smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

A GERMAN Convention has been called to
meet in Austin on the seventh Of August
instant. Its object is unknown to us. We
can see no reason why our German fellow
citizens should act separately from other
citizens of the country on political or other
questions. They are American citizens now,
and we are all in the same ship, to sink OF
swim together. We should like 70 know who
started this movement and what its object
is. We can see no necessity for it, or any
good to grow out Of it. We entertain the
most kindly feelings towards ell our Ger
man friends, and should dislike to have
anything done to keep up a distinct and
separate nationality on their part, and trust
nothing of the sort may occur.
Year: 1873

We have received from an old Democrat,
who has served his party and country faith
fully in other and older States Of the Union,
when patriotism and sound political doc
trines were more common than now, the
following resolution, which he requests US
to publish for the consideration Of the sew
eral precinct meetings preparatory Of the
county convention:


Resolecd, That we, the voters Of
precinct viii not elect any delegates TO the
county convention, nor recommend any can
didates for county Office, who will not
pledge themselves to stand fairly and
squarely on tie platform laid down by our
forefathers, from 1776 down to Gen. Jack
sons (Old Hickory's) administration, and
we hereby request the county convention
to instruct their delegates to the State Con-
ventiOn to vote for no person to fill any
Office in the State, from Governor down,
unless he advocates the principles above
stated
Year: 1873

Until the summer of 1864 no serious
damage had been committed by the cotton
worms in this State. Then, after several
weeks of wet weather, they made their ap-
pearance upon the fiat coast lands in num-
bers sufficient to destroy the cotton crop
early in July. Not more than one-twentieth
of acrOp was at this lime made upon these
lands. There were serious failures again in
1865 and 1866; and in 1867, year long to
be remembered in Texas on account of its
general fatalities, there was again most
disastrous failure in consequence of the raw
agesof the worms. Again and again they
cut of the crop to third or a fourth of
whatsit should have been until last year,
when, in consequence of tie dry season,
they did not make their appearance until a
very good crop had matGred. The crop
upon the coast lands again having reached
respectable amount per acre, the hopes of
planters became buoyant, and belief was
entertained that change had commenced
for the better; but present prospects prove
that as signal failure is upon them as has
at almost any time before been experienced.


We have lately spent several days amid
the rich alluviaI lands of lower Texas, and
witnessed the sad misfortune of another
most promising crop becoming the prey of
the worms; and the immediate destruction
does not end upon the fiat lands of the
State As high up as Washington county
they have even now made their ap-
pearance in sufficient numbers to destroy
the crop, according to the judgment of ex-
perienced planters, in the next fifteen days.


Paris green and arsenic have been tried in
many instances to destroy them, and
according to the experience of many, the
trial has. proven a success, while others re-
port the contrary. Certainly much coed
has been effected in certain cases, to our
personal knowledge, and it may be that
those who have failed have used worthless
drugs; at any rate we would advise planters
to try these remedies to the last. 1t is only
through such trials that some day remedy
for the great evil will be discovered. The
foolish impression has gained ground, that
the application of these poisons to the cot
ton plant endangers the life of those who ap-
ply it. To this we have to say that we met
with an instance upon the lower Brazos where
one party "a white MANI had been using the
Paris green every day for two weeks, and
he was still sound and well, and keeping
the worms from doing serious damage to
his crop. Worms have already made their
appearance in Travis county, and it is to be
hoped that the means for destroying them
will be thoroughly tested. The potato bug
has been almost exterminated in parts of the
country by similar process, and we can see
no reason why the same cannot be the case
with the cotton worm. The loss to the
State this year from It's ravages will amount
to ten or fifteen millions of dollars, and
looking towards saving this vast sum, and
even more, we think it would be very adj
visable f5r the hext Legislature to offer a
large bonus to any one who would lay before
the people sure means for the destruction
of this, the greatest enemy to our rapid adj
vancement.
Year: 1873

The Hill County ErpOsitor has an article,
which, from its tone, we should suppose
written by another schoolmaster, bitterly
denouncing the new school law, and the
members of the Legislature, who voted for
it. 1t is in very bad taste and shows
an ignorance of the subject, which should
have enjoined silence. 1t appears that the
schoolmasters think the law made for them
and their special benefit, instead of the
children of Texas. They deem it great
wrong, that they should not have employ
ment for the whole year, and be paid by the
State from money raised by taxation. If
they had the taxes to pay, they would not
be so anxious. Reading the article referred
to, one would be apt TO come to the conclu-
sion that it was written by one of DeGress's
carpet-bag teachers, instead of the editor of
Democratic newspaper. What is strange is
that the same paper thinks it would add
greatly to the efficiency of the present sys-
tenn, to have one of the Burlesons of Waco
elected Superintendent of Public Educa-
ton. Has the editor read the clear and able
letter of President Burleson, defending the
new school lawl If not, he had better read
it before writing another article on the
subject.
Year: 1873




We have noted the movement, in North
Mississippi, West Tennessee and kentucky,
west of the Tennessee river, to form new
State. Now we have, in New Orleans
paper, the proposition to break up Louisi-
ana, giving that portion east of the AIissis-
sippi'to the State of Mississippi, and the por-
ton lying west to Texas, and making New
Orleans a free port Thank you, on our
part, we have enough. Besides, New Or
leans could not be made free port under
the present Constitution of the United
States, if that old fogy thing is to be con-
sidered of any account. Duties must be the
same at every port in the Union, and New
Orleans could not be made free port while
duties were being collected at Galveston,
nor would this particularly benefit the latter,
though it would the former, concentrating
all the foreign trade at that port. The
scheme is preposterous. Let the States re-
main as they are. Negro and carpet-bag
rule can not last long anywhere. In the
nature of things, it must end, ind the in
telligence and property of the country will
take its place.
Year: 1873

THE New York Herald still continues its
leaders against Cesansm. We now begin
to think the Herald seriously engaged to
force Grant to come out and decline third
term. But the " smoke compelling /" hero is
silent as the grave. His particular friends.
too, will not commit themselves against il,
though some of them are treating it
lightly, as triAing thing. We believe
there is no doubt that Grant means to be
again candidate, and is confident he can
be reelected as long as he wishes. But
there are divers ambitious men in the Re
publican party, longing to be Caesars them
selves, and they are unwilling to wait ON
Grants pleasure. Hence, we think, the
strong effort of the Herald to force the
great smoker TO open his mouth and deny
'sthe soft impeachment. But the effort
will he vain. He will smoke on and give no
sign. In the meantime, his Radical friends
will say, behold the hero who put down
the rebels and the only man who can keep
them down.
Year: 1873

ously clasped together and MS 1ace
was lvid with rage. He told me
that I had forever blasted the repu-
tation of his sister-that l had f'.ith-
lessly deserted her and LETT her bro
ken hearted. l attempted to reason
with him, but I might as well have
reasoned with a lightning bolt. He
demanded instant satisfaction, and
proposed that I should accompany
him over on the Long Island side and
fight him. My natural timidity would
have prevented me from complying
with such a request, andI had also
higher scruples, and of course | re-
fused. Then he called me a base
coward, and swore that he would
have my life. I complained Of him
before a Justice, he was apprehend.
ed, publicly tried, fined and placed
under bonds to keep the peace.


After that met him in Broadway.
He stopped me and whispered in my
ear. H. swore by the most fearful
oath man could take, that he would
hunt me through the world till he
had accomplished his purpose. !
knew that he meant just what he had
said, and fear began to take posses
sion of my bosom. Many times l
discovered that he was dogging me
about, but I always managed to keep
among a crowd as I walked along the
streets. l dared not bring him to
trial again, for might fail to make
out case, and it could only tend to
incense my enemy still more. At
length I feared to walk the streets,
for one night as I was passing a dark
alley near the head of Cherry street,
l heard the report of pistol close to
me, and a bullet passed through my
hat. I knew who fred that pistol,
but had no evidence! l felt that
my life was not safe IN that city, and
secretly 1 moved TO a small town in
the western part Of the State of Mas
sachusetts, where I engaged with a
goods dealer. Here l took myself q
wife; but / had not been married
over a month, when I saw my enemy
pass the door of the, store and look
in. He saw me and pointed his fin
ger at me. The C I'D sweat stood in
huge drops upon my brow, and my
fears came back more powerfully than
ever. At night contrlved to get
my employer to go home with me,
and on the way l heard low, stealthy
footsteps behind me. | knew that h; |
was logged lyon are mineF |
heard voice pronounce, as | turned
into my yard, and as ! tur led I saw
dusky figure moving off beneath
the shade OF the roadside trees. The
next day sent word to my employ
er that I was sick, and | kept the
house all day explained all to my
wife, and she agreed to 60 with me
wherever I wished. Several times
during that day l saw my sworn muir
derer pass the house and gaze intent
ly npon the windows, but he did not
see me.


got boy to 90 to tho -
Year: 1873




WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE Admin
istration took Mr.. Dawes in hand to-
day, and in discreet privacy he was
seriously admonished and wrestled
with because of his expression of dis
loyal sentiments in the House yester-
day. 1t was represented to him by
those who have a call to look after such
matters, that as chairman of the first
committee of the House, and, conse-
-quently, the leader of the Republican
party, he ought not to allow himself to
forget that great deal is expected of
him, and that he ought to conduct him
self more decorously, if he expects to
get along in life. Dawes is disposed to
feel the justice of the reproof, and is
somewhat grieved that he lost control
of himself, but he nevertheless declines
to give those promises of amendment
which would gladden. the hearts of the
good men who troubled themselves to
labor with him, They look upon Linn
with a great deal of SORROW and much
righteous wrath, as one who may soon
leave and sadly damage them.
Year: 1873

A SEVERE TEsT.-The Commissary
General of the United States, after a trial
Of all the principal starches in the country,
decided that Duryea's Satin Gloss
Starch" was the best that could be procur
ed, and the government from that time to
the present are buying this article. This
is a fact worthy the attention of consum-
prs
Year: 1873

A SOUND MIND-Health of minds is
very closely dependent upon health of
body. The brain is the organ of thought
and feeling, as truly as the eye is the or
gan of seeing Thus the physical state of
the brain in large measure determines
what the man is, both morally and intel
lectually. The health and condition of the
brain, to a very great extent, are proper
tionate to the health and condition Of the
system generally. The brain demands more
nutrition than any other part Of the body.
This is owing to the peculiarly rapid molec-
ular changes which its substance under
goes, in the course of emotional or mental
action The brain is also remarkably sus-
eepdble to the presence of impurities in
blood From all this we see the valuable
ness of medicine such as Dr. Gottlieb
Fisch's Bitters, which both stimulates the
digestion, thus furnishing abundant nutri-
ton, and, at the same time, stimulates
the excretories thus insuring pure nutri-
ton


This subject continued next week under
! "Dr0psiRess after Eating"
Year: 1873

1t is a matter of no common occurrence for
man in the full flush of health to be called
suddenly to take an eternal farewell of all that
his heart holds dearest. When this demand
is made and the circumstances are such
that the worlds attention is directed to it,
that world is apt to listen respectfully to
the words and watch the conduct of the
man, and feel for the moment the empt-
ness of life compared with the beauty of a
heroic death. Such q spectacle as this was
presented on the evening of November G.
The scene was the Bay of Cuba, over which
the moon peacefully shone. The locality
was the Spanish man-of-war La Tornado
The man was Captain Joseph Fry
and the transaction was letter which
Captain Fry was writing to his wife. There
are very few personages in this little tragedy
a man about to die, and his wife hundreds of
miles away, unconscious of his fate. The
scene is one of those paradoxes which Provi-
dence brings about, contrasting the beauty
and peacefulness of nature with the distortion
and agony of man. That letter has since been
published, and very touching it is. 1t will be
republshed wherever the English language is
understood, for it strikes one of the tenderest
chords in the harp of home affection. 1t is
full of that poetry which sometimes comes to
the most commonplace man or woman in the
sudden prospect of death. II is the purest
breathing of conjugal and parental affection,
at moment when all the dross subsidies from
earthly ya oSinp and tha hoo ri ia Iaff oIoo -,
pure upon the brink Of the grave. At that sad
hour, with all that is grand and sweet in life
fading away, and the amazement of the tomb
confronting him, Captain Fry COM
pressed his thoughts with simple
eloquence that is not always attained by a
practiced writer, even under the inspiration
of o sympathetic theme. He AYERS that the
anguish of his wife is his sole regret in dying,
mentions with a very pardonable pride the
proofs of respect and attachment he has re-
ceived, even from the president of the court
martial, expresses the satisfaction Of a gentle
man in having been recognized as one, COM
mends himself to the children whom he is
forever leaving adjures his wife to turn for
consolation to Him alone who permits this
fearful agony, bids her not dread death, for
that when it comes it will come as an angel OF
rest, and announces, with the dignity of man
whose face is damp with the breeze from the
unknown world, that he dies in the religion Of
his childhood. Wherever the story Of the
virginius outrage shall go the story of this
letter will go too. II is letter that many an
eye will weep to read, and that any man at
such an extremity might envy the power Of
being able to write.
Year: 1873

There must be nc further delay for diplomatic
negotiations or through erroneous notions Of
expediency. It would not be creditable to the
American Republic if she were not prepared
at a short notice to deal with an island close
at her doors, whose authorities have been un-
able in five years to suppress rebellion such
as has existed in Cuba, and an effete nation,
already tied by the cords of civil war. Our
government appears at last to have become
convinced of the fact we have long insisted
upon-that CASTELAR, and his friends are
utterly powerless in Cuba and unable to
enforce their paper decrees. But the same
infatuation which led to q long diplomatic
correspondence, in the hope Of preserving
peace, now seems to drag us back and hold
our arms when war is inevitable. Why is our
administration thus palsied? Do the authori-
ties at Washington fear that we are not pre-
pared for hostilities? We must certainly be
in better condition for war than Spain or
Cuba can be, and if We are dallying with the
Spanish government for the purpose Of gain
ing time we must not forget that we are also





affording our enemies an opportunity to make
preparations to meet our attack. This policy
of hesitation is deplorable The blow we
have been driven to give should be dealt at
once. With as little delay as is required for
their transportation we should land twenty
five thousand men at Matanzas, holding that
port as our base of operations. The railroad
from Havana to Matanzas being in our pos
session, we should at once isolate the
former city, and our feet would do their
proper work outside its harbor. proclama-
ton of freedom to the slaves should be our
first act of possession. Our government
should place in the hands of the Cubans and
the colored population still held in seryitude
fifty thousand stands of arms, with sufficient
ammunition and should land on the eastern
part of the island such Cubans and volunteers
as may select to fight under the Cuban BAN
ner. strong colored force could be raised
in New York at once; men who would do
good service in the field and incite the rising
of their own race against the Spaniards in all
parts of the island. The President should
piaoe VIC la 11s oeioio OoHBlesS WitHouI ueihy,
and ask for power to protect with the army
and navy the lives and property of our cit
liens. The policy of diplomatic procrastination
for the sake of making preparations is fatal
error and may cost us many valuable lives. A
war has been cruelty and brutally forced upon
u.s. Let it be made short, sharp and decisive;
and while we deplore its necessity let us re-
member that its sacrifices will not be without
some recompense if it sweeps from existence
the last vestige Of human slavery.
Year: 1873

PoLoN1us was famous Secretary Of State
in his time, though he was once taken for a
fshmonger and Mr. Fish's resemblance to
the garrulous, meddlesome and feeble old
man is marvellous In his diplomatizing
with Admiral Polo he was first able to agree
that the case of the Virginius was like
camel then that it was backed like weasel,
and, finally, he understands that it is very
like whale.
Year: 1873

CUBAN HTALUTIN.- is an editor in
Cuba who says that if the Virgnius is given
up he will leave the island forever and he
clearly supposes that this is equivalent to
giving it up to desolation and ruin. In his
notion of his own Importance he somewhat
resembles General Grant editorial bull pup
in this city but we fancy that his readiness
to leave the island if the ship is given up will
be as nothing to his eagerness to get away if
she is not given up.
Year: 1873

THE AaApILEs. Spanish iron-clad
which has been undergoing repairs at the
Brooklyn dry dock being at length ready for
sea, would have been off but for some unfore-
seen accidents that have resulted in her deten-
ton. For instance, on Friday last the flood
gates of the dock were out Of gear and could
not be made to work, and yesterday, as bad
luck would have it, at two o'clock in the
morning, barge laden with two hundred
tons OF coal sprung aleak and went down
right in front Of the gateway Of the dock, COM
pletely blocking the passage. We presume


tharthe barge was driited against the dock by


the tide; but We have not heard as yet that


any OF the sailors went down with the sinking


vessel
Year: 1873

ACTIVE PREPARATIONS are still the order of
the day, we are gratifed to report at our navy
yards, Notifications and arsenals. Secretary
Fish and Admiral Polo may fail in getting out
the virginus, and if they do fail the country
will expect Secretaries Robson and Belknap
to take the matter in hand
Year: 1873

The News FROM MEXICO speaks of q pro-
vincal riot, produced by religious dissension
and nativist intolerance, and of serious, and
rather alarming, progress on the part Of thu
revoutionists in Yucatan. This is not health
full for the material interests of the Republic.
although it is said that the national territory
is lust now peaceful ut all other points
Year: 1873

Mr. FISH has been weighed in his OWN
scales and is found wanting. The United
States Minister at Madrid ''doubted the sim
certy" of the Spaniards in the terms made
through Polo. He apparently knew the true
character Of the men with whom he was deal
ing and knew when the point was reached at
which fighting was imperatively necessary;
but poor old Fish insisted on little mora
gabble thinking the Spaniards could not pos
sibly resist his wonderful skill in negotiation.
and we hope he is proud of the result.
Year: 1873

Leading Ladies and First Old WOmens


Scarcely anything is more notorious than
the fastidiousness of actors and actresses who
have acquired some small reputation with
respect toEheir acceptability OF certain roles
which they may be called upon to perform.
A suit, which has just been determined in
favor of the defendant, and which was brought
by an English actress who season or two
ago had share in leading parts at our prin-
cipal comedy theatre, is an amusing and not
all uninstructive instance of this. The actress
affirmed that she had been engaged as leading
lady by the manager of theatre on East
Fourteenth street, but that some months after
the season began he wanted her to appear as
the Baroness in ''Frou-Frou." This she
Indignantly refused to do, alleging that
the role Of the Baroness was usually given 10
that member of stock company technically
designated as ''first old woman" The conse-
quence was that the actress ceased to be d
member OF the theatre in question, an6 the
injury done to her feelings and pocket resulted
in the suit we have just mentioned. Now,
there are a certain kind and degree of profess
sional pride which are to be respected. They
are those which render it impossible for an
actress ever to do anything but her best. In
the present instance the part of the Baroness
happens to be more than usually brilliant,
considering that it is not the most prominent
in the piece. 1t is full of sharp and sound
ing cynicisms, glittering verbal stings
and biting rejoinders, uttered by
woman of the first fashion, who givos
fascinating but dangerous advice to the
heroine In fact it is part which
even leading lady, with laurels fresh upon
her, need not by any means despse. And as
for the imagined loss of professional prestige
which the occasional assumption of such q
role is supposed to entail, that is the sheerest
nonsense, for which the vanity of the indi-
vidual, and not the conscience of the artist is
responsible. We have no admiration for so
mordant and acrid tenacity, and think that
the sooner such leading ladies as indulge in it
are reminded that certain ''frst old woman
roles are not too Insignificant for them the
better It is better to shine as o 'first old
woman" than to flicker as leading lady.