smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Maiorities are not always right. and, as
the North American has frequently ar
gued. the failure to accept the Southern
policy Of President Hayes by no means
proves that his course was an unwise one.
We believe to day, as we have believed
from the beginning, that there remained
no alternative chance for an early restor-
alton OF domestic tranquility. II was
not so much a question Of right Is
question Of expediency. The expert
ment was almost il not quite. a necessity;
but lthe enormous falling of in the Re
publican vote shows that the course pur-
sued has not yet won popular approval.
As verdict upon the policy Of the Ad-
ministration it may be unjust, but il is
certainly positive condemnation.
Year: 1877

In a majority Of the rural parishes OF
Scotland, the use Of manuscript in the
pulpit would. till a recent period. have
been fatal to the cordial acceptability Of
any presentee. Hes a graund preach
er whispered an old spinster To her
sister, on hearing a young minister FOR
the first time Whist. Bell was the
reply; hes readin. "Readin' is he r
said the eulogist, changing her tone
filthy fallow we'll gang hame, Jenny
and read our book"
Year: 1877

A professor OF astronomy said 10 his
class: "lu one evening counted twenty
seven meteors sitting on my piazza
The class expressed great astonishment
at the sociable character Of the heavenly
bodies.
Year: 1877

The New York correspondence of the
Boston Journal gives the following salu-
tary advice! ..,........... y..,....


The short run of players, riAemen, bill
lard champions, and men Of sporting
life generally, is remarkable feature Of
New York life. Drink is at the bottom
of this. Men who indulge in the cup
can't control their nerves, and men who
can't do this ge to the wall. The bad
shooting of some men, of whom so much
was expected, resulted from their cup in
dulgence, One of the best marksmen in
the city said yesterday that sin rifle
shooting the variance of a hairs breadth
made the difference at the muzzle of one
foot in 100 yards; and a'man must have
absolute command of his nerves. A man
who would win must not steam" Dan
Mace, when he was in his prime on the
road, drank only lemonade. Iheard him
say: GA single glass of whisky affects my
nerves. Men who drink ON the road
would not trust their valuable teams to
me if was not in the driving season d
teetotaler." When the billiard congress
was in session the champion player said:
1--WE can't drink and do anything. We
have to abstain totally from all stimulat-
ing beverages while we play. We have
a season of preparation. We have to be
clear and pcool, or we fail. The reason
that so many eminent players pass out Of
sight is, they will drink. Then the
nerves grow unsteady and the eye fails,
and all is up with the player. The
drinking goes deeper and the playing
worse"
Year: 1877

The gravity Of the Russian defeat at Plev


ma has undoubtedly been magnifed. 1t is
hard to -hAliope ts1at tho ropuise Ur an as.
saulting column Of $4,000 men with loss OF
perhaps 5000 men seriously imperils an army
of 100000 and is destined to result in any
thing more than temporary check. The
ease with which the Russians crossed the
Danube, their rapid advance toward the
Balkans, and the easy capture Of Shipka
pass had about convinced the world that
they wers to encounter no serious re-
sistance to their victorious advance beyond
the Balkans. The defeat at Plevna came
like a thunderbolt from clear sky, a fact
that greatly heightened its effect and clothed
it with much greater significance than it de-
served. Correspondents have also accom-
plished good deal in the same direction.
The Gar is described as almost broken
hearted over the disaster and wishing him.
self at home in st. Petersburg. One news
paper man seems to have been present at a
dispute between him and the Grand
Duke Nicholas as to where the responsibility
of the defeat belonged. The Grand Duke
told the Gear it was the result of running the
campaign on a political instead of a military
basis, and intimated that il he would
60 back to Moscow and leave the army to
him all would be well. And the corresponds
ent adds that the Gear concluded to 60.
Doubtless both of these tales are the result
of lively fancy. The resources of the cor
respondent engaged in writing up the Dan
ubian campaign lie mostly within him. He
is allowed few facilities either by the Rus


SLAMS or the Turks for observing the move


ments of the combatants and still less for
communicating them to the outside world.


Therefore he finds it moro profitable to sta
tion himself without the lines where he can
have the liberty to write what he chooses.
Consequently his facts are often erroneous.
and his predictions, even when based on ac-
curate knowledge, are likely to be infue need
very much by his hopes or fears and there
fore not very valuable.


That the Russians have met with reverse
there is no doubt, but that it will seriously
disarrange their plan of campaign as is fire..
quently predicted, is not probable. They


hold all the positions they held before theil
| repulse and the strength of their army is moi
seriously impaired. Their is no reason, for a
weakening of confidence in their ultimate
triumph. They still have greater armies
better organization and more lasting re
sources than the Turks.
Year: 1877

ENGLAND seems to breathe some easier
since the Russian defeat at Plevna, and the
speeches of Lords Salisbury and Sandon at
the Conservative demonstration at Hatfield
were in marked contrast to the bellcose tone
of a large portion of the British press after
the Russians had crossed the Danube and
when it was thought they would encounter
little opposition in their march toward Con.
stantinople.
Year: 1877

PITTsBURG came near furnishing tele-
graphic Casabianca, only the boy had too
much sense. He was the operator in the
Pittsburg railroad Office, and on the night OF
the riot was shut up therein. He kept tele-
graphing, doing his duty without the slight
est regard TO the mob surrounding him, till
at last they fred the building, when with a
touch of humor he sent his last message,
sFire's too hot; good night" and got away
t.
Year: 1877

TUESDAYS election in Alabama shows a
Democratic gain of 1900 in one county over
the vote at the Presidential election. Then
the Republicans carried the county by 1000
majority, now the Democratic majority is
300. The disintegration of the Democratic
party at the South which was confidently
predicted few months ago has not yet be-
Year: 1877

SENATOR LAMAR has apparently seen the
error of his ways and is a. hopeful convert to
the doctrine of the supremacy OF the nation
over the state. He told the Mississippi Con-
vention the other day that if the time should
ever come when the South should be COM
PEELED to choose between her own local in
terests and the welfare of the nation at
large, he believed she would sustain her pub
lie men in subordinating the former 10 the
latter,
Year: 1877

THE certainty Of large Republican ma
jority in the next French Assembly seems 10
have opened the eyes of the government to
the gravity of the crisis which would result
from reactionary Cabinet being confronted
by an Assembly largely Republican, and M.
Dufaure is to attempt to avert it by forming a
ministry of concilation made up from the
Left Centre and the Moderate Right. Find
ing its bull-dozing measures to carry the elec-
tions likely to be of little avail the govern
ment is now very ready to compromise.
Year: 1877

We do not read anonymous letters and communi
cations The name and address Of the writer are in
all cases Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or reserve commu-
nications that are not used.
Year: 1877

The Republicans of Maine and all others who pro-
pose to support the candidate of the Republican par
ty in the pending election are invited to send dele
gates to State Convention, to be held in
Year: 1877

1 requested of the President that
the troops rhsuld not be removed
until / got Lere. When that order
comes, let nobody go to that State
house. Just let it stand until 1
want it, and / viii tell you when
want it. carried a letter to the
President from a Federal soldier
who hae been stationed in the State
house. He said the place was so
filthy, and SO full of vermin. that he
wanted to get away from there. l
Want the frre-engines to play their
steam through 1t for awhile, and to
have the penitentury convicts scour
and fumig'ate it, aud then we will
have nice Legislature and all will
go on peai,eabIy.
Year: 1877




Nearly ton Of catfish, all In one
lot. was shipped from Memphis q
couple OF days since direct to the
market at Cincinnati, for sale to
the ish-eating people OF that pork
fed community. The price paid to
the merchant here was four cents
per pound. A large traffic is carried
on in Mississippi cat and buffalo fish
here. much larger. indeed, than many
people have any idea of. The major
portion OF the stock comes from near
the mouth of White river, 200 miles
below, and about the mouth of Obion
and the Reelfoot Jake country, 100
miles or more to the north of us.
Numerous fishermen reside and gain
sustenance by their vocation at both
points referred to. while commission
merchants here dispose Of the hauIs
they make as fast as received. A
single fisherman from Obion river
came down one day last week with
2600 lbs. OF catfish. alive and kicking,
aud ranging in weight from 20 to rs
lbs. each. These were readily dis
posed of in less than two days at
from three to five cents per pound.
Game fish from the salt ocean come
to US daily by express. and are sold
by dealers at about eight cents per
pound. The products of our own
waters are not worth quite so much,
but it is always in good demand.
The colored population are especi-
ally fond Of catfish, and it is often
the case that even a white-faced
lunch-hunter won't turn up his nose
at savory catfish chowder.-Mens-
phis AUaLanche.
Year: 1877

Examination of the certificates of
members elect of the next House
has shown that there are l47 Demo.
crate and 137 Republicans whose
seats are not contested. There are
nine cases under contest, but leaving
them out of consideration. there will
be a democratic majority OF ten.
When these cases are disposed OF
according to their prima facie merits
there will in all probability be q
Democratic majority of at least
twelve. There is no fear that any
Republican intrigue for controlling
the organization of the House will
be successful least of all that par
ticular scheme in which Mr.. Charles
Foster figures as fusion candidate
for speaker. Mr.. Garfield stands
no better show.
Year: 1877

The Iribune's New Orleans speci-
al says: president Hays special
commission labored for four hours
yesterday with a delegation of the
leading business mon of the city,
with the object OF persuading them
to organize a movement to compel
politicians to form a consolidated
legislature of all the members in
both rival bodies, whose election is
conceded.


The members Of the commission
made earnest speeches the business
men were, however. unmovable.
They said that rather than run the
risk OF having to endorse Packard
as Governor, they would resist with
arms, SO as to make a military Gov
ernor necessary. To-day's expert
ment ends this compromise plan.
The commission may now try to
bring about aud adjustment on the
basis Of legislature made up from
the face OF the parish returns. This
is she only compromise that has the
least prospect of acceptance by the
conservatives,
Year: 1877

The Reading (Pa.)Times says that
the flower of the young men of
Berks county is immigrating to the
West. On one day lately thirty-one
tickets were sold at the Reading de-
pot to young people bound in that
direction.
Year: 1877

An Omaha man is doubly in trou-
bic. He deserted his wife to elope
with a girl, and the wife is chasing
him. Then he deserted the girl and
she is chasing him. The chasers
have joined in the pursuit, and he
fears the worst if thay catch him.
Year: 1877

Indignant boarder to his landlady
MADAM, if you expect four buck
wheat cakes to go into five persons
and leave any remainder, allow me
to say that you are decidedly out in
your arithmetical calculations, for
they won't do it. FL trouble you
for that plate of hot ones you've got
concealed behind the sugar bole :"
He got 'em.
Year: 1877

Long Branch, March 21.-The
steamer Rusland lies about as yester-
day. 1t is too rough to work in surf
boats. The coast wrecking company's
steamer Relief has been anchored off
the shore about half a mile, waiting for
orders. The huge pump of the wreck
ing company was put to work awhile
to-day, discharging barrel of water
each second, but seemed to make no
impression on the water in the ship.
The steamer still crushes out the tim
bers of the old ship Adonis, and the
shore is strewn with fragments for miles.
The bow of the steamer, resting on the
old wreck, does not sink, but the stern
is settling badly.
Year: 1877

"NobodY is healthy and vigorous who does not feel the morning electricity" says Mir. Beecher and yet the man who expe- riences the electric flash of contact with lamp post at 4 a. m., does not feel very healthy or vigorous next day.
Year: 1877

w We are informed by postmasters the fol- where they have been regularly receiving THE NEWS, and az they did not notify us of their change of post office, and are in arrears to the amounts placed parallel with their names, we pub fish their only address known to us, and if any of 1ur readers know of the whereabouts of any ot them they will do us favor by informing us.- Is it exactly HONEST treatment. to receive news paper till several dollars are due. and then leave he postmaster to inform us the paper Is not re- ceived, and the subscriber gone, nobody knows wheres The following have done this: Does
Year: 1877




Occultation of Enthusiastically night
last was the time named by the astronomers for
Venus and the moon, sisters in love, chastity
and beauty, 10 melt one into other by their
glowing warmth Of love, and the correctness
of the prediction has been verified by the ap
parent union of the two bodies on The night
already named. When day merged into night
Venus peeped from the clear sky with an
aspest of golden eTulgence, and the moon arose
casting its syery glare on the earth and NOV
ing in its course to the West, with seeming
impatient haste 10 make the glad union
Many star-gazers were viewing the astro
nomical phenomenon. The moon after pass
ing the meridian of the sky some degrees to the
west had Venus to gently recline on her lower
horn. The brilliant evening star clung to the
crescent moon for a while, and then after a kiss
TO hide, after which both heavenly bodies pro-
ceeded on their endless separate journeyings
The telescope showed that though SO near they
were yet so far from each other as not to touch
by distance eqnal to half the diameter of the
star. The view with naked eye was there
ioit uOFe uttThcliNe luhu tuTOuRn tut teitscOpe
as by the eye the two bodies appeared 10
touch


Venus is now two and one-half days beyond
her greatest elougaiion, and in its most bril-
liant phase. Astronomers have repeatedly at
tempted to ascertain the natural brilliancy of
Venus, but its brightness SO dazzes the eye
AS TO render The correctness of their observa-
lions Of doubtful value. 1t is believed that il
revolves on its axis, and that its equator is
inclined to the p,sine of its orbit at an angle
Is degrees, but many astronomers doubt these
conclusions.


The moon is called the chaste orb and
Venus the star Of love, and the beauty of the
allegory thus presented by the sky needs no
comment. short time ago the planet of
woe, Saturn, was ia occultation by the planet
OF war, Mars and have there not been wars
aud woes ever since, from the plains of Bull
gala TO floor Of the United. States Senate ?
And who can say that the eclipse of Venus by
the chaste Diana does not portend an era OF
propriety of conduct on this orb, which will
anticipate the millennium?
Year: 1877

THE reported stand OF the president
and two members of his cabinet Tor the
appointment of southern men and
democrats to official position is signifi-
cant of desire to create strength be-
fore the meeting of Congress. Now we
were never among those who thirstod
for such appointments. Indeed, they
are matters OF trifling moment com
pared with capability and honesty in
the appointees If Mr.. Hayes viii only
give US honest men of experience and
ability, We shall not scrutinize very
closely any other quality or condition.
1t viii be refreshing enough for us in
the south to supplaut the old set with
the new, who come up to the civil sers
vice reform standard.
Year: 1877

wE are glad to see, as We do. by the
New Orleans papers, that Texas grain is
already finding its way largely to New
Orleans. and that it is having a marked
and very salutary effect upon the
market there. Texas grain is destined
at no distant day, to WELD heavy in
Auenee in the general markets OF the
SOLD
Year: 1877

THE Waco Register calls the 7xS elecs
toral commission the democratic work
of Congress. That's stinging and ought
TO keep democrats in future from Civ
ing assent to any such mode of elect
ing the nresident
Year: 1877

WE rejoice to hear, a. we do. of the
splendid grain crop made in West Texas.
When that fine cotton, corn and stock
country raises its own bread and bacon,
no limit can be put upon its progress.
Every year but adds TO the productive
capacity Of the state in this respect.
Year: 1877

" John Hancock is equal to the task
of running q successful tannery it IS
more than can be said of the publisher
of the IelegraDl He never run any
thing that way, except into the ground.
Year: 1877

loud-taiking, clustering, abusive bully
yet. who was not at heart an arrsnt
coward, and who would not quail be
fore the immediate prospect of death.
Bill may die game when the time
comes, but we doubt il.
Year: 1877

liorEiSs COUNTY is moving in the mat
ter Of holding fair this fall We wish
the projectors the largest measure of
success, and if it doesn't interfere with
our Dallas fair we can promise them
exhibitors and visitors without limit.
Year: 1877

Cool Sprung Reservoir Balance. e.-The re-
port OF the City Treasurer to the City
Council, last evening, contained no state
ment of balance in bank to the credit
of the Cool Spring Reservoir, and on in
quiry it was learned that the last penny
OF this fund had been expended. This
winds up the proceeds of all the bonds
issued and sold previous to the $150,000
loan authorized by the last Legislature,
and exhausts all the money which the
city held for the bene fit of the reservoir
The proceeds of the $50, 900 loan au-
thorized by the last General Assembly
are in the hands of the Water Commits
sioners, who will have the expenditure
Of this money until the completion of
the reservoir Thus far they have ex.
pended only S3S .477.53 of their fnnd.


Escape Of a PrisOner.-Last evening
| between and 9 o'clock fight occurred
at the corner of Second and Market
streets, between two young men, which
was suddenly stopped by the appear
ance of an officer of tine first district
who arrested one of the mbatants, AND
after putting the nippers on him start
| ed for the hall. They had not proceed
ed far when suddenly the prisoner trip
ped the officer throwing him to the pave
ment. In the excitement occasioned by
the action he escaped and started dowr
Market to Front, to King, 10 Water
when the officer lost sight of HIM h,
having run under a freight train tina
was standing on the opposite track
When he passed the depot he was run
ming very fast, and was without hat


The Night Sc7tool.-About forty boys as
sembled last evening for the purpose o
entering their names upon the roll at tht
night school that was to have commenc
ed last evening in No. 8 school. Th
committee ON night schools were present
as was also four teachers. The Chairman
of the committee after making a few re
marks, announced that it would be i'm
possible to open the school last evening
as the books were all locked up in tn
upper room. The school will positivel


be opened this evening.


A Contemplated haproUeme,lt.--Col. T
Mccullough contemplates building 81
two story and half brick houses on Va
Buren, street, below Fifth. Ha has pc
titioned Council TO grade the street, an
is only waiting for this work to be don


before commencing ON his houses.
Year: 1877

Frequently we find old firms who
fancy their business is so well established
that they need not trouble themselves to
keep their names before the people by
advertising in the newspapers and means
OF that character Yet, when too late,
they find that more enterprising men
have entered the lists and taken very
large percentage of their best customers
permanently away from them A very
good illustration of this kind has taken
place in Seattle within the past year,
When the STAR began publication, many
who did not really understand how firm


q basis it was placed upon, did not ex-
pect it to WELD very extensive influ-
ence, consequently hestated about pat
ronizing it. AT this time the firms of
Crawford & Harrington and Schwa-
haClier Bros. & Co. did an extremely


large business with the lower Sound re-
gion, and fancied that it was so we'll es


tahlished that it would be useless
waste OF funds to advertise their bust
ness in local paper "'tOay doWn on the
SaOh0misk," which could not have great
degree of influence at any rate. But the
STAR soon became representative of
the whole lower Sound region. Seattle
merchants soon found that the STAR
"ads." paid them better cash returns than
even their own city papeIs consequently
Year: 1877

AT present the prospect is that our
usual June freshet will he very small.
The late heavy rains and the extremely
vain weather has melted all the snow
in the mountains, except on the highest
peaks; and as the height of our annual
overflow depends upon the depth OF
snow in the mountains, we need not fear
much Of an inundation from this time
on. The last unusual rise will have a
good effect, as it will enrich the bottom
lands, and coming so early, will enable
farmers to put in that class of crops
which they usually defer till after the
June rise. Many have made gardens al
ready, and many early vegetables are
now up. Most of our farmers are busy
plowing and preparing for good Sum-
mers work. We do hope more grain
will be sowed. We need a greater va
riety of crops; we raise too much hay.
True, some Of our lands are fit for moth
ing else; yet much that now bears only
hay, would bring excellent cereals. Sew
eral of the up-river farmers are going
into the hop business. That product is
at present quoted low in San Francisco.
Now is a good time to go into hop rails
ing, as many now in the business will go
out of 1t on account OF present low
prices, thus causing scarcity and an ad-
vanCed price, We are pleased to see
that some are going to try, on small
scale, sheep raising. There are lands up
the SkykOmish that are well adopted to
that purpose. The same may be said OF
the Snoqualmie, particularly above the
falls. If good crops are secured, and our
loggers do not commit the blunder OF
allowing their logs to go to sea, we may
hope for better times tile coming Sum-
mcr and Fall.