smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

CONFIDENTIAL.-We hear a good
story of a man who went to the from
tier to see a friend. The family con-
sisted of the husband, his wife and
two grown SONS. The good old lady
was the only one of the family who
did not take a little of the 30 De
joyful" Sitting by the fire q few
minutes, the old man tipped him q
wink, and the visitor followed him
out. Stopping by tree, he pulled
out long necked bottle, remarking,
''I have to keep this hid, for the boys
might get to drinking, and the woman
would raise the d-l." They took a
drink and returned to the fireside.
Soon Tom, the eldest son asked the
visitor out to see a colt, and taking
him behind the barn, pulled out a
flask, remarking 81 have to keep. this
hid, for the old man will get drunk,
and the d-ii to pay ;" and they both
took a drink and returned. Soon
Bob stepped on the visitors toes and
walked off, the visitor following. As
they reached the pig pen, Bob drew
out good sized bottle, Temarking
tYou know the old man and Tom
will get drunk, and I have to hide
this.n The visitor concluded he
couldn't stand it to drink cOnfiden-
TALLY against the whole family and
started for home.
Year: 1870

Attenddnce.-An oblique line made
from right to left denotes that the pu-
pill was present in the forenoon, and
an oblique line from left to right that
he was present in the afternoon two
Year: 1870

DR.. Chaplin says that every young
lady should jump at the chance Of
marrying Mechanic. A good respect
able mechanic could not do better
than let some Of them jump a long
time before he married them. Most
fashionable young women would ruin
a mechanic in short order.
Year: 1870

The Board OF Aldermen met yesterday OF two
O'Clock, the President Alderman Conan, In tho
chair. The attendance OF sympathzing friends Of
the members was smaller than usual and but little
interest was manifested in the proceedings.


The most interesting event Of the session was the
failure or Alderman Miller to pass general order
making the Sun corporation paper. The resolution
sidered again and rejected amid the merrin,ent Of
the city Solons similar resolution favor of the
Irish People met the same fate.


AIesolution was adopted in favor of laying down
the Belgian pavement tn Thirty street Reso-
!utions were also adopted providing for paying $3.50
for sinking public well In 1S4th street aud for
widening Canal street Oh the north side. The Board
then transacted some routine business and ad-
iournod.
Year: 1870

Is The EAST SIDE AND WEST SIDE.-H
appears that the east side and west side of the
city up town are in favor of the Broadway
Arcade. OF course they are; for will not the
destruction Of Broadway transfer its business
to the east side or the west side? But would
not the burning down in single night of all
the buildings on Broadway effect the same
object, and at smaller loss in the long run
to the property holders directly concerned
than this destructive Arcade?
Year: 1870

We regret to hear renewed complaints ln
reference to sundry matters connected with
the safe and prompt delivery of our local mails.
In spite of repeated remonstrance it still
seems to require, in hundreds of cases, a
longer time to get New York letter properly
delivered in Brooklyn or Williamsburg, and
yice gerso, than to send it to San Francisco.
This is very absurd and apparently needless
annoyance. What is the negligence that occa-
sions it.? Again we hear of carriers under
taking to decide points with regard to the
delivery of letters that belong to the province
which the toleraton Of any such assumed au-
thority leads must be obvious, and the subject
requires immediate examination by the respon-
sible chief.


We also hear Of employers and others claim
ing the enormous prerogative of opening
letters addressed to their subordinates under
ordinary circumstances. On this head the
criminal statutes are most explicit, and even
in the most extreme cases the utmost caution
has to be exercised with regard to letters, even
by officers of the law duly empowered to serve
the purposes of justice. When we reflect upon
the amount OF misery that careless or laggard
delivery Of the mails or any undue meddling
with them may occasion, we will be sustained
by our own conscience and the universal senti-
ment in demanding that the regulations facili-
tating and protecting the correspondence of the
public shall be most stringently enforced.
Year: 1870

longer General Grant will be content to remain
in the position Of mere tidewaiter upon Con-
gress, especially when be has reached posi-
ton from which his word may be made tho
law to both houses. We expect bold ana
popular foreign policy from General Grant for
1879.
Year: 1870

How TO KILL Coop RECORD. p.--Governor
Holman can do it in signing this Arcade
abominatfsa; for his name to that outrageous
job Of fraud and corruption will kill his good
record of vetoes Of railroad jobs from first to
last AN fa H
Year: 1870

CURIOUS STATE OF THINGS. That which we
see around us now in this city in the turmoil
among the 'Young Democracy" against that
very democratic government for the city for
which they have been clamoring for twenty
years,
Year: 1870




A Paltry Piece Of Economy.


The virtual rejection by the United States
Senate of the application made on behalf Of
Mr.. Lincoln's widow for moderate but
pension wounds the nations taste and sense of
justice. It is glaring illustration of the
penny wise and pound foolish policy that is so
often revealed in our public affairs, and
more unfortunate occasion for its display has
not occurred since we became a nation. To
see the bereaved wife of the Chief Magistrate
who welded the. executive power of the
republic at the very darkest period of it's later
history, and saved it from utter destruction by
his sagacity, his rectitude and his unswerving
devotion to every claim Of patriotism, until
struck down by an assassins hand at the very
ACME of his usefulness-to behold this lady
turned coldly away from the doors of the
Capitol, which might to-day be surmounted
by another ensign had it not been for
the genius and fidelity Of her deceased
husband, is pitiful spectacle. We
have carefully read and weighed the
report of the Committee on Pensions, to whom
the bill which the House of Representatives
had the grace to pass was referred; and while
the technicalities of its special pleading may
be all right, we find the tone of the whole docu-
ment feeble, and its generally assumed posi-
ton lame. For instance, to assert, as the
report does, that there is nothing to distinguish
Mrs. Lincolns case from others, is to commit
qualification. The truth is that no for
mer case bore any similarity or comparison to
it. Mr.. Lincoln was suddenly snatched away
in the noblest prime of life from his family,
his friends, his country and the world that es-
teemed him among its great and good men, by
cruel and treacherous means, and in his
death not only the cause of American peace
and union, but humanity and liberty every
where suffered If there was nothing peculiar
in that foul crime and the consequences that
ensued, then were all the pageantries Of mourn
ing in which the entire land indulged, the con-
dolences of foreign nations and the regretful
records Of contemporaneous history mere
waste. But this they were not, as the con-
science of mankind testifies, and the lesson Of
rebuke for political murder, in order to be COM
plets, requires that the family Of the martyred
President should be placed beyond the remotest
reach of pecuniary anxiety by the delibe-
rate act of the national legislature. In no
other way, whether by the local action Of
communities, by private subscription or by
separate States, could the feeling of the Ameri-
can people be so significantly expressed.


To convey, even by insinuation, the idea
that this act of tributary justice to sorrow
ing and now infirm lady, left to contemplate in
loneliness one of the most sudden, overwhelm-' ;
ing and heartrending vicissitudes of fortune
that ever befell mortal being, would serve as
an evil precedent is doubly diluted weakness.
Are we to have more chief magistrates MUIR
dersdp and 40 often that pensioning their
Year: 1870

The Kxecuti0s OF General G0icOuria.


A brief but terrible telegraphic despatch
from Havana, in yesterdays HERALD, an
nounoed the execution of that brave old Cuban
hero General Goicouria. The words are


ew and there are no details, but there Is no
doubt that he was quickly and in indecent
haste garroted. He was taken into Havana
a prisoner On the night of the 9th, ''verbal'


court martial Immediately assembled and
sentenced him, and at eight o'clock the next
morning he was executed. OF course be had
no trial, or but the mockery Of one, and he
was condemned by drum-head court martial


The unseemly haste with which he was des-
patched was prompted, no doubt, by cruel
revenge in part, for he had been nearly all his
life devoted to the cause Of Cuban
independence But another object the
bloodthirsty Spaniards had in view,
probably, was to prevent any appeal from the
United States to spare his life Though a
Cuban born General Goicouria was, we be-
lieve, q naturalized American citizen. He
had been resident of this country quarter
Of century, had been engaged extensively
in business and was well known to the bust


ness community Of this city and of New Or
leans. Probably an effort would have been
made to save his life /; but the Spaniards were
resolved to prevent this and to have his
blood. Goicouria was truly martyr to
Cuban freedom, for he faced many dangers
and carried bis life in his hand, as it were, for
that object. Whatever may be thought Of his
prudence there is no one that will not admire
his patriotism and heroism. We do not
know what the American government will
think or do, if it can do anything,
in this case Of barbarity; but we do know that
the American people will denounce it as a
disgrace to this age. No other people calling
themselves civilized but the Spaniards would
be guilty Of such brutality and inhumanity. No
rebel lost his life in our civil war except on the
battle field. We executed none for rebellion.
All the civilized governments of the world are
coming to the same humane practice except
Spain. The brutal way she is conducting the
war in Cuba deserves to be execrated by all
nations. Our own citizens-native born Ame-
been butchered in cold blood on
mere suspicion Is it not time that the govern
ment of this great republic should denounce
Spanish barbarity in Cuba and demand that
the war be conducted with some regard to
humanity and the civilization of the age?
Year: 1870

The Rev. Charles IL. SmytRS Appropriate


Discourse to His Congregation.


The Rev. Charles B. Smyth yesterday gave
some wholesome Christian advice to the CO n
gregation of the Eleventh street Presbyterian
church ON the subject of the persecution to
which he has been subjected by some of the
members. His text was very appropriate,
and, to use a familiar simile, hit the nail on
the head. 1t was the language Of Paul to the
Romans-"Be kindly affectioned one to
another, with brotherly love; in honor pre-
ferring one another" A large congregation
had assembled, and among them many
strangers, in anticipation, no doubt, of
sensation. However, there was nothing par
ticularly sensational. The preacher spoke in
mild and exhorting manner, aud in true
Christian spirit 1t will be we'll if the con-
gregation follow his example.


It appears from notice which Mr.. Smyth
read at the request of some members of the
church that portion Of the congregation is
still dissatisfied with his conduct in the matter
of the gin and milk drink on the Sabbath and
the generous entertainment he gave to certain
Bohemians of the press. The notice was a
call for meeting of the church members to
consider the conduct of the reverend gentle
man and to determine whether or not he
should be allowed to continue his pastoral
duties. This is movement, it seems, got up
by those opposed to him and who want to
oust him. After reading this notice Mr..
Smyth remarked in good spirit that he
hoped there would be a full attendance. He
urged that he and his congregation have taken
mutual obligations, and it should be
carefully considered whether the reasons
were sufficient to dissolve his pasto-
raj relations. He was ready to sacrifice
everything, however, for the good and harmony
Of the church. Whatever might be the action
of the Presbytery he would gracefully submit
to it, and if he should think the interests of
the church required it he would present his
resignation. 1t remains to be seen If the con-
gregation will be ''kindly affectioned" toward
him as the text enjoins Christians to be with
one another. He gave them good advice and
| amply sustained the Christian principle he
proclaimed by abundant Scripture quotations
1t is doubtful If the narrow-minded, puritanical
members of the Eleventh street church will be
able to get over their gin and milk They are,
like the Pharisees Of old, apt to strain at a
gnat and swallow camel. It Is not the
spirit of religion and Christian charity that
moves the greater part Of church members
nowadays. They belong to churches because
it is respectable or fashionable, and their
hearts are at the same time full of bitterness
and all uncharitableness. But Mr.. Smyth is
not one of the men to be easily put down or
kept down. If his present congregation should
dismiss him he will show himself to be ire
pressible and will soon find a place where he
can denounce the Pharisees.
Year: 1870

opinion that, in relation to the future policy of
his administration, General Grant is care
fully studying the political field, in and out of
Congress, and that while the two houses are
foundering in sea of doubts and uncertain
ties ''the man at the other end of the avenue"
is quietly shaping his new programme to meet


the new order of things and the future.


1t is settled that General Grant is to be the
republican candidate for another Presidential
term. His mind is easy upon that score. His
present policy, therefore, is to hold the party
together upon this idea in Congress. Hence
he is rather a passive than an active instru-
ment in reference to the legislation of Con-
gress. He desires, moreover, to avoid the
raising Of any distracting issues touching this
years approaching elections for the next
Congress. He doubtless thinks that his
administrative record, as it stands, will be
sufficient for these elections. Let US suppose
that upon this record another republican
Congress is secured, what then Then we
predict General Grant, in his annual message,
will take new and bolder departure upon our
foreign relations, looking to the Presidential
election Of 1872. Meantime we do not
despair of a satisfactory solution of the Cuban
question, and it may be that the swift execu-
ton of the unfortunate General Goicouria will
hurry up the work. In any event. having
secured the vantage ground Of the recognized
head and embodiment Of the republican party,
it is not probable that beyond q few months
Year: 1870

A preacher in Nebraska City thus ad-
dressed his congregation last Sabbath: (:
Fellow laborers with Christ, gallaHt sol
diers Of the Cross and laborers in 6odl 2
golden harvest may make clergyman
feel intensely delighted when he IS in ar
rears for his rent but We think not. The
praise and hattery OF a congregation
Who have faith in preacher ability Is
a good thing, bot faith without works IS
dead, and preaching without greenhaeks
is played out
Year: 1870

FROM tne DeEOlt Toee'i


After the battle of Chickamauga, and
when he must have been perfectly con-
scious that he had saved Rosecrans'
army and the whole region, he sat hall
an hour drinking coffee, and did not
once sllude to the fight. No one would
have knoRn that there had been any.
In battle he sat hike statue, with scarce
" a motion, needless of bullets, ooca-
sionally reused TO enthusiasm by the sue
cess Of one of his maneuvers, but blush
ing if his feeling was discovered He
was seldom moved TO anger, but when it
came il WAS frightful An infantry Col
onel stole horse from Union farmer
in Kentucky, who came to Thomas and
complained He poured out torrent
ofinvective upon the officer, pulled him
from the horse, tore the epaulettes from
his shoulders, made him return the horse
and pay the farmer for his trouble.
Year: 1870

The following is the text OF Napoleon s
letter to Olivier:


II think it opportune, under present
circumstances, to adopt all reforms re-
quired by the constitutional government
Of the empire, in order to put an end to
the immoderate desire for change
which prevails in certain minds, and also
not TO leave public opinion unsettled by
creating instability The first place !
accord to those reforms which refer to
the constitution and the prerogative of
of the Senate. The constitution of 1852
had above all things TO provide the gov
ernment with the means Of establishing
authority and order, but it remained to
be perfected. As long as that consti-
tuition existed the country could not
have allowed the establishment of pub
lie liberties in solid basis. At the
present time, when successive changes
have gradually created a constitutional
regime in harmony with the bases laid
down in the plebiscite, it is important to
replace in the domain Of law all that
more specially has reference to the
preservation of legislative order, to i'm
press definite character upon the latest
reforms, 90 place the constitution above
all controversy 10 call upon the Senate,
that grand body which contains so many
brilliant men, To lend TO the new regime
their most efhcacious concurrence. j
therefore request you to come to an IN
derstanding with your colleagues, and
Law before me the draft Of SeRdfHs
C5nsulfum which shall firmly fix the
plebiscite fundamental dispositions de-
rived from the plebiscite Of 1882 and
which shall divide the Legislative power
between the two Chambers, and restore
to the nation that portion Of constituent
power It had delegated 20 me. p
Year: 1870

The Mississippi Valley and the Levees.


We see the question OF reclaiming the fertile
fats of the lower valley Of the Mississippi is
attracting the attention of Congress. 1t seems
that the State of Louisiana, acting on the
recommendation Of the Louisville Commercial
Convention. has chartered joint stock COM
pany, charged with the duty of reconstructing
the embankments Of the river, in order to
secure this prolific region from overflow. The
law incorporating this company gives it an
annual revenue for twenty-one years, derived
from taxation on the protected lands and their
productions, which is to be collected like State
taxes and placed in the treasury to the credit
of the company. The main idea in the law is
to bring to bear on this matter of the levees
of Louisiana the energy, thrift and economy
of private enterprise.


In its connection with the cotton supply this
work of protecting the rich savannahs Of the
lower Mississippi becomes matter of absorb
ing interest. When we consider the immense
effort which England has made, especially
during the last ten years, to grow cotton
tuIOuShVuV Vhc VoAAu, WO hi"y WCAh ICSulu
with favor all enterprises to preserve that
monopoly in the plant which our transatlantic
friends are trying SO hard to wrest from US.
It is computed that an efficient system of
levees would reclaim and protect from inunda-
ton in the State OF Louisiana about twelve
million acres of land, one-haf Of which
is suitable for sugar growing and the other
half adapted to cotton. All the development
that this fertile territory needs s to be guarded
from the foods Of the river. With such pro-
lection assured this region is capable OF pro-
duc;ng one million FIVE hundred thousand
hogsheads of sugar and three million bales
of cotton. Protect this country from overflow
and the labor question will settle itself In a
few years it win become the most densely
populated portion Of America.


| We hope Congress will lend helping hand
| in this matter For now over eight years
this magnificent empire-for it is one in its re-
sources--has been at the mercy of the Missis-
sippi floods, and all who cultivate there have
had to do so at their peril 1t is not only the
duty of Congress, but it is the interest Of the
government aud Of the people at large, that
every aid should be extended to accomplish
this great WORE
Year: 1870

al the necessary means for establishing and
maintaining proper quarantine, in order that
his attention might not bo unduly taken from
the more strictly prof s,onal line Of his duties.
But how do the Commissioners accomplish
this ? They furnish nothing. They retard'
delay, quibble and promise Aud now, at the
end Of four months fumbling at their duties,
they have furnished no hospital ship; and
when this necessity Of public safety Is de-
manded Of them by DR.. Carnochan, who sees
the peril Of their delay, they announce their
intention to send down hulk which, little
while ago, they declared unsafe and unfit for
the service. What kind OF public officers are
these?
Year: 1870




Onlcere


There is popular notion that Dr. Carno-
chan, the distinguished surgeon of the city,
was recently appointed Health Officer to this
port by his Excellency Governor Hoffman;
but there is DIR. Bell, one of the Quarantine
Commissioners, who evidently has notion
that he is really the person charged with the
very important duties of the Health Office,
and that it is little impertinent for any other
person to take any steps or make any inquiries
tending to such supervision Of port affairs as
may prevent the Importation of disease. The
sooner, however, that this gentleman gets over
that delusion and discovers that he is only one
of number of gentlemen charged with the
custody of certain State property the better it
will be for his dignity in public Office and for
the health of the city. Tie Board of Quaran-
tine Commissioners is clumsy con'rivance Of
legislative stupidity. lis principal functions
are to have charge of the State property
devoted to quarantine purposes and to make
or supervise certain contracts. In its prac-
tical operations it seems to consider
that it is especially charged with these
functions, in order that it may embar-
rass the Health officer in the discharge of his
legitimate duties 1t is to be supposed that
this body was created to facilitate the labors
Of the Health OHlcer. and to provide him with
Year: 1870

munication direct and not subject to repetition.
Underground cables are coming into favor 10
some parts OF Europe, and especially in Prus-
sia, and this company seems to regard them as
best. We have not yet the details of the
scheme nor information OF what aid is expected
from Congress; but there Is business enough
for more Atlantic cables, and If this compsny
has a good plan and is responsible we say
God speed, and hope Congress will do what is
reasonable to promote the work.