smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

If every embarrassed Southern State
would initiate the course Of Florida,
there would be at least no doubt as to
the condition of its finances. Florida
has Just published an account of its debt.
We presume that it is perfectly accur-
ate. ana il shows that the whole liability
of the State is under So, 600, 600. OF
this amount So. 900. 900 are bonds guar
anteed for railway objects. If the rail
way succeeds, the State viii not be
obliged to pay the interest. Hence, the
actual debt is less than -, ,000, 900, while
the valuation of the State at low fig
ure is over $50, 900. 600. The result is
not discouraging for a community that
for ten years has been ravaged by viO-
lent rebellion, by long reign of Ku-
KluX outrages, and resolute persistence
on the part of the Democracy to ruin the
reputation and the prosperity of the
State Nowhere were the acts of the
Democratic associations more Infamous
or more bloody than in Florida. HUI
man nature will never blush at the un-
heard-of immOralities and cruelties of
many of its young men. But we believe
this period of disorder is passing away,
that some sense Of shame has reached
even the most corrupt of the opposition
leaders, and that an immigration of
wiser and better men will at last bring TO
the State industry, decency, and human
ity.


The soil of Florida seems chiefly
suited for the cultivation of fruits and
early vegetables for the Northern mar
kets, and as a winter resort for Northern
invalids. But for the ceaseless political
disturbances and outrages it might have
already won large share of immigra-
ton. and have seen its more fertile lands
teeming with semi-trepical productions.
There are, indeed, no more valuable sites
than the whole line Of coasts, from the
Savannah swamps to the point Of Flori-
da for the purposes of winter residences,
and for the practical and industrious
cultiYator. The indolent population viii
pass off The wasteful and idle have no
secure resting-place anywhere. But II is
probable that not many decades will
pass away before the thin and languish-
ing community that now family culti-
Yates its willing soil viii be covered up
in a stream of immigration and renewed
by foreign intermiXture.


The sooner this change can be brought
about the better for the welfare of all
its people. and the government of Flori-
da has already set a useful example to
other States in the exhibition of its
actual debt and its prospects. Weshould
be glad to know more Of its resources.
1t would be satisfactory to all the peo-
pie to hear what railways it possesses;
what is the product of its agriculture
how far good order is preserved in its
midst; whether the desperate men who
once ruled its politics have been punished
or suppressed whether honesty and
economy have been introduced into its
finances, and whether the country is yet
sufficiently quieted 10 welcome the re-
turn of orderly citizens. There is, no
doubt, a necessity for a rigorous reform
of morals and education in most of the
Southern States before they can deserve
confidence. .-Ha7per's Weekly.
Year: 1873

The DanbuTy Nelcs gives the foiIow-
ing:


There is a very saddeniBg effect in
awakening in the night and hearing bur
glars at work in your house. This was
the case with Mr. Henry, on South
street, Friday night. As soon as he de-
tected the noise, which appeared TO be
down stairs, he softly crept out of bed
and began to prowl around for match
His wife was soon awakened by the
same noise, and being disposed to be-
lieye that something was the matter with
the children who slept in the next room,
she carefully withdrew from the bed, so
as not to disturb her husband, and start
ed for the door. An instant later they
collided. What he thought was evident
enough. All the hard earnings of an
arduOus life were at stake. Before him
stood one or more robbers. With an
exclamation Of condensed eloquence he
clinched her. What she thought is not
quite so evident, but if was doubtless of
her husband and children, and being
plucky withal, she at once twined her
fingers in his hair, and gave him
wrench that made him think of death
Then both of them went down to the
floor, she having the advantage in the
fall, and getting on top, with him
still in his hair, she shook his head
against the floor with an energy and
courage that would undoubtedly have
filed him 10 oyerfiowing with admira-
tion had he known who it was, or known
anything at all Everytime she raped
him he shrieked for help. and in brief
time the children and Mrs. Eben Da-
Wis, who lives down stairs, We're on the
scene. Mrs. Davis was not dressed for
company, but in the excitement she
didn't mind adornment She had a can
die in one hand, and a long carving fork
in the other, and was about to drive the
latter into the legs Of the villain, when
recognition ensued Then Mrs. Davis
laid down her candle In one direction
and her fork in another, and immedi-
ately returned TO her own apartments,
her yellow flannel night-cap, as it shot
down the stairs. being the first thing Mr..
Henry saw on springing to his feet. The
children were returned to their room and
put to bed, but the parents did not re-
sumo their couch. 1t was so pleasant
that Mr. Henry concluded to remain up
the rest of the night and enjoy the sceb-
cry. and Mrs. Henry thought it best to
stay up too, so as to change the cloths
on his head as often as possible.
Year: 1873

1t is the circulation Of money more


than its abundance that is needed


There may be great deal of money


in a community, and yet the times be


very hard. If-it does not circulate,


but lies stagnant in safes and banks,
il is Of no use to the community. To
show how a small amount of money,
in circulation, may be made to pay a
large amount of Indebtedness, let Us
suppose that in the same community
A owes B hundred dollars, B the
same to G, G to d, Dto E and E 20 A.
The times are hard, but A scratches
around" gets together his hundred
dollars, and pays B B in turn pays
his debt to G, G to ID, ID to E and Z
back TO A. At night each Of the five
finds himself with just asmuch money
as he had in the morning, while each
has paid debt of q hundred dollars.
An aggregate of five hundred dollars
Indebtedness has been paid, and the


money remains to do the same work
over again. This is only an illustra-
ton of what actually occurs when
money is in circulation. The lesson
we drew from it is that in hard
times each man should try and pay
something. If he owes his butcher,
his baker, or even his printer, and
can't pay all, let him pay part and
so keepths wheels of trade in motion
A dollar in circulation is worth a
thousand lying idle, We may not
thus do away with hard times alto
gether but we may make them much
easier to be borne. Above all should
men be generous and lenient toward
one another in times like the. e 1t is
not time for the creditor to take the
debtor by the throat and say, pay ne
what thou owest, but rather to be
and graeiOns, and Ius
each man help his brother until
get upon smoother roads and easier
journal.
Year: 1873

when a March gale shall drive the
tide back upon the river, swollen and
terrible with drifting ice, drowned st.
Petersburg will be the pendant for
burning Chicago.


Modern science has brought the
world a fifth gospel. In it we read
that GOD commands us to give him
our .Sh ole heads as well as our whole
hearts, for that e cannot know him
nor obey him till we discern him in
every M Inutest fact, and every. immu-
table law of the physical universe, as
in every tact and law of the moral
1t is barely two hundred years since
the great Cotton Mather preached q
famous sermon called "Burnings Be-
walled" wherein he attributed ter
rible conflagration to the wrath of
God kindled agBinst SAbbath. break
ing and the aecursed fashion of mon
strOus periwigs For years after his
time the Puritan colonies held fasts
for mildew, for smallpox, for cater
pillars, for grasshOppers, for loss Of
cattle by cold and visitation Of God.
They saw an Inserutable Providence
in all these things. But, when their
children had learned better husban-
dry and better sanitary conditions,
the "visitations" ceased.


In the perfect providence Of God
there are no surprises. If there seem
to be, it is that we have suffered our
selves to be taken unawares. We
must work out our own salvation.-
The book of natural phenomena is
opened wide before every man, and
he is set to learn it for his own good.
If he will not study it through rever-
ence and love, he is taught it through
pain. But the pain itself is the bene-
ficenee of a perfect law, and it is
constant testimony to the goodness
and tenderness of God that calamity
not less than prosperity-is s Scru
table Providence Christian Union.
Year: 1873

US? In what respects have we been
cleansed? What habit has been weak
ened that should be eradicated ? What
right tendency has been lifted up that


before was thrown down? What spir-


itual element has been made regnant


that had to be introduced as an exotic


into our nature? How far has the
promise that Christ should bring great
joy and hope to the world been full
filled to US?


He shall save his people from their sins"


What other thing could be promised
that would be so sweet TO us, or that
would fill our hearts with such delight
if it might be accomplished? But to
how few has it been accomplished -
Who does not at times say, "Who
shall deliver me from the body of this
death ?n Who does not often have
occasion to mourn his infirmity, his
transgressiOn, and, abe We all, the con-
trolling influence of the appetites and
passions in his nature? And Is there
Saviour revealed to redeem Us from
these? And is this the anniversary,
the remembering day of that Saviour?
Let not one of Us who are named with
his name, and who have hope in his
love, forget to celebrate the coming of
Him who came, not for our Joy alone,
but to save us from our sins.


And is it not a good time now to
review our experience, and see how
the work of grace has gone with us ?
Is 1t not a good time to set in order
before our own minds our actual con-
ditiOns, and to measure our disposi-
tions by the law of love as it is given
to US in the New Testament? Is it
not q good time to throw open the
heart and say to the Lord Jesus Christ,
LET thy advent be here and to me?n


And if there are any who are not
Christ's, if they would be wise, let
them behold where that star shines
which the wise men sought, brighter
now to them than ever star was that
hung in the heavens; and let them
follow it till it comes and stands over
the place where the young child Jesus
lies. There let them find their king.
And though their king be like child,
it shall be Prince and a Saviour to
them. Is it not a good time to take
hold of the past, aud to take hold
bravely upon the future?


Ny dear friends, i wish you not only
a merry Christman, but pure-hearied
Christmas; a Christmas filled with
more earnest purpose; with more hu-
mility; with more conservation to the
work of God; with more patience un-
der your burdens; with more hatred
of your sins; with more gentleness
one toward another; with more kind
ness toward those who are dependent
upon you. 1 pray that God may, by
Jesus Christ, save you from your sins,
and add to your virtue; and that you
may abound in it more and more un-
to the end.
Year: 1873

At twelve o'clock precisely on Sat


urday night Edward s. Stokes re-en-


tered the Tombs a condemned felon,


on the very anniversary of the day of
the week on which he committed the
deed which may send him to a felon's
death.


THE MENTAL ANGUISH OF STOKES.


The keeper saw him lying on the
bed, which is on the side of his cell,
his face concealed in the pillow, and
evidently laboring ander the most Sc
we're mental depression. For hours
he never stirred, and at the promen-
ade time Of the prisoners refused to
leave his cell to take his customary
walk. He did not weep, for when he
turned up his face at the question of
the keeper, whether he wanted to go
out, his eyes were not red, but his face
was haggard and his look was that of
q man who was undergoing the very
extremity of mental anguish, and only
wished to be left alone to plunge him
self in it to the fullest extent posi-
BILE.


The keepers in the prison are main
ly of opinion that Stokes has deserved
his fate, as indeed is the general pub
lie outside. 1t lis generally considered
that this conviction of q murderer is
a wholesome lesson, and will do more
to rid the community of murderers
and cut-throats than any dozen other
convictions could have done. And
vet the keepers feel an innate sympa-
thy for him begotten of his quiet ways
and his gentle behavior since he has
been in the Tombs. The keeper told |
the Herald reporter that he had heard !
Stokes say in conversation about a /
week or so ago that if he should be |
COZ victed of murder he would never /
hang, but would find some means of /
suicide in preference to |
public and ignominious death. This 1
Is the general opinion that he will at
tempt something of the kind, and un
less a .yely severe watch Is kept over
him he may succeed. 1t is intended,
in view of this, and also considering
the large number of murderers now
in the prison, to increase the force Of
keepers, and place such a watch upOn
them all that no such thing may hap
pen. @


Stokes still inhabits the cell on the
second tier of the Tombs which he
has lived in ever since he has been
placed in the prison. But to-day, at
an early hour, a number Of the women
in the place will be put to work to fix
up the famous cell No. 5, which has
been the dwelling place of all our eel
ebrated criminals from the time they
were sentenced until the hour OF their
death, or their delivery to q lighter
fate. This cell is on Murderers' row,
Year: 1873

The characteristic of the umbrellas
is its power of changing shapes. YOil
can leave q bran-new silk with an
ivory and rosewood handle at any
public gathering, and within three
hours it will transform itself into a
light blue or faded brown cotton.
somewhat less in size than a circus
tent, with a handle like telegraph
pole, and five fractured ribs.
Year: 1873

on the ground floor, and the last who
inhabited it was Foster, who was
placed in another cell since he sue
ceeded in getting his stay Of proceed
iugs. Here Stokes will live for the
next few weeks, either until his death
on the gallows, or until his able coun-
sci succeed in procuring him the fur
ther benefit of the prOverbial laws
DELAY. This cell is ne yer inhabited
by one person for more than q month
or so, until his fate is decided one way
or the other.
Year: 1873

1t is now thought by some eminent
railway engineers that the true adj
vantage OF the broad gauge would
have been IN using rails two or three
times heavier than the ordinary rails,
and engines in proportion, so as to be
able to make 3 running time that
would absolutely defy the composition
of the common gauge railroads.
Year: 1873

From the Herald, Jan.7.l


At half-past ten yesterday, the
Court of Oyer and Terminer was
opened at the usual hour. The long
protracted trial of Edward 5. Stokes
for the murder of James Fisk, Jr., on
the 9Th day of January, 1872, was
brought to a close by the passing of
sentence of death upon Stokes for that
murder-just one year TO the day from
the date Of the fatal shooting. 1t were
needless to say that the court room
was crowded that there was a great
rush of thousands to witness the clos
ing scene, one hundredth part of
whom could not possibly even be ad-
mitted within the building or get q
view Of the closely guarded doors Of
the court room or that inside the
temple of justice itself the scene was
a most solemn one to all, but terrible
in its solemnity to the doomed one
there, the center figure of all the great
crowd, the only one who, when all
these proceedings are at end, may not
go his own way, but under strict guard
and with sentence of death upon his
head, shall be escorted back to his sol
itary cell.


Judge BOardman, having taken his
seat on the bench, and counsel being
all in their places. the prisoner was
brought in by Sheriff Brennan and
his deputies, the Sheriff remaining
close beside his prisoner during the
proceedings.


THE SENTENCE.


Edward S. Stokes, in obedience to
the requirements of the law, this
Court orders and directs that you be
taken hence in the. custody of the
Sheriff of the city and county of New
York to the prison from whence you
came, and that you be there confined
in close custody by said Sheriff until
the 18th day of February, 1873, and
that upon that day, between the hours
of eleven in the morning and three in
the afternoon you be hanged by the
neck till you be dead, and may God
have mercy on your soul.


THE DEATH WARRANT.


Stokes hearu the sentence unmoved
nor even throughout the reading of
the death warrant-directed to the
Sheriff-by Mr.. Sparks, did he eyin ce
any change of manner or emotion of
aay kind. The death warrant was
then handed to theSheriff; the Sher-
if touched Stokes on the shoulder ;
the deputies stood up; the sad party,
the escort and the condemned man
turned their backs upon the judgment
seat so fatally con fronted q moment
before by one of them, and made their
way through the crowd to the ante
room, and so to the Sheniff's Office
and to the Tombs-a living tomb for
a time at least to him, the youthful
est, and, but a short year and day or
two ago, the fullest of life, health and
hopes of any of them.


So ended the Stokes trial.
Year: 1873


/. Heretofore We hEse been ssTy lElienl
with many Of our subscribers, and permitted
the Statesman to 60 to them for an indeh-
mite period, without receiving our dues.
This has been an absolute injury to US pecu-
niariIy, resulting in several thousands Of dol
lars belonging to Us, in very small sums,
being scattered over the country out Of our
immediate reach Owing to these sums
being each but few dollars, parties labor
under the misconception that We are pot in
cOmmoaed BY a failure to settle them, yet it
is exactly the opposite. We have to pay
high prices for keeping up our Office, for
paper and other MATERIAL and the increased
demands of printers working under the reg
ulations Of their Unions, ETC., and, unless
those who owe US pay their dues, we inva-
riably feel it.


It is our desire to send the Statesman to
all those who in the past have subscribed to
it, and to increase its circulation as much
as possible, but we shall be compelled to
confne ourselves to q strictly cash system.
To this end we shall at once commence no
tifying subscribers that their subscriptions
are due by sending their paper with cross
mark upon it, at the same time inclosing
their account in the paper. Should they de-
sire the paper continued to them, they will
at once remit the sum due. Our terms must
hereafter be strictly eash an aapaHee.
Year: 1873

We publish with pleasure the letter Of
our friend from Terrell, Kaufman county,
and are glad to learn that this new town,
Just started on the Great Texas and Pacific
Railroad, is going ahead so rapidly. We
know the richness and beauty of that re-
gion, and are not at all surprised at the
facts stated. When Scott and Fomey
went through from Marshall to Fort Worth,
on the line of their great road, they told
the writer of this, that from the Kaufman
line to Fort Worth they saw the richest
and most beautiful region their eyes evel
beheld. We shall be happy to hear again
from our correspondent at Terrell, and we
here add, that short and clearly written let
ters from every portion of the State win
at all times be welcome to the Statesman
office. Our central position makes our pa
per the proper channel for all such. Give
us every desirable information and we will
spread it before the people.
Year: 1873

South and especially s. Texas. which need
working and Development, ana unless this
isdone. the towns cannot prosper. Towns
cannot exist without q thiclxly inhabited and
well cultivated country to support them.
Our cities are getting ahead Of their
proper support, and there must come re-
action unless the couatry Is brought up to the
same heighth and level Too many people
are now living in our towns for their own
good and the good Of the State. The ne
Qroes should be kept out Of our cities, if pos


ible. The country is the true home for
them. They are better fitted for cultivating
the soil than for any thing else. Let the
cities and towns be left for the white me
chanics and manufacturer, the merchants
and men Of the liberal prOfession-these
are the sort to live in them-and let the ne
groes remain in the country, their proper
place, and work honestly for a living, and
keep out oftowns, where they are becoming
more and more demoralized and degraded.
Year: 1873




e Is Nel known that great MANY old
maids and discontented matrons at the
North have been for some time elamoring
for the right Of suffrage. Since the adop-
ton Of the Constitutional Amendment,
which let in the negroes to vote, they have
been insisting that they are ''citizens, -
within the true meaning Of the Constitu-
ton, and are therefore entitled to vote.
Now it is true that many of these bawlers
for suffrage look good deal like men of the
ugly sort, with their bloomer apparel, their
half way hats, coats and breeches,
and their somewhat coarse and unblushing
manners, but stiIl this does not make them
Citizens under the amendment clause.
Nothing is clearer than that it was not the
intention of the Congress, proposing the new
amendment, or the States, which adopted it
some of them by compulsion-to admit
females, white or black, to the privileges of
the ballet-box. But these Northern anna
IONS think otherwise. They insist that they
are citizens and entitled to vote-that they
are as good as the negroes, WHO do vote,
and far more intelligent, which is admitted,
and that vote they must and win, at all
hazards and the last extremity. They
have beseiged Washington City with a
small but determined army of heavy artillery
and sharp shooters, dressed pretty much
after the Zouave style, and they have at
tackled Butler Wilson and others, who cow
cred under their warlike aspect, and they
even penetrated into the sacred precincts of
the White House, and are said to have made
the hero of Eight it out on this line"
fairly tremble in his boots. The only way
he got rid of them was by smoking them
out with villainous Kentucky cigars, they
not yet having become accustomed to the
weed, and soon getting qualmish where
their coats buttoned. Nothing daunted
however or discouraged by this, the leaders
determined to prosecute the war to the bit
ter end, and last Fall, at the Presidential
election, at Rochester, N. Y, we believe,
or some where in that vicinity, Gen. Susan
B. Anthony, who may be, for what we know,





a left hand.. ..descendent of Mark Anthony,
walked up iercely to the polls, and COM
PEELED the judges, through fright, to re-
ceive her vote. For this she, or he, as the
case may be, was indicted in the Federal
Court, for wrongfully.y voting, under the law
of Congress, for the protection of the bal
lot box, and the General has been duly tried
and convicted by jury of real men, and
fined the round sum of 800. General Su-
san is of course very indignant, and is de-
termined to become martyr to the cruelty
of men, and their oppressive laws, and go
to Jail and remain there, refusing, like a
man, to pay her fine, or to ''give it up so"
She will rot first Go it my brave General.
and they ought not to allow you to come to
oF