smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

The good old grecnback that followed
the flag into and through the South and
conquered the rebellion, is now degraded
into a "supc's" position to gold and silver
that was only to be found during the war
in the vaults of the bankers. This is the
way the grccnback party tcadies to the
money-powcr; this is the way the party
which pretendcdly favors the poor man
bends its knee to his oppressor.
Year: 1879

In 1868 in the very midst of the war,
when the CLOUDS against the union were
dark and lowering, under the influence of
an increasing volume of money, there
were only 4S5 failures in the country. In
1878 when this volume had been reduced al
most 500 per cent, there were l0,47S fail
urcs. Comment is unnecessary.
Year: 1879

THE welcome news Is being
bruited about the land that the
Constitutional Convention will
surely adjourn by the end of next
week. 1t will not do, however, to
take heart of grace too soon. We
are not yet out of the woods. The
Convention may change Its mind
aud apply itself to seeing how
much lsnger the debates may be
drawn out and how much more
"wIndy suspIration Of forced
breathn may be crystalized In leg
isIative halls into inchoate organic
law. We say ''inchoate," for, to
adopt The happy language OF Mr..
Tildsn, the offence will not be
ssoonaummated' until the people,
on the third Wednesday In May,


have made themselves co-parceners


n the wrong-doIng. We are glad


e learn, however, that the chances
sro In favor OF the theory that the
people will be allowed to read the
new Constitution before being
called upon 10 vote It up or down.
Year: 1879

WE would suggest to those who


desire to vote intelligently on the
new Constitution that it would be
an excellent preparation for the
duty to read the old ene. 1t would


be profitable II not amusing to


have census taken Of the people
Of California who have ever read
the Constitution under which they
live. We would hazard wager
that of those who voted for Con.
stitutIonal Convention not one in
twenty ever read the existing in
strument. The great mass CT those
who voted "aye" on the proposl-
ton for q Convention probably
never gave q thought to the ques-
tion as to whether or no the old
Constitution needed any amend
ment. To our great surprise we
encountered, the other day, gen.
tleman who was in diligent quest
Of copy of the old Constitution
for the purpose, firstly, of seeing
whether it needed any amend
ment; secondly, to learn whether
the new instrument sup.
Piled its deficiencies. II it
did; and, thirdly, in order
to be able to tell for himself
whether, on the whole, he could
live more comfortably under the
now or the old instrument. We
commend his example to readers of
the HERALD as one eminently
proper to be initiated by all of
them.
Year: 1879

BERLIN, March 11.-Semi- official
papers say that surprise is felt in
government circles at the general
attempt made to give to England
all the credit of having kept
Russia to the treaty of Berlin.
The execution of the treaty is due
above all to Germany's frmness.
Year: 1879

THE Troy Times notes the fact that
the Democatic majority in the United
States Senate just preceding the out
break of the civil war was the same as
it is now, to>wit: Eight. That Senate
did its part towards stopping the gov
eminent, and this one will do the
same thing, in sslightly different way.
Year: 1879

A DIg Treasure Pind-Hemmed In BY


Arctic Airs.


San Francisco, August 5.-Some parties
in this city who have been working up the
matter for some time past have discovered
thewreck ofthe steamer Brother jonathan,
which foundered off the point OF St
George, near Crescent City, in July 1855.
She lies in an upright position in %
tathoms Of water, about so fathoms from
the submerged rock on which she is sup
pose to have struck. There was about a
million OF dollars 10 treasury and bullion
in her safe and the finders are fitting out
an expedition for its recovery. The
treasure belonged to the Government
whose claim to hold lapsed on the expira-
tion Of ten days alter loss.


The Alaska Fur Company are disposed
to consider the report of the escaped
Nordjeskold steamer Vega from the ice in
theiArctic ocean, a canard. They have late
adviCes from that neighborhood t0 the
effect that the season has been very late
on the Asiatic side, and the strongest
winds have prevailed, piling the ice in
such manner as to render It in their opinion
impossible that the Vega should have
succeeded in working out.
Year: 1879

WASHINGTON, AugustS.-owing to grave
by the American fishermen,
the Kearsaee, now cruising in the Gull Of
St lawrence, has been instructed to stop
at some port Of New Brunswick or Nova
Scstia for Special Agent OF the State
Department, Who Is directed to visit the
fishing grounds and report As to the con-
duct Of the inshore fisheries by our fishing
feet and their treatment by the local
authorities and population.
Year: 1879

lLopdon Correspondence New York Star.]


One OF the best jury stories have heard
for a long time is told about case which
was tried at Westminster last week. The
action was brought to decide dispute be-
tween water company and some OF its
oa.,a.a.aa.a.
defendants seemed 80 irresistible that the
Judge expressed his wonder that the jury
should want to retire in order to consider
their verdict. After being absent some
time they came back and announced that
they were all agreed with the exception Of
one, and the Judge, indignant at a single
person refusing to accept the overwhelming
testimony offered in favor Of the defend
ants, made some remarks not flattering to
the intellectual powers OF the solitary re-
calcitrant, though, of course, no one out OF
the jury-box knew which Of the twelve was
the man. However, the jury had to be dis
charged, and it aiterward turned out that it
was the twelfth who had taken the same view
OF the evidence as the Judge himself, and
the other eleven who had refused to adopt
what his lordship, and, indeed, everybody
else in court, thought the only reasonable
conclusion to be drawn from the fact.
Year: 1879

There is no romance in such life and
death as that OF Ned Stuart, who breatheo
his last in a New York five-cent lodging
house on Monday, and who, not many years


ago, was as handsome and brilliant young


man as walked the streets OF Baltimore. a


fortune, beautiful and loving wife, and


the happiest surrounding were his; and


that he sacrificed them all to an inordinate


thirst for liquor is one of the saddest, and


at the same time most marvellous, features


of the possibilities OF human nature. Pro.
badly his death will be looked upon by
many OF bis friends as boon, both to them
and to himself, for he bad fallen so low that
his highest ambition seemed to be to dis.
grace his family and try to make them
sharers in his degradation. 1t is no NOR
bid sentimentalism which would point a
moral from such life and death as that OF
poor Ned Stuart, nor is it a duty that should
be left entirely with temperance orators,
who will probably find in bis history
forcible illustration OF the evil effects OF
the excessive and unbridled use OF liquor.
Baltimore american.
Year: 1879

PORTSMOUTH u ilnieo.J


Mr.. Aaron McKenney, the centenarian OF
Saco, Me-, IS now defendant in an inquiry
before the Judge OF Probate OF York coun-
ty, on an application made by persons who
are the legal heirs, in case he were dead. to
his property, for the appointment OF q
guardian. The only trouble in the old mans
case appears to be that he has lived too long
for the advantage of his considerate rela.
tives. He was one hundred and one years
old last December, lives upon farm OF two
hundred acres in the north corner OF
Saco, and is considered well off in this
worlds goods. A few months ago
his house caught fire and was burn
ed down, and he commenced building
another, whereupon his relatives thought he
was spending too much money, and applied
to have a guardian appointed to take charge
OF his estate. A hearing upon the matter
was commenced on Wednesday last, when
crowd OF persons came to listen. About
twenty witneSSeS-most OF them nelghGors
to the old man-testiGed that his health is
as good as it was thirty years ago; that he
takes as much interest in his affairs as q
man Of seventy, and that in trades for ma
terials for his new house he was careful and
as sharp as much younger man; in
short, that he is fully competent to take
care OF bis own business. A buyer of
cattle who has known him many years says
that he can count his money as we'll as
he could thirty years ago, and makes
the buyer pay the full value in any cattle
trade. The carpenters who work upon bis
new house say that they see nothing in his
management that calls for q guardian. The
further hearing in the case was postponed
for few days on account Of the illness Of
re bo Fnnr n1rcnn2. NOT
related to him, compose McKenney's fami-
ly-two men and two women-and though
they are a peculiar sect, they have taken


good care Of the old man for about twenty
years past, managed the farm well, and


have not wasted his goods, being economi-
cal in their habits and moderate in their re-
quirements. The case has general inter-
est for its bearing upon the question
! whether man can be allowed to manage
his own affairs after he is one hundred
wears old. . - r..
Year: 1879

1aMlltOl tIa.J coui


A gentleman in this county gives us the
following account of horned snake: He
states that while hoeing in field OF corn he
saw large snake crawling along with his
head and tail raised about eighteen inches
from the ground. He decided to Kill the
snake, and raising bis hoe started In pur-
suit. The snake seeing him) turned back to
| meet his foe, when the gentleman, consid-
ering prudence the better part of valor,
turned to his heels and fed, the snake in
pursuit. A large white-oak tree was stand
ing not far of, and 10 this he made his way.
Just as he jumped behind the tree the
snake struck at him. and the horn, about
two inches long, was buried in the tree.
! The snake, unable to get his horn out oi
the tree, was killed. The strangest part OF
the affair is that in six hours the leaves or
the tree, which had been perfectly greer
and f1ourshing, began to wither, and il
! less than twelve hours were perfectly dead
The gentleman who relates the above is (
reliable farmer.
Year: 1879

INJURED BIZ A FALL FROM A TOBACCO FAC
the forenoon Of yesterday
Mr.. j. Ryland Epps, carpenter, who re-
sides at No. $50 north Twenty-fourth street,
near o street, was engaged In removing q
lot of timber from the upper portion OF
Turpin's tobacco factory, which is to be re-
paired. He had thrown down number OF
pieces of lumber successfully; but finally
took up heavy piece filled with old nails.
In throwing this piece down one OF the nails
hooked in his shirt or trowsers, and so un-
balanced him that he fell over the scaffold-
ing; from near the roof, upon the pile OF
DEBRIS on the ground below. The fall was
from a considerable height-probably more
than fifty feet-and he was very badly in
Iured internally and about the back. A
physician was summoned to bis aid, and be
was finally conveyed to his home, where be
now lies. AS singular as it may appear, his
physicians think no bones were broken.
Year: 1879

A SKILFUL ARTIsAN.-A Richmond rifle.
man was made happy yesterday by skill
full mechanic who had just completed for
him Kaleidoscope that might we'll make
his Joy great, as it was pronounced by COM
petent judges perfect in every respect.
This tine instrument was made, in every
particular, by Mr.. w. A. Roberts, here in
the city, and it seemed that too much praise
could not be bestowed by those who saw
the work in expressing their admiration
for the skill and workmanship displayed
throughout by the artisan. Especially to
be admired is the vertical and lateral adj
iustments. while it possesses optical power
Of definition equal to many theodolitcs.
Year: 1879

City Council.-There will be a called
meeting OF the City Council tonight to con-
slider the question OF repairs to and extern
sion Of the dam above the canal. The les
sees along the water-line are complaining Of
the scarcity OF water in the canal. It is
thought that the Council will perfect some
plan whereby the supply Of water may be
increased. The canal at present is lower
than it has been for long time.
Year: 1879

The Rain.-We bad a slight shower OF
rain here yesterday, lasting about bali an
hour; but the dust was not even laid. The
clouds passed over the upper portion OF the
city in the. direction OF Broadreck, where
it is said it rained heavily. Our people
were exceedingly delighted at the appear
ance OF the rain after the long drought, but
their delight was soon changed to disap-
pointment, as the clouds passed rapidly
away.
Year: 1879

THE DRY SPELL.-Yesterday was passed
In anxious expectancy Of rain, and we had
it, but in very mild form indeed. Early
in the day the clouds were thick and threat.
ening, but not until few minutes after II
did we have rain, and only light shower,
similar to that which fell at 1:20 in the
morning. About P. NJ. there was another
slight sprinkle, but the cloud soon passed
away. and the rest OF the afternoon and eve.
ming was clear and slightly cooler.
Year: 1879

THEATRE To-NIGHT-DIXlE MINsTRELs.-
The Dixie Minstrels, being genuine
negro company, and having some of the
members In the late Calender Minstrel
Troupe, will give performance at the The
atre tonight and tomorrow night. This
troupe is said to be very good one, and to
come fully up to the standard. No doubt
there will be a large audience.


The band-wagon will parade the princ:-
pal streets of this city and Man chester this
morning at 8 O'Clock.
Year: 1879

Perhaps the most important vote which
every citizen Of Chicago Will be called upon
to cast Tuesday is: that for Alderman in his
own ward. Il is the duty IF every man with
property, business, or family interests that
look to good government for protection to
satisfy himself which of the two candidates
most likely to be elected is the better man,


and which of the two will be the more de-
voted to economy and efficiency in the City
Government There is reason to believe that,
Us a whole, the Republican candidates for
the Council are superior to the Democratic
candidates, and where such is the case Dem
o:ratic voters should sacrifice their partisan
attachments for the good of the city and
themselves. Where Democratic candidate
for Alderman is notably better fitted than his
Republican opponent, the Republican voters
should make the same sacrifice. In those
wards where there is danger that the Com
.nunists may elect, Republicans and Demo-
Gratis opposed to Communism should unite


their forces on that particular candidate.
whether Democrat or Repub!ican-Who is
Year: 1879

means !, at their command ( Notwith-
standing the tedious delays that have


already attended the project, prompt


ness and energy on the part Of the authori-


ties from now On will convert the elongated
mudhole known as Michigan avenue into
one of the handsomest drivewsys in the
country, so that it may be used during the
: coming summer. This will add notably to
Chicago's numerous attractions as summer
resort, and, with the revival of business and
cheerfulness among the people, the season
will be one of the gayest, lveliest,. and hap
piest that have ever been passed. Our coun-
try cousins in the Legislature will find their
reward for their assistance in this matter by
the increased enjoyment the new improve
ment will furnish them when they come to
Chicago for their summer vacation. Nor
will the improvement be confined to the ap-
proaches to the South Park. The West
Division has three parks, and to one of
these, the Central, the Commissioners have
authority to select roadway from one Of
the present streets of the city, giving to that
place Of resort ready, seryiceable, and
pleasant means Of approach.
Year: 1879

The merchants, manufacturers, and bust
moss men Of the city who wish to continue
in the enjoyment of the reduced taxation
and diminished municipal expenditures
which hare prevailed during the past three
years will frd it very much to their interest
to suspend operations on Tuesday, in order
to give themselves and their employees an
opportunity to go to the polls and give the
Republican candidates such a rousing me-
jority as will provo fitting rebuke to the
Southern Bigadiers and q. deluge for the
horde of ta1-enting drones whose capacious
hands are almost within reach of the City
r. .a1crrv
Year: 1879

If the American municipal system wero
fully explained to an Intelligent South Sea
Islander, his judgment would unqueston-
ably be that the conservative, law-ab1ding,
and property owning classes would always
unite in the election of responsible, eff
fcient, aud economical officers, without re-
gard to partisan attachments or nativisho
prejudices. He would conclude this to be
the rule, becnuse it is the only rational and
safe application of universal suffrage to
local government. Unfortunately, reason is
not always the ruling element in politics,
and experience has proved that too many
men are accustomed to abuse the elective
system Of municipal government by voting
as their party prejudices, personal bias, or
clannish affections may dictate, careless Of
the result as to the general good. An
avoidance Of this error; is, one of the most
important duties to be impressed upon the
people of Chicago with reference to next
Tuesdays election. "a


We have especially in mind the reprehen-
siblo influence which natirism usually exer-
cises in local elections; and it is to be equally
deprecated whether it presents itself in the
shape Of native Americanism or native for
eignism. The laws Of this country prescribe
the qualifications for citizenship in the case
of those who seek q home in the United
States. Though born in q foreign country,
the naturalized citizens are entitled to full
and equa1 political rights, and in all political
affairs should certainly re gard themselves
simply as American citizens. Just rs any
combination among American-born citizens
against the rights and privileges Of foreign
horn citizens is always to be condemned, so
any disposition among certain class of for
eign-born citizens to discriminate uniformly in
favor Of those who happen to have been born
Ill the same country rs themselves is q menace
to good government. In the case of the
Irish it is said that the nativistic
candidate for Office in this country can
count upon the solid support of al those
who hail, more or less remotely, from his
own town or county, but must expect the
fercest opposition from all American citizens
of Irish extraction whose traditions go bnck
to some rival province or county in the Old
Country. We do not believe that natiyism
exerts SO narrow! and absurd 81 in
duence among any other class of foreign
born citizens; but American citizenship,
properly construed and appreciated, exacts
that all birth-psejudices should give way
before the live issues of any American cleo
tion at hand.


We are unwilling to credit the Democratic
boast to the effect that a large number of
Year: 1879

4 peculiarly Of the "American system ="
is that it provides innumerable obstacles to
the accomplishment Of any particular pur-
pose about which there is q unanimous agree-
ment among all who are concerned. The
effort to secure decent and proper approaches
to the Chicago parks has been no exception
to the rule. The desirability Of such ap-
proaches has been universally admitted ever
since the parks have been worth visiting,
and it has been manifest all along that they
can only be secured by placing some one
street in each Division Of tho city under the
management and subject to the rules Of the
Park Commissioners, as in the case Of the
regular park bouleyards and driveways.
Among the measures urged upon the Cook
County delegation by the people Of Chicago
was bill enabling the Common Council to
delegate to the Park Commissioners tho
proper authority over such driveways, and
tie bill was presented in the early days Of
the session. There was apparently no oppo-
sition to it, and yet it was considerable
time in dragging its way through the SEN
ate. When it passed the Senate at last,
the vote in favor OF it was all but unani-
nous. Then it found its way to the House,
where it was referred to Committee. There
seems to have been disposition to streugle
the bill in the Committee, but, after some
heroic efforts and very decided popular
protest, it was rescued from the Committee.
Tint was two or three weeks ago, and then;
after it was reported to the House, it was
again lost to sight till Friday, when The
TRIBUNE correspondent, after diligent search,
found that it had been in the hands Of the
Public Printer. Now it is again in the hands
Of the House, which has ordered, it to third
reading; when it shall come up for final pas
sage the vote in the House will probably be
as unanimous as in the Senate, and yet it
will have taken about four months to secure
q simple concession to which nobody openly
urged q single objection. ..~.


It is to be hoped that the means Of delay
have all been exhausted in the case of tho
proposed park-ways, and that the bill will
become law this week. There is more
proaches than any of the. others, and the
authority Of the law is needed ut once, so
that the Council may take Immediate action
aud the Park Commissioners may proceed to
put Michigan avenue into proper shapefor use
this coming summer. Spring seems to have
fairly set in at last, and there will probably
be several days every week from now on till
next winter when the parks will contribute
to the enjoyment and health Of the Chicago
people, if there be streets through which
they can be reached without jeopardy to life
and limb. The improvement Of Michigan
avenue may be made quickly, for. the work
of filing and grading has already been done,
and the residents of the entire South Di-
vision will encourage and facilitate the
progress Of the improvement by every
Year: 1879

There is no longer any doubt that WILLIAM
sERP is quietly ''giving away" PAT: HOWARD
the Irish candidate on the Democratic ticket
There never was a German Democrat yet who
dealt fair by the Irish. -
Year: 1879

Gen. GAArmD's speech in the House yes
terday will undoubtedly be in great demand
as campaign document. The telling points
made against the Democratic revolutionary
scheme now being fought over in the House
were most conclusive and damaging. It only
illustrates the peculiar misfortunes attending
all plots laid by the Bourbons, who are
now, as they have been many times before,
confounded by their own arguments and
record. Their Ignorance of the history Of
their OWN party is continually getting them
into trouble and exposing them to attacks
which they have no means of wardlng off,
No attempt was made to answer the speech
of GARFIELD, and probably none will be.
Year: 1879

Out of this list the people Of. the city
will have to select one-ha1f the members Of
the new Council. We can not impress too
earnestly upon citizens of al parties the e1-
ercise Of the utmost vigilance in the selection
nf Aldermen
Year: 1879

On Wednesday night barrel of kerosene was
stolen from G. W. Paync's store in Sag uarbor, L. L.
and rolled as far as Nathan fabors carpenter shop
where lot OF waste from engine house was
placed and set hre, that it would communicate
with the barrel OF oil aud cause the destruction OF
the building; but the waste 1t would could not
be made to burn Satisfactorily and the plot was