smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

As this date seems to have been decided
upon for the next international exhibition,
as as'originally suggested by this journal. the
Importance of immediate action is self
evident. Up to the present time no inter-
national exhibition has been complete and
ready on the opening or even for months
afterward With this experience before us
there can be no excuse for any delay
in New York. Let us have the great credit
of being in perfect order, with catalogue
complete and printed when the Exhibition
opens. To secure this result oil that is
needed is thorough organization, each de-
partment with responsible head, in whom
its sole management should rest. There is
no difficulty in the way, but on the con-
secured, experience having shown the inn
portance of promptness. But now is the
time to organize, and we would respectfully
suggest to the able gentlemen having the
matter in charge that it will be none too
soon to commence the building next spring.
This question of building is on important
one and requires careful consideration. It
is matter to be carefully weighed as to the
necessity or advsability of more than one
building. While the architecture ofthe Paris
Exhibition building Of 1867 was not very
attractive the arrangement of the exhibits
gave more general satisfaction than any ex-
hibition before or since. On the other
hand, at Philadelphia the variety of build
ings and their distances apart led to much
discomfort and complaint. An oblong
building, three thousand feet by one thou
sand, located on the banks of the Hudson,
with the facade of one side Immediately on
the river, could certainly be made archi-
tecturally beautiful. For the interior the
French oval plan could be adopted, the
space left in the four corners being utilized
for the nations of the four continents
Thus could be secured beauty and
a perfect adaptability to the desired
result. Commencing with garden
in the centre (as at Paris), art occupying
the first gallery, the various products of oil
nations could then be seen with perfect
facility under one roof, till in the exterior
gallery should be found machinery in mo-
ton. In this plan the heaviest articles
would be moved the shortest distance. If
located upon the Hudson every facility
would be afforded for the easy delivery of
articles direct from foreign ships into the
exhibition by travelling cranes extending
over the railroad on temporary platforms.
The importance of immediate decision as
to location is rendered necessary for the
proper ornamentation of the grounds,
planting of trees, &C.; and it is to be hoped
that we shall soon have decision from the
committee.
Year: 1879

The Dock Commissioners are satisfied
that the person charged with the duty of
carrying to sea the mud dredged from the
slips and whom n HERALD reporter dete cted
in the act Of dumping it in the channel q
little ways below the Narrows sis guilty."
but they hold that the fact that bad weather
was imminent is ''an excuse;" and they
apparently regard that excuse as sufficient
to relieve him from the penalty. Now,
we take the liberty to call the attention
of the Commissioners to the fact that
the law says imperatively that such
material shall not be dumped in the bay.
1t does not say that mud from the slips
shall not be dumped in tho bay except in
case of a storm. 1t does not, in forbid
ding the act, make any qualifications
which imply that the Legislature intended
to admit that the thing might be done IL
there were danger that scow would be
lost or captains jacket should get wet.
Perhaps the Legislature knew that il it
made an exception for storms the captains
OF tugs could always see q storm coming.
The Commissioners did not know, of
course, that the law was absolute on this
point or they would not have deemed the
allegation Of storm IAN excuse" We are
glad to note that the Board of Pilot Com
missioners is differently advised, and in
tend to take legal remedy against the
dredgers.
Year: 1879

attic impresarios is Rip Van Winkle. In
Europe a revolution has passed during the
last decade or two over the realm of opera,
to have been ignorant. They have been
asleep just about the period of their vener-
able prototype. Now we wish they would


wake up-wake up to the fact that we are


anxious to see new operas by new COM
posers that there is here musical
public as cultivated as in any other
cosmopolitan capital, and far more
ready to support any artistic en-
tertainment that appeals to their tastes.
The day has passed for the production OF
the old school of operas, made palatable
for season every now and then by some
celebrated star. and it is time that our i'm
presarios come to see that We have had
enough of them and wish to hear something
new and fresh. The musical mind of New
York is ready to receive and support good
opera. We hardly like to admit, as one Of
our managers would have us believe, that
''H. M. S. Pinafore" has had beneficial
effect in preparing the public for the pro-
duction of higher class of works. We are
strongly of the opinion that the American
musical mind has been compelled to lie in
fallow, as the farmers say, for some years
past, and that it is very ready now to re-
ceive the seeds for glorious crop. The


"Pinafore" mania was but On evidence Of the
public desire for newness in opera; it was
equally an evidence against the capacity
of our impresarios to cater for the
modern operatic taste. The "Pinafore"
mania here and the Divine Sarah
mania in London were the result of the
same general cause.-the decadence of
operatic managerial taste here and theat-
rical there. We're the case reversed here
Mile. Bernhardt might hope to secure in
New York success as superficial and fat
tering as she gained in London. But we
flatter ourselves-at the same time only
doing justice to our leading actors-that
Mile. Bernhardt. unless she possessed the
grand genius of Rachel or the dramatic
fire of Ristori, could not hope to effect a
sensation here. 1t was only the incapacity
of our operatic managers that made it pos
sible for such work as ''H. M. S. Pima
fore" to become sensational attraction
Year: 1879

The Express in declaring its intention to
continue its opposition to Governor Robin
son and to do all it can to defeat
his election promises it's readers that
its part of the controversy shall be con-
Quoted in conformity to the proprieties
of journalism. ''And in waging our
political controversy" says the Express,
sswith bitter and malignant oppo-
nents we shall respect the courtesies
and amenities of civilized society
and print no words we shall wish to
recall" This excellent resolution may be
put to severe test in the course of the
autumn, but We do not question its sim
cerity, and our contemporary will deserve
credit if no provocation shall betray it into
loss of temper or violations of the decorum
of discussion. The press of the city
has become in the main so observant
of the proprieties of journalism that
self-respect and respect for the dignity of
the profession have become the rule, to
which there are of late years comparatively
few exceptions. The party press is more
exposed to temptation in this direction
than its independent contreres, and there
fore deserves greater praise when it re-
solves that no violence or acrimony on the
part OF adversaries shall hurry 1t into
deviations from propriety or impel it to
shit below the belt" The presumption
ought always to be that the conductors of
newspapers are gentlemen.
Year: 1879

If the news from Central Africa conveyed
dispatches concerning the abolition by
King Mtesa of slavery in his dominions be
authentic it is the most important intelli-
gence received from the Dark Continent in
many year. We have for some years been
conversant with the efforts made by the
Egyptian army under Baker, Long, Gordon,
and later under Gessi, to abolish the slave
trade in the White Nile regions. That
the labor has been crowned with con-
siderable success in the territory i'm
mediately in reach of Egyptian arms
is an undisputed fact, the outlet for
slaves through the Soudan being fairly
closed, and the prowess of the Egyptian
soldiers has been felt by the militant Arab
slave dealers in many hotly contested bat
ties So long, however, as the tribes of the
interior furnish slaves for the dealers it can
be seen how reluctantly the latter would
give up so paying an enterprise. The re-
ported action of Mtesa is the first clear
promise that the traffic in men and women
will in time receive its death blow from the
Africans themselves.


The average reader will ask who and
what is Mtesa? This African monarch has
been long ago introduced to the readers OF
the HERALD by one of its correspondents,
and his portrait may be found at full length
in the columns which recount the visit of
our correspondent to the Victoria Nyanza-
He is there repeatedly styled the foremost
man Of Central Africa" and is Kabakah or
Emperor OF Uganda, o vast country lying to
the north of Victoria Nyanza. His reported
liberation, Czar-like, in one day, of half q
million slaves is easily within his power.
Sagacious, courteous, polite and strong
minded; yearning for a knowledge Of civil
ization and the application of its arts to
his people, this barbaric monarch, who,
during war with his neighbors, brought
one hundred and fifty thousand men under
arms, with q feet Of over three hundred
war canoes, is a convert to the doctrine of
abolition worthy of any missionary. The
warm language in which our correspondent
extolled him is not more remarkable than the
dreams the explorer INDUCED of future
liberator Of the dusky race as he sat face to
face with this wild monarch amid his court
by tho Victoria Nyanza over four years ago.
"Mtesa," he wrote, ''if aided in time by
virtuous philsnthropists, will do more for
Central Africa than fifty years of Gospel
teaching unaided by such authority can
do" Beside the names of the great liberia
tors that of this barbaric king must be
placed, if, as we hope and is highly possi-
BILE, the news proves true
Year: 1879

Kelly would make but a feeble show in the
State canvass. But for this it would be
easy to reorganize the city democracy in
such a way as to draw the greater part of
the Tammany democrats into the support
of the regular State ticket of the party.
In mere fight against Robinson Mr.
Kelly's opposition would amount to little,
hut as against Tilden it may have con-
sequences which are not yet clearly devel-
oped. We reserve this important branch
of the subject for future consideration.
Year: 1879




At least a hundred thousand people
probably twice as many--are ut present en-.
during q series of annoyances that are in
the highest degree exasperating and fol
which blame is being distributed with &
generosity that would be simply heavenly
if the gift were only of different quality.
Each went away from home in June or July,
for summer in the country, carrying only
what was needed, and leaving the house
just as it had been in the eight or nine pre-
cedipg months; so it is as certain rs that
two and two make four that, on their re-
turn, everything should be just as it was.
But everything is nothing of the sort, even
after the trunks are unpacked and their con-
tents are restored to their customary places.
To begin with. the children-lucky young
sters !-are unable to find their school
books, SO they stay at home for several
days; then something-the stairway
carpet, perhaps-looks shabbier than 1t ever
did before; there is a greet scratch, that
every one is sure was not there when they
went away, on the front of the piano. and
one of the handsome lace curtains in the





it, though the family never owned a cat and
no servants have been left at home to enter.
tain their friends in equality" STYLE Mat
ters are just as bad all over the house;
there is dinginess about the bedspreads
that no one dares say were ever other
than snow white; the ivory handles of the
table cutlery are yellow, the silver spoons
are of short count, the coal man swears elo-
quently on the curbstone while the whole
family search wildly for the coal-hole key,
which every one knows always hung on
one particular nail and nowhere else.
More dreadful than all, the new cook, who
may have been installed only two days, but
who has already taught the various men,
bers Of the family to know their places and
remain in them, complains that the range
smokes cit never did so before), the hot
water faucet emits only lukewarm water,
the gridiron bars are burned away in the
middle. and she never before knew re-
spectacle family that didn't own such a
thing as q skinner and that had only
one vegetable dish. particularly az
that same one has o cracked cover.
It generally takes at least month,
dozen headaches, one change Of
servants and several family confabs. that
if heard elsewhere would be called ugly
tiffs, to set all these matters right; it also
requires one or more hundred-dollar bills
that had been destined for the creditor side
of the family bank book. Then there come,
like the slow but endless, tormenting drizzle
Of cloudy October day, succession of
small bills which the wife knows she asked
her husband to settle before they went
away and which the husband is sure he
gave his wife the money for. Bat like all
other things the house opening has its end;
autumn sunshine finally pervades the
home even if the rain is pouring down out
side; the husband goes to business from Q
lingering embrace and is welcomed back
again with an eager kiss; he and his wife look
joyously about them at their pretty rooms
and happy children, they declare there is
no place like home, and they never, never
will leave it again, and they keep their res
olution unbroken-for fully half year.
Year: 1879

The prompt desertions from Mr.. Kelly's
sinking ship are significant sign of the
times. The sachems and other big Indians
had better all resign and wind up the
dreary farce of the Wigwam, leaving Mr..
Kelly alone to paddle his own canoe. II
the democrats lose the election this fall
and their party is obliterated in the general
election next year they will have to thank
John Kelly, Tammany and Tilden.
Year: 1879

The young King of Bavaria, who, as Punch
once limited, sometimes ''played on his fiddle
an aria; then called for his valet and then for
ballet; this wonderful King of Bavaria, :"
may be romantic, dreamy monarch, but
he is at least an excellent operatic imprs-
saro. In fact if our theatrical managers
would take hint from his latest addi-
Theatre, they would render the public an
immense qualification. few weeks ago
he caused to be made fireproof drop
scene of thick steel plates, which, when
let down, completely cuts off the stage from
the auditorium. The efficacy of this steel
plate drop-scene was tested sooner than
was anticipated. On the night of Satur-
day, the 23d of August, performance Of
Wagner's opera of "Rheingold" was given.
Toward the close of one of the acts, when
the god Thor first gathers inky clouds about
him and then disperses them with the
stroke of his hammer, flash cleaves
the clouds, revealing the rainbow bridge
over which the divine family walk in stately
fashion to Walhalla. In this scene the
artificial lightning set fire to the gauze
clouds the flames at once sprang up.
seized the flies and spread rapidly through
the scenery. With great presence of mind
the freproof drop-scene was let down.
two of the chief singers went to the foot
lights and addressed the audience,
knowing of the arrangement of the
freproof screen, sat perfectly calm,-
while the conductor kept the musicians
at work until the last bar of the
score had been played. The fire was ex-
tinguished by means Of the fire apparatus
on the stage, and the audience left the
theatre as quietly as if nothing had hap
pened. In this little story there is q lesson
to be learned. If such an accident had
taken place at one of our theatres the
result we are sure would have been q
panic, stampede and perhaps q Brooklyn
holocaust. Munich public audiences are
not made of calmer stuff than ours; but
they knew that it was virtually impossible
for the fire to reach the auditorium, and
they remained in their places, unfright-
ened. True, we may take into account that
since the introduction of the Wagnerian
Nibelungen operas on the Munich stage
the audiences have become accustomed to
fires. There is the surrounding of Brunn-
hilda by the circle of fire in the ''Valkyr,"
there is the cremation of hero Siegfried on
the pyre lighted by the banks of the Rhine,
and the audience may have imagined that
the fire on the evening of the 23d was
part of the performance. Nevertheless.
the lesson taught by the accident is
clear-that an audience, knowing that
everything possible has been done for
its safety, that freproof steel curtain
renders the advance of the fire beyond the
footlights an impossibility. is not liable to
be panic stricken at the first fash of fire. as
has been too often the case with us. There
fore we advise our managers to take King
Ludwig as their model and guide in mat
ters relating to the safety of their audi
ences.
Year: 1879

THE DEFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION Of many New
York dwellings and the incompetence of more
than few builders is shown by the falling of
house in Fourteenth street yesterday. The
trouble was probably due in part to bad build
ing in the first place, but whether defective
''shoring' or tamperng with the foundation
was the final cause of the tumble, tho blame be-
longs to the individual responsible for the one
or the other
Year: 1879

ANOTHER OF THE MEN who impose upon the
public by pretending to be newspaper reporters
has gone to the Penitcntiary. But why is
it that people otherwise competent TO take care
of themselves should be duped by such fcllowsi
1t should be taken as unvarying rule that u
man asking favors on the ground that he is q
newspaper representative is an impostor-or
that his journal has no influence.
Year: 1879

OUR SPECIAL DESPATCH from Montreal shows
that Canada has good grounds for supposing
that she has dangerous secret organization to
deal with. 1t may not be kidnapping gang
but any society that agrees upon death pen
atty for recreant members should be allowed to
convene only around prison mess table.
Year: 1879

municated from heaven; if he is firmi y
convinced of that, then he has not the
right use OF a sound reason. He is cracked.


His admirers can take the case on either
horn they like and twaddle around it till
doomsday, and yet they will never change it.
Year: 1879

Expoe yourself day and night; eat
too much without exercise; work too
hard without rest doctor all the time:
take all the vile nostrums advertised,
and then you will want to know


HOW TO GET WELL.
Which is answered in three words
Take Hop Bitters! See another col
umn.
Year: 1879

THE news from our exchanges Is
encouraging in regard 10 the State
debt question. The State credit party
is certainly gro wing, and much more
interest is being manifested in the APP
preaching election.
Year: 1879

Teach the boys to love tho farm,
but do not prove hard taskmasters.
Do not make their farm life one Of
drudgery and toll, if you would
have their thoughts in after life turn
lovingly to their old homes and
happy young lives. Teach them
something more than muscle and
physical endurance is required; that
indeed agriculture is science or
art that should be conducted ac-
cording to clearly defined laws and
we'll established principles, and sue
cessfui in proportion to the intelli-
gence that directs it.
Year: 1879

An undertaken 10 New Jersey was
recently called on TO prepare the body
Of a woman for burial. From some
cause tho lover limbs bud been seized
with cramps just before death, and
were drawn up out Of shape. In the
attempt to stralghtcn them tue under
taker iualIy sat down upon them aud
was pressing them into proper position
in the coffin when something struck
him from behind. and turning bis bend
to SEQ what ii was. he was confronted
with the face ofthe corpse close to his
own. The pressure upon tho legs bad
Tilted the body upright, but the poor
undertaken, not understanding, rnIl
from the house in mortal terror.
Year: 1879

The HERALD's special cable dispatches
from Turkestan confirm the report of the
dangerous illness of the Ameer, and state
that his speedy death is almost certain.
Gangrene had set in, and probably no
efforts could have saved his life, although
it seems that the Afghan doctor and others
OF the invalid's suit objected to a resort to
such remedies as the Russian surgeons
skill suggested. The fate OF the fugitive
Ameer is sad one. But yesterday, as it
were, he was powerful ruler, believing
himself strong enough to defy England.
To-day he is a wanderer, without home,.
and dying by the roadside of a painful and
offensive disease. Yet his death will be a
great political relief both to Russia and
England. The former escapes from posi-
tion that would have been unpleasant if
not quite embarrassing, while the latter
finds the best settlement of the Afghan
question that could possibly have been
reached. Whatever sympathy may be felt
for the Amecr, he could not have died at q
better time for the Powers that have been
involved in his troubles, or, probably, for
himself. Had he lived-for we may regard
his death us certain-it would only have
been to meet further disappointments and
TO find all his hopes of assistance finally
DESTROYED
Year: 1879

The dreadful accident that occurred at
Stockton, CAL, on Saturday last was one of
those too common calamities brought ON by
criminal recklessness of human life. The
engineer in charge of an engine used to test
the working of new propeller pump
found the steam gauge out of order, and,


after an unsuccessful attempt to fix
it, cut short the difficulty by screwing
down the safety valve and "going
ahead" More than two hundred peo-
pie were gathered on the spot to
witness the experiment, and the engineer
must have been well aware of the risk he
was running. But if he reflected on the
danger he must have thought that tho
probability of blowing the spectators into
eternity did not warrant the postponement
of the trial. He therefore "went ahead
until the engine exploded, killing nearly
twenty persons and wounding and


mangling still greater number. For
tunately, the man whose criminal reck-
lessness occasioned this terrible calam-
ity was among the killed. We say fortu-
nately, for if he possessed human feelings
his future life would have been constant
misery and remorse, and IL he was simply a
brute the law would not have been likely
to have reached him. A man who commits
an ordinary murder may suffer the penalty


of his crime, but one who through wilful
Year: 1879

nomination with the consent of Mr.. Tilden,
but not otherwise. MIR. Tilden will either
support Governor Robinson or seek to be o
candidate himself Mr.. Tilden would want
the nomination (if at ally only as personal
vindication with view to his Presidential
chances If elected he would expect to
serve for but one of the three years of his
term, and the Lieutenant Governor chosen
with him would be on the road to promo
would consent to take the second place
with such a prospect, but if he would
Tilden and Potter would make a strong
ticket, with chance for MIR. Potter to be
Governor for two years.