smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

THE CENTENNIAL-ExTRAVAGA
THE STEWART EsTATE-THE MUSTANG RACE.


New YORK, june 3. 1876.


To the Editor OF the Free Press and Times:


As Decoration Day was appointed for the
opening of the Bankers Building. at tine
Exhibition in Philadelphia, the directors Of
most of the large banks gave their clerks a
holiday for forty-eight hours, and paid their
expenses to the Centennial. This was a
trl / to men who are tied down to the desk
the year round, and about 200 rode off in
the bright morning with their wives, and
sweethearts to do the exhibition. Brown
Brothers, one of the largest banking firms
in the city, gave each of their married en-
ployes $50 and the single ones S25, so that
all might have taste of the pleasure. An
other firm provided a drawing-room car for
their employees. Such liberal dealings char
aeterizs firms of standing, who keep their
trusted clerks for years, till their customers
know the very peculiarities of their hand
writing and fold OF letters, and would hard
ly recognize correspondence coming in any
other way. One of the young men ex-
pressed himself without reserve on his re-
turn as to the value of the Exhibition.
'See it all ~ he broke out in answer to
question, II saw it all, in six hours
Went through all the buildings, took two
lunches. and was back in New York the
Tbaro % bar 90,
be seen that one can't find in the Broadway
shop-windows. There is an enormous dis
play of fine dry goods and furniture, moth
ing better than We sec every day There
isn't $50, 900 worth of jewelry in the whole
Exhibition, AMI not more than 90 600 pic
lures. The machinery is wonderful, and
the buildings are large and snowy. The
Women's Pavilion is nearly as large as any
of them, and was full of bric-a-brac, which
my lady friend with me said was rather
choaply done" And he expressed in other
language that he didn't want any more
Centennial in his.


But, notwithstanding the adverse opinion
of this bank clerk, say the Centennial is
d big thing; and one which everybody
ought to see. 1t is precisely what was in
tended-an exhibition OF the worlds prog
ress; and whoever does not see it. misses
an exceedingly good thing. But don't let
it cost too much. There are not enough
people in Philadelphia to stock the board
ing-houses, by long way ; and there arc
rooms for an hundred thousand more than
are there now, or will be there at any time.
Pay no high prices. Stop by the day till
you get what you want at the price you
want, and then settle down quietly to see
what is to be seen. The hotels and board
ing-hOuses are more anxious to have You
than you are to have them. There has not
been that rush that was expected. nor will
there be. There is no necessity for paying
exorbitant prices. One can live in Phila-
delphis this summer as eheaply as in any
other city, if he knows how. There are
more rooms than people, and there will he
TO the end of the Exhibition But 90, by
all means. 1t is worth the going ten thou
sand miles to see.
Year: 1876

I heard man say, not long since: st He got it all cutting and backing hoop polesl"

 This man was speaking of younger man who was in the act of drawing two thousand dollars from savings bank. I asked the speaker to explain, and he did so. "You see that young man" he said. "I have known him from his childhood up. His parents were of the poorest of the poor. His first school books were old ones given to him. His next he bought with money earned by cutting hooppoles. The owner of large coopering establishment agreed to pur- chase of him all the hooppoles he would bring, and from the owners of an exten- sive wild of swamp and tangled forest, not far from his home, he obtained per mission to cut as many cane-liks sap lings as he pleased. In the mornings, and in the evenings, and during vacation times from school, he worked bravely in the forest, cutting and shaping the poles, and carrying them upon his back to the cooper's. His first earnings, after he had bought his books, were deposit ed in the savings bank. He was then ten years old. In five years he had gained thousand dollars. Then he went at work for farmer at fair wages, leaving his little capital in the bank, and occasionally adding to it. To-day he is married, and owns an excellent farm in western Massachusetts, and the two thousand dollars which he has just drawn will make his last payment on the farm and the stock, and make him an independent man. And, you may say-he got it all in cutting and backing hOonnolea :"
Year: 1876

The Keokuk Consultation says: Not long ago there lived in Indianapolis, Ind, man and wife who seemed to be happy, until the wife discovered that the husband was false to her. Then she took her babe and what few effects she possessed and left-was out on the world, and compelled to earn living. She was we'll educated woman, and could converse in three different lan- guages; was refined, and had all the airs of woman who had the entrance to good society. From place to place she travelled, seeking some employment whereby bread might be earned for her baby and herself. Chance brought her to Keokuk, and we suppose being dis heartened and unable to obtain other employment, she accepted Q situation as a servant in boarding house, and is now working there in this capacity.
Year: 1876

The following article, cut from the Cleveland Leaczer, will no doubt be recognized by those who read it as 8 familiar trait in the character of their neighbor An aged couple are very fond of checkers and play quite frequent ly. When he beats at the game she loses her temper and declares she will not play again: It vexes him to have her act so, but he controls the irritation and talks to her about it. < He tells her how wrong it is for people at their age in life to be disturbed by such trifes, and shows her so clearly the folly of such course that she becomes ashamed of her weakness and returns to the game and plays it so we'll that she beats him. Then he throws the checkers in one di- rection and kicks the board in another, and says he will never play with any body who cheats so allfiredly, and stalks moodily to bed and leaves her to pick up the things.
Year: 1876

The following suggestion, given in Scribner's Magazine, is worthy the con- sideration of parents

 Nervousness with child is almost always a matter of the stomach. A crust of bread will usually put an end to the most obstinate perverseness. Chil- dren, for this reason, should never be allowed to go to bed, after fit of cry ing, with an empty stomach. A bit of bread and jelly or cup of custard will bring back smiles and happiness when all the moral law fails, and forthe sound est of reasons.
Year: 1876

DOUBTLESS, says the Boston Globe
the decision to close the Centennial
Exhibition on Sundays is in accord.
ance with prevailing sentiment
throughout the country bat practical
ly it will be found that the greater of
two evils has been chosen. There will
be an immense throng in Philadelphia
which will scarcely observe the day
with more propriety for being shut out
from the thousands of objects of inter
esting study and observation in the
buildings, or be employed in more
elevating pursuits than these would
furnish the opportunity for. Besides,
there are large classes of people who
wiz find it difficult to devote any 9TH
er day to sight seeing. and who are
likely to be deprived of all the advan-
tages of the exhibition.
Year: 1876

A portion OF the members OF Company g,
First Regiment, under the charge OF Capt. Fl. B.
MAXWELL spent yesterday afternoon at rifle
practice on the grounds Of the Dearborn Rifo
Club. A badge to be presented to the person
making the highest score In Il total Of ten shots
was won by Corporal D. L. Mclean. It is the
intention Of the members OF the Company to
continue their practice during the season.
Year: 1876

a gentleman for whose opinion in bali mat
tiers THE TRIBUNE has a high regard asks that
n table be made Of all the players engaged for
next year. In the following list will be found
all whose engagements have been officially made
known through the Secretary Ut the League as
having cnutr;itte1 iQr 1SI1:
Year: 1876

She may not in the may dance.


With jeweled maidens vie
She may not smile on courtly swain
with soft bewitching eyes;
She cannot boast form snd mien


That lavish wealth has brought her
But ah J she has much fairer charms,
The farmers peerless daughter !
The rose and lily on her cheek


Together love to dwell,
Her laughing blue eyes wreathe around
The heart q witching spell!
Her smiles are bright as mornings glow
Upon the dewy plain.
And listninR to her voice we dream
That spring has come again.
The timid fawn is not more wild,


Nor yet more gay and free.
The lily's cup is not more pure


In all its purity;
or all the wild flowers In the wood


Or by the crystal water,
There's none more pure or fair than sh Q
The farmers peerless daughter.
The naughty belle whom all adore,


On downy pillow lies,
While forth upon the dewy lawn


The merry maiden hies
And with the lark's uprising song,


Her own clear voice is heard
Ye may not tell which sweetest sings,
The maiden or the bird.
Then tell me not Of jewels fair


The brightest jewel yet
Is the true heart where virtue dwclls
And innocence Is set
The glow Of health upon her cheek,


The grace no rule hath taught her,
, The fsirest wreath that beauty twines
IL for the Farmers Daughter.
Year: 1876

ilo idCo uptuEuou W. hO"'on, w
seeching, in agoni zing tones, that
God would pity and save his suffer-
ing army and suffering country.


"Oh, would'st thou know his name


Who wandered thus alone !


90 read, in heavens archives,


The Prayer of Washington"


In the midst Of all this darkness
and suffering and almost dispair as
il on purpose to crush out one Of
the noblest hearts that ever beat in
q human bosom, q conspiracy was
set on foot in and out Of Congress
to disgrace him by removing him
from the head Of the army and com.
pei him to serve in subordinate
capacity. False charges were rails
ed forged letters were published !;
yet he bore all in silence, lest in de-
Tending himself he should expose
secrets that would injure his coun-
try. My Country" was ever op-
permost in his thoughts and dearer
to him than life itself. Xe could
say Of his country IA David did Of
Jerusalem IF l forget thee oh
my country. may my right hand
forget its cunning" He was great
''in the high places of the field,
amid the storm aud tumult of battle;
he was great aud noble rs head of
the nation but he was greater still
in this silent suffering at Valley
Forge.


But spring at length came and
with it partial relief, and such SOL
diers rs could were compelled to take
the field and, rs it wore on, news
was received that made these novels
ring with shouts and loud huzzas.
On the first day of May horseman
rode into the camp with tho tid:ngs
that France had recognized our in
dependence aud formed an alliance
with us, and that ships and troops
and money were on the way to our
relief Soldiers forgot their naked
ness and shook their rags, like ban-
ners in the air. Congress had ap-
pointed thanksgiving as they mov-
ed into Valley Forge which seemed
a mockery, but now they would have
one of their own. Washington issu-
ed proclamation, appointing the
7th on which ''to acknowledge tho
divine goodness and celebrate the
important event which we owe to
his divine interposition." A gene
raj parade of the army was ordered,
aud the several brigade chaplains
were directed to offer up prayer at
the head OF each brigade and deliver
sermon to the soldiers. And never
did more fervent acknowledgment
of divine goodness ascend to heaven,
and never more earnest appeals to
soldiers to stand true to their great
leader and their country then were
made that day by those patriotic
chaplains. When the religious sor-
vices were over the artillery thun-
dered forth its glad acclaim, answer
ed by the rolling volleys of musket-
ry, and "Long live Washington. y
and "Long live the King of France
again and again shook those rude
novels to their foundations.


AS Washington rode off the field
'Long live Washington rent the
air and continued to roll after him
until his lessening form disappeared
in the distance. Aye, long live
Washington and long live Valley
Forge in the memory and affections
of the American people until patrio
heart shall cease to beat.
Year: 1876

THE cunning Tildenites tackled on


to their tony hard money platform a


facetious sop thrown to the soft mon


ey whale, by demanding the repeal Of


thai part of the resumption act of
1876, which fixes the time on the lst


of January, 1879, "because it ,cas a


hindrance to resumption" Gen. Tom.


Ewing opposed the majority report,
and offered a substitute for the re.
peal of the entire resumption act. In
support of this, he said that, since the
platform, as it stood, said the time,
January lst., '79, was hindrance to
resumption, one would naturally in-
fer that 1t was thought the time was
too long and that q shorter time
should be fixed, and that he did not
want to have any such lame place in
the platform. Furthermore, he said
that he wanted the whole resumption
act repealed, that anything else was
a cheat and a fraud. Ewing was
hooted down and his amendment re-
jccted by the Tilden vote. 1t was no
use for the minority to attempt TO say
a word in defense Of themselves
they were hootcd off the floor when
ever they undertook to speak. Such
o bedlam was never equalled save in
some former Democratic Conventions
the one at Charleston, in 1860, for
instance. So Tom Ewing goes home
to Bill Allen to say to him that the
Democracy, besides declaring for
hard money have also said that put
ting off resumption till 1879 is too
long, since they declare it is "a hin
drance to resumption" Ewing tried
to have the Tildenites say that this
was not the meaning of their resolu-
tion, and they would not.
Year: 1876

Schell and Wattcrson sounded the
Keynote of the Democratic campaign
yesterday. II is to be long drawn
out and prolonged wall about taxes,
hard times, and corruption, which
will knock Jeremiah's lamentations
higher than kite. There will be two
sides to that wall.


We shall show that all the taxes
that are burdensome are local, county.
school and State, voted by the people,
and that more than half the states are
under Democratic control, and that
Democrats have been just as big fools
in voting taxes on themselves as Re-
pnblicans, and just as responsible for
the burdens Of taxation which are
oppressive. We shall show that the
General Government imposes no
burdensome taxation which is paid
by any but the rich, except it be 90
cents per gallon on whisky, and that
Democrats have no special reason to
complain of this tax, unless they will
plead guilty by admitting that they
are the principal consumers of this
commodity.


We will show that the country was
prosperous, and that we had no "hard
tines until the tidal wave gave the
Confederates majority in Congress,
with a prospect of assuming the rebel
debt. We shall show that even this
partial triumph of Democracy fright
encd capital, paralyzed business, and
that it is the Democratic, and not the
Republican party, which is RESPONSE
bic for the so-called "hard tines" So
come OH with your wall.
Year: 1876

1t may be possible that we shall
have occasion to say something of
slippery Sam. Tilden, the Wall street
candidate, during the next three
months.


If we shall be called upon to prove
him chum of Boss Tweeds, Rail-
road attorney by profession who
managed to steal every corporation he
had anything to do with, corruptor
of delegates to the National Conyen.
ton whose principal backer was John
Morrissey, a hard money man osten.
sibly, but who belonged to a mining
company which illegally issued owe,
four hundred thousand dollars of itl
own scrip, besides other charges of Q
like nature too numerous to mention
we shall only have occasion to refer
to leading Democratic papers of thu
country to do SO.
Year: 1876

In consideration Of tho fact that the
Republican party has been very un-
lucky of late, has it occurred to you
that the Cincinnati ticket was made
up on Friday, that unlucky day of all
the week dubuque P Herald.


None but Democratic journal has
make such an appeal to ignorance
and superstition admissible in their
columns. Since, however, the first
nomination of Abraham Lincoln was
made on Friday also, the Herald may
not refer to the question Of the elec-
ton of the Hayes and Wheeler ticket,
but is limiting that another J. Wilkes
Booth may turn up after Governor
Hayes is inaugurated.
Year: 1876

of the civil over the military author
tiles; the total separation of church
and state for the sake alike Of civil
and religious freedom in the equali-
ty of all citizens before just laws of
their own enactment; in the liberty
of individual conduct unvexed by
sumptuary laws; in the faithful edu-
cation of the rising generation.


That they may preserve, enjoy and
transmit these best conditions of hui
man happiness and hope, we behold
the noblest products of a hundred
years of changeful history; but
while upholding the bond of our
union and a great charter of these,
our rights, it behoovcs free people
to practice also that eternal vigilance
which is the price of liberty.


Reform is necessary to rebuild and
establish in the hearts O. the whole
people the union of years ago, happi-
ly rescued from the danger of corr
rupt centralism, which after inflict-
ing upon 10 States the rapacitics of
carpet bag tyrannies has honey comb
ed the offices Of the Federal Govern
ment itself with incapacity, waste and
fraud; infested states and municipal
tiles with the contagion of misrule
and locked fast the prosperity of an
industrious people in the paralysis of
hard times.


Reform is necessary to establish q
sound currency, restore the public
credit, and maintain the national
honor. We denouncc the failure for
these eleven years to make good the
promise of the legal tender notes,
which are a changing standard OF
value in the hands Of the
people, and the non-paymcnt OF
which is disregard Of the plighted
faith of the nation.


We denouncc the improvidence
which in eleven years of peace has
taken from the people in federal
taxes thirteen times the whole amount
of the legal tender notes, and squan-
dered four times this amount without
accumulating. any reserve for their
redemption. We dcnouncc the tinan-
cial imbecility and morality of that
party which during eleven years OF
peace has made no advance toward
resumption, no preparation for re-
sumption, but instead has obstructed
resumption by wasting our resources
land exhausting ell our surplus In.
Year: 1876

James Barron Hope OF the Norfolk Landmark, who,
next to Tcnnyson If not better than him, the
best poem the charge at Balakava pays the follow
ing glowing tribute in his paper of last Saturday the
gallant Custer and his devoted band:-


1t is impossible tfor the general public to appreciate
the daring OF Custer and his command Ii
splendid that of the 600 who charged al Balakava
hut without the stimulart that the English horscnen
had. They rode down upon the Russian gunners with
the eyes of the French, the Sardnians, the Turks
nay, the eyes OF Europe-upon them; and II
they death before them, they
also History with her pen and Fame with
her trumpet But Custer and his men had none Of
these inspirations. In wild ana savage country, in
the solitude OF n wilderness and actnst barbarous
foe they rode TO awful death, with nothing to
mate EN- save a OF duty; the men who fell
the Little Horn will take up the right OF the line Of
shadowy heroes who died IN the Balakava Valley
and honor the dead Tor the living the iull
measure OF u just responsibility.
Year: 1876

To EDITOR OF TIE HERALD


A letter IRON General +. W. Whitaker of Washing
ton formerly General Custer's chief of staff this day
received, makes suggestion worthy Of him and but
rde' will live forever In patriotic song


General Whitaker suggests the passage OF n law
granting TO the widow of General Custer and the
widows and orphans noble souls who died with
rank held by their husbadds fathers the war
Why there should be moments hesitation on this
point am unable Tor one moment to conceive Is IL
true that all the regular army officers who have
been retired account OF wounds or disability nave
been pcnsoned according to their rank held by them
IN the volunteer and not regular army Why, then,
should we not give the same just reward of merit
those dependent Tor support upon the labor OF those
brave men who have died in harness in their
trys cause? Does not eleven years additional active
service cnttle them to consideration from their
country Must the widows, orphans, fathers and
mothers OF our heroic dead Se thrown upon the world
be allowed them under existing laws?


You have always been foremost in aiding all chara-
Bile worthy ana honorable ierprses and your gen.
erosiiy IN heading the ist Tor monument to chv
alrors Custer leads me to think this idea will meet
with your approval and support We need your
services In this matter and trust you will and US.
speak Tor self and think utter the sentiments of
every VINO fought with or against General Custer,
who ever had the pleasure ot his acquaintance,
when say that n the government will not permit
avcnge the death dear, loved and lost leader
every man who Will not support so just measure
Year: 1876

The New York Tribune has compiled
4 table, showing the reduction in the
wages of men and women which has
taken place since 1874, and the like re-
ductions whi0h have taken place in
the cost Of living in the same period.
These changes have made a marked
effect on the labor organizations and
trade societies. The hard times hav-
ing forced a reduction of expenditure
on the part of society generally; i re-
duction in employment followed of ne.
cessity. AS 4 consequence, the scales
of wages established by the arbitrary
rules of trade unions became absurd.
1t was no longer Il question us to what
wages q workman should be permitted
to work for, but where the man could
get work at any price. The number
of unemployed became so great that
all attempts to maintain fixed rate of
wages were abandoned. In some
branches of employment the number
discharged was proportionately so
great that the "unions" have been
disbanded. 1t was no use to ''strike,"
because the employer was ready and
anxious to suspend business altogether
The table shows the rates of wages
paid to men in over fifty trades and to
women in a large number and that in
the former class the reduction has
been from 10 to 20 per cent, and in
women s wages from 25 to IS per cent,
Even in that class of female operatives
known as ''help," and which have
hitherto been able to demand undim-
inished wages, a considerable rcduc-
ton has taken place. This is largely
due to the fact that families generally
have reduced the number employed,
thereby increasing the number seek.
ing work. The wages of this class in
New York have declined from $l4 %
$l8 per month to- $50 and $l2 pr
month. The paper from which we
take this statement, however, shows
that those who have been able to main


tain regular employment are doing


better even on the reduced wages than
at the higher rates in 1870. There


has been even u greater reduction in


the cost of living giving to the wages
of 1875 a greater purchasing power


than the larger wages of 1872. The


severity of the hard times falls on those


who are wholly unemployed.