smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

MAYOR ANDRUs, of Oakland,
who is paying Los Angeles visit,
has presented US with copy Of q
pamphlet which is being circulated
through this State, aud which
bears the caption of "Who Shall
Pay for Water?" 1t purports to
champion reform demanded by
the people, and It's aim is to bring
about by the Legislature the limit
ing of the incomes of water COM
panies. Its argument is that prop
erty should pay its share OF the ex-
penses of the water system of mu-
nicipalities. Owing to the excep-
tionally costly attendants of water
for domestic use in California cities
this question has excited great
deal Of interest amongst the
people, and has led to muclss'iscus-
sion in the press and elsewhere.
The address of large number OF
citizens of Oakland to Mayor An
drus, and his reply. are both char
acterized by very temperate and
anti-communistic tone, and the ar
guments enforced by the latter on
the members of the incoming Leg
islature are weighty and well put.
There is no question of the fact that
such corporations as the Spring
Valley, in San Francisco,will some
day be compelled to recognize the
equity involved in the proposition
that they should be restricted in
their exact:ons to a fair interest on
the actual capital invested, TO
reasonable allowance for
wear and tear and repairs
and extensions of the sys-
tenn. This principle lies at the bot
tom of all the noted water systems
of both the old and new world. In
England the slightest exaction of a
corporation founded to subserve
the necessities of the people is TAX
en- cognizance of by committees of
the Parliament, and the wrong is
instantly redressed. The charges
for water in the Eastern cities are
generally so light that there has
been very little agitation about a
matter which is of such vital con.
Germ in San Francisco and Oak
land. The argument that property
should bear its share of the burden.
is also just one, and 1t is support
ed by Eastern precedents. We are
not without hope that all these
controversies in California have
reached stage at which o good
humored adjustment is possible.
The agitation will be limited by
the spirit Of concession. In our
city the controversy, for the pres
ent, at least, could only turn ON the
distribution of the impost. Our
city water system, having peen eA-
tended in confident anticipation Of
q large growth in population
which, owing to succession of un-
fortunate years, has not come, can.
not be said with truth to be earn
ing more than fair return upon
the capital invested. AS to the ex-
tent to which property evades its
share of The burden here We are
not advised. For years to come,
owing to the circumstances named
above, this last branch of the SUBJ
ject is the only one which can de-
mand the attention of our own peo-
pie.
Year: 1879

WASHINGTON, December 26th.-
Congressman Berry is of the opin-
ion that the injury accruing to the
harbor of San Francisco by the
flow of debris from the mining
streams makes a case for the inter-
ven tion of the general government.
He will endeavOr to obtain from
official sources the data upon which
to ask for an appropriation for the
preservation of the harbor from
the dangerous encroachments al
luded to. In doing this he is anx-
ious that such appropriations may
be mads available, in aid of any
measure that may be adopted by
the California Legislature in the
same direction. He thinks that
Congress can properly appropriate
money to be used for the diversion
of the debris at any point inland,
when such work shall actually be
for the preservation OF the harbor.
1t is probable that Congress will
call upon the War Department to
cause the Engineering Bureau to
communicate some facts and opin-
ions as to the effect upon San
Francisco harbor of the causeway
now being constructed out toward
Goat Island from the Oakland
shore. If it shall appear chat
shoaling may be caused, tending
to interfere with the convenient
navigation of the bay of San Fran.
cisco on the east side of the island,
a remedial measure will be intro
duced in Congress. The bridge
proposed some years ago in the
Goat Island bill was to have rested
on stone piers 800 feet distant from
each other, and was even then
deemed Objectionable, as endanger-
ing the harbor. The solid causeway
now in process of construction is
regarded by at least one of the Cal
iforpia representatives. as very GER
tain to result in mischief if al
lowed to go on. He will move IN
the matter, if advised that COM
merce is suffering by the invasion
of any rights which the Central
Pacific Railroad Company is bound
to rPnDect
Year: 1879

1t does not require the practiced eve
of the astronomer to discover that the
stars which gave beauty aad finish to
the "starry dome" in the winter months
have now taken back seat. The Pie
iades, Orion, Hyades, and few others,
which attracted attention in January
and February, are now below the hori-
zon. Parole and Papoose are on top of
the heap, and each one shines like car
buncle on school-marm's nose. T: e
Great Bear with a sore head may still
be seen making his circuit around the
Pole, and waiting patiently for Benefits
expedition to arrive. ...-.


During the month mary of the plan
cts will be visible all night, and for the
benefit of amateur we will state that
good point of observation is from the
front gate More stars have been seen
from this lookout than any other.
Young men who have seen all the stars
they want to, who have no further de-
sire to peer into the mysteries of the
heavens-who have, in short, got
enough of it-have been known to wear
stove-lid in the seat of their pants.


On the 18th Venus will be at her
greatest apparent distance from the sun,
but will not be most brilliant until some
time in August, when she will come out
in her summer costume, which is 20 low
in the neck that she is in mortal dread
of stepping over the top of it.


Toward the close of the month, when
house flies get down to business, Saturn
will rise about o'clock in the morning,
slash around through the room with a
towel, and then go back to bed.


Jupiter will be near Luna, that pale
goddess of the night, about 9 o'clock
on the evening of the 2Sth, with his
coat-tail pockets full of the best con-
fectionery he can find, and his hair
shining with grease. e.-Cincinnatt
E3znalirer
Year: 1879

course as yet to the weapon which thew


employed with such formidable effect in


iooz, VIZ, wholesale incendiarism. Dur.


ing the early part of that terrible sum


lner' scarcely night passed without


alarms OF lire, often in three or four


places at once.


SOME days ago letter bearing a for
elgn post marx made its appearance at


tne washington Post-office, the address
OF which no one was able to translate


somebody suggested that it was in the


russian language. So it was taken to
the russian Legation, where an attache
immediately Interpreted the address.
saying that 1t was Intended for the
Health Officer, to whom it was taken,
1t had the appearance of being verv
important document, as it was gotten
up IN the most elaborate style. The
Health Officer got one of the Secreta-
RES OF the Russian legation to translate
IL Tor him, and it was discovered that the
writer had invented an unfailing remedy
Tor rheumatism, which he wished to st il
10 the United States Government. The
letter was filed away for reference.


A LAWYER in Dayton, Ohio, had in
his office particularly industrious stu
dent. One of the clients was a Young
and pretty woman, and her consulta,
tions with the lawyer were always held
IN his private room behind closed doors.
The student became anxious to learn
about the case that required SO much
secret discussion. He peeped and lis
tened at the keyhole, and was rewarded
by the knowledge that, while the legal
business related to the collection of a
small debt, most of the interviews were
devoted to courtship. The lawyer de-
sired the woman to marry him. while
she, being wealthy, feared that his mo-
tive was mercenary. On the occasion
OF her next call the lawyer was not in.
and the student politely informed her
that, although he had not been admitted
to the bar, he was confident that he
could deal satisfactorily with her case.
She said no, but he persisted, popped
the question on the spot, urged his suit
eloquently, and was accepted. The law
yer, in revenge, tried to whip him, and
that was how the story got out.
Year: 1879

A gentleman who resides on Adams
Street and has a fountain in the front
yard stocked with small fish, had been
puzzled for some time over the disap-
pearance of the fish from the basin of
the fountain. One night last week he
and several friends sat up and watched.
About 10 O'Clock they saw the house-cat
stealthily approach the rim of the foun-
tain and scratch in the ground. The cat
caught a worm, which she moved around
in the water for q few minutes, then,
when the little fish would rise and bite
at the bait, the cat, with the other paw,
grabbed and ate them. 'sPuss :" was
the tlone fisherman" of the place. The
above story is authentic, yet it reads as
if it was apocryphal. Here is an i'm
portant fact for scientists who draw a
distinction between instinct and reason.
Appeal.
Year: 1879

CoRKs are made both air-tight and
water-tight if plunged in melted par
affine and kept there for about five min
utes. Thus prepared they can be easily
cut and bored and may be inserted in
or withdrawn from bottles without any
difficulty. 4..f ~
Year: 1879

A PEG LEG walking match of so hours
is the latest novelty of pedestrianism.
A one-legged man in Elmira, N. Y,
has issued d challenge to all residents
of that State who have lost a leg by am
putation. t E
Year: 1879

IT is reported that amovement is proposed
at st. Louis for general strike of working
men all over the country for a reduction of
the hours of days work to eight There
is little danger that such a movement will
actually be undertaken. The difficulties OF
securing concert of action are too many to
be overcome
Year: 1879

WHILE protesting to be the especial friend
of the laboring man Gen. Butler is the con-
trolling stockholder in a fourishng mill
which has paid, on an average, dividends Of
26 per cent, and no one has heard of any
attempt on the part of any OF the stockhold-
ers to raise the price of the operatives wages
Year: 1879

THE Boston Herald is of the opinion that
the farmers of Maine will feel less like fol-
from seventeen to twenty-siy cents pound
(wholesale) in the last four weeks, and
cheese from five and a half to ten cents. Ii
Uncle SolCn could make butter and cheese
from them steers, he would be all right him
col
Year: 1879

II is a little singular that nobody has yet
attempted to explain the West Cumberland
murder on the suicide theory. Perhaps it is
because Mr.. Low was not bank officer and
didn't have his life insured.
Year: 1879

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


We cannot undertake to return or preserve COM
munlcatlons that are not used.
Year: 1879

CONTRIBUTIONS are being taken up to en-
able Mrs. Chisolm to prosecute the muir
derers of her husband who have not been
tried. Here is an excellent chance for A1r.
Tilden to show his disapprobation of South
ern outrages. Let him tap barrel for Mrs.
Chisolm and the public will feel that he
really meant what he said when he recently
denounced the conduct of the South
Year: 1879

THE believing of ''them steers and the
brayng of ''the wild ass of the prairie have
not yet echoed back from the West, which
should be quivering just now from the
shock of their united efforts.
Year: 1879

THE officers in charge of the construction
of several public buildings at Washington,
are experiencing great difficulty in securing
proposals for the necessary iron work. Man
ufacturers tell them that in the present con-
dition of the market it is impossible for
them to undertake large contracts at stated
prices without sustaining heavy losses, from
the steady increase in the cost of material
and labor
Year: 1879

The Robinson, Tammany fight over inspec-
tors of elections lets in flood OF light ON
the character of the New York City Demcc-
racy. The work of election inspectors is
simply to see that there is a free and talr
election, that everybody has chance to vote
who has a right TO, and that the votes are
correctly counted. Of course, if he be hon
est, it makes no difference whether the in
spector is Tammany Democrat or Robin
son Democrat Nevertheless, the Court OF
Appeals was convened in special session
over this matter, and the Police Commissions
ers are sitting up nights overit.


Why, then, all this fuss over the appoint
ment of men who have nothing to do but
what any honest man of ordinary intelll-
gence can do. The only explanation posi-
BILE is that the Democrats know one another
and consequently distrust one another.
Tammany objects to Robinson inspectors
simply because it believes they will cheat.
And for the same reason the Robinson DEM
ocrats object to Tammany inspectors. A
quarrel has betrayed the Democracy into ad-
mitting what the Republicans have long
claimed, that a fair election in New York
city with the Democratic party in control of
the election machinery is an impossibility.


The law appointing supervisors of nation
al elections was enacted in view of the exis-
tenc of just such state of things as the
Democrats in New York now admit to exist;
it was simply for the purpose of securing a
fair election. The Democrats demand its
repeal solely because while it is enforced
fraud at the polls is rendered extremely
difficult, if not impossible. ThcI pretence
that vot ers are intimidated by deputy mar
shals is made simply for the purpose Of
throwing dust in the peoples eyes. With
that law off the statute-book there will be
virtually nothing to prevent the New York
Democracy or the Cincinnati Democracy
from doing just what this Tammany-Robin-
son quarrel is an admission they are disposed
to do-whatever cheating may seem to them
to be necessary or desirable.
Year: 1879

/. The controversy between the Robinson
and Tammany factions of the Democratic
party of New York has advanced a step by
the decision of the special session of the
Court of Appeals. The court held in its
opinion which was delivered Monday, that
mandamus to compel the police commits
sioner to appoint election inspectors could
not be granted until the first of October, as
the commissioners were allowed until that
time to comply with the law. The court
also held the election inspectors must be
divided between Tammany and Anti-Tam-
many. This decision will probably render it
impossible for the Anti-Tammany ring to
secure all the Democratic inspectors, as was
their design.
Year: 1879

IT IS fortunate that the little tquah.
ble in the City Council in relation to
granting the whole of the square at
Tenth and Market streets for the erec-
ton of the new Court House is over.
As Council in the first place acted SO
hastily as to donate the whole square
and that donation having been accep
ted by the Levy Court they should
have stood by their offer No doubt
the half of the square would have been
sufficient, but Council did not taks time
to consider that when thsy should
have done 80, and it was therefore very
inju 1icious in them to attempt to make
any charge Afterwards. 1t is CRAFTY
ing to note that so large majority oI
Cuncil viewed it in this light anC
were in favor of standing by their bar
gain though it may have seen like q
hard one. As the whole square is to b,
given, it is Loyei the Levy Court Nill pu
beautiful building right on the cen
ire Of the square with four fronts, anC
lay the halanc" Of the square out in 9
public park with laid out walks, shade
.r-es and fountains.
Year: 1879

THE Wilmington Institute is to b.
congratulated for the happy though
they originated of giving six tickets O
membership for a year to six pupil:
of No. public school who have attain
ed the highest general average in the
examinations for the year ending June
Both, 1879. With oommendable fore.
sight the officers of the Institute have
so distributed their favors that not
more than one of the prize tickets will
90 to class and the graduating class
is not to be included. Such prizes as
these are of real advantage and utility
to those who may be so fortunate as to
obtain them. They at once open up to
the scholar a VIZ Id of literature as
found in the splendid library of the
institute. 1t is hoped that the lnsti-
tute will continue its favors every year.
Including theAdams' gold medal prizes,
this offer Of the lnstitnt. will make
eight prizes offered for the encourage
ment of pupils in their studies.
Year: 1879

II now seems that there are Othei


newly discovered qualifications required


in voters at ts-morrow' = school elections


than those mentioned in yesterdays


paper. The contested election case


last year of Mr.. Grubb against Martin


Farrell of the Ninth ward, led the com.
mttee having it in charge TO study out
the law in the matter, and having got
the opinions of several leading attor'
neys, they came to the conclusion that


in order to be duly ard legally quali
fed voter at the school election, man
must previously have not only paid a cl-
ty and school tax for the year preceding
election, hut that he must in addition
be a legally qualified elector at the
State election. The following is The
section of the law relating to the quail
ifcations of voters:


"Members of the Board shall be
chosen by ballot by the inhabitants of
the ward who shall have been assessed
for and paid the school tax for the City
of Wilmington for the preceding year,
and who shall be otherwise qualified to
vote at all city elections. A plurality
Of votes shall elect"


1t will b. seen fron the above that
nobody is qualified to vote at the school
election unless qualified to vote at the
city election, and by reference to the
law defining the qualifications of voters
at the city election, nobody can vote at
the latter unless he is qualified to vote
at the State election. The latter quail.
ifcation includes the payment Of
state and county tax, and so it will be
seen that two receipts will be necessary
to entitle to a vote at the school cleo
tiOn.


We were not aware of the existence
of such law when We wrote our arti.
Gle yesterday, but we would impress
upon the minds of the voters now that
in order to get vote they should take
with them to the polls the school tax
receipt of the preceding year, and the
State and county tax receipt paid with
in two years preceding the school cleo
ton. As there seems to be a disposi
ton to rigidly enforce the law regula-
ting the school election TO morrow our
,itizens should 60 to the polls with
both the tax receipts referred to in
heir hands. Verify, this thing of vot
ng at the school election has got to be
1 h i.
Year: 1879

tion Of such Endorsement, the United
States shall have the righ. Of naviga.
tion through the canal free Of tolls for
all time for all vessels in the United
States service, and also be securei by
a mortgage on all the rights and prop
|erty Of the company-ten per cent. OF
four hundred thousand dollars of the
amount Of bonds indorsed being retain.
ed by the Secretary of the Treasury
''for the formation Of a sinking fund
for the redemption of the principal and


interest of said bonds"


We hope not from any selfish consid-
erations that this bill may find favor


from Congress aud that the aid asked


for will be granted, though it is diff
cult to see what real advantage it will
be to Wilmington. We favor public
improvements by the government any
hew, as they not only open up new ad-
vantages to commerce, but they afford
to thousands Of laborers
who are unemployed. 1t is much bet
ter for Congress to spend money to
help along such public enterprises,
than to spend it in perambulating in
vestigations, and extra sessions, which
only serve to distract the business of
the nation and SOW the seeds of dis
cord and discomfort amongst the peo-
pie.
Year: 1879

THE DEMOCRATIC majority of a half
doz n is entirely too small to try any
experiments tn the President. It is
useless to say they would not come back
if the President shoul call another ex.
ira session. The Republicans will all
be there and most Of the hackers.
If the Northern Democrats refuse the
call they may prepare to vaclte and
IN Ike place for come others who will at
ten The North is in ro teup.r to be
foole with, and there will soon be- 8
Congress that will heed the call of the
Presid ant even T. elected by solid Re-
pu icrn North.
Year: 1879

A flame is ia her CLASSY eye, a broom
i. in her eager hamd, aloft she lifts I
sudden cry that echoes like new brass
band. her dress Is rect, d about hel
knees as through the house she cuts &
path, and in her every stranger sees q
being of majestic wrath. Strp-ladlers
scale the papered height, and tubs o
water flood the floor; her voice is heard
from moon to night rising above the
awful roar. Fly from her presence dog
and cat, fly from her presence mar
and mouse, it is the vernal frenzy that
possesses her-she's cleaning house.
Year: 1879

II cuR patrons who advertise spe
cially in cur double sheet to morrow
wish any extra cop's of the REPuBLI-
CAN Of that date they will confer a
great favor upon US BY letting us know
how many they viii. want .eaIly to-
morrow morning 50 that We may know
how large an edition to run off.
Year: 1879

A wall grown up between the two
strong, thick wall, though all unseen;
None knew when the first stones were laid,
Nor how the wall was built ween;
And so their lives were quite apart,
Although they shared one board, one bed;
A careless eye saw naught amiss,
Yet each was to the other dead.
He, much absorbed in work and gain,
Grew soon unmindful of his loss;
A hard indifference worse than hate
Changed loves fine gold to worthless dross.
She suffered tortures all untold;
Too proud to monrn, too strong to die;
The wall pressed heavy on her heart;
Her white face showed her misery.
Such walls are growing day by day
'Twixt man and wife, 'twixt friend and friend
Would they could know, who lightly build.
How sad and bitter is the end
A careless word, an unkind thought,
slight neglect, a taunting tome
Such things as these, before we know,
Have laid the wallis foundation-stoue.


-SprinOfeLd Republican.
Year: 1879

Saturday at p. M, as the express
train on the Erie road was coming from


Red House to Salamanca, the engineer
whistled down brakes, the train came


to stand-still and the passengers all


rushed out to learn the cause of the de-
tention, expecting to see mangled


corpse or some breakage in the ma
chinery which would compel them to
walk to Bradford. When thew reached


the platform of the cars a forlOrn-look-
ing individual in straw hat the size of
an umbrella loOmed up to them. He
was dressed in suit of nankeen which
was soaking wet and clinging tightly to
his form, giving him the appearance of
denizen of the deep. In one hand he
carried fish pole, in the other bas-
ket, which contained rs trout. The
conductor came out, and, in a pleasant
voice, casually remarked, "What in
- did you stop my train for, YOU
moon faced old hippodrome ~ "Why.
you see, conductor" drawled out the
individual, in the funniest back-woods
tones imaginable, "Pve got whopper
here, and | thought as how some 'er yer
passengers would like to gaze onto it.r
Saying this, the old man drew out by
the tail monster of trout that must


have weighed at least two pounds, and
held it admiringly up by the tail. The
suns rays flashed out from the beauti-
full cOlors of crimson and gold which
dotted the coat of the fish, and whether
the sight was SO tempting to the palates
of the hungry passengers or whether
the righteousness of the affair struck
them just then, they burst into roars OF
laughter, and even the conductor forgot
for moment the bell-punch system,
and all was serenity again. The ven.