smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

WARRINGTON, March 6.-General
Babcock was examined before the
New York customhOuse vestigattng
committee to-day. he sW q that he
had no interest whatever L Lest q
Stockings general order bush dss. he
had never received money from 1t In
any way or shape, nor was there any
arrangement TO receive benefit from
any customhouse officers. BE also
sWOre that he is detailed from the en-
gineer corps AZ secretary to the Presl-
dent, and has charge of the public
buildings and grounds, and Is engi-
neer of the Potomac Aqueduct, and
receives and draws no pay whatever
except as a major Of engineers. he
knew Leet intended to get into some
business, and from what Leet said,
witness obtained the idea that Leet
had thought of going into the ware
house business, and Leet might have
mentioned the general order business; T;
he then had no idea OF what
the general order business was.
BE knew a few days befors the ap-
pointment Of Grinneu that the latter
was to be appointed collector Of the
port of New York, and thought a gen.
eral letter of introduction, written by
Gen. Grant to Leet, was written q few
days before that appointment, and
that Its date showed that fact.


In answer to the question whether
the witness knew Leet was drawing
$500 q month, a sfneCure at that time,
Gen, Babcock replied that he knew
nothing except from reports.


He had hrst met Lindsey nduring
the last year of the late war and die
not remember seeing him again until
the close Of the war. BE cOQldn't say
whether he next saw Lindsey In
New York or Washington. BE
thought he saw him on the same
boat coming to Washington Ia 1854
he could not positively say. BE saw
Lindsay from 1884 to 1889. he did
not remember Of writing any COM
munication to Lindsay, except re-
turning his thanks for having sent
him some trout. Lindsay had never
been st his house or his private rooms,
BE did not remember Of seeing him
al the executive mansion but once.


Senator Bayard asked General Bah
cock 10 look at the letter handed him


General Babcoek said 1t was written
by him, but he did not reoollect na


he had done 90 until be wes Esnindes
Year: 1872

The Musical and Dramatic Season OF


Isy2-73.


We publish in the HERALD to-day an ex-
haustive article on the coming season of music
and the drama, giving the full details of the
arrangements made by oil the leading theatres
in the United States. The wonderful growth
of the public taste for the theatre has been the
means of increasing the number Of establish
ments throughout the country until now a
theatre or music hall seems as necessary an
adjunct to some towns and villages as q school
house. And good school it may be when
conscientious management directs it. "Hold-
ing the mirror up to nature" however, is not
thought much of nowadays by managers.
The only mirror they know is Of the convex
kind, which caricatures nature and distorts her
most beautiful features In their insane
desire to acquire fortune as quickly as pos
sible, even if it is necessary to degrade their
profession and to cast aside the principles of
taste and deoency, some of our managers
are stumbling blocks in the path of progress
and art We find here machine play which
is the veriest trash, with, perhaps, some ex-
traordinary sensation in the way of railroad
or steamboat disaster, and negro minstrel as
a star, with song and dance and banjo or
tin whistle solo. This will do very well for
the class of people that fancy it.; but when we
find it occupying the boards of some of the
best theatres in the provinces, to the exclusion
of real merit, the nuisance becomes intolerable.
Again. the detestable principles and morality
of the latest French school, Of which Dumas
fills is, perhaps, the most outspoken exponent
have insidiously crept into some of the society
plays on the American boards to poison the
minds of all who witness these plays and to
give color to the diatribes of the parsons
against the stage. Surely American society,
which such pieces ore supposed to illustrate, is
not so lost to all shame as to trample under
foot its own laws. What we want is mirror
of respectable society, not one that reflects the
extravagancies of the, unpleasant classes The
evil has grown to such an extent in some
quarters that o legalized censorship would
prove highly salutary. The Presidential cam
paign, formerly such bugbear to managers,
seems to have no effect on the arrangements
for the coming season, for they are moro ex-
tensive than ever before. Engagements ex-
tending far into the Spring are made without
thought of the rival attractions Of Chappaqua
and Grants cottage by the sea- The pub
lie will not let politics interfere with their
amusements as in past years, but are content
to vote and let the wirepullcrs and their pup
pets anuse themselves


The prospects sor the Italian Opora season
Year: 1872




The HERALD special report from Geneva,
which appears in our columns this morning,
sets forth the judicial rule which the members
of the Court of Arbitration in the Alabama
claims case enforced as an essential of the
international counsel argument just previous
to the recess adjournment The Court required
that the legal gentlemen should show that what
is called "due diligence on the part of o
nation is principle of law. What was the
value Of the commissions held by the Confed-
crate cruisers, and how far did they entail
responsibility on Great Britain when they
entered her ports how far did the coaling Of
the cruisers in English ports make England re-
sponsible for their actsp Sir Rounded Palmer
and the American representatives debated
the propositions at great length and with
much force on either side The very fact
of the arbitrators having insisted on their
doing SO is accepted as proof Of their anxiety
to render final judgment which will be &C
ceptable not only to the peoples more imme-
diately concerned in the present suit, but also
to the Powers which were more professedly
neutral during the existence Of the original
difficulty. And it should be so taken indeed.
The Geneva arbitrators are men of enlightened
minds and of high character and position. In
their wish to discharge their duty faithfully
and intelligently they have gone back to first
principles--to the very fountainhead-to the
little bubbling springs-of the late misunder-
standing between the Americans aud the
English. 1t is to be hoped that their effort
will be successful, and that they will be en-
abled to secure Arm footing from which
they will pronounce Judgment which will be
recognized as q new creed for the regulation of
the conduct and comfy Of the great Powers
of the world in cases of war in the future
Year: 1872

some four hundred miles down the Gulf oi
Mexico. The poor sufferers were thus left ON
the island to fare as best they could. Such
laws are quite worthy of the people who make
and enforce them. This matter must be dill
gently inquired into; and we hope that Mex
leo will be made to understand that there is a
limit to human endurance. We have surely
had enough of Mexican barbarity. Il Is time
that the whole people were taken in charge and
compelled to conform to the requirements of
modern civilization.
Year: 1872

sionew TO parley where We ought to have
sent soldiers to strike Even while the profit
less powwow was being carried on with mock
solemnity armed bands laid in wait for those
who had the courage to give testimony to
execute vengeance ON them. And still the
mockery Of inquiring whether our soil had
been invaded and our people plundered was
continued, even while the rifles of the invaders
were ringing in the ears of the American Com
nissioners


If the question did not so seriously involve
the honor of the American flag and the safety
of the citizens, the conduct of the Washington
authorities would be amusing from its absurd
ity. But as it is we cannot afford to make
light of blunders that are being paid for in tho
blood of Americans. The public mind of the
country is scandalized by the inaction of the
Executive in face of affronts which would not be
suffered by any other civilized Power. Some
thing must be done to protect our territory
from the inroads of Mexican freebooters if the
administration would avoid the condemna-
ton of the people. What is wanted is
vigorous action; and the presence of some
active general, with q sufficient number
of troops at his command. would do more
towards establishing security for person and
property than any amount of treaty making
with a people who only respect force. If the
government will only adopt strong measures
and give orders for the pursuit of robbers into
the Mexican territory, the system Of plunder
would soon come to an end. The mistaken
respect for the territory Of q people who sys-
tematically violate our soil is carried little
too far, and the sooner it is brought to an end
the better. Perhaps, however from this
Mexican Border Commission, and from this
projected visit Of Mr.. Nelson to Washington,
there may be, as we have suggested, some
thing in the wind in reference to Mexico which
will electrify the country The time is getting
short but still manifest destiny offers a
golden opportunity to General Grant in
Mexico. Aam fe..t
Year: 1872

TIE SAGE OF CHArpAQuA UP MOUNT KEAR-
sADaz is the latest note Of his peregrinations in
the Granite State. He will continue bis trip
over hill and dale for another week or two.
Brass bands. leading citizens, clean mechanics
and fat babies have been ordered for week
ahead. He will soon earn ut this rate, a high
rank In the peripatetic school
Year: 1872

The STEAMBOAT Law DOES Nor SATISFY the
authorities, and, accordingly, laudable efforts
are being made by the Treasury Department to
combine in future statute all the rules, safe
guards and precautions necessary to the pro-
lection OF life and property on vessels propelled
by steam. The growing need Of such a law is
felt by every one; for the amount Of property
and humanity risked on steamers increases
largely from year TO year. Everything which
experience and foresight can suggest as means
of making steamboat travel safer should be
carefully included.
Year: 1872

TIE COMET THAT DOES Nor SHOW Or at the
beck of sensation reminds one forcibly of Hot
spur and Glendower about calling spirits
from the vasty deep. Will they Gomez There s
the rub. 1t will be some consolation to the
nervous that we have had meteoric showers In
abundance; but the statement of Professor
Winlock in to-day's HERALD that comet
might be compressed into the size of peach
stone places the matter in q comfortable nut.
shell. The Professor gives as his opinion that
M. Plantamour is not responsible for the
hoax. 1t is possible that the ingenious de.
signer Of the humbug, whoever he was, knew
just sufficient Of astronomy to place it about
the time of the August star shower. A
pleasant fact in relation to this ca'aard is that
none but very old women have been scared.
Year: 1872

Would any mau be SO simple, if he
desifed to kill and destroy tree at
once, as to commence by looping of
the most remote branches from the
root, aud gradually restricting the cir
Gle till he came to the trunk On the
contrary would he not apply the axe
or knife to the source Of supply OF
vegetable life-the root-and il it had
a tap root he would be sure to sever its
connection with the main trunk. Thus
we, as friends of temperance, if we
would destroy the curse of drunken


ness, must strike at the root of the
evil The source of supply must be
severed. The tap-root must be cut off
TO the barrel, aud no vehicle of com
muuicution left to connect with the
human system There are three class


es engaged in making druukards-the
distiller, the yeuder aud the moderate
dram drinker, aud if either of these
classes are destroyed, we will soon be
without any drunkards The distiller
iSbeyond the reach of our influence
the yeuder is iasensibie to reason aud
duty, or SO blinded by his gains that
Le viii not see the truth, so We have
only the moderate drinker to direct our
efforts to, in order to accomplish the
end With them, reason has It's weight,
f-ets fair eonsidsratioa--4sr.s saeut its
power aud truth an abidius place.
Year: 1872

TIE continued jam of wagoas ON
Kentucky Street, especially at the cor
ner Of Clinton is pleasant sight, never
theless the trade could be just IS well
served, if the Marshal wo1id see that
pass-way is kept open. There are
times when it is difficult for even a
pedestrian to squeeze through.
Year: 1872

The City Council OF Columbus, KY,
Has passed q resolution, that said city
will provide for its own poor5 and
therefore the County Court Of Hiek-
man is forbidden to levy or collect any
county lcyee or poll tax from the in
habitauts of said city In other words
Columbus proposes to set up as au in
dependent poor house.
Year: 1872

How WE FADE.-As the trials Of
life thicken, and the dreams of other
days fade one by one. in the deep vista
of disappointed hope. the heart grows
weary of the struggle, and we begin to
realize our insignifcance. Those who
have climb to the pinnacle of fame, or
revel in luxury and wealth, 60 to the
grave at last with the poor mendicant
who begs by the wayside, like him are
soon forgotten. Generation after gen.
Grafton, says an eloquent writer, have
felt as we feel, and their fellows were
as active in life as ours are now. They
passed away as vapor, while nature
wore the same aspect of beauty as
when the Creator commanded her to
be. The heavens will be as bright
over our graves as they are now around
our path; the world have the same ats
traction for offsprings yet unborn that
she had once for ourselves, and that
she has now for our children.
Year: 1872

A MELANCHOLY BREAK-DowN.-
There are lively break-downs that
make an audience laugh, and there
sad and sorrowful break-doWns that
make the kindhearted grieve. To the
latter class belongs the enervation OF
body and mind which is usually called
general debility" or nervous weak-
ness" and which. when neglected, too
often terminates in atrophy and death.
A wholesome medioated stimulant is
the one thing needed in cases of this
description, and science and experience
unite in pointing to Plantation Bitters
as the true specific. The fact that it
combines the properties of an invigor-
ant with those of a regulator and alter
ative, in exactly the proportions neces,
sary to produce a radical change in the
tone of the system, and the action of
the digestive and secretive organs, is
an unanswerable argument in its favor
as general restorative.
Year: 1872

SENTiMENT.-In the Atlantic for
May, DIR. Holmes treats US to this
able defence of sentiment:


I'VE poets, you know, are much
given to indulging in sentiment, which
is mode of consciousness at discount
Just now with tho new generation Of
analysts who are throwing everything
into their crucibles. Now we must
not claim too much for sentiment. II
does not so a great way in deciding
questions of arithmetic, or algebra, OF
geometry. Two and two will undoubt-
edly make four, irrespective Of the
emotions or other idiosyncracies of the
calculator; and the three angles of a
triangle insist on being equal to two
rights angles in the face of the most
impassioned rhetoric or the most in
spired verse. But inasmuch as relis





gion and law, and the whole social
order of civilized society, to say moth
ing of literature and art, are so found
ed on and pervaded by sentiment that
they would all go to pieces without it,
it is word not to be used too lightly
in passing judgment, as if it were an
element to be thrown out or treated
with small consideration. Reason
may be the lever. but sentiment gives
you fulcrum and the place to stand on,
if you want to move the world. Even
'sentimentality,' which is sentiment
overdone, Is better than that affectation
of superiority to human weakness,
which is only tolerable as one of the
stage properties offullblown dandyism,
and is. at best, but half-grown cynic-
ism, which participle and noun you
can translate, if you happen to remem-
ber the derivation of the last of them,
by a single, familiar word" =
Year: 1872

The following was written by a
father to his son in college;


"My Dear Son-I write to send you
new socks your poor mother knit for
you by cutting down some of mine.
Your mother sends you ten dollars
without my knowledge, and for fear
you would not spend it wisely l have
kept back half and only send you five.
Your own mother and | are well ex
cept that your sister has got the meas
les, which We think would spread
among the other girls if Tom had not
had them before, and he is the only
one left. Ihope you will do honor to
my teaching, if you do not you are a
donkey and your mother and | are
your afiectionate parents"
Year: 1872

Referring to the remarkable course
of the government in tie Alabama case,
Mr.. Greeley pithily observes: "1f
this administration had foolishly all
lowed us to drift into war, it would
have been deep disgrace. But even
that would have injured it no more in
public estimation than this unheard of
and inooncsivable exhibition of inca
pacity, Truculence is bad enough, but
trucking is worse; and what shall we
say when both characterize tho govern.
ment2 If this administration can boast
Of nothing else, at least, it oan say it
has exceeded all its predecessors in get
ting into quarTes without cause. and
out of them without dignity"
Year: 1872

"A thief visited Frank Scales stable
last Saturday night and took out q sor-
rel mare. Chase was given in few min
utcs thereafter and the mare was found
down on the river bottom near the fer
ry.-i pctcrsburgh Press.
Year: 1872

A journey through the six New England
States and a portion of New York reveals the
fact that the apple crop is equally abundant in
all quarters. The trees everywhere are loaded
with this staple fruit. Along the Hudson from
Troy to Poughkeepsie, it is nearly the same as
in Connecticut the apple trees are loaded. In
some of the towns about this city the trees are
kept from breaking down by props and stays.
- Golden Sweets" sell to dealers for IL per bar
rel and purchasers are scarce even at that rate.
Many farmers are feeding them out to their
stock In Maine it is the same. A large dealer
here refused last week, to take Rhode Island
greenings, deliverable in October, at any price
above vi barrel 1t is a great year for apples
and there is a fair to midding' prospect of All
abundant product of cider the coming fall
Hartford Times.
Year: 1872

Yesterday afternoon a rumor was current on
the street that a terrible accident had occurred
at the Government quarry, in which three men
were fatally injured, and, as is always the case,
a thousand different storries were afoat, some
even reporting that three men fell from the
custom house and were killed, &c, &c, Gen.
Holman, on learning Of the rumors, sent his son
to the quarry to get the particulars, and from
whom we received them as follows:


There were only six men working in the
quarry at the time, three Of whom were work.
ing at the derricks, while the other three were
on very large rock, which they were prepar-
ing to move, but before being quite ready, the
rock gave way and fell in the river, carryin G
the parties on top with it. The men were not
fatally injured, as Was reported, but
only considerably stunned from the force
of the conclusion, and two of them
had their faces and heads somewhat bruised up.
Our informant says that the two brothers, Miller
! by name, who were most injured, were able to
walk home, about half mile from there, before
! he left, and hoped they would soon be able for
duty again. The General deeply regrets the
accident and the more so as there are always
persons ready to magnify such calamites and
attempt to lay them to carelessneSS on the part
of the managers. This can not, however, be
done in this case, as no one could have foreseen
the cause Of the rock moving prematurely.
The river had washed away quite a cavity un-
der this ledge of rock which had, however,
been filled up with rock so as to make it safe
But water, like fire, when bent on mischief is
not so easily stopped, and it again found its way
under the ledge, washing out more than before
and further back under the rock, thus causing
this rock in an i'll moment to give way.


There were some tools lost by the accident,
but the advantage gained by the removal of
this rock more than compensates for the loss of
the tools. It lays open to easy access some of
the finest of marble.
Year: 1872

Urinary and Womb Diseases, Gravel, Diabetes. Drop
syt IncOntnence of Urine Brights disease, Albumin
the water is thick cloudy, mixed with substances like
the white of egg threads like white silk. or there


is morbid dark, bilious appearance. and white Bone
dust deposits, and where there is preking, burning
sensat and pain in the small of the back and along
the lOins. In all these conditions Railways Sarparil-


liam ResOlvent, aided by the application of Railways
Ready Relief to the spine and small of the back. and
the bowels regulated with one or two OF RadWay's
Regulating Pills per day will, soon make complete
In few days the patient will be enabled to hold
and discharge water naturally without Dain and the
Urine will be restored to its natural clear and amber
OF sherry color
Year: 1872

SPRINGFIELD, January ll.-Strong
efforts are being brought to bear on the
Legislature to induce it to rescind the
resolution concerning the one term
principle for the Presidency, but with
ont avail.
Year: 1872

POPULAR SUPERSTITION. - The
moon has much to answer for in the
fortunes and misfortunes of supersti-
tious people. There are, to this day,
those who will not butcher pigs while
the moon is wanning, less the pork
should shrink in boiling, nor plant
seeds in the "down sign" lest they
should not come up. People will look
at the profile of the new moon and
pronounce oracularly whether the
month is to be dry or wet. A certain
magical Importance is given to the
state of the weather when the moon
"changes," that is to say, when the
almanac marks the quarter, as if the
moon were not changing all the time.
In small and primitive seaport towns
it is verify believed that while the tiae
is rising sick person cannot die, and
that life will not go till it ebbs out of
the tide. To revert again to the moon,
the word "lunatic," of universal appli-
cation to insane persons, is only po-
liter form of struck, the moon
having once been held answerable for
all dementia. Herbs for medical pur-
poses were once gathered with great
care at certain times in the moons age.
Southey in one of his books has pre-
served an account of an ancient SUPER
stition, viz. F: that warts on the hand
could be cured by washing them in the
moonshine in a silver basin; that is,
going through the form of washing
without water in the moonlight; and
speaking of warts and excresences
recalls the fact that to this day many
people will affirm that they have had
warts removed by "pow,wowing,"
which means the muttering of some
senseless jargon over them.
Year: 1872


A lesson in itself Sublime,


A lesson worth enshrining,
Is this; II take no heed of time,
Save when the sun is shining"
Those motto words dial bore,
Aud wisdom never breaches
To human hearts better lore
Than this short sentence teaches.


As life is sometimes bright and fair,


And sometimes dark and lonely;


Let us forget the toll and care,


And note the bright hours only.
There is no grove on earth's broad chart
But has some bird TO cheer it;
So hope sings on in every heart,
Although we may not hear IT.
And if to-day the heavy wing
OF sorrow is expressing,
Psrchance to-morrow's sun will bring
The weary heart blessing.
We bid the joyous moments haste,
And then forget the glitter
We take the cup of life and taste
No portion but the bitter;
But should we teach our hearts 20 deem
It's sweetest drop the strongest;
And pleasan. hours should ever seem
To linger round us longest.
Tho darkest shadows Of the night
Are just before the morning
Then let us wait the coming light,
All boding phsntoms scorn,ng;
And while wore passing on the tide
OF times fast ebbing river,
Let's pluck tho blossoms ty its side,
And bless the gracious Giyer.


For life is sometimes bright and fair


And sometimes dark and lonely,


Then let's loreet the toll and care


And Iote the bright hours only.