smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

What is there, we would like to know, in the
atmosphere of America that poisons tho aver
age mind with the idea that the worst method
of getting living is by doing honest work?
Not only does the average native mind revolt
against doing mechanical or other shop labor,
but it appears that as soon as foreigners become
acclmated they consider it a necessity to
search for way by which to obtain an income
in what is enormously considered an easy and
gentlemanly way. The moment public
man becomes invested with given amount of
patronage, he is besieged night and day by ap.
plicants for Office, and it must be cool brain
indeed that can stand the fearful racket and
pressure, and not become demented. For every
Office vacant, or likely to become vacant, at
least one thousand aspiriants present them
selves, each armed cap-a-pie with the strong
est recommendations Imaginable, and each sat
isfed that he of all others is the best qualified
and entitled to hold the position it is his de-
sire to fill. Are there so many needy persons
among us? and are bhe unemployed so numer-
Gus that these overwhelming rushes are made
for Office? Certainly not. Three-fourths of the
applicants have pleasanter and more profitable
occupation than that they thus seek. Arti
sans who are earning their twenty and thirty
dollars per week, by eight hours service, will
drop their tools and waste months in securing
the privilege of patrolling the streets by night
and by day, with never an hour they can call
their own, their lives and limbs in constant
peril, as policemen. And the arduous, excit-
ing, and we may say slavish duties of potrol-i
men they are willing to perform for less money
than accrues to them from their trades. Men
of fine education and excellent business abili-
ties will spurn desk in a counting room, or a
position equally honorable and profitable, to
occupy paltry subordinate station in public
department at salary-party assessments de-
ducted-barely sufficient to keep soul and body
together. And it should be borne in remem-
brance that before they can get even such mis-
cradle posts they must hang around political
meetings, do ward committee duty, and dance
menial attendance upon "the leaders" long
while, perhaps years. To say that thousands
of promising men have been ruined by yield
ing to this unaccountable mania, is TO speak
very far within bounds, and to predict that
thousands will yet go to comparative perdi
ton by the same road is to prophecy that which
is being realized every hour of the day This
infatuation is the more unaccountable in that
no one is so well aware of the precariousness
and insufficient reward of small office holding
as the chronic office-seeker. But the attrac-
tion-whatever may specially compose tap
pears to be irresistible, and is to majority of
our impecunous citizens what the flame is to
the moth.-N. Y. Peerless.
Year: 1873

As the Legislature last week resolved to receive
no new business after Tuesday next, and the
members arc all desirous 10 get 10 their hoIaef,
the two houses will doubtless be ready to adjourn
at an carly day thereafter.
Year: 1873

A MEMBER Of the British House of Com.
mons gave notice in that body last Friday
that on the following Monday he should ask
government if 1t is true that two and a half
million dollars more than the amount of the
losses of the United states had been allowed
at Geneva.


This looks little like the Alabama claims
may not be so certainly settled yet.
Year: 1873

Wesley's discoveries had pertained 70 tho
SOUL and the gratitude OF million rescued
nobler work. During the past week great and
good man had gone from among us-one Tor whom
America well might weep and science mourn It's
loss. Louis Agassiz had been one OF our greatest
benefactors. His brain work had 1oated into every
library and all had been profted thereby. He was
stance which spoke pretty well for ministers.
whose sons were always considered the worst in
upon an Invitation being extended to him to Join
party. whose dividends would amply reward him
for It he refused upon the ground that he had
was not born American. BY personal contact
with the late Professor he had known him to be
true, brave-hearted, honest-minded ana Chris
tian gentleman, working his religion into every
scientific exploration and discovery. From al
this he had been called; but mis- works followed
him. The Doctor closed his remarks by pointing
out the beauties OF such life, and expressed
fervcnt desire that his people might in a similar
manner, leave record that should be iragrans
with good works and unfOrgetable.
Year: 1873

want OF Mary cannot 90 to perditlon," because
every true servant OF Mary has horror OF sin.
Lastly, would say that tenderness with regard 70
life III it proceed from proper supernatural mo-
tive. The reasons which Christ assigns for inviting
are because In the persons OF the hungry, the
thirsty the sick and the imprisoned they relieved
the reasons which Hc gives for HIS wrath against
the wicked are that they did not either feed the
hungry or clothe the naked or perform any oil the
obligatory works OF fraternal charity Let us MAKE
those marks OF election ours by prayer and devo-
ton to the Sacred Heart.
Year: 1873

ADOPTION OF THE MAJORITY REPORT OF THE


SPECIAL COMMITTEES AFTER AZ AchMoNIoUS


DRBATE.


The large number of persons who BEGAN TO eongre-
rate Yesterday afternoon the vicinity OF the Brook
lvn CITY Hall and in the Chamber Of the Common
Council indicated that some occurrence of more
than usual interest was anticipated at the meeting
pf the Board of Aldermen, and tho prospects of an
excited session in regard 10 the bridge matter,
synopsis of which was published in yesterdays
TRIBUNE were eagerly discussed by the crowd. The
facts bore out the general impression An exceed
mgly long and excited discussion eDsued, and an
acrimonious debate followed the reading Of the ma
,orty and the minority reports of the committee IN
which several personalities were INDUCED in. 1t
was plain from the outset that the sympathies OF
the members altogether in favor of the report
submitted by the majority, while the applause from
the audience which followed tho remarks OF Alder-
man Wylie after he had read his dissenting opinion
indicated that he represented the popular sentiment
Year: 1873

PEAcHEs.-Itis is thought that there will be a
falling on this season in the number of trees
planted, the last season not proving profitable in
many portions of the State. The average price
received by the grower in 1872, after deductinR
freight and commission, was about 3j cents per
basket; calculating two baskets to a tree, there
being 100 to the acre, would make the production
$40 per acre. From tins the cost OF picking and
cultivation must be deducted, an amount about
the same as would be required if corn was cult.
waited. Land similar to that planted with peach
trees produced the past season about thirty bush.
els to the acre, and this sold at so cents per bush


ell making the product net $50 per acre, The
which will prodnce at present prices S24 per acre
This yield OF $40 per acre was not, hoWeveE, Gene
raj among peach growers, for in some sections Of
the State the crop was almost total failure while
IN some cases peaches did not sell for enough to
pay freight charges
Year: 1873

UNION PRAYER MEETINa.-In lieu of daily
meetings during the week of prayer, union
prayer meeting was held this morning at the
Second Baptist Church another meeting is being
aed this afternoon at the Central Presbyterian,
md third will be held this evening at the Union
NJ f. Church
Year: 1873

Wur ARE rnE LAWS not PUBLISHED p
Much dissatisfaction is expressed at the
long delay in issuing the usual pamphlets
of the laws. What is the matter? Why
are they no. forthcoming? There is dan
ger Of much injustice as the result, Of tbi,
delay. People are expected to obey the
laws when they have never had an oppor-
tunity Of knowing wha. the laws arc
There is certainly something very much
out Of place about all this. The laws
shsuld be forthcoming At once. that the
citizens Of the State may know what they
are.
Year: 1873

A traveller who stopped at a hotel at
Chamounix writes: Happening to
awake about three in the morning, j
found my room flooded with a moon
light which almost rivalled the light of
dav. The instant after l was at the
window, and, throwing it open, saw
for the first time the SHOWS of Mont
Blanc, distinct and white IN the splendid
moonlight, rising in unspeakable majes-
ty far into the deep blue heavens. / can
never forget the sensations of that mo-
ment. 1t is no figure of speech TO say
they held me breathless. There was an
intense and solemn stiffness in those
spotless slopes of snow, lying so far
above our yexed world, so far removed
from all sounds of life, that ! could on
" stand and gaze in silent Worship
The air around was filled with the cease
less monotonous murmurs of the Arve,
as it hurried on its course beneath the
walls of the hotel-its waters, white with
the debris from the glacier, looking still
whittier in the moonlight. Below me
was the sleeping village; just across the
the quadrangle beneath, solitary light
cleaned from the house of guide, who
was possibly already astir, preparing for
some mountain climb; the roof beyond
shone brightly in the moonbeams, but
between them and the distant snow-felds



was still that impenetrable gloom of the
night before 1 could perceive now
however, that this was caussd by the
dark pine forests which clothe the foot
of the mountain, though even the bril-
liant moonlight failed to reveal any de
tails in these dark masses, but this only
added to the lustre Of the SHOWS above
upon whose undulations the moon threw
an absolute track, as it does upon rip,
| pied sea.
Year: 1873

The London News of October "a
states that early on the previous day
Woolwich experienced "a sudden and
almost unexampled visitation of dark
ness. The morning had been wet and
gloomy throughout, but at one P. NJ. the
sky was overcast with a dark pail,
which seemed to obscure every vestige
of light from above. The darkness was
not that from a London fog, for vistas
of lighted windows could be seen for a
long distance 1t was rather the dark
ness of midnight, but there was a red
dish tint in the sky like that oceasioned
by great fire. The atmosphere was
very heavy and oppressive, the rain had
ceased, and the wind, which had been
blowing from the southeast entirely aba
ted. The effect was dismal in the ex-
treme. Nervous people encouraged the
most dreadful forebodings; more rea-
sonable ones attributed the darkness tc
an eclipse of the sun, but found no con-
frmation in the almanac. Fowls wen
to roost, pigeons and other birds stopped
in their fight to seek the nearest shelter
and every living thing seemed impress
ed by the scene. The period of intenst
gloom lasted about five minutes, whel
light gradually broke in from the west
and in an hour afterwards there wa
brilliant sunshine"
Year: 1873

From the Daily Graphic.


The capture of the Virginius on the
high seas, and while under the protec-
ton of the American flag, and the sum-
mary execution of her captain and for
ty-eight of her crew and passengers by
the Cuban authorities, are acts which
call for prompt and energetic but pru-
dent action on the part of our Govern
ment Perhaps we are not yet in pos
session of all the facts that bear upon
the case. Perhaps most, if not all, the
murdered men were formerly Cuban or
Spanish subjects. Perhaps the Virgin
ius was really the property of the Cuban
! Insurgents, and her use of our flag was
unwarranted. 1t is the instant duty of
our Government to ascertain every i'm
portant fact bearing upon the case, and
to shape it's policy in accordance there
with. But enough is already known to
Justify the Government in taking strong
ground, and proceeding in its inquiry
with the dignity and determination
WHICH pcCOll0 SiSht Ii"iAoii, NhOoS mop
has been insulted and whose rights have
been outraged, even though the mer
who were shot were not its citizens. The
case is too serious and urgent for piplo
matte quibbling or a parade of nationa
amenities.


This Cuban outrage complicates ex


1 !,


easy to grow red in the face and demand
an instant resort to arms in a tempest o


passion. And it is equally easy to clam
or for the immediate recognition of tn
Cuban Republic or the annexation o
! the Island to the United States. Bu
Year: 1873

FAMINE IN GREENLAND.-News of
the most narrowing description reaches
London from South Greenland, to the
effect that a severe famine prevails in
consequence of the failure of the fisher
les, and that $50 persons have starved to
death in one village. 1t is not only to
keep off hunger that food is necessary
in the midst of their Arctic winter, but
to keep up heat. Without the animal
heat provided by the walrus snd the
seal-and those are doubtless the fisher
les that have failed-they would have
no opportunity to starve to death; they
would freeze in a day. The thermome
ter ranges during their long, dark winter
from 90 to so, and only raw walrus, sea
and bear will sustain life through it,
And the worst of it is that rescuing ex
peditions are not likely to start out thi
time of year.
Year: 1873

A new street pavement has been tried
in San Francisco. 1t is called "hydro-
carbolized brick" and is made of bricks
of soft porous nature, which are boiled
in coal tar, which renders them tough
and nearly as hard as granite. A road
bed is made by leveling the sand and
packing it with water. A layer of pre-
pared brick is then laid fiatwise, each
brick being dipped in boiling tar as it is
put down. This is overlaid by second
course of prepared birck placed close
together edgewise, each brick dipped as
before. The interstices are then filled
with boiling tar, and the whole covered
with thin layer of screened gravel
The cost is about thirty-six or thirty
seven cents per square foot.
Year: 1873

The Ismaila has now been missing for
nearly forty days. A vague rumor that
seems to lack confirmation asserts that
she was met with her machinery disa-
bled, by a sailing vessel near the Nova
Scotian coast about three weeks since
The agents profess to have no fears as
to her safety; but the fact that they have
not sent any of their large feet Of
steamers to her aid and shows that
they have little hope that she Is still
ahoat. they know she left port over
loaded and two feet deeper in the water
than she should have been. They doubt
less fully comprehend the great danger
to which she would have been exposed
in the event Of heavy weather, and they
do not think that the chance Of saving
her is sufficient to warrant the expenses
of sending a steamer in search Of her.
Will they be indicated when her loss
is definitely known.
Year: 1873

A writer on French manners observes.
at is one of the highest merita Of the
system that it tacitly lays down the prin-
ciple that all persons meeting in the
same house know each other without the
formality of an Introduction. Any man
may ask girl to dance, or may speak 70
anybody at private party. Another
merit Of French manners is the general
absence of false shame. If boy drops
his book at church, he picks it up with
out blushing. A French woman takes
off her bonnet and arranges her hair be-
fore the glass in a railway waiting room,
without thought Of the presence Of by
standers."
Year: 1873

New YORK, November 1e.-About
five thousand persons visited the Navy
yard yesterday, many of them being in
search of work. Not taking into account
those who went there for purely person.
al motives, the officers of the yard say
that at no time since the war has the
general public evinced such an interest
in the affairs of the Navy-yard.


No secret is made of the fact that or
ders have been received from Washing
ton to prepare all available vessels in the
yard for active service as soon as posi-
bic, and we'll informed parties say orders
have been issued to prepare for sea at
once every suitable vessels in the United
States Navy. The frigates Minnesota
and Colorado, each carrying fifty guns,
will be ready for sea within twenty-five
days Captain Ransom does not believe
there is a vessel in our navy competent to
contend with the Spanish frigate Ara
piles, but believes one of our monitors
can easily put a shot clear through her
and disable her machinery. 1t is not
true that orders have been received from
the Navy Department to stop work on
the Arapiles.


At hotels and clubs the Cuban diff
Guilty and the complications almost GER
tain to arise from it, is the universal
subject of conversation. 1t is generally
conceded that unless the Madrid Govern
ment consents to joint intervention il
order to restore tranquility in Cuba anC
punish the perpetrators of the recen
outrage, war with Spain is inevitable
The majority are unanimous in express
ing the belief that everything will b.
done to uphold the National reputation
The Secretary of War, who was in thi
city yesterday, is reported to have SAT-
to an intimate friend who called on him
"You are aware that l have been consid
cred somewhat bloodthirsty on this mat
ter, but the entire Cabinet are now c
my mind. AT the Cabinet meeting he'll
Yesterday we were unit, and if tn
American people are not satisfied wit
the measures resolved upon at that meet
ing to vindicate the National homo
they must be very hard to please"
Year: 1873

Switzerland, with population of lit
tie over two and half millions, boasts
of four hundred and twelve daily papers


and weekly papers. 1t would almost
seem, therefore, that there is something
in the very nature of Republican form
of government to awaken desire for in
formation concerning the events Of the
world, thus tending to spread culture
and intelligence among every household.
Year: 1873

The Michigan constitutional Conven-
ton has resolved TO help the poor by
turning into the fund for their support
a license feel of three hundred dollars
from every one who wishes to sell liquor.
Year: 1873

The United States Circuit Court at
indianapolis, yesterday rendered an inn
portont decision in the case Of a drover
who brought suit against the Indiana
polls and St. Louis Railway for injuries
sustained by being thrown from a car.
The drover was travelling on the usual
free pass furnished men in that business,
which had on il stipulation exempting
the company from damages for any in
jury that might be sustained by the
holder of the pass, while travelling over
the road. The Court held the compa-
ny had no right to require any such
agreement, and it's enforcement would be
against public policy. The jury gave
verdict for the plaintiff for Ss,0O0 The
injuries were the result Of neglect Of tie
company's agents to furnish safe accom-
modations for the drover, and the YER
dict will likely to insure reform in
this respect.
Year: 1873

Are We more civilized In our dress than III
our dwellings? Not whit. Our guide and
ruler here is that irresponsible tyrant We call


fashion, and neither comfort nor beauty has
word to say To be sure, men have discard
ed many absurdities, though they have re-
tanned more. They hold TO their stiff shirt
collars, which rasp their necks their wide ex-
panse of linen front, which the very act of
fastening rumples; their meaningless swallow
tails, their hdeous hats, their tight-fitting
military uniform, and all the mysteries OF
seam and gusset and band, which are mere
symbols OF the art of cutting out, and not nee
essary to the comfort of shape. But even with
the follies they retain they can move about
with ease and unhampered. Women, on the
contrary, torture themselves in the name Of
fashion with touching fidelity. They would
as soon forego their nationality as their stays,
and the thirty-nine articles are less sacred to
them than their multiplicity of garments all
hanging ffom the waist. 1t is to keep these
up, and lessen their heavy weight, that they
put themselves into steel cages, which destroy
all grace of line and all comfort of movement,
save in walking. The beauty of simplicity is
a thing dead and done with In their code,
Heads are loaded with false hair stuck about
with lace, feathers, flowers, and colored glass;
ears are pierced that bits of crystallized earth,
or limitations thereof, may be hung into the
holes health is destroy ed, and tue tender vi


tai organs which nature has so sedulously pro-
tectedby the outer casing Of ribs are compress


edand crushed that the waistband may be re-


duced to seventeen inches; and the highest
efforts of millinery genius are directed to the
most elaborate method of sewing one bit of
stnff, on to another bit of stuff, to the confu-
sion of anything like a leading line or an in
telHgible idea. We laugh at the Chinese


''golden water-llies,' the Papuan head-dress,
the Hindoo nose-ring, the African lip-dis-
tender; we laugh while we look in the glass
and complacently brush out our frills, and
congratulate ourselves on looking stylish" I"
and "well got up." But our highest efforts
eliminate in partial nakedness in the middle
of winter If we are women, in black broad
cloth in the dosdays if we are men-in ao-
surd lengths of silk trailing after us as We


walk in the one case, in a ridiculous pennon
meandering at our backs in the other; they
eliminate in fashion, not in ilse or beauty or
simplicity: but while we do thus dress with
out personal convenience of artistic meaning,
we have no true civilization in the matter of
onr clothes. Modern millinery is neither art
nor nature. 1t is our translation of the prim-
tive mans delight in rags and gaudy colors,
and there is no essential difference between
the two. What difference there is consists
simply in conventional acceptance; but the
aesthetic base OF each is the same.-Ihe Corn
hill Magazine.
Year: 1873

"The Smells of New York; is said to be
the title of very sensational piece now in
course of construction by an experienced
playwright. Real garbage-boxes will be in
troduced upon the stage.
Year: 1873

s The shah went into jewelers. shop in
Paris to purchase 100000 franc collar of
pearls. an 5000 diamond bracelet and some
other little knick-knaeks for the wife of Pres
ident MacMahon, and, in making his purchss-
es, used the grand vizer as a dummy upon
which to try the effect of the articles. He
spied some elegant rifles in the corner, and
was about to fire one out of the window, just
to try it, when the grand vizier warned him
that he might hit some one. He set aside
the rifle and wrote in his diary: ''Mem. Must
kill grand vizier for impertinence, when 1 gel
home
Year: 1873

People have generally three epochs in their
confidence in man. In the first they believe
him to be everything that is good and they are
lavish with their friendship and confidence.
In the next they have had experience, which
has smitten down that confidence, and they
have to be careful not to mistrust every one
and to put the worst construction upon every
thing Later in life they learn that the greater
number have more of good in them than bad,
and that even when there is cause to blame
there is more reason to pity than to con-
denim; and then spirit of confidence again
awakens within them.
Year: 1873

A Troy couple who were engaged for over
two years insisted upon being married by
moonlight in the park, and, because the par
ents objected to such publicity, they refuse to
to be married at all.