smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

An interesting sketch has just ap-
peared in a Western paper Of Francis
Bret Harte, the editor of the Overland
Monthly, whose poems and sketches have
all at once attained so wide popularity.


The brief story of his life, like his
writings, is full of hard lines" He
went out to California at an early age,
taught school, became miner, and ex-
emplifed generally the philosophy of
failure, until he took to types by natu-
raj tendency, as compositor and editor,
filling meantime subordinate positions
in the offices of the Surveyor General
and Marshal of the United States and
in the Government mint, and at last be-
coming editor of the Overland Monthly,
a magazine which his pen has brought
into universal favor.


Bret Harte has been true to himself
and to his quite peculiar genius. But
with his gifts it would have been simply
impossible for him to remain in obscurity
anywhere. In California he had the op-
portunity of looking with his clear sharp
eyes on a phase Of civilization such as
was never before seen, and he thus inter-
preted its meaning and character in a
style which is a happy combination of
the slang of the country and the English
of refined culture. Given the native
humor, the rapid insight into men and
manners, the delicacy Of feeling and the
acute sympathies of Bret Harte, it might
not be difficult to engraft the pleonasms,
rough idioms and quite original cussing
and swarring" of the mining monte
banks and the Frisco" bar-rooms upon
the written vernacular of the schools.


Charles Lamb said he might have writ
ten just such plays as Shakspeare's if he
had only had the mind to do it. But all
these qualities were demanded, and when
they appeared, California boasted a lit
erature. Her poet had come and her
song found its expression. In a word,
Bret Harte, is that undefnable hut un-
mistskshle thing, a genius" and, to
borrow one of his own phrases, that's
What s the matter with him."


We are not sure, however, that the i'm
mediate effect of his popularity, so
worthily and legitimately acquired, will
not be to flood the newspapers with vile
limitations of his racy, idiomatic verse.


Copyists are always de:estable, but
they appear at the worst when the pecu-
liarities of their model betray them into
vulgarity and ribaldry. Bret Harte'
literary path leads over very dangerous
ground, where profanity borders very
closely upon wit, and coarseness is coter-
minous with humor. He walks adroitly
upon the verges. His imitators-who
are becoming numerous : appear to
stumble across the line at every step.
They seem only to have learned the slang
and the oaths Of his vocabulary, and we
trust that they will soon meet with the
inevitable fate Of servile mediocrity, the
contempt of an intelligent public.
Year: 1870

The World, in speaking of a recent
exhibition Of skill in New York by NJ.
GARNER, the celebrated young French
billiardist, who escaped from Paris with
his wife in balloon, says the most as
tonishing masse shots and draws were
made, and all the ordinary rules Of bill
liards seemed to have been reversed. A
ball would start from the cue at good
pace, hy half way down the table, and
then seem TO change its mind, stop sud
denly, and return at an accelerated pace
to an ohject-ball near the starting-point
Caroms were made over cues held a foot
from the table; masse shots were made
on the edge Of the table; a carom was
made on a ball placed on top Of Dion $
head, and ball was caromed from the
top Of a pyramid Of three ale glasses,
without disturbing or breaking the glass
ware.
Year: 1870

1t possesses the very great advantage
of carrying the work in the natural way
from left to right-which enables the
operator to handle thewerk more readily
and to sit upright; while machines which
carry the work from the operatorrequire
an inclination of the body forward (detri-
mental to healthy and are hard and tire
some to use.
Year: 1870

Its yearly sales are larger than those
of all other Sewing Machines combined.
This fact alone is the surest test of its
merit and superiority.


1t is an instrument of great versatility
in its operations. 1t will hem, fell, braid
cord, gather tuck more beautifully than
any other machine in use, without bast-
ing or any preparation of the work.
Year: 1870

.srriaER GEoRaEANsA.-By reference to
an advertisement In another column it will
he seen that this elegant steamer alld Its
polite captain, j. II. Freeman, are still on
the lower Potomac route between inns city
ond on baltimore. No more pleasant route TO
the M North can be taken than by this line.
Year: 1870

Garry or send orders for dry oak and pine wood
for cooking and kindllng to the office of the wood
factory, on the south side OF the Basin, between
Tenth and Eleventh streets. Carts are ready and
waiting to carry Il out to customers.
Year: 1870

marriage could ever be discovered. There will
be weeping and wailing among the first fami-
lies at this disclosure. There will be sorrow
and lamentation at this sudden extinction of q
royal ancestress. There will be wretchedness


in Roanoke, if any Randolphs are left there.
There was, not long ago, man up in Canada
who claimed to be descended from Charlie
magne but nobody seemed to care much
about him and he has never, we believe
started palace. But the Randolphs were at
least thought to be barOnial. They need not
however, take this disclosure exposure, or
whatever it may be, too much to heart. There
are great many barons, We dare say.
whose family trees would hardly bear a
critical examination of the roots. There are
great many apocryphal women in history
from whom it would be no credit TO be de-
sccnded-and Pocahontas appears to be one OF
them-that is all If the Virginia people had
not Dragged 80 Justify about their royal an
cestress, we should never have heard, perhaps,
of her ground and lofty tumbling in the market
place. If it Is a wise child that knows its own
father, it must be the perfection of wisdom to
know ones own great great great grandmother.
Let us be not too inquisitive let us be shady
and we shall not be ashamed


1t matters but little, if man but do his
work well in his day and generation, who his
ancestors were. OF one thing he may be sure
ancestors ho most certainly had He is OF as
long descent as any of his fellow creatures be
they who they may. The poorest and most
obscure man has had just as many grand
fathers as the richest ard the most illustrous.
We all may have had relatives in Assyrla,
Greece, Rome, Carthage; we all may have
royal blood in our veins, if we did but know
it but of one thing zoe are sure; If we dld
know it we should say nothing about it. We
do MT like the stock.
Year: 1870

Some members Of the Ring have got hold Of
the East River wharves above COrlears Hook.
and naturally propose to profit at the expense
of the people. Hence bill is on its way
through the Legislature that substantially for
bids any steamer navigating the Sound from
landing below Dry Dock, and provision is
added that no such steamer or other vesse.
shall land ON the North River side.


There are thousands of stores and warehouses
in the lower part Of the city convenient TO the
wharves Except in midsummer the number
Of passengers carried by the Sound boats is
but small matter compared with their freight.
Probably 100000 tuns Of merchandise por an
mum are received aud sent by these boats.
Steamers and vessels always follow the chan
nels Of trade. 1t is proposed. by legislative
enactment, to compel tho Abandonment of the
Thousands of warehouses in tho lower part OF
the city. There arc now 5000 licensed cartmen
in the qjv. The streets arc often blocked up
Year: 1870

The Alumni of Yale gathered together. last
night, with wit and wine and feasting, to re-
new old memories, and keep warm their love
for the College that sent them out. With the
morning may come some sober reflections on
the present standing of their venerable Almo
Mater, to aid in which we commend the strk-
ing letter from a graduate. printed on our
second page. Quite possibly, the educational
defects which it charges are common to
all the colleges of the country; but
Yale stands confessedly one of the foremost, IL
not the foremost, and to her we look for the
beginning of better things. Plainly there Is
need of reform in the system of marking and
of improvement in the qualifications aud char.
acter of tutors. Students have great deal OK
human nature in them and other people who
are uniformly treated as thieves, are not unlikely
in the end to become thieves.
Year: 1870

The Democrats In the Legislature propose to
pay the Clerk of the Board of Police Justices
5000 per annum, and the toling taxpayers
suppose of course that the official is expected
to do something in return for this handsome
sum. But they are mistaken. The Board of
Police Justices meet once in six years for
organization, and are in session then less than
an hour. The Clerk appointed will thus be
paid $4,000 for one hours work. This is
another sample of Democratic retrenchment
Year: 1870

The bill to provide soldiers who were manned
in the war with new legs and arms every five
years will receive little objection on its own
account The odious feature however, of the
bill is the provision that soldiers may, where
they choose. take money in place of limb.
Wherever limb proves defective, the Gov
ernment is quite able to provide another for
its manned defender; but there is no reason
why, if it does not prove defective, we should
give him the price of new one every five
years
Year: 1870

At last the question of the XVIII Amend
ment is settled. The news from Georgia
makes certain the vote of that State in favor
of its ratification, while the admission of
Virginia gives validity to the ratif-
cation already voted there. Denying the
right of New-York to withdraw her approval
once given, we shall hold the Amendment then
legally and constitutionally adopted but in
any event there are still States enough certain to
place it beyond peradyenture.
Year: 1870

The letter from Mr. James M. Cooper of
Pittsburgh, printed Oh our fifth page, seems to
finish up the question between him and the
importers of STEEL At any rate, we have given
both sides q hearing on this matter, and pro-
pose with this to close the dispute.
Year: 1870

Gov. Hoffman insists that we have an honest
and economical Legislature. which is proved
by the introduction of bill to increase the
number of Judges of the Marine Court of
New-York City. Two more pensioners will
each draw ten thousand year from the
position. Another item of economy is recorded
in the passage of bill for additional compen-
saton to department clerks.
Year: 1870

them in the naval service. The scholarship
Mercury, fully described in other columns, is
the forerunner of many Others of the kind
and the results already attained give reason
to believe that a vast and benefcent work will
thus be done
Year: 1870

We have lately been giving Mr.. Special Com
missioner Wells several hard nuts to crack.
We commend to his attention, 30 soon as he
shall feel ready for another. the plain talk with
him printed this morning on our fifth page,
Year: 1870

" Nor WHY NOT?-The New York CONNER
eiai puts this pertinent inquiry Suppose the
outraged brothers of Miss johnson should over
take the clerical seoundrel Cooke and give him
his death wound, as they say they will, and sup
pose the wounded man should then send for
Beecher and rockingham, and ask them to
unite him in marriage with his fugitive com
panion, could they refuse his request in view Of
''what these two have been to each other
Year: 1870

The National Theatre was crowded to its ut
most capacity last evening, it being Miss Bate
mans first appearance in her great role Of ''Mary
warner, y In which she made q deep impression,
some OF the audience sobbing audibly. The
peice' which is q domestic drama Of considera-
BILE merit, viii be repeated this evening.
Year: 1870

At the instance of the Congressional District
Committees, a meeting OF prominent citizens
was held last night to suggest such legislation as
in their opinion Is needed for the interests of
the District. Various measures of District i'm
portsncs were discussed with more or less diff
ference of opinion; but upon one point there
seemed to be entire unanimity-the necessity for
a change in the form Of government for this
District The plan favored by most present was
territorial form of government, with one
House or both elected by the people, and
Governor appointed by the President. 1t was
decided to call public meeting Of citizens, and
present the draft of plan of District govern
ment for consideration there. 1t is proper that
this matter should receive thoughtful conside-
ration by the people OF the District in order
that an intelligent expression of opinion may be
reached. Party lines should be ignored, and the
question approached without bias from the in
terests OF the ''ins' or the disappointments of
the 'souts."


Il IL desirable 10 substitute for the present
conflicting and necessarily impotent jurisdic-
tions in the two District cities and the county,
one efficient government, clothed by Congress
with sufficient power to deal with all the i'm
portant matters of District interest which now
are hung up in Congressional committee rooms.
and are likely TO be indefinitely, solely because
Congress has not time to give them cOnsidera-
ton? Is 1t not possible by constructing new
plan of government for Washington. George
town, and the county, to avoid the conceded de-
fects Of the old modes; that shall provide for a
more economical administration OF the finances:
better return for the expenditure of money;
better system of checks upon officials; in short,
that shall give us the benefits of all the improved
modes Of municipal government, put us on the
path of progress, and endow US with some 60
aheaditiveness and spirit Of selr-relance? These
are some OF the questions that present them
selves for consideration in this connection.
Year: 1870

THE IMPORTS OF THE WEEK.
The imports other than dry goods ut the port OF
New York for the week ending August &C. 1870, were
$4,415,2O6.


The following shows the imports on foreign dry
goods at New York during the past week and since
no MI nft tho
Year: 1870

The registration books, we under,
stand, have not been opened in Averill
township. A man by the name OF
Lewis was appointed registrar for that
township, but he is unknown in that
section, (probably carpet-bagger), and
has not been heard Of. This is another
Of the mean, low, contemplate and.high'
handed tricks OF the Radical party in
this county, and if there is any law to
cover the case, and We think there is


our friends in that locality should not
permit such acts TO go unpunished


But in the event that this scheme IL
carried out, and no registration takes
place in Averill, we would urge upon
the Democrats and Conservatives o'
that township not to permit the cleo


ton to 90 by default, but let every man
who is entitled to vote appear before
the County Board Of Registration at Its
next meeting, and see that his name II
pvt apon The Jooks.-Spirit Of Je6ttson.
Year: 1870

The Deu ycra.ic majority in Ken
tucky rilf exceed fifty thousand. The
Radicals have not carried single
county in the State With all their
efforts-with the aid Of the independ'
ents; with the acquisition of the negro
vote; with a perfect organization ar.
rayed against party whose strength
has made it weak at least in discipline,
they have been able TO achieve moth
ing. They had the eager, >ndeveloped
assurance of new hope TO inspire
them. They had body Of census,
takers in every neighborhoOd to in
struct them. They encountered a d.
vided and undrilled antagonist The
result is an overwhelming victory for
the Democratic party.


The Radicals will never have better
chance. They have shown themselves
just strong enough to consolidate the
Democratic elements and to enforce
strict Democratic discipline.
Year: 1870

JUSTICE HooDwrNKED.-H appears from
report elsewhere that a noted offender named
Charles Hart who was arrested last December
for attempting to steal quantity OF jewels
valued at four thousand dollars, from Broad
way jewelry store, is at large, walking the
streets, although when his case was called in
the courts his counsel stated that he was
serving term in Moyamensing Prison for
another offence, committed while he was out
on bail for the present one. This is an
exemplifcation of the blindness of justice in
this city rather than Of the stupidity Of our
judges.
Year: 1870

MORE OPPOSITION TO THE EoUMENIoAL CoUN-
C1L.-It..is now no longer doubtful that the
opposition to the schemes Of the Council has
become serious. Our latest dispatches prove
that the fight is fairly about to begin, if,


indeed, it has not begun. The Pope insists
on bringing up decision on the infallibility
dogma. France insists that no decision
shall be come to either on infaliibility or


on the Syllabus unless special envoy be
allowed to represent her in the Council.


A later telegram informs US that Austria
and the other Catholic Powers join France
In demanding special representation in
the premises. Should such demands be
yielded to the Council will cease to be a
purely ecclesiastical assembly. Church and
State will be in conflict more fercely than
ever. Rumor has it that the Holy Father is
Year: 1870

THE ENGLISH Tory PARTY, under the title
of Conservative Association, made a grand
extra Parliamentary demonstration at o
banquet yesterday. As an oppositionist
movement to Mr.. Gladstone it was really for
midable from the amount of political influence,
the talent and the wealth which were repre-
sented. Mr.. Disraeli was absent on account
of the state of his health. The right honor
able gentleman appears just now not more
likely ito touch the bright harp with the
golden strings" again than is any other child
of Judah.
Year: 1870

Spelling A SENsATIoN.-Somem more or less
pathetic stories have from time to tine been
told about the exaction from crippled organ
grinders Of license fee as 'spublic perform
ers." This subject has finally raised ts head
in Congress, and called forth the declaration
that no such tax has ever been collected or
laid. It is deemed likely that 'spersons had
been hired, for political effect, to sit at the
street corners wearing such placards in order
to bring the government, the laws and the
republican party into discredit."
Year: 1870

who was last heard of as fighting doughty
Ben Butler, now moves in the House that the
said Ben shall have an allowance of two thou
sand dollars for his services as counsel in the
case of Woolley against Ben Butler. Ben, it
will be remembered, rather stretched the
authority of the House in the Imprisonment of
Woolley as a delinquent witness, and Woolley
sueth for damages. Hence the proposition
that he shall be defended at the national ex-
pense. Does Bingham proffer this as salve
to Ben?
Year: 1870

RADICAL DEMONSTRATIONS IN PARIs.-France
is not Just settling down SO quietly as she
ought to do to the enjoyment Of her newly
found privileges. A bad spirit exists, and it is
manifest that this bad spirit ia finding encour-
agemeut. We like not the boldness Of the
eight hundred conscripts who paid homage to
the 1NarseiIyaise newspaper and it's imprisoned
editor on Tuesday. We like as little the
temarity OF the Marsei2gaise, which has made
it the organ of the outcast and the dangerous
classes. We do not much admire the new
organization which calls itself the ''Friend Of
Order" But we do like, we do admire the
calm dignity and patience of the government.
Napoleon is giving France fair chance. II
France will not use her chances wisely it will
not be Napoleon's fault should the reins be
again tightened. M. Olivier, backed up as he


is by all the good sense Of Paris and by so
powerful helper as Girardin of the Lberts,
has good right to ask time and fair oppor-
tlnity; for, such favors granted, it will be won
derful if he does not win.
Year: 1870

WAR IN NORTH CARoLINA.-The Governor
Of North Carolina has declared one Of the
counties of that State in insurrection, and
announces his purpose to send the State mill
tia there and to call for federal troops II neces-
sary. We hope all this will be done at the
expense Of the rebelious county.
Year: 1870

hopeful Of having the dogma sanctioned
before the French or any other lay represent
tatives shall be able to reach Rome. Evidently
the tug of war is close at hand. More and
more does tho Council become the centre OF
interest to the Christian world
Year: 1870

At last We have an Official list of the lost on
board the Inflated steamer Oneida from our
naval officers in Japan, and semi-oficial
account of the disaster from Dr. Suddards, who
was one Of the fortunate few that escaped.
The accounts only elaborate the sad story.
They do not relieve the first details of any of
their horror or put the disaster in any moro
favorable light Sixty men were saved and
one hundred and thirteen were lost, as at first
reported The infamous inhumanity Of the
captain of the Bombay, the unanswered calls
Of the Oneida for succor, the gallantry of
Commander Williams, who gathered his officers
about him, that they might all SO down
in line, are all confirmed. No sadder story
has been told for many long day. No Drawer,
more gallant record of heroism in the face OF
death than that Of Williams, Stewart, Mlldaur
and their messmates has been written since the
days Of the British troop ship on which .
regiment went down with arms presented.
All hope gone, their few boats crowded with
men or dashed to pieces, their remorseless
enemy sailing away from the sound of their
guns, they saw that death was upon them, and
they met it without cringing. They gathered
about their gallant old commander, determined
to stick to their old Oneida to the last, and 50
went down-brave, hearty men who twenty
minutes before were filed with high hopes Of
soon seeing home.


The conduct of the captain of the Bombay
is under investigation by naval court of in
quiry at Yokohama. His defence seems to
be that he felt only slight shock of collision.
which he did not think was sufficient to dam
age the Oneida or his own vessel, and did not
hear the sound Of the guns. But his defence
is too lame to avert the infamy that will attach
to him and the punishment that ought to be
meted out to him. 1t seems probable that
merely TO escape responsibility for the neglect
of his lookouts, or to save his owners from the
liabilities incurred by the careless destruction
Of another vessel, he left TO their fate the men
who, if saved, might testify against him.
Year: 1870

OPPRESSIVE JUsTIoE.-In this city it is q
great deal worse to be suspected of murder
than to be known to have committed murder.
Witness the cases of the many murderers that
go quite free, and compare these with the case
of the persons suspected Of numbering Captain
Alexander, who have been kept in prison
months awaiting inquiry, and when the inquiry
comes it proves nothing against them.
Year: 1870

THE TAX ON EMIGRANTs.- is proposed
by Senator Genet to reduce the capitation tax
on emigrants from two dollars and half to
one dollar and half This should become a
law. The tax is to support the Emigration
Hospital, and now that the Commission has q
very extensive establishment, paid for out of
the tax, and only has to keep this in motion,
it can well endure this decrease.
Year: 1870

GREAT GENIUS is always modest. There
fore it is, no doubt, that silk stocking
Sammy, the leader of the young democracy,
does not claim the last new Charter as his
own. though an admiring world inquiries for its
authOr
Year: 1870

TIE AIR LINE RAILROAD BILL came up in
great animation for SO dry subject, but went
over on the expiration of the morning hour.
Mr.. Swami, of Maryland, in opposing the bill,
said the amount of travel to and from Wash
ington did not warrant the building of the
road. But is it not probable that the building
Of the road will improve Washington SO that
the travel may increase accordingly?
Year: 1870

THE TAIL END CAUCUS in Albany yester-
day slipped clause into the new Charter
abolishing the Central Park Commission among
the rest Do the silk stockings want to dig
up even our beautiful garden spot for spoils?
Year: 1870

SwILL MILK.-There were some rather
startling observations made on this abomination
before the Board of Health yesterday. But
will the nuisance be abated? That is the
important question.