smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

Bergh did good service to humanity and the
morals Of the city when he broke up that
Internal den in Water street known as Kit
Burns dog pit The capture was complete.
Dogfghters, dogs and rats--all kindred crea-
tures-were seized and carried off. TIE plans
of the police were so well laid that the rlf-
fanly crew was taken n, fagr1nte delictu.
The evidence against the whole gang, there
fore, ought to be clear enough to secure q
conviction, and we only hope that, il indicted,
as they ought to be, they will be sent before
the City Judge for trial. lie will make them
squeal worse than tho unfortunate rats who
were dumped into the East river by the police.
The amount Of crime nnrtured Ia these pest
houses is almost incalculable. Upon the pre-
text of being the resort Of ''sport" in its most
degraded aspect they are really the haunts Of
thieves and abandoned women.


Society has been too lenient with the Kit
Burns class of fellows. II Is time now that it
should protect itself against these men and
their brutal avoca tions. Thanks to Mr.. Bergh
and the vigilant police force who accompanied
him on Monday night an opportunity offers to
bring the ringleaders to justice. Let the Police
Justice, the District Attorney and the Grand
jury do their duty faithfully, and the commu-
nifty may be relieved of the disgrace accriiing
from such brutal orgies 'as the so-called
''sport" Of the dog pit
Year: 1870

A BURGLAR In HIGH LIFE.-We are
familiar with the saying that the proaigacy
of the son often brings the fathers gray hairs
in sorrow to the grave. The Lexington ave-
nue. burglary has some features about it that
might well realize the pfogerb. The confess
sion Of the prisoner, young Kelly, shows that
not only was he most depraved criminal,
but that, with heartlessness unparalleled in
the most abandoned characters he dragged
the good name Of his respectable father into
disrepute by secreting the stolen property in
the house Of this wealthy and much respected
citizen. Surely, this young fellow is not only
the most villanous Of burglars, but, accord
ing to the police accounts Of his habits Of
life, he must be a most debauched wretch.
The condemnation Of the whole community
which is accorded to this bad son will be only
eqnalled by the sympathy felt for the father.
II is bad story altogether.
Year: 1870

| We regret that wiser counssls did not pre-
vail In the Mexican Congress when the
question OF the abolition OF tho free zone was
brought up for consideration. The proposal


to abolish It was not only killed, but It was de-
cided to continue and extend it. For q long


time Its abolition has been under the coii-


sidsraiion Of tho leading minds q lie republic


and when men like Juarez, Romero and
other members OF the present Cabinet advo-


cate lis abolishmcnt 1t shows at least that the


subject has received careful thought. The


cana Abre, fairly considered, is an injury to
Mexico.s 1t leaves the whole frontier of tho
States Of Tamaulipas, Coahuila and Nucvo
Leon open to illegitimate trade, encourages
smuggling and Is gross injustice to every
honorable trader throughout the country.


Under the free zone system the merchandise


introduced into the country through the ports
of entry Of the republic has not the slightest
chance Of competition with that which is


entered through the free zone, for the very
simple reason that the former pays duty


while the other does not. This is one Of the


beauties of the sono N5re, and this is the
system which the wiseacres OF the Mexican


Congress desire to perpetuate, extend and
nourish. We're the injustice which the free
zone infiictss confined to Mexicans 1t is very
probable that the press OF the United States
would not trouble itself stIall on the subject !;
but when the system inflicts injury on every
honorable trader doing business on the Ameri-
can side of the Rio Grande it is time that some
thing should be done to secure its abolishment.
Foreign goods are brought into Mexico
through the free zone free Of duty and are
smuggled into the United States. This is
where the American complaint comes in. It
is said that the reason for voting for the
measure by the Mexican Congressman is to
express defiance TO the Yankee government.
Well, 50 be II. We have long considered
that the worst enemies tho Mexieaas have have are
the Mexcans themselves, and it does not at
all surprise US that they now attempt to quarrel
with their best friend-the United States.
Year: 1870

A DISTINGUISHED South AMERICAN SUI
oIDR.-We publish on another page Of the
HERALD this morning the particulars of the
melancholy suicide Of the son Of ex-Presdent
Mitre, of the Argentine Republic, VINO was at
tached to the Argentine Legation at Rio
Janeiro. The unfortunate young man, who
was only eighteen years of age, found life too
burdensome to BEAR owing 10 the dissipation
into which he plunged, and, to rid himself Of
the burdens which oppressed him, he oolishly
DESTROYED the life which God had given him.
Year: 1870

IhiS SHOWS very serious falling OIL IN our 3.
tonnage within the last ten years. The report
for 1860 gave the tonnage of sailing vessels at
4. 1858 and Of steam vessels at S67, ,937--an
aggregate of 5,353, S6S tons. The loss, there
fore, in the last ten years is ,4O7,7l9 tons
equal to over twenty-six per cent Part Of
this loss is undoubtedly to be attributed to the
competition of land lines of commensurate
roads-which have attracted much of the in
tsrnal carrying trade that was formerly done
by water, and part to the competition of
foreign vessels which have absorbed most Of
the foreign ocean commerce which used to be
done in American ships. The first mentioned
cause Of decay of the shipping trade is one in
the regular order Of things, and for which
remedy is neither possible nor desirable. The
trade that is lost in one way is gained in
another But the loss Of our foreign commerce
is one for which there is no corresponding
advantage, and is to be attributed to the stupid
and suicidal policy which prevents American
merchants from purchasing ships abroad,
where they can be obtained for one fourth less
price than they can be built for here. Tho
consequence Of persisting in this folly is tho

disappearance of the American flag from all
foreign ports and the loss Of the large profits
to be derived from foreign commerce, while
the object for which that policy is adopted
the encouragement Of the home shipbuilding
trade-is not attained, but, on the contrary, is
defeated We hope that Congress will, at it's
apprea ching session, lose no time in taking up
th;a cuaofion 0f Amprican commerce.. and
will, before the opening Of the new year,
place the merchants and ship owners OF the
United States on an equality at least with
those Of other countries in competition for the
ocean commerce of the world. There is no
use in any halfway measures. There must
be either free trade in ships or we must ex-
pect the falling Off in our tonnage to be a.
great in the next decade as it has been in the
last.
Year: 1870

BEIIIGERENT PEAoEMAKERs.- is aston
ishing how societies established for the pro-
motion Of peace abroad generally become in
volved in a social war among themselves. The
latest instance is the split between the Sociolo-
cists, or humanitarians, who occupied Cooper
Institute on Saturday, and their brethren who
held forth there on Monday. The peace pro-
ceedings of the latter occasion consisted
mainly of hostile attack upon the
speakers at the former meeting-a
wild defence Of Louis Napoleon, crack
at Carl Sohurz for kissing King Will
liam's toe" and little squirt of skirmish firing
from the ''reds." Altogether it was most
unsocial and warlike s'peaee meeting" viii
not these spouters learn that talking non
sense in New York will not disband a single
army corps on the soil of France, and can
have no ether effect than making themselves
notorious (Which is, perhaps, just what they
are after.


WOMAN SUFFRAaE.--The woman suffragists
have inaugurated a vigorous campaign
against the monopolizers of the ballot box,
and are pushing their cause ahead with COM
mendable zeal and energy. A goodly number
have met in solemn conclave in Cleveland,
Ohio, and yesterday the venerable Lucy
Stone read the report Of the Executive Com


mittee, showing the rapid progress woman


suffrage was making throughout the Eastern
and Western States. The main feature of the
| report Is the assertion that enfranchisement


will give woman every right ''subject only to
| the law Of benevolence."


/, BON VOYAGE! TO the foolish Custom House
CLERK who is rolling wheelbarrow Of flour
| all the way to Peekskill to pay an election


bet. He staked his good sense on Woodford,


and lost. Now he has pulled up stakes at


the Custom House and started for Peekskill


behind wheelbarrow. We wish him moro


wisdom, and better luck next time.
Year: 1870

Tgoops ORDERED TO GEoReIA.A military
force is TO be sent into Georgia in order to
preserve peace at the approaching election.
The President does not intend this as an in
timidation, but as a precautionary measure,
rendered necessary by the unsettled condition
OF affairs in that State.
Year: 1870

A CALL ON GENERAL BUTLER. The Irs6une
wants to know whether General Butler sticks
to his war platform on the Alabama claims, or
gives it up. For the sake Of quieting tho
fears Of all the old women in the country we also
call upon the General on this Interesting qnos-
uon--peace or ware =.
Year: 1870

A New PREFERENCE common 0d-
dendam to an advertisement Of clerk
has given place in the West to the phrase
(when laborers are wanted) 'Scaudinavians
preferred That is handsome compliment
to hardy and industrious race
Year: 1870

''FRoM THE NETTIR DANGER PLUcKINa THR
FLOWER SAFETY. The war cloud Of a general
conflict in Europe has 80 far done more towards
the probable restoration Of peace between
Prussia and France than the many sanguinary
battles that have for the last three months
crmsoned the soil of what was once styled u
belle nation. st n
Year: 1870

The PopE AND THE KING OF ITALY
A Cool WELooMR.-Whle the people Of
Rome are preparing for grand reception
Of King Victor Emmanuel it is said that
''by order Of the Pope every church will
be closed during the Kings presence in the
city," We can hardly believe this report. The
Holy Father, we know, regards the annnexa-
ton of the States Of the. Church to Italy IS
sacrilegeous outrage; but we know also that
he is kind hearted and benevolent man, and
we are sure that he prays for his enemies.
Granting, then, that the King Of Italy is great
sinner, (which nobody will deny" would it
not be more consistent to open the churches Of
Rome for prayer on the arrival Of the King
than to shut them up, and thus shut him out as
an incnrabe heretic? We cannot believe that
the H~ly Father has resolved to shut the doors
Of salvation against poor Victor Emmanuel,
whose worst mistake is that he thinks the king
dom of the Pope is not Of the kingdoms Of this
world, but Of the world to come, where nei-
ther moth nor rust doth corrupt and where
thieves do not break through and steal" in the
absence Of the French troops. We wait for
further confirmation from Rome.
Year: 1870

A MAN BOUND TO RISE. Frank Blair, the
democratic candidate for the Vice-Presidency
in 1868, Is a member elect OF the Missouri
Legislature. Falling from the top, he begins
again at the bottom of the democratic ladder,
like hero who does not care to stand out in
the cold upon his dignity
Year: 1870

The news of to-day differs very little from
that OF yesterday. All is quiet along the
lines. The army within Paris has made no
outward movement, no bombardment of tho
city has been attempted by the Germans and
almost general quiet prevails. Paladines is
carrying out his plans with great caution,
and the Germans in his front keep close
fathom his intentions. The quietnow enjoyed
on both sides is the calm preceding the storm.
The great struggle, possibly the final struggle,
cannot now be much longer delayed. Should
Paiadines' Army Of the Loire be defeated in
the approaching battle near Paris we
think the end OF the disastrous conflict between
France and Prussia will be very near close.
From the commencement of the war the Ger
mans have had IL all their own way. On the
French side it has been one series Of disas-
ters, one following the other in quick success
sion, and each succeeding failure assuming
still greater proportions than the preceding
one. The successes Of Garibaldi, the energy
of the small detachments in Northern France
or the successful exploits Of the Francs
tireurs can but little affect the general result.
Everything is staked on Paris The life of
France is. as il were, set upon a cast, and we
now await the hazard Of the die


MEXICO AND THE TEHUANrEPEo RAILWAY
1t is said that the Mexican Congress has tackled
on the Tehuantepec Railway bill, which it has
just passed, such impracticable conditions as
render the concession worthless. This is char
acteristic Of Mexican Legislation and of every
thing that Mexico does with regard to public
works. There is so much Jealousy and suspi-
cion of foreigners, aud such scramble among
the public men Of that country for the spoils
which they can wiring from foreigners and out Of
any great undertaking, that scarcely anything
can be accomplished. The Mexicans talk well
and much and promise great DEAL but are
utterly impracticable However, it is said that
President Juarez has returned to Congress
the Tehuantcpec Railway bill with remarks
pointing out lis defects, and that the bill will
probably be amended. Still we have little
hope that Mexico will ever show in this, or in
anything else, common sense, liberalty or
enterprise. Nothing important will be accom-
piished in the way of opening transit routes
for commerce through Mexico till tho United
| States takes possession Of the country.
Year: 1870

CONGRESS AND THE NExr SoLJR EcuPsE-
Congress has decided to take peep at the sun
during the eclipse which is TO be visible in Eu-
rope, but not in this country, next December.
For that purpose a sum Of twenty thousand dol
lars was voted last session enable the superin-
tenlent Of the coast survey to make chs. sation
Of the eclipse in Europe. This is quite right.
We cannot fail to obtain some important ad-
ditional information in the Of science By an
intelligent survey Of the coming phenomenon.
Congress should be liberal in these matters.
While millions Of the public money are squander-
ell in ways that would not even bear the light Of
much eclipsed sun, thousands. if well employed
might rebound to the great advantage Of seen
,i6c knowledge. ge.--Felr York Herald
Year: 1870

\ NIGHT oF TEnR9E.-The town Of Dauphin,
Pa, Is located AZ the base Of mountain eight
hundred feet high, and eight miles from Harris
burg. In fact the town Is walled in by noun
tains. Frequently the atmospheric phenomena
in this gorge are wonderful 10 teholi Recently
three distinct thunder storms met, seemingly,
directly over the town The electricity Aept up
an dlmCst continual play, while the thuuderous
rever1erations were almost deafening ani quite
continuous The lightning darted along the rail-
road, and the telegraph wires gave out a multi
tulc Of sparks like those from forge The
mountains were lit up by the vivid flashes, and
frequently large rocks were displaced by the
powerful fluid, and with loud noise rolled
down into the river. A barn was struck five
times although provided with lightning rods,
As well may tie supposed, the inhabitants were
terribly alarmed. Although several dwelling
houses we're struck. no one was injured except
little girl, who was killed by fash Of lightning
Year: 1870

New York, Dec. I9.-In the Court
of General Sessions this forenoon,
Recorder Hackett called the atten-
ton of the Grand Jury to the Thirty
fifth Street disaster, the falling of
piano factory, causing the loss of FIVE
lives, and told them to do their duty,
whether the Commissioner of Public
Buildings, the builder, or owner was
in fault.
Year: 1870

man or the journal which defamcs men and
women will certainly be careless or reckless in
the report Of facts.


There is q reason, inherent in humanity, in
the existence of the tcllers Of personal gossip
IL is truism, but not the less truth, that
the proper study of mankind is mar. What
small fraction of the public reads Cosmos
Yet if Humboldt had come here to lecture he
would have crowded the largest hall we own.
We should have rushed to see the man greater
than all his work. The parting OF MS
hair and the color Of his coat would
have had an interest for us. But
jenkins plays upon this simple and good in
stiDct and dcpraves it. Tickled with sensa-
ton to day, it demands scandal tomorrow,
and q crime next day, and so the public virtue
is debauchcd. The growth of this morbid read
ing, which is not literature, is appalling. The
men who write it are contemplate, the jour
nails which print it are foes of tho. common
veal, but the public which buys and pays for


it is the arch-enemy, after all.
Year: 1870

in France what may prove one Of the most
extraordinary of vendettas


The RochefOrt- -Bonaparte vendetta will have
wider range, perhaps, than between princely
bravo and his few immediate partisans and the
number of Partisan gentlemen willing to shoot
in behalf of the revolutionary Vicomte dc
Lucay. In the long run it may include every
member of the great Bonaparto family who
does not make his peace with the Republic.
The journal which afiirms that, so long as
Prince MuIat is not sent to prison for his as
sault on NJ. Comte, call honest men have the
Fright to shoot him like a dog" reveals Re-
publican depth of detestation. Strange to say,
it is not the MarSeiliaiSe, nor the Rdppet, but
the Reforme; and the two or three other
Partisan papers which have lamcnted the
arraignment and too sudden conviction OF Roche
fort help us to explain more fully this angry
and threatening uttcrance. The people OF Paris
want no gall to make their oppression bitter
Nothing short of justice can now satisfy them,
and the Empire to them is incapable of justice
It may be of vast Importance to Napoleon to
have standing army of janissarles; but
what of all this if he makes his people only
another standing army of suffering aud implaca-
bic haters, ready ut any moment to make him
weak. and TO destroy him whenever he is feeble
We know that Freedoms battle once begun"
is bequeathed very much like Franco-Corsi-
can vendetta, from bleeding sire to son; - and
France has not lost sight of its inherited feud
in the provocation of the Bonaparte affair.
Year: 1870

To the unregenerate mind Gen. Nye'S wood
chuck story seemed trife venerable, yet We
are now persuaded that he did not tel it
single time too often. Here is Mr. McNeely
once more hammering away at the dead
woodchuck. He knows no more than to want
vet once again the sense of the House, on
the payment of the FiveTwenties IN
Greenbacks instead of Gold. He got it; tho
sense aforesaid being 122 in favor of consider
ing the subject settled ITO Al willing to hear
what the man had to say about it, Perhaps a
week or two hence somebody else will want
to take another turn at the dead woodchuck.
There is no accounting for the variety OF
tastes, but really the game this time is
hardly worth the powder.
Year: 1870

The Grand Jury advise the builling Of
new City Prison and the sale of the over
crowded and unhealthy Tombs. If it were not
for our experience of the new Court-HouSe.
we should see no especial objection to this
project; but to another repetition of that sort
the taxpayers will decidedly object. To spend
five millions on n new Tombs aud be ten years
in finishing the building is too expensive and
too slow for these days. Let us. in the event
of the work being undertaken, make sure that II
shall be in the hands of men who do MT want to
steal more than twenty per cent, and Will not
be more than two years in doing it. AT the
same time, this enterprising Grand Jury would
like to have the Blackwell's Island Penitentiary
removed to Hart's Island, deeming it good to
get the convicts further away from the city,
and suggest that all the space on Backweirs
Island will soon be needed for charitable insu-
tutions. There is some weight in these rea'
sons; but the present location will suffice for
half q century yet
Year: 1870

A vote for the Ratification of Constitutional
Amendment is like the signature to promls-
sorry note, binding rs soon as affixed, for so
long as the terms of the note make it binding.
A man may refuse to sign such note once or
fifty times if he will, and still change his mind
and sign it:--when the signature will be as
binding as if it had been given on the first
occasion on which the note was presented.
The State of Ohio refused to sign such note
year ago. Recently it signed it, and the
notice of the signature was yesterday presented
to the Senate of the United States. We take
it that no constitutional lawyer who values his
reputation will deny the binding nature OF the
signature.
Year: 1870

cone or more petitions for the abolition OF
the Franking privilege presented by nearly
every member of the Senate" Such is the
brief record in the regular proceedings yester-
day at Washington. We beg gentlemen of the
Senate to understand that these petitions
come from the people, who made them SEN
ators. and are capable of unmaking them.
We beg them also to understand
that the people are in earnest in this
matter-that they have made up their mind
that they have been tri6ed with long enough
concerning the abolition of this paltry swindle.
and that they are determined now to have it
abolished or to know who prevents it. Gentle
men of the Senate the case rests with you. 1t
sloudly asserted that you mean to smother the
BILL All we ask is to let us know who assumes
the responsibility of doing so.
Year: 1870

The story that Gen. Cochrane is an applicant
for the place Of Collector Bailey in the Twenty
second District, is an absurdity akin to the many
others which the lame ducks in that district
are constantly starting. Gen. Cochrane is an
applicant for no place within the gift of the
Government. He seeks none, and there is no
pretext whatever for attributing such a desire
to him, save the fact that he has lately assumed
the Chairmanship of the reorganized and re-
united Central Committee of the Republican
party of this city. With this he is entirely
cont4nf
Year: 1870

Excepting those who have found their fair
gucrdon in academic laurels, q majority of the
celebrities of tho Southery persuasion In tho
late contest, from Jefferson DAVIS down 10 the
latest Admiral, Franklin Buchanan, seek sOlace
for the reyerses of the dead past in the man
agement of reversions depending upon life.
The agents in the Southern States of New.
York and New England life insurance compa-
nies may yet have to learn new tactics from
those who are familiar with both vital statis-
tics and military cyolutions. How can the
knowledge comprised in actuarial tables Of
mortality equal actual experience where loss OF
life was certain7 What are calculations OF
vitality and expectations of existence compared
with such an extraordinary acquaintance with
the death-ratcg


We sincerely hope that large increase Of
life insurance in the South may result We
share the belief expressed by Dickens that
almost any method Of insurance is better than
none More good than i'll is likely to result to
the thousands who may thus invest for the
sake of an autograph, whether as an heirloom
or for their young Hannibals to swear ven
geance by. All writers on the subject more
over, say that Insurance" is misnOmer; il
sIOulu De dSsuIdHcc-In WHICH TIC cA-ChiVl'"lhs
have not been wanting. Experience must have
taught them wisdom in providing against acci-
dents and contingencies, and they should be
able to judge whether premiums require load
ing. And should they exemplify such skill in
managing their reserve to meet losses as they
exhibited in bringing up their reserves to tho
battlefield, the victories Of peace may prove
as difficult to Northern companies as those oil
war were to National battalOns.