smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

to others. fatten upon the good things OF the
country and leave behind them ruin and
corruption. There are other destructive
living things-we may call them political
grasshoppers-whose characters and habits
are very similar. and these also have been
time and again investigated. But the in
vestigations have not amounted to much.
Indeed. they have generally concealed the
real characters and habits Of the inves.i-
gated, and furnished them with new and
acceptable ones through the purifying quail
ties Of whitewash. This has probably been
due to the fact that the investigators have
been themselves, in some way or another.
closely or distantly connected with the ex-
tensive political grasshopper family. As
the learned chronological professors have
no affinity with the grasshoppers they are
appointed to scrutinize their investigation
will, of course. be Of different character,
and will not only prove to us what bad lot
these plaques of the farmers are, but inform
us how the country may effectually get rid
of them. What a public blessing it would
be if some Investigator of our political grass
hoppers could lead us to q similar knowl-
adOe
Year: 1877

An attempt is being made to retain the
present Dock Department on the plea that
it has charge of between thirty and forty
millions of dock property, collects revenue
Of over half million, and decides impor-
tant and complicated questions in relation
to the water front. It is urged that for these
reasons the docks should be managed by
separate and independent department, and
not by bureau in the Department of Pub
lie Works.


The argument will not bear the test of
criticism. The Public Works Department
collects one million and half of revenue
yearly from the Croton rents alone, and can
with very little additional expense col
lect the dock rents. So long as the dock
property is properly cared for, judi
ciously improved and economically man
aged it does not matter whether the
controlling authority is called the chief en-
gineet of bureau or commissioners of o
department. The head of bureau would
be responsible to the chief of the Depart
ment of Public Works, himself an accom-
plished engineer, while the Dock Commits
sioners, appointed too often for political
considerations, are responsible to nobody.
There would be the same restricting au-
thority of the Sinking Fund Commissioners
over the proposed bureau of wharves and
piers as there now is over the Dock Depart
ment.


The real issue involved is not touched in
these objections. The department has been
in existence between six and seven years, and
its system has been similar to that of the
Circumlocution Office" how not to do it. "
Life was temporarily thrown into it under the
Board of which Mr.. Agnew was the head, but
it has always been more or less subjected to
the rule of the Barnacle family. 1t has
spent nearly six million dollars without leav-
ing the city one-hnlf that value to show for
the expenditure. The question is whether
we shall continue to have little progress and
large expenses, or whether we shall put the
management of the docks into practical,
competent hands, have all the work done
bv contract, and rid ourselves of costly
political asylum. If we do this the net
revenues of the docks will soon be doubled
and the work of improvement so much
needed will be pushed forward to compile.
ton as rapidly as the resources of the city
will warrant.
Year: 1877

NUMBER OF THE CoNTRrBUToRs to "Our
Complaint Book" seem of the opinion that pre-
tence is made of cleaning the city streets, and
that any pavement which is dirty must be so
through oversight. Such mistake may be nat
nral in civilized and wealthy city, but it is
the less mistake.
Year: 1877

To WREsTLE ALL NIGHT only to be put in chan
Gerry at the end by wretched bit of paper in the
hands of Deputy Sheriff must have convinced
one of the heroes of the late Grrco-Roman strug-
gle Of the final worthlessness of science.
Year: 1877

If THE New YORK YACHT CLUB, which had
such glorious time at dinner yesterday, is really
in dcmorazed condition, decentralization will
be cultivated as virtue by lovers of good living.
Year: 1877

PLEASANT INFORMATION FOR New Workers.
Smallpox is most prevalent in Jersey City in the
streets which are dirticst. Most New York
streets rank alike in fithincss, and Jersey City
cannot slrpass them.
Year: 1877

PRESIDENT MARTINS REPORT to the Park Com
mission on desired improvements in the uptown
wards will interest every resident of the annexed
district as we'll Us all other New Workers whose
local feeling does not prevent their longing for
more elbow room.
Year: 1877

A LITTLE STORY told by our Charleston cor
respondent hints ut an influence which will do
more toward breaking away sectional lines than
the combined political efforts of the day. Social
intercourse will do more than law can, for society
Is the creator of the law maker.
Year: 1877

An over logical correspondent takes
somewhat bitter exception to the treat
ment of the Dane who denounced him
self lately as nm ex-convict, eager only
to get again snugly within the comfortable
prison walls. Hanson the Dane is no doubt
a humbug. who adopted the course alluded
to in order to excite sympathy and obtain
assistance but if it were otherwise, if he
were really q convict and all reported had
happened as it was made to ap-
pear on the surface, the facts would
not have justified the recrimination made
by "a Porter" That he is unemployed
and finds it difficult to obtain employment
is a hardship which he shares with many
thousands; but would his case be any better
if charity were altogether banished from the
world, and if the generosity did not exist
that induced gentleman to encourage what
he deemed to be the repentance Of rogue?
Friend, I do thee no wrong" said the
master of the house in the Scripture when
they who received but little murmured be-
cause more seemed to be given to others.
Let the laborer remember that Hansons
case as presented in the story was far more
desperate than his, as the case of a jailbird
is not in such connection to be put by the
side Of the case of an honest man.
CORRECTING CORRECTION. AS we have
said, our Complaint Book" is not in
tended to be medium for expressing pri-
vate grievances, but one for the redress Of
public wrongs, and an example of its value
in this respect is furnished by the letter
| from Postmaster James which we print be-
low. A citizen who had been ovorcharged
for postage at one of the stations entered his
complaint in our book, but it was said TO be
unfounded by the Postmaster. He now nd
mts, in frank and manly way, that he was
himself mistaken, and that our correspond
| ent was right


| To rny EDITOR or THE HERALD:-


Finding myself IN error tho date of the detcn.
ton OF tho steamer Huntsville, for Porto Rco desire
| publicly to admit tho fact The Huntsville sailed on
the 18th inst with mails for Porto R,co aud tho
postage properly chargeablc letters by that vessel
| was nvc cents per half ounce Tho postponcmcnt OF
her sailing day The 18th probably caused
the erroneous information given ut Station II 10 your
ndcnt The superintendent there will refund
tho excessive charge mis- application. Respectfully


THOMAS L. JAMES, Postmaster


New YonK, March 81, 1877.


1t is in this way that such letters can bt
made useful to the community and matters
apparently small become sources of genera
information.
Year: 1877

The Eighty-sixth street Methodist Episcopal church
yesterday celebrated the iorteh anniversary Of it's
establishment Morning, afternoon and evening SER
vices were held commemorating the event, and ad-
made by several of tho former pastors Of
the church. pamphlet containing a sketch OF the
history the church, and directory OF Its present
organization and membership also issued on the
occasion OF the anniversary.
Year: 1877

CINcIsNArr, December 6.-owing TO
the difficulty in the collection OF the tax
assessed by the Grand Lodge OF Ken.
tucky, the Masonic Lodge OF Maysville
has been declared clandestine by the
Grand Master Of the State.
Year: 1877

VIZ call attention to the advertisement
OF the New York Ptblic in another col.
unn-a paper from which we frequently
quote valuable statistics in regard 10 the
business Of the country. The Public
makes specially Of collecting the bank
clearinss Of the principal cities every
week aud showing from them the rise
or fall of business prospects.
Year: 1877

New YORK MILLINER AND DREssMAKER.
The February number of this excellent
fashion monthly is on our table. Its cheap
ness Inscription only s1.5O per annum-
together with its varied aud interesting con-
tents, combine to give it a rapid growth in
popular favor.
Year: 1877

creantS avtenuon was partlauy wltnurawn
from me, and I managed to possess myself


of my pistol. Now, under pretence Of


making motion as if in compliance with
his requirements, seized the opportunity


to dash aside the weapon held at my head,


and freeing my throat from his grasp,


sprang to my feet, at the same time flashing


my pistol directly in his face.


Without stopping to see the result of my


shot, I darted upon my other foe, who had


relinquished the bride of my horse at the


report of my weapon, and who stood for


the moment completely astounded at my


sudden movement. Before he could re-


cover or offer any resistance, with one blow


from the butt of my discharged pisto


I stretched him bleeding and lifeless at my


feet.


To spring upon my horse-who, through.


out the encounter had stood quietly by
and dig the spurs into his sides was the


work of a moment. Though driving through
rain, darkness-over countless distractions,
we flew like the wind Every moment l
fancied could hear sounds of pursuit.
behind me; for so thoroughly was imbued
with the ideas of almost fabulous prowess
and marvellous escapes with which popular
credence invested the character and career
of Blake, that I could not at the time be-
leve had killed him; and had not the
hardihood to expose myself to the risk Of
again falling into his clutches merely tx
make this point certain.


In all incredibly short time I arrived al
what seemed to be the place where the
trail branched and turning into the righ'
path this time proceeded along it for q
mile or more. Suddenly peal of thunder
reverberated through the Forest instantane-
ously succeeded by vivid flash of light
ming, which, Illuminating my surroundings
displayed the termination of the path, and
a cluster of settlers cabins directly before
me.


A moment later / dismonnted at tho door
of the nearest cabin, and knocked. My
summons was quickly answered by the
proprietor, who proved to be the maa
was in search Of. He gave me hospitable |
welcome, and after my physical wants had
been attended to, related my adventure.
The knowledge Of Blake's plopinquity |
gave my host considerable alarm; and he at |
once communicated tho intelligence to
number Of his nearest neighbors, who,
completely armed, assembled at his house
to be prepared in case the desperate, or
any of his band, should attempt all attack
upon the settlement.


The night passed without any disturbance;
and early in the morning I accompanied
the backwoodsmen to the spot where l had
been assailed We found the body of the
man with the bushy eyebrows, which was
1t once identified as that of Blake. My
shot had been well sped, and I received the
hearty congratulations of the settlers on my
Blakes confederate had
made good his escape. evidently having only
oeen stunned by my blow.


Not long after the occurrence I was made
he recipient of a considerable reward which
lad been offered by the Government for the
,ody of Blake, "dead or alive" and under
he circumstances I hardly regretted my
dventure.
Year: 1877

Blake, of whom p'raps you've heard


before"


The announcement that had fallen into


the hands of this desperado-formerly one


of General Taylor's most efficient scouts,
subsequently leader of half the unquiet
spirits that ranged the Texan border to the
terror of the peacefully disposed-tilled me
with unspeakable alarm. Whoever at that
time lived in the clone star" State was well
acquainted with Blakes merciless charac-
ter; for his Infamous deeds had been
blazoned over the length and breadth of the
land, and in no instance were they known
to have been characterized by the least
spark of humanity. His band had lately
been broken up, and the majority captured
and disposed of by that potent Nemesis of
the backwoods - Judge Lynch. Blake,
however, had made his escape, and for some
time was not heard of.


was familiar with these facts; and be-
lievng that could hope for no mercy from
Blake, even in case of complying with his
l quickly resolved to make an !
effort for my life, or sell it dearly. During
the brief colloquy given above, the mis-
Year: 1877

President Lincoln used to be called slow,
even by many true friends, but he always
came out right; and there is every reason to
believe that President Hayes is pursuing the
same judicious policy to the same noble sue
cess.-Boston Journal.


The tendency of President Hayes's policy,
says the New York Evening Post, is to
build up two respectable and powerful parties
in the Southern States and, unless human
nature in its political outgrowth is different
at the South from what it is anywhere else.
these two parties will take care that the col.
ored voter is protected in his equal rights.


Postmaster General Key said, in chat
with the Philadelphia Times correspondent
"They must remember that the President
must be governed in great measure by the
men who placed him in power-his Repunli-
can advisers. The Southern men can't ex-
pect 20 have things done exactly in their
way"


One thing is certain, that the President has
not altered one jot or title of his determine,
ton that military interference on the part OF
the general government in the local affairs OF
the Southern states shall cease, and that this
Year: 1877

shall be an accomplished fact before the as


semblins Of the special session Of Congress-


despatch to the Boston Journal


Fernando Wood has been talking 10 Chi


cago Times reporter: ''He thought that the


Democratic party was great living power,


and that it tomorrow every one of its lead


ers were to leave its ranks and John Doe


were to be nominated for President of the


United States he would receive as large a


vote as was cast for Mr.. Tilden." This is a


compliment not only to Mr.. Tilden but to the


intelligence OF the great party.


There need be no fear that the Southern


question will be an open one or that the


Pres dent policy Will be still undetermined


when Congress shall reassemble in extra ses-


sion. The administration certainly does not


anticipate any delay that can prevent the


presentation to Congress of its southern pol


icy as an accomplished fact. The expecta-


ton now is that long before the intervening


two months are ended some adjustment of af
fairs both in South Carolina and Louisiana


will have been made, and the issues connect
ed with the future treatment of the South
will have been definitely presented to the
country. .-DeSpGtch to Nele York Tribune.
The attorney general is rapidly coming to the
conclusion that he has not done one very big
thing for himself ia giving up life position
on the supreme bench of Massachusetts, TO
accept the precarious tenure of place in the
cabinet, with all its attendant annoyances
and Inconvenience. His judicial turn of


mind and his habits are put TO sore test by
the crowd of place hunters and other people,
who take. up almost his entire time. In
speaking of the subject to-day to a senator
he said: You see before you the biggest fool
in Massachusetts. / gave up a place which
suited me exactly, and where was comfort
| ably and permanently fixed, for one which
does not suit me at all. Washington Special
| TO the Baltimore San.


II is believed that some of the cabinet en-
tertained very different views as to the rela.
tions between the legality of Nichols title
and that of Packard from the view enter
tanned by some Republican Senators. The
President himself is alleged to believe that
the claims of the two governors rest entirely
upon different basis, and that while the re-
turning board of Louisiana had reyisory Judi
cial power over the returns for electors, from
which there is no appeal, yet that it has no
such jurisdiction, indeed, has no jurisdiction
| over the returns of the vote for the egisla-
| ture, but that under the Louisiana constitu-
tion the legislature is the sole Judge of the
election and qualification of its members,
| and that legislature so constituted can
alone canvass the vote for governor Wash
angton Special to the Boston Journal.
Year: 1877

THE political power a, well as the numeri-
cal strength of the Catholic church in this
country is apt to be overated. Rev. Joseph
Cook OF Boston, said in recent discourse
that politicians would do well to remember
that while in the Catholic church in America
there were two millions of si,tings. there
were in the Baptist three millions, Metho.
dsts six millions and Congregational one and
a half millions.
Year: 1877

SEVERAL of the parties implicated in the
massacre of Cinnamon at Chico, California
have been arrested. 1t is greatly to be hoped
that the whole gang may be brought to jus.
tice. The Cinnamon were engaged clearing
land for the purpose of earning their own
living by digging it out of the soil. If this
poor privilege is to be denied any human be-
ing in any part of the United States it is high
time that remedy be found.
Year: 1877

AN excellent test of the policies of the two
parties may be found by comparing the credit
of the Government after sixteen years of Re-
publican control with the condition of those
states under Democratic management. The
United States, with its immense debt, can
negotiate its four-and-a half-per-cent. bonds
at premium. while North Carolina and
Tennessee can only dispose of their bonds at
a ruinous discount. As has been repeatedly
shown, this sorry financial exhibit is not
chargeabie to what is styled carpet-bag rule,
for Mississippi was a repudiator before the
war to the amount of 100000. Never in
its history has the credit of our country stood
better abroad
Year: 1877

THE Rev. L. W. Bacon, writing flom
Geneva to the Christian Union, says that un-
til he gets more light he shall remain of the
opinion that the Old Catholic Church has no
religious vitality; that it is mainly political
operation, managed by politicians, who take
advantage of the conscientious scruples of a
few sincere men to give it the show of relig-
ious character; that the spread, of Old Catholic
principles are delusive; that it is still worse
delusion to judge the movement and follow
els by the respectable character of some of
its religious representatives; and he thinks
that the whole thing will collapse shortly af-
ter the withdrawal of state patronage, unless
it should continue to be run for a time on
funds supplied from England.
Year: 1877

A strange coincidence in theatre
frights occurred Monday. AT the New
ark Opera House a small boy mistook
the nature of a calcium light and shout
ed ''6re y with the effect of clearing the
house and causing two persons TO be
severely crushed by the crowd. In the
National Theatre at Washington, the
play being the 1.-TWO Orphans and
the occasion being the first appearance
of Kate Claxton and this play since the
burning of the Brooklyn Theatre, cry
OF s6ghtI was mistaken for Sire" and
a panic Immediately resulted, in which
several persons were severely bruised


Pay up your dues at this Office.
Year: 1877




Why PEOPLE DO NOT MARRY BETTER.
You have seen beautiful girl, beau
tiful in person and spirit, graceful in
form and feature, and Of a lovely dis
position, married to a man OF common
mould Who cannot recall many such
circumstances Then, again, you see
strong, intellectual men---men every
way superior-so grievously mismated!
1t is often remarked that if matches are
made in Heaven, they must have got
dreadfully shaken mp and misplaced on
their way down. Now it is very natu-
raj not only that people should, in the
first place, want to marry well them
selves, but also, i'll the second place,
that their own friends should be par
ticularly well married. At the same
time, when we come TO take broad,
philosophical view Of the matter, what
do we find our conclusion TO be on the
subject? ? 1t is very simple, and it is
this Marriages, on the whole, cannot
average above certain medium. In
other words, marriages in general must
be precisely on the level with the gen
eral character of the persons Of whom
the community is made. And as a
comprehensive proposition the whole
problem of marriage is reduced to this
question Is it better for such people
to marry each other or live single 7 1t
is inevitable that as marriage is general,
there must be thousands of instances in
which parents will be disappointed at
the matches which their children make.
Love is mysterious, and it leads the
feet of boys and girls in directions
where their fathers and mothers would
fain not have them go. They will not
select companions for life which others
would select for them. The most that
can be done to render marriag yes happier
is TO contribute what one can 10 the
improvement of the whole community.
You cannot foresee who may become
your daughter in law or your son-in law
perhaps the very last person on earth
you would expect. Whatever parents
do, therefore, for the physical, intellectu.
al and moral culture Of the whole peo-
pie tends to increase the chances that
their own sons and daughters will
marry WE'LL Ex. ..L
Year: 1877

Frank Belkuap, one of the earliest at
the scene, says that the cries of victims
for help were piteous. There was
young and finely dressed girl of ten
years ofage struggling in vain to release
her hips from the weight which was
crushing her slender form, and close
behind were the flames shooting out
their forked tongues, which in another
instant had enyeloped her in their e:n-
brace. Here was fine appearing gen
tleman of middle age, sitting bolt up
rigt in his seat and unable 10 extricate
himself, calmly awaiting the flames,
which soon claimed their victim. There
were bodies floating out from the wreck,
and others not yet strangled by the icy
flood were attempting TO make their
way to the shore. A crowd soou made
their way to the burning debris, and
with the aid of ropes and axes many
were extricated, placed on stretchers
and taken up to the hill, where the best
of assistance awaited them. The hotels
at the depot were soon filed, and pri-
vate houses were thrown open through
out the town. The surgeons of the
town rendered all the assistance in their
power, but many perished during the
night. Others ara now lying in suf-
fering condition in the hotels ard pri-
vate houses 1t is estimated that fully
one hundred peasons have been killed
in this terrible disaster


In the great peril of the hour man
rushed down TO the scene of the dlsas-
ter ready to help in rescuing. He saw
a woman struggling for life, and went
TO her assistance lie carried her by
main force to solid ice, and then, urged
by the cries of the mother, went back
TO rescue her daughter, child of three
or four years. The treacherous wood
in spintering had caught the child in
its grasp, and the fire completed the
horrible work. The man was compell-
ed to see the child enveloped in the
flame, and to hear her "Help me, moth
err" ringing out in an agony OF death.
In moment she was lost, swept up by
the sharp tongue of fire, while the
mother, in helpless agony, fell in Q
deadly swoon.


There was no board a family named
Bennett on its way from New York
State to Jefferson, Ashtabula County.
The father and mother got out of the
wreck, ard the children were only saw
ed by being tossed from the arms OF
one man to another over the pile OF
burning wood One of the four chill
dren was seriously injured, and all were
slightly scratched Saturday morning
the mother gave birth TO child, th,
event being FASTENED by the excitement
she had undergone.