smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

We give elsewhere an account of the expe-


dients by which the incriminated authorities


are endcavoring to gain time for further
schemes and combinations to defeat the ends
of justice. In spite of the swaggcring air they


have attempted to assume since the beginning
of the storm which is now at its hight, in spite
of the feeble jests of their literary apologist
and accomplice, and the sneering pretense
of indifference which comes every morning
from their sole defender in the Press there is
no doubt but that the corrupt oligarchy which
has ruled us so long is beginning to be seri-
ously alarmed. The absolute refusal of the
affair to blow over; the evident interest of the
people at large in the fight which was begun
by the Press; the failure of the
efforts made by emissaries of the Ring
to obtain control of the meeting of citizens
held to denounce them the great and impos-
ing success Of that meeting when it took
place-all these successive incidents have at last
made most disagreeable impression even upon
these hardened hearts and cOnsciences. They
had hoped the popular indignation would evap-
crate at the meeting In mere talk and music,
but they have been startled at the prompt and
practical manner in which the Committees Of
Citizens and Taxpayers have gone about the
work of fulfilling the duties devolved upon
them by their fellow.citizens. 1t was with q
feeling little short Of CONSERVATION that they
learned yesterday morning that legal measures
were to be instantly taken against them in the
regular courts Of the State. By the use of
the resources which they have always at their
disposition, they have gained days delay in
the proceedings. This morning the effort will
again be made to ascertain whether there is
any law in the State of New-YOrk against THO
Year: 1871

The report of the Board of Visitors to the
Military Academy at West Point does not
seem to receive the approval of all of the
Visitors But the most remarkable point Of
difference among those gentlemen is upon an
article which certainly ought to command the
instant and hearty approval of every man who
knows anything of the irregularities which a
lack of discipline has brought into the Academy.
And yet three of the Board of Visitors took
exception to an article which recommends
severer discipline, and especially cessation of
that familiarity between cadets and officers
which has been so fruitful heretofore of abuses
and disorder. West Point is not creditable
institution in many respects, and, Judging from
our abstract of the usual annual report of its
lvuI.,ion. lv;uI3.;,.ion. it is not in fair way to command
the confidence and esteem of the country.
Year: 1871

men who boass,ot their ability ID, use the ia.
diciaty to screen their crimes.


However this especial effort may result, the
case grows every day more hopeful for the
side of honesty and reform Every denial OF
justice in the interest of the rogues will assist
in strengthening and confirming the aroused
public feeling against them The case OF the
Ring has now become 90 bad that corruption
itself will be damaged If arrayed in their IA
vor. A suspected Judiciary might do itself In
finite service in furthering the purposes OF
justice now; while, If it espouses the falling
cause, we may find that in the fall OF Tam
many it has carried its judges down with IT,
There are no good grounds for fearing that
a temporary delay will defeat the suit to re-
strain the Ring leaders from plunging the city
still further into debt. II was not to be expected
that the party of reform woGld succeed all at
once. It is most natural that the litigation
should be long and tedious. Every trick and
quibble which the ingenuity OF Ring lawyers
and Ring politicians can devise to defer and
defeat the final judgment against them Will
certainly be called into reputation. But they
cannot disregard or override this legal pro-
ceeding. The application Of Mr.. Foley is
regular and lawful one, and 1t is supported by
influences too powerful to be met with inso'
lence or outrage. The Committees Of citizens
who have the honor and the interests OF the
city now In charge are too strong and too
respectable to be treated like former Commit
tees which have begun in hopeless feebleness
and ended in treachery.


public opinion 80 strong and compact has
been gradually built up in this city during the
past year, that It will enforce respect even from
the cynical band of plunderers encamped In the
City Hall. There Is q far brighter prospect
now than there has ever been for some def
mite and practical result. Mr.. Foley, as the
representative of the Citizens and Taxpayers
Association, can go into court to-day with
security of person which was denied to John
Hecker as the representative of the Citizens
Association of 1894. If Judge Barnard has any
of the worldly wisdom his friends claim for
him, he will not refuse to entertain the appli-
cation which is to be made to him; and the
Tammany officials will do well in their own
interest not TO aggravate their present condem-
nation by an attempt to prevent by chicahe or
violence a legal inquisition into their recent
wasteful and corrupt administration.
Year: 1871

able n,ston thinks It no barm to resort TO
these foul dens, or to practice the arts which
are taught In them, poor girls who have fallen
into sin should attempt to cover their shame
by initiating the example of their bettersI
We may redouble the penalties for seduction,
but they will not reach the root of the dis
order. We may break up the establishments
in Clinton-st. and second-aye., send Lookup
and Rosepzweig to Jail, prosecute The Herald
for printing their advertisements, and perhaps
even convict some wretched girl of manslaugh-
ter after she has escaped from an operation by
one of these pretended female physicians; but
when we have done all this the crime will still
flourish in the secrecy of home until we have
touched the callous conscience Of American
women. and reused them to comprehension
Of the fearful work they are doing. Here is
task for the medical and clerical professions.
Laws can never accomplish it,
Year: 1871

Custom is the queen of the world, said
Darius. The Persian King asked some Athe-
mans living at his court what they thought of
the practice of sons eating their dead fathers.
The Athenians said they could conceive OF
nothing worse. He asked some Scythians there
at the same time what they thought of the
matter They said they could conceive of
nothing worse than not to eat their dead
fathers. On hearing this, Darius concluded
that custcm was the queen of the world, or,
in other words, that it makes little difference
to people what they do, provided only they
are used to it. When we remember how
averse we all are to death, how our friends
send to ask after us if we are in danger, and
how the doctors vie with each other to keep
the last breath of life in our bodies, we will
agree that to put O perfectly well man to
death deliberately and in open daylight is an
extraordinary act. If it does not strike us 80,
the explanation is that custom has dulled our
sense Of its strangeness.


The particular form of execution We have
received from the English is well calculated to
perpetuate the dulled public sense of the mon
strosity of capital punishment In hanging
there is no blow of the hand upon the body,
and there is no manging. The body of the
culprit is externally whole after death and the
skin not broken. The particular advantage of
hanging is that it removes any idea of per-
sonal agency. The only person who can be
said to do the killing is he who let's down the
trap. Yet he certainly does not seem to him
self nor to the public to kill in the sense in
which headsman puts to death. He only
pulls the trap and the culprit apparently falls
of his own accord. The prosecuting attorney
does not do the hanging, nor the jury who
merely pronounce on the facts, nor the judge
who passes sentence, nor the governor who
let's the law take its course" nor he who ties
the knot, nor the sheriff who waves his hand.
nor the man who springs the trap. They
knock the deed back and forth among each
other like shuttlecock. 1t almost seems as
though the culprit had vanished from the earth
without the aid Of any human agency.


Another accident tending to perpethate the
lulled popular sense of the awfulness of an
execution is in the behavior of the condemned,
Aeitations for reforms usually begin in the
class the reforms are intended to benefit.
Notoriously, II the sufferer submits, the spec
tator does not object. In persons capitally
convicted, there Is, or seems to the public to
be, very little Of q really strenuous struggle
for life. Resignation in the culprit begets re-
siguation in the community. Whom Margaret
Year: 1871

The Anti -Dram-Shop party of this State has
made its nominations for the State officers to
be elected this FALL believing that separate
political action is the, only true line Of policy
for Temperance men. At the Conven-
ton at Syracuse yesterday the party was
entertained by harangue from an orator,
who, speaking of the Republicans Of his own
immediate acquaintance, said that they were
" "scalawags," who were bought and sold at
the hustings, as beefsteaks and mutton-c -chope
were bought and sold in the market. This
orator is unfortunate in bis associations, but we
are consoled by the reflection that he has No
higher opinion of the opposite party.
Year: 1871

Another Know-Nothing Ku-Klux has turned
up in Mississippi. One Scanlon, hailed before
the Grand Jury, swore that he knew of no
political organization that was inimical to the
laws of the United States. Pressed upon that
point, however, he admitted that he was him.
self a member of secret organization which
had for its object "the good of the country"
OF course, this was nothing less than political,
whether inimical to the laws or not, and
Scanlon's refusal to divulge its purposes was
contemplate evasion. The Court thought so,
and sent the cOntumaciOus witness to jail
Year: 1871

Marshal Bazaine has broken his long 81
lence by making speech in defense of his
conduct during the war, before the Committee
of Military Investigation of the National AS
sembly He attributed his failure at Metz
mainly to the lack of ammunition. This is the
first time that that excuse has ever been offered
Bazaine himself never mentioned it in his
official report of the operations of the Army
of the Rhine, and Gen. COfinieres, the post
commander, has pretty clearly shown that only
the inability to provide against hunger was
the pretext, if not the direct cause, of the sur
render of the fortress. On the night of the
3lst of August, 1870, there was undoubtedly an
abundance of ammunition, for four French
corps succeeded in breaking through the Ger
man line, composed of only One-and-a-half
corps; but through bad generalship those same
vanquished German troops were allowed to
rally and beat the greatly superior forces OF
the French back into Metz. An impartial in
vestigation into the matter will convict Ba-
zane of at least culpable weakness and indie
csiOn.
Year: 1871

Sir Duncan Glib, who read paper before tne
British Association at its late meeting IN EdnDursn
on " Centenariau Longevity" mentioned four cases
Of greatly prolonged life which had come under
his personal observation. None of these persons
used tobacco. and all had good teeth But sir Dun
can, by way of moral, said that he thought that all
centenarians were weary of life, aud awaited death
with impatience a. . relief most heartily to Dc
desired This is undoubtedly in the order OF Mature
She does not mean that we should die IN infancy IN
youth the fun aStity ia ;nass tSat We should
H. on the stage supertuOus through decay
Year: 1871

The weekly reports in the Board of Health
show healthy condition of the city, in spite
of the shocking condition of the streets, mar
kets, and alleys. We have certainly to thank
a kind Providence for exemption from viru-
lent contagious diseases; the City Govern
meut has done nothing except at this late
day to cleanse Slum of West Washington
Market, from which twenty-five cart loads Of
filth were removed. Commendable vigor, too,
has Lately been developed in the direction of
prosecutions for infractions Of laws and reg
ulations relating to the public health. We
m ay not escape 80 fairly next year with SINH
Lar negligence.
Year: 1871

The hopeful representations Of the California
Republicans appear to be in fair way to be
realized, though the returns are not sufficiently
full to indicate the final result of the election
of yesterday We hope to be able tomorrow
to announce that California has elected the
Republican ticket by majority large enough
to insure the State for years to come.
Year: 1871

1t is noticeable that though mining acci-
dents are less frequent in the British Isles
than the large number Of mines might lead
one to expect, when they do occur they are
f'zarfully destructive of human life. BY the
sudden closing of tunnel in the great can
uel coal mines at Wgan: Lancashire. sixty
Year: 1871

In considering the theologic contro.
versics that separate men who have after
all genuine sympathy in the spirit Of
Chrisrs teachings, some allowance should
be made for singular principle of bu-
man nature which we have lever seen
satisfactorily explained what may be
called the capacity for double relief
There are minds that sincerely accept
two inconsistent, not only inconsistent
but opposite doctrines, and are never
conscious Of the contradiction. There
are men who appear firmly to believe
one thing on Sunday, and the contrary
i'll business ; one thing when talking
with tier pastor, and the contrary when
talking with other companions, and,
what is strangest, not by way Of hypoc-
risy, but in good earnest.


Here is a gentleman of intelligence
AMI good sense, moving in the highest
circles OF Christian community, who is
Unitarian, and hears on Sunday
sermon on the innate excellence of hu-
nan nature. As the preacher dwel!s
OIL the common and precious virtues
which make life happy, the hearer thinks
OF his family, his friends, the circle Of
acquaintance in which he moves, and his
whole mind revolts from the doctrine of
depravity and sinfulness. He accepts
heartily and sincerely ;he rose colored
view Of life, and feels that the whole
human lace is slaudered and DETAINED bv
any other doctrine than that which his
pastor is extolling.


But on Monday, when he goes through
the streets, he reverts TO more practi-
cal view OF life. He sees imposlure in
the vagrant beggar, as quickly as any
one he would gladly rescue the drunken
wretch he meets if he supposed it were
possible, but he has long since come to
the conclusion tha. no human power
can reform such cases. And when he
takes his seat in his counting-room to
deal with customers, or in his office to
advise with client, or at the State House
in affairs OF government, he measures
every man by the same tests of character
that every one else does. He considers
it not impossible for anybody to go
wrong. lie deals with nobody he does
not watch. He ponders mems motives
""" "O'So Suaiueuiy dLnOIS tueHI dI
every step. Temptation he holds is not
to be needlessly thrust upon any one,
for even the best may fall and the
methods of business, therefore, must be
so adjusted that, so far as possible, it
shall be for mems interest to serve him
faithfully, and deal with him fairly.


Let us look into the parlor of bank
when the directors are seated around the
long table. Question Of loans to this or
that dealer, of the regularity of the ac-
counts of teller, or the correctness Of
the cashiers habits, may be up. Does
the reader think he could tell from what
any one of these gentlemen says on
practical question OF the trustworthiness
of human nature, what his opinions on
the very same question would be if pre-
sented theologioally on Sunday Not
at all. The loosest noralist is then OF
the same kind as his orthodox friend
Year: 1871

BY THE DAY.-It makes difference
in the action Of a man whether he is
working BY the day or by the job. He
who works by the day is a pleasant and
abiding object. Here for instance, Is a
man who has come in to repair the gilt
lettering on your Office door. He is
working by the day. There is no undig-
nified haste about his movements. lie
gazes upon the work laid out TOR him
with a critical eye, but he is not in a
hurry. lie evidently has not consider.
ed the ant, and the busy bee he holds a
contempt tor. You gaze upon his slug
gish gaze admiringly, only your pleas
ure is marred somewhat by the refiec-
ton that he is working for you, and by
the day, and You mildly intimate that
so slight a work will, of course. be soon
finished. He gives only negative as
sent TO your proposition, and does not
hurry himself Time does not hang
heavily on his hands. He is working by
the day. He does not appear to be a:
all troubled by the accidental breaking
Of the glass, aud the consequent expense
and annoyance. He bears up under your
misfortune with surprising grace. He
sits down and rests. He is philosopher
aud sybarite. And finally, when you
find your faith in that old proyerb
which claims that more haste is accom-
panied with less speed is totally ruined,
and the cost Of your patching has ex-
ceeded that of the original work, he de-
parts with the same bland demeanor and
the pleasant smile-a little Mcphistophc-
lian, perhaps which he has worn from
the first. 1t is very pleasant aud very
expensive to have work done by the
day.
Year: 1871

To FARMERs.-We find the following in
one Of our intelligent exchanges, and it is
worth the attention of our farmers


The sweet potato used in various
forms as an esculent, in making bread,
as a substitute tor coffee, in the brewing
of beer, as well tor fattening farm ami
mails, is now beginning to be used in
making a syrup 'far surprising that of
the bet and even of the sorghum in
delicacy OF flavor, while the yield is
much more abundant. The average pro,
duct Of bushel of sweet potatoes-the
yam variety being preterred-is alleged
to be over two gallons, and as the average
yield per acre, on poor soil, is from $50
to $50 bushels, the product must neces-
sarily be from 300 to $50 gallons of syrup.
This must open in the view of the piney-
woods agriculturist a new and more
profitable industry, one man with mule,
being able to cultivate at least fifteen
acres in potatoes. The residum, after
the juice syrup has been extracted, is pro-
nounced available ediblce either for man
or beast.
Year: 1871

DR.. HALL, in his Journal of Health,
says the best medicines in the world,
more efficient in the cure of disease than
all the potencies of the materia naedica,
are warmth, rest, cleanliness and pure
air. Some persons make it a virtue to
brave disease, to "keep up" as long as
they can move a foot or crook finger,
and il sometimes succeeds: but oftener
the powers of life are thereby so COM
pletely exhausted that the system has
lost all ability to recuperate, and slow,
and typhoid fevers set in, and carry the
patient to a premature grave. When
ever walking or work is an effort,
warm bed and a cool room are the very
first indispensable steps to a sure and
speedy recovery. Instinct leads all
beasts and birds to quietude and rest the
very moment disease or wounds assail
the system.
Year: 1871

a gentleman of this city, witty and
agreeable, but with a slight impediment
of speech, had it in his heart to become
the possessor of pure back-and-tan
terrier, for which he was willing to paw
a liberal price. A superior little brute
was soon brought to him by dog.
fancier, who demanded for it the modest
price of fifty dollars. Not being dis.
posed to check for that figure unles sure
that the dog was a good ratter, he pro-
posed 10 the party to meet Kim next day
at PIT where dogs and rats were brought
tor sanguinary contest, and try him with
a rat. Agreed. Next day our friend,
having obtained first-cass rat of the
"whart species, had him conveyed to
the theatre of strife. Both were at tho
same moment thrown into the arena.
After being pursued for moment the
rat truned, made spring at the terrier,
caught him on the lip, and made him
howl with pain. In short, 'he had him.
Our purchaser turned and said, Il d-d-on't
think your d-d-dog's g-good for anything.
D-d-dont you rant to 5-Juy my r-rat p


Harper's INonthly.
Year: 1871


There is a little maiden


Who is she Do you know
Who always has welcome,
Wherever she may go.
Her face Is like the May lime,
Her voice Is like q birds;
The sweetest Of all music


Is in her lightsome words.
The loveliest Of blossoms


Spring whore her light foot treads,
And most delicious odors


She all around her sheds
The breath of purple clover


Upon the breezy hills
The smell Of garden roses


And yellow dafodils.
Each spot she makes the brighter.
As II she were the sun,
And she is sought and cherished
And loved by every one
BY old folks and by children,
BY lofty and by low.
Who is this little maidens
Does anybody know
You surely must have met her;
You certainly can guess.
What must | introduce herr
Her name IS Chccriulness.
Year: 1871

A Chicago woman conceived the odd
notion that the devil was in her, and
went TO closet and hung herself If wo.
men are determined to hang themselves
for trifipg notion like that, they are
going to be somewhat scarce, that's ell,
Year: 1871

In the Pennsylvania Democratic
State Convention, when the Vallan-
digham platform was pending, one OF
the delegates, a Mr.. Hindman, in a
speech Of great earnestness said:


This is endorsing negro suffrage ;
Just what the Democratic party has
been fighting. We went last fall into
8 campaign and met our Republican
opponents on this constitutional
Amendments, and l ask what was the
result? 1t was that in a Congress
siOnal District where there was a large
Republican majority we elected our
candidate by eight hundred majority,
and in my own District we went
square 10 the people on the question,
and increased our majority from lit
tie over a thousand To seventeen
hundred. Now, how am L to return
to my people and say we take backall
we said last fall, and the Republicans
who came over and voted for US may
go where they think proper, lge 90
iCith the Republican pGTtyP Now, ]
say that for these reasons lam opposed
to these resolutions"
Year: 1871

A story is told of distinguished Of
ficer, in the war Of the Union, some
thing like this: He was dissatisfied
with the execution Of a certain bat
terry, which was firing at a house in
the distance which afforded shelter
for the enemy's sharpshOoters. An
gered by shot through his hat, he
jumped from his horse with the dec
laration that he would aim the gun
himself. And he did, and in such Il
way that the shot went flying among
the tree tops not n hundred yards to
the front, and not at all in the direc-
ton of the object aimed at. At the
same time a veteran gunner having
aimed another field piece, fired at the
same instant the other gun was fired


The ball struck the house and demOl-
ished the chimney. The General, see
ing only the fall of the chimney, and


willlully or uncOnsciOusly blind to
the direction his own shot had taken,
exclaimed: "There sir! That's the
way to aim q gum" And then, as he
mounted his horse, said patrOnizingly,
"Captain, | viii come round and give
your men lessons in Artillery pTac-
tice." The telling comment on the

whole transaction was q roar of laugh
ter from gunneTs and artillery officers
as soon as the General was out of
hearing. Now comes the Democratic
party, with a change of front, TO shoot
in the same direction rs have been
shooting the veterans of the Republic
can party for years. They make q
great flourish over accomplished facts


and about their aims. Their shots all
go among the tree tops. They fire at
the same time, in the same general
direction; but anger and desire to re-
sent party wrongs compel the action,
instead of settled aims or purposes,


based on principle. The wrongs that
go down will be brought down by the
well directed guns in the hands of the
old veterans who have battled long in
the good cause. Though we have no
doubt the time will come when the
other party will claim every good
shot that is made, the people cannot
afford TO take lessons in this artillery
practice in thought, of such wild
shooters. The whole affair bears the
same relation to the real blows in the
cause, as did the exploit of the distin-
guished officer above quoted 10 the
real engagement that was going on.