smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

At the recent meeting of the Michigan
State Press Association, Col. J. l.. ScrppS,
editor of the Lansing Evening News, read
an able and practical paper in which occur,
the following:


There are too many newspapers, and too
much competition IN the business. 4 pa
per must not be too large; most papers To-
day are far too large. Reduce your space
and put in better matter. A man can only
write column per day if it Is properly
done.


Pay more for printers, and employ none
but good ones. Many proprletors seem to
forget that it takes as long and as much
study to be a thorough practical printer as
il does to be a lawyer. physician. 2r even
a clergyman. While 1t Is a lamentao.e fact
that rineteen-twentieths Of the craft are
,iissipated. the world owes its civilization
to them none the less.


Be more careful in small things. A.
tend to the details I can tell the moment
I step into an Office whether tie foreman
knows his business or not. There is n1
good leason why a printing Office should
not be kept in as much taste a. a lady s
drawing room.


Get all the original matter You can and
have system and economy IN all things.
One thing I would impress upon you all.
gentleman OF the Association, and that Is.
that a badly printed paper never pays.
Year: 1879

which appeared in your columns recently
have always, since reached the years
Of maturity, apprehended that the world
was not yet prepared for the reception OF the
new school of ideas which | designed to
promulgate; hence proposed to write my
thoughts and leave them, as seeds are harry
ested, in the hands of discreet executors,
who should be empowered to SOW them
when the soil aud the season should be
favorable for their propagation


Thwarted in this, my most secret and
dearest scheme, and forced, re ardless Of
my feelings and against my will upon the
stage OF public life, am resolved to dis
charge my opinions in consecutive broad
sides until all my ammunition shall be gone.
And if the consequence shall be the reyo
olutionizing of governments, the upheaval
of religions, the confoundlng of science,
the overthrow Of society, my conscience
will justify me When l stand amidst the
general chaos, and witness the universal
destruction.


In conclusion of the present letter, allow
me to subscribe myself, Sir, your most .obo-
dent humble servant,


JOHN SMITH, A, q,
Year: 1879

The reduction of the city of Memphis to
a taking district" abolished all her Off
GERS, and now she is in trouble about the
balance of the relief fund which lies in the
bank vaults and nobody able to draw it
out, and her people suffering for it. The
Avalanche says in reference to this mat
ter:


The Relief Fund sent to Mayor John r. Flppin
during the yellow fever has been expended, except
a balance of S26, 400 in the First National Bank.
This balance is to the credit OF John r. Flippin,
Mayor of Melhphis. Mr. Ftppin is not at this time
the Mayor, and there is no Memphis at the present
writing in existence. Ii there no attachments
or injunctions on this fund, as there are the bank
could not pay it out because there is person a-
Mayor F.ippin 10 DO SO, but Mr.. Flippin has no
more right 10 do SO than Mr.. Smith or Mr.. Any
bodyelse.


There is so much distress in the city among the
poor. and unemployed, that the relief fund ought
not to be locked up in the bank This is the opin-
ion OF Mr.. Thacher, the cashier of the First Ma
tional Bank, and he will apply to the Judge Of the
District United States Court for instructions. and
for the appointment of a trustee to pay out the
fund in his hands, should take jurisdiction OF the
case


There IS also balance OF the relief fund in the
German ational Bank, and we presume that bank
would be glad to pay out to any one authorized to
receive 1t. There are many destitute people in
the city whose sufferings could be lessened by the
relief fund.- and their daily needs supplied that the
Court will doubtless find way to reach it and pro-
tect the banks.
Year: 1879

quired to ascertain the number of words In
them and charge accordingly. They have
no right to guess at this number They
should at all events, if they guess, be sure
that the guess is not excessive. They
must guess right or under the mark, not
over it, as will be seen by perusal of
section 7l2 of the Code here copied: "lf
any judge, Justice, Sheriff, Coroner, Con-
stable, Assessor, Collector, Clerk, or any
other officer, shall knowingly demand, take
or collect, under color of his Office, any
money, fee, or reward, whatever, not aus
thorized by the laws of this State, or shall
demand or receive knowingly any fees for
service not actually performed, such officer
so of ending shall be deemed guilty of ex-
tortion and, on conviction thereof, shall be
punished by fine not exceeding five hum
dred dollars, or Imprisonment not over
three months in the discretion of the Court,
and shall be removed from Office


This statute affords ample protection to
Jub ClLlLeu dSdluSt ONCl Sudl 5Oo VI ANS"'
And it is well settled that an officer cannot
plead ignorance of the amount he is au-
thorized to charge, since not only all Off
GERS, but all sane persons over fourteen
years of age are presumed to know what
the law is.


1t is also we'll settled rule of law, that
an officer charging any fee, must be able to
put his finger on the statute which allows
or permits the charge All services which
an officer may do, and for which there is 10
fee fixed by law, are to be rendered ex>
oficio, and if charged for, constitute ex>
tortion, and is punishable under the stat
ute.


1t will be also noted that the crime of
extortion is fully made out if the officer
demand the payment of an excessive
charge, whether the demand is complied
with or not, and that the presentation of a
charge with a request for payment, is
demand.


Persons who have heretofore been the
victims of excessive charges are not with
out remedy. They may demand from the
officer a return of the excess, and if he
fails to make restitution, he is liable to be
sued therefor. l.. o U.
Year: 1879

To the Editor Of the Comet:


SIR-Notwithstanding my seclusion 1 have
not failed to receive copy of the number
of your paper in which my letter appeared.
This is owing, of course, to no exertion Of
my own, for could not trouble myself for
moment about SO small matter. The
paper was brought to me by friends who
were silly enough to rejoice that my real
character had been discovered


observed that my letter was printed in
the second column of your first page, but
this, however, occasioned me no surprise,
for, if 1 am not mistaken, that column is
usually reserved by editors for the choicest
articles. This additional proof of your
good sense so impressed me that l at once
resolved to subscribe to your paper, and l
accordingly, without loss of time, proceed
ed to borrow the requisite amount which
1 send with this letter.


regret to feel it my duty to lemark
that there is one serious objection to yonr
journal as a medium for the dissemination
of my ideas. 1t is published only once a
week. If it were daily or tri-weekly
it would much more satisfactorily meet the
astonishing demand for my writings. You
need not fear, however, that l will make any
change for shall continue to give my letters
to the COMET for these reasons: First, as
n well-merited reward for the highly res
fined taste which enabled YOU to appreciate
the poem in advance of all your contempo>
raries. Second, to secure to you the pecu-
mary benefits which always flow tosthose
newspapers which are the first to bring out
the writings of popular authors.


By means of that intuitive insight which
is an unmistakable mark of large intellects
I have not failed to foresee that certain vain
persons will affect to smile at the thought
of the name Smith becoming immortal.
They will pronounce the thing preposterous
l can not descend to the plane of these
people, nor waste time in argument with
them. Their levity of department in pres
ence of grave subject and lofty charac-
ter is disgusting in the extreme. l tell
them briefly that the name Smith has deck
ed itself in the plumage of flight. The
eagle as he skins amidst the clouds fears
no less :he school-boy's pOp-gun, than does
the euphonious name, Smith, the puny shafts
of these envious critics as it scars on its



sublime journey to the highest point of
Fame's temple. Nay, more; 1 go further
further than man has yet had the temerity
to advance-for will suffer nothing to inn
pede me in the expression of my honest
convictions believe that the day is not
far distant when even the name Jones. will
become celebrated


Now, lam free to confess, that this last
idea is original, aud will make a profound
impression wherever your paper may be
read. But / disclaim in advance all re-
sponsibility for the consequences. Sir, if
it be my fate to "set the world on fire,
my regret is that l should do it in my life
time; for it will embarrass me exceedingly
to be present at a confagration the great
light of which will reveal me as the radiant
and deifed incendiaTy. These latter re-
marks you will more readily comprehend
by recalling TO mind the fact that l
have been dragged before the public by the
premature publication of my masterpiece
Year: 1879

j prsrrNeursHED correspondent Of TIE
COMET who is familiar with the subject
and the law bearing on it, calls attention to
the excessive charges that prevail in some
parts of the State for recording mortgages,
deeds in trust, etc. It is our opinion that
the fees of Sheriffs and Clerks are general>
ly too low, but it is peculiar hardship
upon a class not able to bear 1t to charge
more than the law allows for recording
deeds in trust, etc.


1t is we'll known to all readers of The
CoMRT that our sympathies are with the
struggling farmers of the country, and es-
pscially with that class of our struggling
farmers who haye to grapple with the deed
in trust monster. 1t is singular, and it is
! not creditable to the Christianity or civili-
zation of our communities, that the poor
deed in trust man must be feeced on all
sides. Are there none to take up his cause
and contend that he shall have, at least, the
protection which the law gives him? Must
everybody turn the back of his hand to him
and witness his writings under the cruel
hand of extortion because there is no money
in him?


Away with such an illiberat instinct
Let the man who pledges his all for the
chance of recuperation have the chance
Let him not be overcharged in anything.
He is a most unfit subject for extortion.
He is the man, of all men, who ought to
have the benefit of low prices and honest,
liberal dealing.


We do not undertake to vouch for the
correctness of our correspondents state
'ment, but if these overcharges for mort
cages, etc., are made anywhere we hope
the practice will be abandoned. We ask
clerks to remember that these charges al
ways fall upon the parties who have to
make the deeds in trust, and if the charges
are excessive it is grinding upon the VIC
tins. Fifty cents or dollar is nothing to
many men, but to the man who is compell-
ed to deed away the roof that covers the
heads Of his children for supplies to enable
him to support them, il is an object. Our
chancery clerks are generally liberal and
charitable men II is possible that some
of them ma ave fallen into the h"Nlt OF
charging mere than the law allow. Or re-
cording mortgages, ETC., under the I'M
preston that Id they received their fees
from the merchants or other mortgages,
the bu' ten fell upon them, and they were
abunda.. able to bear it. II such was
the case we would not have word to say.
But it is q wretched mistake. The fees
come out of the unhappy mortgagers, and
frequently an enormous interest or double
charge is tackled on to them. And they
suffer from such overcharge. To them it is
a great hardship.


II clerks will give the subject du- re-
fection we are quite certain that whoever
else may take hand in increasing the bur
dens of the man who is weighed down un-
der deed in trust, they will not do it.





ANNA DICKINSON is still acting, aud still
hopes for success. but
Year: 1879

DEFUNor IN THE ABSTRACT. "A few
rs ago an over jealous colored police
Ia in one of our Southern towns dubbed
|coIored brother most numerically for
ne trivial offence, the case was reported


he Mayor and it was not long before
| policeman was himself in limbo. HaV-
made a good officer he concluded to
|tify himself with petition to the May
| for reinstatement, and, thus equipped,
marched boldly up to his trial fully im~


ssed with the idea that he would escape
missal from the police, but being noticed


look like disappointed man upon his
urn he was asked how the case had gone
ID him. His laconic reply was, II am de-
bet in the abstract" We imagine that


1 Is the way Senator Roscoe Conkling


few days since, when the Senate OF
! United States refused to sustain him in


opposition to the nominees of President
YES for the New York Custom House.
Year: 1879

ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT.

 We take pleasure in presenting to our friends an enlarged copy of THE VIEWPOINT BEE, and trust that it will meet their ap- proval and hearty support. The change has been made with the view of giving all subscribers opportunity to see ia what particular we intend to make THE BEE worth One Dollar and Fifty Cents per year, and we believe it unnecessary to call attention to that which is plainly to be seen by every reader of the paper At first we intended to postpone the enlarge ment until the close of the second vol umc, but changed our mind, and this paper, in it's present form is the result

 Our best efforts will be devoted in keep ing up the reputation of THE BEE, and trust that all of its present patrons will say a good word for it to those whom they may know that do not take the paper, and in this way can add many to our list of subscribers. The subscription from this date will be One Dollar and Fifty Cents per Year. Six Months, Seyenty-five Cents Three Months, Fifty Cents. Single Copies, Five Cents.
Year: 1879

lar and fifty cents for years subscrip- tion in it's present make up? We have doubled the amount of reading matter, and shall strive to keep < THE NEWTowN I BEE up to the standard of first-class l local newspaper. Tn asking you to give us one dollar and fifty cents for years subscription we think you will say that it is worth it. We send the paper for fifty ] two weeks (one year. and the year to commence when we get your subscription. So, then subscribe now, and don't forget to tell the good news to your friends by sending them a copy. To all those whose modesty will not permit them to speak right out iR meeting, will find us eyer ready to receive their sentiments in cash, greenbacks or silver.

 That cross mark which weplaced upon papers as hint that the subscription had run out, failed to bring response from some of our subscribers, and those receiv- ing copy of THE BEE this week will have the kindness to remit the amount a

 The funeral of Miss Mary Murphy took place Friday afternoon from the residence of her father, Mir. Edward Mlir- phy in Sandy Hook. and the remains buried in the Catholic Cemetery. Miss Murphy returned from New York last September on account of her failing health. She fell victim to consumption and died, aged p years and II months, We'd neSday night at s o'clock

 A walking match between Mills Con- go and Charles H. Hall, both of Sandy Hook, has been agreed upon, and fifteen dollars has been put up by each, to go to the one making twenty miles in the quick est time. The walk is to be a square heel-and-toe performance, and will take place next Saturday night in Sanford's Hall. commencing at 6 o'clock p. m.
Year: 1879

DESTRUCTION OF OIL WORKS IN PHILADEL-
PHIA-oNE PERSON KILLED AND THREE
BADLY INJURED.


[By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


PHILADELPHIA. Sept. Is. 1879.
Between one and two o'clock to-day fire broke
out In the oil works of Emory & Co.. located ON
Second street, in the Twenty -nfth ward. and de-
stroyed them. The establishment consisted of sew
cral new ono story frame buildings. surrounded
by number of large tanks of iron filed with oil.
put up for the purpose of experimenting with
new process of refining oil.


The first ,ntimation of the impending disaster
was terrific explosion. followed by sheet of flame
and volume of smoke shooting up in the midst of
the works Then the flames spread from tank to
tank taking in the wooden buildings in the work Of
destruction. and In about hour the place
tirely destroyed in spite of the hard work done by
the Fire Department to get the Are under control.


LIFE LOST.


At the time Of the explosion all the men were at
work and tho utmost Consideration prevailed. So
rapidly did the flames spread that almost
impossible. George Emory, aged thirty-hve years,
o son of the proprietor. killed. aud his brother
Andrew was burned badly that it is doubtful if
ne can recover Two OF the workmen one named
James Stanger also injured severely enough to
be taken to the hospital.


The intense heat and binding smoke made II i'm
possible to approach enough to the works to
save anything. The loss is Si.Ao0
Year: 1879

mere hypothesis devoid of any kind of foundation
In this way miy understand each other like hon.
est people and both enjoy the precious fruits OF
benehcent peace; otherwise We shall always be at
daggers drawn. always irritated, suspicious. dis
queted toward each other and always disposed to
carry miserable war of words-more disastrous
than q war with cannon balls.
Year: 1879

Some Of the property owners in New
Castle are in panic lest the removal Of
the Courthouse shall send everything
there to the bow-wows. Courage good
friends! Chester was not ruined by the
removal Of its Court house TO Media
Dead little towns sonnet INES quicken in
to life and grow 10 be real cities when
the incumbus OF lot of n-producing
officeholders Is lifted by the friendly
hand of the removalist. w,
Year: 1879

We hereby notify our friends and the public generally that from this time forth we will cease to sell for credit on any terms whatever. We are aware that in order to do this we will have to sell cheaper than our neigh bors, and we are prepared to do so. As we are building we are very much pressed for cash, and therefore 1t will be better for us to sell for cost than to sell on ever so short a time, no Elatter how good the buyer. The facts in the case are just these: it Is a necessity with us to have our goods or to have the wherewith to buy more. Of course we do not expect to do so much business, but we are de- termined to do what we can.

 Our Lumber Yard is. now full and nearly com plete.
Year: 1879

Is THE OLD MAN UNJUsTLy IMPRISONED p


WHAT HIS WIFE AND JUSTICE oTTEBBoURG


HAVE TO SAY.


Poor old Henry Lane, who claims that he was
Justly sent to prison by his wife on Sunday after
noon. hobbling up and down the hall in the
Tombs prison yesterday when HERALD reporter ad-
dressed him. The old gentleman seated himself
upon the bed in his cell and unbosomcd more Of his
troubles. IL have read tho accounts in the papers,"
said he. in feeble. trembling voice. "and they
quite correct with the exception OF my wifcs state
mont never used pistol in her presence. and she
knows that her extravagant living has brought me
where am


Mrsnn WELLS AS PRECEDENT.


what convinces that this all rehearscd
before it was brought to court is this:-When the
cousins of Miscr Wells attempted to prove that ho
was insane my wife took great interest in the
and we talked much on the prospects OF proving his
insanity. Hearing MS talking about 1t. my children
became interested and asked me 10 explain 1t. For
example,, said. III your mother should consider
insane and prepare evidence TO prove it, why. the
result would undoubtedly be that | would he re- re.
been verified to the letter. MY wife strict Roman
Catholics am Protestant and y aFreemason. From
that you where the trouble comes. My wife
brought the children up herself aud taught them to
disrespect my teachings, and to keep peace in the
family lot her have her way with them. 1 havo
thought while in my cell that if tree would
prefer charges OF perjury against my wife, But then
should hate to bring my young daughters into pub


"wiii you take message to my wifc?' said he, as
the reporter was about to leave. In substance tho
message that he desired interview with his
daughters and, if possible. with his wife before he
removed to the Island.


The message delivered In reply Mrs. Lane
said that she had no objection to her daughters
ing their father, but she herself wanted to SEQ
him again. II have had trouble enough with him.
My lite been threatened and am compelled do
this for the protection of my children When lie
comes out he will not find us. am sorry that did
not give him year"


JUSTICE orTERDoURG's EXPLANATION.


Tho family explained TO me-" said Justice Otter
bourg. "that Mr.. Lane was insane and beat them,
and that they afraid TO stay in the house with
him. They all testified to this and issued war;
rant for his arrest. The charge disordcriy con-
duct. He was arraigned, and remanded him each
day for three days TO scef the keepers of the prison
could detect any symptoms OF insanity. lie was in
my private room and related his story twice, and
when he asked to speak last Sunday / did
not want to listen to repetition, knew Il would
be such. l committed the man reluctantly. The
thought that his family we're trying TO put the old
gentleman out Of the way did come into my mind
when hrst heard the case. but the evidence Of his
daughters was such that could not do otherwise
than did. have been on the bench too long 10 be
sentencing men without hearing"


Mr.. Lane says that when the Justice sentenced him
the charge was represented to be insanity, ~ well az
Year: 1879

Although Kearney continues to shout
that the Chinese must go, the cry is
still they come. Over thousand have
Just been landed at San Francisco from
single steamer. Persecution seems to
have no terrors for them,
Year: 1879

Since the 10th of the month, great
number of persons who had not regis
tered their dogs and knowing that they
would be arrested and fined if they did
not register them, have killed them in
one way and another, to save the eX-
pense of registering and to avoid ar
resi-. The number killed over Third
street bridge was so large that there was
danger Of them becoming more of a
nuisance when dead than when living.


In this emergency MIR. A. d. Vande-
yer conceiving tn. haypy thought that
dead dogs would make good compost
manure. Thinking with Mr.. Van
deyrr was but to act, and it
was not long before man who he had
sent out for that purpose, had u cart
loaded with between 40 and 80 dead
dogs, which were sent out to the Van
dcypr farm in Mill Creek Hundred.
Year: 1879

The fremen complain bitterly of the
sexton who rings the Trinity Church
bell, as he rings it exactly like all
alarm of fire and is the cause of mum.
erous false alarms. This should not be,
and more care should be exercised by
him in the ringing the members to
worship.
Year: 1879

The members oi the Delaware fire
Company, are very energetic and quick
TO get their apparatus in good running
order. On the tongue to their steamer
getting broke the other evening, they
put the hand tongue in,
and inside of eight hours had q new one
made to take the place OF the broken
Year: 1879

Logan street from Maryland avenue
to the Railroad, one square, on both
sides of the street, can boast of more
children than any other two squares in
this or any other city, there being no
less than eighty olive branches there.
From early morn till dark the street is
literally lined with them, and the din
and confusion made by them at times
is almost unbearable, and yet what
child is it that does not make confu.
sion A child that is not noisy is not
of much account; it will never make its
way in this troublesome world unless
ever ready, like the Spartan youths, to
battle for life. If any other two squares
can boast of more children than Logan
street, we would be pleased to hear
therefrom.