smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

ton over the past, which people who have won
after fighting hard and losing half million of
men, may surely be allowed to display, and
there could hardly be smaller or milder sign
than the relegation of Mr.. Jefferson Davis to
private life for the rest of his days. Then, too,
the position the North took during the war,
and has taken since its close, in its relations to
foreign opinion. must not be forgotten. 1t dis
trngulshed the late rebellion from all other
previous rebellions on two grounds-that its
oDJect was the preservation and perpetuation OF
slavery, and that it had broken out under q
constitution which gave perfectly free play to
all peaceful efforts to effect constitutional
changes. On these grounds it called for the
sympathy, OF the best men Of other countries in
terms such as no state before when engaged in
civil war has felt justified in using, and on
these grounds, too, it described the moral guilt
of the promoters of the insurrection in terms
of unprecedented vehemence. Now, it will not
do to act as if this talk was all 5uncombe as if
all the moral heat and wrath of that period
were due to the passions of the battlefield, and
had no root in cold and settled principle. 1t
will not do after describing Jefferson Davis as
all Our mOralsts as well as politicians described
him, to treat him as if he were simply mista-
ken politician who had outlived his errors. A
decent regard for the opinion of mankind, even
if we are not burdened with self-respect, re-
quiIes us to exclude him at least from partici-
patton in the councils of the nation he tried to
destroy. There is a point in legislation, as in
social intercourse, at which charity and mercy
become vices dangerous to the social order
The successful cultivation of the virtue of good
nature has, in the opinion of many, carried us
to this point already, so that our penitentiaries
begin to be regarded by large class of the
community as merely refuge of the unlucky,
in which any of us might any day find himself
Nevertheless, it would not be difficult to show
that civil society rests on the assumption that
some>men are better than Others; that people
who have led decent lives are entitled to sit in
judgment on criminals; and that right and
wrong are not mere conventions which may be
established one year and may be changed the
next We owe it to ourselves, in short, to say
that there was at least one man whose political
career was closed by his share in ''the grea test
rebellion the world ever saw"
Year: 1876

The Nation takes the ground that the
question of excepting Jefferson Davis from
the operation of general amnesty deserves
careful consideration, and is topic which
will bear discussion, even in the centennial
year. If any one ought to suffer for partici-
patton in the rebellion, it is he whom the
South selected and put forward as the most
prominent man in the movement which led
to the Confederaey. As regards the mass of
the Southern people, and even the prominent
livion was and is the wisest of all courses,
and no less beneficial to the North than to
the South. Its reasons for excepting Jeffer-
son Davis are set forth in the following wise
and temperate language:


But then, there is no practical end that we
know of to be served by making Jefferson Da'
Wis again competent to hold Office, for this is
all that his inclusion in the amnesty would
amount to. His present disabilities in no way
damage him in body or estate. He holds prop
erty, can sue and be sued, come and go, ike
other men. If he suffers at all for taking his
share in the rebellion, he suffers only in mind,
and that he suffers in mind there is no good
reason for believing. If he were amnestled,
however, there can be little doubt that an early
opportunity would be taken to send MIN PACK
to the House or the Senate; and the question
now is whether the North can really, even By
fair-minded Southerners, be expected to expose
itself to contingency of this kind, and wheth-
er it would be well for it to do so. The South
can, after complete defeat in war-and such a
war!-hardly call on the victors for the sup
preston of every species of susceptibility and
the effacement of every trace of ordinary hu-
man pride. There are some signs of indigna-
Year: 1876

CASTELAR, has been giving his views on
the Cuban war, and tells his countrymen
that reforms and not arms alone are necessary
to end it. In his opinion so long as slavery
exists in the island, so long will war continue
for all Europe and America will refuse the
moral support necessary to maintain Spanish
territory in the New World while the worst
crime and most odous institution bequeathed
to our age by past centuries is permitted to
endure. The English Anti Slavery Society
have taken a position which confirms his
views. In memorial to Lord Derby they
remind him that in June last he said the
British government sympathized with the OBJ.
ject of their proposal-that England should
endeavor, in conjunction with the United
States. to obtain settlement of the Cuban
difficulty by friendly mediation. They now
earnestly recommend the question in its pres
ent critical aspect to his management, Lord
Derby replied that his government would
give the question that attention which its
Importance deserved.
Year: 1876

A NEW humorist has arisen in the House
Townsend of New York. He is described as
a portly gentleman far advanced in years, but
evidently full of vigor, with head covered
with thick growth of white hair, cropped
like pugilsts, and very determined cast
of countenance. His speech on the centen-
nial bill was full of genuine wit, and entirely
free from that bufoonery which passes for
humor with our legislators.
Year: 1876

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


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

".aIr. Phelps. I believe he said witha slight hesitation, and paused as if to allow me to announce my business.

 II stood looking like perfect fool, red in the face, speechless, abject, not daring to meet his eye. No chieken-thief, caught with chickens legs sticking out under his coat, was ever a more complete picture of conscious guilt. That was what seemed to myself, but to him suppose appear ed merely rather embarrassed at being obliged to explain that my call. was wholly of a social nature. You see he was him. self somewhat embarrassed at having re- ceived guest in so singular a manner, and this made him the less attentive to my demeanor. He thought he was the one who was in the awkward position So, on seeing that my call was not on bus. mess, he said affably:

 '' I am glad you called Will you walk into the parlor? My daughter and I are quite alone

 ''I followed him helplessly, like sheep led to the slaughter, and was ushered into a cozy room with but single occupant.

 ''The prettiest young lady that I ever saw, with the brownest eyes, the sunniest hair, most tempting hands, daintiest fig ure and dearest smile that God ever put together. sat demurely reading by the table.

 ''It was your mother.'
Year: 1876

Miss Emily, impelled by morbid in
clination she could not explain, had fol
lowed the proceedings Of the inquest on
Mrs Hurlingham's body with unwonted
excitement and with sorrowful sympathy
Not content with this, she wished her
father and mother to share her feelings
This was annoying. The subject was
disagreeable, and Emily's views about it
were uncomfortably odd.


The truth is, the young lady had lat
terly adopted very uncongenial opinions.
Having gone one Sunday, during the
past season, to a church in Hilton Square,
when she had, as she supposed, conclud-
ed the real part OF the worship. and had
assumed an attitude of recipient resgna-
ton for the homily OF the surpliced
priest who was kneelinS up there in the
pulpit, with his hands over his face, the
ecclesiastic took his revenge not only out
of her, but out of number Of other
equally placid ladies and gentlemen
whom the London season had drawn to-
gether. lie very quietly, but in eloquent
and incisiye terms, told them that most
of them were living the lives of drones
and cowards-dronss, because they were
Year: 1876

by the candles which he had relit a
strange expression in her face. She put
on a rough straw hat and an old shawl.
and glancing round upon her children.
set her lips firmly and went out in the
teeth Of the storm and gloom
Year: 1876

MR. CHARLES E. CURTIss of this town, IS Christian of the school of the Apostle James, who was of opinion that faith without works would not insure salvation. And in his labors with his fellows to adopt and put in practice his religious policy, he does not fail to set a substan

 tial example. And it is much to his cred it that while his left hand may in some cases be familiar with the operations of his right, that he does not boast of his practical and useful efforts to encourage religious teachings and works. Whether such creditable Christian action is occa- stoned by the teachings of his childhood or the convictions of his maturer years, is Of little consequence, so long as he goes about doing good entirely free of the sin of selfglorifcation. And it is not alone ia Arizona, that he performs good works in behalf of Christianity, for we are credibly informed that his labors in Colorado were at least to some extent of the same character. Although Colorado is nearer the place of light, (the East) the people thereaway were and are prone to lay up such treasures as the moth might corrupt and thieves could steal, and therefore none but resolute worker could hope 10 make much actual progress | in Christian works, but Mir. Curtiss to some extent successfully persevered. His many friends in Cleveland, Ohio, will no doubt be pleased to learn that in a still further remove westward, his good works continue with sdccess; for this very week he conceived it duty-whieh he at once proceeded to discharge-to quietly raise a few hundred dollars wherewith to make Rev MT. Anderson's rooms more com fortable, and after setting a good example of practical liberality, he worked assid- uously in the good cause until it was crowned with success. The Lord loveth cheerful giver and will reward all whose faith is proven by their works.
Year: 1876

OUR Justices of the peace have many amusing and some almost wonder ful experiences. Some of the Mexican people, owing perhaps to experience with officials in their country, think Justice of the peace can do all acts necessary to right a wrong or retake stolen property without even the forms of law. Early thls week, a recent arrival from Mexico, called on Justice Meyers; said horse had been stolen from himself; that said horse was at certain place in town; and insist ed that Justice NJ should go at once, get the horse and restore him. Upon be- ing informed that such an act would be unlawful and about the same as theft, the Mexican insisted Mir. Meyers was the Judge, and being such he could and must go aud take the animal, and went away feeling that he was very badly treated be- cause of continued refusal to comply with his demand on the part of the Jus tice
Year: 1876

SOMEBODY has our thanks for the an nual reports of the Secretaries of War, Treasury and Interior; also of the Registry of the Treasury, Treasurer Of the United States, and Surgeon General of the Army.
Year: 1876

J. \. SIMPSON was shot in the back on Tuesday evening, while standing at the bar of a saloon at the northwest corner oi Meyers and Mesilla street. Justice Neu- gass informs us that upon examination by Dr. Handy, the effects Of the shot were found to be very slight, though evidently intended to be as damaging as possible; also that Simpson says he does not know who fred the shot and therefore declines to make any complaint Several persons were standing by, but none seem to know who attempted to commit murder in such a cowardly manner.
Year: 1876

81
An execution by decspitation has taken
place within the walls OF the prison yard st
Tobe. The man who suffered death was
Amamiya Chuyemon who on the arst Of
March last enticed Japanese boy, fifteen
years old, into his house, in Minsmi Make
dOrl, Sanchome, and there stranglad him
In order to rob him Of yen 5000 in Japan
csc paper money, which the boy had been
sent to change into gold at bank in Hon
chodori. The execution ground is small
square inclosure, divided from the rest Of
the prison yard by fence of board about
fifteen feet high. It contains only small
open shed and post for strangling those
who are condemned te be executed In that
way. At one side Of the inclosure lay .
small straw mat about three feet square,
and on this the executioner's sword, wrapped
up in yellow cotton cloth. Next to the
mat stood the executioner, q stalvart, mid
dle-aged man, dressed in blue uniform,
with cap. Presently Amamiya was led
IN, blindfolded, dressed in new sky-blue
robe with white tassels. his legs and head
bare, and his hands tied behind his back.
He was Imade to kneel on the mat, and In
that position he muttered short prayer,
the executioner with naked sword in his
right hand, standing on his left, and the
executioner's assistant to his right. The
prayer over, the assistant pulled the doomed
mans robe down his shoulders and put his
head in right position down came the
sword with flash, slight thud was heard
as 1t struck the neck, and Amamiya's head
rolled on the ground, while the trunk fell
forward, the warm blood pulsating from
the severed neck. The assistant execution
er seized the head by the hair, took off the
cloth from the face, threw from q bucket
standing near him couple of ladies of wa
ter on the neck, and held up the liyid face
to the gaze of the spectators.


Mr.. John W. Wood is now in Wilmington
visiting his parents,
Year: 1876

From the Memphis Avalanche.


In our report Of last month, while Civ
ing the total acreage of cotton planted
for the present season, as well as a short
account of the general condition of the
crop, the Avalanche promise ] its readers
to replace now by actual accounts those
figures, which were then only estimated.


On that occasion, owing to the late
overAows in the Mississippi valley and
other causes then accounted for, we were
compelled to estimate the acreage of GER
tain counties of various states-a process
not by any means very satisfactory to us,
nor sufficiently interesting to those en-
gagged in the cotton trade and in order
to fulfill our promise we publish this full
report, setting forth in detail the actual
acreage of each and every state.


1t would, however, be necessary to
refer our readers, first of all, to our last
months report, and more especially to
column five, of table one, showing the
acreage estimated Of overfowed districts,
etc, viz: two hundred and ninety-seven
thousand. At the same time pointing
out that in case said amount would all be
planted in cotton frsm then out 1t would
show total acreage OF nine million five
hundred and eighteen thousand for the
years 1867, or equal to an increase OF
about one-fourth per cent. over last year.


1t will be seen, however, by the present
report that the total acreage Of cotton
planted up to the sixth inst. amounted
to nine million three hundred and sixty
two thousand, or equivalent toa decrease
of about one per cent, compared with
last year, 80 that one hundred and fifty
six thousand acres originally intended for
cotton had to be abandoned for that pur-
pose. We need scarcely say more on the
subject now, as our figures below will
explain more fully all the details.


Regarding the condition Of the crop we
have every reason to believe that the
stand, owing to late planting, is back
ward compared with last year, more
especially in many sections Of the west
ern cotton states. With that exception
crow news is favorable and encouraging
We hear of a few complaints about sx-
cessive rains, which, however, up to now
seem to have done little or no damage
The weather for past three weeks has
been all that could be desred-suffi'
ciently warm, with occasional showers. .


Nevertheless, until next fall, cotton
will have many enemies TO encounter,
and we shall endeavor, from time to time,
to keep our friends sufficiently posted as
to the prospect and development OF the
crop.


TABLE NO. ],


showing total acreage Of cotton planted
| for five wears.
Year: 1876

According TO the New York Evening
express, sixty thousand men in one de
psrtnent Of industry, thrown out Of en-
ployment in one day. with the certainty of
idleness for two months at least, and the
prospect Of two months moro at the end of
that, is the feast Of lean things at which the
public are invited to look in Pennsylvania.


Complaints OF ravages of the Colorado
beetle upon the potato vines have become
general throughout New England, as well as
in the middle states.
Year: 1876

The two Presbyterian assemblies one
sitting in Brooklyn, the other in Savan-
nah, took during the closing days Of
their sessions long step in the direction
OF fraternity. On Friday, May Goth, a
resolution was adopted in the northern
assembly in these words: "With a view
to the expression of the united and hear
ty wishes OF this body that at the earliest
practicable moment we may see the es-
tablishment Of correspondence with the
other assembly, we hereby resolve that
this assembly rciterates its cordial desire
to establish fraternal relations with the
southern assembly on terms of perfect
equality and reciprocity as soon as it is
agreeable TO their brethren to respond to
this assurance by similar expression"
To this reply was sent on the next oay
from the southern body, declaring that
while condcmning certain acts and de-
liveranccs Of the northern assembly, no
acts of delivcrances of the southern as





sembly are 10 he construed or admitted
as impugning in any way the christian
ch 'ract"r or standing of the northern
general assembly or OF the historical
bodies of which it i. the successor"
This assurance was received by the
assembly in Brooklyn with great satisfac-
ton, and resolution in the precise
terms os that from Savannah, with the
necessary change of the word northern
to southern" was adopted, and ordered
t. be Immediately telegraphed. The
adoption of the resolution was followed
by the singing of the doxology. The
country will approve Of the sensible basis
of fraternity adopted by these two
churches. Neither body is asked to SUR
reuder cherished convictions, but with
tie expression by the representatives of
both of confdcpce in each other, the past
is lett 10 settle itself, and the new life
sgina.
Year: 1876

An invention has been successfully ap-
piled in Liverpool TO the printing ma
chine, by means of which newspapers
may be printed upon an unbroken roll
of paper without the necessity of previ.
ously stereotyping the pages and mould
ing them to the shape Of the cylinders to
which they are affixed. The details of
the process have not been communicated
further than that the type itself is fixed
on the cylinder referred to, but, with
the exception that it has been yet found
impracticable to apply the auto matte
folding process to the machine, .the plan
is fully successful. The advantage of
the invention is that while giving the
highest rate of speed, it will save the cost
of stereotyping, which, except in case Of
very large impressions, is otherwise un-
necessary.
Year: 1876

A MEXICAN who claimed to be a
s'ake charmer recently attempted the
capture of large rattlesnake near Cor.
pus Christi, Texas. As the snake lay
coiled up, the Mexican made a srab at
his neck, and caught the reptile too far
back, the snake turning his head and
fastening his fang in the second joint Of
the fore-fnger, from which he dangled
until shaken loose by the performer.
Simrie remedies were used at once, but
TIE finger continued to infame and the
flesh TO drop of. until amputation be-
came necessary to save the Mexican's
life. The snake-charmer has retired from
the charming business to the more gene
raj Mexican avocstion OF monte dealer.
Year: 1876

What the State Enumerntions Of 1875


Show--Some Interesting Figures.


1t has been assumed, too hastily we
think, says the Boston advertiser, that
the growth of the country in population
has received a serious check. This con-
clusion is based on the returns of part
of the censuses taken last year. We
have not seen anywhere table contain
ing results of all the enumerations, and
we have endeavored to supply the de-
iciency. So far as known there were
eighteen States that took census of
their population during the year 1875.
One other made an enumeration in 1874.
Of the whole fourteen, eleven are sup
posed to be trustworthy, and three are
not so. The census of Texas is an esti-
mate so far as it is supposed to give the
total population. A school census was
taken, and the figures below are based
upon the result of that, corrected by a
comparison of the votes ut different cleo
tions. The return for Michigan is that
for the year 1874, so that it represents
one year less of growth than in the
other cases
Year: 1876

Mr.. Sargent, of California, presented
a petition in the United States Senate
signed by large number of ladies, ask
ing that government be established in
the District of Columbia which would
confer upon women the right to vote.
Mr.. Sargent said the petition was signed
by many eminent ladies, and they set
forth their request in such language as
should reach the ear of the Senate. He
asked that the petition be read by the
secretary. After it had been read Mr..
Sargent said he had no doubt that this
great movement of woman suffrage
would prevail. 1t was making progress
day by day. He referred to woman suf-
frage in Wyoming Territory, and said it
was indorsed there by the judiciary, by
the press and by the people generally.
He knew Of no better place TO make this
experiment than the capital of the ma
tion, and therefore asked that the petit
ton be referred to the committee on the
District Of Columbia, to be considered
in connection with any bill to provide a
government for the District. It was so
referred.
Year: 1876

The cut of dresses for the present year,
fashion journals tell us, will be about
the same as during the preceding one,
that is to say, everything will be tight
fitting. We are returning to antique
styles. The princess dress, with it's
long train, and waist opening square in
front, and pulled sleeves encircled by
bands, is certainly an antique style, and
especially with the present system of
raising the dress on one side over false
skirt. This skirt is made of any material
but that of the dress, and trimmed with
flowers, while the remainder of the
dress has plain train. This is an eco
nomical fashion, as the handsome ma
terial remains entire. There are several
ways of arranging the princess dress.
The front of the dress and back of the
cuirass waist may be of lack velvet
and train skirt of pearl colored lampas.
The sleeves are also of pearl colored
lampas. The borders are trimmed with
peacock's feathers, which also run up
the middle in front, end similar trim
ming encircles the sleeves at the wrist.
A combination in another style has
train skirt and a princess shaped front,
trimmed with puffings and cream col
ored faille rucbings. The back of the
cuirass is long and the fronts are of
brown velvet extending down the sides
in long flaps, which fall over the train
of the skirt. Ostrich feathers surround
the borders of the velvet flaps and trim
the train and front of the skirt. A vel
vet pocket trimmed with feathers is on
one side of the apron.