smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

Natural Science, as distinct and noble fea-
ture of our schools, is no longer considered a
luxury or an impOssibility. 1t is a keen
pleasure to note the larger ideas on this sub
iect which are daily floating into the atmOs-
phere of instruction. The practical study of
the sciences is about to be begun by the public
schools of Massachusetts it has already taken
ground in Illinois, and the Teachers Assoca-
tons of that State and of Michigan have lately
passed resolutions indOrsing and urging the
same. There are but few professors and teach
ers anywhere who have the courage or the
bigotry to protest. Almost every educational
convention and academic address brings valu-
able aid to the scientific idea, and the ability to
give technical instruction is fast becoming a
necessary part of the teachers qualifications.
A dangerous thing to be guarded against is
the attempt of incompetent, half-taught people
to give such instruction. In these hands
scientific study would be worse than igno-
rance, since it could only serve to disgust
and confuse the pupil Normal Schools and
State Superintendents should take care of this.


1t is feared by some Of the newly converted
that these studies will wrest too much time
and attention from those cOmmoner ones
WDlc0 L0cy COHblucI 50 muCu uolC uSClui'
In st. Louis they have reached the point of
giving an hour each week to the Natural
Sciences-not generous, but still better than
nothing. A change in our methods 6t tuition
would leave plenty Of time for the new in
struction. Liberality, intuition, and thorough
ness in knowledge on the part Of the teacher,
and a great deal more oral teaching, are
agents which would do much to effect this. AS
the practical arts become more and more
strictly ranked as honorable professions,
the necessity for technical tuition beginning
in the primary schools grows more urgent. A
child old enough to go to school at all ia old
enough to understand and be fascinated by
the simple and attractively presented element
ary principles of, at least, one natural science
one that may some time become a ladder
for his ambition. In a country still new, and
above everything industrial, all that will go
to make the useful as we'll as the learned pro-
fessions distinguished should be untringly en-
cOuraged 1t is weak if not worse longer
to disregard science either in the abstract or
in its practical application to the arts and
the ignorant conservatism which opposes its
presence in general education is beyond ex-
cuse. A thing to be considered in the begin
ming is the need of vivid and accurate text
books for the primary schools. Hero is n
suggestion for some of our brilliant sayants ;
the preparation of such books would be alike
honorable and remuneative. May all the
saints OF education save us from course fur
Year: 1873

| We ventured to say few words the othef
day upon the pleasures and advantages oil
walking. Unfortunately, just at tins time, the
condition of the pavements of New-fork IA
such that any pace worthy of being called
walking is out of the question. The state OF
our thoroughfares is simply shocking. We
leave the middle of them 10 be discussed and
possibly sworn at by the drivers of different
vehicles; but we must ask, in the name OF
our shambling, shufiling, slipping and sprawl
ing fellow creatures, if nothing can be done to
render sidewalks less a msnomer9 The ordi-
nance requires that both snow and ice shall
be removed by abutters, and there is a pretense
of doing this. When the snow has ceased to
fall somebody comes out OF the house ano
lazily scrapes the stones with shovel. In nine
cases out of ten the work is so incompletely dOns
that it would have been better to have left II
uninterrupted. A thin glazing, or a rough
hummOcky surface remains, upon which IL
at once painful and dangerous to work
sidewalk may be thoroughly cleaned. No"
and then you come to the work of an ener-
getic and thorough going Samaritan, and az
you pass jauntily by his premises you bid
God bless him. But most sidewalks are mol
thoroughly cleaned, or anything ike IT, Az
for the crossings and cutters, 1t being
nobody's business To care for them, OF course
they are not cared for at all by anybody.
What dreadful traps they arc, it is next TO
impossible to describe. There is a partlcu-
larry bad bit near Fulton Market, on Fulton
ST., and close by the entrance of that pala-
tial structure, which is eminently fitted
for the breaking both of legs and heads.
PeopIe ON New Years Day, fell down and
groaned on the ground, as If they had been
shot in line of battle, The crossing, In con-
sequence of carts, is not an easy one to
achieve at any time Except midnght), but
when plateaus of ice and ridges of snow and
slippery hag-stOnes are supperadded to the
common difficulties you go through with
something which might be a minor episode in
the ascent of Mt. Blanc. Another dangerous
nuisance is the iron cover of the cOal-hole in
the sidewalk. Generally it is as polished "a
the smoothest OF Mr. TennysOn's verses.
When it is covered with flmy vail OF snow,
every pedestrian who steps upon 1t must go
down. unless saved by a special interpOsition
of Providence. So down you go, and are
laughed at by the inhuman observers, lucky
if you are famed only for week, and not for
the rest of your natural life.


We have indicated no trouble which may
not be avoided. The whole nuisance results
from cold-blooded selfishness and the most
reprehensible neglect 1t is the more aggra-
vating because in cold weather it is necessary
for our comfort to proceed at q good brisk
pace. We have law enough to remedy the
difficulty. Why can we not have it enforcedf
Year: 1873

Credit MObier business, l0th as we were to
suspect certain men named in McCOmb's list,
we had special reasons for thinking that the
story of McComb deserved publicity and in
yestigation. In the first pace, we knew that
some of the shrewdest and most eminent law
yers in this city, after careful examination
of the evidence, were satisfied of its truth.
Secondly, we had positive knowledge that the
very suspicious letters of 0akes Ames were
genuine. Finally, one of the inculpated Con-
gressmen (and we may add that he is one of
those who have been most profuse in public
professions of innocence) admitted privately
that he did hold some of the Credit Mobilier
stock Others, we had grounds for believing,
made similar Acknowledgements; but in the
case of this gentleman our knowledge was
positive, for he had made his statement to
one of THE TRIBUNE stockholders. Under
these circumstances, we reproduced to Nc
Combs startling charges, and we have never
ceased to urge that they should be taken up
in Congress and submitted to the most rigld
investigation. If they prove to be unfounded,
we shall be the first to congratulate the ac-
cused and the country upon the removal OF a
stain not only upon private character, but
upon the honor of the National Legislature.


But il must be evident that the investiga-
ton. az at present conducted, is doing no
good. A great deal of truth, mingled with a
great deal of distorted rumoT, escapes from
the closed doors of the COmmittee-room, and
the result is to persuade the country that ugly
facts have been brought to light which the
Committee is trying to suppress The opinion
of the Republican organ in Cincinnati that
"every one whose name appeared on the
"Oakes Ames list was found to be in greater
cor less degree involved is the opinion of
more than half the community. The elaborate
denials published by several of these gentle
men during the months of September and
October go for nothing since it is understood
that some of them have already been con-
tradicted point blank by the testimony and
the most that is now said for the twelve by
their political defenders is that they may have
acquired the stock hOnOrably and held it with
out rendering any service TO the company


1t is time, however, that mystery should be
dropped. The whole history of the connection
of the Credit MObilier, the Union Pacific Rail-
road Company, and Mr.. Oakes Ames with
Congress and Congressman must be exposed


There can be no good reason for holding the
inquest in secret. Innocence has everything
to gain and nothing to lose by public in
quiry; only guilt can profit by private one.
Whatever the result nothing will now satisfy the
suspicious public mind, which already begins
unfairly to question the integrity of the Com
mittee, but an open trial and daily report of
the evidence. 1t is no more than kind and
Just to warn the Committee that their indi-
vidual Judgment expressed in a formal report
to the House after n secret examination, will
not be accepted by the public. If they persist
in keeping their doors shut, every one of the
twelve gentlemen named on the McComb list
will bear forever a stain upon his reputation.
Year: 1873

It was hardly to be expected that human
nature as represented in Congress could abide
any scheme to prevent the proposed increase
of naval cadetships. So, instead of keeping
the number of appointments where they are
now, the apportionment to the augmented
representation in the Lower House is proposed
to be continued. The two years added to the
academic term will, no doubt, improve the
service; but the best part of it is that the
number of appointments will not be
decreased; and Congressman may breathe
easier. As for the military cadetships,
the reason given for continuing the present
proportion of these is sad one. Gen. Sher-
man thinks that so many officers are killed in
the Indian wars that the anticipated increase
of graduates from the Military Academy can
not swamp the army. And this is under our
admirable Indian policy, which is expensive
because it is peaceful, and also makes a re-
enforcement of the officers of the line highly
desirable.
Year: 1873

We have felt for years wretched conviction that
nothing on earth would ever deliver US from the
slow avalanche of marble EYES, and Venuses, and
Dianas and Floras and Apollos and other people OF
their time and peculiar costumes with which sculp
tors are eternally threatening us. After long ex-
pericnce of these beauties of modern art we were
glad to see even dabOlical horrors in the shape OF
CHASTITY and unnatural stone statesmen and generals.
But our trials are now. We can afford to for
get the unhappy classical limitations and to smile al
the dreadful marble things in buttons and thick
soled boots for new era in sculpture hath come.
An American artist in Florence, disregarding tradi-
tons etc. has actually gone back TO the days OF his
childhood for a subject, and has made statue Of
Robinson Crusoe How he ever came to do so Is more
than we can tell, but it extremely good Of him.
Here's novelty. Here are mines Of richness! The
aspiring sculptor need seek more the mythology
cal or biographical dictionaries; let him turn to
nursery literature and be wise Why not make
beautiful the walks of Central Park with something
of this kind There are Fe-fo-fum, and Blunder-
bore, and their pleasant set-hOw improving and
beautiful would be their figures Also, how graceful
and heart-warmIng statue of dear old Mother
Goose herself all frills and fatness These gen
tie suggestions which should not be wasted.
Year: 1873

The testimony in the Stokes case of the girl
Turner as to the picking up of a pistol sup
posed to be Fisk's, and resembling the one he
habitually carried and displayed on his visits
to the Grand Central Hotel, is the most i'm
portant evidence yet submitted in behalf of
the prisoner. The defense closed its testi-
mony yesterday Unexpectedly; the prosecution
had no Witnesses present, and considerable de-
lay was the consequence.
Year: 1873

The little breeze that was raised among the
outgoing Supervisors and the incoming Alder
men, yesterday, seems an unnecessary one.
The law provides that the official existence Of
the Board of Supervisors shall cease with Jan.
1 Of the year following their service. But the
gentlemen whose term of Office has thus ex-
pired hold that, as there can be no new Board
of Supervisors until the new Board OF Aldermen
meet and organize (Monday, Jan. @, their term
must be extended until next Monday, or there
will be no Supervisors in existence. The an
swer to this anxious quibble is clear. The law
explicitly provides that the Supervisors shall
90 out of Office Jan. 1. The failure of the
law to provide for any interregnum does not
and cannot legalze the action of any man who
exercises official functions after the expiration
of his term of Office.
Year: 1873

Seven bodies, in all, have been found in the
ruins of the Centre-st. building. SO the tale
of the missing is complete, much to the relief
of surviving friends. Next will come the usual
inquest, from which we must expect only a
confirmation of the opinion arrived at by those
who conducted the examination already made.
1t is tolerably well ascertained how the fire
caught; it is also clear that there were not
sufficient means Of exit provided in the build
ing. The coroner's jury may blame somebody
but to what end AS for the Fifth Avenue
Theater fire. an investigation is needless and
impracticable. All traces of the origin of the
fire have disappeared in the general ruin. The
catastrophe breaches its own sermon. Taken
in connection with two or three similar dis
asters which just preceded it, it may well alarm
theater-goers.
Year: 1873

Some new reports about the management
of the Brooklyn Bridge Company are promised
publicity to-day; and from all accounts the
allegations will be equally disagreeable to the
Directors and the taxpayers. Rumors of mis-
management of the finances of the Company
have long prevailed in Brooklyn, but the piers
advanced so rapidly and the prospects of the
early completion of the great work were so
fair that people had begun to hope that these
damaging stories were untrue. The reports to
BE- submitted to-day to the Directors belong
also to the public, and we hope no further
effort will be made to suppress them. We are
clad that they have been kept secret until the
management could prepare its defense, for we
want to sec the whole truth brought out at
once.
Year: 1873

China has signihed its national individuality
by adopting an imperial flag. This means
something more than a mere sign of imperial
power; for a distinctive flag is only required
when the nation which uses it takes its place
among the commercial communities of the
world The flag described, however, is not
banner with a new device, though strange
one. II was the ready invention of the late
Year: 1873

Mr.. Burlingame when the Embassy of which
he was the head, came to this country, the
need of a national flag was at once perceived; /;
and as yellow is the imperial color and the
flying dragon is part of the imperial insignia,
their combination made what will now be
known as the official flag of China among
civilized nations.
Year: 1873

A fatal collision on the West Pennsylvania
Railroad, yesterday, adds another item of evil
dence to the volume in favor of some contriv-
ance which shall make platforms stronger.
In this case, as in many Others the doubling
up of the platforms caused the only DEATH
Platforms which cannot be crushed may save
a car from being "telescoped." But even in
a collision of moderate force frail platforms
are almost sure to be fatal traps.
Year: 1873

The unexpected demand for TIE TRrBUNEs
reproduction on half sheet Of its entire series
of reports of Prof. 1yndall's lectures, yester-
day, exhausted our supply There has been no
more curious illustration of the recent and
marked development of public interest in the
direction Of scientific inquiry. A fresh edition
will be printed and ready Tor sale this morn
ing at our counter; price cents per single
copy, cents if by mail, the usual discount to
wholesale dealers.
Year: 1873

An increase of the public debt is an nci-
dent so unusual that there may well he an
expression of surprise. For four years the
monthly report has shown steady decrease !;
but now we suddenly run up an addition OF
.3O7 to the national indebtedness. This, of
course, does not appear in any increase Of the
bonded debt which cannot be augmented
without the authorization of Congress. The
deficiency is in the balances on hand, and the
semi-oflicial explanation is that the December
payments have been heavy and the receipts
lighter than usual. 1t is intimated that unre-
ported collections of $3OOO,O0O may be added
to tho balances on hand. That amount how
ever, might better appear in the next monthly
statement.
Year: 1873

Just what a fire-proof building really is has
suddenly become q question of more imme-
diate interest to New Workers than almost any
other. The shock of one great fire after an
other has at last fairly startled our com
munity into something like careful
consideration of the dangers which sur
round us, and a desire to know how
to avert their increase in the future.
Mr.. Arthur Gilman, in an able letter, pub
lsbed in another column, throws a flood of
light upon the subject, and will be gratefully
thanked by our readers for his admirable pre-
sentiment of the needs of our building system
and the way to supply them.
Year: 1873

OUR NEW IMPROVED MACHINE


Stands without rival, and should find its
way into every family. 1t has reached the
highest state OF perfection of the Sewing Ma
chine yet produced, and its sales are constant
ly. increasing throughout the world.
Year: 1873

Of dust and three broken tacks snapped out
Of the northwest corner into your mouth by
the wind, you make some observations which
you neglected to mention while in the house


Then you hunt up a stick and 20 for that
carpet The first blow hides the sun, and
all the fair face Of nature behind cloud Of
dust and right in the center Of that cloud,
with the wind square in your face, no mat
ter how you stand, you WELD that cudgel
until both hands are blistered, and the milk
of human kindness curdles in your bosom.
You can whip the carpet a longer or short
er period, according to the size Of your mad
it don't make any difference to the carpet,
it is just as dusty, and fuzzy, and generally
disagreeable after you have whipped it two
hours, as It was when you commenced.
Then you bundle it up with one corner
dragging, and stumble into the house, and
have more trouble with the stove, and fail
to find any way Of using the carpet stre'cher
while you stand on the carpet, aud fail to find
any place to stand Of from the carpet, and
you get on your knees again, while your wife
holds the saucer, and with blind confidence
hands you broken tacks, crooked tacks, tacks
with no points, tacks with no heads, tacks with
no feathers, tacks with the biggest end at
the point. Finally, the carpet is down, and
the baby comes back, and the cat comes
back, and tho dog comes back, and your
wife smiles sweetly, aud says she is glad
that job is of her mind. As it is too late
to do anything else, you sit by the FIRE and
smoke, with the inner consciousness that you
are the meanest man in America The next
day you hear your wife tell a friend that
she is so tired she took up and put dowr
thet great, heavy carpet, yesterday.
Year: 1873




The annual ceremony Of taking up, and
whipping, and putting down carpets is al
most upon us 1t is one Of the ills which
flesh is heir to, and cannot be avoided
You 60 home some pleasant spring day, at
peace with the world, and find the baby
with a clean face, and get your favorite
pudding for dinner Then your wife tells
you how much younger you are looking,
aud says she really hopes she can turn
that walking suit she wore last fall, and
save the expense Of new suit, and then
she asks you if you can't just help her
about taking up the carpet. If you are
fool, and you generally are by that time,
you tell her of course you can, just as
well as not. Then she gets a saucer for
the tacks and stands and holds it, and you
get the claw, and get down on your knees
and begin to help her. You feel quite
economical about the three first tacks, and
take them out carefully and put them in
the saucer. Your wife is good about hold
ing the saucer, aud begules you with an
interesting story about how your neighbor's
little boy is not expected to live till morn
ing Then you come to the tack with a
crooked head, and you get the claw under
it and the head comes off and the leather
comes off and the carpet comes of, and as
il won't do to leave the tack in the floor,
because it will tear the carpet when it is
put down again, you 20 to work aud
skin your knuckle, and get sliv.
er under your thumb nail, and tell
your wife to shut up about that ever
lasting boy, aud make up your mind that
it does not make any difference about that
tack, and SO you begiu on the corner where
the carpet is doubled two or three times,
and has been nailed down with a single
nail You don't care a continental about
saving the nail because you find that il is
not a good time for the practice of econo.
my; but you do feel little hurt when
both clauses break off from the claw and
the nail does not bulge peg. Then your
manhood asserts itself, and you Use ip
your might and throw the carpet claw at
the dog, aud get hold of the carpet with
both hands, aud the air is full Of dust and
flying tacks, and there is fringe of car
pet yarn all along by the mop-board, aud
the baby cries aud the cat goes anywhere,
anywhere out Of the world, aud your wife
says you ought to be ashamed of yourself


TO talk so, - but that carpet comes up


Then you lift one side of the stove, and


your wife tries TO get the carpet from


under it, but can't because you are standing
on it. So you try new hold and just af.


ter your back breaks the carpet is clear


You are not through yet. Your wife don't
tell you any more little stories, but she gets
your old coat and hangs it on to you, and


smolhers you with that carpet, aud opens
the back door aud sboyes you out, and in-


Inmates that the carpet needs whipping


When you hang the tormentiug thing across


the clothes-line the wrong way, and get it


righted, and have ii slide of into the mud,
and hang it up again, aad get half pint