smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

recent issue of the Madrid Lealtad
makes the lamentable announcement that
great assures are disclosing themselves in
part of the Alhambra stands, and that there
is every reason to fear that the portion of
the palace known as the Vela Tower and the
Alcarzaba will at an early day be precipi-
tated into the Darro. It is probable
that no monument Of medimval times is
so thoroughly endeared to the American
heart as this curious fortified palace of the
Moorish kings Of Granada. It's name is SO
linked with that of Washington Irving
that the mention Of the Alhambra at once
suggests the author. The Spaniards have
shown their respect for the liHerdteur by
preserving almost as he left them the rooms
he occupied in the Tore de la Reina.
hotel in the gardens is called in his
honor, and throughout the Gentle Valley the
name Of Irving Is as familiar as that Of
Diaz, the Cid. The palace of Ibn-l-ahmar
stands on o rocky spur from the Sierra of
Albania that pierces the very heart of the
city of Granada. At the base Of this stony
WeoBey uoWiAB soSoshSA oS eAo nPcA, buIBle
the Gentle and the Darro. High overhead,
seen from nearly oil parts of the town, are
the snow-capped mountains, while in
the foreground sway the funereal cy-
presses that garnish the walls of the
Vermilion Towers. The Vela Tower is the
most prominent feature of the castle as seen
from the city. On its roof swings the sill
YER tongued bell which, rung at brief inter-
vals throughout the night, marks the tri-
umph of the "Christian" conqueror over
the s.infidel" Moor and assures the people
of Granada that the citadel is still in safe
hands. The loss of the Vela or watch tower
would be an irretrievable blemish to
the symmetry of the structure. The
Alcazaba-K Kassabah, the citadel of the older
portion OF the Moorish Acropolis, is now
used as prison for galley slaves. In it
were confined many Of the prisoners of the
Carist wnr. 1t is to be hoped that meas
ures will be taken Immediately by the
Governor of the Alhambra to preserve this
charming specimen of Arabic art, which
even Ave hundred years of neglect have
failed to destroy.
Year: 1879

Generally there is only one sultan. In
fact, the existence Of two sultans at the
same time is the rarest possible fact in the
history of the Ottomans, for the practice
has always been to assume that the world
is not large enough for two, and conse-
quently to keep the number down to one by
the application Of the most varied instru-
mentalities, from the bowstring to pair of
scissors-"the abhorred shears" of fate.
But now there are two, and trouble may
come of it. The ancient radical practice of
forwarding superfuous sultans imme-
diately to the bourne from whence, &c.,
though not pre-eminently satisfactory to the
sultan SO sent, had the good effect of paci-
flying the Moslem world on the point of
of equal age that has had less
trouble on that score than the house
of Osman. But the bloody tradition of the
house-the last of it's traditions to fade
out-did fade out finally, and on the access
sion of the present sovereign it was not
thought that his safety on the throne or the
clearness of his title required the slaughter
of his poor predecessor. Change in favor
of humanity was rare fact in that world;
but it came, and it may prove failure.
We regret, and Murad will regret that he
was not content to stay calmly in his prison,
if it shall prove that he has escaped, for
his escape will tend to demonstrate that
death is the only sure keeper Of dethroned
sultans, and the demonstration will restore
this particular function to death and take
it away from the jailers. It is odd that the
only persons who do great deal to
those who are the beneficiaries of such
changes. Capital punishment might be
now numbered with the things that were
but for what has been done against it by
the occupants of murderers' row in all the
prisons. But no sooner is the rope set
aside in favor of imprisonment for life than
the fellow in whose favor the change is
made behaves dishonesty by moving for
escape or begging for pardon. He always
succeeds in one or two years, and society,
seeing the failure of its efforts to make him
safe in new way, demands return to the
old one. Murad is in a rather worse plight
than an ordinary escaped murderer, for
when found he will not be merely returned
to his prison, G. o. D.-he will be put in
the old, deep, quiet place-for while he is
alive he is the sultan, and the man actu-
ally on the throne is usurper; and if he
will not stay quietly in prison they will
put him where he will stay.
Year: 1879

The application of Chastine Cox, the
corpus and certiorari, on the plea that he
is ''unlawfully detained in the Tombs on
commitment by the Coroner" would appear
like grim joke but for the fact that the in
capacity by which our whole police admin
istration is marked renders it not impos-
sible for the most notorious criminals to
escape punishment through the blunders of
the authorities charged with their prose Gu
ton. We constantly find malefactors whose
guilt is fully established defeating justice
by means OF some legal quibble Of which
they are enabled to avail themselves through
the imbecility of the prosec ution. Even
Cox the self-confessed robber and mur-
derer, might possibly by such means find
way to cheat the gallows.


Such result is not, however, to be
much feared in this case Cox has made
no attempt to deny his guilt, and evil
IDENTIFY bases his hope Of saving his for
foited life on sentimentality rather than
on quibbles of law. He persistently reit-
crates the story that he had no intention Of
charming hair Of the head" Of the poor
lady who suffered death at his hands, evil
IDENTIFY hoping to create sympathy by such
a statement 1t is transparently lie upon
its face. He admits that his object in en-
tering the house was to secure the jewels
worn by Mrs. Hull and to escape. He must
have known that the jewels could be no.
where but in Mrs. Hulls bedchamber, and
he could not have been certain that she
would not have some of them on her
person in her sleep, as indeed was
actually the case. When he made up
his mind to enter his victims bedroom
in the dead of the night and to rob her
of her jewels he must have known that she
might awake. What in that event did he
intend to do? Did he mean TO be caught
and sent to State Prison, or to make good
his escape at any cost--even ut the risk of
injuring hair Of his victims head? Com
mon sense suggests that he intended to get
away with his booty. But the reply to the
question Is not lett to suggestion. Accord
ing to the rufian's confession his very FIRST
Year: 1879

There is no foundation whatever for the
statement published in one of the city jour
nails that reduction of the fare on the
rapid transit railroads to uniform rate OF
five cents between the Battery and Harlem
has been decided upon by the companies
Mr.. Garrison says frankly that such re-
duction would not pay, because the travel
during the ten cent hours would not, in
the judgment of the managers of the roads,
be double at five cents what it now is at
ten. The subject, he says, was fully con-
sidered at the time the Five Cent Fare bill
was before the Legislature, and it was then
decided that the roads could not afford to
adopt the policy. There appears to be a
practical difficulty in the way of running
mixed trains, as they would require separate
entrances to the cars and longer platforms.
1t would be practicable to run five and ten
cent trains alternately, and this may one
day be done; but the fact that no change
whatever is intended OF even thought of at
the present time is verified by the state
ments of prominent officers of both the
roads.


We think the managers are mistaken in
supposing that the reduction to five cents
fare would not pay. The horse car lines
now make their profits during the ten cent
hours on the rapid transit lines, simply
because people going short distances or not
pressed for time will not pay ten cents
when they can travel for five. The ex-
perience of the Broadway stage lines ought
to be conclusive proof on this point. At
ten cents fare it was unusual to find
stage, at any hour of the day, with
half dozen passengers inside. At five
cents fare it is difficult matter to find
business hours with vacant seat in it.
One of the stage proprietors recently stated
that the passengers carried by his line
during one month of five cent fares were
more than quadruple the number carried
any month during the previous year at ten
cents fare. We believe that if the rapid
transit lines were to adopt a uniform five
cents rate the number of passengers carried
by them during the ten cent hours would
be nearly or quite four times as great as at
the present time. 1t is gratifying to learn
that the subjecti is constantly discussed and
weighed by the rapid transit companies,
and that they would be willing to adopt
the cheap fare policy if they could make up
their minds that it would not be too great q
pecuniary sacrifice. When the disposition
to accommodate the public exists enlighten-
ment as to the expediency of the policy
may come at any moment.
Year: 1879

The Hebrew National Convention, now in
session in this city, is well attended, and
among the delegates are representative
men of the persuasion from oil parts of the
country. The Convention speaks for the
more liberal or advanced element of Judaism
and is not looked upon with favor by the
strictly orthodox Hebrews. The immediate
object of the present gathering is to estab-
lish college in New York similar to
that now existing at Cincinnati, and conf


dence is expressed in the success of the un-
dertaking. The proceedings yesterday
report OF which will be found elsewhere
we're Of interest The principal debate was
drawn out by the introduction of the Sab
bath observance question. An effort was
made to bring the Convention to recoRni.
Year: 1879




A prophet who has an eye to the main
chance is undoubtedly creation of our
modern days. Isaiah did not ''cut up we'll,
as the profane have it, and jeremiah was as
far as possible from millionaire; Daniels
estate needed no residuary legatees. and
Jonah did not ego long" of Nineveh skies.
But the Prophet Brigham seems to have
been of more thrifty kind. He sat at the
receipt of tithes for many years and now
that he is dead his wives and his children
and his Church of LATTER Day Saints are ap-
pealing to the courts to decide what share
of the millions he pocketed shall belong
to each. The heirs of q prophet going
into court to have his estate divided,
and hiring the ''best legal talent"
to quarrel over the millions the de-
ceased saint was unwillingly forced to
leave behind him-this is surely queer
spectacle for even SO practical and money
getting an age as ours.


The Mormon organ deplores the dispute
as scandal likely to injure 1.-The Church. :"
Well, we doubt if it can hurt much. Our
thrifty age will rather incline to admire a
prophet who, with twenty wives and fifty
children and theatre Of his own, still
managed to die possessed of several mill
ions. A good many people in New York
and. London would like to know how he
did IT,
Year: 1879

act when poor Mrs. Hull moved restlessly
in her bed, as the light of the match fell
upon her eyes, was to leap upon her and
hold her down. When, in her terror at
being thus awakened from her sleep, she
uttered scream, he smothered her. These
facts destroy the story of the murderer's
peaceable and innocent intentions toward
the lady, at whose throat he sprang like a
wild beast before he commenced his work
OF plunder. The writ granted on his be-
half is made returnable to-day, and will
doubtless be summarily disposed of.
Year: 1879

THE WEATnER.-Although the centre of the
disturbance that has bcea in the Northwest since
the beginning of the week did not make very
much eastward progress during yesterday its
influence extends as far as the Middle Atlantic
and New England States. The barometer is be-
low the mean throughout all the districts east of
the Rocky Mountains except on the Atlantic and
Gulf coasts. In the latter sections it is falling
steadily but will begin to increase this evening.
The pressure near the centre of the deprcs-
sion has decreased considerably, but the grn-
dients have become less steep. Rain fell over
the lake regions, the Middle Atlantic and New
England States; in the central section of the
former districts the quantity was unusually
large. The weather generally fair in the
South Atlantic, Gulf and Western States and
the central valleys. The winds have been from
fresh to brisk in the lake regions, on the Middle
Atlantic coast aud in the Northwest, and light in
the other sections ofthe country. The temperature
remained nearly stationary, except in the lower
lake regions, where it fell slightly 1t is now
highest In the Lower Mississippi Valley. Condi-
tions favorable 10 the development of tornadoes
continue in the central valleys and the western
portion of the South Atlantic States. The
weather over the British Islands is stil in an
unsettled condition A disturbance continues to
dominate the weather in the extreme northern
districts. The weather in New York and its
vicinity to-day will be warm and cloudy, with
rains. followed by gradual clearing. Tomorrow
il promises to be warm and fair, possibly with
showers.
Year: 1879

| United States would in any case prevent
European interference with the canal, just
as they would and do prevent European in
reference with the Panama Railroad,
although that is owned for the most
part in Europe But if M. de Les
seps should have the wisdom to work
under an American charter the govern
ment of this country would feel bound
to protect him at every step, and we repeat
that this fact would give to his enterprise
and to the money of his subscribers a de-
gree and quality of security which nothing
else can give them. AS soon as he begins
to ask for subscriptions the capitalists whose
favor he must conciliate will point out to
him that on which we insist-that the
canal must be built and controlled dis
tinctly with the favor and under the pro-
high flown language may be used by well
meaning jurists about international law and
international obligations, protection and
guarantees, which q correspondent urges
elsewhere, capitalists understand very well
that when nations 60 to war each seeks its
own advantage and the destruction of its
enemy by all possible means and the guar
antee and active protection of one great and
peaceable Power like the United States is
worth more than the promises of a dozen
warlike and quarrelling European Powers.


One of M. de Lesseps propositions
strikes us as admirable. He will offer the
presidency of his company to General
Grant. He could not do q wiser thing
General Grant is a man of worldwide rep
utation, skilful engineer, capable adj
ministrator, the friend of some OF our
greatest capitalists and his connection with
the enterprise would secure it the conf
dence of the moneyed men of both conti-
nents. But we are persuaded that General
Grant would only repeat to M. de Lesseps
the counsel we have given him above.
Year: 1879

ANOTHER BIG MAMMOTH, or the skeleton of
one, has been exhumed in this State. He seems
to have waded out into pond where the water
was not deep enough to trouble him; but he did
not take into account the mud which underlaid
the water. After all he only committed the
blunder by which most business men and pol
iticans are ruined.
Year: 1879

THE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHART of Chastine Cox
is given in full to-day, and although it may seem
to contradict the murdercr's record the dis
crepancy is no greater than between the promise
and performance of thousands of more promi-
mont men
Year: 1879

THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC Works is at
tempting to make people pay for the privilege
of making openings in sidewalks and pave
mcnts, aud the idea that plumbers may have to
spend something is delighting that portion of
the public which has occasionally paid plumb
ers' bills
Year: 1879

THE ANNUAL Tour of the Health Boards in
spcctors among the children of the poor has
again begun, and the results argue powerfully
in favor of the Immediate erection of those
long-promised model homes for the poor.
Year: 1879

SOME REMARKABLE SHOOTING ut five hundred
yards was recorded at the Columbia range
yesterday. When out of possible fifty one man
makes forty-nine, another does the same three
times in succession, and a third makes the full
fifty, there is but slight chance for Improvement
Year: 1879

DoN'T TAKE "A FLYER" or two ut Milwaukee
wheat because it is likely that Europe will want
great deal. You will be surer of getting the
worth of your money if you save it for flour for
home consumption.
Year: 1879

Among the Seminole Indians there IS
a singular tradition regarding the white
mans origin and superiority. They say
when the Great Spirit made the earth he
also made three men, all of whom were
fair complexioned, and after making
them he led them to the margin of a
small lake, and babe them leap in and
wash. One obeyed, and came out purer
and fairer than before the second hesi
tated a moment, during which time the
water, agitated by the first, had become
muddled, and when he bathed he came
out copper-colOred the third did not
leap until the water became black with
mud, and he came out with his own
color. Then the Great Spirit laid before
them three packages, and out Of pity for
his misfortune in color, gave the black
man the first choice. He took hold of
each of the packages, and, having felt the
weight, chose the heaviest; the copper
cOlOred man chose the next heaviest,
leaving the white man the ightest.
When the packages were open, the first
was found to contain spades, hoes and all
the implements of labor; the second un-
wrapped hunting, fishing and warlike
apparatus; the third gave the white man
pens, ink and paper, the engine Of the
mind-the means of mutual, mental i'm
provement, the social link of humanity,
the foundation of the white mans super
iOrity.
Year: 1879

and good nature, and not very fond
Of either study or hard work Teach
er, donOt fear any evil results attend
ant upon too close mental appIca-
ton Of such a temperament, but
rather labor to induce closer study,
as such persons generally have the
physical constitution necessary to
bear them up; and the teacher viii
find it necessary, or at least as an
Indictment to greater efforts on the
part Of the pupil, to allow frequent
recesses and change of position.


As the n1otjge temperament is
more rarely met with in the child
than the other two Of which we have
spoken, We viii but briefly give It a
passing notice. The pupil in whom
this temperament is predominant,
as a student, viii be slow and dull,
receiving impressions with difficulty,
and requiring much illustration and
explanation to enable him to fully
comprehend the instruction. There
is no brilliancy about him, but he is
sound, practical and strong, and if
we, as teachers, can succeed in arous-
ing the sluggish energies Of his
mind, We may some day be proud in
saying-''He was my pupil; I gave
his mind its early discipline and
drew out, by persistent effort, his
latent capacities. J.E. o.
Year: 1879

We have in our mind, saws an ex-
change, q brilliant and cultivated young
lawyer who started in life with twenty
thousand dollars and a refined, beauti-
ful and accomplished wife. He is now
q sort of faCtOtum IN a carpet manufaC-
tory, running hither and thither at the
beck and call of those whom he Sc
Cretly despises doing heavy tasks far
beyond his strength, yet eager and anE-
iOus to please, lest the slender support
which he derives from this menial work
be cut off We know a gentleman who
was a bank president ten years ago and
owned his carriage, who now does copy
ing in an insurance Office at thirty-nve
dollars q month, suppOrting-GOd knows
hOw-a wife and five children on it.
We know Of a gentleman who once held
Il high Office in a western State, who


licited work at cleaning out offices and
building fires. Nor have the changed
times less bitterly affected woman.
Jennie Collins, of Boston, famed for her
employment bureau and working mems
home, says in her last report: MANY
kind ladies who hired their servants of
me in the past years, have been obliged
to apply for employment themselves of
late. I sent q lacy to a hOtel-as q
housekeeper, and the most humiliating
part OF it was. that her room was in the
attic with tvs Of her former servants"
We are constantly learning Of women
of edUcai- q and refinement, formerly
wealthy, y-nc are engaged as seamstress-
es, nurses AID house keepers and in
one case we even know of a lady, who
would be at home in any parlor in the
land among educated people, who served
as a cook in a he+ ! for months.
Year: 1879

"A New York doctor has daughter
who is now % years oId-a perfectly
formed woman, with the exception of
her head, which is that Of a pigs. Her
mother died in giving her birth. She
speaks half a dozen languages perfectly.
She is thoroughly educated. Being de-
barred from all human association by
her misfortune, she has sought and
found partial alienation in the cultiva-
ton Of art in all its forms. She has
one of the purest, highest and truest
souls. She is very religious naturally
so. She goes out in a close carriage and
with her head closely mufled, and she
speaks without any difficulty; but owing
to the peculiar formation Of her throat,
mouth and nasal organs, the sound OF
her voice resembles very closely the
squeaking Of a pig.
Year: 1879

A real whale was caught in the Rari-
tan Bay, near Port Monmouth. The car
cass of the enormous fish was anchored
near an old fish-oil factory, where the
lucky fishermen who struck a bonanza
in the capture of a sperm whale melted
the blubber in large iron pots.


The whale was first seen about sun
rise bv fisherman named Ludlow, on
Port Comfort Shoals, about nine miles
from Sandy Hook. He saw the large
black object in the water, but thought 1t
was a wreck of some vessel, and did not
90 near it. George Pope, also Usher
man, went out in a small boat Tor the
purpose of catching some oysters, and on
nearing the shoals noted the large dark
body in the water. On approaching II,
he found that it was a large, live fish OF
some kind, and, having no other weapon,
he commenced Sticking his oyster knife
into the side of the whale, but, seeing
that it had no effect, he went to the
shore and procured the assistance OF
fellow fisherman with an axe.


They returned to where the whale was
still lying; the boat was then backed up
to the whales head when one Of the
men commenced chOppingI 1t IN the head
with the axe. Fortunately for the boat
men, the whale did not struggle much
until they were some distance away,
when it commenced to founder, and
roll, and in a short time succeeded in
getting off the shOal and started toward
Sandy Hook. The fishermen, not know
ing the danger they we're in, started after
it and tried to catch or drive it toward
the shore by throwing their anchor into
its spout, and at one time, while thus
endeavOring to catch the enormous fish,
it passed under their boat, almost lifting
it out of the water. The whale was fol
lowed down the bay several miles, and
with the aid of other fishermen, who
we're in boats, it was driven ashore.
With a scythe borrowed from a neigh
boring farmer, the whale was finally
killed by stabbing in the side. A
schooner then took the carcass in tow and
brought it to the Brays landing.


Captain Bilson, who is an old whaler,
and has been in the South Indian seas,
stated that this was a very large cow
whale, it being thirty-fye feet long and
about nine in diameter, and yielding
over thirty barrels Of sperm oil.
Year: 1879

As the time for the Columbus
meeting approaches, our indecision
on the Supervision question in
.creases. The more we study on the
subject the more we don't know
whether we want a County Superin-
tendent or not. But we hope to de-
eide ere the next issue.
Year: 1879

A good name is best won by good
deeds. There is no surer way of being
well thought of than by deserving we'll
''YOu have q little world around you,"
wrote Daniel Webster to an early friend;
''fill it with good deeds, and you will fill
it with yOlr own glory"