smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

ing the premiums fixed by themselves
with full knowledge of the nature of
the risk, and of the temptation it might
offer to adishonest man, should insur-
ance companies, in case of loss, be al
lowed to claim in reduction of damages
that the insured value was in excess of
the intrinsic value, and that they should
be held liable only for the latter ? Are
blundering agents, thinking only of
commissions to be secured, and careless
of the interest of the insured, to take
money under the color of giving insur-
ance, while knowing that insurance
though nominally for five dollars is
really for but one ? On whose part is
the .'fraud,n - unless it be the company's,
whose agents and officers could not but
know that ordinary oats have never
sold for or been considered worth more
than about one-eigbth the price they
agreed to insure for? The point we
would make, the moral we would draw,
is this. Insurance companies, like all
parties to a contract, should be exceed
ingly careful as to what they agree to
do, but having once entered into def
mite arrangement they should without
compulsion of law carry it out prompt
y
agents, possessed of good judgment and
sound discretion, and not too eager to
"make dollar" easily, and faithful to
insurer and insured alike, will raise the
character of the insurance business and
give the public greater confidence in
what, rightly conducted, is justly es-
teemed benefcent institution. 1t is
also well for insurers to study, as fully
as they can, the character of companies
offering to write policies on their prop
erty, and, passing by the host of ''wild
cat" concerns, ready to take premiums,
but slow to pay losses, even when the
companies themselves survive long
enough for losses to Occur-seek for
financial soundness and honesty of man
agement, so that they may find in case
of burning the indemnity that they pay
their money to secure.


And just here comes in very apprO-
priately recent Supreme Court de-
cisiOn in this State. In the Windsor
County case of Brink & Co. VS.. Mer-
chants and Mechanics Insurance Com
pany, Judge Powers, in delivering the
opinion of the Court, said:


The policy is written by the insurers.
They use their own language, and sur
round and barricade their liability un-
der it with such defences as they choose
to adopt. Oftentimes their policies, in
stead of being simple, ineligible in
struments, that the average holder can
understand and construe, are burdened
by great number of technical stipula-
tions and conditions, buried under in
genious phraseology that reflects great
credit on the draughtsman, but leaves
"plain people" to learn its true import
after their property is destroyed. Then
they are informed that their policy is a
mere technical notice of special matter
to be given in evidence in answer to
their claim for damages. There is OBJ
vious reason for the rule of liberal con-
struction in favor of the man whose
legal rights are to be extracted from
such labyrinth of mysticism.
Year: 1877

existence in the house was concealed
from people in the neighborhood, and
her husband, Louis, was in the mean
time living at Little Graves in company
with Alice Rhodes, Who passed as his
wife. On the 18th of April Mrs. Louis
Staunton was removed to Penge and
doctor summoned to attend her. She
died the next day, but her relatives told
the physician such PLAUSIBLE story
that he gave the customary certificate
OF death, and it was only by chance
that suspicion was aroused and inter
ment forbidden. The inquest brought
to light the fact that the woman had
been deliberately starved to death. She
was found to weigh only rs pounds,
the body particle of fat. Moreover,
the corpse was in a condition so filthy
as to indicate that for months previous
ly the poor creature had not been al
lowed to wash herself, or even to change
her linen. About a week before the
woman had died her baby was taken
from her to die in hospital, within
twenty hours after his removal, of
inanitiOn


AT the trial, the purpose of the prose-
cutlon was TO prove tnat there was
deliberate intention on the part of the
Staunton brothers, Mrs. Patrick Staun-
ton and Alice Rhodes to put Mrs. Louis
Staunton out of their way, and that
they accomplished their object by star
walton. They made their plans with
such cunning calculation that they were
able to get her to Penge just in time to
avoid having her die on their hands at
Cudham, where an inquest would have
been inevitable. 1t was evidently a
plot on the part of Louis, assisted by
the Others, to get rid of wife whose
money he had secured, and who had
become an incumbrance. All of the
prisoners were shown to have treated
the murdered woman with systematic
cruelty and the only doubt seems to
be whether Alice Rhodes was directly
concerned in the plot. 1t is probable
that she will be reprieved, and an ex-
pectation of the same sort, though
somewhat less assured, is entertained
respecting Mrs. Patrick Staunton. Both
the men will undoubtedly be hung
Boston Journal
Year: 1877

Neal Dow was called into the Port
land police station Saturday night to
confront tipsy book agent who insisted
that they drank brandy and water to-
gether on Sound boat recently. When
the irate apostle of temperance got
there, the fellow explained that he
drank the brandy and Dow the water.
Year: 1877

VILE DRINK.-The Louisville Courier
Journal, which lives in state where
whiskey ought to be good if any
where, indorses the statement that
probably nine hundred and ninety mine
gallons out of every thousand that are
sold as brandy are made from vile
compound of whiskey swill, distilled
spirits and chemical denominations, and
adds "And as it is also equally true of
whiskey, what in the name of goodness
are we all to do for something to drink /?
1t looks as if we are to be driven to the
pump in spite of us. If the world at
large knew of what vaillainous stuffs
brandy and whiskey and wines are
made of, the present crop of drunkards
would be about the last, or, at any rate,
all future crops would be small. Nearly
OF quite all the liquors that are retailed
nowadays are undoubtedly slow but
sure poison, and to drink them habit
ually is simply a roundabout way of
Year: 1877

OF LAND, consisting Of every odd section in eacl
township, for a distance OF twenty miles on botl
sides Of the road, or onehsli Of the land in bel
forty miles wide sxtcr ding to Denver City In Col
orado, thus forming a continuation OF the belt o
country which, from the Atlantic coast westward
Is found TO be. in climate, SOIL and every produs
tioref nature, the most favored.


To aid in the settlement Of this superb domain
with snintelligcns and industrious people, is th'
object Of the HOMESTEAD. 1t is intended I,
contain fair sad candid representation Of facts
nor will It ever give, Intentionally. any statemen
that will not, upon investigation, be fully sus
tanned


The Company obtains its title tc these land
from the Government OF the United States.


They are being offered st prices lower than an,
other lands In the West, that will compare will
them in soil, climate and general advantages
The terms Of payment, as will be found on care
ful examination are more liberzl in all essentia
features than have heretofore been offered by an,
railway company.
Year: 1877

Is published by the Land Department Of the Kan
sas Pacific Railway Company. to supply the large
and increasing demand for information respecting
KANSAS, and especially the IN gniheent body OF
iands'granted by Congress in aid Of the construc
tlon of its road. This grant comprises
Year: 1877

people of South Carolina" that 4
should know no race or party, no col"
or; that all men who stood ON the soil
of South Carolina, native or foreign
born, white or black, should be equal
before the law, and, 80 help me God,
it shall be donel 1 am glad to say
the bitterness Which marked that
strife is passing away, and I say to
you, men of New York, as I say at
home, 1 owe my election to the color
ed mon of South Carolina. Thou
sands of them voted for me, knowing
that had been good friend of the
race; knowing that I was tho first
man after the war to Recommend
that they should bo given the right of
suffrage; and 1 have never yet chan
ged on that subject, knowing they
sustained me in large numbers, and
l am happy to say the fears of the
ignorant arc passing away, and they
are satisfied they will be dealt with
in all respects as citizens of South
Carolina. We intend to try and ele--
vate them, to educate them, and try
to show them the responsibilities as
well as the blessings of liberty. We
want them, as other citizens Of Amer
lea and South Carolina, to be worthy
of the great boon of citizenship of this
great republic. My friends, l must
again thank you for this most cordial
greeting, doubly gratifying because
it is the voice Of New York reverb ber-
ating to South Carolina. came, as l
said, to do honor to my distinguished
friond, Gen. Shields. Ho wore tho
bluo and wore the gray; but wo can
let the curtain drop over those years,
and 60 back to that time when that
flag, borne by him, waved over the
South and over the North, and We
can look to tho future W hen that flag
shall float over q FREQ, united and
prosperous people. [Applanso.] I
say this to you rs Southern man, a
rebel, for, when l fought, | fought as
hard rs knew how against you; and
[ say also that, if that fling floats, as
it should do, over free and equal
States; if it shall be the, symbol OF
liberty and equality and justice, all
the States and every man of the South
will honor it and love it, as of old,
and the time may come, once moro,
" hen New York and South Carolina
shall stand shoulder to shoulder
against tho common enemy, and their
blood mingle upon the soil. ZAP
plause.] My friends, shall bear
this cordial greeting back home with
me to the little Palmetto State, and
assure our people that your hearts
here throb kindly for us. Z trust in
God that better future is before the
whole country, and that we shall
have peace, prosperity and liberty to
every man upon the continent. Zap
plause.]
Year: 1877

An Act to prohibit the sale Of seed


cotton bctwocn the time of the sit


ting and rising Of the sun, and to


regulate the sale of seed cotton.


Section I. Be it enacted by the
Senate and House OF Representatives
of the State of South Carolina, now
met and sitting in General Assembly,
and by tho authority Of the same,
That on and after the passage of this
act, it shall not be lawtul for any
person to buy, or sell, or receive by
way of barter, exchange or traffic Of
Year: 1877

When the human shadows hover
over all the starry spheres.
And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears.
What bliss to press the pillow


OF u cottage chamber bed,
And to listen to the patter


OF the soft rain overhead.
Every tinkle on the shingles


Has AN echo in the heart;
And thoasanv dreamy fancies


Into busy being start.
And a Thousand recollections


Weave their air-threads into wool,
And 1 listen to the patter
or the rain upon the roof.
Now in memory comes my mother.
As she used. long years agOne.
To regard the darling dreamers


Ere she left them till the dawn.
Oh! see her leaning DER me.
AS 1 list to this refrain
Which Is played upon the shingles
BY the patter of the rain.
Then my little seraph sister.


With her wings and waving hair.
And her star-eyed cherub brother
A serene, angelic pairi-
Gliae around my wakeful pillow.


With their praise aud mild reproof.
AS listen to the murmur


Of the soft rain on the roof
And III her comes to thrill me


with her eyes delicious blue;
And mind not, musing on her:
F: That her heart was all untrue;
] remember but to love her.


With n passion kin to pain.
And my hearts quick pulses vibrate
To the patter OF the rain.
Art hath not of tone or cadence
That Can work with such spell
In the souls mysterious fountains,
Whence the tears of rapture well.
AS the melody of Nature,


That subdued. subduiny strain
Which Is play ed upon the shingles
By the patter Of the rain.
Year: 1877

THERE is said to be girl somewhere
in New England whose heart was SO
warm that il burnt through her bosom.
SAYS an Ex. This is nothing to good
looking girl we know, whose heart ia
SO cold that it freezes to q fellows in
no tilne.-[Puck.
Year: 1877

Having recovered from my late misfortune,
tender my services to the people of Ravenna
and vicinity rs


WELL DIGGER AND DRILLER
am also prepared To clean and repair WeIls
and Cisterns.


Having had over forty years experience in
the business, I can guarantee satisfaction to all
who may employ me.


n1Y- f'riccs as low as those of any other man
in ihe county Js9THsNlS.f KAY
Year: 1877

The true man is the happy man.


There will be ever a place for virtue.


Character is perfectly educated will.


Times chariot wheels make their road
in fairest faces.


In the commerce of speech use only
coin of gold and silver.


The greatest truths are the simplest;
so are the greatest men.


Born, lived and died, sum up the great
epitome of man.


One must do more when one is old
than when one is young.


Love is the ladder Oh which We climb
to the likeness of God.


They who have light in themselves
will not revolve as satellites.


Some good, loving, self-sacrifcing
deed will transform the homeliest face
into beauty and sanctity.


A little management may often evade
resistance, which n vast force might
vainly strive to overcome.


Pleasure, like quicksilver, is bright
and shy. If we try to grasp it, it still
eludes us and still glitters.


They who do speak ill of themselves
do 80 mostly as the surest way of PROV
ing how modest and candid they are.


Things right in themselves are more
likely to be hindered than advanced by
an injudicious zeal for promoting them.
Year: 1877

Senator Wright's bill, in the United
States Senate, presented some weeks ago,
looks to the settlement of the Presidential
question by the establishment of court to
decide all such contests as that now pend
ing. The bill provides in substance that
=" the court shall consist of the chief JUS
tice and six judges of the circuit or dis
trict courts Of the United States, to be
elected by the said chief justice from
those of different political parties, and
who shall not be interested in the p:rtic-
ular contest, nor in any manner related
thereto. The court shall meet in Wash
ington and the chief justice shall preside.
Before acting the judges shall take a
special oath for the occasion. The court
shall have power to make and enforce all
regulations not contrary to law. The
court shall have power to allow amend
ments to pleatGngs, but there shall be no
unnecessary delay in the hearings. Each
of the judges shall have power to admin
lister oaths, and the court shall have
power to send for persons or papers and
enforce attendance. A majority shall be
competent to decide all questions and
shall keep a record"
Year: 1877

The New York Herald's special report
of deaths from unnatural causes in that
city is one which calls for more than Or
dinary attention. During 1876 more than
n thousand persons died from violence,
and there is an excess of more than
hundred over the similar record of 1875.
A peculiar feature of this exhibit is that
the increase is due to accidental causes;
the increase of deaths from sunstrokes
and drowning more than account for the
total excess over last years casualties.
In spite of law and precaution the hid
eous roll of homiciles and infanticides is
as large as 1875, and that of suicides is
considerably greater. The increase Of
hydrophobia is alarming, five deaths
having occurred, against none last year
Year: 1877

Why NoT.-"Why should not boys be
taught to cook as we'll as girls? A hus-
band who understands how to bake,
broil, stew and boil is real treasure in O
household, however accomplished his
better half may be in the same direc-
tion." Why not make him baby tender
also? Let his development in house
hold education be complete and SYM
metrical.
Year: 1877

pay for the extra day. The bill Is kept back to the
last minute-no matter how long beforehand you
ask for t-in order to facilitate this oyercharge'
which will generally prove to be OF many III is
not always convenient to refuse TO pay. You have
no time TO dispute the train viii not walt
for you, and your landlord may, suppose detaln'
or threaten to detain, your luggage. l do not De-
lieve he actually would detain it STILL nobody llkes
a row. or to put off his journey, and so we go on SUD
mitting. and the landlord goes on pocketlng his
fraudulent gains.


Perhaps the best thing to do is TO do what am
doing uow-publish the fact. have just paid lfor
am finishing this letter in Londonl bill OF the
kind at the Hotel Mrabeau Rue de la Paix, PARIS
The proprietor of the Hotel Mirabeau has, at this
moment in his pocket some thirty francs which DO
not belong to him, but to me. L cherish the nope
that they will cost him dear-a hope which ls not,
assure him. IN the least vindictive toward him, but
nourshed in the general interest, his own included
For the publication Of his dishonesty may induce
him to reform and to become honest and be may
assured that nothing in the long run would be
so profitable to HIM as a reputation for honesty.
The landlord notion that his guest rather prefers 70
be pillaged a mistake; equally a mistake Is the
notion that such policy pays. The guest VINO mas
been mpudently ieeced uoes not return TO the SAINT
hotel; he also others against it; and SO pres,
entity the hotel gets bad name. but L
suppose there never was a European land
lord who would not snatch at thirty francs
which he could there and then pocket, though cer-
tain that by pocketing them he should lose hun
dred times the sum in the future Moreover, In ex-
planning how have been relieved of thirty francs, 1t
becomes natural to add that the Hotel Mirabeau Is
not in other respects. very good hotel. The cut
sine is SO inferior that, after two or three trals
gave up breakfasting and dining there. Now this is
a fact which may drive away more customers than
the eXtOrtion but | should never have Thought or
mentioning it but for the extOrtlon. The LANDLORDS
idea of human nature s-frOm defect of imagna-
tion, perhaps-but an imperfect idea. He does not
to comprehend that his guest. while oblectlng
to the loss of his money may object still more
strongly To losing it III this particular way There Is
a kind of humiliation in the reflection that you have
been imposed upon, and this gives rise TO anger and
resentment These feelings having in my case
passed oil. content myself wlrh advising Alner-
who wish to escape them, and who care to dine
well. to avoid the Hotel MIabeau In the Kue de la
Palx. Paris @. W. $.
Year: 1877

A Cincinnati liquor dealer applied to a Gus
toner for etter OF Recommendation OF certain brand
OF whkey which ne had recently sold him. The customer
have tried all sorts OF insect poison, and Ind
none equal ~ your Old Cabinet whiskey."
Year: 1877

A lady and two children were brought to
the Police station last night from the depot
to procure means to 60 to Philadelphia, as
she had no money to pay her fare. Chief
O'ToCl gave her note by which she could
proceed on her way.
Year: 1877

IMPoTENT MIscHIEF.- The New York
Express speaks of an atrocious combiua>
ton of avarice, sectionalism and dema-
goguism Which is going on in that city
to fire the hearts Of colored preachers in
the South by sending among them incen-
diary papers, filed to the muzzle with
attacks upon the Southern white people


and upon the national peace peace poll,


cy OF the president. A characteristic
feature of this combination is that what
is done is done in the name of religion.
1t is said there are 5000 colored preach
ers at the South, and subscriptions are
called for to send copies of The Witness,
owned and edited by naturalized citi-
zens, to this army of colored preachers,
the obvious purpose being to add fuel to
the long existing political race differ =
ences at the South. The purpose is q
detestable o ne, and the money getting
part of iG worthy the freedmen's bureau
and the corrupt carpet-baggers from
whom both races at the South have stf-
fered so terribly. After the experiences


which the colored people have had of
those who are engaged in this fresh en-


terprise of hypocrisy and greed, in the
| name of religion, it is to be hoped they


will have too much sense to be .deladed


bymen who only wish to use them for
their own selfish and base PURPOSES
BdIt-lSala. p. -. 80
Year: 1877

The IcE.-In spite of warm rain and a
medium OF warm sunshine the ice still re-
mains, and bids fair to continue to embar-
rass the commerce Of Richmond for some
time. The Philadelphia steamer Alliance
made several attempts yesterday to get
through the ice, but had finally to give it
up, and will be DELAYED day or so longer.
The agent of the Old Dominion line re-
ceiyed telegram yesterday saying that the
steamship Old Dominion, from New York
for Richmond, had arrived at City Point at
9:3O A. NJ, and would leave Immediately
for this city, but owing to the vast amount
of ice still in the river she would probably
not reach her wharf before late hour last
night. The ice in the upper part OF the
river was partially broken up by the mild
weather OF Sunday and by high water-the
recent rain and warm sunshine having had
the effect Of swelling the noble James con-
siderably.
Year: 1877

Work Stopped.-On Friday new orders
were issued at Granite for the stoppase of
work by the hands as soon as they bad
gotten through with the rock upon which
they were then engaged. This order was
unlocked for, and is said TO have resulted
from some disagreement between the COM
tractors and the Government. 1t is to be
hoped that this will soon be remedied, and
that the boys will soon have another chance.
Year: 1877

Hull street looked comparatively clean
and neat yesterday fact due to It's admira-
BILE grade, which allowed the washing out
Of the cutters with ease. This was indeed
consoling to the many who live on the
streets not yet blessed with payements; for
they could know the enjoyment OF crawling
mile or two through mud and haIi-melted
snow to Hull street. and then promenading
the main thoroughfare for. several hours
without impediment:
Year: 1877

Break in the Canal.-A break occurred
in the canal early on Sunday morning be-
tween the paper-mil and the Old Do
minion Cetton-hIills. 1t is supposed to
have been caused by the heavy pressure Of
ice against the embankment. It will occa-
sion considerable inconvenience for few
days, as the mills will be compelled to
suspend operations. II Is hoped, how
ever, that with the diligent efforts now
being made to effect the necessary repairs
the break may be closed in few days.
Year: 1877

Major Meade urged prompt and tempo
rate but decisive action, In order that
the voice of Virginia might be truly ex-
pressed and have its due weight. He
thought that the effect OF the adoption OF
the resolutions OF Judge Alien would be 10
create q wrong impression.


Mr. Robert D.. Ward, OF Richmond, made
the point of order that the substitute OF
Year: 1877

been done anywhere in the same time.
Why then not let we'll enough alone for
the present. Why not await the return
Of better times before pushing the tax.
payers Of the city to The wall, as It were,
In this matter. Why not be content for
a while, at least, with the competency Of
our educational facilities. There is
no lack Of goood schools, pub
lie and private, in our midst. The
community were never SO we'll supplied as
now, and we submit that there Ia at pres.
ent no need to test the patience Of tax
payers any further in this direction.
Give the public short rest on the school
question, and do not make the system I'm.
popular by weighting it down witbrso
much expense.