smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

Last year the virtual failure of the cere-
monies of Decoration Day in this city made
many believe that, however faithfully the OBJ
servance might be kept in smaller places, great
commercial centers like New-York were too
busy or too cold-hearted to spare day in the
year for a purely sentimental celebration. But
yesterday this belief was dispelled. The parade
of 1869 was meager because it was mis-
managed; the manifestation of 1870 has shown
that our gratitude toward the fallen heroes Is
not weakened as years pass away. We GER
tainly are not romantic people, and though
we don't mind dropping into poetry pretty
often in our buncombe speeches, we are apt
to feel rather ashamed of public exhibitions OF
tender feeling. The spectacle, therefore, OF
thousands moving in solemn procession to the
national cemeteries and covering with symbols
of affection the graves of men of whom few OF
lis, perhaps, know anything except that they
fell in the cause of their country is especially
impressive from the fact that it is so little in
accordance with the average American char
acter. When the French and Germans do such
things no one is surprised; when we do them,
an explanation must be sought i'll causes which
lie below the surface.


The causes are not, however, far to seek.
We have an apparently thankless way OF ac-
ceptng the results of the war, and a foreigner
who heard us quarreling over amnesty recon-
struction, impartial suffrage, the debt, and a
dozen other legacies of the contest, might be
pardoned for supposing that we appreciated
neither the danger which we have escaped nor
the enormous benefits which our victory has
secured us. But, in reality, the loyal Ameri-
can people are very keenly alive to the mean
ing of the war. They see more and more
clearly every day that Antietam, Gettysburg,
Vicksburg, Atlanta, the Wilderness, were trials
which tested nothing less than the actual exist
ence of the United States. Patriotic as all
true Americans are to the very mar
row of their bones, loving their country with
an unquestiOning devotion which no people
has ever surpassed, it is not surprising, that
they should cherish with a warm personal
affection the memory of those who gave Their
lives that the nation might live. We are glad
that the proposal to make the 30th of May q
legal holiday was not pressed. AS purely
spontaneous expression of popular feeling, the
ceremonies at the soldiers graves are far more
impressive than any honOrs which could be
granted by Act of Congress, and our reports
in this mornings paper prove that legislative
interference was entirely unnecessary.
Year: 1870

The Chairman of the Executive Committee
of the Fenian Brotherhood denOunces the
Canada expedition rs an unauthorized ex-
pendture of the money and materlai
accumulated by years of preparation. Ihis
ought to discourage the Fenians even more
than the failure of O'Neil and Starr. How is
it possible for the funds of the society to be
used by unauthorized persons7 When the
poor men whose savings have been squan-
dered in this burlesque invasion contributed
their dollars, they supposed that the money
was going into the custody of the officers to
whom they had given authority to act for
them. But no sooner has the army of invasion
thrown away its arms and squandered all Its
stores, than the central officers disavOw all
connection with them, and declare that they
had no right to use the patriotic fund in such
a manner. No right Then how is it that
they have the poweri The Fenian treasury
seems to stand always open, that any crazy
adventurer may thrust in his hand and help
himself. To fill it under such circumstances
will be as hard as to fill sieve with water.
If unauthorized and irresponsible individuals
have the power to make use of the cOntiibu-
tions of the brotherhood, we certainly trust
the contributions will stop, and the treasurer
Gf there is any such ofliceD will be called
upon for an explanation.


In truth the expeditions of last week show
a weakness in the Fenan organization for
which we were entirely unprepared. The Ex-
ecutive Committee confesses that it is power
less that there is no central control; that
there is no protection for the treasury; that
any man who pleases may set up as Fenian
General and exhaust the accumulated material
of years to pay for his feathers and parade.
In the field the soldiers, who to natural bravery
add the experience of veterans in the United
States volunteer army, cannot stand before the
Canadian militia-not because the privates are
towards, but because the innumerable COlonels
are either towards or FOOLS or more probably
both. Without organization in either the civil
or military branch, and without leaders who to
an average amount of brains unite ability to
command the obedience of their people, the
Fenian Brotherhood seems to be nothing but
a disorderly rabble of patriots, more to be
feared by their friends than their enemies.
Sensible men had better come away from it,
and work for the liberation of Ireland in some
other way.
Year: 1870

A lady writes from Washington to a news
paper, and complains that Senators do not
dress like gentlemen, but carry their hands
in their pockets, smoke cigars, and sit with
their feet upon the table; and these things
arc not at all consOnant with her ideas
of Senatorial dignity. She must remember that
Senators are er oGicio venerable; that they
have lost the dew of youth and with it the
passion for fine raiment; that at least they
are not belaced and bebraided and befrogged
like NapOleOn's Lawmakers. She must remem-
Der that there may be deep symbolical
meaning when a Senator carries his hands in
his pockets; it is like the straw which ball
bondsmen used to wear in their shoes at the
Old Bailey, whence arose the name of straw
"bail.n She should remember that many
Senators, but for the alienation of smoking,
might not have survived the Georgia debate.
She should remember that Senators so often
upon their legs should be allowed to mitigate
WEAKNESS by sitting as they please. She should
be- tender and considerate.
Year: 1870

We are alarmed to observe that paragraph
is in the Western newspapers stating that the
War Department building is in danger of
caving in," like the Court House at Richmond.
This may be an invention of those Occidental
gentlemen who are desirOus of having the Seat
of Government removed " to some point at the
"West'-a part of them being in favor of one
point, and a part of them of another, and a
third part of them of still another. We should
be very sorry to hear that the structure had
"caved," )" but perhaps the rumor may have
one blessed effect, by deterring seekers of
clerkships from pursuing their aspirations any
longer. 1t would be rather hard, after hunting
for a place for year, to have ones brains
knocked out Immediately upon taking posses
sion.
Year: 1870

mouth. Sir C. Wingfeld took the bull by the
horns and urged that if the trade was i'll
truth so horrible wrong it should be stopped
at once, whatever might be the pccuniary loss
to the Indian colonies. Traffic more murderous
to human beings than the slave-trade must be
checked. If China chose to thrust back
tho cup of poison from her lips,
England should not force it down
her throat. But mark again how the good
breeding of Britannia comes in. She mildly
replies through Mr.. Grant Duff that China Is
entirely mistaken. The fact is that she drinks
too much tea. She requires opium to neutral
ize the effects of that stimulant 1t is for her
good, and being good, England, like a cour-
teous host, insists on her swallowing the
opium. She must and shall swallow the
opium. If it stultfes and kills her, as she
weakly cries, that is her own fault The tea
must be counteracted. The opium is so certain
a good that it must be forced down her throat; !;
the Bible is another affair. We do not think
that this hospitable Britannia remembers that
poppies put money in her purse, and that
Christianity is usually beggar; we prefer to
believe that she is influenced only by the rare
refinement of pOliteness.
Year: 1870

The ruling passion to be generous with other
peoples money is still strong with our expiring
Common Council. During the brief period of
its existence it has rushed through enough Of
resolutions, granting fabulous sums of money
to the support of private schools and churches
increasing the salaries of City officials, and
directing everybody in possession of new
pavement to go to work in any street OF
avenue not already undergoing the agony of
a pitch and gravel plaster, to establish for each
member name for liberality that will live for
ever in the annals of our Municipal history.
1t has certainly refuted the old sentiment that
" corporations have no souls" Its latest act
is to present the Commissioners of the Sinking
Fund and the Presidents of its own Boards
with $1,000 each. Evidently its members, like
most mortals, believe that charity should end,
as well as begin, at home.
Year: 1870

We accepted on the authority of that careful
and conscientious paper, The Army and Nary
Journal a statement purporting to come di-
rectly or indirectly from Gen. Pickett to the
effect that an interview between him and a
reporter, printed in one of the cheap morning
papers, was fictitious. The Journal represents
the General to have declared that no reporter
had called upon him, and that the story of
his accepting q commission under the Viceroy
of Egypt (Which was the subject Of the pre-
tended interview'D is entirely false. The re-
porter asks us to give place to card in which
he declares that he did call upon the General,
but concealed the circumstance of his being a
reporter. He entirely fails, however, to shake
the statements Of The Army and Nary JomRGl
as to the other material charge, and we see
no reason for printing his card, Az the case
Year: 1870

TIE TAX IINHERERS AT UASHINGION


Our conviction that it is unwise materially
20 reduce the National Revenue until the Pub
lie Debt shall be funded at a lower rate of
interest is radical. But if it shall be deemed
necessary by our lawmakers at Washington
to proceed now to the reduction OF the
Revenue by some thirty-fve millions, as
proposed by Gen. Schencks bill, then we
respectfully submit that it be done judiciously.
If members of Congress do not know
that the most offensive tax upon the list is
that levied upon Incomes, they may easily
learn that fact by inquiry of their constltu-
ents Instead of dropping this Objectionable
tax from the list, which would effect very
nearly the reduction desired, it is gravcly pro-
posed first to repeal the tax on lcgacies and
SUGGESTIONS, unquestiOnably the least Onerous
and least Objectionable tax levied under the
Internal Revenue laws, being small tax upon
qihs. 1t should be remembered that, under
the present law, property passing from a de-
ceased husband to his widow is not taxed at
all while to child the tax is only one per
cent, with an exemption of $1,000 in the case
of minor This tax increases according to
the remoteness of cOnsanguinity, till we come
IL
six per cent The idea of repeating tax like
this, while retaining the Income, indicates
alarming ignorance, or worse.


Next it is proposed to drop off about seven
millions in the form of tax on the gross re-
ceipts of wealthy Railroad, Insurance, Tele-
graph, and Express Companies; and next eight
millions derived from the sales of general
merchandise, being One-tenth of one per cent
upon such sales-a tax which is not seriously
felt, and against which there has never been
any serious complaint on the part OF our
merchants A further reduction of about eight
and half millions is proposed in the
form of special Qcense) taxes not hereto
fore regarded as especially Onerous. Then
the poor Gas Companies are to be relieved OF
about two millions which they are now pay
ing into the Treasury. Finally we have re-
duction of about six millions in the Income
Tax, which results from increasing the exemp-
ton from $1,000 to $500 These are the
principal items of reduction provided for; but
there are other small matters which show the
drift and folly of the bill, such as the repeal
ing of the taxes on luxuries like carriages,
gold watches, and gold and silver plate.


Instead of learning anything from expert
ence the bill indicates that we are going back
ward AS whole, with all its glaring faults,
and its disrespect for the wishes of the people,
it is well worthy of its reputed parentage, as
the child of that profound builder of financial
air-castcs, Special Commissioner Wells. AS
the Income Tax-the only seriously objection
able feature in the present law-expires by its
own limitation at the end of the present year,
the best thing Congress can do is decently
to bury this new bill under the table as soon
as possible, and proceed with more legitimate
business.
Year: 1870

A New-York Editor lately prophesied the finest
results from Gen. ONeils military ability, the day
after that able commander, yielding to the flank
movement of the man in the rockaway, had gone
quietly to gaol. We inadvertently praised this
Editor as one of the first military authorities in
our country" He resents the well-meant eulo-
GUM, and says it is SILLY" Perhaps it Is. On
the whole we don't believe it very smart in him
TO declare that L" if Gen. ONe continues TO display
the same military ability he can hardly fail to give
the British more serious trouble than they now ap-
prehend" fifteen hours after that troublesome war
ror was safely locked up. In fact we think that was
silly. We trust this apology may be considered
satisfactory,
Year: 1870

Really this is too terrible We begin at last
TO pity Gen. ONeil. Ridicule he could endure.
The keen satire which suggests that he has
"immortalized his name by showing how
gracefully one can conform to the civil law
"though at the head of an invading army" he
can afford to smile at. The Odious comparison
that excuses his folly on the stale plea OF
temporary insanity" he can treat with the
contempt it richly deserves. But how is it
possible for the poor fellow to survive the
gushing concentrations of George Francis
Traimf "Give me your hand, old boy! | am
with you to the last! You mean it! So do !!
This is too sad. O'Neil should have died be-
fore this cruel fate befel him.
Year: 1870

Let us get this matter straight. Sundry
newspapers are berating us for saying that
Margaret Fuller was not an advocate OF the
emancipation of woman. We never said so.
She was an earnest friend of every movement
which tends to elevate the condition and en-
large the opportunities of her sex, and for
that no one hOnors her more than we do;-we
labored with her to that end, and to that end
we labor still. But she did not shrek and
tear her hair and call herself wretched slave
because she might not have the ballot; on the
contrary she proved, by beautifying her own
and Others lives, and making fame which
will last long after the noisiest of the present
agitators are forgotten, that it was possible for
woman to be great without going to Congress
or voting for Aldermen. Whether her opinions
on all points were as sound as her practice, Is
another question upon which we did not touch.
Year: 1870

After two-days' battle, which we are told
was bloody but which We rejoice to believe
was like most South American engagements,
more confusing than sanguinary, the revolu-
tionists in Venezuela have carried the besieged
capital by assault, and are in peaceful posses
sion of the government We trust there is
now to be quiet in the distracted republic, and
among other results which follow the estab-
lishment of peace the adjustment of the claims
of this country.
Year: 1870

From London dispatch regarding proceed
ngs in the House of Commons, we are left to
infer that Minister Motley is negotiating a
Copyright and Patentright treaty with En-
gland. We shall heartily rejoice to see this
concluded and ratified for it is one eminently
to be desired in justice to literary men on
both sides of the water.
Year: 1870

now stands it would appear that the reporter
interviewed a gentleman under false pre-
lenses; that he then printed private converse
ton without permission; and that his report was
substantially untruthful. If he likes the story
any better in this shape, lac is welcome to the
change
Year: 1870

shall at least be able to narrow down 10
actual, trustworthy figures that cannot he'
the sum total and extent of the election FRAUDS
of previous and future State and municipai
elections
Year: 1870

Some developments have been made
which show the desperate straits to which
the Radicals were driven in the last can
yass 10 Indiana. The Chairman of the
Radical Central Committee for Washing
ton county, in that State, addressed a
note on the 3Oth ultimo to the postmast-
er at Aardin8burg, informing him as fol-
lows:


sit is charged against you that you are
supporting the Democratic ticket. This,
however, do not believe, but if it is so,
you will be Immediately removed from
your position as postmaster. The officers
of the present administration are requr-
ed not only to vote the Republican tick
ct, but to use their influence for it,"


The postmaster replied that he had
held the office for more than twenty years
during which time he had given his sup
port to the Democratic party, and that in
the future, as in the past, he should not
give his support to any party whose petty
tyranny should demand surrenderof his
personal independence and manhood, as
the price of petty office. Guess the
were satisfied.
Year: 1870

A correspondent sends the following to
the chronological Journal


If you would have loving wife be as
gentle in your words after as before mar
riage; treat her quite as tenderly when a
matron as when a miss; don't make her
the maid Of all work and ask her why she
looks less tidy and neat than when you
first knew her; don't buy cheap, tough
beef, and scold her because it does not
come on the table 'porter house," don't
grunble about squalling babies if you
can't keep up nursery" and remember
that "baby" may take after papa in his
disposition; don't smoke and chew tobacco
and shatter your nerves, and spoil your
temper and make your breath nuisance,
and then complain that your wife declines
to kiss you; go home joyous and cheerful
to your wife and tell her the good news
you have heard, and not silently put on
your hat and go out to the club, or lodge.
Spend your evenings at home, and your
wife will be loving and true-if you did
not marry senseess beauty, without
sense Or worth; if you did, who is to
hlame If you suffer the consequences
Year: 1870

A good joke is told of a young man
who attended social circle few even
ings since. Tue conversation turned on
California and getting rich. Tom -
remarked that ii he was in California, he
would, instead Of working in the mines,
waylay some rich man who had bag full
of gold, knock out his brains, gather up
the gold and skeedaddle. One of the
young ladies quietly remarked that he
had better gather up the brains, as he ev-
idently stood in more need Of that article
than gold. Tom subsidized.
Year: 1870

The following, from the Knoxville
Press and Herald, is we'll put in:


In the Second District of Tennessee,
the contest is between Colonel BLIZZARD,
who Is an honest and fearless champion of
economy and retrenchment, and Horace
Maynard, whose sole reply to an over
taxed people, Is ill-timed and insulting
lovIty' Let the people judge between the
men
Year: 1870

An apple tree shook its blossoms on
the earth and made it bright and beauti.
full, and yet the tree was not i'm poverish


ed, but soon replenished its branches with
fruit it could not have produced, had it
retained its blossoms. Whoever will,
may make his life the tree, and scatter
the flowers Of happiness all over the earth.
Year: 1870

We find the following recommended in
one Of our exchanges:


Soak some blotting paper in strong
solution of saltpetre; dry it; take a piece
about the size Of your hand, and on going
to bed light it aud lay it on a plate in
your bedroom. BY so doing, persons af.
hicted witl the asthma will find that they
can sleep almost as we'll as when in health.
Year: 1870

A clergyman being much pressed by a
lady of his acquaintance to preach a SER
mon the first Sabbath after her marriage,
complied, and chose the following passage
in the Psalms as his text "And there
shall be abundance of peace-while the
moon endureth."
Year: 1870

The latest thing in fashion to take the
place made vacant by the retirement of
the Grecian Bend is the Boston Dip. 1t
is simply a limp with the north foot. A
woman with the Boston Dip acts as if she
were foundered.
Year: 1870

THIS OLD AND POPULAR HOTEL, situated
l. at the corner of Main and State streets, ia
again thrown open to the public. In its appoint
ments. rooms and furniture, it is second to no
hotel in the State, and the proprietor fatters
himself that he can give general satisfaction to
all who may honor him with call.


jull4d RANDOLPH ROSS, Pro'r.
Year: 1870

"Why don't you limit yourselfl" said
a physician to an incorporate person.
"Set down stake and say that you will
go SO far and no farther" 81 do" said
the other, but l set it so far off that I al
ways get drunk before I get there"
Year: 1870

A little New Orleans boy, watching his
mother wreathe her head with orange
blossoms, exclaimed, "Oh, how sweet that
is, ma. You look like pa was dead and
you was going to marry some other man"
Year: 1870

Story OF A WASHINGTON Billie
The New York World tells the following
story Of Madame Potesdad, a noted horse
woman and belle of the National Capital:


"On one occasion. it is said. when stay
ing at the Warm Springs, in Virginia, she
started out with riding party for the
Warm Spring Mountain, and dared the
gentlemen accompanying her to do what
ever she did. This mountain is quite high
and has at its summit roc!; jutting out
over precipice. To the extreme verge
Of this rock Miss Randolph rode. to the
great cU1sternation Of her friends. She
did DOT even leave her horse room to turn
round, but, having accomplished her pur-
pose, she backed him from the dangerous
position and faced the rest Of the party in
triumph. Not man dared to follow her
example, but one youthful piece Of inexpc-
rience stood ON his head in his saddle, and
dared the lady to do that. Ofcourse sho
cried "quit." z