smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

SOME of the papers are condemning Dom
Pedro for boorishness becadse he is earnestly
desirous to mind his own business. He ex-
presses wish to travel as a gentleman in
private station, and individuals and munich
palities insist upon forcing attentions upon
him which are dlstasteful Really the charge
of discourtesy must be brought against others
than Dom Pedro
Year: 1876

We do not read anonymous letters and communi-
cations The namG and address of the writer are in
all Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty Of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or reserve commu-
uications that are not used.
Year: 1876

Manton Marble retires from the New York
World disgusted with politics in general and
the Democratic party of New York in particu-
lar. William Henry Hurlburt IS the manager.
He has been connected with the World since
1862.
Year: 1876

We have supred full with scandal.
Disclosures, familiar to our inmost
thoughts, no longer fright us. When
any particularly respectable member Of
the party of great moral ideas is shown
to have been removing his neighbor' s
mule, or corrupting the moth-extermi-
uator committee, or breaking through
and stealing from The National Treasury
in some other manner, people no longer
express surprise that his name should
be attacked, but alphabetically ask :
How much was it?" Would it not be
Just as well to postpone the Centennial,
or else TO tell our monarchical guests
that they have paid us visit while we
are in the throes of house-cleaning p
[ [Exchange.
Year: 1876

His Letter Declining "a RenOminat ion.


The following is Speaker Kerr's letter
declining denomination:


WASHINGTON, April "a, 1876.
Hon Jonas G.. Howard Chairman Democratic


Committee. Third Indiana District:


My Dear Su'-In response to numer-
Gus inquiries from friends in our dis
trict, beg you to permit me through
you to announce to my constituents that
it is my final determination in no event
to be candidate for Congress this year.
Without reference to what IL might be
my desire to do under other circum-
stances, this determination is made q
matter Of personal duty ON my part by
the unsatisfactory condition of nv
health. | improve this opportunity to
return to my constituents, and espe-
cially to my generous and faithful polIt-
ical friends, my sincere and grateful
thanks for their support and confidence
during the period OF my public services
| think it is proper for me to assure
them that | cherish strong hope that
before the great political contests of
this year are decided, j will be able to
render some useful service in behalf of
our suffering country and looking to the
restoration to the people of good and
honest government The profound So
Iicitude | have SO long felt for the well
fare and honor of our constituents, and
of the country and the national Demo
cratic party, emboldens me to conclude
this note with the expression of the
hope that our friends will select q sue
cessor in all respects worthy and com
petent and in sympathy with the best
purposes of the Democratic party. l
am faithfully your friend,


M, c.. KERR.
Year: 1876

The great society question now in
Washington is whether the wife of d
post-tradership dealer should take pre-
cedence of a crooked whisky nan's
better half, or a safe burglars lady, and
who ought to make the first call
Year: 1876

Daylight is at length to be let into
that den Of iniquity, Brother-in-law
Casey's New Orleans Custom house.
The House Of Representatives passed q
resolution on yesterday ordering the apA
pointment OF select committee to in
vestigate the conduct of that concern,
as we'll as OF other Government offices
in the Crescent City. The inquiry will
be prosecuted publicly, and the commit
tee will proceed to New Orleans in order
to have the facts and proofs at hand
Chicago Times.
Year: 1876




With the second month Of spring
comes q rush of work to the farmer
Many things need TO be done at once
and the-April showers and last storms
yet lingering in the lap of spring, try the
farmers patience. The man who culti-
Yates the ground as business, needs to
be patient man, for anxieties and dis
appointment meet him at every turn
and every season. There are those who
cannot wait until the right moment,
but who begin too soon, and consequent
ly have to finish too late. One may
very easily plow field too soon, and de-
lay his sowing, or greatly damage the
ed fields may be plowed as soon as the
surface cracks and crumbles, but some
heavy low soils may not be fit to turn
over for some days after the surface ap-
pears dry. Seeds will not germinate
until there Is sufficient warmth in the
Year: 1876

Only babe and its little life


Came and went mid squalor and'dirt.
Coars profanity, bicker and strife;


Born Of wretchedncss, sin-begirt.
Yet at the door woman stands


While we softly whisper "1is all for the best"
Wildly wringing her empty hands,


Deep sobs heaving her aching breast.
Only babe; il is taken out


From the grasp of sin, from the woe that comes
To the children of vice il was hedged about
BY fostering walls and filth of the slums,
And we say; 1T is well - yet all the same


The heart Of the mother is strained and turn
She weops for her "blossom without name,"
That fioated out on the tide at morn.
Only babe had IL learned TO speak
Only to lisp-it had learned to curse;
From day TO day and from week to week.
steadily waxing from bad to worse.
We say, "It is web I" yet who may know
The void IL has left Who sounds the deeps
OF woman's heart in its pitiful woe


Only the mother-her love mere sleeps
Hunger, the street. then prison wall;


Better than these is quiet grave,
Where tie grass shall spring and the soft rains


fall.
Death is n rescuer, come TO save
We say, at is better So" and yet


Pity pleads--and pity is best
For tn dark wild eyes. all swollen and wet,
For the empty arms and the aching breast.
Year: 1876

DR.. John Lord delivered yesterday morning to very
versay conceded TO be his BEST entitled "Abelard and
Heoise" which, in elegance OF style and dicton, 10
probably unsurpassed by any modern writer The lee
began IL aim in this lecture TO the very dim
cult labor OF describing the history Of heloise that
great sentiment without which few men or women can
be happy II is not vices paint, but virtues; not
weakness, but strength; not the mortal but the i'm
mortal


In age OF degrading superstition, in 1101, Helose
was born. No one knew who was her father but she
supposed 70 have belonged to the family
OF Montmorencs She brought up in
tho family OF an uncle, n canon. She
great beauty, but the qualities Of great soul were
preeminent over both beauty and intellect She was
educated in a convent and at the age OF eighteen re-
turned TO her uncle Her uncles house was visited by
the intellectual arstocracy OF the city, but IN the
midst OF society she pined for sympathy and affection
and lived within herself isolated by her superiority
Among these DISTINGUISHED visitors was man thirty
eight years OF age OF noble birth and by profession
ecclesaste and by name Peter Abelard lie was poet,
theologan philosopher and lecturer He underratcd
his teachers and by his 1ippancy he charmed tho
young and dsgusted the old The number OF his pupils
was over 600 coming from various countries TO hear
him lecture What a successl What a positioni


Such was the naughty brilliant, 1ppant man who,
the OF thirty eight met the most beautiful and
ardent woman Of the age, eighteen years old Ana
need mention the rcsultS They became passionatey
enamored of other; but to accomplish his designs
easily he obtained residence IN tho family OF her
uncle to superntend her education. tLaughterl The
blind old fool delighted to have 20 noble an in
sst such manf need not repeat the history OF
their mad passion.
Year: 1876

Ex-Governor John 7. Hoffman lectured last evening
before the New York Association OF Science and Art
at Dr. Rogers church, corner OF Fifth avenue and
Twenty nrst street. "I.berty and Order" HIS theme
treated in exhaustive, able and patriotic man
He defined the duties OF the citizen and his rights
named the free common school as the chief buwark OF
intelligence and public morality, without which
republican institutions impossible; illustrated
the relations OF the States and the Federal Union de-
clarcd himself believer in Estate Rights when those
rights maintained by argument before the people,
debate before legislation discussion before the courts
He declared himself In favor of mayor for New York
city who should appoint all heads Of departments be
the head OF police and be responsible for all expend
itures with Common Council which should perform
all local legislation and have power 70 control all appro
pratlons OF money, and, with the Mayor 10 regulate all
local taxation.
Year: 1876

[From The Philadelphia Telegraph


My camel, writes Cairo cores
pondent, was tied down in the sand
patiently awaiting his burden. You
tie camel to himselt-that is, when
he has shut up his knees under him
like knife blades, you slip a leathern
bracelet over his knee and there you
have HIM, for it is impossible for him
to open his leg so long as this brace
let is around it, binding the leg above
the knee and the shinbone together
like pair of tongs. OF course it is
not easy to find anything in the des-
ert to which you may tie your camel
with security; beneticent Provi
dence has therefore made every CAM
el his own hitching-post, likewise his
own cistern and vegetrblc market
and step ladder-in fact, the camel is
the most complete machine on four
legs that we have a knowledge Of
His machinery is clumsy and needs
oiling. His great joints show through
his sides, and his tail is the barest
apology and unworthy of notice.
You would think your camel went on
stills if you were to start off sudden
ly, sitting in nest of luggage on
that high back of his. You would
think he had his feet in poultices if
you were to look at the soft, spongy
things as they fall noiselessly Oh the
earth and spread under his tottering
weight. And that fearful face of his
with its liquid and pathetic eyes, and
those deep cavities above them, big
enough to hold hens egg; his aq-
uiline nose, with It's narrow, slanting
nostrils, that shut tight against the
sand-storms andth whitening kasmin
and give very scornful expression
to the face-the whole face looks as
1t were just going to cry. The alb
surd under lip is puckering and pout-
ing to the most charming extent,and
you are not at all surprised when
the beast finally bursts into sand
cries long and loud, like great over
grown baby. This is the pudding
footed pride of the desert, whose
silken hair is mans raiment, and
whose milk is meat and drink
While my camel was still kneeling
with his strap over his leg, stepped
into the curve of his neck, and went
up the front STAIRS to the top of his
hump. His saddle was a tree of
wood with thick rugs lashed over it.
1t was little like swinging in
sawbuck, riding that camel to SAX
karah. He edged his way over the
desert, putting the two legs on one
side of him forward at the same time,
and then keeling over and pushing
the other side ahead. l was contin-
ually rocked back and forth until my
head swung loosely on my shoulders,
my sides ached, and all my spine
was sore. Many people are sea-sick
when they mount camel for the
first time. The motion is not unlike
that of n small boat in chop sea-
There is certainly no pleasure and
very little elegance in your rest as
you toss to and fro on the summit of
that animated mountain of India
rubber.
Year: 1876

The annual plague of bad water from
the Potomac is now upon us. The fluid
which pours through the pipes at this time
is oft consistency and color of soup. but
is not supposed to be as nourishIng. But
one thing can be said about 1t without
detriment, and that is, although not beau
tilul, neither is it unhealthy, and while it
is disagreeable for use or to drink. no Sc
rious results may be expected to follow
from this disposal of it, The. water is simply
dIscolored by the washings Of clay and
sand from the mountain streams which
empty into the Potomac, and which at this
season of the year are swollen from the
spring rains. In few days the water will
become clear, limpid and cold-more so,
probably, than at any other season of the
year. In the meantime there is no general
remedy to apply. The water is the best
that can be obtained in any quantity, and
it is useless to talk about obtaining sup
ply from any other source, even if the Dis
trict was in a condition to afford the ex-
pense Of changing the water system But
while this is the fact, it cannot be
denied that the water of the Potomac
during the summer months might be much
better and still not be of the best. It can
be made the best, however, by filtering,
and this plan is recommended to citizens.
A simple charcoal filter costs very little
and is easily made, and by its use the
water of the Potomac can be made pure
and undefiled at all seasons Of the year.


1t will prove to be much more healthy and
wholesome and less liable to corruption
than that drawn from wells, which. being
shallow and sunken in friable soil, are
liable to be tainted by drainage from con-
tingent localities, and at the best yield
brackish or tasteless water. Every family
should provide themselves with a filter,
and thus, as far as the natural changes in
the Potoml &C water are concerned, be en-
tirely free from inconvenience and anxiety.
Year: 1876

In view of the prevailing darkness that
exists among the Appropriation Commit
tees as to the needs of the Departments in
various matters little understood, we sug-
gest as good plan that Cabinet officers be
allowed 70 plead their own cases before the
different Houses, and that certain hours in
some session of the week be hereafter de-
voted to the purpose of listening to any
explanations. references or suggestions
deemed advisable to receive from the Sec
'retaries. In fact, that they be allowed a
voice In the matters that concern them more
nearly than they do any other one indi-
vidual. As it is now, Cabinet officer is
not only powerless to exhibit the needs of
the service of which he has charge, but is
almost defenseless from charges made
against him, and he labors continually
under a suspicion either Of undue extrava-
gsnce in the administration of his Office or
of some form of attack which takes shape
through the irresponslbility of his political
enemies. If he seeks to be understood
or to find redress, he must go to
the Capitol in something like the
character of a professional lobbyist


and by personal efforts get some one to take
up his cause. If he is called before COM
mittee, he goes before the honorable body
to be cross like criminal wit
ness, and if he escapes without some positi-
cal opponent putting false construction
on his evidence, or turning his explans-
tious topsy-turvy, he NAV consider himself
fortunate. This treatment of Cabinet Off
Gers is neither just nor dignifed. As the
peers of members of either House they
should be allowed the privileges of the floor
ar Ear ss 1t may be Of advantage to the in
terests of the Government, or to their own
reputability 10 allow it, and at given times
should not only have the privilege, but be
called upon to report the attitude of affairs
. under their control. This plan, if adopted,


would not only insure US from such exhi-
bitiops Of stupepdous ignorance as to Che de-
Year: 1876

mands of various bureaus to properly carry
on their work as is now being shown by the
Appropriation Committees, but would also
insure thorough acquaintance with the
details of their Departments on the part OF
the Secretaries themselves. Looking back
over the past, it is easy to see how meal
culable would have been the benefits aris-
ing from il, if this plan had been put in
operation years ago. The investigations,
with all their tangled threads, reaching
out in all directions, and amounting to
nothing when unraveled, would have been
in large measure met in advance, or
rather there would have been no excuse
for carrying them on. Deficient or inop-
erative laws would have been exposed
without resort to explanations which
burden the deliberations of Congress and
60 towards retarding the progress Of real
business. Complications readily under
stood when explained by the head of the
Departments, but which become confusion
worse confounded when left to the inter-
probation of various political theorists,
would have been obviated. Altogether,
while We might not have had purer or
more reputable Administration, or more
hearty evidence of devotion to public in
terests than is shown to have been in oper-
alton in all Departments under Republican
administration, yet it would have been
freer from the entsnglements that afford
the enemies of the Republican party
chance to misconstrue and attack where
vindIcation is well nigh impossible. In
the light of the past there fore, let the
future be provided for
Year: 1876

REV. DR.. SUNDERLAND, quite unwit-
tingly, we must suppose, threw lighted
firebrand into the discussions of the Wash
ington Presbytery yesterday by his reselu-
ton regarding the present revival of reli-
gion in this city. 1t will be seen by refer
ence to our report in another column that
the worthy and reverend Presbyters who
opposed the passage of the resolution were,
at least, consistent in the fact that having
thus far refrained from joining in Mr..
Hammond's revival movement they would
not now stultify and condemn their own
conduct by voting to approve that move
ment. But on the other hand, Drs. Sun
derland and Noble, having already entered
the movement in which they believed that
they recognized the hand Of God, without
critically serutinizing the brand affixed to
the instrument through which it was in
augurated, naturally felt that they would
like TO have their active cooperation in
the good work recognized and approved, if
not united in by their brethren. Besides,
these reverend gentlemen seemed to have
had their hearts so touched as with live
Goals from the altar" of God that they
could hardly conceive of their brethren
standing coolly by, like the Pharisees of
odd, Unable to recognize the hand of the
Great Master in the work. Happily, the
resolution was SO modified as to meet the
views of the Presbytery by emitting all
allusion to the agencies by which the
great awakening" had been brought
about, and it Is to be hoped that the dis
cussion will terminate in much good by
leading all parties to examine their hearts
and see whether God may not possibly
"move in such mysterious ways" as to
confound presbyteries, conferers7 and
synods as much now as He did the Phari-
sees and Sadducees in the time of our Sa-
yiour. 1t was the second sober thought
that converted Saul of Tarsus FROM a per-
secutor of Christians and transformed him
into an Apostle of Christ. 81
Year: 1876

The Boston Daily AdUertiser has been
one of the most violent opponents of Presi-
dent Grants Administration for several
years, and has shed more tears than both
Ramah of old-who wept ''for her children
because they were not" and Shearman
of our day, whose eye freshets have more
than once threatened to submerge Brook
lyn-over the defeat of Dana as Minister to
England. But it chirpeth cheerily over
the prospect of Mr.. L)ngfellow's nomina-
ton. Indeed, there is nothing that can be
said against Longfellow except that he was
once a professor in Harvard College, and
that one Of his colleagues (named Webster)
was hanged. Still, the association was an
involuntary one, and probably no United
States Senator would raise an objection on
that ground, because, although no United
States Senators ever were hanged, there
have been several of them who deserved
hanging; and there is more than one of
them to-day whom any other nation would
have hanged for their crimes against the
nation. So let by-gones be by cones. Har-
ward College is quite respectable body in
spite of the peccadillo of one of its profes-
sors in cooling off a duuning creditor.
The AdUertiser says:


"Mr. Longfellow, it is true, is no lawyer,
but his works are as we'll known In England
as Tennyson's are in this country, and his per-
sonal acquaintance with the leading men in
England and on the continent is very large
His welcome as the official representative of
the United States would be so cordial and
earnest that we should not fail to recognize
that the appointment of a man whose genius
and character compelled admiration tended
TO exalt the national glory. That chief part
Of diplomacy which consists in winning the
respect and sincere friendship of a nation
could hardly be accomplished better than by
him. While he has never engaged in the strife
of politics, he has never failed at need to con-
tribute in his way to the patriotic spirit"
Year: 1876

We SHALL print in the NATIONAL RE-
PUBLICAN to morrow short biographical
sketch of Rev. Dr.. Hammond, the eminent
revivalist, accompanied by correct like
ness of the subject. This will afford each
of his admirers the opportunity to obtain
cheap and enduring memento Of the man
to whom they feel that they owe, under
God, much of their present happiness and
hope of future bliss. Orders for extra
conies should be sent in esrly this morn
inc
Year: 1876

THE detective of the press sends tele-
gram from Washington to the Sun that
Secretary Bristow employed detectives to
watch President Grant on his visit to st.
Louis last fall. OF course everybody un-
derstands that the detective indulges in
romance. Mr.. Bristow is too much of a
gentleman to set spy upon any man with
whom he stands in the relation of conf
dental adviser
Year: 1876

Is IT NOT pertinent question to ask
why the Washington Monument Associ-
alton is not doing something for itself in
these Centennial times? In the homely
language of the Western sportsman, whose
companion stood looking at bird without
making an effort to bring it down, we say,
''Shoot, Luke, or give up the gun!'
Year: 1876

When the second centenary Of our nations
birth occurs the first man who fell across the
dead line at Andersonyille, shot by the guard,
will be a hero, and his name should be care
fully recorded. Who was hei Who was It
that could have been foolish enough to drag
himself out Of the scorching rays Of the sun
into the cool shadow Of the towering stockade
when the fatal musket stared him threatingly


in the facet Who was hei Posterity will


want to know.
Year: 1876

WHEN JONES. of Kentucky, which his
name is Thomas L.. gets through investi-
eating why the Potomac water is muddy,
we suggest that he call for an investigating
committee to inquire why the moon does
not shine every night. 1t would be IS
sensible as most of the inquiries now being
made. The Democrats will find before
they get through that they are all moon
Year: 1876

THE New York Tribune even is dis
gusted at the manner in which its ex-
rConfederate friends in Congress are con-
Quoting investigations to the neglect of all
public business With the Tribuns &C.
knowledging its disgust what must the
people of the country feel?
Year: 1876

A wild rumor was in circulation about to Vn
yesterday that Henry Clay Dean had taken
bath in the waters of the Upper Potomac. II
this is so, the PEOPLE of Washington Will have
to drink muddy water all summer.
Year: 1876

Frederick Douglass, in conversation the
other day, said: "The only safe ship for the
colored race to float down the current of life
in is the Republican ship; all outside of that
is vast sea, turbulent, boisterous and full of
danger"
Year: 1876

When Custer city buried its first dead the
other day there was but one Bible in the town
from which 10 select the text. After all, one
Bible answered the purpose as well as dozen
would have done, and one text was really
more than the fellow asked for. He was shot
in the act OF picking another mans teeth with
q large bowie-knife.
Year: 1876

Visions of future wealth float daily through
the mind OF the average Philadelphia saloon
keeper in anticipation of his immense sales of
liquid during the Centennial. 1t is estimated
that over sixty millions of straws aud one
billion of tooth-p will be used during the
exhibition. Now let them estimate the num-
Der of pockets to be picked and mathematical
science will have crowned itself with lsurels.