smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

The Cleveland Herald makes the fol.
lowing truthful observations concerning
country newspapers, and the duty of the
people in regard to them:


''The local paper is an absolute nee
essity to the country and community in
which it is published. All the city pa
pers cannot fill the place Of a home pa
per. That should he the first love of
every man and woman, for the paper
gives the county where printed much of
its Importance in the world, and gi, es
in detail the local news which cannot be
gained by any other source. Every
weeks issue Of the paper is so much To-
cal history; and the rise, growth and de-
velopment of the country can be meas
ured and recorded only by the local
newspapers that constantly gather in the
items. People do not appreciate their
newspapers. They measure the value
of paper too much by the number of
columns it contains. The home paper,
at any rate is the cheapest paper one
can take"
Year: 1871

Correspondence of the London Daily News


1t is impossible to give an adequate


idea of the contrast between the grand
eur of the surrounding mountains and
the quaint simplicity of the theater in
which the Passion Play" is performed


As l sit writing, just after tie termina
ton of the play, the mountains dre al.
most hidden by dark masses of cloud,
and the theatre is deserted, and a thun.
der storm is rolling along the valley
with splendid effect. These constant
flashes of lightning come strangely
across the glow Of sunset from the #es-
tern horizon. and the tremendous voice
Which is heard booming overhead forms
4 fit sequel to the tragedy which has but
now been enacted The simple wooden
theatre at Ober- Ammetgau has served
fersas wonderful and as stirring per


formance as it is possible to imagine
To many who lave watched it with
breathless interest, the performance may
have seemed mistake in point Of the
length to which its grim reality is car
ried But all must agree that the actors
60 through their parts with an earnest
devotion worthy of their theme. The
central figure, the Christ of the Ammer-
gau Play, is singularly gifted by nature
for the part which has been allotted him.
He is tall, handsome man, with long
hair and crisp, curly beard. His move
meuts are very slow and graceful, and
his voice is strong without being at all
harsh. After watching him for little
while the audience begins to realize the
majesty of the part which he playa
part which no other actor can take in
modern times. The story so familiar
to US all, so grand and touching, how
ever it may be told, is we'll brought. out
by the Ammergau performer They
have seized the Oriental aspect of the
life around Christ with great skill, but
have rigidly adhered to their traditional
outline of the play. No effects founded
on recent discoveries, no scientific
grouping according to the rules of the
stage, will do for them. Such as their
acting is, it is to be quite their own
They entef into the spirit of the char
acters they represent, and rather live
the characters-as far as they can real
ize them-for the moment than act them


Peter and Caiphas, John and Judas are
as intensely themselves as the noble i'm
personation round which they appear.
How strong the impression of it all is


Why, men are talking close about me
of the crucifxion as if it had been real


The deep afectionate interest which
centres in the Christiis, and grows
stronger as his death approaches, has
been reused to almost fever point by
that awfully vivid scene when the living
actor is fixed on the cross in presence
of the whole assembly, and is raised
aloft where all can see him. He must
be some fifteen Or twenty minutes thus
raised, and must be very resolute and
well prepared to go through his part so
well. Of course he is not nailed; but
he looks as though he were, and the
blood which flows from his side, little
later on, is terribly well contrived. Well
contrived? We have been seeing an
actual event, not mere play.
Year: 1871

home, deceived by sham marriage, and
then abandoned her to die of broken
heart. My son, and only remaining
child. in rash attempt to avenge his
sisters wrongs, fell a victim to your ac-
cursed skill. You even robbed him of
the ordinary chances of combat, une
quail as they would have been; by encas-
ing your eowardly body in concealed
armor. The loss OF both our children
unsettled my wife's reason, and she died
in madshouse Could l have found
you then, | would have given you no
chance for your life; but valiant as you
have always protessed to be, and cow
ard as you are. You feared and evaded
me. Yet / knew we should one dav
meet; and l registered VOW, that when
we did | would offer you sacrifice to
your own Internal art To this end
studied to become an adept in it, and
succeeded And when, at length, blind
ness cast its shadow upon me, and SEEM
ed to render hopeless the fulfillment of
my VOW, instead of abandoning it, be-
took myself to new species Of prac-
tice. | sought to make hearing take
the place Of sight. Again succeeded
| learned to take aim with ear instead
of The eye. When l heard your answer
ready to-day. knew the exact di-
rection in which to point my pistol, as
well as if had seen you. Besides,
could hear you breathing where you
stood. You lost your chance in delay
ing your fire. You wished to make sure
work, and over reached yourself.


More than once the Major looked ap-
pealingly at the speakers face; but in
those remorseless, sightless eyes, there
was no sympathy. And as the labored
breathing grew fainter and fainter, the
old man resumed his listening attitude
At last all was still.


"He is dead,' he said and his wonted
expression Of sober melancholy settled
on the old mans face, as, taking his
companions arm, he turned and walked
leisurely away.
Year: 1871

1t is very evident from the tone Of the
Republican presses, in referring to Col:
McCook's opening campaign speech;
that he has treated their party with q
moderation altogether unexpected-so
moderate as TO make them regard the
speech as no stronger than weak herb
tea. Now, Colonel. give. their thick
hides no cause for complaint hereafter.
Instead of the cold end of the poker,
give them the red-hot end. Show up.
in burning language, their corruption,
rascality and profigacy; expose their
hypocrisy, their contempt for popular
intelligence, and their reaching aftef
monarchy; and don't forget the shame
less nepotism Of Grant; nor his devotion
to his stables in preference to the Exec,
utive Department The field Is d wide
and generous one, full of material for d
general confagration in and about the
Radical party, and, therefore, pitch in
with robustness that will discard poll
ished sentences and smooth phrases, as
being altogether too nice for the ugly
subject to be dealt with-Ctn End.
Year: 1871

"The stigma of his tt tleachery to free
dom will always cling to his memory
-Hayper's Weekly, a Journal of Bar.
barism.


Was he false to liberty because he op
posed the suspension of the writ Of ha
beas corpus9


Was he false to liberty because he in.
sisted upon freedom Of speech and Of
the press


Was he false to liberty because he de.
Tended the rights of the people to be Sc
cure in their persons, houses, ,papers and
effects, against unreasonable searches
and seizures?


Was he false to liberty because he de-
manded that no person should be held
to answer for capital or otherwise in.
famous crime unless on presentment
or indictment of grand jury; nor be
deprived of life, liberty or property
without due process of law?


Was he false to liberty because he
urged that in all criminal prosecutions
the accused should enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial by an impartial
jury of the State and District wherein
the crime had been committed, and to be
informed of the nature and cause of the
accusation


Was he false to liberty because he op-
posed the subiugation Of the free people
of the South !?


Was he false to liberty because he
scorned to support the law that sent sol
diers with bayonets to surround the
polls and prevent the people from vot-
ing?


If so, then all the patriots who have
lived and died for the rights of man
have been false to liberty UrJana Un.
ion
Year: 1871

The Buffalo Courier, the leading Dem,
ocratic paper of Western New York, in
an article on Colonel McCook's opening
speech at Ashtabula, refers as follows,
to his acceptance of the three constitu3
tional amendments as accomplished
facts: r. >;


'.This is the practical view of the sub
ject,. The three latest amendments. are
a part Of the Constitution, no matter
how they became so, and there is. NO
method known TO the Democratic party,
except the adoption of new amend:
ment, by which they can, be exercised =
Moreover, tile freedom and enfranchise-
rhent of the negro, which are secured
by the debated amendments, are doubly
entrenched in the Constitution and laws
Of the several States. Over this latter
barrier Democratic general Govern
ment could not assail these accomplish
ments if it would, and it certainly would
not if it could. In short, to question
the fidelity Of the present status of the
negro can mean only revolution, and
that most wanton, gratutitous and hope
less. Never, in point Of fact, was there
a stranger misnomer than this term, the
"new departure" for in reality it is an
arrival at conclusion which the logic
of events has made inevitable, and
which can be new only to those who
have succeeded in standing still while
the world went round. In conceiving
that the Democracy could be induced to
meet their oppoiiehts before the country
on any other ground than that Of an
acceptance Of things as they are, Sehsl
tor Morton and his like calculated on
stupidity that is impossible. The "new
departure excitement will die out and
pass away, but the Democratic party
without further ado will simply remain
in occupation of the practical, the ine-
vitable position SO quietly taken by Gen.
eral McCook. 1t cannot do otherwise.
Year: 1871

SMART BoY.-For specimen of logi.
cal consecution of ideas we venture to
commend this from a school boys com
position Tobacco was invented by q
man named Walter Raleigh. When the
people first saw him they thought he was
a steamboat, and as they had never seen
q steamboat, they we're frightened"
Year: 1871

GgA young lady of Louisville hay
ing received very urgent proposal o
marriage from an old gentleman sent th'
following answer by mail:


Why thus urge me to compliance?


Why compel me to refuse?


Yet though l court not your alliance,


Perchance younger may choose.
For 'tis state I'll ne'er disparage,


Nor will war against it wage;
1 do not, sir, object to marriage,


! but dislike to marriage.
Year: 1871

WALKER
"He was brick and brave as bear,
As brave as Nevada's grizzlies are,
A Texan tigress in her lair,
Or any lion of anywhere;
Yet gentle as panther is,
Mouthing her young in her first fierce kiss,
And true of soul as the North Pole star;
Tall, courtly, as grand as any king,
Yet, simple as child at play;
In camp and court the same Away,
And never moved at anything;
A dash of sadness in his air,
Born, may be, of his over care,
And, may be, born of despair
In early love-I never knew;
questioned not, as many do,
Of things as sacred as this is;
l only know that he to me
Was all father, friend. should be;
I sought to know no more than this
Of history of him or his"


HIS DEATH.
Speak i'll who will of him, he died
In all disgrace; say of the dead
His heart was bleak, his hands were red;
Say this much and be satisfied;
Gloat over it all undenied;
l only say that he to me.
Whatever he to others was,
Was truer far than any one!
That l have known beneath the sun,
Man. maid, or saint, or Saducee,
AS boy or man from any cause
1 simply say he was my friend
When strong of hand and fair of fame;
Dead and disgraced, 1 stand the same
To him, and so shall to the end


HIS GRAVE.
He lies low in the leveled sand,
Unsheltered from the tropic sun,
And now, of all he knew, not one
Will speak him fair in that far land.
Perhaps twas this that made him seek,
Disguised, his grave one winter-tide;
A weakness for the weaker side,
A siding with the helpless weak.


A palm not far held out hand;
Hard by long green bamboo swung,
And bent like some great bow unstrung,
And quiver'd like willow wand;

Beneath broad banana leaf
Perch'd on its fruit that crooked hung
A bird in rainbow splendor sung
A low, sad song of temper'd grief


No, sod, no sign, no cross or stone,
But at his side cactus green
Upheld its lances long and keen;
1t stood in hot red sands alone;
Flat-palmed and fierce with lifted spear;
One bloom of crimson crowned its head,
A drop of blood, SO bright, so red,
Yet redolent as roses tears
In my left hand I held shell,
All rosy lpp'd and pearly red;
I laid it by his lowly bed,
For he did love so passing well
The grand songs of the solemn sea-
Oh, shell, sing well, wild, with a will,
When storms blow loud and birds be still,
The widest sea-song known to thee.


l said some things, with folded hands,
Soft WHISPERED in the dim, sea sound,
And eyes held hulnbly to the ground,
And frail knees knit in the warm sands;
He had done more than this for me,
And vet I could not well do more!
Year: 1871

COURAGE IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Have the courageto discharge debt
while you have the money in your
pocket.


Have the courage to do without
that which you do not need, how
ever much your eyes may covet it.


Have the courage to speak your
mind when it Unnecessary is you should
do so, and to hold your tongue when
il is prudent you should do so.


Have courage to make Will and O
Just one.


Have the courage to tell man
why you do not lend him your
money.


Have the courage to cut the most
agreeable acquaintance You nave,
when you are convinced that he
lacks principle. "a friend should
bear with friends infrmaties," but
not his vices.


Have the courage to show that you
respect honesty, by whomsoever ex


Have tho courage to wear your old
clothes until you pay for your new
ones.


Have tho courage to obey your
Maker, at the risk Of being ridiculed
by men.


Have the courage to prefer com
fort and prosperity to fashion in al
things.
Year: 1871

Touching and irresistible was that
invitation of that rustic maiden to
her swain: ''Come and see me:
we have new lamp at our house
that we can turn down, down, down,
until there is scarcely bit of light
in the ROOM" He went.
Year: 1871

we are Commissioners Of the Oniteo
States, charged with the duty OF max,
ing certain inquiries touching the state
and condition of the Dominican Repub,
lie, with view to the possibility On
more intimate relations between the
two Republics than have hitherto ex'
listed, and having performed that duty
we were reluctant to leave this beaut-
full island without doing ourselves the
honor of calling and paying cur re-
spects to the President OF the Haytlan
Republic, and we desire to express our
hope that the same friendly and AMIGA
bic relations that have so long anlmat-
ed the people of both nations may long
continue. In doing this we but express
the sincere sentiment Of the President
and people of the United States. -


To this President Ssget replied that
he gladly reciprocated the feeling OF
friendship expressed by Mr. Wade, and
he would do all in his power to AID
their researches. After some informal
conversation Mr.. Wade said he greatly
regretted not being able to speak IN
their language, because he thought he
would then be able to say a great deal
that would tend to allay the present
feeling toward the United States; by
showing points in which the Haytiens
misunderstood US. President Saget at
this earnestly said that the educated
class in Hayti fully understood and
appreciated the condition Of the United
States, but that large class only re,
membered the slavery which existed
there, and the fact that they had them
selves been slaves, and it was impossl-
blc to influence them. The President
at the close Of the conference said he
would try and visit the Commissioners.
He is not expected, however, on. ac-
count of the general and popular feel
ing against the presence of.the Com
mission in the harbor.


Cabral has sent communication to
the frontier for commission in answer
to the letter from Howe, written at
Arena, but the letter is delayed until
the Haytien authorities can correspond
with our minister in regard to receiving
it. Mr.. Wade is anxious not TO COM
plicate matters by bringing him here,
wishing, as he does, to avoid all appear
ances OF being engaged while in Haytl
in prosecuting investigations looking 10
annexation.
Year: 1871

did not regard him with a friendly eve.
Mr.. Butler then said that he still re-
garded the introduction of Mr.. Blaines s
resolution yesterday as


Tricks that are vain"


Commend me TO Blaine,


Which rise to maintain.


This created another uproar OF
laughter on both sides Of the House.
While the discussion was in progress
the Democrats left their seats and came
over to the Republican side. They
took no part other than spectators in
the fight, but they seemed to enjoy it
immensely. Nothing OF importance
was transacted after the close OF Buffers
reply.


Adjourned.
Year: 1871

There are certain facts other than those we
present in another column, regarding the loss
Of O,lr commerce, which We desire to commend
to the attention of our merchants and ship
pers Mt this time when everything is ripe for
reform.


From the completion Of the Erie Canal, the
first of the great Western feeders of this city,
down to 1860, the growth of Now-York in
trade, wealth, and population had been at the
most rapid rate known. In 1854 tho metropolis
possessed S3 per cent of the entire Western
trade. For the ten years previous the tunnage
of tho Erie Canal increased 100 per cent that
of tho Ncw-YOrk Central Railroad for five
wears previous to 1858 was ut the rate of 112
Der cent and the tunnage of the port for the
decade of 1S50-G0 increased at the rate Of 134
per cent. The increase of the population for the
same decade had been at the rate Of G9 per cent,
thus keeping pace with the growth OF trade.
Here was exhibited a rapid Increase in every
element which constitutes prosperity. For the
next decade, hOwever-the infamous Tammany
decade Of fraud and ruin, as it will come to
be known the commercial decline has been Mt
more rapid pace than the marvellous increase
which we have noted. The Grain trade was
reduced from IS per cent of that of the whole





small lake cities. The tunnago of the Ere
Canal fell of over $4,000 tuns; that of the Cen
tra increased only 18 3-5 per cent from 1864 to
1868, instead of at the rate of lie per cent for
the five years previous. There was no diver
sion Of trade from the canal to the railways,
but an actual loss. The shipping tunnage of
the port for 1868 was $4,000 tuns less than in
1866, and the total decrease Of tunnage entered
and cleared from 1869 to 1870 was 02G, ,1G4 tuns.
This falling off was equivalent to the whole
tunnage twenty years ago. The increase Of
population from 1860 to 1870 was only 1873 per
cent, against 60 per cent during the previous
decade.


Moreover, il can be established, by figures
which cannot he questioned that the loss of
trade by New-YOrk was in exact proportion to
the combined gain Of the rival ports of Balti-
more, Philadelphia, and Boston. This is true
not only of the change in tho Western business,
but also of the wool, sugar, and coffee trades,
in which there has been falling off in this
city corresponding with the increase in the
rival ports named


These facts ought not to leave it necessary
for us to point out their evident moral to
thinking business men. They know why and
how and by whom this decline of our COM
mercc has been brought about They know
that they have tho facts and figures and evil
dence which will compel reform of the cor
rupt administration of this port. They know
who are the thieves of the Custom House,
quarantine, and wharves. Is it any longer
needful to urge upon them that it is their duty,
as we'll as their safety. to force the issue with
these corrupt officials and drive them to tho
vall9 A..
Year: 1871

Japanese politics are not 80 readily under
stood by foreigners that there should be no
wide difference of opinion among them; and
the letter from o TRIBUNE correspondent at
Yedo, published to-day, though giving ma
terially different picture of public affairs in
japan from that which we have heretofore
received, is only taken from another point of
view. Our correspondents opinions of the
situation are somewhat discourasing, but we
are glad to know that no recent cable ad-
vices indicate that the late democratic move
mcnt in Japan was unsuccessful or retrogres-
sivc. The picture which is drawn of the
fallen state of the ex-TycOon, now only chief
of the Tokugama clan, is curious, and suggest
i've of the changed condition of the country.
Year: 1871

The times have changed. The journal of
that name has lately enjoyed such Pc
culiar and profitable intimacy with ex-
Sheriff James O'Brien as to be able, when he
found he could not force the Ring into paying
his claim of Quarter of Million of Dollars,
to procure from him the proofs of the Rings
villainy, which he was willing to suppress for
this consideration. In grateful return, The
Times exerts all its influence, public and pri-
vate, to secure the election of Mr.. James
OBrien to the New-York Senate. Yet it has
been just four years since, in it's issue of the
4th November, 1867, when this same ballOt-box
strfer and inventor Of tho art of cOrrupting
the franchise by repeating was candidate
for Sheriff, The Times held this editorial Ian
guage concerning him:


ut extraordinary certainly that any party should
be content with such candidate for Sheriff the main
wing Of tho Democrats running. party must have
either altogether lost Its sefrespect. been brought
very thoroughly under the control Of its elements
when matter Of choice. 1t presents candidate for
such an Office who has served part Of term on
Blackwers Island"


And day later it says


"Neher Of the Democratic candidates for Sheriff Is
worthy OF support, either on personal political
grounds: both belong to that class Of politicians who
seek Office solely to help themselves and who degrade
any office they hold"