smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873




Last evening we learned the sad intelli.
gence of the death Of Miss Lacour, the un
fortunate victim of the Grant parish ont.
RACES. On Friday lastt the sorrowing friebds
ofthe beautiful and accomplished youuglady
followed her to her grave. The severe ner-
vous shock to her system was such as 70
leave but little hope of her recovery, and
sinking gradually, she breathed her last on
Thursday. Ifanything was wanting to add
to the horror already made known, it is the
cutting off of the life Of this lady in the
bloom Of maidenhood. The Steamer Garry
Owen brought down relative OF the de-
ceased, but so great was his anguish and
feeling with regard to the affair, little could
be gathered from him. He neither came
to the table nor talked on the trip down,
and bis melancholy was such as to arouse
the sympathies Of all on board. Itis now
almost certain that the citizens bavea clue
to the whole transaction, and we're it not
that it might defeat the ends Of justice an
interesting development could be made
- n. 0.Picayune.
Year: 1873

The proneness Of Irish wit to hyperbole
is well illustrated inthe story Of the man
who described the gluttony Of pig BY say
ing that he fed him two pailfuls of mick and
meal, and then put the pig in the pail which
he didn't half fill. And another specimen
of the same exaggeration is reported by a
correspondent travelling in Ireland, who
overheard an Irishman describing to some
companions the country to which he was
urging them to emigrate. "Ameriky,' said
he ''is a mighty sIzable place. I'm told ye
might roll England through it, an it would
hardly make a dint in the ground. There's
a fresh water ocean inside OF it that you
might drown Ireland in an save Father
Matthew wonderful sight of trouble. pAn
as for Scotland, you might stick it in a cor,
ner of one Of their forests, an' you'd never
be able to find it, except, it might be, by
the smell of the whisky"
Year: 1873

Our neighboring county, Ell Dorado.
seems TO be in very Il ,se,ted and un


healthy condition tinancia ly. 1t seems
there are bonds outstanding against the
county, issued in aid of the Placervie and
Sacramento Valley Railroad, to the amount
# SITS, eco, drawing interest at ten per
cent. per annum, and hat there is now ov-
erdue and unpaid interest to the amount OF
S75 600. The regular levy of taxes for
the ye'r amoant to 81 so on the one hund-
red dollars, out of which amount, though a
heavy tax, there was allowed by the Su


perN isors but five Gems on the hundred dol
hrs to 20 the railroad interest fund, which
the OemocrGt says would "not prodrce
more than 81 900; certainly not more Than
81 ,2C0. On the 2lst ult. mandamus
was served on the County Clerk and Dis
trict Attorney of that county, requiri e
the Supervisors TO levy an additional tax of
81 IS on each one hundred dollars of taxa
ble property in Ell Dorado County, 10 be
applied TO the railroad Interest Fund, and
used to pay the interest on the railroad
bonds now standing aga nst t. county.
But alas! for the execution of the mandate.


1t seems the Supervisors were aware OF
what wac coming, and Jew days prior to
the serving Of this order they had each re-
signed, and at the time The county was,
and is yet :or that matter, without Board
of Supervisors. But there being 10 Super
visors at present does not settle the que
ton Of the county paying this enormous tax


which, IN addition to the tax already levied ,
would fix the rate at 81 25 On each one
hundred dollars worth of taxable property
in the county; which, to say the least
would be enormous. If this tax is levied
and an attempt is made to force the people,
already oppressed, to pay it, there would be
worse panic or pdy-ni.C in El Dorado
County than New York ever saw. The
Mountain Democrat on the subject says
"Of course our people could not and would
not pay it. OF course the enforcement OF
Such tax would not only bankrupt the
county, but it would destroy tie value OF
real property and crush every material in
terest and industry. OF course it would
compel the removal of large proportion Of
valuable movable property out of the county
and all men Of business who could leave
would do 30. OF Course til levy of such
tax would lead to wholesale system OF
evasions, everybody would be delinquent,
costs would be piled on costs. and finally, il
matters were forced to the drest OF their
possible consequences, unless the remnant
of our people should be more sanity than
we suppose, there would be some ugly
work-perhaps the waters Of Hang.own
Year: 1873

Creek would be iinged with another than
the color wlicl, is caused by hydraulic min
ing There is no blinking the matter that
the levy and enforcement of this tax would
be absolute ruin. And it may as well be
understood first as last that our people,
whose prosperity and progress have been SO
seriously impeded, will not submit to be
ruined by this debt for which they have
never received the implied or promised con-
sideraiion. They voted a.d subscribed 10
aid an enterprise which promised benefits.
BY outrageous discrimin nations, maintained
with despotic persis 'ence, the road which
might be benefit is operated to our mani
fest dctriment Both for fare and freight
W, are made TO ply more than double the
average rates paid elsewhere throughout the
State"
Year: 1873

We of California note with pleasure


the probable speedy return TO specie pay


ment in the United States. We have al


ways regarded the deprecated currency


which for yea,s has had almost exclusive
circulation in the East, as detrimental to th-
interests of our State. Emigration has


been Discouraged from the fact that the


Eastern man did not Ike to go into n coun-


try or State where his thousand dollars,


merely by the change, would have become


reduced TO esht hundred or less. This is
one Of the many arguments which have
been put forth here from time TO time by Il
certain class of journals f,voring The adop-
lion of currency in this State. These ar
guments ave contained many good points.
similar to the above, hut we have opposed
them because we believe that all the disad


vantages we suffer from the different char
acter of our circulating medium from that
Of the Eastern States, were not conducive
of so much damage to the general welfare oe
our State as a fuctuaiing currency would be


We have no objection to paper currency,
so long as it is held at a standard value.
But whenever it begins TO depreciae, and
consequently huctuate, it becomes ohjec-
tionable. Because it ihen becomes medi-
um of speculation, begetting evils, which


wills often rebound to the injury Of the
whole country. The recent p,nic in the
East has had the good effect of IA sing the
standard Of currency to nearly its face val
ton of the subject Of reestablisIing the cur
rency of The United States on a specie ba-
sis, whicl, bids fair to be accomplished in
comparatively short time. Of course the
charge can not take place at once. I'M
mense coinage of silver has been ordered b,
the Government, with a view of paying ii
ont instead of currency. Indeed Secretary
Richardson has already instructed Treasurer
Spinner t, "pay public creditors, if they de-
sire it, on account of currency obligations,
but not in exchange for currency, sums not
to exceed five dollars, in silver coin" Cali
forna, Notwithstanding the arguments in fa-
vor of the adoption of currency in this
State, has adhered to her gold and silver
as a circulating medium With a tcnacty be
coming Il shrewd and iore-sighted people,
and though she has suffered some in conse-
quence, her gains have doubled her losses.
and now we have a tangible promise that
The whole country will soon take up the
medium which We have adhered TO, be-
cause in it there is no change, and with it
the country certainly will be more prosper
Year: 1873

We have received copy of an open let
ter to The press of the State. requesting
them to agitaio tic subject of legislation
for the purpose Of improving the condition
Of our Elecmosynary Institutions. These
institutions may need improving, :, but if they
do the people of San Francisco and Other
large cities where they are located know it
better than we, and we propose that they
speak first. We believe, as the writer Of
the letter, Mr.. Mani 4. Brocklcbank, as
serts, that the State should take these In
stitutions under her wing and provide fer
and protect them as n parent protects and
provides for his children. But we shall
have to be very certain that the help is
needed and that money for the help will he
judiciously exp nded before we advise our
legislative delegates to vote olt of the
State Treasury large suns for any paricu-
lar class or institution. The State has too
many elephants already to contend with, in
stituted under pretext of good to tie
State but really for the purpose Of giving
salaliea positions to some worthless federal
"bilk"
Year: 1873

Some of the papers have been chatting
occas ionally of Grants ambition TO again
succeed himself to the Presidency Of the
United States We say let him 60 it. 1t
would be just as good a thing as Democrats
and Independents could want 10 have Back
pay Grant nominated by the Mobiers for a
third term. We know of no man who
could be more easily beaten than this same
Hiram Ulysses Credit Mobilier Back Salary
Corruption Long Branch Fast Horse Bull
Pup Caesar Grant, and we say let him
come ont again and face the people if he
dare. The principle argument used in the
Ohio campaign was the thorough expos
ure Of the Credit Mobilicr swindngs and
back salary steal and denunciations of
Grant, not only for having given the salary
steal his support and signature, but for
having since appointed three of the leading
grabbers, Bingham. Sawyer and Shellebar-
ger, to important offices; and what was the
result? Simply to reduce the supporters of
lrantism in that State about 40 900 in one
year, and give a victory into the hands Of
his opponents. The truth is, to use a vulgar
phrase, Grant is "played out" And in
deed we should think it is time he was
No government ever degenerated faster, and
no people ever slackened in morals more in
the same time than have our government
and people since the day Grant first took
his seat as Chief Executive. During his
short administration pubic places have be-
come places of roienness, and public trust
has been turned into private adventure, an !
law makers have been occupied nearly all
the time making laws for their own benefit,
containing always Il plum for their chief to
make sure of bis essential signature. We
don't say this as a political opponent to
Back pay Ulysses, but us an American cit
'zen feeling that it is the sentiment which
to-day ybraics over the heartsirngs of ey-
cry honest American, let him have been
what he may. Republicans depore our na-
tional disgrace and repent the day they
condeseenlcd to support him for second
term. Grant, with all his federal and mon
ey power can ncv II be elected another ime
to the position lie now holds. If he can
if he should he-we donbt in our heart
whether the centennial birthday of our Re
public shall ever be celebrated, especially in
peace.
Year: 1873

MUsr HAVE Two.-lhe Bulletin says:
1.-The Democratic party in this State, as a
separate organization, is practically extinct. "
And that in a short time there will only be
enough left Of the Republican party to fill
the federal Offices in California. According
10 this we may expect opposition from Re-
pu' licans only so long as the present ad-
minisiraion lasts AS soon as they are
turned out of office they will all come over
to the Independents, for they are class
that are bound to he on the strong side.
Then, we ask the Bulletin, who will make
the second party? We must have two


ST KEs got off with tour years in tie
State Prison
Year: 1873

No following letter is from MIR.


so,,s Warren, Of Union county,


,.nsas. to J. NJ. Courtney, of


tsrney, Clay county, Missouri,


dated but "a few days ago:


will tell you now of a horrible


,dar ~ that took place not far


~ ,'' where | live. 1t happened


aut u a month ago. There were


u, NEGROES . concerned in it. n


rried @ lady went to a neighbor's


n.a TO stay several days. She


T not we'll when she left home.


! her husband told her that he


'nJ take care of the children


iii I she came back, but when she


to where she was going there


no one at home but the hired


N and she started back. She


n not gone far before a negro


an stopped her horse, took her


of the horse. and hitched it


p.sde of the road, and told. her
take the path before him, and


drove and pushed and pulled
n eight miles into the bottom
hi tied her to a tree and ravished
q, He kept her there three days
bd nights tied to the tree,and the
Propd dav while there she had a
fild in the woods by herself. She
las cone from home three days
Lfore her husband w mt after
|pr He went over to the house
There she had started to go, and
Then he found she was not tn ere,
tsrted back home, and found her
lorse tied where the negro had
pft it three days before. He took
he horse home, and collected
ONE men together, and COM
npnced hurting for her, and the
ext day they saw two little
egrOes, who told them that they
ad seen negro the day before
rivnga white woman before him
own the path. They scattered
ut to hunt for them, and got so
lose that the negro went by
here the woman was tied, killed
er with a stick, and then left
er. But they went ON after him,
ut got oft his track.


The negro stopped at home and
'ked negro man AMI boy if there
as anybody bunting for a miss
e lady; they told him yes, and
be got up to start they caught
i'm AID started back with him,
nd met one of the men in pur-
lit. They made him tell where
le woman was. He said he killed
er. They then made him take
len to where she was. He said
icy were in sight of her the day
'fore, when the woman tainted,
I'd said she had tainted three or
ur times while tied; and that
e begged him to turn her loose,
I'd be would not. They took tAe
gro to her husband and asked
m what they must do with him.
e told them to burn him. The
en- who had him were negroes.
ley built two log heaps and put
m in the middle. They were
'enty-fOur hours burning h m:
ey cut his toes off and made
m swallow them, and then cut
rps of skin off his body, and
ade him br,il them on the Goals
d eat them; and they would
Il hin in the Goals and take him
i and talk to him and put him
ch' and at last they built a large
:, e. put him on top of it and let
Ill ourn to ashes, and that was
= last of him. There was not q
llle man that had anything to
with it I'll negroes. The other
rec negroes that were killed
re shot dead on the spot. They
lew Where the woman was and
,,uld not tell.


-. saw a lady who helped to
louu the murdered woman, and
sald she was bruised all over
oody, where he had hit her
"a u his fist. She leaves three
liufen and a husband. 1t make
neSh run cold to think of it.
Year: 1873

A little elbow leans upon your knee,


Your tired knee, that has 80 much to bear
A chds dear eyes are looking lovingly
From underneath thatch Of tangled hnir
Perhaps you do not heed the yeivet toucm -,
OF warm, moist fingers Folding yours 80
You do not prize this blessing over much,
You are almost too tired to pray tonight.
But It is blessedness Some years ago
/ did not see it as do to-day
We are so dull and thankess; and too slow
To catch the sunshine till it slips away.
And now II seems surprising strange to me,
That while | wore the badge of motherhood,
/ did not kiss more oft and tenderly,


The little child that brought me only good.
And If some night when you sit down to rest,
You miss the elbow from your tired knee;
This restless curling head from OF your


breast,


The lsping tongue that clatters constantly
If from your own, the dimpled hands had


slipped


And ne'er would nestle in your own again,
If the white feet into their grave had dropped,
i could not blame you, for your sorrow


then.


| wonder 81 that mothers ever fret,


At little children clinging to their gown;
Or that the footprints when the day is wet,
Are ever black enough to make them frown :;
If | could find a little muddy boot,


Or cap, or Jacket, on my chamber floor,
If could kiss a rosy restless foot,


And hear patter in my home once more {;
II could mend broken toy to-day,
Tomorrow make q kite to reach the sky
There is no woman in Gods world could say,
She was more blssfully content than l.
But ali the dainty pillow next my own
IL never rumpled by shining head =
Nv singing birdng from its nest is flown;
The little boy used to kiss il dead!
Year: 1873

The quintessence of the OmniyerOus
hog is supposed to be imaged in the
hen, but the hog is Il Peabody among
animals alongside Of the hen Hens
are by nature monopolists. When the
subject of victuals is mentioned they
are evidently listening. Throw hand
ful of corn into u ten-acre lot, and every
hen in the inclosure will get dab mt it.
The last hen on the spot may not get
more than two or three kernels, but
nothing in the hens appearance will in
dictate that. 1t will step around with
as much precision and gratitude rs any
in the flock, and wear the most pensive
smile you ever saw. A hen will not eat
every thing it sees, but will try to, and
there isn't one on the face Of this earth
but that can tell you the taste of every
thing it has seen within the radius of
half mile OF its house. 1t is only
when man has kicked at hen and
missed it that he begins to understand
how thoroughly hollow and deceitful
| this world is, and it is marvellous fact
in this connection that he will miss the
hen if he kicks at it, and misses it if he
dont.-DanJury CONN., NeUs.
Year: 1873

York agent in opening the document,
upon which he was at once arrested.


THE ROGUE AND HIS RING.


In addition to robbing the mails there
are people who occasionally attempt to
defraud Uncle Sam in other ways, or if
not defraud him, endeavor to shoulder
on him their own sins, and with cou-
pie such cases we will close. Avery few
weeks ago a gushing youth, who resides
in the western part of this State, sent
his lady-love letter. in which he said
she would find inclosed ring he had
paid fourteen dollars for. When the
letter was received at Chelsea it was
noticed that II portion of the upper
right-hand corner had been torn off and
close by were two circular imprints APP
parently made by ring that had been
inside, but which was missing. The
young lady of course was somewhat
surprised at not finding the ring, and
reported the fact at the Office, bringing
with her the letter, which was examiu-
ed and at once showed the transparent
nature of the dodge the verdant youth
had tried to play. On the face of the
letter were as said before, two circular
imprints, but on the back was only one.
On the inclosurc were also two imprints
on each half of the sheet, but neither
corresponding in position with those on
the envelope, and the distance between
the impressions likewise varied quar-
ter of an inch. That was sufficient, and
all that was done afterward was to write
to the young man asking him to call at
the Boston office and "risc to explain,
but up to the present time he has not
put i'll an appearance.


A somewhat similar case occurred re-
Gently in New Hampshire, when party
mailed a letter purporting to contain
two so notes, the letter being address,
ed to n gentleman in this city, for whom
the sender was acting rs agent i'll some
business matters. The recipient, how
ever, upon opening the document found
but one note of $40, and at once report
ed the matter. An agent Of the office
at once sought the man who sent the
letter, and after some conversation the
latter stated, on his firm belief, that
young lady employed in the post-onice
where the letter was mailed had stolen
the other note, rescalcd the letter, and
forwarded it. After some further con-
versation, the agent remarked


"I'M GOING To HAVE HER ARRESTED.


This Mt once started the young man,
who replied, Good God, you don't
mean it. "Yes do, - said the official,
"and you must appear as witness
against her"


" Why, said the thief, for suck he
was, "I wouldn't do that for n hundred
dollars; I'd rather pay the money my
self"


The suspicious of the agent We're now
fully confirmed, and, assuming IN en-
tirely different tone, he taxed the rogue
with his rascality and eventually made
him confess he had put only one bill
in the letter. He also made restitution
of the $40, after which he was permit
ted to depart, the case being simply
one of breach of trust between man and
man, and not of nature that the post
office authorities could interfere with.
Year: 1873

A correspondent to-day suggests that we
regularly devote portion of our paper to
local agricultural and kindred subjects. We
will cheerfully do SO, (although we are now
giving every week miscellaneous items of in
terest to agriculturists and stock -raisers gen.
orally j we will cheerfully do SO, we repeat, if
we are satisfied that any respectable portion
of our planters approve the addition of this
feature to our paper; and the best and most
conclusive evidence for sns of their approval
will be the frequent receipt from them OF
short communications giving any item OF
value, whether new discovery or the result
of experiment, that would be likely to prove
interesting to their rfellow-agriculturists I'M
less we receive some such Indication of ap-
prova1. We will be forced to conclude that
they do not care to encourage the idea. Ii Is
scarcely necessary to add that We will mot
only publish their communications without
money and without price, but that we VIII
be very thankfufto them besides, as weaare
satisfied that they will enhance the value OIL
our paper; for, as one of the best agricultural
papers of the country says, ZONE Of the most
valuable features of the agricultural press
consists in the facts and suggestions furnish
ed by the practical soil culturists of the coun-
try Will our friends make note" of this
not very original suggestion, and communi-
cate such facts and discoveries as they may
develop, for the benefit of the readers of this
and other journals! -
Year: 1873

We commend the following, from an ex-
change, to very large class of our readers
whom we hope viii see its correctness-and
act upon it:


In these uncomfortable times for money, it
is an important relief when people pay their
small bills promptly. This commendable prac-
tice sets great deal of money afoat, and en-
ables every dollar to do the duty of ten. The
very best use the money can be put to is to pay
debts. Many people make it matter OF CON
venienee to pay their small bills with greater
punctualitF in times like these, and thus with
out any injury to themselves. render an essen
tial service to the trading community.