smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

The situation of the armies on the Saar and
Rhine remains unaltered. There has been no
assault on Saarlouis, nor has there been any
naval engagement thus far, as have been false
ly reported. As strategic movements, the
Prussian assault of Weissenburg and the
French attack on Saarbruck appear to
have been equally insignificant AS tactical
operations, the two are not, however, to
be compared. The French captured and dis
persed at Saarbruck only small outpost, and
their attack evidently had no other purpose
than the interruption of railway which as
yet they have not ventured to cross the Saar
to destroy. The "baptism of fire" at that
point was a very absurd affair-almost as ridic-
ulous as the dispatch which celebrated 1t.
The assault of Weissenburg was more
bloody and serious. Gen. DOuay's division
of the French corps appears to have been
isolated there from the rest of the corps in the
Rhine valley, and the adventurous Prussian
Prince Royal crossed the Lauter River and
attacked it with largely superior force, in
the hope of destroying it. The French, after
a determined resistance, fell back several miles
| to one of the fortified passes in the Nosges
| Mountains. The Prussians seem to have re-
tired as soon as they accomplished their ann
of striking this division, which by its advanced
position in the valley invited an attack. The
result was a victory for the Prussians so posi-
tive that the French do not dispute it.


There are no indications whatever of grand
movement on the part of either of the armies.
They are face to face in a difficult country,
and the advance of either force will doubtless
bring on a general engagement. Knowing
this, the commanders may act with caution
and deliberaton which will postpone battle
for several days or weeks
Year: 1870

From the barbarism of yesterday we turn
with disgust. We need not say again that we
had little sympathy with the condemned, and
none whatever with his crime, no matter what
its provocation; nor have we any with the
Improbable taking of human life by the forms
of law. Suppose the death penalty were not
in force, and John Real, Immediately after the
Staying of Smedick, had been convicted and
sentenced to imprisonment for life. The result
would have been that long ago he would have
ceased to be power for evil. How is it now
A practice as imbecile as 1t is inhuman has
changed the malefactor into martyr; has
made hero of an assassin. 1t has elevated
and dignifed crime and created sympathy
for the criminal which is so far creditable to
our age in that it at least marks its progress
in humanity. There was a time when the
masses delighted in mans inhumanity to man,
but we have arrived at the happier era when
all such exhibitions make millions mourn.


1t has been our constant argument against
the death penalty that it defeats its object.
We presume no one will venture to applaud
any penalty that is intended simply as a
punishment of crime, or deny that the OBJ
ject of its infiction must be exclusively the
protection of society. How Is 1T with the
death penalty2 Do murders decrease as hang
ings multiply The advocates of the gallows
have often been asked to furnish affirmative
proof on these points, and have as oftn
failed to produce it. On the other hand,
States where the death penalty is abrOgated
are comparatively free from homicides. Ger
tainty, rather than extremity of punishment, is
the surest antidote to criminal offenses. Every
execution makes palmer that it is blunder,
if not a crime. Every murder trial makes
clearer the increasing repugnance of juries to
find a verdict of guilty in capital cases.
Every day and in every way it is becoming
more apparent that great crime against
society is that relic of the dark ages which
converts the "dastardy villain" of the hour
of his crime into the "poor unfortunate Of
the moment of his execution.
Year: 1870

TlE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONg
EXPECTATIONS OF THE DEMOCRATIC LyApERs-


THEY HOPE TO HAVE MAJORITY IN TIE


NEXT HOUSE.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.-From conversations
with many Of the prominent Democratic members of
Congress before and since the adjournment learn that
they have strong hopes Of electng, this Fall majority
OF the next House Of Representatives. The most san
gune among them hopeful Of in this that
they have got slate for Speaker and harueD OF
the important Committees and have found Democrat
who is not confident OF reducing the Republican majority
at least as low fifteen twenty. They largely
upon the prevailing dissatisfaction felt throughout
tho country with the results Of the session Just ended
The long tnkering with reconstruction the tedious quar-
res about the tariff the haltng way Of treating the fund
ing question, the failure 10 do anything restore the
commerce OF the country the constantly recurring dis
senslons among the Republicans and the precate sd
journment with much important business neglected,
have they think disgnsted the people with Congress
As they enabled to wash their hands Of all the ns
OF omission and commission OF which that body has been
guilty, they count upon powerful reaction In thr
favor The great number OF enemies which ths Admin
iration like every other has made by the exercise Of
the appointing power tho Democrats hope To
muster in their ranks. They have, besides, sort
OF supersttous belief that there is law governing tho
workings OF politics which prevents any party enjoying


lease OF power beyond the duration Of three Admins
tratons and which, whatever its virtues may be- throw,
it out and puts the ren Of Government into the hands
OF the opposition. They have faith in the old adage that
every dog has his day" The Republicans have had
theirs and long one it has been, too; the Demo
Gratis that their dag is speedily TO come and tia.
there Is manifest destiny which will bring about In
way the less certain for not being clearly under
| stood.


The Democratic strength IN the present House OF Rep
resentatyes sc members 10 requires l22 members for
a majority. They must therefore gain &c members Ia
organize the House on the 4th Of March. Their
chief gains they expect TO make in NewYork, Pennyl
vana Ohio, and the Southern States The result Of the
recent Judicial election in NewYork gave them great
courage and they declare that there are not more than
eight or ten districts in that state which the Republicans
feel assured OF carrying In Ohio there are quarIes
among the local politicians in several districts and much
hard feeling on the tariff question, which will work IN
favor OF the Democrats In the South they hope 10 make
nearly clean sweep" The carpet-baggers have Killed
the Republican party in that section, they say.
The following table shows the present Democratic
strength in the House and the gains their leading poll
tcans hope to make in the Congressional elections no
pending:
Year: 1870

The compromise which has been effected be-
tween the coal miners and mine owners of the
Schuylkill region is based on the idea that the
price of Coal must be kept up for their benefit
at the expense of the consumers, who, as in
not willing victims We have had compromises
of this kind before, and have seen them fail,
as we shall doubtless see this one fail. When
coal miners or shoemakers, or any other class
of mechanics, attempt to make fortunes by the
sweat of other persons brows, their schemes
usually come to the sad end of less ingeniously
devised frauds.
Year: 1870

When the Coroner's jury over the victims
Of the late mob of 0rangemen and Ribbon
men concluded that there was nobody to
blame, or at least nobody to be prosecuted
for that assault, it was natural to expect a
like demonstration at an early day. 1t ap-
pears that the RibbOnmen selected yesterday
as the occasion, and made ample preparations
for general and savage attack on certain
Orangemen who were expected to do what
any and every association has a perfect right
10 dO-parade through the public streets of
the city. The police, instead of taking steps
10 suppress the would-be rioters by dispensing
She crowds Of them which gathered at various
Year: 1870

The Republicans of the lid District of Ohio
have drafted Gen. Schenck into the service in
spite OF his protests. We take this as meaning
sharp campaign and victory at the end of
it which the Republicans of that district are in
the habit of winning under Gen. Schenck's
leadership. They may rest assured that ven
omOus attempt will DE made in an under


handed way by the few inside the
district and the considerable number
IN this CITY whnsa sttarhment to
Year: 1870

There is to be no extra session of Congress.
The President has declared that there is
nothing in the foreign or domestic relations
to Justify such call, and the financial troubles
relative to the appropriations are not, as we
suspected, of such serious character as to clog
the wheels of the government.
Year: 1870

1t is not necessary, we trust to intimate to
police officers that the execution of Real for
the murder of an officer who had, to say the
least, severely beaten him at various times
with his baton, is not TO be taken as a war
rant to use that weapon unfortunately and
excessively. Vigilance, not brutality, is the
best Characteristic of the good patrol. The
few policemen who have become famous have
won their renOwn less by the use of their club
than their wits
Year: 1870

The Republican Convention is called later
than we could wish, but under auspices every
way favorable. The harmony in the party be-
tokens a vigorous campaign; we need only u
vigorous campaign, and the honest enforce
ment of the new Election law. to carry the
State.
Year: 1870

What can be the meaning of the report that
England proposes to take up the abandoned
work of France and maintain the temporal
sovereignty of the Popef We do not believe
that so absurd an expedient can have been
adopted with view to quiet the discomfort
of Ireland; and we doubt the whole story
Year: 1870

MAKING The SUPREAE COURT A
PARTY CoURT.-1n recent speech
in Boston, Senator Wilson iaadver-
tently announced the purpose OF
bis associates when be declared .
We have the Congress, We have
got the President, We have got the
Supreme Court, and We mean to
keep them all''-thus showing that
in their fran.ic Efforts to obtain g
new lease Of political power and
patronage, the Radical leaders are
counting on partisan Supreme
Court.
Year: 1870

q


DiSpat HIS, In kaeFament0-fah


POiHenbarg's Arrest.


SACRAMENTO. July 29-The case
of Won Va keoburg, the MANAGER OF
the Office in this city, of the Central
Pacific division of the 4. & 2. Tele-
graph Company, who was caught IN
the act of attempting to steal the AS
sociatcd Press dispatches last night,
was called up in the Police Court,
this morning. His bail was raised
from 800 to $1,000, and the case was
continued until to morrow, Sat
urday, at 10 o'clock. Won Valkenburg
did not jump or fall from q balcony,
as stated in q dispatch cent to the Op-
position press of the A & p. Line,
but was held IN the position he was
caught In, until taken in charge by
a policeman. The clip and paper was
taken out of his hand before he was
moved from the position he was found
10.


Two pencils and his bat were picked
up from between the balconies of the
Western office and the one next to
it, where he had crouched ready to
copy the report. His position brought
him within plain hearing of the
sounder in the Office, window ing
open near him. He was first sc q to
come out of the Record Office al d go
direct to the position he occupied on
the balcony, passing up through the
house near the Western Union Office,
and coming ont through the window
on the balcony of the house. which
adjoins that of the Western Union
building, there being a space of two
feet between the balconies where he
took up his position. aud from which
he did not move until detected.


The pistol was fred by Pierson,
the Western Union operator,
merely to intinidate Won Volken-
burg and it had its effect, as he held
up the clip and begged that he would
not kill him. There was no attempt
made to do him any bodily Injury, ex-
cept few lusty kicks administered
by Pierson when he took hold of
him. The opposition line is known
to have been down portion of the
day. yesterday, and up to one O'Clock
this morning; hence, the attempt to
supply the news from more reliable
source at little expense.
Year: 1870

NEW YORK, May 26.-By the arrival of the
veying expedition to May 16. The work of sur
vey had progressed dtwelve miles inland from the
bay of San Bias, at which distance the first
mountain spurs proper were reached, the high
est elevation re ached being LIZ feet. The pro-
g,ess OF the survey was impeded by heavy rains
which swelled the streams to torrents The
weather was excessively hot during the day time
The work Of surveying the bay of San Bias was
!r crossing rapidly and it was believed would
be completed by the time the expedition was
ready to sail for home


ON the 9Th inst, bringing New York mail OF
April 2lst and supplies OF ice and fresh proyi-
sions. The sick list of the guard numbered
eight persons. Three officers at the trent with
the surveying party were sick with fever and
ague: The rest of the expedition were in good
health. The expedition will sail for home about
the 18th OF the present month unless the present
intention is changed.
Year: 1870

To Cook VEGETABLKs.-AG German professor
says that II one portion Of a vegetable be boiled
in pure distilled or rain water and another in
water In which a little salt has been added, a
,cided difference is perceptible in the tender
ness Of the two. Vegetables boiled in pure
feriority may 90 so far, in the case Of onions,
that they are almost entirely destitute Of either
taste or odor; though when cooked In salt wa
Ter, IN addition 70 the pleasant salt taste, is a
peculiar sweetness and q strong aroma Thav
also contain more soluble matter than when
cooked In pure water. Water which contains
for cooking vegetables than pure water,
because the salt hinders the solution and evapoe
ration Of the fayorlng principles Of the vegeta-
bles.
Year: 1870

The PREsBYTKRIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
In the Presbyterian General Assembly in Phila-
delphia yesterday the consideration OF the re-
construction committees report was resumed
and finished. The report was considered as a
whole The time for the next meeting of the
Assembly was changed from September TO
July next. There was long discussion of the
amendment of Rev. DIR. Kellogg to the report
of the joint committee on reconstruction, which
was substantially to the effect that the ratio of
representation shall provide for two commits
sioners, with minister and elder, from each
Presbytery having forty ministers or less, and
In like proportion for any number of ministers
over forty. The matter was finally laid on the
table, and the Assembly adjourned.
Year: 1870

"CouNT BISMARCK is said by one or HIS bieg-
raphers 30 have a fine vein of humor % and the


following example N given Of what he imAgines
to be humor: "He was one day sitting In q
saloon which he frequented, and there happen
ed ID hear person az the next table speaking
in very offensive way of the royal family. At
once rising from his seat, he thundered forth:
"Out Of the housei IL you are not OF when
have drunk this beer, 1 will break this glass on
your head" Bismarck swallowed his beer,
knocked down the offender with the elax.
which was broken into pieces, paid the waiter
Year: 1870

tailed in size, appeared this morning. A tenn
porary structure will be built on the old site,
but permanent building imposing in size and
soon as the proper location can be secured.
Year: 1870

Years came and went. The little chestnut
girl passed as entirely out of Ralph Moore's
memory as if her pleading eyes had never
touched the soft spot in his heart, but Mary
Lee never forgot the stranger who had given
her the silver piece.
Year: 1870

From The Springfield Republican we learn
that the Messrs shany. contractors TO complete the
HoOsac Tunnel, who began work March 81 1869, had on
the sd Of December made l99 feet OF progress tho
east end 20s down the central shaft s at the west end
AnG 2n with the brick arch.~The work the whole is
not 10 the contract requirements bat AT the East end
IL has averaged ~ feet month excess and rap
IDLY coming 1t all points The contractors are stead
lily perfecng and increasing their means OF operation
having nearly doubled the monthly quantity Of work.
aud do not anticipate the full development OF their
efficient strength before next May June They are
confident that any which now attach TO their
progress Will Je fully made MP before that time, ana
that advance will theneefortb DO made considerably
beyond the demands OF the contract Indeed. 10 is
already predicted by sangune observers long familiar
with the tunnel that the Shanlys Will be through the
mountain q year and half before the contract time
expires March 1874 The rock encountered at the west
quality OF flint and that portion Of the work has pro-
Yressed slowly. The machinery has been increased
and now the advance Is increasing IN rapdty. They
have added good deal Of valuable machinery to the
During the month OF ,OvemOer the number OF workmen
employed SI nearly twice the force ever employed
by the State at any one time. The monthly disburse
Ments for $4,000. BY the terms OF
contract the Shanys cannot anything from the
state Treasury until they have performed work enough
to amount to $5OO0O0 at the stipulated price per lnea
foot and per cubic yard. which must BE approved ana
certified by the state Engineers They have not reached
wl then begin 10 draw pay in current funds from the
State Treasury for OF the work done, month
by month until the tunnel Is completed. They have
however since beginning operations, received cehcates
at per Up 10 Dee a. these amounted TO S2SO0O0
They have repaired the damage done by the OCTOBER


eshet. and VIII present bill 10 the state Tor the same
by their contract they have free OF the Troy
and Greenfield Railroad and the neglect repair the dam
by OctOJer flood has them to great expense
~ the transportation OF material over the mountain
Year: 1870

Over and over again,


No matter which way / turn
l always find in the Book of Life,


Some lessons | have to learn.
must take my turn at the MILL


l must grind out the golden grain,
| must work at my task with a resolute will
Over and over again.
We cannot measure the need


or even the tiniest flower,
Nor check the flow of the golden sands
That run through a single hour.
But the morning dew must fall,


And the sun and the summer rain
Must do their part and perform it well
Over and over again.
Over and over again,


The brook through the meadow flows,
And over and over again


The ponderous mill wheel goes
Once doing will not suffice,


Though doing be not in vain;
And blessing, failing us once or twice,
May come it we try again.
The path that has once been trod
Is never so rough to our feet
And the lesson we once have learned
Is never so hard to repeat,
Though sorrowful tears may fall,
And the heart to its depth be riven
With storm und tempest, we need them all
To render us meet for Heaven.
Year: 1870

There are certain things which can
never be accurately described, things so
shadowy, so tittul, SO dependent on the
mood of the moment, both in the audi
eDce and the actor, that analysis and
representation are equally at fault And
flirting is one of them. What is flirting?
Who can define or determine? 1t is
more serious than talking nonsense, and
not so serious as making love it is not
chaff, and it is not feeling; it means
something more than indifference, and
yet something less than affection; it
binds no one, it commits no one; it only
raises expectations in the individual, and
sets society upon the lookout for the re-
suits it is a plaything i'll the hands of
the experienced, but a deadly weapon
against the breast of the unweary; and
it is thing so vague, so protean, that
the most accurate measurer of moral
values would he puzzled to say where it
exactly ends, and where serious inten-
tions begin. But again we ask, what is
flirting? What constitutes its essence =?
What makes the difference between it
and chatf on the one hand, and it and
love-making on the other? Has it cul-
minative power, and according to the
old saying, of many little making a
mickle, does long series of small filrt-
ings make up concrete whole OF love
Or is it like an unmortared heap of
bricks possibilities of utility if condi-
tions were changed, but valuelcss as
things are.


The man who would be able to reduce
flirting to definite science, who could
analyze its elements aud co,iity its laws,
would be dcing infinite service to his
generation but we fear that this would
be as difficult as finding a pot of gold
under the end of the rainbow, or catch
ing small birds with pinch of salt.
Every one has his or her ideas of what
constitutes flirting; consequently every
one judges of that pleasant exercise ac-
cording to individual temperament and
experience. Faded flowers, who see i'm
propriety in everything they are no
longer able to enjoy, say, with more or
less severity, that Henry and Angelina
are flirting if they are laughing and
whispering in an alcove together, proba-
bly, at the most innocent nonsense in the
world but the fact that they are enjoy
ing themselves in their own way, albeit
a silly one, is enough for the faded flower
to think they are after mischief, flirting
being to her mind abOht the worst of
mischief that fallen humanity can perpe-
trate. The world would be very dull
without that innocent kind of nonsense,
which often goes by the name of flirting,
that pleasant something which is more
than mere acquaintanceship aud less than
formal lovehood, that bright and anima-
ted intercourse, which makes the hours
pass SO easily, yet which leaves no bitter
pang of self reproach; that indefinite
and undefnable interest by which the
one man or the one woman becomes
kind of microcosm for the time, the epit-
ome OF all that is pleasant and all that is
lovely. The only caution to be observed
is, don't goo TO far.
Year: 1870

HOW TO DO THRIVING BUslSEss
There is good deal of talk in Pbiladcl.
phia among the brokers, about a certa;n
fast Young man whose father is overhur,
dened with milliJns. The Young maj,
"ou,h not work, and the old man could
not bear an idler, and many were tho
quarre's between them. At last the old
man quite out of patience, said


NOW, Jack, | give you one week to
make up touf mind TO what business vou
are TO go in. No son of mine shall be .
lounger, and go to work you shall. At
the end of this week, if you have NO
choice, will stop your allowance alto
sether, and make you take a stool in nv
once, and work enough you'll have OF it
there"


Jack promised to look around and
make up his mind. AT the end of the
week, sharp and peremptory as was his
way; the older broker sang out:


swell, Jack, times up have you made
up your mind to make your own living ?'


"Well, father I've been thinking of it,
and have something In my mind, but it
will require considerable capital"


"Capital, Jack capital, my boy p
said the delighted father. "Only try to
make your own living, and l will buy
You a national bank or line of steamers.
What is it, Jack =? What is it ?''


swell, father, / was thinking that If
you would only advance me three or four
hundred thousand dollars could invest
1t in government bonds, and make my
living by cutting off the coupons p


The old man never talks TO Jack any
more about business.
Year: 1870

-Californians, owing TO the alkaline taste
OF most of the water in the State, are the
greatest cofiee-driukNts in the country, the
average yearly consumption being IS 35
pounds, while in the Union at large the aver
age is only seven pounds.