smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876




Providence Press


Forty years ago there lived in
Providence, within a stones throw
from where the Grace church now
stands, a young man of great intel
ligence and wonderful mechanical
ability, who spent a little fortune in
the vain attempt at making a per-
feet representation of Russia iron,
and after as many failures as at
tempts in this undertaking he be-
came utterly ruined, financially.
His ambition for the secret in-
creased as his fortune grew smaller
and smaller, and when absolute
want stared him in the face he be-
came possessed with the determina-
ton to accept of the only means of
obtaining one of the greatest secrets
| in mechanical art, and to gain this
he must suffer penal servitude in
the dungeons of Russia. The rulers
of Russia are the only possessors
Of the art of making what is known
as glazed Russian iron, used exten-
sively for all kinds of stoves and
stove-pipe work, and which has fol-
nearly a century been made within
the walls of Russia's underground
prisons. None but life convict;
were allowed TO be initiated into the
secret of manufacture of one of the
principal means of income to the
Russian government, and when
once within the wall no one need
ever hope for pardon, for none
has ever been granted, while but
one has ever been known to have
escaped, and when the door i:
once shut to the outside world
it is never known what has beer
the fate of the unfortunate. This
then, was the Providence mans
last resort for gaining possession o


the secret which had become hi
only ambition. He left his home
for Europe, aud the simple rumoI
of the attempted assassination o
the Gar by an American, supposed
to be insane, was all that was eyel
known to his friends Of what be
came Of the ambitious mechanic
and as nearly q half century ha


ratified on since he started out OF
his perilous undertaking, hardly
person living win remember til,
circumstance which is here record
ed. There is one person, however
Iip Providence, who remembers wei
the day the hero Of our sketch BAT.


her fearful farewell, promising
that before she reached her SQtl
birthday he would return 20 he
and fulfil his promise, All through
: these long years she had never for
Cotton her promise to wait for he
lover, nor ceased to believe that h
would yet come for her. She nov
lives within moments walk Of th
: chimes of Grace church, and is still
! we'll preserved, and her grace ant
: beauty make her far m9re attractiv,
= than many whose yearSaFe the sam
as were hers when her lover sepa
[ rated from her SO long ago. Las
4 week she received the glad tiding
from far away over the water tina
F.. he who had so long kept her pa
S tiently waiting was on his way I
y fulfil his promise of forty years age
: and let US hsBo be may brilfg tn
G secret he paid for SO dearly, an
:, that he may live to see some rewar
r for his great sacrifice.


l. ----aa.-@e-b
Year: 1876

This is intended to be one Of the largest
places Of public amusement in London, in
cludins within its walsa promenade aud win
ter garden, large aquarium tanks, large or
chestra, collections of sculpture and painting
dining and billiard rooms and eventually a
theatre. The principal features Of the
building are two large halls, one 12O feet
by so. the other $40 feet by l9O the width
being taken between the aquarium tanks,
each Of which is covered by a semi-circular
roof Of glass and iron. As The building Is,
in tie first instance, intended to be used as an
aquarium, the greatest attention has been
paid TO the arrangement Of the fish tanks and
the supply Of water. 10 the large hall there
arc seven large tanks eighteen feet square and
thirteen smaller tanks seven by eight feet
The walls Of tue small hall are lined with
still smaller tanks. Besides these visible
tanks the whole space under the floor Of the
main hall is taken up by niue large tanks,
ca. elully constructed to resist tie pressure Of
the water. OF these niue tanks two only con-
tain fresh water tho others are filed with
salt water. The rest are all connected
SO that water flows uninterruptcdly from one
TO another throughout the length Of the build
ing, and is alterward pumped UP to be used
in the glass talks in the large balls: then it
passes into a large well, from Which it is
pumped aud again makes the tour Of the
tanks. As a stoppase Of two or three hours
in the flow aud acration Of the salt water
would be fatal to large portion Of the fishes,
a second engine has been provided to obvlate
accidents. Any one tank can he disconnected
from the series, aud repaired conveniently, the
water passing across the disconnected tank by
means Of pipe. All the water pipes are Of
vulcanite, and the tanks are lined with as
phalt as both iron and cement are Injurious 10
the purity Of the water, and consequently to
tie health Of the fishes The other interest
iug feature Of this large building is the
manner in which the roof is glazed, as no put
ty or cement is used in its construction
Wooden-cross battens stretch from rib 10 rib,
to which are fixed gFooved bars Of zinc. The
panes Of glass are placed side by side, tapping
each other vertically by tbree-quarters Of an
inch over and under in horizontal alteration
The glass is inserted in the zinc grooves, into
which the water runs at the foot Of each lane,
and is discharged on the centre Of the lane
below from a cut made 10 the centre Of the
groove. It's asserted, that, If any water is
blown through the joints, !; will fow down
the inside Of the roof, till it reaches a drain at
the foot Of the roof provided for this purpose.
Year: 1876

In the town Of Hopkiuson, Mass, lived a
certain Deacon Small. In his advanced age
he had the misfortune to lose the rib of his
youth. After doing penance By wearing a
weed on his hat full year, he was recon-
mcnded to a certain Widow Hooper, living in
an adioining town. The deacon was soon
astrle Of his oil brown mlre, on arriving at
the widows door. he found her in the act Of
turning the suls from her wash tubs. Said
the deacon:


as this Willow Hooper ?'


Yes, sir" was the reply.


"Wen," continued the deacon, 81 an that
little bit of az old dried up Deacon Small,
and have one question to propose to YOU"


"Please propose, sir.


DWELL, madam" said the deacon, "baye
You any objection to going to Heaven by way
Of Hopkinson p


None at all, Deacon, was the reply
"Come in Deacon


Suffice it to say they were married the next
dav
Year: 1876

At festival at reforuatory institution,
recently, a gentleman said Of the cure Of tbs
use Of intoxicating drinks:


al oyercame the appetite By recipe given
to me by old Dr. Hatfield. The prescription
is simply an orange every morning half hour
before breakfast Take that, said the doc
tor, and you will neither want liquor nor
medicine have done 50 regularly, aud fnd
that liquor has become repulsyc. The taste
Of the orange is 10 the saliva Of ny tongue.
and it would be as well 70 mix water aud oil
as rum with my taste
Year: 1876

granted, for our opponents will
grow more desperate as their
chances of success lessen. They
are preparing to make superhumau
efforts to carry New York, with-
out which their case is absolutely
hopeless. The Empire State is
safe by handsome majority un.
less the Democracy Of New York
fail to do their duty, and throw
away on local issues the hope and
honor of the nation now con6ded
to their keeping. -Mew York
World.
Year: 1876

II. c. Whitley, late chief of the Sc
cret Service Division OF the Treasury
Department and one of the safe bur
glary conspirators, arrived in Wash
ington from Colorado. He denies that
he has ever been out of the country.
He has been in close consultation with
The District Ring crowd, who appear
very much worried over the investiga-
tion into the safe burglary conspiracy.
If the District Attorney does his duty
promptly now there can be no doubt
as to the result There is ample evil
dence to convict both Harrington and
Whitley, and if they are promptly in
dicted they will not take the risk of
another trial, but will tell all they
know in order to escape the peniten-
tiary. The Judiciary Committee will
probably commence examining wit
nesses in this case tomorrow, and
some startling revelations may shortly
be expected.
Year: 1876

A gentleman in savannah, Ga. chal
lenged another because he failed 10
meet a note for $4,000. The debtor
declined the sanguinary Invitation, on
the ground that as he was dead shot,
he did not wish to kill the gentleman
to whom the money was due, who
would therefore be unable to receive
the money. The affair was amicably
settled.
Year: 1876

The liberal plan. upon which the State Bar
Convention has been called, to meet In the
Capitol at Albany on Tuesday next, promises
the organization of State Bar Association
which will be a credit both to those taking
part in it and to the people OF this state.
There has been no secrecy in the movement,
no attempt at exclusiveness, no clique-the
whole bar were informed of the movement a
wear ago; each judicial district of the State has
apponted a full representation, consisting OF
twenty delegates and twenty alternates the
time of meeting has been duly announced,
and everything has been done on broad,
comprehensive system. The official list OF
delegates embraces many distinguished MEM
bers of the bar, and the average talent and
reputation make the convention most respect
able body of lawyers. There can be little
doubt that if the same unseliiSh and all
embracing policy shall continue to prevail,
the new State Association will at once become
a power for good and one to which lawyers
in other States and countries, rs well as the
people of our own State, will turn with con-
fidence at times for counsel and guidance.


One of the provinces of such an association
in its constant contact with society, State



warning when it shall perceive dangers to our
liberties or Constitution, and designate the safe
and legal road by which to prevent rs well as
remedy abuses. If such an association had
been in existence and, knowing that the Presi-
dental election was about to occur, had issued
an exposition of the laws as to the eligibility
of electors, the remedies for frauds or vacancies
and the methods Of canvassing i'll the various
States, before the nation became heated by the
political struggle, who does not see that some
of the evils under which the country Is now
suffering might have been entirely avcrted
A declaration of the law and its I'M
deIlying principles on these subjects by
the whole organized bar of this State
would have been received by the country
with profound respect and would have had
happy educational effect upon the masses.


But hereafter there will be other fields
where such declaration will be of public and
national Importance and the enlightened bar
of the Empire State cannot too soon organize
itself for such usefulness. Those who have
been appointed representatives in the conyen-
ton should put aside all other business and
be in their places on the 21st instant.
Year: 1876




The meetings of this body have been regarded
with especial interest by the public not only
because of its influence but partly because
there has been observed from year to year
marked and growing change in the intellectual
attitude Of its mcmbeTs-a tendency TO bring
all subjects to the test of live, sound common
sense rather than vague tradition; to pass by
purely doctrinal differences as unimportant, and
to concern themselves with the real practical
issues of the day. At the last meeting 1t was
observable that when problems concerning abs
and genuiexions were up for discussion
certain drOwsiness Overcame the majority OF
the members, but as soon as the Indian ques-
tion or wOman's work or any other live diff
Guilty was brought forward, they all wakened
at once and took hold of it with a most
promising amount of zeal, energy, or perhaps
sharp acrimOny. Our Episcopal brother of late
years does not wear his lawn sleeves with less
state but he gives us more proofs of the mans
muscles and warm flesh underneath them,
thereby showing that he is not, as many
suppose, graceful figure of the past but an
active leader of the present.


The Episcopal Church, IN spite of its inces-
SAINT discussion of mere formulas, has in fact
taken firmer grip on the actual obstacles to-
human progress than many other religious
bodies. 1t has virtually solved the Indian
problem, and brought the two great classes, the
rich and the poor, with their separate needs,
together in a new, practical, effective way.
We are not surprised, therefore, to find that
they have taken up boldly another unsOlved
riddle-intemperance-tO try what they can do
with it. Reform bodies usually give this matter
the g0-by. Even the prison refOrmers. when they
talk of prevention of crime, simply state the
fact that two-thrds of the inmates of our
jails penitentaries, and almshouscs are sent
there, directly or indirectly, by liquor and
there drop the subject. Physicians aclnOw-
edge that the majority of cases of insanity,
epilepsy, and all nervous diseases arise from
the inherited effects of alcoholism, and as
sure us that, from climatic and other reasons,
the American is less able to bear the effects
of liquor than the European. Now how do our
EpscOpalian friends propose to meet this very
live Satan9 One earnest speaker recommends
its punishment as n crime, forgetting that the
punishment of drunkenness already falls
heaviest on the drunkard. Nine out of ten
victims would free themselves from its deadly
hold if it were possible. A man who is not
daunted by the debasement of soul and body
the loss of fortune, friends, and life is not
likely to be deferred by the terrors of the law.
Another reformer declared total abstinence to be
the only cure for drunkenness, which is a self
evident axiom, but hardly pertinent to the
difficulty, which is, How to deter men from
drinking7 How keep the young lad, the tired
mechanic, from the temptation of the grog
shopf


The answer is, Put q stronger temptation
Year: 1876

THE FAILURE Or TIE TOL1h EAf EDiiioN'


BY the complete report of Capt. Mares por-
tions of which had hitherto been made public,
the reason for the failure of the expedition and
for its return, is at last made apparent. Hitherto
il has not been clearly shown that there was
good reason for abandoning the undertaking
while the Alert and Discovery were i'll
good positions for further work from
the head of Smiths Sound. Good success
had attended the sledge parties sent to east
ward and westward along the shore line OF
the newly discovered Arctic Ocean. The
northern sledge party had not been so fortu-
nate. having only penetrated 73 miles from the
position of the ship, and perhaps not more than
80 miles from Cape Joseph Henry. Great
difficulties were encountered III progress
toward the north, and further effort in that
direction last year would have evidently been
unyise. But the conditions of that ley sea
might wholly change next Summer. The ex-
pedition was abuDdantly fitted for another
years stay Why was return resolved upon


The answer is that nearly all the men and
officers of the expedition had suffered severely
with scurvy, and were so weakened by That
disease that sledge travel could not have been
successfully resumed if they had stayed at the
North another year. The details given
of the attacks of the disease are sur
prising. The entire crews of both vessels
suffered severely; the officers were at
lacked later. 1t came as direct consequence
of the hardship and exposure of sledge travel.
Can't. Mares is convinced that if there had
been no sledging work there would have
been no appearance of scurvy. He thinks,
however, that it was latent in both
crews, and that the sledge work merely
developed it. The officers were the
last to be attacked, only because
they were the last to labor at the sledges after
the rest were disabled. Two things are needed
to prevent attacks of scurvy: fresh meat and
lime juice. The expedition was not very
successful in shooting game. Hans, the
Esquimau, was their great reliance in hunting
seals, and his skill served almost as eifectually
as it did on the Polaris expedition to provide
food that saved human life. There is a hint
that the British ships were not supplied with
lime Juice; if such was the fact, somebody
blundered" frightfully when the expedition
was preparing for sea.


Under the circumstances, Capt. Mares was
perfectly justified in returning; he would have
done wrong to remain. But the route by
Smiths Sound need not be given up, nor is
the "Pole impracticable." The report does
Year: 1876

not make it certain that the ice OF the
Paleocrystic Sea is permanent; on the con-
trary Capt. Mares was evidently anxious lest
the ice should move while the northern sledge
party was upon it. Great risks will have to
be taken if that sea is to be navigated
by a steamship. 1t can only be done when the
wind there is blowing from the south
ward, carrying the ice of Smiths Sound
to the north and the chances are that the
channel though which vessel may find pass
age will be closed to a return. The report as
a whole is not nearly so discouraging to those
who are interested in polar navigation as were
the cable dispatches.
Year: 1876

II must be already evident that the prospect
of having any reform in the machinery of
counting the electoral vote at the time when
it is most needed is by no means bright


Should the contest over the Presidency be
adjourned to the halls of Congress, even after
the Returning Boards have given in their ver-
diets, each party would probably be too sus-
pic;ous of the other to allow any change to be
made in the present system, lest 1t might
inure to the others advantage. wise and
patriotic agreement on some middle ground
might save the country from great misfortune,
and at all events, put an end to disastrous
suspense. But if the conflict goes so far, 1t
will go further. We must therefore be con-
tent with the electoral system as it is until an
opportunity comes in the calm of political
armistice to give 1t the attention it demands
In view of this fact, the practical consldcra-
tions set forth elsewhere in Washington let
ter with reference to various contingencies in
the counting of The vote, are of interest. Some
of them, however, are contingencies which are
never likely to grow into probabilities, and
several have only become subjects OF reluctant
discussion because the intemperance OF foolish
partisans has forced them into view. Never
theless this review tells clearly what the con-
tngencies and the certainties are, and those
who wish to get comprehensive notion OF
all of them, will find it worth attention.
Year: 1876

At the time of the census Colorado was
Territory. In all the Northern States then
organized, save one, the proportion of white
male adults who were unable to read and
write was less than nine per cent; in only
two exceeding seven per cent. Accordingly
majorities against Democracy and darkness
were recorded in every Northern State outside
Year: 1876

Mr.. Blaine says very emphatically that he
could not be President of the Senate if he
would, and that he certainly would not, under
the present circumstances, if he could 1t is
noticeable that Mr. Blaine regards the present
political crisis in every way a serious bust
ness. There are no leaders in the Republican
party worthy of consideration, who do not
take the same view of it.
Year: 1876

We suppose the Mayor may be expected to
send in nominations to-day for the offices OF
| Corporation Counsel and Controller, for the
ensuing four years. For Corporation Counsei
there is no doubt that he will renominate Mr.
Whitney, who has been model olncer, ana
has been of especial service to the city IN pro-
tecting it from unjust or eXtortlonate claims,
while he has greatly reduced even the legitl-
mate EXPENSES of his Office. In the Controllers
office there has been an idle story that
Mr.. Green was likely to resist
change, and to deny the authority
of the Mayor to appoint his successor
Mr. Green is very fond of power, and very
obstinate but we suppose neither quality
could be developed quite strongly enough 10
lead him into step like this. The authority
of the Mayor to appoint the Controller Is pre-
cisely as clear as it was to appoint the Colpo-
ration Counsel, or the Commissioner of Public
Works. or the President of the Department OF
Police. All this he has done without ohJec-
ton or question, and we presume he VIII TO-
day appoint a Controller in the same way.


So far the Louisiana Returning Board Is
doing well-much better than might have been





resolutions providing for the admission to Its
sessions of five representatives of each delega-
ton present from the North, so that each
party, through its chosen deputies, may witness
the count This is not all. Counsel for each
side are to be given hearing on all disputed
points and are to be allowed to examine re-
turns as they are opened, in order to satisfy
themselves that they have not been tampered
with. New-Orleans dispatches give some idea
of the favorable impression the action OF the
Returning Board has made. If its conduct
throughout should be no less impartial than 1t
has been up to this point, the Democratic
press will have before it the largest meal OF
crow on record, and the people will make up
their minds that some good can come even ont
of New Orleans. The lClst charitable view OF
this action will set it own to the presence
of so many distinguished men from the North,
and it is difficult to deny the force OF the sug-
gestion. 1t cannot but have a wholesome
effect, when you are counting votes, to have
call the world and the rest of mankind look
ing over your shoulder.
Year: 1876

A certain number of very intelligent and very
sincere people earnestly desire to introduce in this
country the practice of cremation as a
means of disposing of the bodies of the
dead. Their purpose is at least thoroughly
respectable. They believe the present mode
of burial prejudicial to public health and it seems
to be also offensive to their tastes. Very few as yet
agree with them, but none fail to respect their
intentions, or object to their pntting them into prac
tce in cases over which they have legitimate
control. But it would be pity to see
the whole business turned into q CHASTITY
joke by carting the mountains the remains of
man dead and embalmed months ago, over whom


grotesquc parody on burial service long since
performed. If cremation is advocated the ground
of the public health, this performance is far more
likely to prejudice than promote iii if on the ground
of good taste, the cremationists ought TO raise a
subscription to get this scheme abandoned.
Year: 1876

Mr.. Pinchback is keeping a sharp eye out
for his own chances in Louisiana, and declares
that if the election of the Returning Board is
legal his election as Senator is also legal, both
being creatures of the same Legislature. The
argument is a shrewd one, but its personal
application is abOminable. Mr. Pinchback is
distressing enough as a claimant; let him be
satisfied with this bad eminence.
Year: 1876

We knew that the crowd visiting the Great Ex-
hibition during an unusually hot season must have
been very thirsty one; but the figures show ex-
actly how thirsty it was. ALI sales of beer and soda
Year: 1876

The loss of South Carolina to Gov. Tlden
while Wade Hampton is elected, is curious
commentary on the loyalty of the Southern
Democrats to their party. That the possess
sion of their State Governments seems vastly
more important to them than the election of a
President can easily be believed, but that they
would use every effort TO secure the one at the
expense of the other, seemed hardly credible


This year, for the fist time since the war,
Democratic victory was possible, and yet Gov.
Tilden will probably miss the Presidency
simply for the lack of vote which the South
might easily have given him, if it had fulfilled
it's promise to be "solid." From all quarters
there come reports of Southern indifference to
the fate of the national ticket, as compared
with results in the States, and in New-Orleans
the politicians are talking of selling out Gov.
Tilden as coolly as if he were a candidate for
the pettiest local Office. These men do not
represent, probably. the better class of the
Southern Democrats. such as they are,