smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

STocK SpECULAToE.-There is food


for reflection in the fact that almost


every man who mas risen TO emineDee
as a speeuIator in Wall street during


the past twenty years has fallen much


more rapidly than be rose Wander


bilt never was a speculator IN the


strict Wall street sense. His policy


all along was to buy only those stocks


which he knew to be valuable, and


never TO buy on margin. When be


brought stocks he paid for them IN
full, and then locked them up iE his


sale. But the general rule IS to sell
short or 90 long on a margin, and


many a man has it brought to griei.
Among the mOnarchs Of the market
who preceled Drew or were his con-


lemporaries, one of the first was
Henry Keep. who made large Tor


tune iu q short lime, lost the greater


part of i. in less, and then withdrew
from Wall street, to die in compare
tive obscurily a few years later.
Woodward, q Brooklyn Sunday
school superintendent, next figured


conspicuoIsly, and got janmed TO a
Jelly. 80 TO speak, in the great Rock
Island corner several years ago
That was the last of him. Jim Fisk :
career il TOO well known 10 need any


particular mention here. He was


supposed to be worth millions, out


when death snatched him through


the pistol Of Stokes they quickly
. melted awaY TO thousands. Stock
we'll the head of the Pacific Mail
Clique. who almost ruled the street a
tew wears ago, lost nearly all he had
| made and has disappeared altogether.
Legarnd Lockwood went down as


suddenly, aud is now almost torgo;-


ton A broker named Demmock
made a sensation for a short time as


loader of the Atlantic Mail specula
1iou. but he too got swamped, and


every dollar he hai made was s~ept


away. jay Gould is the successor OF


these and several others. Luck has
stood BIZ bin thus far, bat 1t Will be


s,rspee if he too is not brought
| doxn IN the long run. Fate seems to


have ordained that every mn who
takes the leadership in Wall street
| shall ultimately come TO grIei.
Year: 1876

The Time hath laid his matte by


of wind and rain and icy chill,
And dons rich embroidery


VI sunlight poured on lake and hill.
No beast Or bird in earth or sky,


nose Voice doth not with eladness thrill
For Time hath laid bis mantle by


of wind and rain aud icy chill
River and fountain, brook and rill,
fespangled DER with livery gay
VI silver droplets, wind their way.
All in tLeir new apparel vie,
For Time hath laid his mantle bv
Year: 1876

young Irish woman stood at my bed
side and slowly repeated these words after
me- "Why," said she, ait is as il were
wandering alone in the dark, and asked God
to protect me-


From time 10 time other texts were learned


-" will love thee, o Lord !" Lead me in
thy truth and teach me; +" "The blood Of
Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin," etc.
One day my pastor called, and as was his
custom, gave me text as he left" am
thine save me-" When Rosa came in |
taught 1t 10 her, telling her that because we
belong to God-lIe has made us,and we be-
long TO Hm-and because Christ has died
for us, we may ask God to save us, and feel
sure that lie will. The prayer seemed TO
take hold upon her. Every word was spoken
with the strong emphasis one uses who is
not accustomed TO learn by heart. Her
every attitude expressed devotion, standing
with raised eyes, her arms crossed upon her
breast When she turned to leave the room
she fingered in the open door, saying, "f
shall want that when | lie on my death-bed


we must all come there"


Months passed. Rosa had left me and
heard she was sick. A few days, and her
little girl came to tell me she was dead.
During the short time of her suffering she
loved to have her little girl repeat TO her the
texts and verses from hymns they had learned.
4 few moments before she died she tried TO
speak the child thought she said, Show
me thy ways" Thus She went forth through
the valley Of death" May we not believe
that the Good Shepherd held her hand for
it is the will Of the Father that not one Of
these little ones should perish. a.
Year: 1876

REV. DR. GUTHRIE wrote to a friend ;
=" On coming here, was led, through my
youngest boys behavior, to see what blessed
thing it is to receive the kingdom of God
as little child My little fellow, about
four years old, whom | brought with me,
gave himself no trouble amid the boats, ON
nibuses and railway coaches, on sea, land
and in dark tunnels his father was at his
side, and never care, or fear, or doubt, or
anxiety had he. May we have grace TO be


led by the hand and trust to the care and
kindness of our reconciled God and Father"
Year: 1876

ment. II their judgment governed
them, this bill could Dsss substantially
as reported, and If it did, then the -pso-
pIe who were now looking to congress
with an earnestness never before known
would begin to breathe freely and iu-
dulge in hopes.


Mr.. DAnford stated that the cO-opera-
ton OF the Republican side OF the house
would be given in all needed reforms,
but he believed that the cutting down
of the pay Of West Point cadets was a
retrenchment uncalled for by any party
or any portion Of the people. He spoke
of the humble rank in lie from which
as q general thing the cadets came, and
argued that this reduction OF their pay
would operate to the disadvantage OF
the poorer young men.


Mr.. Atkins asked him whether
West Point cadets were allowed to have
spending money.


Mr.. DSnford-Not out of the pay all
lowed them.


Mr.. Atkins-Or cut of their private
means?


MIR. Danford-I believe not.


Mr.. BanDing-Then how can this bill
operate against the poorer boys?


Mr.. DaUford replied that the small
pay would operate against the poorer
boy in regard to his outfit. He then
proceeded to argue against the reduc-
ton of The pay Of the professors.


Mr.. Blount, q member of the spprO-
priation committee, argued in justifica-
ton of the proposed reduction, and
called on the members OF both sides, but
particularly on his own side, to stand by
the committee.


Mr.. Wilson I Ga. said that when the
economists OF the house set about cut
ting down expenses, he was alway 9
pleased to hear their arguments, and to
add his vote to theirs, but he was sorry
that the pending proposition could not
obtain his sanction. He had thought to
himself how he would feel after having
voted 10 cut down the pittance allowed
to the West Point nteAdets-Whether or not
he could look an honest boy in the fsce,
and he found that he should be ashamed
to confess being member OF
the forty.fourth congress with
reduction in that direction. Why had
not the committee on appropriations 1e-
ported q bill to cut down the pay OF
members?


Mr.. Holman N. Y My friend need
not be too anxious about that. Heshall
have an opportunity to vote upon that
proposition. We propose to have re.
trenchment all along the line.


Mr.. Wilson-That is all right; when
that bill is brought in will support it
readily. II the theory of cur friends on
the other side is that we must cut down
the salary of every officer of the govern
ment, let US have chance to vote upon
it, and let every man be responsible for
his vote. L find no difficulty in screwing
up my courage to a point OF voting
against an appropriation which is too
lsrge, nor will 1 find any in voting to
cut down my own salary if it will con-
duce to the happiness of gentlemen on
the other side; but will tell them that
they are demoraliztng their own friends
when they ask to cut down the pay OF
West Point cadets.


Without action on the bill the COM
mittee rose and the house adjourned.
Year: 1876

GENERAL B. +. BUTLER is said to
mediate return to public life. His
friends say that tie Republicans Of the
/ sex district are trying to induce him
to make the congressional race again
next fan. Butler will probably forgive
them after awhile, and consent to run.
Year: 1876

II il a great misfortune in one sepse that
the Presidential election should have been so
close as to leave the result dependent finally
upon the Southern States in which there was
the likelihood of disputes such as have arisen.
The long period of uncertainty and doubt,
not yet terminated, is not q good thing. 1t
causes business depression at time when we
most need the establishment of confidence and
revival of trade, and when there was good
reason for believing that the determination
either way of the Presidential question would
have had a.tendency to set the wheels of trade


in motion and open period of material pros
perity. The effect of the present unsettled pO-
litcal condition is, as everybody knows, very
depressing upon all our business interests.
But we may find some compensation for all
this in the fact that it has disclosed
some weaknesses in our system of
conducting Presidential elections, which, if
Congress has the wisdom to profit
by the lessons of experience, will be speedily
corrected. In the general discussion, too,
which is now in progress over the whole sub
iect-a discussion which, if not always calm
and good tempered, is certainly freer from in
temperance of language and violence than we
might have e1pected-it must fall out that the
public mind will have much-needed eplight-
epment as to the actual theory of the Federal
Government and the details of the system
upon which it was organized. People are
learning now with something like precision


what are the actual relations of the States to
the General Government and why and how it


is that candidate may receive popular ma
Year: 1876

That out of evil some good may always be
educed was settled long ago. 1t is cOnsola-
ton to find that the burning of the Brooklyn
Theater has directed public attention to the
condition of similar establishments in different
parts of the country, and to the degree of
safety which their arrangements would insure
TO their occupants under the conditions OF the
recent terrible event. In Boston, the public
authorities are carefully inspecting the theaters
Of that city, and we presume that like sur
yey will be made elsewhere. This will be
much better and surer than reliance
upon reports of the architects OF the
structures, which are always in the eyes of
their builders, rather safer in case OF fire than
the open fields. The weeks to come, before
the excitement of the event has subsidized, will
be extremely prolific of plans and resonant
with discussion. Our own opinion is that
where there is a will there is way, and that
tragedies like that in Brooklyn may, with no
exhausting effort of human ingenuity, be
avoided. We are not of the mind of Moham-
medans respecting fires and other casualties,
and We think that the burning of theaters
may be- guarded against successfully without
putting anybody's brain to the torture of over
thinking while, if we are wrong, 1t would be
better to stop building theaters altogether,
since we can much better go without them
than be burned within them.


A practical treatise upon fires in theaters has
been published recently by Mr.. Shaw of the
London Fire Brigade. Mr.. Shaw, who is
veteran fireman, advocates a standard of dis
tance which shall be the minimum between
the walls of theater and those of the nearest
buildings, with an open intermediate space.
He also favors as indispensable the separation
of the different parts of the building by strong
interior walls. He would have heavy wall
ND TO and surrounding the opening of the
proscenium and he also recommends the
iron curtain now so much talked
about He further suggests subdivisions of
the theater and the. audience, and censures
steepiy inclined modes of exit. The reader
will observe that this problem of a safe theater
has attracted attention abroad and that the
danger is fully understood, though no tragedy
like ours has, at least lately, occurred there.
1t will hardly be possible for those who have
the management of theaters very soon to
exhibit the reckless careessness of the past.
The people will not bear it, and will, il it is
persisted in, show their disapprobation in
way which will have marked and disastrous
effect upon theatrical treasures.
Year: 1876

The Masonic Hall Corner of Sixth-ave. and
Twenty -third-st.) was full yesterday OF happy
children, who were sure that Saint Nicholas
had already arrived. All of his toys were
there, besides Punch and Judy tableaus and
good things to eat enough to delight the heart
of an Irish king. If any OF our readers wish
to give their little ones foretaste of Christ
mas fun we advise them to take them to the
merrymaking at the hall to-day. 1t will give
meaning to the frolc if they tell them that
the money they spend there is to help sup
port noble charity-the New-York Diet
Kitchen.


The object Of this association of good women,
as everybody ought to know, is to furnish the
necessary food, or even delcacies, required by
the sick poor. This work was carried on
through last Winter, with what success hun
dreds of poor wretches sick and dying in cell
lars and the sitting rooms of tenement houses
only can testify. 1t needs no words of ours
to urge it upon the sympathy of our readers.
The strongest man can remember how when
sick he turned with loathing from the ordi-
nary food of his own well supplied table. The
poor mans life may depend upon proper diet !;
but while his family eat the coarse refuse OF
the shops or the garbage begged at kitchen
doors, how is he to procure ltY Stated
charities furnish him medicine and medi-
cal advice, but until this assOcia-
ton begun its work there was no help for
him beyord but to starve. We have before us
now the face of one hard working woman, a
good mother and faithful Christian, who wore
ont and died in her poor hovel simply for the
lack of the plain nourishing food which she
would not beg, aud which these other women
now are giving in Gods name to the needy.


That the affairs of the association will be
administered with discretion and practical good
sense we are assured from the character of
the managers, chief among whom is lady of
large experience as matron and nurse in sew
eral hospitals during the war. Her executive
ability and knowledge of details gained there
will insure the most economical and wise dis
posal of funds contributed to this charity.
Year: 1876

that the whole country has taken note Of it.
Sbould it happen to the Democratic party
ever to be restored to public confidence and
returned to power, it will be due to the wise
and discreet action of the Southern wing OF
the party, and in spite of the performances or
the Woods and Randalls.


In the midst of all the nonsense and folly OF
the impeachment talk, the Southern Demo
Gratis for the most part, keep their heads level
and their tempers undisturbed. They know
better what opposition to constituted authority
means than do their friends from the North,
who have threatened and clustered always but
never put their threats III execution. Messrs.
Randall and Wood and the other hot-headed
advocates of impeachment and stirrers up OF
strife would do we'll TO learn a little discretion
from Messrs. Lamar and Gibson, who have
more reason to be dissatisfied with the turn OF
events, but are able to exercise more philos-
opl,y over it than their Northern brethren.
Year: 1876

To-day the solemn ceremony of burylng her
dead will devolve upon Brooklyn, and little
else will have attention. BY Monday the cor
oners jury will fairly begin its work OF inyes-
tigation. As the jury is composed of citizens
of more than average intelligence, there is
reason to hope that their researches will be
thorough; that they will leave nothing undone
TO determine not only how, but why 300
people were killed 1t seems probable mt pres
ent that the inquiry will be largely devoted to
the mode of construction of the building; to
ascertaining whether that was rs good as could
be devised, or radically defective. While on
that point q thorough investigation is needed,
there are other matters about which the pub
lie is entitled to equally full information.


1t is charged that there were no sufficient
means at hand for extinguishing fire in the
theater hydrant was indeed provided for
the stage, but it is stated to have been a
small one, that could not have supplied a
stream larger than the ordinary street washer
of private residence. There was screw
thread for attaching hose to this hydrant,
and it is said that when the late Mrs. Conway
was managing the theatcr the hose was kept
near at hand and also buckets filed with water
were kept in accessible positions near the
scenery. Neither the hose nor the filled buckets
seem to have been provided by the present
management. Many people think that If hose
could have been attached to the stage
hydrant when the sly-sccne first caught fire, a
stream could have been brought to bear upon
the fame. Perhaps this is so, but inquiry
needs 70 be made whether the head of water
at the hydrant was sufficient to carry stream,
even with hose, TO the upper scenery. 1t is
worth while to be sure on this point with ref
erence to other theaters; since If the head
of water is insufficient, high cistern
Year: 1876

iOrity and yet not be elected, ana cahuiu.t
with a minority of the votes may be fairly ano
legally chosen by the electoral votes OF the
States. Even the unre6ecling persons who
rush TO the conclusion that great lnJus-
tice is done and the popular VIII sub
verted by the Inauguration OF minority
candidate must be forced to give suiiclent
thought to the subject to discover that thls
was no unseen or unimagined contingency
but that it was fully discussed long ago, ana
that however it may seem 10 the superilclal
observer, it is quite consistent with the theory
of the Federal Government, and in perfect
accordance with the ideas and plans OF the found
ers of the Republic. 1t will be no small au-
vantage to the country to have people put to
an examination and study or the structure oi
tbe Government under which they live and OF
which they are part


But there is another evil to which this con-
dition of things gives rise, and that Is dis-
positlon to bubble and pettifOG and take
small advantage of technical infOrmalities.
Our Democratic friends have ndustrOusly cul-
tiyated it. They have been hunting up petty
informalities and insignificant defects III
the qualifications and titles of Republican
electors in the several States ever since the
polls closed, with the purpose OF defeat-
ing in some such way the clearly ex-
pressed will of the people. They do not ap-
near To have succeeded in any case. though
they are quite hopeful of having accomplished
something in Oregon by which they will DO
enabled, if not to seize the one electoral vote
tbev need, at least to compel the Senate 10 20
behind the lawful returns and into an IN
yestigatiOn of the proceedings OF the Return
ing Boards in the disputed Southern States
Whatever may be their object there can DC
no doubt in the minds of impartial and fair-
minded men that the Oregon performance WIS
simply bold and unscrupulous attempt 10
steal an electoral vote. Steal is hard word,
but it happens to fit this case precisely, anu
we offer no apology for using it, There Is 10
doubt whatever as to the intention OF the
pcoplc of Oregon with reference to the casting
of the electoral vote of the State. The Demo-
cratic elector TO whom Gov. Grover gave the
certificate had certainly not been elected,
and his assuming the right to @ct
was as plain a case of usurpation as could
possibly be imagined. 1t is not strange that
tho citizens of that State who find themselves
oyerridden and a high-handcd attempt made
to reverse their decision upon such pretext
as Gov. Grover pleads, should be stirred with
indignation at the outrage. The whole affair
is disgraceful TO the Governor OF Oregon,
and it will be dscreditablc to the Democratic
leaders who are pretending so great horror at
what they call the subversion of the will OF the
people, to try to take advantage OF transaction
concerning the absolute dishonesty of which
there is not the shadow of question. The
country desires a just and honorable as well
a. peaceful solution of this question, but the
Presidency of the United States will not be
awarded to any candidate on such bubbles as
that upon which Gov. Grover bases his action.
Year: 1876

THE ATTITUDE or SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS.


We hasten to accord our praise and express
our admiration for the behavior of the South
ern Democrats in Congress. Ii there has been
any injustice done or any wrong perpetrated,
as has been so vehemently claimed, in the
counting and declaration of the votes III the
disputed States, they are the direct sufferers
by it; the interest they have in the ques-
ton is immediate and personal. We do
not doubt that many of them do think they
have been unfairly dealt with, and that their
own regulations as good citizens and the good
name of their States as peaceable and law
abiding communities have been unjustly as
persed. Under such circumstances they have
shown great patience and moderation and set
good examples to their Northern associates who
have apparently been disposed to threaten
and buster and foment disturbance and
civil disorder. We cannot too heartily COM
mend the attitude taken by Southern
Democrats in this matter, and their obvious
determination TO preserve peace and order and
acquicsce in the results, whatever they may
be. Their conduct is in such marked and
striking contrast with the behavior of men
like Speaker Randall and Fernando Wood
Year: 1876

might be tolerated, because from the dark and bur
rowing nature of the olensc its results can be bus
| approximatcly estimated There would therefor
remain saving "perhapsv upon which to hang
charitable hope that an honest majority had aftor
all elected their man, Again, President whs
seemingly was indebted for his election to the ndi


Greet discretion of returning board could be recog.
nized as lawful and legitimate chief magistrate.
and by such recognition the country would not b
called upon to make total shipwreck Of its selfro-
spect: for in this case also the popular feeling
would be tempered by the suggestion of a reasonable
doubt at least in favor of the possible equity well
rs the assured legality of the result determined.
But there is nothing whatever to redeem the twists
and sophistries of technical quibbling from utt4
condemnation. There may be invented excuses and
paations for terrorism and for the exercise Of
iudcial functions" Il is possible that neither Of
these potent political agencies in their most ebnlent
activity should succeed in defeating the will of the
people. But Croninizng" must do so of necessity,
and the people will hardly permit President to b
pettifogged into tho White House.


After all the Iitigousness of his record and the
amazing bluster of his friends Controller Green has
gone out of Office as quietly as lamb. In fact
there has been nothing in his whole official life
amblike as his leaving it. Mr.. Green undertook the
ControllershIp at an hour of great public peril and
uncertainty. He rendered valuable public service.
which should always be gratefully remembered II
he could have tempered his zeal with some little dis
creton, could have avoided needless quarrels vexa
tious delays. and sort of bulldog insolencc Of
Office, which assumed that every creditor OF
the city was probably thief, and must be put
to his proof to save himself from being
so regarded and treated he would have left his place
with fewer enemies and fairer record. Asi Is. we
must not forget that his falings leaned to VIZ
tues sde He never wasted the city's money lex
cept in litigation) and in refusing to pay dozen


just bills he generally succeeded in stopping also
the payment of q score of unjust ones. But he made
it too expensive 10 do business with the city. No
man could make contract without adding per-
centage to cover the cost of fighting Green to get
his money. We hope similar percentage viii not
be needed in the case of Mr.. Kelly.


Will some Democratic Senator take issue with slr.
Year: 1876

Tho bouncing and racy grafton which Gen. Grant
delivered to Messrs Hewitt and Randolph ought to
have been fully reported. After his propitiatory
message it would have been comfortable reading
Year: 1876

The National Conference held in London
Yesterday was an important demonstration in
favor of non-interventiOn in Turkey. The
British Liberals arc determined to prevent a
recurrence of the diplomatic blundering which
led to the Crimean war.