smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

Itwould seem as though it took
a bachelor to paint a fitting picture
of wife The following is by
Washington Irving:


Il have speculated a good deal
upon matrimony. I have seen q
young and beautiful woman, the
pride of gay circles, married, as the
world says, well. Some have moved
into cosy houses, and their friends
have all come and looked at their
fortune, and their splendid arrange
ment for hsppiness, and they have
gone away and committed them TO
their sunny hope cheerfully and
without fear. 1t is natural to be
sanguine for them, as the young are
sometimes carried away by s similar
feeling. I love to get unobserved
into a corner, and watch the bride
in her white attire, and her smiling
face and soft eyes meeting me in
their pride of life, weave a walking
dream Of future happiness, and per-
suade myself that it viii be true.
think how they viii sit upon the lux
nrious sofa as the twilight falls, and
build gay hopes, and murmer in low
tones, the now,not forbidden tender
ness; and how thrillingly the allow
ed kiss and beautiful endearments
of welded life viii make even their
parting joyous, and how gladly they
come back from the crowded aud
empty mirth Of the gay to each 9th
ers company. I picture to myself
that young creature who blushed
even now at his hesitating caress,
listening eagerly as the night steals
on, for his footsteps, and wishing be
would come; and when he enters at
last, with an affection as undying as
his pulse hold her to his bosom. I
can feel the tide that goes flowing
through the heart, gaze with him on
the graceful form, as she moves
about for the kind Offices Of affection
soothing all his unquiet cares, and
making him forget even himself in
her young and unshadoWed beauty.


81 60 forward for years and see
her luxurient hair put sOberly away
from her brow, and her girlish gra-
ces all resigned into dignity, and
loneliness chastened With gentle
meekness, maternal affection. Her
husband looks on her with a proud
eye, and shows her the same ferTent
love and delicate attentions which
first won her, and fair children grow
about them, and they go on full Of
honor and untroubled years, and
are remembered when they die"
Year: 1874




The Cincinnati Commercial Of Sat
urday, says Through curiosity,
one of our reporters dropped in at
the former law Office of the late Chief
Justice, on Third Street, and there
found his partner, Register Ball. The
old sign of "Chase &c BalP' is still
over the door, and the old library
and office furniture remain as they
were nearly forty years ago. What
world Of associations cluster
around this spot the desk upon
which was written by the lamented
Chase the act repeaIing the Black
Laws Of Ohio, and at which he sat
when he prepared his great argument
in the Van Zandt case. In those
days there were three representa-
tiVes of universal freedom in the
Senate of the United State, and only
three-Chase, Hale and Sumner, all
of whom, within the last year have
passed away"
Year: 1874

This department will be in charge ofPraetiea
Teachers who have had many ye Hrs experience in
teaching. The demand for good p racHcal business
penmen is steadily Increasing, an d those who for
get TO perfect themselves In this beautiful art
Year: 1874

1t may be that by the time our paper is


issued the agony of the fare and freight
question, for two years at least, will have


been pretty much settled by our Legislature.
1t is now very late, and if any bill is passed
on this subject it will be the one introduced
by Irwin. Many Of the serious Office
tions to this bill were remedied by strik-
ing out and amending in the Senate last
Tuesday. But the grand and substantial


objection that it provides for increasing raib-
er than diminishing the present rates to all
points inside of hundred miles, taking
San Francisco for a neuclus, still remains.
And all know that nine-tenths Of I'll the
freight carried by the railroads in this State
is confined within that radius. For long
distances, and for bulky freight, such as
grain, hay, lumber, etc. the bill provides
for a reduction on the present rates. In
that respect it is good, and that is the only
commendabe point about it we have been
able to discover. As near as we can calcu
late, Notwithstanding the slight reduction on
some articles and for long distances, the in
crease for short distances will more than off
set all reduction, and the people Of the State
will really have to pay more in the aggre-
gate to the railroad company for transporta-
ton than they are paying now for the same
amount. For instance, we have to pay
now from Auburn, per ton, by the car load, to
Sacramento, 81 so. This bill charges 81. SO.
Even for wood there is an increase. We
now pay SLIGO per ton; Irwin's bill says
$1.71. For lumber to San Francisco we
now have to pay So 20; this bill fixes the
rates at SO At. And so it goes through the
whole list, showing that those who are so
unfortunate as to live within a reasonable
distance from San Francisco must pay an
increased tribute to the monopoly, which
they have struggled so hard and long to
bring beneath their power. When we get
above Dutch Flat then we find the rates
slightly reduced, but very little, and even
up there, as do all above Rockln, they
have to pay at the rate of two miles for
one, because they happen to live on the sec
ton of road 1000 miles long where it is
billy and mountainous. No doubt Irwin
studied hard to get up this bill, but oily for
the benefits that would under it accrue to
tie railroad company, bis labors, we
think, were in vain.
Year: 1874

If the recent decision of the Supreme
Court, which virtually relieves delinquents
Oh the tax roll from the obligation of paying
their portion of revenue into the State and
county treasury, be justice, then those hon
est people, who have in the past promptly
paid their taxes, and intend doing so in the
future, are, to say the least, by such JUS
tice, imposed on. Such may be the kind
Of justice which the Supreme Court of Cal
iiornia keeps in store, but it is certainly not
that kind which nppotions the burdens of State
equal on all men. The Court seem to be puz
zled over the clause in the Constitution which
says: Assessors and Collectors of town,
county and State taxes must be elected 10y
the qualified electors of the district, county
or town in which the property taxed for
State, county or town purposes is situated. "
Under this clause they hold that valuations,
which have been fixed by the Assessor for
purposes of taxation, cannot be reconferred
upon persons who have not been elected by
the people of the district where the property
assessed is situated" Therefore, it will be
seen that the State Board Of Equalization
have no power to equalize assessments, and,
therefore, it is held that the actions of the
Board are unconstitutional-and, indeed
that the Board, itself, is an unconstitutional
body. In conclusion it would seem from
the recent muddled and blundering decisions
Of the Supreme Court on questions of reve
nue. that there either must be something
very wrong in our statutes, or the funda-
mental law is at fault. Whichever it is,
ought to be righted at once, that the peo
pe-those who have to pay for these blum
ders-may know what's what
Year: 1874

Mr. BURT has introduced an act consoli-
dating the Offices of Sheriff and Tax Col
lector, and making the Sheriff ex officio Tax
Collector in Placer County. Since the COL
lection of the poll taxes has been given to
the Assessor, this becomes a necessary act
as there can be no need of keeping three
men to collect the property tax Of the couu-
ty. The old system, though, worked very
well, and what the first change was made
for is yet a riddle TO us. Our idea is, al
ways let well enough alone.
Year: 1874

The Senate Corporation Committee say
''tbey do not doubt the desirableness Of
low fares. but the ability of the railroads ia
furnish low fares does not depend solely on
the disposition or will of legislators. Ger
tainly the people know all that. But ain't
the fact been settled long ago, that the rail
road companies in this State can afford to
carry freight and passengers at much lower
rates than they are doing? We think so.
And now what remains is for the Legisla-
ture to make them do it.
Year: 1874

Coop BILL MIR. Nor on has introduced
the following as an additional section to the
Penal Code, which is likely to become a
law. l, is an excellent provision, and did it
only go little further and prohibit boys
from attending such places at ALL it would
be par-excellent. The section reads as fol-
lows:


Sec. 336. Every owner, lesse, or keep
er Of any house used in whole or in part as
a saloon or drinking place, who knowingly
permits any person under twenty-one years
Of age to play at any game of chance there
in, is guilty of a msdemeanor.
Year: 1874

DELEGATE. from nearly all the countie s
in the Twelfth Illinois Congressional Dis
trict met in convention on the 18th inst, for
the purpose of forming new ani-monopoly
party, preparatory to the Fall elections.
The convention was composed of int .lligenr
and substantial men, who mean business.
his is what should be done in every State.
The good people should rise in their might,
take the government in their own hands,
and purge the land of its reeking corruption
Year: 1874

The Governor veto of the Harbor
Commissioners scheme was sustained in the
Senate by vote of Is to 25. There are
just about Is sound, reliable men in that
body. Though, from some cause, some of
the best men voted against the Governor
N this matter.
Year: 1874

His domestic life, rs described by Mr..
Upham in his recent biography, presents
delightful picture lie was often called the
American Cato, and in no respect did he
more resemble the noble Roman than i'll his
devotion to his family, who thought that ''it
was better to be good husband than great
Senator" He was singulary happy in his
marriage. His wife was a model of sweet
temper and excellent judgment. The secret
of their conjugal felicity as explained by
Mr.. Upham will probably not find accept
ance with the modern champions OF the equal
ity of the sexes ''She wholly subordinated her
will and judgment to his, thus acquiring
controlling influence over him which it was
the happiness and pride of his life to recog-
nize. In this, the legitimate way, she WELD
ed the high power her sex can and ought to
exercise. Her gentle, and his strong and
resolute, spirit; her mildness of dcmean-
or and manner, and his bold, decisive, and
emphatic expressions and department, not
only constituted singularly remarkable con.
trast, but withal most beautiful harmony:


They lived together as husband aud wife
more than tifty-two years. He treated her
to the last with the same lively affection and
tender courtesy as when she was bride
Year: 1874

Editors are subject to peculiar temptations:
They sit at the focal point where politics and
religion and commerce meet They nave
priced favors to grant which are hidden Tor
by all the seductiveness of money, of appeals
to principle, and appeals to meaner motives.
They are lauded and cursed. Mirrors OF
popular sentiment, they become more or less
its creators Every vice attacks their ex-
posed freedom. All the temptations waYlay
them which come of night-work, emergency,
pressure, glowing occupation, and varied as
sociations with the highest and lowest. 1t is
not affectation to plead lack OF time for the
calmcr culture of character, for religious ex-
ercises. for Sabbath rest. The American
editor is not bad material. He is intellectu-
ally peer with his brethren of either of the
learned professions. His industry is heroic
the range of topics he discusses limited only
by the civilization of the day-his power for
good or ill simply incalculable. So far from
his intimacy with the current world being
any hindrancc to piety, it teaches him to dis
criminatc between shams and realities. lie
ought, from his knowledgeOf present human
nature and the status of affairs, to take the
place of the ancient prophet-warn and ex-
hort, and set the example in all holiness:
Pray for the weary, tempted, pre-Occupied
editor-that his pen may be eyer dipped IN
truth, his soul warmed by the love of Him
who stimulated humane thought There j:
no class of men whom the church Of Chris
more needs to hasten the coming of the king
dom of GOd.-ThicaSo -idrance.
Year: 1874

The Boston Globe relates the following: "a
working girl in this city was engaged, re-
Gently. tn be married to q young man who
appeared to be highly respectable, and in
deed was, as the world looks at the matter.
During the existence of the engagement,
however, the girls father died, and that
event placed her in very trying position.
The support of her family, which consisted,
besides herself, of her mother and two or
three small children, devolved on her and a
little brother who was old enough to do
work as an errand-boy, and thus contributed
something. She considered it her duty to
provide for her mother and the little ones,
and, if she married, their maintenance
would fall on her husband. The latter she
was unwilling to have occur. even if her in
tended husband would accept the charge,
which she doubted, and she therefore told
him the engagement was at an end. He, not
knowing why she took this course, AS she
was too high-spirited to tell him, supposed
that he had been supplanted by rival, and
vowed vengence. She was alarmed by this
threat, thinking that he would do her bodily
harm, but the course which he took was far
different. He inyeigled the little brother
into q criminal offense, for which he was
sent to place of juvenile reformation, thus
taking from the family what little support
was derived from the boys work. The girl
unaided, is now supporting the family, and
and her case is but one of many"
Year: 1874

The Statesman, of Salem, Oregon, relates
this queer hog story: ''The owner of the
ferry at Buena Vista had two hogs, which
disappeared about three months ago, at
which time they weighed about 300 pounds
each. About that time new warehouse was
built near the ferry at Buena Vista and filled
with wheat, which was shipped week ago,
vixen the temporary structure was removed,
and under the floor were found the missing
swine, alive, but not weighing near so much
as when last seen. They had evidently gone
under the warehouse to find wheat which
leaked through the floor, and were detained
there by the settling of the building. They
lived on what wheat leaked through . crack,
and occupied circular place they had worn
for themselves, but during all that time they
must have been without water"
Year: 1874

nA- The tide ofimmigration is steadily set
ting in, and the first thing eastern people do
is to throw away their New York Hats and buy
anew one of DESMOND. They say there is no
comparison between the two. 21ao
Year: 1874

1t is hardly worth while to waste much in
genuity in assigning motives for Gov. KEN
per's letter giving what may be called, for
want of better word, his views in regard to
a second reelection of Gen. Grant. He seems
to be man of limited intelligence and unlim-
tied personal vanity, with stronger taste for
public life than is justified by his capacity for
it,. He has evidently been greatly pleased by
the gossip current in Richmond that he and
his friend Col. Mosby were arranging third
term movement which would carry the South
ern Conservatives in body over to Gen.
Grant, and seizes the opportunity to define
his position. In that fussy luxurance of die
ton so dear to men of his caliber, he wraps
his intentions away out Of sight, and leaves
no hint of any purpose he may have IN future
But as there is good deal too much leisure
at this time in the South, his letter will be
read and talked about in many thousand bar
rooms and on countless pavements in the twi-
light, by citizens with open collars and tilted
chairs, and hearts devoted to the public good.
"Kemper's position" is thus made matter of
public interest and as long as Kemper walls it
in mystery he is sure of wide and gratifying
nOtOriety.


He is, of course, opposed to third term on
principle but in view of certain contingen-
cies. if Gen. Grant would come out strong
against the Civil Rights bill and then some
how get nominated against some miscreant
who is in favor of it, and then If the Con-
servative party, as q whole, should go for
Grant, then Kemper would also go for him,
"but with protest on his lips against the
third term principle This is no new posi-
ton for Kemper He said some time ago to
his friend Mosby, and was so greatly pleased
with the saying that he prints it anew, at
"were better to elect Grant the third and the
seventh term than go under Hughes and his
negroes This is the only point of Mr..
Kemper's manifesto. His friend Col. Mosby
may be presumed to have brought from
the White House the assurance "tbat
" Grant is no more niger than you
cor me-" Indeed, the impression was
general among the Conservatives in Washing
ton that the President would have vetoed the
Civil Rights bill if it had been passed by
Congress. Acting upon this suppOsition, the
Governor declares that though he does not
believe in third terms as a regular thing and
does not like the Presidents financial action.
nor his interference in local affairs at Peters.
burg, yet if 1t should come 10 q square issue
Year: 1874

Since the exposure of the real meaning of
the recent additions made and attempted to
be made to the power of the courts in the
District of Columbia, several Members of
Congress have shown the greatest eagerness
to disavow all connection with measures
which the good sense of the country pointedly
condemns. Mr.. Carpenter has made an elab-
crate explanation of what he wanted to ac-
complsh by his bill, and has declared that
it could not apply to libel suits, and that
nothing was further from his thought than
to give it any such bearing; but
he has singularly forgotten to mention that
Messrs. Bayard and Wadleigh pointed out in
the course of the debate just how it would
work, and asked for an amendment, to which
the Senate would not agree. So, too Judge
Poland protests of his bill that it has nothing
to do with libels and newspapers, and he can
not imagine how anybody should be wicked
enough to twist it to purposes of persecution.
Bless his innocent heart there is no guile
under his brass buttons The Judiciary amend
ment just shaped itself. Congressman voted
themselves the power to harry their critics
purely by accident and ignorance. They are
all surprised at the result, and somewhat in
credulous. They all exclaim, at was not I.n
The fact that sundry of them had been threaten
ing a Law OF this kind all Winter is merely CO.
incidence The fact that prosecution under
the new act for libel committed in Michigan
has already been instituted at Washington is
another coincidence. The whole thing appa-
rently has come about without human agency,
and no doubt some of our Purest and Best
regard 1t as a judgment of heaven upon O
scurrilous and abusive press.


We are not surprised that it should be 90
Year: 1874

The Democrats of New Hampshire and Con-
nectcut do not seem to understand that they
are the subjects of an experiment by the
people; that they are only temporarily
intrusted with power with view of discover
ing whether, after all, they are wise enough
to accept its responsibilities and discharge its
duties. 1t is an experiment that has been
tried on a small scale repeatedly during the
past fifteen years, but always with unsatisfac-
tory results. The Republican party has several
times been reminded of its responsibility to
the people and recalled to q sense of
its duty and obligations by temporary
reverses and as many times the experiment
of trusting the opposing party with just q
little taste of power has been ventured on.
The result has been invariably the same.
Temporary reverses have sobered the party of
the Administration, and taught its leaders to
correct their errors. 1t can be said of it,
indeed, that no party in the history of the
country was ever so sensitive to public
opinion, none ever SO readily obeyed the
helm of popular sentiment, as did the
Republican party for the first twelve
years of its existence. Whether that
record can be continued is an open
question On the other hand, the effect of the
most tri6ing successes upon the Democratic
party, instead of steadying them with the sense
of responsibility, has been rather to set them
crazy with the desire for spoils and intoxi-
cate them with the plunder There has been
no exception to this rule. The unpreju-
diced observer of our politics cannot help
remarking that in the sense of being discreet
prudent clear-headed, the present dominant
party has invariably shown itself superior to
its opponent


The Democratic successes in ew-Hampshire
and Connecticut were not due to any revival
of confidence In the Democratic party, or to
any change in the political sentiments of the
people of those States. The most ardent
Democrat will hardly undertake to make any
such claim. The causes OF the political over
turn in those two States were so plain
that the weakest of wayfariDg men could
Year: 1874

between Mr.. Simmer or Mr.. Wilberforce and
Gen. Grant, and the General were running on
the straight Conservative ticket, he would be
compelled to vote reluctantly, to use MS own
expression, for :" the third-termer."


The Governor has also been much gratlfled
at the public notice given to his visit to the
President while in Washington. lie seems 10
think there was high degree OF moral cour-
age involved in the act, and has no hesitation
in saying that the interview "was credltaoie
"both to himself and the President" Each
of them INDUCED in a style of conversation
which the Governor characterizes as SQUARE
"and manly,n and yet tho Governor III reler-
ring to the interview appears to think that f"
was rather infra dig. for him to call on tnc
President. and he shelters himself 6ehlnd the
Conservative Platform to excuse the equiFocai
act. The tone of his explanation Is that Oh u
prosperous grocer who tells you he had poet
to dinner with him yesterday, and ADDS airiy'
/ like to know all sorts"


The letter is of no consequence except as
showing the kind of Influences at work to ef-
feet .h3 reelection of the President. and the
utter absence in the minds of the second
grade of politicians Of any idea that there Is
such thing as principle involved IN nomlna-
tions to high office, or any relation between
the candidate and his antecedents. Here Is
the Governor of an important State, one Oh
the few which have not fallen entirely lnto
the hands of the rascals who have plundered
and robbed the South, elected solely to oppose
the tendencies of the dominant party, whose
leader and representative is the President.
now coolly suggesting that the President shall
hold his tongue on the Civil Rights bill, and
seek Democratic nomination for third
term, reservIng however the privilege OIL
voting for him or not, as he may think
proper when the time comes. 30 lar
az Gen. Grant is concerned, there is no rea-
son why he should not be nominated by one
party with as much propriety as by another
| He accepted the Republican nomination III
| 1868 merely because he was sure of an cleo
ton. If he should imagine that the Demo-
Gratis have a fair chance Of electing their can
didate next time, there would be no especial
moral wrench for him in running as their
nominee But this consideration will proba-
bly, not stand materially in his way In the
work of manipulating the Republican nomina-
ton in the meanwhile, and as Mr.. kcmper
has only advertised rather than committed
himself, there is no harm done on either side.
Year: 1874

The Supervising Architect is in trouble
again A table of expenditures by the United
States in the District of Columbia prepared in
his office is so far out of the way as to have
only the very remotest relations withithe truth.
The figures of some of these people are very
confusing.
Year: 1874

The vacancy In the District Commission,
caused by the resignation of ex-senator Cat
tell, has been filed by the appointment of the
Hon. John ii. Ketchum of this State, and the
appointment is considered good one. There
is no reason now why the Commission should
not organize without further delay and give
the District some sort of government.