smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

The uniformity with which the en-
terprising, energetic men of the
country have come to grief, while the
indolent, who have invested only in
the safest securities and aroused them
selves only sufficiently to clip and
present promptly for payment their
coupons. having dined sumptuously
every day, accounts more for the pop
ularity of government loans than the
cheapness Of money. The men who
take risks, who are at the bottom of
all the progress the world ever makes,
and at the front in every industrial
enterprise, are no longer in favor.
Their careers are no longer held up
to excite the emulation of youth or
the yeomanry of the country, but in
their stead we find the grasping, pinch.
ing usurers set up as the model men !;
and all the world is urged to do as
they have done. The man who dams
the stream and sets machinery in mo-
ton is no longer favorite in this
country of undeveloped resources, but
in his stead we have set up as our idol
the man who lays in wait to catch
him limping, and then to rob him of
the fruits of his genius, his labor and
his enterprise.


Take a walk along the best resi-
dence street of our town, or of any
other town, and you will see long
lincS Of elegant houses occupied by
men whom nobody knows, for whom
but few care. They are not men
who come in contact with the public.
They live in elegant ease by clipping
coupons. How they got their securi-
ties but few know. 1t ia enough to
know that they have got them. They
are pensioned upon the public. They
give the tone to society, They are
the dead weight that is dragging 9TH
ers down. 1t is not only what they
eat but their example. The ,sillions
that have gone into the new loan, are
so many dollars abstracted from the
resources of the country. They rep
resent the volume of our Incidence.
To drain our fields, to do the thousand
and one things needed to be done tor
the development of our resources,
will all pay more on the average than
the four per cents, but such enterprises
necessltate mental and physical activi-
ty-enterprise of thought and of action
and that is just what it is no longer
fashionable to give. The dead dry rot
of imbecility, that the communities of
Europe are kicking overheard, we are
now striving to load up. A square,
fat-footed reputation of the last dol
lar of the national debt would not be
half 80 disastrous as the proceedings
in which we are now engaged.-[Ex
Year: 1877

This poem, written by Stella" Mrs. Es telle
Anna Lewis at the age of fourteen. Poe said
lis the most beautiful ballad OF the kind ever
written We have read it, he remarked,
more than twenty times, and always with in
Year: 1877

Following is the result of the court
martial at st. Paul which recently tried Major
Keno on the charge Of having made improper
overturcs to the wife of Capt Bell, and having
taken means to cast slurs on her character:
War Department, May S-Thc proceedings in
this case having been forwarded under the l0Gth
article OF war to the Secretary of War, have
been most carefully considered and have been
submitted to the President, who approves the
finding and sentence; but is pleased to miti-
gate the latter to suspension from rank and
pay for two years from the 18th OF May, 1877
Major Rcno's conduct toward the wife Of an
absent officer, and in using the whole force Of
his power as commanding officer Of the post
10 crafty his resentment against her, cannot
ne too strongly condemned; but after long
deliberation upon all the circumstances of the
case as shown in the record OF the trial, it is
thought that his offenses, grave rs they arc, do
not warrant sentence of dismissal and all its
consequences upon one who has for twenty
years borne the reputation Of brave man and
honorable officer, and has maintained that rep
utation upon several battlefelds of the rebel
lion and in contcsts with the Indians. The
President has therefore modified the sentence.
and it is hoped Major Reno will appreciate the
clemency thus shown him, as well as the very
rcprchcnsiblc character of the acts of which
he was found guilty.


(S'sncd) GEORGE W. McCRARY,


Secretary of War;
Year: 1877

The new court house at Rockford. ILL.,.
fell with a crash on the 11th inst. The build
ing was not yet under roof, and the massive
stone cornice which proceeded from the roof
was being put on. just as the key y-stone was
being placed in the dome of the main pavilion,
the. brick work between the iron and stone
gave way, and the entire dome and interior
walls OF the structure came crumbling down
with terrible crash that was heard nearly q
mile away. The style of the building is French
Venetian, OF the Renaissance, designed by
Henry l.. Gay of Chicago, and the contract for
the building was let to w. d. Richardson, of
Springfield, who in the spring of 1876 began
the work. 1t has two pavilions and a center
dome over the front entrance. The vi
hons on each rise about 50 feet above the level
Of the cornicc. The dome is 1l9 feet from the
ground and supported by the front walls on
e'e north side, and two iron columns from 10
to IL inches in diameter on the inner side, and
these columns rest upon brick wall going IN
from the ground floor to the floor of the court
room The walls were about feet through
and 1t appears were entirely inadequate to
hold the immense weight of the iron pillars
and the massive masonry of the dome which
rested upon the pillars. Between twenty and
twenty five workmen were carried down with
the falling building and buried in the debris.
Twelve were taken out dead and dying, and
many OF the wounded cannot live. Both ar.
chitcct and builder were severely blamed.
Year: 1877

A man who will chaw turbackcr will
drink Jamaiker rum, and man that will
drink Jamaiker rum will 60 to ruin, and
a man that will go to ruin is mean enuff
to do ennything. You can just tell about
what man a will du, by hearing him tell
what he has did. I am prepared tu say tn
seven of the rich men out of every ten
Make the most Of your money, for it
makes the most Of yu." Debt is an eel
pot-a big hole where you go in, and a
small one where you KUN out. Man was
GRATED little lower than the angells,
and he has been getting = little lower ever
since.
Year: 1877

Celia Logan In tho New York Dispatch.


when these our actors want dress
rehearsal in part before they venture to
perform it to metropolitan audience, they
usually go. over to Newark, N. j., ENG
a hail, and play it. This they call " try
ing it on dog but what the poor New
arkians have done that theatrical poison
should be thus thrown to them it is diff
cult to understand. 1t is true it is near
New York, but so is Jersey City, and it is
not punished in this way 1t is popular
ly supposed that if play does not
succeed in poor Newark, it is no use try
! ing it elsewhere. At the same time they
get the cream of our stars.


Joe Jefferson was billed there for one
night, and crossing over to rehearsal in
the morning he asked his son, who was
then his BUSINESS manager, if he had anv
any ballet-girls for "Trip Van Winklc."
The young man had forgotten that they
were needed, but promised to get three
or four by night. They are wanted in
the last act to push Rep about and to laugh
at him when he comes back after his long
sleep. They should be dressed in the
plain homelike style of the primitive
period. Young Jefferson rushed off and
engaged several Black Crook" girls, who
knew nothing of the stage but that which
they had been required to do at Niblo's.
When they made their appearance in
Newark, Jefferson was simply horror
struek-aghast--to behold the ballet
girls in pink fleshings, wings, wands, and
simply tarlatan fringe around the waist.
To make it worse, they were all in those
fairy-like attitudes peculiar to the '' Black
Crook" $50 off," he said in low, agoni-
zing tones; Ego of, do" Not understand
ing why they were thus summarily dis
missed, they determined to make the
most Of their short-lived opportunity, and
danced, and pirouetted, and threw their
toes over his head, until he was nearly
frantic. At last he drove them off.


This being the secret history of the case
it has always struck me as being unjust
in the Newarkians to mutter among
themselves at Mr.. Jcfferson's making
senseless and disgusting innovations when
he played in their city.
Year: 1877

seetretary Sherman telegraphcd on the
18th from New York to Assistant Secretary
Mccormick that in addition to the ten million
dollars of ~ per cent. bonds taken on the 5ll
inst to provide for the call of that date, he has
sold under the resumption act to the syndicate
five million dollars of said bonds at par in gold
to be paid for during the months of May and
June. The gold thus received will be sold for
currency at the pleasure of the Secretary The
Secretary says he will 90 on with the sales Of
~ per cent. bonds for resumption purposes
as provided by law, and hopes to be able to re-
sumo specie payment by the first of July,
Year: 1877

The Semi Tropical says: "The cucum-
Der is naturally climber and not a creep
ing plant, and it always bears better when
furnished with brush or trellis Of laths
and strings for its support. Brush, like
those used for sticking peas, laid on the
ground around the hill are better than no
sunnOrfO
Year: 1877

Frederick Douglass publishes card
saying the attacks upon him on account Of
remarks made by him in Baltimore are both
malicious and silly. Washington is great
city, not village or hamlet, but the great
capital of great nation, and the manners and
habits Of its various classes an proper subjects
for presentation and criticism, and therefore
he very much mistakes it if this great city can
be thrown into tempest Of passion by any
humorous reflections he may take the liberty
to utter. Several thousand citizens, including
many business men, have signed petition to
the President asking for q removal Of Marshal
Douglass in view of his sladerous uttcranccs,
and there is talk of calling an indignation
meeting.
Year: 1877

The Secretary Of the Interior will issue
circular letter to pension agents whose
agencies are to be discontinued, that their
accounts must be settled by the end of the
quarter. There is no authority for the depart.
mcnt to reduce the rates of fees now allowed
to be collected from pensioners by the pension
agents, but in view Of the large emoluments
which will attach to each Of the consolidated
agencies from this source, recommendation
will be made to Congress for their reduction.
Year: 1877

ThAnksEivtaG Day In New Orleans.


In response to the proclamation Of Gov.
Nichols, Thanksgiving day was celebrated by
service in the churches and by Il military dis
play on the 10th. The Cotton exchange and
banks were closed. Included in the military
display were seven companies of the First Al
ALBANIA infantry, from Mobile, preceded by the
Fifteenth infantry hand, 400 United States in
fantry and q detachment of marines, who vol
unteered their services as escort in the reccp-
ton of visiting soldiery. Packard waxcd
wroth and sent Senator Blaine the following
telegram: "The overthrow of the lawful
State government was appropriately celebrated
to-day Detachments Of the army and the
navy of the United States participated with
the White League of Alabama and Florida in
this celebration of Democratic success. Did
poetic justice require that the honors Of this
achievement should be thus equally divided
In the absence Of commission the gray &C:
corded the post Of honor to the blue, and asked
no apology. The Gus tom house and post of.
flee were closed in admiration of the event. It
is probable that United States interference
will not he requested hereafter"
Year: 1877

The long period of anxiety under
which the friends Of the Canadian pilgrims
and passengers by the City Of Brussels have
laborcd is broken, and now all are spared the
grief of a great calamity. The vessel on the
third day out from New York, broke her shaft
and is now proceeding under sail to her dcs.
tination. She was met on Tuesday the Sth, in
mid ocean by her sister ship, the City of Rich
mond, that arrived ut New York on the 14th
bringing intelligence that all on board arc
well and in the best Of spirits.
Year: 1877

Judge Ludlow, of the PHILADELPHIA
court OF Common Pleas, has delivered a
decision declaring.that the public officials
OF that city must not be interested in pub
lie contracts. The judge said it was for
;he protection of officials themselves as
AS well as the city that they should have
no interest in any public matter that
could by any possibility come in contact
with The interests of the city
Year: 1877

National Associated Press to the Star.


NEW YORK, Jan. 12.-About one hun
dred and forty feet OF the roof of the
Grand Central Depot fell this morning.
No one was injured. by the accident.
The part that fell was the thick glass
roof over the open space where trains
come in.


Fortunately no train was in at the
time. The car horses in the depot were
severely cut by falling glass. The acci-
dent occurred at noon.
Year: 1877

eyes, they have come. They are the
friends of the serpents. Both have
followed you for fifteen long years,
knowing that they would find you in
such place as this at last. Do you
see their eyes dance with delight as they
come nearer? Do you see them wave
their bony arms above their heads, as
they long to grasp you9"


"Keep them away-dont let them
clutch me p screamed Big Nose as he
drew the ragged quilt over his head and
nestled in the musty straw.


"It is terrible to die this way" unused
the strange boy as he looked around
him "The angels would hesitate to
come into such place to bear away the
soul of an innocent babe. But this is
your end. You have murdered wife
and children you have turned the hap
piness of life into gloom of midnight.
You have been curse to the world when
you might have been followed to the
grave by tears of sorrow that a good
man had passed from earth forever.
More devils are trooping in to gloat
over your miserable death-more SER
pents are writhing across the floor to
utter their Kisses in your ear r!'


Big Nose flung the quilt away and
sat up and looked around him. Such
teror-such awful horror-never came
to human face before. The white froth
gathered on his lips-his eyes glared
and as a writhing, kissing snake raised
its head above the bed the man sprang
to the floor with the scream of wild
beast and dashed up the broken stairs.
The river was only few hundred feet
away. Down the wet and deserted street
shadow swiftly passed, halted for q
moment on the dark wharf, and then wild
scream and heavy splash startled the
watchman on lone vessel anchored near
by. The echo of the wild shrek foated
back to the strange boy in the basement.
He waved his hand, and the serpents
gided away. He rose up, and the COB
Inns hurried over the broken floors and
were lost to sight.


"Itis the end" whispered the boy,
and the candle fickered, blazed up for
an instant, and then midnight darkness
swept into the old den and hushed every
sound-embraced everything in its ghost
ly clutch. Detroit Free Press.
Year: 1877

A noted miser who felt obliged to
make a present to a lady entered a
crockery store for the purpose of making
a purchase. Seeing statuette broken
into dozen pieces, he asked the price,
The salesman said it was worthless, but
he could have it for the cost of packing
in box. He rent it to the lady with
his card, congratulating himself that
she would imagine that it had been
ruined while on it's way home. he
dropped in to see the effect. The
tradesman had carefully wrapped eseh
piece In separate bit Of paper.
Year: 1877

Every Evening and Commercial Publish
ing Company, put on the street this morn
ing very good paper; but showingthe want
of sufficient editorial and repertorial forceto
digest and anYlize the news. 1t is . singu-
lar fact that the sales ofthe Herald, increas~
ed, whetherfrom opposition or not we are
unable to say. The Gazette thus speaks of
the venture.


ut is quit probable that the morning edi-
tion of Every Euening and Commercial may
make that establishment q success; but If 1t
does 1t will be contrary to the usual course,
and it may tend to the injury of the whole
establishment, since the community do not
often like to assist corporations that show
willingness to break down all other people
and greedily assume the whole business ofa
place for the sake of . monopoly. Individ-
ual enterpl ise deserves some encouragement
at least. Our merchants would hardly like
It If the Legislature were to grant charters
to great establisements-to capitalists, to
sell dry goods and groceries on purpose to
bresk all the small stores and corner grocer
les: And yet there is even now propositions
being considered for applying for charters
for just such purposes. They will not succeed
however, nor is It likely that the Every
Evening and Commercial Company will
break up all the newspapers in Wilmington
and monopolize the business. 1t is q free
country, to be sure, and if it can do 20, "sll
right" The morning issue of Every Even
ing and Commercial is . very good paper
and will doubtless be largely encouraged !;
but the ability of our city to support an adj
tional paper is doubted by that company it.
self, wich only proposes to lrun the expert
ment month, and If 1t does not pay then
then to discontinue It.
Year: 1877

The Moral Suasion Reform Association,
have rented the frame building on Shipley
street, between Eighth and Ninth streets,
which was formerly occupied BY the late
Mr.. Montgomery, as carpentershop. They
will fit it UP as q reading room, for the use
of their Club.
Year: 1877

This I'd day of March, at Washing
ton, Hayes and Wheeler were
proclaimed elected President and
Vice President Of this Republic
1t is glorious consumatioI
after the long and varying strug'
gle. The country to-day feels thai
the plague of uncertainty, of pos
sibly evil forebodings, is happily end
ed that the helm of state for foul
years to come is entrusted to mar
who, ever in peace or war, stood
faithfully by the Republic, freely
risking his all in the balance. Tht
fact is as patent as the sun of a clear
day that the victory is a noted, glor'
rious one of the votarics of liberty
over the votarics of slavery, the echo
of the centennial year pealing bach
the anthem of liberty to 1776, that
grand epoch in the worlds social and
political history.


The news of this early morning
will 60 round the world, cheering
and warming the hearts of the men
of progress, of universal freedom oi
the civil equality of all men. We
most earnestly hope that during his
administration, he may be successful
in accomplishing what is evidently
his present highest aspiration, viz: to
cement the Union in the hearts of the
southern people, so far as can be,
while the rights Of all men are at the
same time preserved. This glorious
result is one which not only glads the
hearts of our people, but the good
people of the civilized world.
Year: 1877

RUTHERToRD BURCHARD HAYES, OF
Ohio, is soon to be inaugurated Pres
ident. We firmly believe that good
round majority of the people of this
nation are most heartily and sincere.
ly glad Of it.


More than this, we firmly believe
that of the virtuous, intelligent, patri-
otic and good people Of this nation,
three-fourths of them are heartily glad
of this result.


Again, we firmly, believe that OF
the good people of this nation, who
were never guilty of treason, or
sympathizing with treason, nine
tenths of them rejoice with glad
hearts at the result. These, our be-
liefs, are certainly reasonable. We
will give just one cause for our be.
liefs, and that we think is sufficient to
establish the correctness Of them.
From the nomination of Hayes down
to the present moment. not one soli-
tary thing derogatory to his high
character, either in his former life OF
in his conduct during the late cam
paign, has been found. What citizen
of this nation to-day stands with a
higher record for purity of life than
does r. b. Hayes? So pure has that
life been that no honest intelligent
man In his heart can say, in the light
of the events of the last eight months
but that he is pre-eminently man OF
prudence, integrity, patriotism, abll-
ity and fairness, without one single
blot upon his record. Contrast his
character with that Of his opponent
We will not attempt to do it. We
leave it for all honest citizens OF
America to do. If, however, after
making that contrast, there is one
single honest and patriotic citizen Of
intelligence who is not glad at the
fesuit, we pity him.
Year: 1877

IT is said that Judge Manning F
Force, of Cincinnati, is to be Presi
dent Hayes private Secretary, al
important and delicate position. Gen
Force commanded a brigade, and
subsequently a division in the 17tf
corps, and of late has been a Judge Of
one of the Cincinnati courts. He was
recently defeated for Congress by
Sayler by a small majority. He has
been Treasurer of the Society of the
Army of the Tennessee from its or.
ganization.


He was one Of the most gallant and
meritorious officers in the army, and
withal one of its most modest and
upright ornaments.


President Hayes could not find a
man better fitted for his private Sec
retary, or for any other office, than
General Force.
Year: 1877

COLUMBUS, March 1.-The follow
ing is Hayes speech:


Iappear to say few words in bid
ding good bye to you. I understand
very well the uncertainty of public
affairs at Washington. / understand
very well that possibly next week
may be with you again to resume my
place in the governors office and as
your fellow citizen, but 1 also UNDER
stand that it is my duty to be at
Washington prepared to assume an
other position, higher and Of greater
responsibility and with more difficult
duties. I have thought, as 1 looked
upon this great audience, as gazed
upon the people who thronged our
route to the depot of q similar
occurrence l6 years ago. Little less
than 16 years ago, with a thousand
men, l marched down High street to
pass to the east and to the south to do
what we could to restore the Union
of the States and to re-establish the
authority of the constitution. [Cheersl
In that work we were eminently sue
cessful so far as it was possible to be
successful by the force Of arms. I am
not here to say word in disparagc-
ment Of what was accomplished by
the brave men who went out with me
from different parts of the country.
OF my comrades, one third and over
never returned to their homes.


They perished in the discharge of
their duty that the republic might
live. But there was something force
could not do. We would have our
union to be union Of hearts, and we
would have our constitution obeyed
not merely because offorce that com.
pels obedience, but obeyed because
the people love the principles of the
constitution. Long continued ap-
plause.l And to-day if / am called to
the work to which Abraha m Lincoln
was called, sixteen years ago, it is
under bright skies and more favorable
auspices. / do hope, fervently be-
lieve that by the aid of divine provi-
dence we may do something in this
day Of peace by works Of peace to-
wards re-establishing in the hearts OF
our countrymen q real hearty attach
ment to the constitution as it is and to
the union as it is.
Year: 1877

New YORK, March IA New Or
leans special states that Packard will
not give up the Governorship with
out contest. Carloads of lumber
have been taken to the State House
and carpenters have been busy
strengthening the barricades. All
small dealers in the basement have
been ordered to vacate. The forces
within number l60 men, with one
Calling gun. An effort was made to
recruit regiment from large labor
organization. A guard consisting of
one company of militia is constantly
on duty at the Court House, the
Nichols headquarters.