smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

the most extraordinary lengths in defending
tho operations of Mr. Jayne. Journals on the
opposite side have busted themselves, while
tho investigation is still pending, and tho
chances of reform arc at best uncertain, IN
the manufacture of party capital out of the
inquiry, by proving that the law was passed
by Republican Congress and that sub
seouent Republican Congresses have neglected
or refused to repeal it.


This is short-sghtcd policy on both sides.
II can only embarrass the effort for reform
by complicating it with considerations OF
party politics upon which the rcformers
themselves arc not agreed. Ii we are to have
the lines strictly drawn on such questions as
these. if honest men will not forget their diff
ferences for little while and work together
for the destruction of present abuses without
ouarreling over tho past we may as well
abandon all hope Of purifying public affairs.
There ought to be no question now who
passed the seizure law; the vital issue Is
whether we can repeal it, We have shown
that Republicans Of the straightcst sect have
denounced tho law in unmeasured terms.
Shall it bo reserved for Democrats to keep 1t
on the statute books by stirring up partisan
feeling over it, and forcing the party leaders
on the other side to come to its defenscf
Year: 1874

Mayor Uayemeyer has sent to the Common
Council message in regard to canal matters
which s IN the main, a sensible document.
We think the Mayor, and many OF the MEM
hers of the Chamber of Commerce and the
Produce Exchange are in error as to the
probable effect of Canadian competition on the
commerce of our city. 1t is not only the
freight on grain from Chicago to Montreal,
as compared with New-York, that enters into
the computation, but also that from Montreal
to Liverpool Now, the ocean freights from
Montreal are almost invariably higher than they
are from New-York, not to mention the fact
that the Canadian route is closed in the Winter
months Then, too, the export trade cannot
be separated from the import trade. Steamers
will not run empty to Montreal when they can
have cargo both ways by coming to New-GOr
Tho change, and that there Is tendency
towards a change we do not dispute, will be
very slow. The channels of trade are like the
channels Of rivers-not easily abandoned. If
the Mayor and Chamber of Commerce would
give their attention to the improvement OF the
terminal facilities at this port, they would
remove what in our opinion is the great
obstacle to more rapid increase of the foreign
trade of New York.


AS TO tho Utopian project Of cuthng
down the tolls and running the canals in
future without resort to taxation, by means
of tho juggle called funding the Canal Debt,
we warn tho advocates of the scheme that it
will not work. The canal receipts for the last
fiscal year were nearly two hundred thousand
dollars less than the cost of superintendent
and repairs, including repairs of the sort
called extraordinary. This is the best show
ing that has been made since the great reduc-
tion of tolls four years ago. Without penny
charged against the canals for interest on the
Canal Debt, or for the awards of the apprais-
ers for damages, there is and has been con-
slant large deficit in their revenues. To re-
tain the present system of canal management,
to continue to operate all the laterals, to re-
duce tolls, and to cut off the three millions
year now received by the canals from taxa
tion-to do all these things at once is just as
impossible as it would be to dry up the st.
Lawrence by draining Lake Erie through the
Erie Canal. Let the grain men of Buffalo and
New-York beware lest they kill the goose
which laws tho golden egg.
Year: 1874

There is hospital for children in q neigh
boring city, the history and plan Of which we
have before now given to our readers. We
have told how poor little creatures, sick with
fevers, scrofula, consumption, or hip disease,
or any other evil which our ill-regulated lives
give to our children, are taken out of the gar
rets and hot cellars where they are suffering
hopelessly from worse pains than disease, to
large, cool, softly lighted rooms, where they
are skilfully and tenderly nursed and cared
for how, when they begin to recover, they
are removed to o suburban house surrounded
with groves and wide, sunny play grounds; !;
how, in Summer, they are taken to another
branch hospital at Atlantic City, where the sea
breeze and salt baths complete the cure, and
send them back, most probably, with far
stronger chances for healthy, enduring life
than those which their mothers gave them.


1t is most admirable charity, and one
managedo with an admirable discretion and
skill. The other day the Board of Trustees
made their periodical examination of the patients
and building. They were a group of grave
matrOns and most respectable black coated
gentlemen. The house was exquisitely neat,
the food excellent; the little cOnvalescent
patients, in their best clothes, sat ranged in
breathless awe along the WALL many of thom


with absurdly small crutches tucked between


their knees that would tumble down every
half minute and make frightful clatter; the
cribs, narrow, and white, and small. were
Year: 1874

We warned the merchants yesterday that
they would encounter powerful opposition
to their movement for reform of the Custom
house abuses. They would have to fight
their natural enemies, the spies, revenue
agents, and party managers who thrive upon
the plunder of penalties and moieties. There
seems to be danger that they may suffer also
from the misdirected zeal of some of their
honest friends. Spokesman of the Admins
tration have seen fit TO regard the attack upon
tho seizure law IA an aifront to the Republi-
can party, and have gone IL consequence TO
Year: 1874

Mayor Ifavemeyer's gravest mistake was In
failing TO secure nOn-partisan Police Com
mission. He has preserved the old political
balance by nominating to tie place of the late
Henry Smith a Grant Republican. But, learn
ing wisdom, as we trust, from past mishaps, ne
has been careful to select man better known
for his administration of the place which ne
now holds than for active participation In
ward politics. Authoritative assurances are
given that Mr.. Andrews in the Police Com
mission will consider it his business to look
after tho police, and not after the politics OF
the city and if these be correct, the Mayor
and the City may both be congratulated on
the nomination.


But meantime there come TO us whispers from
Albany of q disposition to unscat the entire
Police Board, in order by its reorganization,
to secure larger control of local polltlcal
machinery for the dominant party. The re-
organization now proposed would include IN one
metropolitan district and under one general
management, the police of Westminster
County New-York, and Brooklyn. lhe
scheme seems to us alarming, both by reason
Of the power concentrated in single Doard
and the dangerous tendency to still greater
noIiticaI interferences. If there be anything
whatever in the Albany rumors, they would
constitute one of the strongest reasons
for hoping that the Mayors nomination may
be promptly confirmed, and that then the Leg
islature may be persuaded to let us alone
Tho Police Board has too much partisan poll
tics now. We do not want 1T reorganIzed
only for the sake Of injecting more.
Year: 1874

If it were not very disrespcctful way of
speaking of two sovereign powers we might
compare Brazil and the Argentine Republic to
snarling dogs. The conclusion Of peace be-
tween Paraguay and her allied enemies in 1870
was unfortunate for the peaceful relations of
the allies. Their subsequent dssenslOns in
regard to the division Of the spoils had become
so offensive to other civilized countries that
there was general feeling of relief at the
announcement, made IN December, 1872, that
they had come to formal agreement for set
Ting their disputes. A telegram from Lisbon
now conveys the information that Brazil and
the Argentine States are again arming to
fight about Paraguay their old bone of con-
tenton. The telegram contains no sufficient
explanation of the particular events which
caused the present trouble, but there is strong
reason to believe that it is due to the same
covetous spirit which was at the bottom of
the former quarrel.
Year: 1874

The new Leader of the House came to grief
day. He attempted to rally the friends
of the franking privilege and secure the pas
sage of the obnoxious measure which was tenn
poiarily defeated last week. The result was
final overthrow of all pending measures to
revive the franking nuisance, by vote OF Ill
20 12O 1t is said that Speaker Blaine, whose
rulings helped to disable the bill, expressed
his hostility to the measure in various ways.
lie shows his political sense.
Year: 1874

A Committee of the Board Of Aldermen
have been examining the matter of the burial
of strangers in the Potter's Field. UnrecOg-
nized persons have been put underground in
the most heartless and unfeeling manner in
too many instances. The case of Mr.. French,
heretofore discussed by THE TRIBUNE. was OF
the most painful suggestiveness. People who
read that story for the first time in these col
umns saw that it was possible for stranger
to die by violence, be hustled from hospital
to hospital and stripped of his personal effects
by officials, be finally put into earth where 1t
was next to impossible to find and identify
his remains. The ordinance proposed by the
Aldermanic Committee is designed to correct
this state of things. 1t is certainly time that
something was done to remove the blot on
our civilization.
Year: 1874

Mr. Garfield yesterday took q very rose
colored view of the National expenditures
and assured the House that everything had
been done and would be done by Congress to
save money that the people could reasonably
expect Ho awarded praise for retIenchment,
not only to this Congress, but to its prede-
ccssors since 1885, In short, he extracted sweet
cider from cobble stones. We shall look with
interest for the full report of his speech, which
was two hours in length.
Year: 1874

The Republican majority in the New jersey
Assembly committed hasty and foolish act
yesterday. During the absence Of many OF
the supporters of the bill abolshing Commits
sions for Jersey City they rushed it through
Committee, and indefinitely postponed 1t by
strictly partisan vote. The friends OF the
measure who were present refused to vote at
all, and its enemies succeeded in accomplish
ing their object, though they lacked three
votes of majority in full house. We trust
this action Will not be final The vote which
was secured through such disgraceful means
evidently does not represent the true senti-
ment of the Assembly. A reconsideration
ought to be moved, and another chance given
the members to redeem the shameful record
made yesterday.
Year: 1874

The Department of Public Works Is ex-
pensiye. 1t costs money by the millions. so
does the Department of Parks. The Board of
Aldermen costs less, if we take no account Of
what its services are worth. The Senate is
engaged in a hot discussion as to which of
the three shall have charge of some expensive
work on some expensive avenues in the un-
inhabited portion of our city. The Commits
sioner of Public Works, who in person looks
after bis interests at Albany, will probably
get what he wants, but we should like to
know if the work going en under his direction
|. pot u Danger Of growing Little too colossal
Year: 1874

The SASDoRS CoNTRAcTs.-The San
born investigation, so far as it has been re-
ported, leaves a somewhat confused i'm
preston on the public mind, which we hope
is not shared by the Committee Of Ways
and Means, which conducted it. The origin
of the Sanboru contracts is not by any
means clear 10 the public, though the COM
mittee may have arrived at some definite
conclusion on the subject. It is certainly a
matter of considerable consequence. So
far as the taxes included in Sanborn's con-
tracts could have been collected by the or
binary agencies, the Government simply
gave away the half which Sanboru got.
How much of his receipts he himself paid
away to distinguished lawyers" or in
"Gubernatoral" canvasscs, or to urchase
the confidential clerks of the taxpayers is
of very little consequence. The point in
which the country is interested is that the
Treasury Department signed away thous-
ands Of dollars of taxes due the Govern
ment and abandoned its right TO many
times more, and no one seems to know who
did it, or why or how it was done. We
hope the committee will speak out frankly
and explicitly, whatever opinion it has
formed.


A recommendation to repeal the law will
undoubtedly be made, and that is we'll
enough as far as it goes. But 1t does not
go nearly far enough. The Secretary Of
the Treasury was very ready to make that
recommendation. Probably he would be
quite content to have the committee stop
| there. But can the committee do so wise
ly or justlyS 1t will be very great mis-
take to underestimate the importance Of
this matter. As 10 the Republican party,
there is no single thing likely to influence
its fortunes more. Public attention is
thoroughly aroused. The "Sanborn busi-
ness" is in every ones mouth. And 1t Is
not the law-loose and reckless as that was
which excites the most interest. 1t is the
position and conduct of the Treasury De-
partment. Unless that is frankly explain
ed and properly characterized, the public


will hold the party responsible. And we
suggest to any one in Congress who may
| think that 'the least said the soonest mend
ed" that the time for that sort of policy


has slipped by. II the people are left to
| draw their own conclusions on such testl-
| mony as they have been able TO get at, they
will not fail to draw them, and the conclu-
sions will not be of much help in the Con-
gressional elections next iall.-N y. Times.
Year: 1874

Method in education is everything. -
The Teachers Institute has been the
means of waking up the teachers in a re-
markablo degree. 1t is an easy matter
to tell what teachers have attended the
Institute by visiting their schools. There
is all the difference imaginable. We are
quite sure that the eilort made to improve
the teachers has been successful. The
schools show tie results, and we only ask
the parents to visit them and see for
themselves.


Teachers have the privilege of ma.
king still greater improvements. No
profession offers such inducements to en-
tcrprising young mel as teaching. Not
in the way of money making, but in the
broad field Of science and literature, a
thousand inducements present themselves
inviting to higher attainm ents and more
thorough work in the school room.-
Teachers, to a great extent, give tone to
public sentiment. They arc the true de|
Tenders of the peoples right. Knowl'
edge is power. The common people need
light. They are struggling for the right
Let the teacher prepare to do his part in
the contest for universal education. 1t
is his province to lead the van. The true
teacher has a noble work to do. He may
command larger and more powerful ar:
mics than ever followed a Napoleon or
Tamerlane. His conquests are quiet
and often unobserved, but none the less
powerful on that account.
Year: 1874

Observation and experience have
taught us that two much time is given to
the study of Arithmetic in the schools,
Spelling, Reading, Writing, English
Grammar, Composition, History and &C.
ogrophy are too much neglected. The
study of Arithmetic has an undue i'm
portance given to it. In some of the
schools, at least one half the time allotted
to study is given to tie Arithmetic. Now
this is making it moro important than
it deserves to be made. 1t is quite COM
mon to find mere children well advanced
in prdcticdL arithmetic. We do not
mean to say that they understand what
they have gene over. 1t is just, however,
to say that Arithmetic is better taught
than any other branch. We do not see
how it could be otherwise, since so much
time is given to this subject.


II is mistaken idea that the study Of
Arithmetic tends to make men practical
for, in our judgment, the opposite is true.
We need more attention given to Rea-
ding, Eng. Grammar, History and Natu>
raj Sciences. Better teaching in these
branches will give more satisfactory re-
suits than can possibly be obtained from
the study of Arithmetic.
Year: 1874

A great fire once broke out in a little
German town near where stood tower
about eighty feet high, which formed
part OF the fortifcation on the town wall.
On tho summit stork's nest had been
built for so many years that the building
had received the name of "Stork's Tower"
At the time of the fire there were three
unAedged birds in the nest, and the poor
little brides were in great danger. But
the old storks soon showed their good
sense and their love for their young, for
by turns they each few of to some fsh>
ponds just outside the walls; here they
took q good dip in the water, and filed
their beaks with az much as they could
carry away; then, notwithstanding the
smoke and flames, they few back to their
little ones, poured the water from their
beaks over them and the nest, and at tho
same time shaking it from their feathers.
Thus during the whole day did these
faithful birds act as winged fire brigade
till toward e7eniBg:when all danger for
their young and their nest was over.
Year: 1874

A young lady from Georgetown came
to the city the other day to have her pic
ture taken. When the artist showed her
the 'proof' and asked her how she liked
it, she placidly remarked that he put too
darned much mouth on it to suit her.
Year: 1874

Do Your BEsT.-If you are running
along in hurry, and stumble over a
brickbat, and spill your dinner-pail, all
right. Kick the brickbat out of the way,
pick up your dinner. pail, save your bread
and butter if you can; if not, whistle
Hail Columbia" aud run on to school.
1t won't do to be put down by brickbat
Take hold of your book as a squirrel
takes hold of a hickory>nut. Be bound
to get the meaning out, if there is any in
it. Because Tom LazychOps wants to be a
fool is no reason why you should be one
Do your best, every time; and then
when the teacher calls out the classes
you can walk up like man, and tell hin
to 60 ahead.
Year: 1874

THE UNDERSIGNED WOULD INFORM THE


] citizens of Rock Island, that the largest and
best stock of Plants offered in this city can be
found at his Green House, on the new Cemetery
road, Otter street. about d mile east of the
Cemetery, which will be sold for low and reason
able prices, He will sell one dozen plants, of his
own selection for 81. All wanting anything in
this line will please give him call.


3-5dwed2m JOHN STAPP.
Year: 1874

The fourth mber Of this sparkling little
sheet has been received. Mr.. Manard
seems determined to achieve success in
his enterprise, and We hope and believe he
will do SO. There has been an unusual
amount of humbuggery and nonsense at
tending the introduction of the order of
Patrons of Husbandry in Louisiana, and it
seems to be the mission of this newspaper
to denOunce and eradicate the abuses and
place this-in other States-usetul organi-
zation upon proper and useful footing
The Rake has already been elected official
organ of the Changers at Independence,
and will soon, doubtless, be called upon to
speak by authority for the whole order.
A pleasing feature of the number before us
is the Inauguration of ladies' department,
wherein Mrs. E. Burke Collins wields a
graceful pen.
Year: 1874

Female preachers are so rarely heard in
New Orleans that great curiosity has ex-
listed, and large numbers have hocked to the
Ames Methodist Episcopal Church when
ever the above named lady has been an
nounced to speak. She has been the sensa-
ton of the week, and is doing much toward
awakening better religious feeling in this
community, for those who at first went for
the novelty of hearing a woman speak, are
seriously pondering the good words she
utters. The fame of this evangelist
had preceded her, but no written
description can convey to the reader
the effect produced by her simple speeches.
She is woman fair to look upon, consider
ably stout, and fully forty. She dresses
neat and plainly, in black, without jewelry;
her hair, of light brown, is arranged with
three rolls or pufs on each side of her fore
head, and in the church, and when speak
ing, she wears bonnet There is nothing
OF the womans rights, or platform style of
oratory about her. In degree she is
dramatic, and gesticulates freely, but her
manner and looks harmonic with her
voice and speech. She makes no pretension
TO preaching, but announces herself
simple child of Christ, and her mission to
tell His story. and plead His cause. The
field for her is ample in this city, and al
ready the leaven she brings is doing it's work,
for laymen of all beliefs, persons of no
fixed belief, and clergymen of all Protest
ant denominations. assist, attend and join
with her, working in the cause looking to
the final redemption Of mankind through
common Saviour.


Mrs. Van Cott will hold meetings, until
further notice, every day at noon, and will
preach every evening at halfpast seven.


On Sunday afternoon, at five o'clock, she
will address the people of New Orleans.
"In behalf Of the young men Of our city"
This meeting will be held under the au-
spices of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation, and for the better accommodation
of the public will be held at Exposition
Hall.
Year: 1874

Every one stands the same change.


Every one stands the same chance.


Every one stands the same chance.


Every one stands the same chance.


Every one stands the same chance.
The wheel of the Louisiana Lottery
turns for all.


The wheel of the Louisiana Lottery
turns for all.


The wheel of tho Louisiana Lottery
turns for all.


The wheel of the Louisiana Lottery
turns- for AL.


The wheel of the Louisiana Lottery
turns for Ill.
Year: 1874

We regret to learn that General L. Seweil
has had a severe attack of bronchitis and
has been confined to his bed for several
days.


The friends of Speaker Lowell will be
pleased to learn that he is gradually recov
ering from his sickness, though not yet able
To leave hla room
Year: 1874

to general legislation upon appropriation
bills, but the discussion to-day has paved
the way for action when the bill of Sena-
tor West shall reach the Senate through
tho report of the Claims Committee.
Year: 1874

The bribery investigation is still pend
ing at Sacramento, but the evidence
taken thus far utterly fails to convict
Governor Booth or any Of his friends, or
any person acting for him, with any
bribe or offer Of reward whatever, TO ad-
vance his interest in the Senatorial CON
test
Year: 1874

There is q chap in Staunton, Va.
who eats glass. II went out" says
the physician who describes it, "snd
secured a piece. about One-third Of
broken pand, and brought in several
friends to witness the sight. He took
the glass and deliberately bit out a
piece about the size Of a silver half
dollar, and chewed it up with as much
gusto as if it had been q piece OF
bread, and swallowed It, taking az
terward a swallow Of water and bread,
he said, to get the particles out Of bis
teeth. lie would have eaten the
whole piece if / had requested, as be
has frequently eaten tumblers for
drink Of whiskey. He said be would
eat any kind except the colored bottle
glass, which had poison in it. He
was FIRST induced to try the expert
ment about three years ago, at the
Cape of Good Hope, by a surgeon in
the British navy, who bet be could
eat all the glasses eighteen in num-
ber) at q dinner-party, which he did,
and be saw no reason why he could
not do as much, so he tried It by eat
ing only three. Since that time be
has eaten glass for the amusement Of
others over a thousand times with NJ
disagreeable effect. The only differ.
enee he sees is, it gives him an appe.
lite