smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

The West Chester Pa. } Record
says liver since thehanging of George
Grant at the Chester county prison some
time ago, Alfred Chase, colored youth
of thirteen summers, son of Alexander
Chase, whose family mansion is located
near Seger's mill in Poeopson township,
has had a great, desire to know and
feel the sensation of hanging. Several
times within the past few weeks he has
told his mother and sister that he
would like,to know just how it felt to
be hung, and we think he has had his
ambitions gratified, at least he has not
exhibited any longings that way since
Monday last. On that day his mother,


before leaving home, corrected him for
lilo uisSeIueaIUr ANA said lac OrisilaL ~
be sent to the House of Refuge, This
rebuke the lad thought severe, and
soon after his mothers departure con-
cluded to experience the hanging SEN
sation. Procuring a rope he slipped
out Of the house, got upon chair,
fastened one end Of therope to a clothes
line hook in the side of the house,
secured the other end around his neck
and swung off. Some time after he was
missed from the house, and his sister, on
looking up his whereabouts, found him
hanging as above described-his feet
barely touching the ground. He no
doubt "felt just how it was to be
hung" much sooner than he had antici-
pated, as he had scratched gravel p
considerably in his efforts to get back
upon the chair. In order to get q
good feeling" Alfred did notdepend on
the ordinary slip knot, but, after loop
ing the rope around his neck, gave it
two extra wraps, and luckily he did, for
this no doubt saved his life, as it pre-
vented the loop from slipping and
choking him to death. When discover
ed life was nearly extinct. He was
taken down and physician sent for,
When Dr. R. c. Smedley, OF West
Chester, arrived, Alfred was still insen-
uible, his windpipe compressed, his
lungs congested with blood, his jaws
set, and it was some time before any
medicine could be administered, and
then only by prying open his mouth.
At last accounts he was getting along
very well. If there are any others who
would like to know "just how'it feels


we would advise them to call on this
youth and first get his expefiellte.
Year: 1873

A BRAVE WoMAN,x-The courage of
a Boston woman during the smallpox
scare is worthy of special note walk
ing along the street one day, she felt
that she had received the infection from
a passing person, and wrote note to
her family stating the trouble and that
she was going to reside at an unoccupied
house until the danger was over. She
received two attendants, took possession
of the house, in ten days was taken
down with the disease, passed through
the various stages, recovered, and is
now at home, happy that her family
have escaped the disease through her
brave devotion.
Year: 1873

You will seldom pass country vii
lage without seeing graveyard in its
vicinity; but the old grounds in which
slate has not been displaced by white
marble are the only picturesque objects
of this kind. Our ancestors selected as
their burial place quiet spot not far
from the village, and did not plant it
with trees because it was surrounded by
them. Their intention was to preserve
the relies of the dead by returning them
to the dust, and to commemorate their
life by simple record of their name
and age. The custom of making the
graveyard a pleasure ground is'of mod
ern origin. At the present time these
old enclosures are shaded by few trees
that game up there without planting.
The most common are the locust, the
wild cherry, the velvet sumachsand the
Lombardy poplar; and we have learned
by habit to associate their rugged and
homely appearance with the venerable
objects that accompany them.


You can hardly conceive how much of
the beauty of these ancient resting pla-
ces of the dead is due to the slate that
forms the gravestones. Being of a dark
color it harmonizes with nature; it is
sober, but sombre, and unlike marble,
and has no offensive glare. These are
our only "rural cemeteries" Modern
burying grounds are but Conservatives
of sculpture and other works of decor
ative, artos The use of white marble, be
it ever, SO plain and simple, is incom
/ patible with anyidea of thepicturesque,
But when it is carved and embellished
in the highest style of ornate art, we
look upon the monuments as expressions
of the vanity of the living under an os
tentatious display of reverence for the
dead. = Woods and By Ways of Nest
England. .H t1t@.ae
Year: 1873

Having photograph taken is one Of
the great events in Il mans life. The
chief desire is to look the very best,
and on the success of picture hinges in
many cases the most important epoch
in life. To work up a proper appear
ance time enough is used which, if de-
voted to catching tleas for their phos-
phorus, would cancel the entire nation
al debt and establish u New York daily
paper. When you have completed your
toilet you go to the gallery and force
Yourself into nonchalence of express
sion that is too absurd for anything.
Then you take the chair, spread your
legs gracefully, appropriate calm and
Indifferent look, and commence to per-
spire. An attenuated man with pale
face, long hair and soiled nose now
comes out of n cavern, and adjusts the
camera. Then he gets back OF you and
tells you to sit back as far as you can
in the chair, and that it has been re-
markably back spring. After getting
you back till your spine interferes with
the chair itself, he shoves your head
into pair of ice tongs, and dashes at
the camera again. Here, with piece
of discolored velvet over his head, he
bombards you in this manner: :" Your
chin out little, please" The chin IS
protruded. "That's nicely now a little
more" The chin advances again, and
the pomade commences to melt, and
start for freedom. Then he comes back
to you and slaps one of your hands on
your leg in such position as togive you
the appearance of trying to lift it over
your head. The other is turned under
itself, and has become so sweaty that
you begin to fear that it will stick there
permanently. A new stream of pomade
finds it's way out, and starts downward.
Then he shakes your head in the tOngs
till it settles right, and says it looks
like rain, and puts your chin out again,
and punches out your chest, and says
he doesn't know what the poor are to
do next winter, unless there is a radi-
cal change in affairs, and then takes the
top of your head in one hand and your
chin in the other, and gives your neck
wrench that would earn any other
man prominent position in n new hos
pital. Then he runs his hands through
your hair and scratches your scalp, and
steps back to the camera and the injured
velvet for another look. BY this time
new sweat and pomade have started out.
The whites Of your eyes show unpleas-
antly, and your whole body feels as if
it had been visited by an enormous
cramp, and another and much bigger
one was momehtarily expected. Then
he points at something for you to look
at; tells you to look cheerful and COM
posed, and snatches away the velvet and
pulls out his watch. When he gets
tired, and you feel as if there was but
very little left in this world to live for,
he restores the velvet, says it is an un-
favorable day for picture, but he
hopes for the best, and Immediately
disappears in his den. Then you get up
and stretch yourself, slap on your hat
and Immediately sneak home, feeling
mean, humbled, and altogether too
wretched for description. The first
friend who sees the picture says he can
see enough resemblance to make GER
tain that it is you, but you have tried to
look too formal to be natural and grace
full.
Year: 1873

LANGUAGE is the amber in which a
thousand precious and subtitle thoughts
have been safely embedded and preserv-
ed. It has arrested ten thousand light
ming flashes of genius, which, unless
fixed and arrested, might have been as
bright, but would have also been as
quickly passing and perishing as the
Year: 1873




There was a scene Of excitement in the Kings
County Penitentiary between two and three
O'Clock yesterday morning, occasionedi by the at
tempted escape OF one OF the most noted criminals
In the United states. This thief whose name is
"Bob Brickleyn alias Bob Burns, is an old
State Prison convict. who it will probably be re-
membered, was engaged in the revolt OF the pri-
soners at Sing Sing at the time keeper Jefrey was
shot and killed. Brickley was suspected OF being
the prisoner who committed the murder, but 1T
could not be proved. He served out his time,
was liberated, and returned again to- his
had been number OF burglarles In Brooklyn, and
the authorities became convinced that they were
the work OF New YORK thieves. One night IN April
last Dr. Mccain, shortly after returning to his
home, corner OF Broadway and Fourth street, +. ID.
and while seated IN the dark, IN his room saw the
forms OF two men passing up the stairway. When
they had assembled to the upper rooms he slipped
quietly out Of the house and summoned as
ing the Kingston Savings Bank, and it
Is supposed these thieves were going to make an
cured cured they had KIT oI Sagas toos @ dark an
term &c. and had evidently come well prepared
for a nights work. When taken before Justice
Jones and the other RoDert Burns. They were
held for the Grand Jury who indicted them,
aaSs three sent sna to ns
for loar years ana eleven months. When





titled Burns at once as Bob Brickley," the old
vict. Those who were friendly with the keeper
told him who he had and to keep a
sharp lookout for him, as he would
make an effort to escape. Brickley
had not been in the Penitentiary long before he
him TO the hospital. The doctor did SO, but Keeper
Shevn ordered that close watch be kept over
him. In lew weeks Brickley was discovered in
the act OF making an effort to escape. He was then
removed rom the hospital again, but in a few
weeks he became Ill and was again sent
to the hospital. A close watch was ordered to be
Kept on him. Nevertheless, he made another
effort to secure his liberty. He made rope from
stated, made the attempt 10 escape. Some OF
the prisoners gave the alarm, the keepers
responded and for time there was an eXcit-
ing scene. Brickley was subsequently discovered
making his way to the tower. He was secured In
the hallway, 0verpowered ana the Jimmy and
jimmy had been furnished him by Henry Johnson,
q negro, who had been employed In the COOK
house. Johnson was sent to the workshop and
BriCkley was closely confined.
Year: 1873

On Sunday afternoon John Gill, a lad seven years
OF age, whose parents live at No. 449 West Thirty
ninth street, while dying kite from the roof of the
house, lost his balance ana fell to the ground. a
distance of forty feet and was so severely injured
that he died soon afterwards. Coroner Young was
notified to hold an inquest.
Year: 1873

being tried as in "a of assault and battery"


should hereafter first visit tho County Clerk,


and procure list OF all the marks and brands on


file in that Office, aud if the barrels Or bottles


which he purchases have corresponding marks, he


must be careful, after he has consumed the bev-


erage, not to fill them again, nor to break them,


nor to sell them, nor in any way violate the stat


ute The law is silent as to what man may do


with the empty bottle. There is no requirement.
to return It; nor can he give 1t away, or sell 1t,
or break it; having once bought 1t he must; 1t
seems. forever keep 1t, and if his purchases are
extensive, be is apt, in time, to have good stock
On hand, The only escape which the law
permits seens to be that, when he pur-:
ehases dozen bottles, Il ho can, by paving
an extra fee, get written permission to do what
he pleases with them, in which case he can sell,
making an assignment Of hfs permission: We
suppose good customer can purchase written
permission, good for whole year, at commute
tion ratea. But it will be seen that buying bev-
e1nses by the bottle is attended with serious
dangers. The purchaser is bound to keep the
bottle for all time. II he is a boarder he must
carry it with him every time he moves. He can
no more get rid of it than the fellow in the play
could get rid Of the "bottle imp;'' for the man
who throws an empty bottle out Of the window
must be tried as in case Of assault and battery.
The Legislature was precisely ninety days franz
ing this law. Committees without number, tried
their hand to fashion it, and the author OF the
bill, it is said left Springfield, upon is passage,
declaring that he had written his nama in im-
perishahle characters upon the great charter OF
human liberty,
Year: 1873

The Herald and the Campaign in Cali


fornia.


To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-


AS part proprietor of the Bulletin and Daily CdU
newspapers OF San Francisco will you allow me to
correct the erroneous impression that they are
republican journals They are, and always have
been independent in politics, aud do not hesitate
to sustain or condemn the acts OF either party or
OF the national administration they seem to
deserve. No man or party ever secures their sup
port except on the ground OF personal merit.


The HERALD IS right In Its appreciation OF the
significance OF the late election In California. The
result triumph neither OF democrats nor re-
publlcans but OF honest clear-headed men OF both
political parties. who were independent enough
to ignore party organizations when, through
the management OF adrOit wlrc-pullers,
they had fallen under control OF the most Oppres-
slve railroad monopoly that ever cursed q State
The verdict Is notice to the Central Pacific Rail
road Company that 1t must get out OF politics,
attend to It's legitimate business. abandon its irr-
tatng system Of hostile discrimination against
localities or individuals, and cease debauching pr-
mary meetings, political conventions and elections,
with view to forcing from the people subsidies
for the enrichment OF the contract and finance
ring-the Credit Mobilier of the Central Pacific
Railroad Company. When that notice Is needed
the popular war OF sell-defence against the ring
will cease and the Independent peoples party will
resolve into its original elements J. w. S.
Year: 1873

dramarlc resunectionist whom We need. II
ne bestows vitality where other actors give
mechanical motion, if he proves that he has
studied the rhetoric of human nature as closely
as the words of his part, the syntax Of flesh
and blood as religiously as the sentences of
the dramatist, all that we can hope is that he
will reach the people at large as well as that
small proportion nicknamed society 1t will
be cause for very serious congratulation If the
three enterprises we have specified leave be-
hind them, when the season shall have passed
away, stronger and moro wholesome inlu-
.ence than that of feeting fashionable exalta-
dion.
Year: 1873

At halipast nine O'Clock last evening q German
woman named Margaret Kamm, residing at No. 2
Mcadougal street, dled from the effects OF arsenic
taken by her for the purpose OF suicide. On sat.
urday last stranger called at her house and rep
resented to her that he was master OF Ger
man association, OF which her husband
was q member, and that he had procured
for him q situation as watchman in a place
uptown where he would receive S75
a per month, and that he wanted $50 for security.
Believing his story, the woman gave him all the
money she had In the house and he went away.
Upon her husbands return she told him what had
occurred, when he pronounced the man SWIM
dler and reproached her Tor her stupidity III giving
away her money IL Is supposed this affair so
preycd upon her mind that she resolved to destroy
herself and so took the arsenic for that purpose as
no other cause can be assigned for the rash act.
Year: 1873

About twelve O'Clock yesterday william Hurley,
young man twenty-six years Of age, residing at
No. 20 Washington street, while in Rector street
was stabbed in the neck aud face by some un-
known parties, who made their escape. The
wounded man was carried to the Park Hospital,
when an examination showed that he was para
lived from wound in the back OF his neck, the
spinal cord being injured. He remained insensible
during the day, and consequently he was unable to
give any account OF his assaiants, who up to late
hour had not been arrested. HERALD reporter,
who visited the hospital last evening, was in
formed that Hurley was still insenslDle and his
case was pronounced extremely critical by the at
tending pnyscians
Year: 1873

Coroner Young was yesterday called to 10th
street and Eleventh avenue to hold an inquest on
the body Of Margaret Smith, woman fifty years
OF age and born in Ireland, who died in the Ninety
ninth street hosptabl from the effects OF injuries
received the afternoon previous oy being run over
Oh the corner Of Eleventh avenue and l24th street
by train OF cars belonging TO the Hudson River
Railroad Company The body was badly crushed
and mutilated. 1t was rumored that the accident
was the result OF deceased's own careessness, but
that will be determined hy the tnvesttgattQp.
Year: 1873

THE POLICE JUSTICE QUESTION. argu-
ment on the constitutionality Of the new
Police Justice appointments was concluded
yesterday, and the decision Of the Court is
reserved. Meantime the question comes up
before the Oyer and Terminer in a new form,
and one which which proves the importance
Of its early and final decision. A person
convicted of o crime by the Court
Of Special Sessions, presided over
by the newly appointed Judges, moves
for release from imprisonment on the ground
that he has been tried before Court that has
no legal standing. This case Is only one OF
many yet to come, and hence the sooner we
know whether the law is constitutional or not
the better will it be for the community.
Year: 1873

DOLLARS AGAINST HONOR Fifty six per-
sons have been torn from the protection Of
the American flag and butchered at Santiago
de Cuba. Some Of the murdered men were
citizens Of the United States. One might sup
pose that this ought to be cause for complaint
on our part, but we are told ffom Washing
ton that we must do nothing to provoke war
with Spain, because we owe great deal
OF money to the foreign holders of our bonds,
ana war would put up the price Of gold


Are we nation of fools or poltroons2 DO
the authorities at Washington believe that the
American people will allow this great crime of
the Spanish butchers and this insult to the
American Republic to be tamely submitted to
on such sordid considenhons2 If thoy do
they ore ignorant of public sentiment
Year: 1873

THE CoLoRED MEN TO THE Front. We are
glad to report that deputation Of colored
men in behalf Of their enslaved brethren in
the island Of Cuba go from this city to Wash
ington to-day to lay before the President a
petition, signed by five thousand Of our colored
fellow citizens, in behalf Of active intervention
for the independence Of Cuba. AS Cuban in
dependence means, among other good things,
the emancipation Of the four hundred thou
sand slaves Of the island our free colored cti-
zens have the right and 1t is their duty, to
speak for Cuba, and we hope they will speak
to some purpose They can If they will.
Year: 1873

Just now when so many thousand families are
in danger OF wanting for the necessares OF life,
owing to the slackenng OF business and the dull
times in various industrial pursuits, It Is well TO
know that our citizens are making every effort to
stay the progress OF hunger and distress. Among
the projects OF relief Is one to be known as the
"Bread and Beef House,n which will be located up
town, and Will minister to the wants OF the needy
somewhat alter the manner OF the institutions
under the auspices OF the ST. Johns Guild In the
lower part OF the city. More than this u is
scarcely necessary TO IL Is in the hands ol the
Anth0n Memorial church, which Is now occupied
In developing the plans for the work so certain 10
be painfully demanded tns winter. 10 iurtner tn0
project In q financial sense MIR. De Cordova VIII
give lecture on "Mrs. Grundy,r ut the Fty.thirdi
which viii be devoted to the sustenance OF this de-
serving new charity.
Year: 1873

The tinge of cheerfulness which has come
upon the financial prospect may be fleeting,
although we sincerely hope that it may not be
So In any case, our city authorities must
not lose sight of the fact which our columns
abundantly testify, that the dearth of employ
ment among immense numbers of the
laboring class is very great, and far more
likely to increase than otherwise. We have
steadily set our face against creating
needless alarm, but it is the weakest policy in
the world to refuse acknowledgment of an un-
satisfactory state Of affairs when such really
exists. We have noticed in our columns with
great pleasure the efforts which private associa-
tions of the charitable are making to help feed
the poor. There is q large space for such
blessed work, where the recipients cannot take
advantage of the broader measures of relief
which it is the bounden duty Of our city gov
ernment to provide. This relief must come
in the shape of work. Shall our NUM-
meeting the crying want which is at
our doors? We have pointed out
a few of the public works upon which this
surplus labor can be brought to bear with the
best effect to the city. 1t may be put down
as the determination Of all Americans who
love their country that no man within its
bounds willing to work shall want for bread.
In Europe it has been common for the
despotic governments, which disguise them
selves under the name of 'paternal, /"
TO keep thousands Of workmen en-
ployed, year in and year out, lest they
should turn their energies to revolution Here,
under most circumstances, man can expect
no such help from the State. There is no
despotism which necessitates giving men work
to keep them out of politics. When extra
ordinary want calls for extraordinary relief it
is accorded as cheerful recognition of the fact
that the poor as well as the rich 90 to form
the nation. The duty Of our city government,
then, is to act promptly and effectively.
There is work enough, sadly needed, TO give
the poor employment, and we hope to see
action taken without delay