smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

If college were to announce in its
prospectus that 1t would annually insure
to its patrons such and such percentage
Of first honor men, such and such of sec
ond, and so on mot to speak of the dun
ces), perhaps most persons would receive
the assurance with smile of incredulity.
And yet no problem in simple arithmetic
is easier to work out than this of deter
mining In advance the number of those
among say hundred students who will
occupy the various grades of standing.
Atleast, one would so conclude after read
ing Professor Heinrich's essay on the
"Law of Probability as Applied to the
Determination of Mental Exertion," read
at the last meeting of the American Asso-
citation. Adopting Quetelet's method of
calculating probabilities, the author, be-
fore the annual examination, made an es-
innate Of the percentage of the pupils In
the University of Iowa who should stand
In the various grades of proficiency. The
data for calculation came, not from any
knowledge of the students In question,
but rom the phenomena oil averages as OBJ
served in numberless cases, and in various
fields; and 1t will be seen that the results
of the calculation and those of the actual
examination agreed very closely. In the
following table the first column gives the
standing, the number 100 marking the
highest grade attainable I; the second col
umn gives the percentage of students
reaching the varions grades, as shown
from the examination, and the third gives
the same as calculated beforehand:
Year: 1873

IL Is refreshing in these days of ill-brcd


ghosts and vulgar turbulent spirits, who
can apparently find no better use tor their


supernatural powers than the destruction


Of windows and the smashing Of furniture,


to hear OF gentlemanIike old ghost of a
a class, alas now almost extinct, the men,


bers of which would have scorned to COM


nit actions that have given modern ghosts
such an unpleasant notOriety, and have
brought ridicule and reproach on a once
hoaored designation. A correspondent
Of the London Observer states that while
sitting In the dining-rOom of his fathers
house, reading abOok he became conscious
of scme object standing at the side of
his chair, and on turning round discovered
that 1t was q ghost, dressed in Spanish
cloak, and wearing broad-brimmed
slouched hat. So far from being In dis
agreeable humor, the ghost was looking
down upon him "with most benignant
expression" Of course he was startled,
as anybody would be under similar cir
hair rose on his head, his
tongue Glove to the roof of his mouth,
and his limbs were deprived of all mo-
ton. This is the good, healthy effect
taken by all genuine ghosts on those whom
they visit, and Is far more natural than
the easy familiarity which marks the in
recourse between adulterated spirits and
their friends and admirers. There was,
however, no real cause for alarm. tile
ghost "melted away slowly and with re-
treating notion" without even breaking
a wine-glass or upsetting table. In fact,
the interview was conducted with the ut
most dig nifty and courtesy on both sides
no noise, no hustle, and the whole affair
was over In a few minutes. Such ghost
as this Is valuable acquisition TO any
mansion. He Is evidently first-class old
family ghost, "worth his weight in gold"
If we may venture to use such an express
sion In speaking OF an immaterial being,
who, of course, does not weigh an ounce,
and might be forwarded by post for
penny stamp so far as his gravity Is con-
cerned. Ghosts of this description arc
never found In the houses of the noupeaur
riches. The wealthy manufacturer may
buy aristocratic msns'ens. He may pur-
chase old armor and family pictures. and
make believe they belonged to bis ances-
tors, but with all his gold he cannot buy
one family ghost, and Is obliged to content
himself with miserable table-rapping
Shams,
Year: 1873

The New York World comes forward
with proposition that railroads shall be
accountable to the State for the value of
every human life which they destroy. 1t
then proceeds to figure out this value In
the following ingenious fashion: The
keep Of the average person, up to the age
OF IL, costs about 500 year, taking the
estimates that are made for army and
navy, asylums, penitentiaries, etc. 1t
will take him seventeen years longer be-
fore he will have earned enough to pay of
the debt he owes the State of $1,700. He
will then be "a years old, and will have
reasonable expectation of living thirty
years more. In this time he should pay
into the State about $4,000 over and above
the debt he owed it. He will, then, have
value to the State as follows:
Due the State for balance on unproductive
Due the State for profits on expectation Of
Year: 1873

All the Remaining Trials Postponed


Till Next Term OF Court-Rcmsrkable


Statements OF Counsel for the Defence.


In the Newark courts yesterday was the Gay set
down for the trial Of the remaining indictments
against newspaper men for having, as alleged,
fiDened city ofncia, City Counsel Francis. At
the opening OF the Court yesterday the case Of W.T.


ham B. Guild proprietor OF the Journal was moved
BY she State. At once before the jury was en-
panelled, defendants counsel arose and addressed
the Court He moved that the case and all the
other alleged libel cases, be postponed until
next term, for several reasons, the most
important being that the accused could not
obtain fair and impaired trials in con.
and the fact that all the jurors had sat in court
during the other trials, heard the evidence and
arguments and thereirom had become prejudced
IN their minds one way or the other Counsel said
he was possessed OF evidence which satisfied MIN
that some jurors were not ut TO sit on these cases
by reason OF having before the late trial expressed
themselves determined to convict no matter
what the evidence was. The motion, by unani-
the cases went over till the next term OF Court.
when an entirely new panel OF jurors Will be on
hand: City Counsel Francis and a crowd OF City
Hall hon0rables we're present, and wilted greatly
when IT was announced that the cases
would have TO go over. Among the people.
sincere qualification that in this, as in the entire
proceedings 80 far, the local Tweedites have failed
70 secure any real victory. The result OF nearly
in weeks labor In the Court is that they have suf


Tered an out and out defeat in the acquittal OF
reporter; that they have secured an empty and
most uncertain triumph in the case Of the editor
Of Judge Guilds paper, the indictment being
worthless by reason OF having never been signed
~ the Grand Jury foreman, and that, in the
judges trial, the jury could not be forced into an
agreement even after imprisonment for two days
and nights. When the worthless indictment case
goes before the Supreme Court In Trenton other
serious objections will also be made to IT, 1t IS
Opehly sald now that had the trials gone on Jer-
sey justice would have been turned into byword
Year: 1873

At meeting OF the Board OF Trustees OF the
Museum OF Comparative Zoology to-day the follow
ing resolutions were passed.


Resolved That desire record sense of the
irreparable loss which the has TO bear in the
death OF Louis Agasiz who conceived the plan OF it,
who made the first gift which led TO its foundalon;
whose thought directed its whole organization, and
whose enthusiasm, kndng the public ieeling, created
all Its


Resolved, That much value the scientific
achievements we value even more the disinterested
devotion science and education, the high and broad
aims and the generous sympathies which gave Louis
Agassz such beneficent power teacher and man,
and the fine nature which made every one who knew
him his friend.


Resolved. That the President of the Board be
quested TO send copy these the family
Of Mr. Agassz i'll testimony OF sympathy and sorrow


The adoption or the resolutions was followed by
appropriate. addresses by Governor Washburn
and others.
Year: 1873

The Weather i'm This city Yesterday.


TIE following record win show the changes in the
temperature ior the past twenty y-four hours in
comparison with the corresponding day OF last
year. as indicated by the thermometer at Hudnut's
Pharmacy HERALD Building -
Year: 1873

The Great Sea serpent in Bclhaven Bay.


From Liverpool Mercury Oct. 2l.l


correspondent in the Dunbar district writes -
'AlmOst with prophetic inspiration the Scotsman
OF Tuesday announced that the great sea serpent
would soon be seen at the mouth of the firth. The
prediction has already been verified, and that in a
way which can admit OF no doubt whatever,
unless in the minds of the most scepticaL At
hal-past one O'Clock on Tuesday afternoon it
was announced in breathless haste to the writer
that a long and large black animal was
tumbing about in Belnayen Bay, to the intense
excitement and surprise OF about 120 individuals
who had collected together and were witnessing its
gambolS. On hurrylng TO the c0ign OF vantage
with good binocular to get sight OF the object
there was no doubt whatever OF the truth OF the
statement. Near the middle OF Belhaven Bay, and
about q quarter OF a mile from the place where we
were standing there certainly appeared "a long
and large black animal IN the water, having
all the appearance OF the saurian described by
DR.. Joass. When first observed 1t was proceeding
shorewards, with what seemed to be its head and
various undulated portions OF the body above
the surface After getting near the shore 1t turned
to the westward, and Kept moving about IN that
position for considerable time. Sometimes it
appeared to stretch itself out to its full length, at
which times both It's head and tail were seen above
water only small portion OF the middle OF the
creature being submerged Most frequently, now
ever, 1t was the Undulations or apparent coils or
the body that were observed, two or three OF them
being occasionally visible at the same time. These
coils had all the appearance to the observers at the
distance mentioned above OF the coils or folds OF
serpent, the sea and the black masses being dis
tinctly separated. Occasionally the creature
seemed to take header, and disappeared alto
gether but II seldom remained longer than two or
three minutes beneath the surface without expos
ing some part or other OF It's body. When fully
stretched out, as it appeared TO be several times
during the period OF observation Ii seemed to
be upwards OF a hundred feet IN length, with an
apparent breadth OF IRON two TO three ieet. No
doubt the dimensions must have been very much
larger. AS it was In sight for upwards OF quar-
ter OF an hour ample opportunity was afforded for
watching its movements. The sea was also as
smooth as the surface OF mirror which contrib
uted very much to assist the observations made by
the time specified, the long and 1.-THE creature
turned Its head to the north and stood out to
Altogether. If the animal not the great pleslo-
saurus seen by DR.. Joass he was evidently near
relative OF the same family, and his visit to Bel
haven Bay has furnished lood for reflection to
those who witnessed his gamDols Ior many
lay.v
Year: 1873

mination OF our present difficulty with Spain
does not cut the Gordian knot in much
more decisive manner. But this Republic
has deep interest in the tate of Cuba, and
both policy and humanity call upon the gov
eminent for some action. The hour seems to
have struck when the freedom OF Cuba may
be assured, when that beautiful and
rich island may be made prosperous
and happy and Of immense value
to the commerce of the United States, instead
of being under the most blighting and cruel
despotism and the stronghold of slavery.
With the concession Of belligerent rights the
,Cubans themselves, General Quesada says, can
conquer their independence. This appeal,
then, should be considered in a spirit of JUS
tice and humanity, if the present difficulty
with Spain about the Virginius should ter
inmate peacefully.
Year: 1873

From the Springfield Republican,


Several prominent journals are saying very sharp
and very just things about the action OF the House
in seating Kellogg's congressman. We are quite
OF their minds about this performance 1t was inn
proper indecent scandaous; their severest lam
guage talls short or the provocation. But what's
the use? The administration congressman. VINO
know that this Louisiana business is all wrong.
haven't the nerve to go back on the administers
tion they are in for it. as the saying is returning
were as tedious as 90 o'er;n they have made up
their minds, and their chief anxiety now Is to
finish the repulsive job as quickly as possible get
through and WASH their hands, 1t Is too late in the
day Tor argument The only thing lett is TO protest
and take an appeal to that nign court of revision
from whose jurisdiction even Presidents and Con-
crosses are not exempt which IS in perpetual seS.
sion, which sooner or later reverses unjust decls-
IONS rights the wrongs OF the oppressed and enters
up judgment against the authors OF the injustice
and OppreSsion.
Year: 1873

those VINO conversen with nIm on the virginius
matter was that he had been assured that the de-
mands OF the government would be strictly carried
out by Spain, ana, he hoped, without being com
peed to intervene.
Year: 1873

Of all the men who participated in the
rebellion, one of the most inexcusablei is,
perhaps, Admiral Raphael Semmes, the
buccaneer of the rebellion, who COM
manded the Alabama, and was known
throughout the confederacy to be 'as
brave a man as ever sopttled ship or
cut a throat" Hewas an educated man,
of remarkable literary ability, and had
sworn allegiance to the government he
strove to destroy. 1t was very fit that
this man should have been one OF the
speakers at the recent convention OF the
Southern Historical Society, at the
Montgomery White Sulpher Springs, and
we were not disappointed in getting from
the ''pride of the South upon the sea,
a remarkably logical and polished speech.
His opening sentence was characteristic
of his school of politics, and is instruo-
tive to those who are mourning over the
loss of power of the leaders of the re-
bellion. He said eff this government
was merely to be governed by the ma
iority, it's days are numbered-it would
go as other republics had gone"


In speaking of the war of the Roses,
in England, he said: They We're only
episodes, and so would our war be IN
time" The predictions now of the
Admiral are regarded by the southern
people, about as his prophecies of south
ern independence, during the was, were
by the rest of the world, and it will take
many more meetings of his Historical
Society, to dwindle the five years OF
fratricidal war necessary to uphold the
government, and enforce the laws, into
an episode in the nations history. Nc
sir; Jeff, and his fellow traitors may
talk nonsense as much as they please,
they can never remove the stain of trea-
son from their garments, and to theil
dying day, they will find that with royal
people, treason is odious,' and the
sooner they adopt, and recognize the
principle, that in this government, the
majority must rule, the sooner they vii
find themselves in accord with the peo
pie of sthe country, and the genius OF
republican institutions.
Year: 1873

BEAxs.-Many of the early kinds are
now going to seed, and if you have
choice varieties of the Dwarf Wax, etc,
it is well to save them for another year,
or plant another crop, and see how You
like string beans in September. They
will not come amiss for pickles, and
when prepared as for boiling, and salted
down, they make a choice dish for the
table in winter.
Year: 1873

To OUR ABSENTEES.-In an.
other column will be found a 10.
tice signed by some of the leading
doctors and the President of the
Howard Association, warning our
absenteeS not TO return home at
present, not until all danger OF
contracting the disease has pass
ed. The Howard Association
will give due notice, and until
then we urge allabSentees to stay
away. We have already seen
trouble and affliction enough with.
out its being augmented by the
return OF new supply of victims.
Our old citizens will recollect that
in 1888 many valuable lives were
LOST aS late in this season as No
vember and December. In fact.
the epidemic ragged as bad as
among those who returned In No.
vember as it did at any time, and
a great many left the second time.
stay away until alldanger is over.
i Shreveport Times.
Year: 1873

1t is stated that while the
present cotton consuming pop
ulation Of the world does not
increase in number at the rate
OF over l per cent. per annum,
the cotton product of the world
is Increasing at 8 per cent. per
annUm, aud that, therefore.
there is increasing surplus of 4
per cent. per annum.
Year: 1873

To facilitate the loaning of money as
specified in article three, full authori-
ty is hereby given to execute and issue
certificates Of pledge upon all kinds of
movable property. and t. do and per.
form every act and thing pertaining to
the loaning of money upon security of
pledge.
Year: 1873

qualify an otherwise intelligent man
from judging whether there was a de-
falcation in General Howard's bureau
or not, and who is responsible for it."
If Pecksniff really made the objection
attributed to him he paid poor COM
pliment to those who served in the
Union army, for his distrust of the Con-
federates is equivalent to an admission
that q Confederate could not expect inn
partial justice from Unionists. Or per-
haps he Is afraid TO trust his cause to
the Judgment OF honest Hnen. In that
case he pays q high compliment to the
Confederates.
Year: 1873

property and poril to human life, several per
sons having been seriously injured and per
hans permanently crippled. Rewards for the
apprehension of the villains were offered by
the railroad company and the civil authorities,
and persons were arrested ana heid on SuSPi,
cion. But the Legislature was III session, anu
tho opportunity TO illuminate an addltiohai
law on the subject and incorporate IN IL an
indignant public sentiment was not TO be loSt'
so n representative from town IN the vicinity
straghtway, without losing moments ulno'
introduced in the Assembly bill for pubic
act imposing additional penalties Tor the crime.
His constituents felt greatly outraged ana
shocked by tho dastardy attempt at Inuruer'
Their only resource, of course, was inc Lesls-
laturc. They impressed their representative WIN
the necessity of an immediate change IN the
law, making the ofTense punishable with I'M
prisonment for life at least and some thought
it should be hanging. A man caught IN
similar crime some months ago was sentence"
to ten years Imprisonment but the Legis,
lature not then being In session IL uiu
not occur to the citizens to ask 1Or chahSo
in tho law. Now, however, the machihe iS
running, and the angry citizens, acting on inc
democratic instinct. demand at once that Jhls
thing be stopped by increasing the term Oh
sentence Ten years in tho State Prison.
they say did not flighten these scoundrels OF
deter them from the crime; so now make IL
Imprisonment for life; see if they will dare
incur that penalty. 1t is somewhat necessary
to be sure to catch the offenders in order to
enforce any penalty; but the mania for legis-
lation, the thirst for a new BE 1t enacted"
takes no thought of anything but the legsla-
tive remedy; the execution of the law seems
not TO be of much account.


OF course this sort of legislation is weak
and foolish. An angry man is always abb
surd; angry legislation is thousand times
moro ridiculous For of all things in the
world the function Of law-making should be
divested of passion and temper. The indlgna-
ton of q community Is the last thing to crys-
talllzo into statute. But our Legislatures
arc very apt TO handle tho subjects intrused
to them as some parents train their chill
drcn-working themselves up to what they
think is righteous indignation in order to adj
minister discipline in a proper spirit We
shall learn by and by, perhaps, that Legsla-
tnres are not infallible, and that not quite all
the diseases of the body polite can be cured
with q Be it enacted"
Year: 1873

The Constitutional Convention in Pennsyl
yania has recOnsidered its resolution to ad
iouTn, and determined to go on with its work
at tho rate of two sessions a day. Whether
it is the cool weather that has produced this
change Of temper, or some sudden light upon
the political situation, we can only conjec-
ture; but be the cause what it may, the hall
which last week resounded with the groans of
perspiring delegates, and prOtestations of the
utter inability of any decent gentleman to
work in the city during the month of July, is
now filed with the hum and hustle of active
business 1t would indeed be curious
thing if an assemblage of ever hundred
persons, who are supposed to represent the
most practical and cultivated minds in Penn
sylvania, should find themselves, after six
months work, so far from the end of their
undertaking that they must pause and rest for
a quarter of year before attempting to go
any further. 1t would be'especially strange in
this case, because the articles of the consti-
tuition that remain to be considered are sup
posed to offer no very serious difficulties.
With diligence in work, and a moderate de-
gree Of restraint in improbable speech-making,
the constitution can doubtless be completed
in time for submission to the people before
October.


The importance Of haste in this matter we
have already explained. All the hopes of the
new Reform party of Pennsylvania depend
upon the change in the election laws for
which the new constitution provides. II the
October election is to be conducted by the ex-
listing methods, no reform can be anticipated
nd 4r,,r 30
that the organization which now promises so
much may fall to pieces before it has On OPP
portuniy to accomplish anything. But there
is another consideration which Philadelphians
especially will appreciate. The officers to be
elected next October win be in Office
during the preparations for the Cen
tennial, and it will depend in q
great measure upon them whether Pennsylva-
MIA shall have cause TO blush for her share in
the great celebration. If the business is to be
managed on the part of the city and State by
q Ring of j0bbers and cheats who are the
counterparts on smaller scale Of Tweed and
Connolly, the memory of tho Centennial will
be source of everlasting shame. At least
when,P Pennsylvania invites al the world to visit
her in 1876, let her show her guests an honest
government and bid them welcome by the lips
of officials whom a gentleman need not object
to take by the hand.


With regard to the chances of the adoption
of the new constitution in ease 1T is finished
this Summer, the leading Pennsylvania Re-
formers, who ought to he competent TO judge,
seem to have no misgiyings. On fair and
fill vote il would doubtless be accepted by
large majority. There is danger, however,
that the vote may be neither fair nor full.