smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Whatever may be the issue of the struggle
now in progress before Plevna, certain it is
that the Russians are drawing their
lines closer every day around the posi-
ton Of Osman Pacha The latest news
informs us that the strong lines
at Grivica, on which the Turks have placed
much reliance, have been carried by assault
by a combined force of Russians and
Roumanians after enormous slaughter
1t will be remembered that it was
at Grivica Baron Kriidener received
the check which proved SO fatal to the
troops Of Prince Shackoskoy in their assault
on Radisevo. The Russian right was held
in check while the bulk of the
Turkish army was hurled on the left
and swept it off the field. Now the
weight OF the Russian attacking army is
thrown on this strong line, and, as the de-
spatches state, with the result Of the cap
ture OF three important redoubts
that command the rear of the
Turkish left. If Osman Pacha is
driven out Of Plevna he must either
make a precipitate retreat with Russian
cavalry on both his hanks and rear or sur
render his army. There are, therefore, good
reasons for believing that before he is com
PEELED to abandon the town he will fight as
long as he holds a vineyard hedge to cover
his men,
Year: 1877

America may we'll be satisfied with the
work of her representative marksmen
at Creedmoor yesterday, and if the
British riflemen were some points be-
hind Great Britain may, nevertheless,
point with pride to their record in
the match thus for. It does not often
happen that rifle match is shot under
such favorable conditions, and, therefore,
the work must be taken as fair measure of
the work in the respective teams. Our
marksmen have held the slight superiority
they manifested in the practice COM
petitions; but, after all, their lead Of
twenty-six points is none too great
for determined opponents like the
British rifemen to reduce to less than zero.
It would please us, indeed, to score COM
plete victory in the match and to keep the
Centennial trophy on this side of
the Atlantic for another year at least,
yet defeat at the hands of such
mighty rihemen as represent Great Britain
at Creedmoor would not be at all
humiliating. How strongly they fired is at
tested by the fine targets made by them yes
terday. Accurate transcripts Of these tar
gets, together with those Of the American
team, will be found elsewhere in
our columns, SO that those who could
not visit the beautiful range ON
Long Island yesterday may see at glance
the splendid shooting done.


The greatest interest of the match, of
course, centres in the shooting of to-day,
which will give victory to one side or the
other. To the end it will be contest
fought out with the sternest determine
ton. Of that all may be certain.
The pride Of nationality and the
grasp for the highest individual score
will stimulate the rifemen on both sides to
the most strenuous exertions to secure o
victory, and however it ends we shall un-
doubtedly have to chronicle the best rifle
match ever yet shot on any rifle range. The
perfect good feeling which exists between
the two teams is in itself an assurance that
tho sport. although intensely exciting, is
capital medium for the cultivation Of the
pleasantest kind of international friendli-
Year: 1877

arena In which the battle Of the constitution
Is to be mainly fought, is perhaps too much
to suppose that any man could quietly
accept. 1t is known and recognized, how
ever, in this country. that the influence Of o
great name and great capacity for politics
are not neutralized, not even belittled, by
exclusion from the representative chamber
or from the active lists OF the conflict. This
has been seen in France ALSO In certain
crises of French history Talleyrand in the
Rue St Florentin was of more consequence
than whole Senate and the influence Of
names is as great in that country now as
ever. Although we sincerely hope the
appeal may result in sparing the republic
cans this injurious stroke we are of opinion
that if the government can impose its pen
atty it will eventually have no reason to
rejoice over it.
Year: 1877

It was of course natural that in the past
eight or ten years of commercial expansion
of all kinds devoutly ambitious pastors
and congregations should have been carried
away on religious wave of imitation and
erected moro houses Of worship than were
actually needed. 1t was the temper, or
rather the distemper, OF the time, and re-
ligious people, like every other class, caught
the contagion. We built too many rail-
roads, and q third of them are bankrupt /;
we built too many factories, and half of
them are idle !; we built too many houses,
and large percentage are tenantless. The
reports which we printed few days ago in
regard to the condition Of large number of
the churches in Paterson, n j., and the
financially crippled state ofnumerous others
all over the country, show that our church
supply has been for too large. A church was
sold in this city couple of weeks since.
Ministers ore nearly every day appealing to
the bankruptcy courts to relieve them from
pecuniary embarrassments caused by the
erection of expensive and inexpensive relig-
ious ediices. Congregations are in many
places largely indebted to their pastors, and
mortgagors ore clamoring for the money ad-
vanced by them The fact is, religious as
sociations individually rich some years ago
are poor to-day, and their places of worship
are involved in debt, not because they have
lost faith or grown tired of giving, but
because they are financially unable to
do so. This may appear at the first
glance very unfavorable and disastrous
so far as religion is concerned, but
we do not so regard it. II, unfortunately,
some poor congregations should be COM
PEELED to give up the contest in which they
are SO manfully battling, religion will be
rather the gamer than otherwise. There is
really no reason why there should be three
or four houses Of worship of the same de-
nomination in towns of twenty or thirty
thousand inhabitants when one or two
would be sufficient. This division weakens
instead OF strengthens religious effort, and
interferes with its usefulness. Better one
strong, fourishing church than two weak
and struggling ones. We hope our religious
friends everywhere may come out of their
difficulties, but if they do not their chances
for salvation will be improved rather than
impaired by the fact that their zeal was
greater than their discretion.
Year: 1877

If the statement made in some Paris Jour-
nails, that the sentence pronounced on M.
Gambetta carries with it loss of civil rights
for five years, is true, the blow in affected upon
the republicans is, Of course, seriously age
gravated. Greatly increased Importance is
given by it to the possibilities of the appeal.
Without this additional consequence of the
sentence it was doubtful whether it was
wise to disturb the result by an appeal that
might change it; for though the inculpated
gentleman naturally desires that the courts
of the country should render him justice,
yet this is really political battle, and an
individual might welcome personal op-
preston which procured great advantage
not only to his party in strict sense but to
the progress OF those principles of popular
freedom for the success of which he strug-
giles. In all countries and in all
times it has proved in national divis-
ions of this nature that gross acts
of injustice injure only those who COM
NIT them. Indeed, where tho people are to
judge, where the final decision is to be
rendered at the polls, and is to flow, con-
sequently, from the opinions, sympathies
and sentiments of millions of fresides in
civilized land, there the same principle
is at the basis of politics that is the central
thought Of Christianity. II is better to be the
victim OF great wrong than its author. For
a government to use the machinery Of
justice with which to do injustice is the one
thing it can never excuse and that the
people can never forgive


Remember March, tho idcs OF March remember


Did not great illus blood Tor justice sake


What villain touchd hts body that did stab,


And not for justice?


In this case the government committed
itself to gross and objectionable net of
injustice aud that fact could not fail to
impress the country with sense of the
danger to every mans freedom and to
affect correspondingly the opinion that is to
determine the result at the polls 1t would
have been good party tactics not to supply
an opportunity by appeal that might relieve
the odium of that act--wcrc the issue only
three months imprisonment--consid
also the scidt the sacrifice would give to him
who made it. But the forfeiture of political
rights for five years, the exclusion from the
Year: 1877

admitted to all the advantages of the Syndi-
cate, with others in addition. Mr.. Coe de-
sires for the national banks the privilege of
selling one hundred millions of the national
bonds within the ensuing year with the legal
allowance Of one.half of one per cent for
expenses. So far the union of national
banks would stand in precisely the same
position as the Syndicate. But further
advantages are asked which would vir-
tually terminate the arrangement with the
latter. The substance Of the proposal
stripped OF its costume is that the
confederated national banks shall be per-
mitted to pay for the bonds in greenba backs
that as fast as the banks sell the bonds they
shall send greenbacks to the Treasury for
security and then be credited with the
amount of the bonds as a deposit in gold,
which deposit is not to be called for till the
date of resumption, when the government
greenbacks as an equivalent. Meanwhile
the banks could put their own notes in cir
culation to fill the chasm created by the with
drawal of grcenbacks and thus save the cost
Of carrying the government deposit. They
would make by the transaction not only the
half of one per cent allowed for the sale
of the bonds, but the three and half per
cent difference between the price Of gold
and greenbacks. That is to say, while the
Syndicate gets half of one per cent for sell
ing the bonds the national banks would get
four per cent Whether the cooperation
OF the banks is worth purchasing at this
price We do not undertake to say, but fair
ness to the public required us to point out
the real nature OF the proposition.
Year: 1877

The proceedings Of the Democratic State
Convention, at Worcester, yesterday were
lively and animated but after the
withdrawal of Mr.. Adams name as a
candidate for the leading nomination
they were sufficiently harmonious. WILL
lam CASTOR, who was nominated for
Governor, is one of the most popular
men in his party, and the whole ticket
is respectable. 1t will be recollected that
in 1874, the year Of the so-called tidal wave


Mr.. CASTOR was elected Governor, to the
great joy of the democrats, the dismay of
the republicans and the wonder of
everybody. Such q triumph in Massachu-
setts, which had been the chief stronghold
of the republican party for twenty years,
was bright feather in Mr.. Gastons politi-
col cap. He made IN able and admirable
chief magistrate, as he will again if he
should be elected Mr. Adams had q strong
body of supporters in the Convention, and
it is fortunate for the party that his name
was Withdrawn; for although he is a broader
and ADLER man than Mr.. CASTOR he does not
possess anything like his running qualities
as a candidate. If Mr.. CASTOR should be
elected it will not be so electric o surprise
as his memorable election was three years
ago, for with laborers' ticket and o pro-
hibition ticket in the felr and tho repub-
lican party shaken by intestine dissensions
stranger things might happen than another
democratic victory in the old Bay State.


The platform is we'll contrived for its pur-
pose While edenouncing the election of Presi-
don't Hayes as fraudulent it does not contest
his title to the Office and encourages no steps
to upset il. After growing acceptance Of
him as President for the four years Of his
term it proceeds to indorse and praise in
the strongest manner his wise, just and
truly national policy in the South and to
claim it as q splendid success OF democratic
principles. There is too much truth in
this way Of putting it for success
full denial, and because it is SO
true it is calculated to gall the more radical
wing of the Massachusetts, republicans. It
is precisely the description they would be
inclined to give Of the Southern policy Of
the President if they were to put off their
sullenness and declare their real sentiments.
Some Of them may be in no mood to indorse
in the election policy which elicits such
hearty approval by the democrats. At any
rate, the Democratic Convention has adopted
the ikeliest method of inducing the dis
satisfied republicans to stay at home. But
a more promising stroke for success is the
strong declaration against prohibition,
which will unite all its opponents in sup
port of the democratic ticket.
Year: 1877

GENERAL SHERIDAN's REPORT that there are
now 10 hostile Indians south of British A,ncricu
with the exception Of the Nez Pcrccs will be
gratifying information to the whole country.
The surrender of the Sioux, or rather what il
left of them, is probably the last we shall hear
oi that tribe. They were the most intrac ctssblc
Of all the savages, and too much credit cannot
be given to General Miles, who has followed
them so pcrsistcnty to the end. Tire only
formidable band now in the field is th!t under
the command OF Sitting Bull. AS long rs hc is
ut large peace on the border will bc uncertain,
for tis too much to expect that he will settle
down quietly us u British subject. The example
of General Miles ought To have "a stimulating
effect OH General Howard
Year: 1877

The DESTRUCTION OF THE CAR SHOPS of the
Boston and Albany Railroad at Springfield is u
severe misfortune to tho large number Of work
ingmen who were employed there. Between
three and four hundred have been thrown out of
work, and many of them unfortunately lost
their tools in the conf1agration.
Year: 1877

GENERAL Crook, according to dispatches from
the West. narrowly escaped assassination ut the
hands of Crazy Horse, who was shot few days
ago while attempting to escape. Crazy Horse,
it seems, ut the conference which was to be held.
intended to SO provoke General Crook that hc
would have an excuse to kill him. Fortunately
thc plot was discovered in time to defeat it,
Year: 1877

TIE JAY COMMISSIONS REroRT on the manage
ment of the Appraisers Office is far from com
pilncntary to that department of the Custom
House. Between dishonest importers and un-
scrupulous business men and officers who arc
ignorant or careless Ill the discharge of their
duties, merchants who arc striving to do
legitimate business have pretty hard time.
Year: 1877

Two IMPORTANT PoINTs have been brought
out in the investigation of the late city fire.
first, the water pipes in that section are not
large enough, and second, the building was
put up i'll accordance with law. If the law is
satisfied with fire traps like Hale's factory the
sooner it is amended the better
Year: 1877

TEXAS CATTLE have created fatal distemper
in the interior OF the State. 1t is perhaps ask
ing too much Of the Board of Health to ascer-
tain how many of them are sold in our markets..
Year: 1877

Baron Liebig says that two plants
Fprove prejudicial to each other if they
bind in the soil, or in the atmosphere sur
bounding them, less of the means of nur-
ishment than they require for their per-
feet development. There is no plant
more injurious to wheat than wheat it
self; none more hurtful to the potato
than another. potato. Hence we AL
that the cultivated plants on the border
of field are much more luxuriant. not
only in strength, but in the number and
richness Of their seeds or tubes, than
plants growing Tin middle of the same
field From these facts It follows that
we shonld feed our crops better by better
tillage or reduce the number to be sup-
ported on each square yard of earth.
Year: 1877

was sitting alone towards the twilight,
With spirit troubled and vexed,
with Thoughts that We're morbid and gloomy
And faith that was sadly perplexed-
Some homely work was doing


For the child of my love and care,
Some stitches half YEARLY setting,


In the endless need Of repair.
Butm thoughts were about the ''building, "
4 he work some day to be tried,
And that only the gold and the silver,
And the precious stones should abide.
And remembering my own poor efforts,
And wretched work h-d done,
And, even when trying most truly,


The meagre success had won.
at is nothing but wood, hay and .stubble,
/ said: il viii be burned
This useless fruit of the talents


One day to be returned.
And have 50 longed to serve him,


And sometimes know have tried
But am sure when he sees sUch building
lie Will never let il abide"
Just then, as turned the garment.
That no rent should be left behind,
NY eye caught an odd little bungle
OF mendiug and patchwork combined
Ny heart grew suddenly tender,


And something blinded my eyes,
With one of these sweet intuitions,
That sometimes makes US so wise.
Dear child She wanted to help me,
/ knew twas the best she could do;
But oh, what a botch she has made tt
The gray Tnissmatehing the blue!
And yet-can you understand It


With.a tender smile and a tear,
And half compassionate yearning,
felt she had grown more dear.
Then a sweet voice broke the silencea
And the dear Lord said to me,
cart thou tenderer foT tn e little child,
Than am tender for thee
Then straightway l knew his meaning,
So full Of compassion and love,
And my faith came back 10 its refuge
Like the glad returning dove
For thought, when the master-builder
Comes down his temple TO view,
To see what rents must be mended
And what must be builded anew.
Perhsps as he looks DER the building.
He will bring my work TO the light,
And seeing the marring and bungling,
And how far IT all IS frOm right.
He will feel as felt for my darling,
And Will say, as I said flr her,
''Dear child She wanted to help me,
And love for me vas the spur.
"And, for the true love that is in it,
The work shall seem perfect as mine,
And because it was willing service,
l will crown it with plaudit divine.
And there in the deepening tSilight
l seemed TO be clasping hand,
And to feel great love coustraining me,
Stronger than any command.
Tneu knew by the thrill of sweetness,
Twas tn hand of the biessst one,
That would tenderiy guide and hold me,
Till all the labor is done.
So my Thoughts are neyermore gloomy
NY faith no longer is dim.
But my heart is strong and restful,
And mine eyes are unto him.


Mrs. Herrict IJhHsya-
Year: 1877

A curious little scientific toy has made
its appearance in the opticians window,
and we should think, might rival in pop
ularity the old guoscope. 1t consists Of
tiny windmill enclosed in glass bulb
of about three inches diameter, which
revolves without any apparent motive
power. The secret Of the mysteryis that
the four vanes of the mill are blackened
on one side, and coated with bright-foil
on the other. The bright side reflects
the radiant heat of surrounding objects,
and the dark side absorbs it. The en-
closing bulb being partially exhausted OF
air, the difference OF temperature creates
sufficient current to cause the vanes to
move. The contrivance is called Crookes


radiometer, from an erroneous idea
which its inventor had that its motion
war due to the force of rays of light.
Year: 1877

i4 lle' " ashlir5tcq l-s3s'


recent date prints the following


Last Sunday night, at about ten


o'clock, there was an immense number


of grasshoppers passed over and through


this town. The night was very dark


but the choppers" came butting against


the buildings, rattling against the win


dows, entering the houses at the windows
and doors, and playing han nc with the
over superstitious, for manypers9ns had
gone to bed and were ir their first sweet
sleep, as the choppers" commenced to


sattle against the glass of the windows
and Jump about rooms, making AN in
fernal small noise like unto a parcel of
baby spirits out on their first spree. 1t
was a strange experience for those who
were awake and took the pains to go out
doors and listen to the odd small noise
that filled the air, produced by the con-
cussion of their wings and the butting
of their heads against any obstacle in
their way. As far as could be judged
from the noise they made, they were in
great force, and came from the north 60
ing in q southern direction; but many
thousands came to grief in town, either
giving out through fatigue or the many
accidents of attempting to make night
trips without good pilots, as the next
morning thousands of dead and manned
we've lying about loose on
the streets, in the yards and houses
They were of the largest type of Rocky
species, some Of them measur- !
ing fully three inches in length from
q head to toe" They evidently came
across the Missouri river, which at this
place is fully three-fourths of mile /
wide and those that did not perish in
town kept on toward the land of perpet- 4
ual green.
Year: 1877

THE supreme court of Ohio has eiIec-
tually broken up the barbarous practice
of railroad conductors in kicking tramps
bf their trains between stations. Under
the decision of the court a passenger,
even when he steals a ride, can only be
ut off at regular station. Where the
Door fellow who had to steal ride and
got kicked off found money enough to
take his case to the supreme court, the
&cision doesn't show
Year: 1877

,. THEStory that a regular business was
carried. on in the manufacture of butter
from the mud Of the Thames river turns
.out to have been a fabrication. The
story was that the floating particles of
grease and fat from the sewers were col
lected, and that the transmutation of the
product into good table butter for board
ing-house use constituted systematic
and profitable industry. Inspired by
the tale, some speculative individuals
have been making experiments, and have
come to the conclusion that butter can
not be made in that way.
Year: 1877

The following is an extract fr Up one


of Bishop Simpsons beautiful sermons :


The very grave itself is a passage into


the beautiful and the glorious. We have


laid our friends in the grave, but they


are around us. The little children that


sat upon our knee, into whose eyes we


locked with love, whose little hands


have clasped our neck, on whose cheek


we have imprinted the kiss-we can al


most feel the throbbing of their hearts


to-day. They have passed from us-but
where are they? Just beyond TIE line
of the invisible. And the fathers and
mothers who educated US, that directed
and comforted us-where are they but
just beyond the line of the invisible
The associates of our lives, that walked
along life's pathway, those with whom
we took sweet counsel, and who dropped
from our side-where are they but just
beyoNd us?--not far away--it may be
very near us, in the heaven of light and
love. Is there anything to alarm US in
the thought of the invisible? No! 1t
seems to me that sometimes, when our
heads are on the pillow, there come whis-
pers as of joy from the spirit land, which
have dropped into our hearts thoughts
of the sublime and beautiful and glo-
rious, as though some angels wing
passed over our brow, and some dear one
sat by our pillow and communed Will.
our hearts, to raise our affection towards
the other and better world


X


The invisible is not dark; it is glorious.
Sometimes the veil becomes so thin, it
seems.to me that l can almost see the
bright forms through it, and my bending
ear can almost hear the voices of those
who are singing their melodious strains
before the throne of God. Oh, there is
music all around us, though the ear of
man hear it not; there are glorious forms
al about us, though in the busy scenes
of life we recognize them not. The veil
of the future will soon be lifted, and the
invisible shall appear. And when you
and l shall jest step beyond the
vel, oh, how gloriousl We shall look
back to life and wonder why it was that
it did not flame with light, even while we
were treading the pathway here below. /
oh, that look into eternity We see the
The invisible and it gives us joy. Our |
friends are there, our beloved ones are
there, and they are not far from US.