smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

There are few communities but
what are kept in commotion, more or
less, by that insidious foe to peace
and harmony-the tattler. And while
vice and immortality run riot in our
land, there are also instances in which
slanderous reports have been circu-
lated with the most disastrous results,
of which the darkened lives and
blighted hopes of some of the most
innocent persons testify. But to the
credit of the better class of people
may it be said, that the scandal mon
ger belongs to the very lowest order
of humanity, although they sometimes
work their way up in the estimation
of respectable people, it is only to
deal out their vile traffic with more
whitening effect.


We hope in calling the attention
Of the reader to this subject, thai it
will receive the most serious consid-
Grafton. II we can add but mite in
the way of stopping this nefarious
practice in some of our otherwise
prosperous neighborhoods, we will
feel that this letter has not been writ
ten in vain. In furtherance of this
design we cannot do better than to
quote the following from the ". Y.
Graphic:


"To speak freely of a neighbor's
domgs and private affairs should seem
an inpertinence to all, and, OF course,
an improperly. II people would
spend their leisure moments improy-
ING their minds,-rcadine, or some
usetul study,-there would be no
temptation to gossip, because the do
ings Of their neighbors would form
subject much less interesting than
those which would grow out of their
own knowledge and culture. This
tells the whole story. The confirmed
gossip is always either malicious or
ignorant. The one variety needs a
change of heart, and the other
change of pasture. Gossip is always
a personal confession either of malice
or imbecili,y, and the young should
not only shun it, but by the most
thorough culture relieve themselves
from all temptation to indulge in it.
1t is low, frivolous, and too often
dirty business. There are country
neighborhoods in which it RACES like
a pest Churches are split in pieces
by it. Neighbors are made enemies
by it for life. In many persons it de-
generates into a chronic disease which
is practically incurable. Let the
young cure it while they may"


w.
Year: 1877

NEWSPAPER WoRK.-A contributor to one OF
our best periodicals has written as follows OF
the burdens Of journalists, and II Is all true:


1T Is one Of the hardships of our profession
that its working wheel-blain and heart-are
not allowed To lag for sickness, or 10 stop for
calamity or sorrow. The judge may adjourn
court the school and work shop may close shut
tcrs, the mourner may veil his features and
turn friend and stranger from the door; but the
journalist must forget before To morrow tie sor-
rows Of to-day, must write gaily aud freshly,
as anewsmonges on the trliies OF The hour,
whatever burdens have been laid upon that
same hour by Providence, or ON his brains as
man.


IL sometimes tries and racks him, as the world
would never dream Of The puzzle look upon
an editors labors as the Indian did upon the
man that Was cutting hay he finally gave II as
his opinion that II was easy To see white
man now
Year: 1877

New YORK, December 5.-The Eren-
ing Post says: An examination of the
affairs of the National Trust Company
WAS begun yesterday, and has since been
in active progress. The superintendent
OF the banking department WAS led to
take this step by observing that three
shares of the compsny's stock, SlO6 each,
were sold st auction last Saturday at 63t
The examiner has got through with the
regular securities, and is now examining
the collateral securities on loans. He
will submit statement tomorrow.


The National Trust Company has


posted notice, stating that in consequence
of the malicious reports in circulation,
regarding the character of the company
and by the recommendation of the spec
isl bank examiner OF the State, We re-
quire ten days notice under which all
deposits are made.
Year: 1877

The weskre ess In Tennessee bonds Is
due to the rumor that the proposition ct
the New York Arbitration Committee TO
scale the State debt down 10 sixty cents
on the dollar, will not be accepted by the
Legislature OF Tennessee.
Year: 1877

The jackson Herald is 'intormed that
the business men Of Wheeling are taking
quite an interest in our railroad. They
look on it as an enterprise of great I'M
portapce to them as al incentive to the
com pletion OF the Wheeling and Ken
tucky road" The railroad referred to
by the Herald is the one proposed to be
built be tween Parkersburg and Charles
Year: 1877

The indications are that the holiday
adjournment will DO longer than usual.
Many members were not prepared for q
long stay when they arrived for the
October session, and most members desire
q lew days at home before settling down
here until next summer. Business also
is well advanced, and sll important COM
mittees have considerable work before
them.
Year: 1877

Commissioner the
between the claimant and the and determine tho
This which 1t impossible perform satisfactorily and
will be readily by all who have know
edge that these sections be
SO amended from
n him fix the amount OF fee to be paid
Year: 1877

The moment a man achieves success


there's always somebody at hand to tell


how poor, how obscure, how "no ac-


count he used to be, and to express


wonder and astonishment that be should


ever have amounted to anything -


The fact that be has amounted to some


thing that he has proved himself sue


cess. seems to make some of bis ac-


quaintances feel that they have been


robbed in a manner, and that by SO


much as be has risen above them in
position or influence, by SO much they
are dwarfed Men who have groped
blindly to find fitting place for the ex-
ercise of their talents, find it, aud with
it come naturally appreciation, money,
influence, prosperity. Can their good
fortune cause anything but rejoicing 10
magnanimous and noble mind There
are very few men of note before the
public who have not fought their way
up through poverty. obscurity. disaster
and countless oppositions of adverse cir
In fact, almost everybody
''that is anybody" has had to eight for
bis crown, and when he gets it, shouldn't
everybody rejoice with him Doubtless
there's many and many a rough dia-
mond that is never polished and set.
but lies buried in mountain gulches
covered with mud many Hmute, in
glorious Milton" sleeps in quiet coun-
try churchyards: but the world is fash
ing with light from diamonds that are
set, ringing With melody from Millions
hat are not mute. One thing is cer-
tain the man or the woman who is oc-
,upied in picking to pieces the crown
aWfully won by successful neighbor
s not likely ever to wear one; for the
line thus spent is worse than wasted,
md the disposition that can find plea
ure in employment so ignominous and
legrading can never find those aspira.
ions, labors, and tolls congenial which
ring deserved reputation and honor
nd success.
Year: 1877

When a man goes to quilting party
about tea time, and sits down on q ball
Of wickiDg with long darsing needle
IN it, be will think Of more things con-
nected with darning y minute than
he can mention in two hours.
Year: 1877

The 9Th of January, the anniversary
a. the battle of New Orleans, is TO be
made an exceptionally great day in
good many States. The people without
respect to party are to assemble in Con-
yen,ion, to impress their will atresh upon
the Administration and Congress, and to
declare in unmistakeable terms that they
will have the President inaugurated
whom they duly elected, and will not
submit to the inauguration of candidate
who shall be declared elected by fraud
and be installed by force. There is no
spirit OF menace in these popular assem-.
blies. The people do not need to employ
any such method when they choose
simply to assert their sovereignty
Violence is the natural threat of conspir-
ato;s and guilty men, and these meetings
propose to nip it in the bud.
Year: 1877

On the 26th of this month, three weeks
from tomorrow, a new City Council and
new city officers are to be chosen BY the
people of Wheeling 1t behooves the
people 10 be careful at all times in the
selection of their public servants, but
especially is it important at this time,
when the city is deeply in debt, when
taxation is high and business PROSTATE,
when our streets are In
crying need of repair, our water
works require enlsrging, new and
extensive sewers are demanded for sani-
tsry purposes, and many other improve
ments can lily be postponed. On.y men
of ripe experience who have approved
themselves competent, worthy and wise,
should be placed at the head Of affairs.
We have men in plenty who fill the bill
and who will willingly serve the public;
bu. the better the man the less likely is





he to enter into scramble for office.


The convention which will select the
officers who will serve the city
tor the next two years, Will
meet next Monday. The Councilmen
who will represent the most OF the wards,
together with the delegates to Mondays
convention, will be selected on Saturday.
As the tickets which will be formed on
Sa,u: day and Monday, will furnish the
governing power OF the city for two
years to come, weighty responsibility
rests upon these conventions. Every
Democratic voter should attend the pri-
mary meetings on Saturday night, and
participate IN selecting the Oery best men
in each ward for councllmeD; and,
also see to the appointment OF
men of character to Mondays Conven-
ton. You do not gather figs from this
ties; nor will clear stream flow from a
muddy source. A good ticket will not be
evolved from tn. womb OF Convention
Of desd-bests.


If the citizens of Wheeling are not
wisely governed for the next two years,
it will be their own fault. BY attending
The primaries next Saturday night, they
can command the services Of the best
men in the city; by remaining away, they
can make the city government what the
worst and most vicious elements may de-
sire.
Year: 1877

This is not good time to pho up
dcDts. Our city fathers should think of
it, Wheeling has already large funded
debt, quite rs large as her population,
wealth and improvements will justify.
And The policy she has been pursuing,
for The last year, is one that is certain TO
add TO it Ms long as it is prac-
ticed. III, legal guardians of our
interests made sn arrangement with
the Exchange Rark to receive and
pay, on prcseutstion, all checks
drawn by the city's authorized financial
officers. 1t was fair business trsnsac-
ton lor which the bank received the usual
interest. But it was loose one for the
city. A plethoric pocket generally finds
a fre, hand to delve into it. A..'lethoric
public treasury is not conducive to care
full expenditure A meal tub that can
be taken out OF Gd infastum without any
one feeling the pressing necessity OF put
ting anything into it, will have a larger
outflow than in flow. The case
under consideration has proven
no exception to this rule. The
city finds herself over-check
ed in the Exchange Bank to the tune Of
100000, and nothing to replace it with
How is this debt 10 be liQuidated? Can
it be met by tsxationH Our taxes
are already too heavy for these times of
prostration in business. What is the
alternative? Add another hundred
thousand to our already ample bonded
indebtedness. Had no such slip-and-go-
easy arrangement been made with
barking institution, the city
would have been compelled to live
within its income-s very proper
thing for these hard times. But as it is,
we are ssddled with more debt, and to
the very limit permitted by the Consti-
tuition it seems well that our State
constitution or some higher authority
restrsins US at some point, else 1t is not
clear how long We would continue to
take out of the mesl-tub without putting
in. We hope the bank and the city
fathers will mutually agree to put an end
to this arrangement.


1t seems to us that the proper author
tiles should be required, at the beginning
of each fiscal year. to come forward with
their estimates for the various depart
ments for the year to come. These esti-
mates should be published and thorough
lyexsmined and criticised before they are
adopted. Then the Councils should levy
for that amount, and no more; and no
deficiency should be created, under heavy
penalties, unless in cases of extreme ur.
gency-cases that could not be forseen
or anticipated. Then at the end of the
year detailed statement of all the re-
ceipts and expenditures by the city.
should be printed-net a general and
lump statement, as now is done. This
course means economy in expenditure;
At means care in expenditure; itlmeans
the procuring OF one dollars worth of
work for one dollar in money. 1t means
death to all iobs; and means an end to
loose contracts.
Year: 1877

MANY of the citizens Of the Island
and the lower parts of the city, have
given expressions to fears lest this great
snow tall shall go of with a rain. Let
them be re-assured. An old river man
says that if you make ball Of this snow
and hold it over a lighted candle, the
candle will melt hole through it with
out dripping; and he says further, that
ell such SHOWS melt away gradually
This is authentic, and is believed to be q
fair count
Year: 1877




taken before the Federal Court upon
writ of habeas corpus. Lieutenant
JACKSON, as officer in charge OF
the prisoner. went into the
court house with his sword buckled on
him. The Judge Immediately ordered
him out and commanded him not to
appear in his presence until his arms
were removed. The Lieutenant endeav-
ored to explain that army officers were
required by the regulations to wear their
side arms while on duty, but the Judge
refused to hear his explanation, until
he went outside of the court house,
divested himself of his arms, and returned
without them, which he proceeded to do.


After resigning his commission in
the army he returned to Parkers.
burg and studied law in the office
of the late Col. Beeson and
was admitted to the bar late
in 1928. He was elected to the Virginia
Legislature IN 1926 and served several
subsequent terms, his last session being
| l844.5.


He was elected q member of the Nir-
ginia Secession Convention of 1851. He
took an active and earnest stand against
secession, voting against the ordinance
on its final passage, and made the last
speech that was made on the subject,
which was pronounced by Gov. WISE to
have been the finest speech of the ses-
sion.


He was appointed Commonwealth
Attorney for Wood county BY Judge
LEWIS SUMMERS, and held the Office for
twenty-five consecutive years. He was
also appointed Commonwealth Attor'
ney for Richie county by Judge Nc
CoMAs


GEN. JACKSON, was whig in politics
up to 1860, when that party made its last
fight on the BELL and EVERETT Ticket.
He was twice nominated for Congress by
his party. TIE first time he was &C.
Tended by Ex.Gov. JOE JOHNSON, the
Democratic candidate, and the second
time declined the nomination, giving the
field to Mr.. AUGUSTUS SMITH, an in
dependent candidate. Since the war
Gen. JACKSON, acted with the Democra-
TIC Conservative party, and took an &C.
tive part in the late canvass
in favor Of Mr.. TILDENs e!ec-
ton. The last public position
held by General JACKSON, was men,
Der of the Debt Commission TO settle the
debt between the two States, and was
the author of the report of the Debt
Commissioners.


General JACKSON was man OF great
decision and frmness OF character. He
was man OF strong convictions, and
would never surrender his con vlctions o.
right to expediency; hence was not as
successful as a politician as he might
have been, if he had truckled to the
whims and csprices of Others.


AS a public speaker he had few equals
and no superior in his section. As
LAWYER he stood at the head of his pro-
iession. As man of business he was
eminently successful, and engaged in all
public enterprises looking to the devel.
opment of his region of country. He had
been consistent member of the Episco-
pal church tor forty years, and died IN
the full triumph of his faith. He has
filed an important place in the history
of his State, and his death Is felt as
great calamity.


The Reaper has spared him to his
friends and State longer time than is
usually allotted TO man, bat al last in the
ripeness of age and fullness OF honor ha:
cut him down.
Year: 1877

LIGHT DRAFT STEAaERs.-Farmers
and loggers are running their business
transporting produce and supplies up
and down the river by canoe hire. 1t
takes all the profits from both farming
and logging. The two interests SHOULD
combine and build a scow steamer to run
above tide water The Dakota or the
North Pacific are not fit to navigate this
river. But the Nellie, the Fanny Lake
and Zephyr can as tar as the head of
tide water. Neither OF the last named
boats can go with safety above tide water
a dozen times year. That is no reason
boat cannot be built that can run
above here. 1t has been done on rivers
worse than this and can he lone here.
We have been playing McCawber long
enough. We must build such boat
ourselves.
Year: 1877

WANTEp.-We believe practical
tailor, good workman, would find
plenty to do here. II possessed with
means sufficient to open small mer-
chant tailoring establishment he would
do still better. Clothing made to order
is worth more to the purchaser than the
difference between it and ready made.
II Is true economy to patr MISE tailor
Year: 1877

jects, and believe also that courteous
exchanges of opinion, friendly discus
sions and elaboration of ideas will have
tendency to expose errors and bring
truth and light to the surface. We are
not so unjust as to attack those who
hold different opinions from us and then
close our columns against reply. And
we ask no more favor or greater courtesy
than we are willing to accord all Others.
We shall he bound by no popularly re-
ceivcd opinions and shall not make our
journal the advocate OF any special ism.
Year: 1877

TrTLEs.-Will Governor Ferry please
authorize some one to raise q battalion
vso he made up entirely of commissioned
officers. In one small company there is
not half enough name handles to go
around.
Year: 1877

men of both races and various political
opinions" This is o msstatement, rs the
record Of the court shows that not one DEM
ocrat has been indicted, although the evil
dence before the COCHRAN Star Chamber
Committee, from whence all these
charges proceed, shows that Demo-
Gratis by the dozens were accused of
the same crimes which they allege against
Republicans, but not one of them has been
prosecuted. The excuse given by Demo-
Gratis who may be charged with bribery and
corruption is that they did it for the good
of the State, to wit: To enable them TO get
the State out of the hands of the Republi-
cans" Democrats 20 "scot free" while
Republicans are sent to the penitentiary.
CARDozo has just been convicted in spite oil
the law, without adequate proof in obedi-
ence TO the clamor of the whole community,
simply because he had been o prominent
Republican leader and opposed the HAMP-
TON government up to the last moment.
lie was one of the returning board who was
sent to Jail last December because he re-
fused to turn the State over to TILpEN and
HAMPTON. A native Republican, just ar
rived from Columbia, states that he never
saw, either before, during, or since the war,
such state of excitement in that COM
munity-bitter hate and thirst for blood
rs is at present evinced in the persecution
of leading Republicans. The determination
is to wipe out forever the very existence
of the Republican party. Although the
Republicans, with an honest vote and
peaceful election, could carry the State
by 10000 majority, yet we are as
sured by reliable authority that there
is not county in the State
where the Republicans would dare TO hold
meeting to-day. The dispatch to the New
York Herald of last Tuesday, announcing
another indictment against Senator PAT
TERsoN, states that when the grand jury
came into court and announced the fact the
sheriff was compelled TO suppress the ap
pause which ensued. We are assured by
an eye witness that the announcement wa!
received with shouts Of applause by th'
motely Democratic audience, and that, too
during the solemn trial Of CARDOZo, ex
Republican State treasurer, for his liberty


With such court, such juries, and such {
community what show of justice has any
Republican down there; and yet efforts ar,
being made to drag prominent Republicans
before such a tribunal
Year: 1877

with gold and paper would have been at
par long ago. If silver is remonetised
and made legal-tender, the greenback
will go to par in six months and silver
will be as valuable as the greenback.
Gold is kept up by legislation. Whenever
greenbaoks are recognized by the govern
ment and taken in payment for duties
they will be raised to the same level in
legislation as gold SO long as our mer-
chants are required to go and buy gold
to pay duties, paper and silver will be a
shade below IL in value But the remon-
etization of silver and its recoinage and
its restoration as a legal-tender will bring
the three species of currency about as
near each other as possible. Yet the dis
covery of a very rich gold mine may at
any time reduce the value of that metal
very materially.
Year: 1877

Ex-GoV. KELLOGG owes his admission
TO the Senate entirely to the excitement
which has been caused during the past
week by the action of Senators Patterson
and ConoVer. In the Republican caucus
held about two weeks agoit was discovered
mat there oOds no undI,tnlity Of opinion upon
me question OF his enthusiastically. Y. Tribune.


We have very little confidence Ill any,
thing the Tribune says, yet it is the opin-
ion of many that delay and inaction on
the part of the Democratic Senators has
been :he cause of their defeat in prohib-
iting the seating of the impostor Kellogg.
The Democratic party in the Senate has
plenty of strength in intellect, but lacks
in leadership. There are pretenders in
plenty, but in a real leader of consum>
mate ability it is deficient. We hope one
will be supplied otherwise king caucus
will have TO be invoked. We do not
want to see the party lash used as it is
by the Republicans. But we deny the
right of Democrats to refuse to support
the party when its policy does not suit
their personal views, to use its discipline
upon others when they differ. Insubor-
dination in the officers will produce it in
the rank and file.


The triumph of the Army Ring is now
followed by the triumph of the carpet
bag triumverate in and out of the Senate
-ConoTer, Kellogg and Patterson. Aid
ed by Davis, of ILL.,, they have had the
audacity TO make fight against the Ad-
ministration and nti-Administration
Senators, and 10 defy and beat them in
voting in body against the Democrats,
AID thus make their victory over HAYES
and his Cabinet and Stanley Matthews
and his followers a success. These three
men are scoundrelS, if we believe what
IS said of them by their own party, and
yet they are the masters of the situation,
Ot all the members of the Senate the one
who lacks independence most is he who
claims to be independent par erceEence.
Kellogg may now snap his fingers at him
as "a dead cock in the pit" One of the
most disgusting features of this govern
ment for the last decade has been the T..
5. Courts. Its scandalous decisions, on
and off the bench, and its juries (negroes
and whites) summoned to convict, are
enough to freeze out all former faith in
1t as dispenser of exact and impartial
justice. Let it be given a wide berth.
Organize associations of arbitration, and
in this way make its affections productive
OF blessing that will save money and
vexation of spirit.