smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

ing mem, was OnrlSt 0lvlueul was rauI
crncifed? ?"


But we have said that this union which we
advocate will result in cooperation in efforts
to promote the common end-the salvation Of
mankind. Let us illustrate There are In
this country, for instance, about forty national
benevolent and church societies and organza-
tions, besides host of local ones, each with
its own numbering machinery for the collection
and distribution of its moneys and values
among those for whom they are designed. 1t
Is estimated that this labor consumes from
three to ten per cent of the aggregate receipts
OF the several societies Now, were all those
societies organized for one particular object,
to associate their efforts, how much cheaper
and more effectively they could work! We're
our several Bible, Tract, Church Extension
aud other societies thus to unite and to CO.
operate for the self-same end, how much,
graader would be the result! The annual ag-
grsgate amount OF money received by those
forty societies is about six million FIVE hum
which there Is denominational attempt at CO.
operation is the American Bible Society, which
has an annual income Of nearly three-quarters
Of million dollars. And so greatly is this
society esteemed by the Methodists that the
last General Conference of that body by resc-
luton expressed their entire confidence In its
management and labors, and recommended it
to the continued and increased liberality of
this denomination, which has within five years
paid into the society's treasury five hundred
and one thousand one hundred and sixty
dollars. Let there be, then, one grand federal
union of Christians in this land, which shall
direct the general operations of the several
missionary organizations for the promotion of
the kingdom of Christ, and not for the spread
Of sectarian dogmas or particular isms. The
Church is longing for it, and the world is wait
ing and wondering at the obtuseness and stu
pidity of Christians whose love for isms is so
much stronger and more binding than their
love for Christ And the HERALD and the
American and International Christian Moral
Science Association are seeking to bring about
this union. How long ere it shall be accom-
plished?
Year: 1871

We have not said anything which might
prejudice the case of the police officer who
was charged with the death of the unfor-
tunate youth Murphy, who died in the station
house, or was carried, in the very throes Of
DEATH into the pslce station the other night
Now, however, that the testimony has been
heard, and the Coroner's jury have pro-
nounced the policeman guilty Of the death of
this youth, we speak freely in denouncing il as
a case of the most abhorrent cruelty, as
wanton taking Of human life without shadow
OF justification. What does the evidence
show? A drunken youth was being con-
veyed to the station house by four robust,
fun grown men, wearing the uniform of the
police, and armed with clubs to protect them
selves against any violence which might have
occurred In the performance Of their duty.
The boy struggled, it appears. and became
restive. The officers themselves swear that
one of them held him by the right arm and
one by the left; another held him by the
right leg and another by the left leg, and so
they carried him to a wagon. We can
imagine what amount Of resistance man in
this position could offer, and yet it was at this
time that the accused officer beat him to death
by blows on the stomach-beat him to death,
we say, because they only brought corpse
to the station house.


This case is poor commentary upon the
efficiency Of the police, and, horrible as it is,
it becomes matter Of serious reflection when
we remember how frequently unfortunate
prisoners come to sudden aud mysterious
death and how readily the story is wiped out
from the public memory by a shallow investi-
cation and a whitewashing verdict. We could
recount many cases within year where men
have died without satisfactory cause after their
arrest by the police on charges Of drunken
ness or disorderly conduct We fear that the
club, exercised under the influence of brutal
minds, had good deal to do with the death
of these parties. In the murder OF this youth
Murphy we have case with which the Grand
Jury will have to deal, but il is time that the
Police Commissioners should look to the
organization of the force. Everything may be
ship-shape at headquarters In the theoretical
part Of the system there may not be n flaw
but in its practical operation we have had
evidence enough for some time past that the
discipline of the police force is very loose and
unsatisfactory. The Police Commissioners
are certainly competent to remedy this evil.
Will they accept the responsibility of refusing
to correct it?
Year: 1871




The Lancaster Express of last evening says


Last evening, between and o'clock, re-
port gained currency in the streets that Harry
Brenner, well known in this city, had committed
suicide in his room at the Sorrel Horse Hotel.
Mr.. Brenner had deliberately placed a pistol at
his head and sent ball into his brain, from the
effects of which he died in about ten minutes.


Very soon after the occurrence Coroner
Dysart was notified when he summoned O jury
and proceeded to take testimony. The first
person called was Susan M. Rutter, domestic
at the hotel. Her testimony, which was eliclted
amid sobs and tears, was substantially as fol-
lows:-She had known Henry Brenner some
four years, and three years since became en-
gagged to be married to him: the time for the
marriage had not been agreed upon until quite
recently, when it was decided to have it take
place at z o'clock last evening. About
6 o'clock she went to his room
and found him sitting on the side of the
bed. He complained of feeling unwell, and she
went down stairs and prepared him bowl of
tea. She placed the tea on the table and bound
q handkerchief around his head when she went
towards the door, which was but a few steps
from the bed, and led on to thesouter balcony of
the second story. She had not yet opened the
door when she heard the discharge of a pistol,
and looking round saw Mr.. Brenner still in the
same position. She thought that he had fired
into the wall, but almost instantly he fell back
and the pistol dropped from his hand to the
floor She picked the weapon hastily up and
threw ii on the bed and then ran down stairs to
give the alarm.


Mrs. Christian Shenk testified that she knew
Henry for number of years. that he roomed at
the house for the past fourteen years; that he
possessed means enough to live upon; she knew
Susan RutteT, whe had lived at the house for the
past four years; she always believed Susan to be
modest and correct in her behavior; knew of
the engagement, but supposed that Henry did
not wish to marry her, as he thought there was
too great difference in their social standing.
This was all the evidence brought out. The
verdict of the jury was that deceased had will
fully taken his life.


Deceased was aged about forty-two years.
! He was well known in this city and county.
| His habits of life were peculiar and somewhat
! irregular The only motive for the rash act
! that has been thus far ascertained was to avoid
the aDDrOachinp marria0e
Year: 1871




The Washington correspondent of the New
York Tribune writes:-Many gross improprie-
ties in the working of the law for the retirement
of army officers have been brought to the atten-
tion of the House Military Committee. Many
officers are drawing from $500 to $4,000 more
pay year on the retired list than they received
while on active duty with their regiments;
meanwhile no duty is required of them, and
many of them are engaged in lucrative business.
This abuse grows out of a law authorizing the
retirementof officers on the pay of the grade they
held when wounded or disabled, which was passed
some five years ago at the solicitation OF a
Senator who had q son who was captain in
the regular army, and had been Brigadier-
General of Volunteers during the war. The
son was enabled to drop the duties of a captain
and the pay of $2500 year, and go on the re-
tired list with a salary of more than $4,000. A
large number of officers have been retired in
this way-lieutenants as majors and colonies,
and captains and majors as brigadier and major
generals. While these regular army officers are
thus retired upon the pay of the volunteer rank
they held during the war; disabled volunteer
officers, who do not get places in the regular
army, get only pension of from sl5 TO $50 a
month.
Year: 1871

MADRID, Jan. 6.-The great court of the
Palace is filed with regular troops, literally
sleeping on their arms. A large number of
arms were piled along the corridors at every
public building, and at the garrisons all the
troops are under arms. At ball given for
charitable purposes few dancers were present,
and it broke up early.


The Militia Disarmed.


The militia was ordered to surrender their
arms. The order was very arbitrary, and was
issued two days ago. Had it not been compiled
with, it is certain there would have been an in
surrection. 1t was supposed by the militia and
volunteers that the Constitution guaranteed
them the right to bear arms, and the order is
likely to produce trouble.


Fears of IpsurrectioD
still agitate the people, and all who can keep
within doors.
Year: 1871




We publish this morning the programme
of the thirty fourth annual celebration Of
the New Orleans Fire Department, giving
the order Of formation, route of the process
sion and its various divisions. The celebra-
ton will take place on the fourth of March
and will be, in NO respect, inferior to other
similar demonstrations for which the Cres-
cent City is renowned.


The firemen feel just pride in these an
niversaries and do everything possible to
make each succeeding procession more
beautiful in appearance than any preceding
it. And they have never failed to create
the opinion that New Orleans stands pre-
eminent for iremen's annual celebrations.


1t has occurred twice within the last FIVE
years, We believe, that the fourth Of March
has happened to be on Sunday, but the day
occurs on Saturday this year, and the mem
bers of the fire department can refresh
themselves with rest from their ordinary
avocations On the day succeeding the
exhaustion of parade through the princi-
pal streets Of the city.


Our own citizens and visitors from that
part Of the country within easy access to
New Orleans, who throng to the city on
these holiday occasions, expect the finest
tiremen's celebration on the ensuing fourth
Of March that they have ever witnessed,
and they will not be disappointed.
Year: 1871

H7pico Comfy Comt.-In this court to-
day, the counsel for White, who was on
Saturday tried and his punishment ascer-
tanned to be eight months in the States
prison, moved for new trial. This mo-
ton was overruled. They then moved to
suspend Judgment on the ground that there
was no States prison in this State. The
judge here stated that he would hold this
motion undersadyisement for few days,
and remanded the prisoner back to jail.
The case of Joseph Kersey was then called
up for trial, but owing to the absence of
important witnesses for the defence, was
continued until the next term. The Judge
said that he would admit Kersey to bail in
the sum of $4,000. The court then ad-
journcd until tomorrow at IL o'clock.
Year: 1871

The Massachusetts, Supreme Court has
just made notable decision in suit instr
tuted by stone-cutter to recover certain
sum of money-s50 s500-levied as fine by
the trade union to which he belonged, for
cutting stone in manner contrary to the
rules of the union. The court ruled that
the demand was Illegal, and that a combi-
nation and threat to prevent workmen from
being employed was an Illegal conspiracy.
This is certainly consonant with equity and
common sense, and few more such decis-
ions would convince lawlcss men that they
cannot resort to terrorism in order to influ-
ence feIIow-laborers and employers.
Year: 1871

WeTwould call the attention of the City
Council to the very peculiar taste of the
hydrant water. Too much care at tins
season of the year cannot be taken to pre-
serve the present healthful condition OF our
citv
Year: 1871

\ correspondent of the New York
Times, travelling in Japan, says Of tLat
peculiar people


1t is impossible to travel through this
strange country, making acquaintance
with its singular inhabitants and their an
cient legends, without being deeply, al
most sorrowtuily, impressed with the evi-
dence OF the ignorance and superstition Of
the common people, aud their submission
to priestly rule pom the other hand,
however, the japanese character possesses
traits which are noble and heroic in the
extrem. In war, they fight 10 the death
on the most humane principle. When the
late revolution was nearly completed. and
the last remnants of the Tycoon's follow
erS were hurried into and surrounded in a
fortress at Hackolata, completely cut of
from all supplies OF provisions and water,
the fight ragged all day with the most ter
rible intensity, and ceased only with the
setting sun. Invariably upon the ces-
sation OF the struggle, the besiegers. be-
fore partaking Of their evening meal.
would carry to the besieged full days
rations OF provisions and water, and no
rcmonstrances could prevent this action.
What " said they TO some OF their Eng
lish officers, would you have US starve
brave men like rats ? No; victory over
them thus situated would be no honor


The steamship Herman, iu carrying
troops to the North, struck a sunken rock
several miles from shore. The boats were
few, not more than enough to accommo-
date the officers and crew and some foreign
passengers on the vessel. At once the
matches of the ship were battened down
and the japanese confined below, that the
Christians might escape in security
Let us come out, said the japanese Off
Gers we promise you that no attempt on
the part Of our troops Will be made to
take the boats We will remain until the
boats return or the ship goes down, but
give Us a chance for our lives The ex-
pertinent was tried. They marched out
and formed their ranks on deck with all
the cOolness of a parade; they saw the
boats shove off as the ship was sinking,
and not a man moved until he foated in
the sea, and no single soul reached the
shore that did not land with his sword.
To lose that was worse than death.
Year: 1871

A RAIN OF FROGS IN Arizona
The pben )menon familiarly known as the
rain of frogs has been ridiculed and
contradicted oy certain scientists; never
theless, there is abundant proof to show
that it has occurred, and probably will
again. In 1864, the writer, in company
with some fifty other travellers, had per-
sonal experience of the fact. We were
in Arizona, not less than twenty miles
from any stream, po1d, or water. The
day was extremely sultry, and we had
halted to let the animals Craze and rest
for an hour or two. Not a living thing
besides ourselves and horses was in sight,
and certainly no frogs were hopping over
the rich, tufted granln1a grass, which COW
cred the ground for miles in every direc-
ton. Suddenly a dense, black cloud
made its appearance, and it soon began to
discharge copious rain upon our unshel-
tered heads. The drops were very large,
and the water quite warm. Nearly every
person wore a broad-brmmed felt hat.
which proved great protection against
the rain as well as against the sun. Our
attention was soon arrested by the peting
of something which struck our hats like
hail but which proved to be frogs, and in


less than two minutes the grass was fairly
alive with those creatures. Several of
the party took some from their hat rims.
Our unexpected visitors were all Of one
SIZE. about a quarter of an inch long from
nose to rump, very lively, and apparently
in the best condition. Their tall had been
broken by the springy, resilient nature of
the grass 1t Is not probable that several
hundred thousand perhaps millions of
frogs had suddenly been Matched into life
in the ground by the rain, or if they had,
that in their infantile glee they jumped
five feet eleven inches from the earth to
the top Of our heads, merely to show how
the game Of leap-frog should be played
Nor had they any such caudal appendages
AZ are generally attached to juvenile ram.
They came from above, in company with
the rain; and this fact was made clear by
holding out the hand and seeing them fall
upon it, as well as finding them on our
hat-rims. The eggs from which these rep
tiles sprung had undoubtedly been drawn
into the atmosphere by the action of a
water spout, and held in suspension with
aqueous particles long enough to hatch
them out and give them perfect form ;
then. by the force of mutual attraction.
the separated PARTICLES of vapor got to-
gether in such masses as to form heavy
sheets of water, which, in turn, became
amenable TO the law of the attraction of
gravitation, returning to the earth from
which it had been drawn. In the fall
new divisions were created, called drops


among which the frogs descended, having
been obedient TO similar forces, moving
with the aqueous particles. This instance
is cited to show that other things besides
vapor are translated from earth to atmos-
phere BY certain well-known and accred-
tied developments of natural laws
Prom Acrolites, IN the July Overland
Monthly.
Year: 1871

How DANIEL WEBSTER PREPARED HI
SpEECuEs.-Iu one of the debates in Con-
.ress, which suddenly called Daniel Web
ster to his feet, he male brief but most
eloquent speech, apparently without op-
portunity for previous preparation. In the
course Of his remarks, he threw out the
following sentence which has ever since
been admired as one of the most harmoni-
Gus and expressive in the English language.
He was spe- king of our military conflict
with Great Britain, and said Our faith
ers raised their flag against power to
which for purposes of foreign conquest and
subjugation Rome, in the height of her
glory, Is not to be compared ; a power
which has dotted over the surface of the
whole globe with her possessions and mill
tary posts, whose morning drum-beat, fol-


lowing the sun in its course and keeping
pace with the hours, circles the earth with
one continuous and unbroken strain of
martial airs of England As he sat down
one OF the Senat RS congratulated him
upon his speech, and alluding to the above
passage said that to him it was inconceiv-
able how Mr.. Webster. in speech so
manifestly unpremeditated. could have
formed 50 perfect and so beautiful a SEN
tence. which with hours of study he could
not improve. Mr.. Webster replied that
the sentence was not extemporaneous that
in his sumner vacation he had visited Que
bee and while standing on the massive I'd
almost impregnable citadel there, looking
out upon the wondrous scene of national
grandeur and of natures loveliness spread
before him, the idea occurred to his mind.
He Immediately took his seat upon gun,
and with pencil and paper, sketched the
thought in the most appropriate language
he could at the moment command. Upon
arriving at his hotel he sat down at his
leisure and wrote it, and rewrote it, with
many interlineations and erasures. until he
had modified it into the form of words
which satisfied him. He then laid it aside
in his retentive memory, to be used when
occasion should offer. The opportunity
arose upon that day.
Year: 1871

" All men must die''-the good as well
as wicked those who devote their ener-
gIes to sowing the seeds Of Righteousness,
as early, and often earlier than those
whose lives are comparatively useless, yea,
positive cumberers Of the ground-inJuri-
Gus and vile. The young man falls, in
all his beauty OF form and spirit, while in
the midst Of earnest labors for the Lord !;
vet the outrageous sinner carries high and
long his hoary, di-houored head.


This seems mysterious, as does the early
death OF some who are, to mortal view, 80
much needed to comfort and to teach,
leading erring men to true happiness,
peace. and a final bisstul rest


Our vision IS limited L it wisdom in
us to conclude that they are 50 much
needed here The AN-Wi>e surely does
not err. His own hand removes them.


One point needs to be studied and it
applies Just the same to an obscure life as
to that one which is prominent. Each
day we live is given to accomplish cur al
lottcd end. When that Is inished-be
our years few or many, Tor only short
hour all the earthly work is fully done,
and We pass out Of sight Our contiuu-
ance here briet day OF instant longer
would prove time lost. How unfortunate
that We should ever think mortal .be he
man or infant dies before his time The
best time and wisest manner are ever cho-
" Lord, help thou our unbelief.'


OF all the mistakes that man can ever
make, this is the greatest, namely That
to live upon the earth Is absolutely desira-
bic. Is not entire freedom from every Ill,
better, far better, than earth many disap-
pointmcnts and uncertainties We DO not
mean that this life Is not a blessed, bIcs-
sed boon. but there Is something infinitely
better


As we reflect from time to time; as we
look back upon struggles and sufferugs,
(which involved others a. we'll a our own
selves. yet not forgetting ever the many,
many Joyous hours y as we look forward
,but only Tor an instant, for we will not
allow it,. and consider what may be p0ssi-
bic and what surely is so-Ye feel to re-
ioce that we shall soon be through -
done, forever done with transitory things
The thought is cheering, gIaddening to
the heart. and the soul looks up and says.
" Our Father, thy child trusts in thee
for thou art good and carest for all thy
many crriug, dependent creatures" Thus,
day by day, may we 20 forward with
smile-conlorming our thoughts to the du-
ties Of the hour-only the present hour,
and not to what may never come to US
the morrow Thus acting, we bestow the
choicest possible gift upon those We leave
behind.


We too often forget that we are children
Our years make us men. and we lose the
spirit Of IA little child-which of right Is
ours, a rich inheritance but to retain it
will cost an effort. Grasp firmly the child
spirit DO not let it slip Hold on upon
ii. Keep it. 1t will make Us glad and
hopeful All else Cunduly trusting in is
weariness and disappointment-Bos Boston
Transcript