smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Some time ago one of the reporters of the
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine made an
observation, replete with sagacity and the
wisdom of this world, to the effect that when
ever court wished in the furtherance of JUS
tice to decide case particular way, it could
always fad good reasons and a satisfactory
method. When Judge Dillon came some-
what late to the conclusion that the bond
holders of the Iowa Central Railroad had not
been justly used by the trustee, he found
himself confronted by his own decision, that
he could not coerce that independent sover-
eighty, the Farmers Loan and Trust Com
pany. But having determined that the road
ought somehow to be in the hands of its own
ers, rather than in the hands of relatives and
friends of the legal fraternity in Iowa, he an
nounces that while he will not and cannot CO.
erce the trustee, nevertheless he can and
will remove the trustee ii proper cause is
shown. Meantime the court hopes that the
trustee will see its way clear to execute the
decree, as it is perfectly safe in so doing.
With this interesting brad in its plank, the
trustee for the first time begins to behold
daylight, and purposes to execute the decree.
We congratulate the bondholders. 1t is as
tonishing how court can further justice,
when it earnestly sets about it.
Year: 1877

IT appears by the Shoe and Leather Re-
porter that for long time past the sewing
machine companies have been making much
lower than the schedule prices to manufac.
turers using a large number of machines.
They had, in fact, in their business with
manufacturers done about what they are now
doing with the general public-cut off the
commission of agents and middlemen and
sold the machines at fair advance to cover
a business profit on their manufactures.
They will now cut off large portion of their
expenses in running stores for display, and in
commissions to agents, and do their business
more generally on cash basis, with the re-
suit to the community at large of sewing ma
chimes at about one-half the former price,
and to themselves, no doubt, of largely in
creased manufacture.
Year: 1877

THERE is always much curiosity in regard
to the habits of authors, and "Judge'' Big
man, who figures in The Innocents Abroad,
has undertaken to enlighten the world in
regard to Mark Twain's methods of compost
ton. The "Judge" has poor opinion of
the work, which, he says, is ga low spublica-
tion that can only excite the contempt of
wise men and the goddess laughter of FOOLS"
He told reporter how the book was written:
"Why, he'd lie down on his stomach on the
floor, with whisky bottle and tumbler and
little pieces of paper scattered all around the
room. And he'd have an old stump of a PEN
Gil, and as his ideas came to him he'd crawl
around from one bit of paper to another, and
knock overi anybody that came in the way.
demonstrated, but he said it was. his way of
writing, and he couldn't bring out his ideas
on difficult subject like our journeyipgs in
the East except just in that way"
Year: 1877

GIDEON PILLOW, ex-Confederate General
is strongly of the opinion that the proper way
to restore good feeling between the North
and the South is for the two sections to unite
in robbing Mexico of some land. The con-
sciousness of common guilt might be bond
of union, but the majority of our people will
prefer some other method of reconciliation.
Gen. Pillow. thinks we should secure "two bor-
der Mexican states, thus giving US the great
natural boundary of the Panama river and the
chain of Sierra Madre Mountains to Saltillo,
and thence to the Gulf Of California" This
scheme of plunder he enthusiastically recon-
mends 10 President Hayes.
Year: 1877

GEN. SHERIDAN thinks there is too much
talk about forgiveness of the South. He was
present at presentation of colors to Chi
cago regiment on the evening of Decoration
Day, and was called upon for speech.
Finally he came forward and said: 81 came
here tonight to see and hear the presenta-
tion of flag to the Second Regiment, in
which am interested. did not expect to
take part in the exercises. But perhaps it is
not inappropriate for me to say few words.
1 went out to-day to decorate the graves. I
think shed about as many tears and scat
tered about as many flowers as anybody, for
many of those men fell in my command.
have listened to what has been said here
tonight. Since 1 shook hands with Gen.
Lee at Appomattox have been willing to
forgive. But 1 will only forgive when the
principles for which they fell are established.
I don't think it best to be too hasty about
1t. Idon't believe in legslating forgiveness.
don't believe in talking forgiveness. Idon't
believe in talking so much about it. don't
belong to any party. 1 am not Republican.
am not Democrat. But I think this
thing is too much talked about. 1t must be
allowed to take its own course, as other mat
ters do. It will take time. But 1 don't be-
lieve it is well to do too much talking about
Year: 1877

THE Hon. Hiram Price and others have
through the counsel for the trustee made
proposition to buy the Iowa Central Railroad
for thirty-three per cent of the first mort
gage. In other words these gentlemen be-
lieving, as they had very fair reason to be-
lieve, that the bondholders would by this
time be worn out by the long and unsatisfac-
tory litigation before Judge Dillon, who is
the son-in-law of the Hon. Hiram Price,
propose to become the owners of the road for
one-third, or TO speak more exactly for less
than one-fourth of its cost. This is interest
ing testimony as to the value of the road, for
Mr.. Price was very early in the history of the
litigation appointed commissioner by Judge
Dillon to examine the road and make report
thereon. Hence it is great satisfaction to
learn from competent authority that the road
is still valuable. Moreover the bondholders
need have no fear; for while the history of
this road makes it evident that in Iowa no
such prejudice prevails against relatives as
disfigured the administration of Jefferson,
yet the court has evidently now got hold of
the idea that railroad will probably do bet
ter in the hands of its owners than in the
hands of the most capable politicians.
Year: 1877

A NEW departure in the history of board
ing schools is made by the Principal of a
Young Ladies' Institute in Brooklyn. He is
attempting to secure the Indictment of a
young man who flirted with one of the girls.
1t is easy to foresee that this rash endeavor to
overthrow time-honored customs will seri-
ousy injure the popularity of the school.
Year: 1877

Gov. CULLOM of Illinois has done sensi-
BILE thing in vetoing the bill passed by the
Legislature making silver coin legA-tender
for the payment of all debts in that state. As
the Legislature is not in session the measure
fails to become law, and the probability of
conflict with the general government is
done away with.
Year: 1877

CONNECTICUT legislators object to the new
plan of winter sessions, and complain that
the state house is dreary place in winter.
In summer they say, the capital is much
more attractive. They can lounge about in
the park, and lie under the trees and form
gigantic plans for the improvement of the
state while they sip cooling beverages. There
is much better chance for junketing too in
the summer But the people of Connecticut
insist that business is much sooner de-
spatched in winter sessions,
Year: 1877

Delicacy of feeling is trait Of charac-
ter almost more lovely and engaging
than any other. It is quality whose
hidden principle exists in a greater or
less degree in every mind, though it is
often thrown into the shade by the work
ings of the fercer passions, in the rude
encounters of life. Mans mind, as mani
tested in his daily converse with the
outward world, seems to be made OF
J" sterner stuff" and cast in rougher
molds, but deicacy is no mark Of weak
ness, for it is essentially consistent with
the stoutest courage aDd the subllmest
energy. It is in every respect manly
quality, and throws over the whole In
tellectual and moral character kindlier
hue. If true delicacy exists in the heart,
it will gush spontaneously from it: and
never can the cold can't OF hypocr1tlcal
formality be mistaken for the warm well
come of the soul.


Power, mental or physical, never ap-
pears so great as in the hands OF those
who seem unconscious of its possession.
True intellectual greatness gathers an ad-
ditional charm when accompanied by real
delicacy of feeling. Kindness may en-
ter where the sword cannot penetrate,
and a "soft answer" and winning de-
pertinent, springing from delicate feel
ings and generous heart, have always
proved irresistible. Breathing nothing
but harmony and love, ga ministering
angel " to mankind, it goes to and fro
on the earth, uniting everywhere more
firmly And strongly the bonds Of social
union.
Year: 1877

sold into Barbary. BE probably
did not remain longin slavery, for
at the beginning Of the civil wal
he was made a captain in the royal
army, and in 1916 attended the
Queen Of France, where he re-
mained till the restoration. At
last, upon suspicion of his being
privy to the Guy Fawkes plot, he
was taken up in 1852 and confined
in the Gatehouse, Westminster,


where he ended his life in the sixty


third year of his age.
Year: 1877

TeIarkana MOI Democrat.l


Claiborne f. jackson, a native
of Kentucky, was once Governor of
the State Of Missouri. He Joined
the Southern Conlederacy, ana died
during his term at farm house
opposite the city of Little Rock,
among strangers, with no kind hand
of affection near to soothe his pain
and rob his deathbed of half its
anguish. The most remarkable
fact connected with his life is per.
haps the statement that he married
five sisters in one of the most re-
spectacle, wealthy, and distin-
guished families in the State; that
as soon as one wife would die he
would marry her sister in reasona-
BILE time. OF course, some of them
were widows when he married
them. In connection with the mar
riages there was a standing joke
told at the expense of the Governor,
which was that when he went to
ask the old gentleman's consent to
marry the last one the venerable
father is reported to have said :
eyes, Claib, you can have her.
You have got them all. For good
ness sake don't ask me for the old
woman"
Year: 1877

Chicago, since which time he has
been employed as reporter on an
evening paper, and also as corrc-
spondent Of the st. Louis Globe
Democrat.


Meanwhile a divorce had restored
both parties to their original status.
Recently a correspondence sprung
up between them which rapidly
ripened into an engagement, and
last evening they were married over
again at the same place, and are
now on their way to Chicago. The
little rebel surrendered at last.
Year: 1877




Nobody ever connected the two circum-
stances; in fact. nobody, I imagine, ever
thought of them at all. They were of no
importance to any one but the women and
children, and they-well, they were too poor
to be of any consequence anywhere, except
In the sight of God. One night last fall
prayer meeting was in progress in large
down town church, and the prayers and
songs were so fervent and loud that the
sound floated out upon the street, and rag
ged, dirty woman stopped at the door and
listened. Getting a little closer to catch the
words that were more gently and softly
spoken, until when the congregation arose to
then half hidden in the corner peered out
on the scene. The room was warm and
pleasant, a soft carpet stretched from the
door to the altar. the seats were nicely
cushioned, and close by her hand was
the song book that was used in the
church. She was cold and ragged and
in every way a miserable looking creature,
and yet she enjoyed with keen pleasure the
ease and comfort of the place. She turned
idly, curiously the leaves, hunting for the
hymn that was announced catching q
glimpse here and there of familiar word or
phrase unseen and unheard since her child
hood. She bowed her head during the pray.
ers, but watched furtively the men who led
the devotions. She had heard something
like this when girl; she had repeated Our
Father, who art in heaven; she had said her
morning and evening prayers once, but that
was SO long ago that 1t was more like the
memory of dream than that of reality.
The minister's language she could under
stand, and il touched her heart. and losing
some of her faults and trespasses with every
word, the womsnliness, the purity of her
early life in measure returned and she de-
termined to do better" She was human
being, with hates and loves, with cruel and
generous impulses continually warning in
her heart, just like the men and women we
zee every day, passing and repassing them
on every avenue of earth. Once in awhile
they appeal to us in their struggles Some
times we lift them up. but generally we GO
by on the other side.


She went out into the darkness again as
he last words of the benediction were said,
che same outwsrdly, the same rags and dirt
and unkempt hair, but with little ray Of
light in the heart that had been 20 full Of
blackness and sin. This Christ who had
healed sinners, this tired and weary traveller
resting by the we'll and talking to the wo-
man of Samaria, would not turn her away,
she felt and believed with a timid trust that
was born Of her utter despair and her long
ng for something better than she had
known. There was one clean, white spot In
her heart, one place that the little ray Of
light shone upon with a clear, steady glow
her love for her children, the fstherless ones
Year: 1877

clothing as ever, yet somehow she never
grumbled, nor quarreled, nor complained.
Her children were clean though their
clothing was ragged, and she kept them
closer TO her, as much as possible drawing
them from evil society and influences. Now
and then she could get days work, and
carefully she spent her wages, little or moth
ing for herself, but all for Matte and Willie.
She got discouraged, down-hearted, sad, but
she kept trying, kept praying, and God never
forgot to bless and save her. Her ambition
has been to get her children decently dressed
for Sunday, and slowly she is accomplishing
the task There is many dress, many
coat, many garments hanging up in closets
or tossed away in trunks that would protect
and warm them, but it is nobody's business
to hunt them up, nobody's business to ask
II they are needed, and the snow and the
cutting wind and cold bite and sting, and
that too is nobody's affair but the ones who
suffer. The church and the Sunday-school
are to unite in raising money to buy a new
carpet and a new organ and some handsome
chairs for the altar next month, and the bet
ter class of pupils are bringing their pennies
now to help.


Some nights Matte and Willie go to bed
hungry and cold, they lie awake shivering
and crying and their mother almost gives
up in despair. Do you blame her7
Sometimes she hunts all day for work
and goes home at night without cent. She
begs now and then few cold victuals. but on
principle many times she is refused; peo-
pie do not believe in encouraging begging"
II is beg, or steal, or starve-which is it best
to dor Though she does not know it, there
are kind hearts that will help her, willing
hands that will strengthen her. One of the
members of the church, who is not very de-
monstrative, nor prominent in speaking or
public work, who, in fact, is regarded by the
jealous as rather 'weak vessel" has heard
of the woman and her children, and quietly
has determined plan of permanent relief.
Not of spasmodic aims giving, but giving
what is better to an able bodied, honest man
or woman-honorable work, with fair wages
And yet. before this relief comes-before
the woman can earn enough to support her
what is her condition? She must try to get
work. Failing in this, she and her children
must beg or steal. We can not afford, say
public economists, to educate and keep a race
of paupers. We can not allow people to
steal, says private and public interest, and
we must not allow them to starve, says God.
Which must we follow?
Year: 1877

A few weeks sine the Wheeling REG
IsTER published what has since been
fully proven to have been an unfounded
SANDER upon a gentleman here. and al
though We called the attention OF the
REGITRs 10 the fact that it was mis-
taken. so far il has failed to correct its
,.atements.-Ney MartinSUlLLe MeSsen-
ger.


To whom do you refer1 The editor OF
the Democrat? From the way you have
been talking about him one would sup
pose be could not be slandered.
Year: 1877

AND Mr.. Merriwether paused at the
gate rs he adjusted his continental oil
cloth coat and gave his torch the proper
slant over his shoulder, to shout to his
neighbor across the way:


" 1t is time that demands men, men
Of nerve and intelligence and courage,
men of clear ideas and pure convictions,
and the citizen who stands idly waiting
when the country calls him is heartless
and negligent and unpatriotic."


And then Mrs. Merriwether's voice
was heard floating over the front fence
like the song of bird in the nigh:


Ersstus Merriwether, if you go out
without splitting up enough wood for
the kitchen stove, I'll do some haymak-
ing in that carroty hair o. yourn that'l
make you wish this country never had
a President"


And it is just such chilling influences
as these that shut so many of our best
men out Of public life.
Year: 1877

WHERE ARE THE SINGERS ?-"What
have become Of the singers % asks the
Montreal G0zette. All, yes you can't
see from where you are sitting move up
toward this end Of the pew and VIC will
show you. That is the soprano, the one
nearest the end Of the choir, letting the
young fellow with the cnmel's hair nous
tsche and curling hair squeeze her hand
He is the tenor. There is the alto in the
opposite corner, and the meek-looking
little man with Burnside whiskers, who
Is feeding her with gumdrops and ner-
vously looking out for his wife's eye
(the big, high -complexoned woman near
the third woman on the right hand side
of the church with wart on her cheek,
is the baritone, and the burly looking
fellow who looks ike Barbary Coast
pirate, and who has just stepped around
behind the organ TO take drink with
the blower, that is the basso. Oh, if you
just want to know what has become of
the singers, ask Burttngton Hank
cue
Year: 1877

The colored members of the Republican
Legislature of Louisiana, headed by
Lieut.. Gov. Antoine, have issued long
address to the people of the United
States, urging the necessity of the i'm
mediate recognition of the State Govern
ment. They say: We assume there is
no question among Republicans of the
United States that President Hayes was
rightfully as we'll as lawfully accorded
the electoral vote of Louisiana. We who
know what crimes have been committed
upon the people of our race affirm it to
have been a most righteous decision" !"
They argue therefrom that Gov. Pack
ards title is removed beyond all ques-
tion, at least from Republican source.
Tney state their belief that there was no
equal number of voters in the United
States who better understood what they
were doing than did the seventy odd
thousand cOlored men who voted for Mr.
Packard, or who had more at stake than
they in the election of the Governor of
their choice. He had been chosen be-
cause he had been tried and proved faith
full among faithless, because against his
record for integrity calumny had never
breathed a charge, and because by ex-
ecutive ability and personal courage
he was regarded as eminently fitted
for the position. They assert In
no boastful spirit that to the colored
voters the Republican party is indebted
for the election of its candidate for Pres
ident. Not few of our race have sealed
with their blood their devotion to Repub-
lican principles. The faults of the Re-
publican State Governments in the South
have been grossly exaggerated by polit-
ical enemies. The administration of Gov
Kellogg reduced the debt and taxation,
and in this State, at least, under the edu.
cational advantages afforded by a Re-
publican Government, there were few
colored children who could not read and
write" They add that the colored peo-
pie have always stood ready, and stand
ready now to take up arms in defense Of
their chosen State Government il that
course would meet the sanction of a ma.
jority of the people of the United States;
but any organization of colored militia
has always been heralded as the inaugu-
ration of war of races, and this reluc-
tance on their part to further aggravate
the difficulties of the Southern question
has been made use of by their enemies
as proof of the inability of Southern
Republican Governments to maintain
themselves. In conclusion they enter
their most solemn protest against the
proposition to trade off the State of
Louisiana and the rights of the colored
people to the Democratic party for any
consideration whatever, and Indignantly
deny that any man of their race has been
authorized by them or by any considera.
BILE number of colored people of that
State to enter into any such nefarious
negotiation.
Year: 1877

crushing the life out of them. They
screamed and fought like maniacs, and
every effort to hold them back so that
the stairway could be cleared was Of no
avail. Father Whyte and several other
priests who were in the church parlors
at the time the panic occurred rushed
around to the front Of the church and,
assisted by patrolmen, by main force
dragged out some of the women who
we're lying on the stairs. A number of
women we're then got out alive and only
slightly injured. In their struggle for
life they were almost denuded of their
clothing.


As the priests and police, aided by a
number of citizens, made their way up
the staircase they found lying on the
steps five other women and a small boy.
They were taken out to the open air, but
life was extinct. One woman, Ann
Forbes, was brought out alive and ap-
parCntly not much injured. She walked
with the assistance of apoliceman to a
drug store on Sixth avenue, near Six
teenth street, where she expired in few
moments.
Year: 1877

eB- The proposition of President
Hayes to the South is a very plain one.
If you want pure local self-government,
without Federal Intervention in your af-
fairs, so establish it as to secure equal
rights and exact justice to all citizens,
irrespective of race or color or previous
condition. There never would have been
much difficulty in composing troubles
in that section had this proposition
been accepted and acted upon. But it
has not been. There has been studied
effort in some of the States to practically
disfranchise large class of citizens he
cause of their race and color, and no
more eloquent testimony of the fact is
to be found than in the returns Of the
Presidential election of 1876 in the States
of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and
Louisiana. Cincinnati GoHmereiat.
Year: 1877

a small creek short distance off; but


before reaching it she met person who
tore off her burning garments. She
was found to bo foarfully burned, the
flesh dropping from her fingers and
some portions of her body. She lin.
gered in excruciating agony for two
days, when death put an end to her suf-
ferinDs 4
Year: 1877

U. 8. Senator was received by the Governor
OF Ohio on the 12th.


The Nichols Legislature Of Louisiana on
the 18th adopted the following:


RESOLVED, That we accept the declaration
OF the National Executive, of non-interven-
tlon In the affairs of the State, as a happy
sugury for the future, and made in good
faith and In the true spirit of the COnstitu-
tion, and that this General Assembly will
earnestly cooperate with President Hayes in
every effort to restore confidence and fra
this great country, and to this end it pledges
all the power and influence at its command
TO secure the great object for which govern
ments were Instituted, viz: to guarantee
protection to life, liberty and property to
every human being within Its borders.