smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

A SNAKE CuakHER.-Somen new features
have lust been added 20 the attractions Of
the ROYAL Aquarium at Westminster, which
are likely to prove interesting to the general
public, and particularly so to naturalists.
One is an exhibition OF an extraordinary
power which female Abyssinian snake
charmer possesses over reptiles OF the boa
constructor class. The snake charming of
Snalla differs in some respects from that OF
the Indian snake charmers who were brought
to Europe by DIR. Lynn. In the latter case
the veuomous cobra was shown to be capa-
Bile of control; but in the present instance
the serpents belong to the non-yenomous
class, which kill their prey by compression.
Snalla has brought with her three young
anacondas and boa constructor, and Mr..
Farini. to whose enterprise We owe this re-
markable exhibition, has added a splendid
python from the southwest coast Of Africa


Snalla is apparently about twenty-elght or
thirty years of age. of light brown color,
with somewhat pleasing features, and hthe
and graceful form. Her power over the SER
pents seems to be complete. The anacondas
(which must not be conlounded with the gi-
ransic South American water snake, though
they are of the same genus) allow her TO
treat them with the utmost familiarity.
During the performance she keeps mp with
out intermissiOn a low monotonous chant,
supposed to be one of the means employed
for the charming Of the reptiles and they ap
near to be most doeile and even affectionate.
One viii coil itself round her wais. and
another rouni her arms. The immense
muscular power of these creatures Is shown
when one of them, clutching her wrist with
its tail, extends Its body horizontally and
without apparent effort sways itself to and
fro or erects itself into vertical position.
The boa is about ten feet long and is very
beautiful serpent II is remarkably tame
II curls itself round Snalla's waist, and its
forked tongue plays around her head in a
manner that would be alarming if the per-
former did not convince us by her confidence
that no evil would result The python is a
recent purchase OF Mr.. Farini's, it is, there
fore, at present only undergoing the tanning
process; vet Snalla has In a few days got It
under such control that it will submit to her
manipulations, while it will fly fercely at a
stranger.-Londoa Post
Year: 1878

THE setting OF great hope is like the
setting of the sun. The brightness of
our life is gone, shadows of the evening
fall behind us. and the world seems but a
dim reflection of itself-a border shadow
We look forward into the lonely night
the soul withdraws itself. Then stars
arise, and the night is holy.
Year: 1878

A PLEASANT place in which to study
human nature is the New Jersey state
prison An account of the tanning pro.
cess in that institution says: "There
is, first, the boot-heel.gag.o Ia very pain.
Year: 1878

A BILL for the suppression of tramps
is before the Maryland legislature. 1t
provides that any wandering, INDECENT,
and unemployed person may be sentenced
by a justice of the peace to six months
imprisonment. The tramp thus dealt
with is to be put to WORK but before the
committal he may have, if he desires it,
q trial by Jury.
Year: 1878

The dissatisfaction felt with the report
of the Canadian fisheries commission is
so great and general that congress will
not confirm it. 1t will be attacked in
both houses as unjust, unreasonable anc
not based on facts, As the whole matter
has to be ratified by congress before it
can have any force, or before the award
can become due, it may be taken for set
tied that the result of the commissions
labors is as good as thrown away.
Year: 1878

"With this sum specie payments can be
resumed at rnce, and the promise that is
written ON the face Of the greenback to pay
the dollar, made good. This would give
Bill n good dollar for his work, aud the
wounded veteran good money for his PEN
sion, which is only justice and fair play 10
Bill and the veteran; that is Bill not only
would work for gold wages as he
does now, but would buy his goods
at gold prices, and thereby save
another large item of the $25434 that


is pressed out of him annually
SPECIE PAYMENTS IS THE ONE
THING NEEDFUL I'm OUR PRESENT
CONDITION., AND WILL L CURE Us OF
MANY FINANCIAL ILLS. The m oment
You have got specie payments, Pendleton's
and Bufier's theory of paying the bonds in
greenbacks, which means neither more or
less than more and meaner money, be-
comes obsolete. If Congress in its blum
derlnzs, did NOT agree to pay the principal
of the bonds in gold, it ought to have
agreed to, and specie payments will make
the agreement what it ought to be. The wit
of man cannot devise amy scheme that will
bring absut specie payments other than re-
deeming sreenbacks with gold; that is, let
somebody else have some good money be-
sides the bOndh hslders-SOLON CHASE,S
"POOR MANS TRACT" OF 1871.
Year: 1878

ments of the city government with the Mayor
in his efforts to that end. Never has the
city been run, as far as expenses are con-
cerned, as snugly as the present year. If
taxes are high, our citizens may rest assured
that they have been brought down to the
lowest possible figure. So walk up to the
Treasurers Office and settle like little men,
and save YOur nar cent
Year: 1878

We do not read anonymous letters and communi~
cations The name and address Of the writer are in
all Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as a guaranty of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or preserve COM
munications that are not used.
Year: 1878

TIE latest statement of the fiat money
organs with regard to the 7.30 notes, namely,
that they were all made legal tenders by Sec
ton $500 of the revised statutes, having been
called to the attention of the Treasury au-
thorities, the following answer is made by
one of them: "If section $500 applies to any
of the 1905 that were issued, it, by its terms,
can only apply to 1905 issued under the act
of June 80, 1864, which were for the sum of
two hundred millions only, for the reason
that the six hundred millions were author
lied only by the act Of March 3, 1866. The
revision itself is inaccurate. There was no
authority to change the law in its spirit or
terms. The acts to which it refers do not
provide that all the 1905 issued under them
should be legal tender, but that only such
1905 should be legal tender as might be
issued with the interest and principal paya-
BILE at maturity. This limitation was omitted
in the revision es matter of fact, as the
1905 were never issued within that limita-
tion. But all of these two hundred millions,
as well as the six hundred millions authorized
by the latter, were made with interest pay
able semi-annually, and consequently by the
original acts were not legal tender. The re-
vision, therefor, was an incorrect statement
of the original law, in that it omitted this
limitation as to the kind of 1905 which
might be made legal tender. But if this Sec
tion of the Revised Statutes is to apply to the
issue of two hundred millions, every dollar of
these had been redeemed or converted years
before the revision was made. In these same
Revised Statutes there is section of limita-
tion as to the effect of any change which the
revision might have made in the existing law
that entirely exempts even the two hundred
millions from the operation of this false re-
vision. That exemption is found in section
5597, at the end of the revision Of the laws,
where it is provided that any changes en-
braced in the revisions shall not affect any
act done or any right occurring or accrued
before the revision. But the redemption of
the 1905 was an act accomplished long be-
fore the revision was made; so that, in short,
the fiat money men cannot rely on section
$3.50, as by its terms it exempts the six hun
dred millions. Only by perversion could it
include the two hundred millions, and by the
exemption of the very Revised Statutes them
selves does not include them.
Year: 1878

WILL THE MFLoN DE CUT?-A PETITION


AMONG THE BoARD OF DIRECTORS


1t currently reported on Wall street yesterday
that petition in circulation among parties in
terested in the stock of the Western Union Telegraph
Company requesting President Green to call .
special meeting Of the stockholders for the purpose
Of considering the advisability OF increasing the
capital stock Of the company from s35.0oo.ooo to
$4,000, 900, by using the surplus stock in the
treasury. which was. in that event. to be
divided '.pro rata" among the stockholders
This report started some time ago by q
large holder OF Western Union stock. who stated that
the petition had been signed by holders of onethird
of the stock Il had the effect Of sonding the stock
however, never presented, and the whole thing
was denounced as stock kjobbns operation, causing
tho stock to decline President Green stated ut that
time that he had heard the snbject discussed among
OF the largest stockholders, and he would not be
surprised if such petition were handed to him He
said that he would be obliged to call special meeting
OF the stockholders II requested to do by the hold
OF onethird of the stock By majority Of the
Board Of Directors.


DIREcToH's VIEWS.


Yesterdays rulnor could be traced to reliable
in downtown circles, but last evening u
HERALD representative was informed by prominent
director OF the company that there truth in
the report. He said that petition asking President
Green to ca.i meeting OF the Stockholders had been
in circulation for three days among the directors of
the company for signatures. 1t had already been
signed by Of the directors and the first name
the list that Of man who had been prominent
in the politics OF this State The idea Of the
authors OF this petition WAS to have the
Stockholders together and consider
the proposition Of dividing this surplus
stock. to have the matter settled and thereby
prevent gambling the stock i'm Wall street He
and others of the directory did not wish to be ident
fed with any company whose stock could be run up
knocked down at the pleasure of Wall street spccu
lators. For his part no III favor OF division Of
this surplus stock, ii the company paid less
dividend than six Per cent as al present He said
however, whether the stock was divided OF not 1t
would make difference to the stockholders. as
with the capital ut $35 100000 and the surplus
naming in the treasury, the company would un-
doubtedy pay larger dividend than six per cent for
the coming year. and they would have tho advantage
OF holding large surplus in the treasury with which
the could meet any obligations.
Year: 1878

fNorH-Letters intended for this column must be
accompanied By tho writer's full and address to
insure attention. Complainants who are unw ng TO
comply with this rule simply waste time In writing
Write only on one side OF tho paper ED HsaALD.l
Year: 1878

To THE EDfroR OF TIE HERALD:-


AZ your paper has always taken q deep interest IN
the oppressed and abused savings bank deposisors
permit me call your attention TO ths practice OF
demanding small sum OF money from each deposition
In lhe Teuionix Bank whenever payment Is made by
tho receiver. It 10 simply an cxtofsion.
Year: 1878

From the BntfAlo, N. Y Commercial.


1t was q sight to see Buffalo hsrbor yester-
terday. So great was the rush that it is i'm
possible to tell at this writing just bow much
grain has been received or how many vessels
have come in. But it is safe to say that one of
the largest fleets. propably the largest that has
ever arrived at this port is now in the harbor.
The entries since Friday night will not fall far
short of hundred vessels, and many of them
belong to the large class of heavy carriers. At
one time the river was 80 full thst it was with
difficulty that the fresh arrivals could work
their way in without coming in collision with
some of those that had preceded them or could
find places at the docks to moor. The vessels
lay three and four abreast, on jth sides of the
stream, for some distance. 1t is estimated that
there are from three million to four million
bushels of grain sfoat and in store here this
morning. The recent heavy northeast storm
kept vessels back from two to three days, and
when the wind changed they all came in to-
gether. However, there will be very little de-
teution here, and in the course of few days
the entire hs set will be on its return voyage for
another load.
Year: 1878

WAsuNGTON Oct. 16.-ThcTe are Democrats
here who are supposed to be fully acquainted with
the purpose of the managers of their party, who de-
clare confidently that it Is the intention to force an
cx ira session Of Congress after the 4th OF March
To do this they will allow several Of the most I'M
portant Appropriation bills, il not ALL to 20 over
They say that they intend 10 leave the AdminINtra-
ton in such fix that it cannot carry on the Gov
eminent without promptly calling an extra session
without waiting until October, as in the case oi The
failure of the Army bill last year.
Year: 1878

THE cry that comes from the Southern
country ior help for the people who ar
smitten with. yellow fever will not be re-
ceived with indifference here. The time


are hard and our citizens are poor, but a.
soon as some one is clothed with authority
to receive subscriptions, money will flow
in. The sooner an organized effort to OBJ
tain funds is begun the better: The fever
victims need money now, and dollar to-
day will be worth as much as two dollars
that may be sent forward next week. 30
Year: 1878

I THE following is one Of the best house
disinfsctants to prevent the spread of any


infectious disease: Place an ounce or two
ofbrimstone in pan or basin, pour alco-
hol over il. 80 sure to place where the
fame cannot reach carpets or drapery, and
ignite Close the doors and windows and
sit out in the back yard until the stuff has
Year: 1878

l will give the above reward to
any one giving information that will
lead to the conviction Of the person
or persons who set Rre to q large
pine-tree on my premises and caused
its destruction. also give notice
that l forbid any aud all persons
from fishing and hunting on my
premises, and any person caught 80
doing will be prosecuted to the fnll
extent Of the law. l went to consid-
cradle expense and trouble to put
young trout into my streams last
year, and now the fishors are catch
ing them; and q lot Of boys and
men are in the habit of going about
with guns shooting little birds, blow.
ing holes through fence-boards, and
committing many other depredations.
I am resolved to put . stop to it on
my premises, so l warn all to keep
clear. JAMES SPENsLEY.
Year: 1878

THE quotation below giving an
account of how q fellow, who lives
DER the Grant county line, was
butchered into fries, roasts, and
broils, only two weeks since, ought
to serve as warning to oil bullies !:


"Ten in number completes the
whole. The one on the right
side Of the neck, commencing near
the center of the nape cut nearly
through the heavy muscles, thence
forward . little below the ear, barely
missing the large arteries, veins, ETC.,
in that region striking about Or o
little above the angle of the jaw,
thence across the cheek to within
about an inch of the nose. This
wound is eight inches or more in
length, and gaping at the widest
point one and one-half inches or
more. Another wound on the left
shoulder blade over Ave inches in
length, nearly perpendicular, not
deep. A stab in right thigh deep and
dangerous. A cut on the left thigh.
although longer is of less Importance.
There were two scalp wounds and
two fingers cut, also cut on the
posterior part Of the right thigh
above the knee-joint as we'll as cut
on tho left arm"
Year: 1878

The city of Berlin is at its wits
end to know how to relieve the con.
stantly increasing number of its poor
and destitute. Recent statistics show
that one out OF every twenty-five OF
its inhabitants is a pauper. Last
year a special poor fund of 6,71l,000
marks was contributed by the wealthy
citizens and by members Of the royal
family, but it fell short of the necces-
sites of the case.
Year: 1878

1t is well for the women of the house
hold to remember that the pleasant
evenings at home are strong antidotes to
the practice of looking for enjoyment
abroad, and seeking for pleasure in by
and forbidden places, for relaxation and
recreation will be INDUCED in somehow
by most men, and happy are they who
find in the heme circle the diversion
they need A lively game, an interesting
book read aloud. or in musical families,
a new song to be practiced, will make an
evening pass pleasantly.


A little forethought during the day,
little pulling of wires that need not
appear, will make the whole thing ap-
pear easy; and different ways and means
may be prepared for making the evening
pass pleasantly and time to be looked
forward to with pleasant anticipations.


We visited once large family where
it was the duty of each sister, in turn, to
provide the evenings occupation, and
there was pleasant rivalry between
them as to whose evening should be the
most enjoyable. The brothers entered
fully into the simple home entertain.
ments, and were as 10th to be obliged to
spend an evening away from home as
their sisters and parents were to have
them absent. Every one spoke of this
family as an uncomm0nly united one, tor
each and every member showed such a
strong attachment for the home to which
each one contributed so much pleasure.
Year: 1878

An idle married woman who does not
care for her husband, who either has no
children or elae takes no interest IN
them, must have something to give
flavor to life. Take the case of woman
who has risen from the ranks and attain.
ed that social position which the judicious
expenditure of large fortune can gen
orally give, at least in London. She
must take up something to make her
footing secure. She mnst discover a
Using star in art, science or literature,
and bring him before the public. Per-
haps she succeeds in persuading herself
that the passion Of her life is for music.
She is utterly ignorant of the subject,
and without anv natural taste, but
meeting, by chance, at an evening party,
a youth with long hair and nimble fin
gers, she decides that he is the composer
of the future, and invites him to call
on her "at home" AS he turns out to
be even more eccentric than she could
have hoped, he is at once adopted as a
child of the house, and given footstool
at his new mothers knee. He comes
after breakfast and remains to lunch.
The silent and suffering husband,
who expresses no paternal feeling toward
him, is compelled to retire to his club,
while the wife plays duets with the rising
genius. True, the poor youth has Ger.
tain fatal facility, and can ring changes
on feeble motive, with dexterous ac-
compartment formed out of the common
chord. But his compositions, though
numerous are always slightly incoherent.
There seems no particular reason why
they ever began, why they should ever
end, or why they should ever be counted
as compositions at all. They seem in.
variably to be studies OF chords of Sc
quence from various haphazard roints of
view. Here and there truly sweet
little air is begun, but it vanished unfn-
ished, and the attentive listener is sad
dened by his ears nearly as much as is
the critic by his eyes on behOlding the
rough sketches Of promise. Nothing il
finished, nothing completed; there is a
certain amountoi talent, but no industry
there is fancy, but it ends in failure.
Naturally his adopted mother sees moth
ing of this. She hears pleasant jingle,
and ia more than satisfied. She talks to
him of his wonderful heaven-sent origin
ality, his poetic.touch, his thrilling tones


Then she begs him to play over again
that air for the left hand. As he looks
up from the piano he sees her sitting
spell-bound on the sofa. She is in 8
morning-dress of white muslin, evidently
not dOnned from vanity, for nothing
could well be more unbecoming TO hel
portly form. She rises with deep
drawn sigh, and declares that, sooner
than believe talent like this can bt
wasted, she will renounce her belief in
future state of existence. She startlet
him, but being mystical and impression
able as an imperfect musician must need
, be, he rises to The occasion, and endeavor
to refresh her religious belief by a sketcl
Of his own. A new mission presents


itself. She must save her boys soul, i
Year: 1878

There is nothing a young unmarried
man likes better than to go to dinner on
Christmas day at the house of a married
friend and to be asked to carve the tur-
KEY. lie never carved a turkey in his
lite, and with an old maid on one side of
HIM. watching him closely, and on the
other side fair girl for whom he has a
tenderness, he feels embarrassed when he
begins. First, he pushes the knife down
to one of the thigh joints. lie can't find
that Joint, and punges the knife around
in search of it until he makes mincemeat
out of the whole quarter of the fowl.
Then he sharpens his knife and tackles it
again. At last, while making terrific
dig, he hits the joint suddenly, and the
leg flies into the maiden lady's lap, while
her dress front is covered with a shower
of stufling. Then he goes for the ether
leg, and when the young lady tells him
he looks warm, the weather seems to
him suddenly to become 400 degrees
warmer. This leg he finally pulls loose
with his fingers. He lays it on the edge
of the plate, and while he is hacking at
the wing he gradually pushes the leg
over on the tablecloth, and when he
picks it up it slips from his hand into
the gravy dish and splashes the gravy
around tor six square yards. Just as he
has made up his mind that the turkey
has no JOINTS to his wings, the host asks
him il he thinks the war with Turkey
will soon be over. The girl next to him
laughs, and he says he will explain his
views upon the subject after dinner.
Then he mops his brow with his hand
kercbief, and presses the turkey 50 hard
with the fork that it slides off the dish
and upsets a goblet of water on the girl
next to him. Nearly frantic, he gouges
away again at the wings, gets them off in
a mutilated condition, and digs into the
breast. Before he can cut any off, the
host asks him why he doesn't help out
the turkey. Bewildered, he puts both


legs on a plate and hands them to the
maiden lady, and then helps the young
girl to plate of stuffing, and while tax
ing her plate in return, knocks over the
gravy dish. Then he sits down with the
calmness of despair, and fans himself with
napkin, while the servant girl clear,
up and takes the turkey to the Other
end of the table. He doesn't discuss the
eastern question that day. lie goe:
right home after dinner, and spends the
night trying TO decide whether to com.
nit suicide or take lessons in carving
! New York Mercury.
Year: 1878

any one has soul, which she very much
doubts. He must come daily and spend
the morning beside her at the piano
She buys his Hymn to Sardanapalus,"
and invites him to her grand evening
entertainments TO play the accompani-
ments. Afterward, when he is very
tired, he ia allowed to improvise on the


latest opera boufe, and, as great treat,
to give rendering of his latest sacred
piece, which he composed to be played
on the organ in the Albert hail. Next
morning. she tells him that she alone
can understand his yearnings and his
genius; that she, too, has inspirations
which none but he can fathOm, and
then only through the love he has for
her. Hereupon great horror seizes
him, for her manner is more than me-
ternal. The poor young musician, being
secretly in love with German princess
whom he saw when on a pilgrimage to
Vienna, recoils, and taking up his hat in
his bewilderment, supposing it is his roll
of music, tries to stuff it into his pocket
and gets out of the room. His want of
presence of mind leaves him an orphan.
His hopes are gone, his only chance of
patronage is withdrawn, and if he can get
the position of organst in some obscure
country town, and keep himself from
starving, it will be the future limit of his
AMBITION Saturday Review.