smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

1t is singular evidence Of the judicious
spirit of General Grant that he, who is in
reality fluent and even gossipy talker,
should, after so many years of public life,
retain the reputation of being an uncom-
monty taciturn man. The fact is that he
speaks freely only to a few persons whom he
chooses rs the recipients Of his confidence,
and that, moreover, he speaks only on those
matters which he selects. The White House
could tell of many curious and laughable at
tempts to pump" the President, all of them
failures. II approached my subject very
carefully" said politician in Washington
last winter, relating one of these failures.
"The President was remarkably full of
talk; / never saw him freer, and 1
kept him going until at last I thought my
time had come, and I asked my question.
All at once his mouth closed and do what
l would never got another word out of
him." That is the story of many attempts to
''make him talk" But that he can speak,
and to the purpose, everybody knows who
has ever come near him on congenial
topic, and the long interview with HERALD
correspondent, recorded in yesterdays
Herald, shows it clearly.


Tho President is evidently not alarmed
about the result of the election. He is O
very shrewd politician, and his opinion
is worth more than that of most men.
He has kept very close eye on the canvass,
for it is well known that he sincerely be-
lieves that the good of the country demands
another four years Of republican rule He
early saw the causes which led to the pro-
tracted conferences between Governors Til
den and Hendricks "Tilden dares not lose
Indiana" he said at the time therefore he
means to write such letter as will not
offend Hendricks" The result proved him
q sagacious prophet.


We notice that the President does not
claim Louisiana or Florida; and this again
shows his sasacity and the closeness with
which he watches political events. Louisiana
will probably, as he knows, go democratic
and he probably knows also that it ought
to-that. the good of oil classes in the State
demands change there, which, indeed, is
desired by the best republicans. North
Carolina, South Carolina West Virginia and
Maryland he expects the republicans to
carry. That he did not add Virginia proves
again that he is o cautious calculator.


1t is pleasant to read such frank utter
ances from the President. He begins
already, in fancy, to feel the burden and
cares of State slipping from his shoulders.
We do not doubt he will lay them down
altogether with sigh Of relief and we wish
him many years of happy and careless case
and enjoyment.
Year: 1876

The RECENT PRIZE FIGuT-The "strong
light that beats upon throne" may also
fall upon q prize fight. The people
who think that the late fight near Penns-
vile N. j., did not deserve reporting mis-
understand the functions of the news
papers. Weeden, the man who is as
serted to have indirectly caused the
death of Walker, and who was detected,
arrested, and is now imprisoned. was dis
covered by a policeman who had read the
description of him in the HERALD reports.
The story is elsewhere told, and tho ability
of Captain Allaire deserves commendation.
The New Jersey statutes in respect to prize
fighting do not take into considerat on the
question of the death of ono of the prnci-
pals, but the common law may come to the
help of the special acts Of the Legislature.
That Weeden deserves u severe punishment
no one can deny. 1t would hardly be
fair to accuse this man of murder in the first
degree because he is poor pugilist, who
takes the risk he expects his opponent to
accept; but the brutal sport should have
its penalties. Here is man who has killed
another, or who has helped to kill him, and
society demands that he shall receive the
punishment of his rebellion. 1t is hard to
abolish prize fighting, but it is growing
more repulsive year by year.
Year: 1876

Our advertising columns and budget Of
topics yesterday and to-day indicate the
very general return of our city pastors to
their focks and their homes Mr. Lloyd
starts out with love for the Church of God,
and makes the immovable apostle his goal.
Mr.. Herr will tell his people what the
preachers theme and work are, and Mr..
Hatfield will give some reflections connected
with his summer vacation as illustrating
Gods care over his people and the corre-
spending call for obedience and thankful
ness on their part. What the particular
needs of the Church are at this time we shall
learn from Mr.. Leavell, and that sin is
cheat, if we did not know before, Mr.. Cook
would demonstrate to us to-day, and at
the same time show us the neces-
sity for the spiritual change which
we call the new birth. But if there
be any doubt about it Mr.. Muir will
make it so plain that the human heart is
den of iniquity that no one will doubt it
hereafter In such case the power of the
Cross must be put forth to cleanse tie heart
ere there can be any church OF the present
or of the future to speak about, as DR.. Lori
mer will dilate upon to-day. And with the
heart thus purified the Lords Prayer, on
which Mr.. Martyr will speak, can be offered
acceptably. 1t is one thing to build and
another to keep what we build. 1t is there
fore an important work for DR.. Deems to
show us how to build and keep. And think
ing Of Christ, we come to appreciate more
and more, with Mr.. Mccarthy, His mediate
rial sacrifice, and to render to Him the
homage of our hearts and lives as we'll as Of
our lips. The sayings of God are impor-
tant at oil times and worthy of closest atten-
ton but MIR. Bache he's selected q few of
them to call special attention to to-day, while
DR.. Armitage will demonstrate that q soul
may be saved from death by them Mr.. Morgan
will set up the career of Manasseh, the
prince of fast young men, as an example to
those fastening on in his footsteps, and il
they do not repent soon Bishop Snow, who
thinks he is the prophetic sign to be spoken
against, will consign them to the great burn-
ing, but to relieve their anxiety will tell
them the time and manner Of that terrible
day of the Lord. What life one must live
among conhagrations and dissolutions and
crashings of worlds visible and invisible,
as this messenger of God does He'll could
hardly have any terrors for such man.
Year: 1876

ALTHOUGH JuDoE GRAY, tho President Of
the Saratoga Convention, had Mr.. Seymour's
declination of the nomination for Governor
in his pocket when the Convention re-
assembled on Thursday morning he did not
find out that the nominee would not accept
until he read it in the HERALD interview the
next day. II he had sent us that despatch
for publication ut the time he received it he
would have got the news day earlier and q
great blunder would have been averted by
the New York democracy.
Year: 1876

The opening of the public schools each
year is an event as significant and important
as the annual elections. Our citizens gen.
orally take too little interest in the matter Of
the education of their children; but still our
common school system seems TO be increas-
ing in usefulness and efficiency from year to
year, and, from what we know of the teachers
we believe they are an intelligent and discreet
body of men and women. Still parents will
do we'll to exercise something like a personal
oversight over the persons to whom the edu-
cation of their children is committed, not
officiously or offensively, but by way
Of encouragement rather than correc-
ton. The course of study is best
left to those whose duty it is to pro-
vide it for the schools. AS our readers are
doubtless aware, new curriculum has been
adopted for the present year, and we lay the
whole course of study before them for the
first time this morning. 1t will be seen that
it is very elaborate and in the main we be-
licve it is very good. Its principal defect is
in the fact that it is procrustean in its nppica-
tion-a defect that is in some respects in
herent in the public school system. No al
lowance is made for the difference in the
mental and physical aptitude of pupils
The quick child and the dull one are
made to travel Mt the same pace. Ex-
are nil very we'll, no doubt, but the drill
must become exceedingly irksome to the
child who wishes to get on and cannot
because he is held back by the dullards.
To make course of study suitable to the
needs of the schoolroom it must be flexible,
and there must be fexibility in classifca-
ton as we'll as in the curriculum. Our OBJ
lection to the American collegiate courses is
mainly in the cast iron procrustean charac-
ter of the system which most so-called col
leges pursue. Like tho Attic highwayman,
they make their victims, whether tall or
short, fit the bed whose length their wisdom
has ordained. This is what we now
find our Board of Education doing,
even with the little children. Dog
berry was nearer right than most people
imagine when he said that reading and
writing come by nature. Give a child
books and papers and he will learn to read
unless he is very dull indeed but drill such
q child for months and years in vowel
sounds and combinations of letters and
figures and object lessons, rs plain to his
eyes rs to his teachers and often more won
derful to his imagination, and ten chances
to one he will become disgusted with his
schoolroom before he ought to be sent to it
at all. Mr.. Thomas Gradgrind evidently
had a hand in the preparation of this elab-
crate course of study, but it must be re-
membered that Gradgrind seldom obtained
results from his magnificent array of facts.
We are not arraigning the splendid pro-
gramme the Board of Education has
adopted on the other hand, we rather like
its appearance on paper; but then we should
not like to see the teachers in our public
schools adhering to it as if it was like law
of the Medes and Persians.
Year: 1876

The STATUE OF LAFAYETTE, the gift of
France to America, is to be inaugurated on
Wednesday in Union square. This work of
art will long stand, we trust, not only as o
memorial of the services of Lafayette to the
struggling colonies, but as mark in the
centennial of our independence of the good
feeling of the two republics, to the establish
nent Of which these services led.
Year: 1876

An EXAMINATION of the schedule Of the
freight charges of the Pennsylvania Railroad
will show that it costs nearly twice as much
to ship goods to Western Pennsylvania as to
points in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. This
act alone shows the utter recklessness Of the
freight war between the trunk lines but if
The railroads only ruin themselves by this
folly the ''war" may as well go on.
Year: 1876

TIE GBEENBAcK PARTY is going to have
State Convention and nominate a State
ticket and Presidential electors. After the
result at Saratoga practical joking in poll
tics seems in order, but it is not we'll to
carry this tendency too far.
Year: 1876

GENERAL BABcoCK must be q determined
foe of n public geological garden at Wash
ington or he would not suggest its establish
ment in his annual report as Commissioner
Of Public Buildings and Grounds.
Year: 1876

THERE NEVER WAS A CAMPAIGN more dis
graceful than that of Servia against Turkey,
unless it be the campaign of Turkey against
Servia. We have been told repeatedly that
the subjects of Prince Milan were in the
habit of wounding themselves to escape
going into battle, and now we are informed
that they shot their Russian officers for
compelling them to fight for their country,
their race and their religion. The butcheries
Of the Turks are atrocious but the abject
rowardicc of the Servians is incxplicable.
Year: 1876

The WYATHER.-The brisk after winds that
olew from the northward and westward with
. maximum velocity of twenty-four miles an
hour during yesterday indicated that the area
oflow pressure had passed us during the night
before. A shor: and not very heavy shower
of rain marked its presence, bu, this quickly
gave place to the cooling winds that rushed
toward the atmospheric depression. We will
now enjoy bright and bracing weather for a
few days, but let us mako the most of it, for
another area of low barometer has manifested
itself in Dakota and comes on apace. This
will cause a return Of the high temporature,
though with a seasonable modification of the
heat. The weather conditions prevailing at
present in the United States are very
varied. In the northeast and the north
west there are areas Of low barometer and
. high pressure extending all over the Mis-
sissippi Valley from the lakes to the Gulf
Threatening weather, variable winds and
rains, however, prevail in the southern por-
tions of Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas,
and storm centre is moving in the Atlantic
of the coast of Northern Florida To-day
the weather in New York will be pleasantly
cool and clear, with moderate wind from
he westward.
Year: 1876

There was a striking similarity between the
vrind-storm OF last Saturday and that of the
Saturday before. Both began near daylight
and continued into the following night. The
direction of the wind was the same in both,
and there was little difference IN their Vlo-
leuce In each instance the temperature had
yibrated near freezing point for two or three
davs before the advent of the storm; and III
each case cold, emitting blast followed, that
registered itself on the thermometer among
the dgts above zero. In still another
particular the similarity was yet more
remarkable. The fall of the pressure
OF air gave its forewarning IN the barometer
by declines of nearly equal length and sharp
ness. and during like hours Of the afternoon
and night preceding the change of weather.
The upward rise in the barometer during and
shortly after these storms was of almost eX-
actly the same length aud rapidity, and l.
occurred in very nearly similar hours of night
and day.


There were, however, a few noteworth
differences between these storms. The first
one started with brief tempest of snow and
rnin-a peculiarly which was entirely absent
in the last, in this locality. The second one
started It's recOIu on inc pioihotCi ii"ii q"
higher level than the first, and consequently
the returning wave yesterday marked higher
point on the instrument than any change of
weather for many months preceding. The
damage to shipping by last Saturdays gale
il rather the heavier of the two; the
loss of life among the crews of wrecked
vessels is much larger. Already the Winter has
dispiayed enough severity to make certain the
need of abundant charity to the poor. Hard
times have reduced the usual resources of be-
peyolent societies and at the same time increased
their burdens. Let us hope that private char
itics will be not less open-handed than is their
wont in the holiday season. New-IOrk can
not afford that any of her citizens, however
unfortunate they may be, shall freeze or
starye.
Year: 1876

quisite pleasure in shopping without buying
anythmg-in seeing, handling, estimating, and
asking the price. No extravaganza can ne
more harmless than this; and why should not
pedestrian buy all the way up and down
Broadway, with nothing lacking but delivery
of the goods and chattels, which, after all, IT
would be incOnyenient to carry homer lf the
country folk who, about this time, come into
the cars wrestling with many bundles, could
buy all that their hearts desire. what baggage
trains they would make of the locals" ana
the accommodations p All things luckily
have their limits. The real pleasure OF buying
comes from what we cannot buy. 80 every
tFihe consistent with fat pocketbook or
haccid purse, becomes consolation. we re-
fute the mathematical axiom, and prove a part
to be greater than the whole. The little which
we can carry away Is more than we leave be-
hind us. Our poverty is better than our neigh
boris riches GA poor thing" we say, but
"mine own


We might mention how much the shop
windows are to children, the little things
without any bank account, to whom penny
is as good as an eagle, and who may lack
even the penny after all. There are displays
which seem to have been arranged by good
hearted traders expressly for the qualification
Of little ones, SO full are they OF dolls ana
villages, and rOcking-horses and picture
books, of autOmata and hoops and marbles and
all manner of playthmgs, besides all the
sugary stocks which need not be swallowed to
be appreciated. Alas that the little ones,
too, must so often go away with only
imaginary havOrs in their innocent mouths!
But the next fine display consoles them,
lust as the next notion recOuclles
children of larger growth to the loss OF
the old one. They have, these small longers,
an abiding faith that Santa Klaus will make
all matters right, if not this year, why then
next. 1t is not as if the Christmas shops were
10 be shut for good and all upon Twelfth Night.
Many and many times may they reopen to glad
the eyes of the small people who are peeping
into them this morning We must buy Tor
them now-presenty they may be buying Tor
us. or for others, as we are now buying for
them. So good hap wait upon all the pleasant
purchases, and by general reversal OF the
proverb, may everything come to more than IL
cost, and not even whistle be found too dear
Year: 1876

purposes. That was the natural course tor
them TO take but we know that many OF them
took il because it was the only way IN when
tbey seemed to have any chance to nd them
selves of corrupt, dishonest, and ignorant
State Governments They allied themselves VITA
the Democrats rs q measure of self-preserva-
ton. It seems plain enough now that it was
blunder to ally themselves with party
which was distrusted at the North, for the
very reason that it sympathized with the re-
bollion, and shOuld Immediately upon receiv-
ing amnesty from their opponents renew
against them in the forum of politics, un-
der the old name and the old leaders, the old
fight they had lost in the field, The true
policv of the South at the beginning of re-
construction was to take hold with the party
in mower, the one that had most at stake in
rcGstablshing peace and order, and TestOr-
ING prosperity TO the waT-wOrn States, the
only one that was in a position to offer AID,
and worked with it cheerfully and harmoni-
ously. Is it not plain that this would have
been better than the sullcnness and discOn-
tent in which they indulgedR 1t would have
been IN exhibition not only of a reasonable
gratitude but of the highest wisdom.





il is true, but it is not too late to profit by
the experience of it. The prudent and con-
seryatiye course of the Southern Democrats in
Congress points the way. They see that for
them TO unite with the Northern wing of the
party III factous opposition to the inevitable
is only to prolong the animosities and passions
of the war on both sides. Their highest In
terest of course lies in the restoration OF
perfectly fraternal feeling and the cessation OF
Federal interference in the affairs OF the States
A new Administration is coming IN. Cow
Hayes's letter of acceptance in its treatment
of the Southern question was fair and frank
holdiny ont of tho friendly hand. They may
safely take him at his word. Most of them
care very little for the Presidency or for Ma
tional politics, except as their own section Is
affected. What they want is release from the
rule of ignorance and corruption and the reign
of plunderCrS IN their own States. To secure
il they must gain the confidence and sympa-
thy of ;hc intelligent masses at the North who
carried on the war to the end, treated the van
ouished with generous magnaninity, and granted
them amnesty. And they are Republicans.
They believe they won the Great Fight fairly,
they know they treated the defeated generously,
ard no settlement of affairs row will be- final and
conclusive that does not include their consent
and cooperation. There is the best OF reasons
for believing that the Administration OF Gov.
HAYES will bring peace and order to the South
and relieve that whole section from the evils
row complained of. And we have great hopes
that his earliest official acts will afford to
Southern representatives, 80 sure guaranty
for this, and such certain proof of the sincerity
of his uttcranccs in accepting the nomination,
that they will not withhold from him and his
administration the cordial cooperation and sup
port 50 ucco ~sary now for the sake Ok the
South and O. the whole country.
Year: 1876

The babies had their turn last week in the fair at
the Academy of Music, and now some Of the older
boys and girls to be looked after. Tonight and
Tomorrow night there will be tea party at Lyric
Hail. in Sixth-ave the entire proceeds of which are
to go to the crippled children of the Shelterng
Arms. There will be tea for those who ike it, and
dancing for those who like that; Santa Clans will
be there large as life and there will be end to
the things that one can buy and give away, and buy
TO give away again. Many of the most charitable Of
the Now-York ladies have enlisted in the endeavor
to make the entertainment attractive possible


The children ought all to go for the sake of the less
fortunate children whom they can help. and the
children of an older growth can go safely, because
this Ia the season when we all arow young again.
Year: 1876

Republics may not be ungrateful, but they
are uncommon slow about their gratitude.
Here is the bill that grants a pension of few
dollars month to Clusters widow, left on the
calendar of the Senate from the last session.
1t may worry through before the end Of the
session, and it may not. In either case it will
serve to illustrate the speed at which Congress
hastens to commemorate the worth OF gal
lant soldier.
Year: 1876

The following gives the result of what seems to be
a piece of pure idiocy on the part OF somebody. IL
may safely be assumed that the person primarily III
fault ~ not either postmaster James or ln all proba
Inlityl any of his efficient assistants:
Year: 1876

THE FIRST CASE Colusa is 10 have
the first ca'e of whipping under Senator
Roach's bill providing for whipping men
fund guilty Of whipping their wives. A
brute named Jim Reynolds, who found
his chief delight in tbrashing the woman
unfortunate enough to be tied to him, in
duged in his usual "a slime and was
found out. A complaint WAS sworn out
hy the wife who was terribly beaten, but
upon the trial, woman-l like she regretted
the act, refused to testify and was com
mi ted for contempt. There being luckily
evidence enough to convict without hers,
Mr., Reynolds was to have received TWEEN
ty-one lashes last Saturday. lie turned
pale when he heard the sentence and said
lie would give five hundred dollars to get
ont Of it. He has been convicted several
times before and sentenced to the County
Jail but seemed to rather enjoy the pun
ishment. His counsel are about to ap.
eal the case but wo agree with the Cou-
sa Sun that he had better be whipped
first and allowed to appeal afterwards.
There is only one way in which such
british natures can be reached
Year: 1876

A Grand Centennial Cele-
bration, beGtting the Com
mcmoration of the 0 n E
HUNDREDTH Anniversary
of American Independence,
will take place in Weaver
vile on the approaching 4th
Of July, and an invitation is
hereby extended to all the
People of Trinity County to
attend and take part in the
Festivities Of the occasion.


1t is intended to make the
DAY one of General Rejoic.
ing and JolliGcation, and to
this end the Committee asks
the assistance and hearty CO.
operation Of