs were exchanged; the let ters grew more and more affeotionate, until the young woman, realizing that the affair was no longer Joke, wrote to her new-found admirer and told him frankly of her humble circumstances.

 Of course he admired her all the more, md as last he came from Dubuque to this city to claim her for his bride. In stead of the sleek and intelligent-l looking and manly individual whom she had expected from his letter and his photo graph, what was her vexation to see a person of decidedly seedy appearance, wearing an old slouch hat, and appear ing altogether unattractive. We'll, she refused hiro, and he, chiding her bit terly for so doing after all the pains he had taken to win her, returned alone to Iowa, I suppose he hadn't left the house before she was sorry-such is the flexible character of female affection and it is certainly true that she was very sorry, indeed, before he had put & thousand miles between them. He wrote no more, but the distressed young woman wrote, or got friends to write, to the pegtor of the church he attended, and to various persons in Dubuque, to find out what sort of a man he was-something she ought to have thought of in the first place. The replies were uniformly complimentary, and every one only increased her regret that she, poor sewing girl, had refused "good match"

 Never word came from him, and at last she swallowed her pride, reopened the correspondence herself, and told him how that she had misjudged him, and how sorry she was that she had. Promptly came manly reply, from which she discovered that when he vis- ited her here he had Intentionally made himself as unattractive as possible, from romantic notion that she ought to take him for what he was, and not for what he wore. Of course they were married, and the poor sewing girl has for her husband one of the leading citizens of Dubuque, and for her home one of the finest mansions in the place. This true story ought to have moral of the nega- tive sort, namely that young girls are not to infer from it that it is safe for them to answer matrimonial advertise ments for where one case of this sort has, like this, happy issue, there are ten which lead to unhappiness or some thing great deal worse.
Year: 1879

There is perhaps no tonic offered to the people that possesses as much real intrinsic value as the Hop Bitters. Just at this season of the year, when the stomach needs an appetizer, or the blood needs purifying, the cheapest and best remedy is Hop Bitters. An ounce of prevention is worth pound of cure 1; don't wait until you are prostrated by 8 disease that may take months for you to recover in.-Bost0r Globe.
Year: 1879

WHIT IS TIE CENTRIL PARK GOOD FoR?


It has cost us somewhere near $l5, 5,000,000
And now what is it good for!


FiIst, and most plainly, it viii preserve a
large space in the midst OF the city free from
Buildings. 1t offers its people for all time to
come an opportunity to escape from buildings
into something like the open country. This is so
we'll understood tbat there is nothing III the bis
tory Of the undertaking winch IS now more
generally regretted or more frequently con-
denim / than the yielding of sites upon it for
the Museum Of Art and the Museum Of Ma
tural History. There is nothing upon which
the will OF the people is clearer than that no
further grants shall be made Of It's too con-
tracted area for buildings, whatever purpose
thcv may be wanted for. The chief defect OF
The park is that its open ycrdant spaces are too
few and TOO small. We have spent our money
L.yishly tomakc them as large a practicable, to
secure a certain degree Of rural cYpansc, ard
all else that has been done has been in wise
silLordination to this end. The roads the
walks. the rldes and tie sGbWays Tor crossing
the Park have been especially formed with
res5rd to tins object, and the use OF the sur
face ways lies in the opportunity Offered to
those who pass up0n them Of enjoying the
scenery. OF which the few limited open Ycrdant
spaceS are the most essential element.


What theu can be The sense Of the areu-
meut which has been addressed to the public
il faYor Of a proposition, said to come from
preliminary committee upon the proposed
Worlds Fair in this city, to build upon the
Park an extended series OF building, designed
for a great variety Of purposes, some OF vast
.izo. and many of which are deliberately pro-
pos.d at the outset to be permanent The
argument il that they would not "in tn"
.sli,htcst degree interfere with the public
walks and drives or deprive the citizens OF
.Ncw-YOrk Of an atom Of their present en-
"joyment"


No one can attempt TO forecast what wonld
result from the adoption of this proposition
without coming quickly to the conviction that
Tie ruin Of the Park for the purposes by re-
gard to which nearly all the expenditure
and all tho wise expenditure, upon 1t
mas been thus far directed, would be GER
! tam. The present routes for travel on the
! Park Of all classes, designed a. they have
! been with a view to the lcisurely con-
temptation Of its scenery and to avoid
intrusion upon the central spaces, are i'll directed
aud would be unsuitable and wholly made
| quate for such a project rs Is now brought
forward. They would need to be supple
| mented not only by many approaches and side
roads, but the buildings being widely scat
tered as they would need to be, unless the park
should be largy regarded, the necessity ior Ill
rect through lines of convenient and rapid pas