smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

| send YOU herewith touching little
incident narrated TO me by friend in
Leipzig, who was present on the occasion
mentioned. The central figure in the
story is one so well known to your
American readers that | feel sure any
thing about him must he of general
interest.


The Opera-hOuse is thronged with an
expectant audience, for Theodore Wach-
tel is to appear in "Der Position Won
Loniumeau," and all Leipzig must hear
him. Perhaps more than one person IN
that assembly is thinking what fine
thing it is TO be n favorite actor. and
wishing that he could exchange places
with Wachtel. The audience even fancy
that he must be as inpatient as they for
the curtain to rise asd the opera to be
gin. While they are waiting, let us take
a peep back on the scenes.


The postboy stands ut the threshold,
and the attendants look from one to
another with awe-struck faces. Through
the halfopen door of dressing-room we
see the celebrated Wachiel in an agony
of grief, and can easily guess that the
paper he has dropped on the floor is a
telegram with bad news.


In truth it il, for it brings word that
his youngest son is dying and wants to
see him. He can not 90; the audience
must not be disappointed; he must
swallow the lump that rises in his throat
81 i almost chokes him, and assume all
the gayety VT 0I.-rolon the Position OF
Loniumeaz. IN 7H.g.,


At the end Of the second act, while the
audience is making the house ing with
applause, Wachtel IS reading another
telegram. This one tells him that his
son Is dead.


At the end Of the third act he thrills
the audience as he sings "Gute Nacht,
mein Herzliches Kind" They think the
position is singing that song, but we
know that Theodore Wachtel is bidding
his child last good night.-CoTesPond-
nce " y EreniHg Post.
Year: 1875

Boston has disproved the current say
ing that Americans do not know how TO
celebrate. Her Bunker Hill Centennial
was brilliant affair in every essential
respect. The civic and military process
SION, seven miles long, in which all the
trades were represented, and abundant
scope was allowed to the grotesque
humors Of those who were willing to
make themselves ridiculous for the gen
eral amusement, was magnificent spec
tacle. The speeches, the music, the
fraternal feeling. the excellent order, and
above all, the thorough sympathy with
the spirit of the occasion, were admlra-
BILE, and deserve emulation. In fact 1t
seemed as though every one of the halt
million people who poured through the
streets was determined to contribute
something to the pleasure of the occasion.
The hearty welcome extended to the
Southern visitors was one of the best
signs and results, and the twining of the
palmetto and the pine in Music Hall
was a happy augury for the future
of the Union. 1t is impossible 70
overlook the part the literary class took
in the festivities, and the Bunker
Hill literature was one OF the
features of the occasion. The good peo.
pie who were afraid that the Centennial
excitement would burn itself away be
fore the Philadelphia celebration, may a
we'll calm their apprehension on thai
point. There is too much Declaration
of Independence in the American char
acter to let such an occasion as the com
ing National Centennial fail Of prope1
observanee.-Nec York Graphic.
Year: 1875

The Boston Herald tells this: The day
following the Centennial festivities, the
following incident occurred in a South
End saloon: A friend had invited one
of the South Carolina soldiers into the
saloon to put another turf on the buried
hatchet. While standing at the bar a
stranger came in. The Carolinian. sud
denly dropped his glass and closely
eyed the stranger. His gaze was so
steady and peculiar that his friend began
to be alarmed and to fear that the
hatchet was about to be dug up again.
Directly the Carolinian asked the
stranger if he knew him. There was no
recognition, whereupon the Carolinian
asked him if he was not in the late war.
"Yes," was the reply. "And yon were
once stationed at such placer "Ies.'
F" And took part in such skirmish y
eyes" "Well, l thought So" replied
the Carolinian, and raising his hat showed
a large scar on his forehead, saying
there's your saber mark, my boy
come up and take drink"
Year: 1875

versation, and travelled from one face to
the other in hopeless agony; not word
passed her ears, and only the one de-
spairing changeless expression sat like a
seal upon her face. She knew there was
no escape for her-none. There was only
the one question to be solved: Was she
to die by the unwilling hand of pitying
stranger, or be killed cruelty BY profes-
sional murderers? What a world of ter
ror must have been compassed in those
few moments of her life as she lay watch
ing and waiting there!


The clock began to chime the quar-.
ters it was about to strike. At a
given signal the statue-like figure
stepped forward and rapidly auncoiled a
rope with moose already made; they
were about to slip it over his head and
hang him to a beam which ran along the
center of the ceiling. The horror of fac
ing sudden and violent end seized him
his death would avail her nothing for
whom he died. His senses were in a
whirl; he threw up his hands and sprang
forward.


"Pll do itw he exclaimed, and fell on
his knees beside her: "They ,ciN have
your life; l cannot save you, child /;
but can shield you from their rough,
cruel hands, and put you painlessly to
rest. Forgive me, forgive me, for it is in
mercy to you / do this cruel deed" ,


The white hand went out to him and
closed over his in soft, forgiving clasp !;
the agony died out Of the sweet eyes as
they rested one moment on his lace; ;
then with low sigh she closed them and
turned away her head In another mo-
ment her young life was ebbing slowly
away. He remained by her side, holding
her hand in his till all was over.
He would not for a second leave her with
those stern men, lest a wOunding word
or rough touch might disturb her on her
way from this world to the next. He
was conducted from the place in the
same way as he had entered it, and when
his conductors took leave of him they sug-
gested that it would be well if he would
leave Naples with as little delay as pos
sible. This forced murder-for such it
really was-lay upon his conscience to
the end of his life, and filled it with one
long remorse-a living nightmare-for
that scene was always present to his
mind. The change that had so long
puzzled us puzzled us no more. He could
not carry his secret to the grave with
him, so gave it into our keeping.


lisa terrible story" | exclaimed.


"And, unlike most terrible stories, it is
true" he answered. "Come out for a
breath of fresh air and sunshine, to blow
this gloomy subject from our senses"
Year: 1875

The st. Louis Republican says: There
is a mill in Westmoreland county where
the machinery is of very fine class IN
deed, and visitors of practical turn OF
mind find themselves amply repaid for
an examination of the works.
Among the recent visitors to the mill
was lady who had just as much curios-
ity as the men concerning the great
wheels and the hoppers and the appll-
ances for Transforming wheat into flour
and feed SO they showed her through
the mill, and she was very much de-
lighted, and evinced just as lively an
interest in the machinery as though she
had been Robert Fulton or George
Stephenson, or any of the great invent
On.


She was not satisfied with any cursory
view of things, either, but went up close
to the wheels Notwithstanding the re-
peated warning of the miller.


Finally she approached the boiling
machine and proceeded to inspect it with
a critics eye. Very close to the machine
she stepped, and then two cog wheels
took little nip at her dress. The wheels
appeared delighted with the flavor, and
took in more and more, having good
mouthful before the lady noticed her
predicament.


Then she screamed, and tried to get
away; but the rapacious cogs were not
to be cheated of meal, and kept on
chewing, every mouthful drawing the
fated woman nearer the works.


The miller saw the danger, and sprang
to the rescue of the frightened victim.
There was but one course to pursue. lie
was a huge, brawny man, and, clasping
the shreking woman in his arms, he
braced his feet against an upright post
and pulled. :,


1t was a contest between the man and
the bolting machine-mind and muscle
on one side, hungry iron and steel upon
the other. Mind and muscle won, but
not without catastrophe. There was a
long pull, strong pull and a pull alto
gether and then, by one gigantic effort,
the miller bore the woman clear, but that
was all.


He saved the statue; the machinery
got all the drapery. The lady was un-
hurt, but also unclothed. She stood
there-like the Greek slave-unshackled.
The lockers on ran out for feelings sake.
There was any amount of hustle about
the mill, but not a particular hustle
about she woman-the bolting machine
had that.


The rescued lady stood shuddering and
blushing, and her rescuer stood painting
and blushing. There was moment or
two of awful embarrassment, and then
the miller solved the problem. He fled
from the mill and sought his wife and
sent her back with bundle of clothing.
She soon arrived upon the scene, and the
dismantled woman was arrayed again,
though, perhaps, not quite so gaudily as
before her little affair with the boiling
machine.
Year: 1875

DEAF and dumb men don't stand
much shew in Texas, anyhow. Recently,
while one Of them was feeling IN ms
pocket for a slate-pencil wherewith 70
communicate his wants, native shot
him in the hand, on the supposition that
he was getting out a weapon
Year: 1875

TIE WnEELlNd WINDOW GLASS Conf
rANY..-Thc failure Of this company has
been matter Of street talk for several
days past although nothing has been
said in the daily papers here about it.
it. The fact Of the failure, however, was
sent abroad by telegraph three or four
days ago, and has appeared as a
press dispatch in other cities. Under
such circumstances there can he no
improperly in referring now to the street
talk on the subject, which is to the effect
that the company offer to settle with their
creditors at 30 cents on the dollar; that
they have been doing losing business
for years past; that their Indebtedness
amounts to some $2S,OOO and their stock
on hand to some $4,000; that they offer
to surrender this stock in satisfaction of
their Indebtedness or else puy 80 cents in
cash, us their creditors may elect.


We understand that the Indebtedness
Of the company is principally TO the Ex-
change Bank and the National Bank Of
West Virginia, and that on Saturday an
understanding was arrived at by which
they will ray 80 cents on the dollar.
Whether the concern will resume busl-
ness we are not able to state. We pre-
sume that the general condition Of trade
throughout the country at this time does
not invite very active operations.


As to the causes that have initiated
against the success Of the company, there
are various explanations offered. One
is that they bought too heavily Of soda
ash, which is an expensive ingredient in
the manufacture Of glass, and which has
been declining steadily for years past.
Another is that the company have
paid higher wages then were paid at
Pittsburgh. Whether either OF both
Of these explanations are sufIl-
cient to account foi their failure, is
out Of our power to decide. II Is Sufli-
cient for the present to state the general
fact that from some calise OF other the
company have not been successful in
hnainasa
Year: 1875

FEELING AGAINST THE ROYAL YACHT,


LONDON, August est is rumored
that a majority Of the jury was in favor
OF n verdict Of manslaughter, against the
officers Of the Royal Yacht, which ran
down the Mistletoe.
Year: 1875

The Paris office of the New YORK HERALD
has been removed from Rue Scribe to Avenue
de lOpera Those who are familiar with the
magnificent city will recall this site as
among the most convenient in the French
metropolis. 1t is within sight of the new
Opera House, the Column Vendome but
few moments walk from the famous Boule-
wards, in easy reach of the Gardens
of the Tuileries and the Galleries
of the Louvre, the Madeleine. the Champs
Elysees and the Place Concorde. Here we
have opened for the convenience of Ameri-
cans resident in Paris and travelling abroad
reading room containing the most complete
collection of American journals and periodi-
Gals that has been formed by private enter
prise Every locality of any Importance will be
represented by its leading newspaper. Our
object is to place within the reach ofAmericans
from every part of the Union their home
journals. Our Office is spacious, well-lighted
and easily accessible. Paris is SO much of
an American city, and is becoming, from
year to year, so much more an object of re-
sort for Americans, that in the establishment
of this reading room in connection with our
Paris Office we feel we are doing the people
a service.


We have further to say that we shall be
happy to put on file in our reading room
copies of newspapers that proprietors may
send to us. 1t is only necessary to direct
their journals to the Paris Office of the New
YORK HERALD, No. 81 Avenue de pOpera,
Paris, and pay the postage. The following
is list of papers already on file at our Paris
Office =
Year: 1875

1t was evident that war must come some day.
In 1870 Bismarck saw that Germany was
ready and France was not, and he seized the
first pretext that came to precipitate the
struggle in that favorable juncture. This
idea will become policy. AS soon as ma
ton in which a new cannon has been made
discovers that this cannon will destroy its
enemy's ships it will not give that enemy a
chance to build new ships but will seize some
pretext to force Immediately the war that
seems an inevitable fact of the future. Ma
tions will perhaps come eventually, as a re-
suit of this to spend more money in
diplomacy and less in cannon, and there
may be fewer wars.
Year: 1875

The season which is now coming to an end
has been exceedingly brilliant in many re-
spects, especially in the interest which has
been taken in outdoor sports As we have
had occasion to show at different times
during the midsummer, the columns of the
HERALD bore frequent witness to the fact
that Notwithstanding the oppressiveness ofthe
season our people found great comfort in
yachting and excursions and shooting at
targets and playing at various games and
attending horse races Some days these
sporting narratives were almost burdensome
in their detail and variety. The meetings at
the various race tracks, beginning with the
Jerome Park spring meeting, continued at
Long Branch and Saratoga, and including
the successful introduction of hurdle races
into conservative, me-honored old New
port, have been unusually successful The
Jerome Park fall meeting is announced
for next week, and all the reports show that
it will exceed in brilliancy anything that has
been done at Newport or Saratoga or Long
Branch. We sometimes think that the au-
tumn at our races will become more attractive
to the general public than the spring, and
that it is a mistake for those who manage our
courses to run their chief races in the spring.
in imitation of the French and English Derby
days. Our month of October is the finest in
the year. brisk, rattling drive to Jerome
Park in October is much more to be envied
than drive on warm, wearisome spring
day. AS we come to adapt ourselves to our
climate and to arrange our amusements ac-
cordingly we shall do more and more
honor to October.


The autumn meeting at Jerome Park
which opens on Saturday next, will be rich
in attractions, not only to those who enjoy
the beautiful scenery of Westchester, but to
those who rejoice in the development of the
turf and in these contests of SKILL which,
whatever we may say of them in our moral
izing moods, have always excited a generous
human interest. There are about seventy
five horses already at the track and the
number is increasing daily. On Saturday,
the first day of the meeting, there will be
five races. On Tuesday there will be
handicap steeplechase, and on Thursday
October 7, there will be grand national
handicap, with the National Sweepstakes,
with the Champion Stakes on Saturday, the
9th.


The horse to-day is as much the object Of
admiration and study as it was when Job
wrote about him in strains of the highest
poetry. Whatever abuses may have crept
into the turf they are no more than what we
see in other amusements and occupations,
and do not detract from the great value Of
that institution as means of improving our
breed of horses and of inspiring our young
men with love of outdoor manly exercises
1t encourages humane feeling to bring our
selves into close relation with animals like
the horse to take pride in their achieve
ments, to encourage the development of
their strength and their beauty. There is no
more honest enjoyment than that which can
be found in standing on the green hillside
and watching the swerving line of straining
steeds as it comes whirling around the
bending track. We congratulate the man
ayers of Jerome Park upon the programme
they offer.
Year: 1875




We print elsewhere narrative of new
swindle which has grown up in our city gov
ernment. We have class of spectators in
New York who are called 'tax sale "scalp-
ers." Their operations are elsewhere de-
scribed. Every year sales of lands and
tenements whose owners are in arrears for
taxes or assessments are made in ''dingy
room under the Comptroller's office" Some
times these sales embrace property to the
value of million and quarter to a
million and q half of dollars, which
changes hands because of the neglect of the
owners to pay their taxes and special assess
ments or of their ignorance of such assess
ment until they learn that their property has
been sold in default BY special law the
Department Of Finance is empowered to
charge twelve per cent interest upon all sums
unpaid up to the time of sale. These sales are
advertised in ring sheet called the City Record,
at cost of five dollars extra for advertising
each piece. The owner has the right to
redeem his property within two years.
The practical effect is that the purchaser. at
these tax sales, even if he is called upon to
restore his purchase, receives from the use
of his money fourteen per cent per annum.
Consequently, by the operation of the law,
by the connivance Of the Comptroller, by
the existence Of ring newspaper, which
nobody reads the city is in the position of
imposing usurious rates upon its property
owners Now, if the property which goes
into default was honestly sold, if the public
were called upon through the general news-
paper press TO take part in these sales, it
would be much better for the city and for the
owners The next sale, for instance, will
take place on the 9Th of October. There
arc three thousand eight hundred and
ninety-one parcels advertised for sale on
that day, and among the owners of these
parcels are men like William b. Astor, rich
corporations like ST. Patrick's Cathe-
dral the Hudson River Railroad Com
pany, the Continental Bank and the Erie
Railway Company. This goes to show that
the whole business is a fraud because
these corporations and these owners would
not for moment allow their property to be
taken out of their hands in ''dingy room
under the Comptroller's office" The fact is
that by using this ring sheet to conceal the
operations of law thousands have no knowl-
edge Of the fact that "Assassments' are made
Year: 1875

great newspaper is necessarily nearer to
the general business of the country than any
other agent can be- journalism is the one
business which represents and includes all
others. The leading trades and manufac-
lures off nation influence each other, it is true,
yet they are to a large extent independent of
each other. They move in distinct and sepa-
rate paths and no one of them can sum up
the prosperity and the purposes of the others.
But as anciently all roads led to Rome so all
business roads. now lead to the newspaper as
the common centre of their conflicting or CO.
operative interests. 1t is impossible to point
out one great commercial pursuit which does
not seek and find its ultimate exponent in
the press. Thus a great newspaper becomes
an infallible measure of the condition of the
business of the community in which it is
published the thermometer does not more
accurately record the variations of tempera-
ture, than it marks the changes in trade.


The HERALD to-day stands forth as an
absolute proof of the revival of business in
the United States for the fall season of 1875
The new life which inspires the business
world expands our pages, as the trade winds
fill the sails of ship. The HERALD has
never failed as an indication of returning
prosperity, and the sixty-fve columns
of advertisements we print to-day repre-
senting SO many departments Of business.
are conclusive evidence that the long de-
preston of the dull season is ended This
enormous amount of advertising which is in
itself news Of the utmost Importance to the
seller and buyer, is not permitted to exclude
those other classes of news which it is the
special duty of great newspaper to supply
to its readers. The HERALD, therefore, is
| issued as a quintuple sheet, with ffty-fve
columns of reading matter additional to its
eleven pages of advertisements, and it is not
as a boast but as a simple fact, that we say
that in extent, variety, and as complete
microcosm of the busy moving world, it has
certainly no rival in journalism.
Year: 1875

Our TAxEs.-A singular illustration oi
reform in our city government, as con-
ducted> by that model reformer Comp
troller Green, is shown in the fact that
while the valuation of real estate has
increased this year by over two millions,
as compared with the previous year, the rate
of taxation has been advanced from two dol
lars and eighty cents to two dollars and nine
ty-four cents. Although the assessed value
has steadily increased in real estate since
1871 it has fallen off in real and personal
property. Consequently we have been COM
PEELED to increase our taxes upon un-
improved and unproductive property be-
cause of the shrinkage. The reason fol
this increase in the tax rate and the falling
off in personal property is that investors
who had heavy amounts in taxable securities
have withdrawn them and placed them in
non-taxable securities This suggests to US
the propriety of a revision Of the whole sys-
tenn of taxation. The time will come when
we shall have to decide whether, in the
interest of honest government, any owners OF
property should be exempt from the duty OF
supporting the government.
Year: 1875

The ARENENBERG CONFERENCE. -Impor-
tant news is furnished by our Paris corre-
spondent relative to the new policy decided
upon by the Council of Bonapartistsj just held
at Arenenberg. The abdication of the Re
gency by the Empress Eugene is the most
significant event that has lately occurred in
the imperial family. The Empress for many
years welded q vast influence in politics,
and it was through her intense Catholicism
that the Empire was brought so near to
Rome. Her abdication may not mean that
her policy is to be abandoned, but that it is
thought fit to present the Prince Imperial to
the world as his own master. This, OF
course, is an impossibility. The boy King
of Spain and the boy Emperor of France are
equally unfit to rule without a director.
M. Rouher is to be the power behind the
throne, and when all his dreams are realized
the Empire will be restored with its old des-
potic forms and the constitution of 1862.
The Bonapartists apparently intend to take
bold, aggressive steps when the Assembly
meets again.