smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

Now that the centennial exhibition is
the result. The number Of visitors to Phila
delphia, exclusive of excursion trains for
the day from New York, Baltimore and |
other near cities is estimated at about three |
millions. AS these three millions of |
strangers stopped at Philadelphia from two |
to six days, and at each visit to the centen- |
nial grounds had to pay the customary fee
of fifty cents, except upon the halfprice
days, we find that from the daily repetition
of visits by the same persons the total pay
ing attendance was in excess of eight mil
lions, and the cash receipts three million
eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars
The expenses are put at one million eight
hundred and fifty thousand dollars, leaving
surplus from fees at the gate alone of two
millions of dollars. To this must be added
the revenue derived from sums paid by
persons for the privilege of doing business
on the grounds, amounting in the aggregate
to about million of dollars more. 1t has
been generally understood that the con-
gressional appropriation of million and
half of dollars was made on the condition
that the sum thus granted was to be re-


garded simply as loan which was to have
precedence in a disbursement of the re.
Oeipts. But by the curious wording of the
bill it was discovered soon after its passage
that the United States, according to the
construction put upon it by some members
of Congress, was not made a preferred
creditor, but was placed subordinate to all
others. An attempt was subsequently
made to remedy this defect in the law, but
the House of Representatives voted it down.
1t is thought that decision of the Supreme
Court will be needed as to whether the
government under the bill as drawn can
claim precedence in the distribution of the


receipts. If this suit should be instituted
the subscribers to the centennial stock,


who hope to realize some eighty per cent


on their investment, will have to wait for
their money until the matter is determined


We now touch upon another point Of


interest. The total population of the


United States may be roughly estimated al


forty-fve millions. The distance from the
Pacific States-the remotest point of settle
ment-to Philadelphia, is at least seven
: days travel. The population to be drawn


upon in Europe, occupying the same area


and required to travel the samA distance to
reach any of the worlds fairs that have been
held there, is estimated at some two
, hundred millions, or more than four time.
the population of the United States. This
, being understood the following compare


tive table of the attendance and receipts o
the several international exhibitions i


singularly suggestive:
Year: 1876

SWEET PoTATO CRoQUErs.-Peel, boil and
mash finely, add salt, good lump of
butter, and one or two beaten eggs. Make
into uniform shapes, and drop in the boil
ing fat These will be found very palatable.
Year: 1876

A lady says engagements are very unsatis-
factory sort Of affairs, for if you are afraid
to be polite and attentive the gentleman
thinks you do not care for him and you
are afraid to be polite for fear the engage
ment be broken off when you would be
sorry to think you had wasted so much
sweetness on some other womans husband.
Year: 1876

The expression of a nervous woman's
face upon getting into dentists chair, is
something that no man can initiate until
he gets a letter from his mother-in.law
sharply inquiring if that spare room is
ready.
Year: 1876

THE WIDOW AND THE BoUQUET.-A pretty
widow, whose husband has been dead
several years, received a beautiful boquet
the other day. The man that sent it has
been flying around her with an earnest
ness of a dry goods clerk, and it was with
extra delight that he saw her pass his store
that evening with the boquet of flowers in
her hand.


Gam SO pleased to see you with them"
said he, and a thousandli little cupids dimpled
in his smile.


eyes," she replied, ''it was very kind in
you; | always knew you liked him; l am
taking them to his grave
Year: 1876

A Western paper publishes a poem on
the Butts of Nacher.' There were sixty
three stances. The paper contents itself
with giving the first as follows:


Go see what have sawn


Go feel what have felt


Walk in the fields at early dawn


And smell what l have smet.'
Year: 1876




COUNTY ROADS. roads lead
ing out leading into the country are
at present in most deplorable con-
dition. Having occasion to pass
over the river road the other day,
we found the corduroy portion of
that road perfectly innocent of COW
ering and in many places SO irregu-
larly planked as to endanger the
limbs of both man and horse. Re-
turning by the old ridge road, we
found it impossible for vehicles of
any description, and hardly passible
for one in the saddle. That the
growth in population Of the country
around city, in great measure de-
pends upon its facility of ingress
and egress to a market, no one will
deny. Hence, it follows that imme-
diate attention should be given to
these highways that the farmers
may be encouraged to make more
frequent calls and q more intimate
acquaintance with our merchants.
Year: 1876

The lottery men are finding pow
erful enemy in the Post Office De-
partment, and letters addressed to
them are now retained by order of
the Postmaster General and the mon
ey returned to the senders. Former
ly it was only the bogus lotteries
which suffered, butnow the square"
but now the square ones are put in
he same category with the swind-
ling concerns. It will be we'll if a
vicious system can be destroyed
through the department, and at
least the mails should not be the
means of taking money out of the
pockets of simpletons who hope to
"draw a prize" where prizes are
never drawn.
Year: 1876

THE RIGHT Policy AT LAST. AT
a conference held yesterday by the
Secretary of War, General Sherman
and the Indian Commissioners, it
was agreed that the sale or gift to
Indians, friendly or unfriendly, of
arms or munitions of war, shall here
after be visited by severe penalties.
The policy. by the United States, of
warming the serpent to its bosom is
seen at last to be fallacious, and the
suicidal policy of giving weapons Of
war to natural and implacable enc
my is at last abandoned. So much
has the nation gained by the death
of the gallant Custer, and the mode
of treating the Indian by all past ad-
ministrations is at length abolished.
Year: 1876

"Hsrry as a clam" is a well-known ex-
preston, and, perhaps, the happiest clam in
this city resides in the cellar of the restaurant
Of Mr.. Henze, on the Avenue. 1t ought to be
happy, at least, for it has accomplished feat
never before accomplished by any of the
bivalvular tribe. Wednesday, while large,
robust gentleman rat was prowling about in
the cellar he accidentally put his foot into the
mouth Of the clam, which at once closed its
doors and took the rat prisoner. When the
jaws Of the clam closed on the leg of the
rat 1t founded as though Belzebub had
broken loose in the cellar. The clam was a
large and heavy one, and the battle for de-
hverarce from the jaws of death on the part
Of the rat was desperate one. The clam took
it easy, and would not let go until biped In
the shape Of q man came 70 the rescue. The
rat was slain, and the clam fastened to the rat
was carried about town on exhibition during
the evening.
Year: 1876

1t will be seen by reference TO the advertise
ment that the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion has perfected arrangements for a grand
excursion down the liver for Friday evening,
the 18th instant. Friday evening was chosen
in order to accommodate the largest number
of church members who attend prayer meet
ings or other evenings in The week. 1t is ex-
pected to have on board in addition to a choir
Of well trained voices, a cornet and piano to
accompany in singing the Popular revival
hymns of the day. This being probably the
only excursion the association will give this
season, the many friends who desire to partici-
pate Will do well to apply at once for tickets,
which may be had at the rooms of the assOcia-
ton or of the members
Year: 1876

Will somebody tell us who owns the city
of New York? Is it the property of the tax
payers or of the railroad and other corporn-
tions who live and fatten upon the taxpayers
and make them uncomfortable while they
live on them? very large part of the
working people of New York are vitality and
directly interested in securing cheap and
rapid communications with the upper end
of the city. All the taxpayers of the city
are equally interested Rapid transit means
comfort, low rents, fresh air to the me-
chanics and laborers of the city, health and
clean living to their families, decrease of
taxes to the overburdened taxpayers, rapid
and large increase of the city's revenues,
enlargement of the area which can be used
in fact, it means health and prosperity to
the city of New York.


Oh, but it would offend the Sixth Avenue
Railroad Company What dreadful thing !
OF course we cannot have rapid transit.
Perish the thodght. Let us give up every
thing to please the Sixth Avenue Railroad
Company. Our working people, by hun
dreds of thousands, demand rapid transit !;
but the Sixth Avenue Railroad Company Oh
ects so give it up at once Why should
the rights Of mechanics, the health and COM
fort of women and children, the benefit of
taxpayers, the prosperity of New York be
considered when a railroad company OBJ
jects?


And what is this great corporation which
bars the way of half million of people to
the upper end of the island 1t is q COM
pany which has for years used the peoples S
streets for its private purposes and gain. 1t
is q company whose track runs over prop
erty which belongs not to it but to the tax
payers of New York. Suppose the taxpayers
should resume possession of their property,
as they have an undoubted moral right to
do. If company uses your land it must
pay or leave. Why not 4? At least it ought
TO be little modest, and not run
to convenient court with objections
which work grave moral, physical and pecu-
mary injuries to million of people. There
is no sense in that. We need rapid transit
and must have it. and if the Mayor was the
defender of the city we should have il. As
ii is. single street railroad company, which
has laid its rails upon the streets owned by
the taxpayers, coolly sets them and the whole
people ut defiance, and for its own selfish
prof actually stops the advance of the city
of New York.
Year: 1876

in a whirlwind. Instead Of pocketing
this gross insult. instead of condoning this
fraud. the democratic party must exhibit the
natural indignation of honest men against
rogues who attempt to swindle them out
of their rights and degrade political con-
ventions into a swindling farce.


To be sure, the reassembling of the Con-
vention will be attended with dangers
There might be disposition on the part of
some of its members to wash great deal of
dirty democratic linen in full view of the
public; but even this would be lesser evil
than an Endorsement of the fraud and false
hood perpetrated on the party by its
faithless committee at Saratoga We
do not deny that it happens in pol
itcs, as in private life, that false steps seem
to create q necessity for others. But this is
a mistaken calculation. If man be over
taken in q fault the wisest, as we'll as the
most honest course, is to make q frank con-
fession and do better for the future. This
is more emphatically true Of political par
ties, whose follies cannot, like those Of in
dividuals, be veiled from observation. 1t is
always wise to do what is right and calmly
await the consequences. This is especially
true of the democratic party in this unfor-
tunate crisis. 1t is not the party at large, it
is not even the Convention, that is to blame
for the falseheod and scandal that threatens
to be so ruinous, but only q small knot Of
intriguing individuals. The right thing for
the party to do is to repudiate these trick
sters and act on its own honest views. If
shamelessly abused should be reassembled
and put back in the Same posi-
ton in which it would have stood
if Mr.. Seymour's refusal had been
honestly communicated last Thursday it
would probably act with moderation and
discretion if all the recent candidates for the
Governorship would make an unqualified
withdrawal. If they return to reassert their
claims there will of course be a grand wash
ing of dirty political linen; but if they all
stand nloof and insist on the nomination Of
an entirely new candidate the Convention
may go smoothly through its work on re-
assembling. Any respectable new candidate
on whom Governor Tilden, Mr.. Seymour, Mr..
Herman and three or four other leaders can
agree may easily be nominated within half
ON hour after the Convention reassembles
and even if he should be a weak man (for
which there is no necessity the party would
be in far better condition than it could be
by making itself an accomplice Of fraud and
falsehood by keeping Mr.. Seymour in the
field against his consent.
Year: 1876

In another column we print one Of many
communications we have received on the
subject Of the effect of visits to the Centen-
topic to which we call attention, because we
do not feel at liberty to ignore it, and
because, also, we are Of opinion that it's
proper consideration will not do any harm
to the great enterprise, while it may impress
upon the public mind some few neces-
sary precautions, and, what is perhaps
of even greater importance, may in.
cite tho Philadelphia people and tha
managers of the Exhibition to endeavoI
to remove such of the causes of disease a.
are within their reach. Many who visited
Philadelphia in the summer and reached
their homes on their return exceedingly i'll
could perhaps fairly attribute their derange.
ments to. the exhaustion due to the intense
heat, which was more severely felt at the
Exposition grounds than elsewhere-as il
that spot were in the focus OF the great burn
ing glass into which the fr nament seemed
converted. With the cooler weather thai
source of trouble is removed. There il
little doubt, however, that the greater num-
Der Of cases of illness brought from Phila-
delphia are due to malaria and this cause
of trouble is most to be apprehended in tho
pleasant autumn weather. In this we dd
not refer to cases of typhoid or quasi-typhoid
fevers brought from the militia camps
of the grounds near the Centennial
They are due to causes that always
prevail in camps-the exposure. the
transition Of temperature from night to
day, the Indifference of large bodies Of mer
to personal cleanliness and the utter absence
of an efficient camp police. The water Of
Philadelphia is bad-perhaps malarious
The city is full of odors which suggest that
the sewers are ineffective. Indeed, though
Philadelphia is famous for its cleanliness,
and though it is as clean and trim super
fcially as q Quaker DANES cap, its filth ap-
pears not to be carried away, but only to b
thrust into the corners, there to reek unseen
and poison the air though hidden. But the
air of the worst corners in the city is mild
compared to that which may be smelled al
certain points in the Centennial grounds.
At the grounds also the water is bad, and
the ~hole district is apparently malarious.
1t would be we'll for visitors to note the pre-
cautions suggested by the communication
above referred to.
Year: 1876

the expectation of the great producers it is at
least contrary to all the gloomy prophecies
they have lately made, which assumed that
the lower prices of coal and lower wages
would result in extensive strikes, inter-
rupted production and higher prices.
As yet that danger is not apparent, for the
miners shrewdly judge that low prices will
make a demand that will keep the mines
steadily in operation, and they hope to make
more money with regular employment at low
wages than with higher pay and the frequent
of keeping up prices by arresting produc-
tiON
Year: 1876

There was death from yellow fever In
Brooklyn few days since, and permit was
given for the removal of the body for burial
through distance Of nearly three hundred
miles in this State, with all the dangerous
probabilities that are associated with such
transit and with the certainty that if the
coffin should be opened by design or acci-
dent on the route or at the end of it, and
that opening SHOULD coincide with a tenn
Perature fitted to propagate the poison, an
epidemic would be the consequence. Ap-
parently the physician who attended the
case, and who made ont the certificate of
death, was aware of the nature of the dis
ease, for he reported it correctly in his direct
relations with the Board, where his response
bility is distinct, but he disguised the case in
making out the certificate of death upon
which permit for removal was to be applied
for. This certificate was apparently made
deceptive with deliberate intention and out
of regard to the wishes of the frie nds of the
defunct, who were aware that they could not
obtain permission to take the corpse on such
o journey if the nature of the disease was
known to tho health authorities. Therefore
the disease was put in the certificate. not by
it's accepted name, but under cover of a name
derived from its presumed pathology. This
physician therefore defeated the intention Of
the law by an evasive return. and endeavors
to defend his act by such lame subterfuges
rs the pretence that the name yellow fever
is ut best only accidental. If there is no
law to punish this sort of delinquency our
health codes are defective
Year: 1876

A VIsIr TO HE'LL GATE while the prepara-
tions are being made to demolish the for
midable reef at Halletts Point is well worth
the time and trouble expended. In view of
the destruction of this impediment to
navigation being fixed for an early
day we have received from General
Newton, the engineer, a very full ex-
preston of opinion, which we print
elsewhere concerning the effects likely to
be produced by the explosion. Nervous
mortals who own real and personal prop
erty within the circumference Of mile
from the centre of explosion are dubious as
to the result of the big blast, and manifest
considerable anxiety as the day draws
near when Hallett's reef shall be no
more But General Newton tells us with
all the calm confidence of scientific man
that there is no danger. A curious thing
however, may happen, and he warns us in
time about it. Although no cuts or bruises
may be suffered by the residents of Astoria,
yet, unless they leave their dwellings during
the explosion they may each have piece Of
plaster on their heads Ceiling plaster, of
course
Year: 1876

The WKATEER.-As announced in ycster-
days HERALD another area of low pressure is
approaching from the westward, and we shall
again experience some days of warm weather
during its passage. At present this area is
central in the territory between the Missouri
River and the Northern Mississippi, and
may pass from the lake region into Can
ada without creating serious atmospheric
disturbance in New York State; but we are
inclined to believe just now that KS track
will be more to the southwark, and conse-
ouently we will be likely to feel its
influence on Tuesday next In the mean
time the temperature will rise and the
winds shift to southeasterly and southerly
points. From the conditions prevailing on
the Gulf coast we infer that severe storm,
probably cyclone, is progressing in the
Gulf of Mexico. Although the force of the
wind in the southern latitudes is not very
remarkable its variations of direction are
certain indications of disturbance some
distance to the southwark. 1t is probable
the news will be received from Florida
during to-day or tomorrow of storm in
that State. To-day the weather in New York
will be warmer and partly cloudy.
Year: 1876

BILE character of the buildings. There Wa
perfect calm prevailing at Quebec and its
vicinity at the hour the fire must have been
making its rapid progress, but at Montreal
the wind velocity was seventeen miles per
hour. st. Hyacinthe being situated about
thirty miles east-northeast of Montreal it
will be safe to infer that moderate wind
prevailed there Mt the time OF course the
fire created violent air currents when once
it made any headway but wooden houses
and fences must be recognized as the chief
cause of the disaster.
Year: 1876

How TO SEE THE ExHmrr1oN. "A good many
people can spare time and means for but q
brief visit to the great Centennial show, and
are forced to be content with three or four
days or week there. correspondent else
where gives some useful advice to such per-
sons; he tells them what they may judiciously
skip, and how to make the labor of sight see
ing pleasure; and he suggests that in even
30 short time as three or four days visitors
may enjoy great deal and master the most
interesting parts of the show.
Year: 1876

difficulties in obtaining information relative
to cotton claims from the bureau of the
Treasury Department known as the Cotton
Bureau, reflects much discredit upon the
department and makes a complete investiga-
hon Of the whole question indispensable. If
there has been fraud in these transactions,
as is broadly limited, the country desires to
know it.
Year: 1876

The whole truth about the Bulgarian
atrocities was long withheld from the world.
but the part of it already revealed almost ex-
ceeds belief If We are to believe the reve-
lations Of the London Daily Ne,os, which we
reprint to-day, the Turks are capable Of any
barbarity. Even Sitting Bull would be
ashamed to commit the horrors which
Achmed Agha and his band of bashi- -bazouks
committed at Batak. These demons made
dren- Babies were carried on their bayonets
through the streets Young girls were kept
for days to witness the slaughter of
their friends-to submit to fate even
worse than death and to be massacred
in the end Such barbarities wero never
before enacted in any land under the sun
1t is impossible to conceive Of soldiery so
degraded as to be capable of enacting
them. Yet all the horrors which this story
relates were committed by the Turks upon
the defenceless inhabitants of Batak-old
women and young girls, and even babes
in their mothers arms.


We sincerely believe that the picture
which we reproduce this morning is not over
drawn, and being true it imposes a duty
upon the European Powers which they have
never seriously contemplated-the oblitera-
ton of the Ottoman Empire. II Moham-
mechanism promotes such CHASTITY horrors it
must disappear from the world A creed
part Of its plan of salvation cannot
be allowed to exist. In the present case it
would not have lasted SO long if England
had not defended and promoted it, and
these atrocities would never have been COM
mitted if the Turks had not felt that the
English intidels would defend them, right
or wrong. In sending a feet to Besika Bay
Mr. Disraeli took no precautions to prevent
the horrors which followed this act of un-
necessarily friendliness toward Turkey.
Now that the truth is becoming known Lord
Beaconsield suffers from the heedlessness Of
Mr. Disraeli, and the tory Ministry can
scarcely fail to fall before the heart and con-
science of England. At no time has the
support of Turkey been congenial to the
English mind. 1t was policy Of state
craft at all times offensive to the
people, and now that the atrocities
which this policy has encouraged have
been revealed the impression it is making is
profound. No Ministry could long Withstand
the public indignation which has been
created by these revelations Mr. Barring
and Sir Harry Elliot are both accused Of
Withholding the truth, and it is even limited
that Lord Beaccnsfield was careless in ascer-
tanning it. The press has taken up the sub
ject and is dealing the Ministry many heavy
blows Indeed, SO great is the feeling ex-
cited by these revelations that Lord Beacons-
field IS downfall is not improbable, as much
from his jocose method of dealing with
these horrors in Parliament as because of the
blunder of his Ministry in supporting the
Turks with an English feet. These atroci-
ties are in themselves sufficient reason for
the extinguishment of the power of the
Porte, and the sooner it is done the better it
will be for the rest of the world.