smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

There is man out in Oregon who has


a mule. A few days ago he was driving


the animal across the prairie, when t.


suddenly stopped. The man left his


wagon and attempted to induce the mule


to go on. He beat it, he cOaxed it, he


cursed it, but it refused to bulge. He


tied fire crackers to its tail and exploded


them. but the mule merely turned it's


head III 4 languid sort of way, exam
med the fire works, and calmly Winked
at the man. Then the man thought per-
haps the mule had forgotten something,
and wanted to go back, so he turned
him around; but the mule expressed d
hrm determination not to go home. The
man became desperate, and thought he
would build fire under the mule; but
as fast as he could Eindle it, the mule,
standing firm on three legs, reached
over his other leg and kicked the flames
out. Then he tore his hair and swOre-
the man did-and he rushed to the wag-
on and got 10 pounds of gun powder,
and he dug hole under that mule and
built mine. Then he covered up the
charge and laid Il slow match, and stood
OFT little piece while he lit it. There
was a rumble, a roar, then terrible ex-
ploslon; and amid the cloud of dust and
upheaVed rocks, the mule was observed
~ A1inS lto A1So III JIlo dlI ttHu support
itself on its forefeet until the blast was
over, when it quickly assumed it's old
attitude, and a gentle smile passed over
it's features as it perceived it's master
lying down and groaning and cursing
the day on which he was born. 1t was
OF no use.


The man went home and brought out
two yoke Of oxen. He hitched them to
the mule and they pulled but the mule
dug its ,hoofss into the prairie, and there
it stood, as firm as Casabianca on the
burning deck. Then the man, in fu-
riQus rage, went and got three movable
steam engines an claimed them to the
mule: Three half-inch cables snapped
asunder, and the mule still maintained
its defiant attitude. 1t is there yet; and
the man has made q contract with q
builder to go out there and erect a mill
over the mule, because he regards him
now as one of the permanent fixtures of
the place, and he thinks he can apply the
power for the mill by arranging to have
the mules tail twisted right hard every
few minutes by machinery.
Year: 1874

- day OF -, ana that L am not d1SffaIl-
chised for any of the causes stated in article
ninety-nine of the constitution of this State


The taking and subscribing the affidavits re-
shall not prevent the supervisors or assistant
supervisors of registration from receiving other
evidence showing that the party applying for
shall have a right to examine under oath. to be
administered by themselves Or other competent
authority, any witness to prove any facts per-
tinent to the right of any, one to register, and
the party so applying is entitled to register.


Any person who shall swear falsely to the
foregoing affidavit, or any clause thereof, shall
he deemed guilty Of perjury, and on conviction
thereof shall be punished as prescribed by law
for perjury.


Sec 25 Be it further enacted, etc, That it
shall be the duty of the supervisor or assistant
supervisor of registration in registering the
qualified voters Of the parish or ward to record
Year: 1874

ing to the country when the Republicans win
an election, no matter what purposes they
may be at that moment pursuing, or by what
clique of adventurers and blackguards they
may chance to be represented. But in truth
q party is properly nothing but an organiza-
ton of voters working together for the sue
cess of certain principles, and the only way
to establish principles is to put in office men
who represent and will be governed by them.
The moment there is a divergence between
the professions of the party and the character
of its nominees, sensible party-man will at
once drop the obnoxious candidate otherwise
he ceases to support principles and makes
himself mere tool Of personal ambition or
avarice. An immense number OF Republicans
who still cherish the name, the traditions, and
the honorable record of their party. aban-
doned it last week because they believed its
present managers were leading it away from
its proper objects and they will return
whenever it shows o disposition to reform.
We are rather surprised that Mr. Wickham
the Mayor-elect, when he was called upon for
a speech few days after MIR. COnklings
effort, should have ignored the difference
between party government and partfsanship'
and congratulated the Democrats who came
to rejoice with him over tho victory that
| New-York was at last to have a responsible
party administration. That meant if it meant
anything, that he had been elected as a
Democrat, and people had voted for him be-
cause he was Democrat, not because they
thought him the fittest OF the three or four
candidates presented for their choice. In an
ordinary municipal election the only questions
as to administrative officers ought to be- are
they honest, efficient, industrious, economical; ;
purely political issues, affecting State and
National affairs, have no place in such con-
tests. Two years ago majority of citizens
came together and created Reform party
which elected Mayor Havemeyer That was a
set up was party government in the best
sense of the word. The result was a disap-
pointmcnt because the candidate was a man
of enormous and unsuspectcd incapacity, but
the experiment was made upon q proper
theory Mr.. Wickham, however, takes pleas
ure in the reflection that he has been chosen,
not to cooperate with his constituents in get
ting a good city government, but merely be-
cause his professions on subjects with which
city government has no connection happen to
agree with those of the majority. This is the
narrowest and most mischievOus sort of par


tisanship. If Mr.. Wickham allows such prin-
ciples to control his official conduct he is GER
tain to make very bad Mayor. We prefer
to believe that, as is so often the case with
good men, he has allowed the use of the
accustomed phrases of party fealty to blind
his better Judgment.
Year: 1874

Everybody apprehends a hard Winter, and
those actively connected with our city char-
ties already report an increasing pressure upon
them. There are always two great dangers
in this whole business of relieving the dest-
tuie in a city like New-YOrk-the danger
of bestOwing aid upon the undeserving, and
the danger of neglecting cases of real distress
through fear of being deceived The expe-
ricnce of last Winter shows that the first is
bv far the more common.


No man in this city is better qualified to
speak on the subject with authority than the
Rev. DIR. John Hall, whose admirable letter
appears in another column. Anything like a
grat1itous distribution of food to all corners
is especially to be deprecated. The charities
of this kind last Winter were begun with q
generosity and public spirit which COM
manded all praise; but there can be no
doubt that their permanent result was iDjuri-
Gus both to the beneiiciaries themselves and
to the city. 1t is much to be hoped that we
shall not be subjected to a similar experiment
this Winter, with the inevitable result of the
1ocking to New York of the idle and dissOute
from all parts of the country to improve toe
opportunties for theft, and to live at the pub
lie expense.


The Bureau of Charities a year ago at
tempted noble work, which was only par
TALLY accomplished. Its reorganization on a
broader basis is specially desirable, and in any
case we hope that the experience gained by
the public spirited gentlemen who concerned
themselves with it last year may be utilized
this Winter. DR.. Halls letter is an excellent
step in that direction.
Year: 1874

and having been unable to resist the tempta-
ton to kick out the Reform and make the
worst lot of appointments the country ever
hid its face for shame and grOaned under, he
appreciates the necessity of removing the
temptation from his successor. 1t has not Oc-
Cured TO him that possibly the training and
associations, the character and habit OF thought
of his successor, may be better pledge
for Reform in the Civil Service than any
statute could offer. 1t is reported in the
dispatch from whIch.Twe have quoted that
"the necessity for % Legislation so as to
"prevent q return the old system OF ap-
"pointng officers is now felt by HIM to be
Every great, in view of the recent Democratic
"successes.n 1t might be added, we presume,
with equal tru'h, that the same necessity Is
felt in most Of the Custom-hOuses and Post
Offices in the country. If there is anything
which in the opinion Of the gentlemen who
are in office ought to be attended to at once,
it is this matter of preventing =" return to
"the old system of appointing officers"


All, well, how queer it all is, to be sure.
The GOODNESS and assurance Of this man, who
has disgusted his warmest friends by the dis
honesty Of his professions in the matter OF
reforming the Civil Service, and who has
saddled the country with as bad lot OF Office
holders as ever signed pay-roll-for him to
come forward now and talk about the neces-
sity of legislation on the subject, "in view OF
"recent Democratic successesw Civil Service
Reform, indeed; with the promotion Of Rich
ardson from Assistant to Secretary OF the
Treasury, and thence to the Court Of Claims,
as its best illustration. Take away this cOun-
terfeit.
Year: 1874

simply because the supply Of skilled service is
so deplorably short of the demand. Training
schools suoh as those We are now considering
can have but partial effect in ameloratlng this
social difficulty, for it is an irritation in every
household from one end of the country TO the
other, and will continue TO be so until women
who are housekeepers regulate 1t upon the
same basis as any other business matter, ana
infexibly resolve to pay for their COOKS as
they would for their butter the higher price
for the article of good quality.


In the households of two generations ago
young girls were raised" taken when
children, instructed in every branch OF
household service from the spinning
of fax to the making of delicate con-
serves, receiving at the age OF 1S feather
bed, two suits of clothes and $25, and remain
ing thereafter faithful, efficient servants and
friends These were training schools which
if they could exist now would work signal
change in our social economy. But they were
relic of the old system Of feudal
service, impossible to graft again upon
our modern bartering, sell-and-buy lite.
Domestic service is now matter OF work and
wages, with no sentiment of protection, OF
fealty attached, and ought to be regulated like
any other trade. The ladies of the training
schools, we perceive, give instruction in the
"selcction and assimilation of foods, and in
the study of the elements of food in their
"relation to the sustenance OF the brain, the
"growth of the muscles, the amount OF heat
"requisite to a healthy physical condition."
etc. etc. We hope this instruction is confined
to the ladies themselves, or to women having
charge of households. 1t certainly belongs to
their department of work in tho world, and
not to the cook. wife and mother ought to
know how to regulate the food of her hus-
band and children in accordance with the
peculiar requirements of each, chemically and
philosophcally She has no right to ask the
cook to probe such mysteries If she broils
and bos the wholesome material intrusted to
her without turning it into poison, it is as
much, nay more, than we can hope from her.
Year: 1874

An announcement in the forthcoming report
of Commissioner Douglass that there will be
10 proposal OF change in the tax On whisky
and tobacco, ls a matter for congratulation
The chief trouble in regard to revenue taxes
and tariffs has usually been that we have not
known when to let well enough alone.
Year: 1874

We present to-day synopsis of the five
leading suits in the Brooklyn Scandal, show
ing their present positions and what may be
expected respecting tho order of their trial.
Without clear understanding Of these points,
the various cases, especially if tried simulta-
neously or closely following one another may
prove confusing to the reader. They will then
probably furnish quite enough food for
thought without the addition of any such
confusion,
Year: 1874

We give below an extract from letter written
from Florence by the wife of one of our most dis
tnguished 6nanciers to her husband. 1t relates
with the simple pathos of truth lamentable story
of destitution. The grandchildren of the great
comedian who gave so much pleasure to the people
of this city are starving for food in foreign cap
ital The members of the theatrical profession have
been of late so frequently taxed for purposes of
charity that it is unfair to call upon them to relieve
this case Of want. There must be many prosperous
people, contemporaries Of Burton, who would be glad
to do something to keep his grandchildren alive. If
so disposed they may send their offerings to Francis
Ormond French, esq, No. 81 Broadway.


Ihave been out this morning take three little chill.
dren into the Their father svery Ill and destitute,
and their mother Is out. He is fine artist.
and the son OF Burton the famous comedian. He
has lost boy nine years old from want OF proper
ishment aud good air. He lives in narrow dark, and
dirty street, intO which the shines. The chill
dren beautiful and weltrained; the two oldest are
between six and eight years old. We took them out
well wrapped In waterproos, and they were made
for time quite happy never saw three more inter
estng children. There very few wealthy people in
Florence now and 1t is hard raising money TO help this
interesting aud destitute family; but young artist Is
irving to up rattle for OF Burtons pictures lf
he IS successful something bo done with others
at the pawnhrokers shall be abe 10 release their
clothing and to send them to Naples where Burton says
he is always well.
Year: 1874

In the race for seats at Washington the legal pro-
fessiOn has generally the inside track but the home
legislative bodies contain n better proportion Of
other classes of the community The honest farmer,
the village doctor, occasional clergyman, in
hiB rural simplicity, deems it an bOnor to be per-
mitted to write " Honorable" before his name and
is allowed the privilege. In some remote districts
where the caucus is exemplary In its delibera-
tions as prayer meeting they rotate in legislative
duty and when they say, " It's Squire So-and-
Sos turn this year." that settles it eectually as
if all the known devices of politics had been
brought into play in procuring the nomination. In
Delaware which has the reputation of being quiet
and sober little commonwealth, the newly elected
Legislature 1t is said, does not contain a single law
yer, and we dare say that the State will not go to
ruin in the next year two because of that fact.
After all. the Senate of the United States is the
paradise where lawyers go. Out of less than four
score members about fifty belong to that hOnored
class, and very curious lawyers some of them
These last evidently got in there because they had
nothing to do-and they understand perfectly the
art Of doing it.
Year: 1874

Ex-Governor Shepherds 50 lunch with Har-
rington supplied the most entertaining evidence
in the Safe Burglary case, yesterday. The gush
of feeling which prompted the invitation to
the meal, the preceding cocktails and the ac-
companying champagne, were duly detailed,
the restaurant checks being produced to fix
the date of the festivity. If the coming dram
atist cannot find his material in this trial,
there is at least enough in it for three
volume novel; feast funeral and we'd
ding, being among the minor incidents.
Year: 1874

Holders of real estate are congratulating them
selves over the unexpectedly large price realized at
an auction sale the other day for house on
west corner of Thirtyeghth-st. and Fifth-ave with
the adjoining small lot it brought SlD.OOO, which
does not indicate 80 great reaction in the values
of choice property as has been commonly supposed
Real-estate holders generally however are disposed
to submit great reductions where sales are neces
sarv and in selling or renting valuable property it
has for some time past made marvellous difference
whether the owners sought thl sale or lease or had
il proposed to them.
Year: 1874

The Democratic majority i'm the
next Congress should first propose to
the Senate the repeal of that portion
Of the National Banking Law which
authorizes the issue of currency by
those institutions, and should insist
on the substitution of legal tenders
in their stead. If that Is rejected by
the Republican National Bank ma
jority in the Senate, then it should
amend the National Banking Law
by the proviso that, where the Gov
ernment furnished National curren-
cy to the holders of National bonds,
the latter being deposited as security,
the bonds should draw no interest
while they were so held by the Gov
ernment. Why should the latter
give to the bank notes upon which
they (the banks) draw from tweve TO
twenty five per cent. interest, and at
the same time pay six per cent. in
ltFeSt upon lIese notes. onc Ol TWO
things is apparent. 1t is that all Of
the two thousand millions of bonds
should be allowed 10 be deposited
and receive similar notes, or else the
four hundred s9iliions Of bonds
which now have that privilege
should fuil to draw interest. There
can be no sense, no equity, and no
Justice in such discrimination
against the large majority Of those
who hold bonds, as well rs the popu-
lar classes. We reiterate, no interest
upon the bond upon which special
privileges are given, unless all the
bonds are placed in the same Gale
CORY Cincinnati Enquirer.
Year: 1874

1t is difficult to realize that the vast
systems of railroads in America and
Europe have all been built within
the last half century, and that as late
as 1919, only fifty-five years ago, such
a leading periodical as the English
Quarterly Rerie,o should scout as
utterly absurd !" and laughable"
the idea of "a steam propelled wagon
moving twice as fast as our mail
coaches" Here is quotation from
the Rerie,0 of that date, and in the
light of these days it is certainly
"laughable


1--WE are not partisans OF the fam
tastic projects relative to established
institutions, and we cannot but laugh
at an idea SO mpracticable as that OF
a road of iron upon which travel may
be conducted by steam. Can any
thing be more utterly absurd or more
laughable than steam propelled
wagon moving twice rs fast as our
mail coaches? 1t is much more pos
sible to travel from Woolwich to the
arsenal by the aid of a Congreye
rocket"
Year: 1874

The more thoughtful and candid Of
our readers will find on our fourth
page this week an article upon the
subject OF Transportation aud rail-
way management, from the Nation,
which will prove worth careful
reading. 1t may be supposed to pre-
sent the views OF a railroad man who
makes railroad management his
study and business, and who has
large capital invested in railroads.
He undaCaaands The ease, .ai,d Of
course presents the best arguments
he can for his side. If we are honest,
and want to find the truth upon this
question--or there questions-upon
which SO much has been said and
written OF late, and which are really
Of prime Importance to the country,
we will not haughtily refuse to read
the arguments adverse To our precon-
ceived notions upon the subjects.


The article from the Nation re-
quires little comment; one point
however should be noticed: 1t as
sumes by inference that railroad
companies do not water their stock,
and that they have really invested
the full amount of what they repre-
sent, "a the cost Of their roads and
appurtenances. This is doubtless
true in many cases; but in majority,
or at least large portion of cases, 1t
is untrue.
Year: 1874

The Democratic papers keep up
their howl about the third term bus
mess, and declare that Grant Is still
candidate; and they quote from
the New York Herald a silly story Of
a conversation Of the President with


the Rebel Guerrilla Colonel Mosby,
and another with Senator Morril, to
prove that Grant Is determined to be
President for third term or for life.
If their readers are fond OF humbug-
gerry, such twaddle and consummate
lying should certainly satisfy them.
Year: 1874

We are not tender-toed on the
granger question. This is u paper for
all GLASSES. We do not believe in
Know Nothingism in politics wheth-
er il comes in the shape of nat We
born citizens or In the shape of farm
ers binding themselves together and
demanding the offices because they
are farmers. There is no class Of men
who are better able to take care Of
their own interests than farmers are
and they stand in need Of no especial
championship from any source. We
don't care who the man is, whether
he be Democrat or Republican, when
he comes before the people asking for
office, and claims no other qualiiica-
ton to recommend him to the people
than the fact that he is "A farmer he
deserves defeat. With us farmers
stand on the same footing with all
other classes, and the more intelli-
gent farmers ask nothing else. 1t Is
only the cheap politicians and curb.
stone agricuiturists who go about
continually moaning and groaning
about the wrongs which they say
farmers are compelled To submit to.
There may be reason for encourage
ing this kind Of thing hut the HdWk-
eye can't see it. .--BurtiagtOa Hdi0h-
eye.
Year: 1874

"We will use the power to smash
the Congo dynasty, clean up the
statute books by rending away the
whole chapter Of Black Republican
legislation to place the sovereignty
Of the country once more into The
hands Of the only race able and lit to
use il wisely and well; reinsiate The
white man in his place Of power aud
supremacy, and remand the negro 70
his proper position Of subordination.
We will have n national convention
Of all the States to revive and amend
the Constitution Of the United States,
and there will be no niggers in that
convention. The Constitution as re-
vised will be the Constitution rs IL
was in 1860" "-Logan (Ohio) Sentinel,
Democratic .a...
Year: 1874

A New Orleans paper of recent


date describes disaster In the follow


ing vivid style: "On the 18th instant,


as the well-known and splendid steam


boat Natchez was coming down the


river, and while opposite the lower end


of Natchez Island, some twenty miles
this side of the city of that name, she
was struch by terrible tornado from
the Louisiana side, which In a second


had wrenched her immense chimneys
from their sockets, broken all the stanch-
ions loose, cut short off the steam pipes,


and thrown them into a wreck on the
upper deck on the right side, which,


giving way with their weight, broke
and fell with q terrible crash on the


lower deck, whence it was tumbied into


the river. The officers in charge, even


though the tornado struck without a


moments warning, rushed to their


posts, and clearing the wreck, the


pilots stood by the wheel and urged
her on to the island. The scene was
terrible in the extreme the river was
one mass of yellow foam. the sky was
as black as night, and the wind of such
terrific violence that no man could
stand against it. In this emergency all
rested on the skill and deter mination OF
the officers and pilots. The position OF
these latter was one of great danger.


Elevated ia a frail pilot-house hum
dred feet above the river, with its sup


ports gone. its stanchions smashed and
| trembling in every timber, as if it would
| follow the ehimneys, they expected
| every moment to be hurled into eternity.
| The smoke and escaping steam rushed
Year: 1874

On the first of January the postmas-
ter general reduced the rate for regis
tered letters from fifteen cents and the
regular postage to eight cents and the
postage. Since that time the business
has increased over one hundred per
cent, the average increase in large
cities being from fifty to seventy-five
per cent. The present rates compare
very favorably with those of England,
although there are many difficulties in
this country not to be met with in the
smaller and more thickly populated
countries of the Old World. The last
annual reports show that in Canada
the loss in registered letters and pack
ages was 112, in Great Britain 20, and
in the United States 400. If the in
crease of business continue through
out the year, five million registered
letters will be sent. against two and a
half millions last year.