smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

N. PIGEON, whose speech at Nice we published on
Wednesday is likely to get into serious trouble
through that indiscretol. It is proposed to expel
him from the Assembly for his alleged dsloya utter
ances. He has written an unsatisfactory explana-
tion, in which he merely bames the newspapers
which printed his post-prandial eloquence Tho
interest in relation to the status of Nice and Savoy


as provinces Of France, is further heightened by n
question Of veracity between The london Times and
the King Of Italy in reference to the same matter
An article recently published in that paper stated
that on the occasion of King Victor Emanuels visit
to Berlin. Prince Bismarck suggested to him the
propnety OF repossessng himself of the Province of
Savoy. Tho Italian Embassy in London gives n
categorical denial to tho story. There are in fact


several improbabilites in it, There ia no reason at


TINS moment why Prussia should wish TO embrol
France and Italy. In the case of another war


savoy might servo an excellent purpose TO seduco
tho Italian King withal and il would be useless to
throw IL away in time of peace Besides with all Of
iIinco Bismarok's tendency TO rido somewhat
roughly over obstacles in tho way Of his plans ho In
not in tho habit Of proposing positive crimes TO his
own VI " fotogn governments Still less would he
Year: 1874

does is rather to spit in their faces.
The appointment is simply amazing. Never
theless, Mr.. Disbecker, tho young reporter,
who is taken by tho neck and shoulders
and thrust out of The City Record office


into tho Police Board, is not without force,
and he may yet prove to have in him the
materials of Police Commissioner, at least
above tho average to which we have long
been accustomed. There have been shrewd
men manipulating the interests behind this
ouDOintment
Year: 1874

is, therefore, some reason to hope that this
important measure will eventually receive the
serious consideration of Congress. So far
however, Senators who think more OF party
spoils than they do Of the commercial interests
of the country, have fought shy of everything
that looks like an attempt to deliver commerce
from the grip of official plunderers. Whatever
may be the real merits of Mr.. Fenton's OIL
partisan Congressman are reluctant that any
such measure shall be discussed while tho
public wait for their action.
Year: 1874

THE TRIBUNE made no mistake in its an
nouncement a week OF two ago of pending
suit by James H. Banker against tho Lake
Shore Railroad and tho Horace F. Clark
estate. The gulls who were deceived
by the prompt and interested contradic-
tions with which the street and the
newspapers abounded, may now learn
wisdom for the future by a careful pc
rusal of the full text of Mr.. Bankers
complaint, as printed on the seventh page of
this mornings TRIBUNE. 1t would be rash to
express any opinion on q question so COM
plicated, and on the obviously One-sided
statement of man trying to escape the
payment of half million dollars for which
he has given his notes. We content ourselves,
therefore, with referring the reader to
the document ITSELF as one presenting an in
terestng and very remarkable account of the
heavy financial transactions in the Vanderbilt
circle, on which hinged the final turn of the
panic of 1878.
Year: 1874

Of all astonishing officials that ever ruled a
great city, this pugnacous old Dutch Mayor of
ours is the most versatile and bewildering His
appointment of Police Commissioner will be
q nine days wonder. The Custom -hous @
managers thought they had an under
standing with him. whereby they could
make interest in the Police Board
for partisan purposes at the next
election, and so they began tinkering the
city charter in accordance with their scheme


The Mayor protested, but after having COM
mitted themselves they felt bound to carry
the matter through. The Mayor makes
prompt use of the uncontrolled power
of appointment which they thrust upon him.
lie can hardly be said, in doing it, to slap tho
faces of the Custom-house managers who
were seeking bis favor What he really
Year: 1874

Upward of thousand different species
of ants have been described by entomolo-
gists, and yet it is by no means supposed
that the whole family have been enumera-
ted New species are from time to time
turning up in different parts of the world,
and, as they are all wonderfully intelligent,
and addicted to the strangest habits, we
may expect to be entertained with new and
curious stories about the race as long as
life shall last DR.. Gideon Lincecum, of
Long Points, Tex, has been cultivating the
acquaintance Of a species Of sweet-scented
ants which live in his vicinity Each indi-
vidual ant seems to be a vial or vase ofpre-
cious perfumery, sweet as the altar ofroses
Crush it between the figures and it yields
fragrance of exquisite quality These
ants are extremely scarce, but no doubt the
day will come when they will be cultivated,
as the Orientals cultivate gardens of roses,
for the rare odors they distill. Imagine a
bouquet of these sweet-scented ants i'm
palcd on separate pins and emitting deli
cious aromas with every eontortion. Scien-
lists are trying to prove that the lower or
ders of animals do not ache from stabs and
wounds, and they tell US that insects will
TRANQUILITY feed when transfxed with bod
kin therefore, we might refresh the dainty
sense of smell with nosegay Of bleeding
and quivering ants without suffering any
twinges Of conscience.


But this treatment of the ants would be
no worse than that which the various
species unscrupulously accord to each other.
We are indebted again to DIR. Lincecum
for the details Of wholesale slaughter OF
one tribe by another, which occurred un-
der his observation. \ colony of the small
est species of black ants, which dwelt in
his yard, discovered one day a quantity of
sirup that had been spilled ON the ground
and Immediately swarmed out and began
carrying it totheir magazine. The vessel
in which they transported it was the little
sack in the abdomen. But they had not
long been engaged in the work before a
larger species of black ants learned what
they were about and begau to rifle them
on their way homeward The big black
butchers would seize the little fellows toll
ing alone under their burdens, and, biting
open their abdomen, draw out the full
sacks and swallow them. Then, casting
aside the mutilated carcass each would
seize upon another and repeat the murde
ons operation. The bloody brig;lnds great


ly outnumbered their helpless victims, and
when the ruthless massacre was over, the
peaceful, populous colony was entirely ex


terminated. l. Chicago Tribune
Year: 1874




For many years there has lived in Mon
roetown, Pa, an eccentric old man named
Isaac Castor He is shoemaker and
lives alone in little house in an out of the
way spot He is over sixty years old, and
for years has boarded his earnings, using
only enough money to procure the bare
necessities of life. His income has never
been large, but its accumulation for over a
quarter of century amounted to a sung lit
tie competency. He always carried several
hundred dollars in his pantaloon pockets,
which fact was generally known, and 1t has
been the standing wonder here for years
that he had never been robbed.


On Monday morning it was noticed
that the old shoemaker's shop was not
opened as usual, and that there was no stir
about the house. This was so remarkable
an occurrence that two or three citizens
went to his house and broke open the door.
They found Castor bound tightly in chair,
so that he could not use his hands or feet,
and handkerchief tied tightly over his
mouth He was hastily released, and as
soon as he could recover sufficiently from
his excitement and alarm he told substanti-
ally the follwing story:


About an hour before daylight he was
awakened by a man who stood by the side
of his bed. Castor sprang up, but was
stopped by the man, who put pistol to
his head and told him to be still or he
would blow his brains out. Another man,
with lantern, was going about the room
searching every hole and corner. The old
shoemaker at first thought the men were
negroes, but afterward discovered that they
were white men with blackened faces The
one man rifed the pockets of his pantaloons,
which contained nearly $500, but not be-
ing able to find money that they evidently
| believed was secreted about the room, the
robbers told the old man that he must tell
them where he hid his money or they
would kill him. Castor assured them that
he had no more money that his pantaloons
pockets contained all he had in the world,
and he begged them to leave him some of
that, as he was keeping it to pay his flu
neral expenses when he died The burg
lars, failing to force the old man into re-
vealing the whereabouts of the rest of his
probable treasure, and daylight being near,
made their victim get out of bed. They
then bound him to the chair and gagged
him, and took their departure. They had
effected an entrance into the house through
a back window. Castor said that he could
not be able to recognize the robbers. He
could not distinguish their features, and
their voices were strange to him. The
general impression is that they are parties
living in the neighborhood, as no strangers
have been seen about the place. There is
not the slightest suspicion, however, as to
who they may be. Castor says that the
robbers took every dollar he had in the
world.
Year: 1874

Senator Morton is reported as say
ing that the Senate Committee will, IN
a few days, report an amendment OF
the Constitution for the election OF
the President by the people direct; and
he believes it will pass this Congress,
in time for it to so to the different
State Legislatures for ratification next
fall.


The proposed amendment provides
that for President and Nice-President
the people shall vote by States-tirst
by the State at large for its two Sena-
torial votes, and next in each Con-
gressional district, thereby preserving
the existing weight of the State i'll
choosing the officers above named,
which would be lost by direct vote
of the people, to the detriment OF the
smaller States. The plurality rule is
also to be substituted for the majority
rule throughout


The proposed change is favored by
eAI Observation-Disclosures, dlei tilcI CIct =
may be viewed with distrust. But,
after all, it matters very little what
may be the mode prescribed for the
election Of Presidents in future, as
the probabilities are that III 4 short
time the people VII have little voice
either IL the selection of their rulers
or in the laws by which they are TO be
governed
Year: 1874

It is a matter for honest pride al
for lust congratulation that our part,
has, been so fortunate in its variOu
nominations.


\ good nomination is half the cam
paign, for men fight with vigor ant
spirit and life when they know thei


leaders are worthy of confidence. Ii
our own districts under the lead c
WADDELL, McKoY and NoRAIENr ant
in those above us under The lead o
AsHE, FULLER and PEMBERToN, oul
Conservative frie nds have the amples
inducements to labor earnestly anG
zealously until election day has passed
Stand by the nominees then should bt
the cry from every true Conservative


Entertaining the views we do as tc
the necessity of full triumph Of the
Conservative party to bring peace and
quiet, plenty and prosperity once more
to our land, we look upon it as q
matter of duty and conscience to stand
by the nominees of our party. If we
can not find political safety and saliva
ton in the ranks of our own, then we
know not where to find it. 1t may be
that at times the action of our party,
III some respect, is not in full accord
with the policy which to us would seem
most expedient to adopt, and it may
be at times that our conclusions i'll
this regard are very strong. But what
of that Is not cur party with ali its
faults, if faults it has, incomparably
better than that of the enemy


Can y q desert our friend and join
the enemy? Can we be neutral "a
deed what is neutrality? Is il not
true that Just to the extent we with
hold from our friends the aid at our
command, we give comfort and success
to the enemy? When the lines are
drawn are we not obliged to stand by
the nominees


The only party that holds to lis any
hope of redeeming our State from the
tiralldom of Radical rule IS the party
10 WHICH We DSlObC. VI . stlii i<-ouiOii
and discipline and concert of action
are as essential to the success Of pO-
litical party as they arc essential to
the success Of an enemy. There is
nothing truer than that house divided
against itself cannot stand. We must
all pull together, or we shall accom-
plish nothing.


We beg that every Conservative III
the State will seriously ask himself
how he can conscientionsly refuse to
vote for the nominee of the party
without contributing to its down fall
If he can find no way to refuse to vote
for the nominees of his party without
contributing to its disorganization and
decentralization, we beg then that he
will seriously ask himself as a white
man and as a North Carolinian if it
be not his sacred duty to do all in his !
power to root cut Radicalism from the |
State, even though it be at the sacri- |
fee of his better judgment and per
sonal preference Ii these matters be
thoroughly considered, there need be
no fear that our friends will not stand
by the nominees.
Year: 1874

Commenting on the passage of the
Civil Rights or social equality bill by
the Sen tie, the Louisville Ledger says:
8" 1t would seem that the demon of
Radicalism will never be satisfied shoYt
of an utter mongrelization Of the coun-
try. Measures which look to- the finan-
cial relief of the country, and the pro-
lection OF the laboring masses of the
West and South from the despotism of
New England capital, are allowed to
slumber and die /; while the most out
rageous schemes which have for their
object the degradation of white men 10
the political and sociallevet of the ne
gro are pressed with desiiish pertina-
city. 1t is well that Radicals should
exert themselves to do their worst now,
for the time oe their departure from
power is at hand"
Year: 1874

A goodly crop of "Independents"
and "Reformers" and Farmers can
didates" are appearing upon the sur
face in different portions of the State.
If our people will do their duty at thus
election, we shall hear NO more OF this
ilk in our elections. The intense
selfishncss of these people, says the
Richmond Enquirer, who are willing
to disrupt great party to carry out
petty and contemplate ambition, must
excite the contempt of good and honest
men. If Independents or Reformers do
not ike our party let them go to the
party whose votes they court and fight
us openly from the ranks of the Radi-
cal enemy
Year: 1874

The Aanay and Nary Journal thinks
it is not too much to expect that the
time will come when the Army OF the
Potomac and the Army of Northern
Virginia will meet together, each to
celebrate the others valor, and to ex-
change the tokens of respect which
the brave endurance of each won from
the other.
Year: 1874

Col B. B. Taylor, late of the Portland
Herald, writes the following account for
the San Francisco BulIetm:


The steamship Ajax crossed the bar at
the mouth of the Columbia River, on
her late voyage from Portland, Oregon,
to San Francisco, on Sunday, Dec. %,
at u o'clock, NJ. just at the moment
when she had set her rudder to go out
to sea, in southwest direction, at the
utter limit of The bar, she struck the
bottom with great force, and, rebound.
ing, in an instant struck the second
time. Fortunately she struck immedi-
ately under her stern-post, tor such was
the violence of the conclusion, that had
she struck few feet forward, she must
have been stove in and gone Immediate
ly to the bottom. The trouble arose
from the fact that we delayed too long
at Astoria taking in freight, allowing the
ebb tide to run out too low before going
to sea.


.'i.f- tiftah or a


As it was, the steamers rudder was
torn from Its fastenings, though not en-
tirely loosed from its hold. 1t main
tanned the same relative position that it
had at the moment Of coneussion, and
we were consequently borne out to sea
in the precise direction desired. The
pilot at the wheel soon discovered, how
ever, that the rudder was rigid in that
position. and that no effort of his could
move it either to the right or left. What
moment it might break entirely loose
was of course uncertain, in which event
we should have been at the mercy Of a
brisk breeze and the waves, with des.
truction inevitable.


Captain Bolles, as soon as he made
himself acquainted with the situation,
Immediately set to work to improvise a
new steering apparatus. This was ae-
complished after several honrs of ener-
getic work, by taking a spar. to the end
of which was fastened plank, the whole
constituting sweep such as is used by
Mississippi fiat-boat men. To get this
in its place and secure it by proper fast
enings involved still further delay, in
spite of the unceasing and tireless ex-
ertions of the officers and crew. Their
behavior was admirable during this try
ing period. The imminent danger dur
ing all this time was that the disiointed
rudder would give way before the re-
quisite substitute could be completed


but to the joy of all it still maintained
Year: 1874

The general railway and miscellaneous share
speculation shows strong and animated, and the
FIRST sales showed an advantage over last nights
official figures of to per cent after which still
farther rise was reported most marked IN the
leaders of the list Lake Shore Western Union Tele
graph, and Union Pacific. The rapid advance 10
prices brought out large number of sales to realize
and under these offerings the market yielded
moderately about noon. At the 1 O'clock Board
the concession was fully recovered, and in later
dealings good prices were obtained, the market
winding up steady. There was no special gossip in
the street, and no new feature. The opening,
highest lowest and closing prices of stocks were
Year: 1874

Commissioners the Canal Fund by vtu Of the Act entitled:
provide support the Government passed ADn
Three of Article Seven OF
Consultation notice that sealed sn
2oth
at 2oc noon Of that a for a of
Year: 1874

MIR. EDITOR We have had a good
deal of rain in Pitt county for the last
several months. So much that the land is
washed and packed to such an extent that
it is out of the question for it to produce
full crop Of any kind of grain that is now
planted. And it is very doubtful in my
mind about full crop of any sort this
year, though | am satisfied, that a short
crop of cotton would be a blessing to
good many of our farmers. In fact it
might be good thing if there was moth
ing made in the way of cotton, as some
people place there entire salvation upon
cotton crops alone, and go in debt for so
much guanO to produce it. | am satisfied
by experience that a good farmer may be
benefited by using some guano on his farm,
under some grains, such as wheat, oats,
peas, corn and sometimes a little will do un-
der cotton, but let them not stake everything
on cotton crop produced alone from
guano. All guano will not do, all mud
will not do, all clay will not do, all sand
will not do, prefer to have some of all
these combined, as one is not good by
itself. Let us have little of every kind
of manure, and all kinds of earth combin-
ed, to insure full crop of any guano. l
am not inclined to believe that it is best
for me to haul mud all the time and moth
ing to 60 with it. Mud by itself lacks life,
and 1t must have a constituent with it to
give it energy before it can be made opera
tive. Alone it is fit for nothing but to be
trampled under the foot of man and beast


Hence l do not see how man can make
poor farm rich with poor mud and nothing
to go with it. He may work long life
time in this way and never have an honest
living for himself. But let us use economy
in all things whatsoever We do. and if this
mud is alone and worthless by itself, let
us give it a help mate, as for instance,
ashes, stable manure, cow-pen manure,
lime, &c. Now suppose you have 70.
enough of these ingredients to put with
your mud, you must look out for help
otherwise, and see no other plan than to
haul little guano if YOU are able to pay
for it. J. J. r.
Year: 1874

Is 1T HONEST Docs the govern.-eI.. Il
the town of Tarboro' honestly belong to
the negroes? If it does, of course we must
submit, but while the census and tax list
show white majority it is with anything
but perfect satisfaction that we see the
municipal offices in their hands. There
seems to be number OF colored men who
make Tarboro' kind of quasi home, that
is, headquarters while they are out of en-
ployment, who never think of claiming
their home here except on election occa-
sions, and yet by their vote the government
of the town is taken out of the hands of
the property holders and given over to the
negroes. We admit that there is some
doubt as to the rights of these peripatetic
citizens, for their home is perhaps as much
in town as anywhere else, and if they
would at all thinles recognize themselves
as citizens of Tarboro' and bear all incl
dent burdens, we could not gainsay their
right to vote But they should not be
permitted to enjoy the privilege of voting
unless they shared the burdens. There
seems to be but little doubt that of the de
facto citizens of town the whites have the
majority. What then is to be done to
prevent the evil that seems to be perpetra-
ting? The remedy lies in the Legislature.
We must have the town divided into wards
or secure the passage of bill giving us
cumulative suffrage. Either plan would
give the white people at least two members
of the Board of Commissioners. Let the
matter be attended to next winter.
Year: 1874

GRAB ALL.-This part of our town fur


nishes a large number of cases upon the


criminal dockets of our courts, yet but few


are successfully prosecuted. In fact, out
of perhaps twenty or twenty i've cases
that have been tried in our courts, in which
the defendants lived in that delectable
part of our town, only two have been con-
victed. Now what can be the cause OF
this -? 1t cannot be for want of merit in all
the cases, for it is seldom that 50 many in
nocent persons are indicted, nor can it be
for want of ability and zeal on the part OF
the Solicitor, the verdict of the bar would
be against any such hypothesis 1t must
therefore be due to the fact that witnesses
cannot be found to testify fully. Without
having any positive organization it seems
to have grown into settled fact that the
denizens of ''Grab All must shield each
other as far as possible. At least this is
the conclusion that we draw from the
Solicitors own statement, that it is al
most impossible to convict a man who
lives on Grab All"