smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

That Louisiana has ever had a mail
service into the interior worthy of the
name, we think no one will be found
bold enough to assert. We have been
always notoriously at disadvantage in
this particular. The alleged reason for
this is obvious enough, and has been
urged sufficient number of times. 1t is
that as the population did not afford that
support to the department which was
deemed adequate to the expense, the gov
eminent could not afford to perform the
service. While this excuse might be
pleaded by a private individual en-
gagged in the enterprise for profit,
it is not applicable to the government.
Having exercised the constitutional
prerogative to establish postofice and
post roads, and forbidden the carriage
of letters by private conveyance, the gov
ernment assumes the corollary duty to
perform the service well, faithfully and
impartially for all the people of the United
States, and afford to everybody, when
practicable, the means of sending and
receiving letters. In some portions of
the country the revenues derived from the
postal service are large, while in others
the receipts do not pay the expenses.
But as any deficit has to be made up from
the common purse of the republic, and is
invariably so made up every year, the
Postofice Department has no right to
discriminate between the paying and non
paying sections.


A petition is now in circulation for
signatures in this city, to which many
names of more or less influence have
been obtained, praying Congress for an
increase of postal service in the Ouachita
region of Louisiana. 1t may be said that
the receipts fer postage now derived from
the 10000 inhabitants living in the sec
ton, and the producers of $4,000, 200
worth of cotton per annum, do not pay
for the service afforded. Be it so. We
maintain that the imperfect service does
not merit support Better facilities will
bring naturally increased business; and
with the gradual education of the masses,
we shall soon have an intelligent, reading
people in the Ouachita region, who al
ready need, and should have daily mails
and prompt, intelligent postmasters.
Year: 1871

What bungler the Times is in illus


trating its points with historical refer


ences, was shown in its columns three


or four days ago, when three specific err


rors were exposed in single one of the


editorials, to the complete destruction of


the article itself, and to the infinite confu-


sion of the editor thereof And yet it still


rushes on to commit other and similar


faults just as if its memory was as treach-


erous as to its incapacity as it is to its
political suggestions. In defending Mayor
Flanders for resisting the claim of Mrs.


Gaines, the Times recites a bit of history
that the Mayor did not relish yesterday,
and which he will relish less tomorrow.
1t is to the effect that Mayor Prieur,
thirty years ago, recognized the claim of
Mrs. Gaines and recommended that she
be paid for her property. The Council
was obstinate then and would not con-
form to the suggestion of this capable
officer. Mayor Prieur next attempted to
persuade the city to sell the property in
litigation without the warranty clause,
but the Council obstinately refused to
listen to even this suggestion, acting un-
der the advice of lawyers no doubt, who
were then, as they are now, always to be
found willing to assure any side of case
that it has and ever had a safe plea. If
the counsel of Mayor Prieur had been lis
tened to, the city of New Orleans would
not now be vexed with Mrs Gaines and
her legal claims.
AS the Times has summoned Mayor Prieur
nto court and has vouched for his char
scter and capacity, how does his advice
stand beside that of Mayor Flanders?
Even thirty years ago, according to this
witness, it was accepted as the best policy
o pay Mrs. Gaines. If such was the ad-
Year: 1871

1t is reported that there is movement on
foot to have the taxes of the lately sub.
merged district remitted. This is, after all,
only small recompense for the losses sus-
tanned by the property holders of that sec
tion. If the City Council would build
substantial levee and supply efficient drain
ing machinery, the present tax would be
willingly paid If this is not done the re-
mission of years taxes will only be re-
ceived as an acknowledgment of the aban-
donment of that part of the city to the
water.
Year: 1871

The annual examinations of pupils in


the public schools will begin tomorrow,


according to the programme of Superin-


tendent Carter, and continue till Wednes-


day, the twenty-eighth instant. We are


informed that the exercises will be gener-


ally conducted in writing, instead of being


in the usual style of oral questions and
answers. The plan of drawing written


questions by lot from basket and re-
quiring pupils to answer in writing is be-


ieved by experienced teachers to possess
advantages over the oral examinations,


both in point of economy of time and as
more impartial test of the pu-
pills attainments. After the examinations
have been disposed of there will follow
the necessary exhibition of histrionic and
oratorical skill, music, ETC., by the pupils.
We say necessary" because some escape
for the long restrained and pent up spirit
of childhood seems to be imperatively re-
quired at stated intervals. And we hold
there is more utility in the poetry, declama-
tons, music and dancing in the public
schools than is generally supposed. By
this means attachments are formed not
only among the pupils for each other and
for their teachers, but for the old school
house itself, and anything capable of pro-
ducing lasting and pleasing impression
upon the minds of children is naturally
benefit. Let all the good little boys and
girls, therefore, who have been dutiful to
their teachers and attentive to their |
studies have their day of fun and amuse-
ment. They will come to the stern and
severe realities of life soon enough in the
regular course of time. There is no need
to raise the curtain before the future until
the act is on and the actors ready
Year: 1871

Sealed proposals will be received by the
Administrator of Waterworks and Public
Buildings till the twenty-third instant for
furnishing the public buildings of the city
with earth closets and for attention thereto
for one year. See advertisement.
Year: 1871

We have received polite invitation from
j. S. Conner to attend the annual exhibition
of the Clio school next Tuesday. Also an
invitation to attend the exhibition of the
Leontine school, Live Oak street, tomorrow.
Year: 1871

Governor Warmoth's physicians assure
us that his condition remains very favor
able. He was comparatively easy all
through yesterday, and bid fair to pass an
easy night. An abscess which formed on
his wounded foot, and which gave him
great pain, has been lanced, and relief fol-
lowed the operation. We are glad to say
that there is thought to be no occasion for
alarm.
Year: 1871

Auditor Graham having refused to GER
tify the registration of the bonds issued
to the New Orleans, Mobile and Texas
Railroad Company, under the act of the
Legislature by which the State contracted
to deliver certain amounts of bonds, on


the completion of certain sections of the
road, mandamus has been issued by the
United States District Court to enforce
the performance of this duty The ques-
ton of the validity of these bonds was
passed on by Justice Bradley few days
ago, and an injunction against the sign
ing, issuing and registering them was re-
fused. The constitutionality and legality
of the act appropriating these bonds
having been fully and finally determined,
all the other State officers have acquiesced
in the decision and have affixed their sig
natures to the bonds except the Audit
or and the Treasurer. The latter
official makes no objection and
only awaits the action of the
Auditor. The duty to be performed is
simply to certify to the fact of registra-
ton. This act does not give any validity
to the bonds, nor does it bind Mr.. Gra-
ham or the State to recognize their con-
stitutionality. 1t is simply the recording
and acknowledging an act imposed as a
duty of Office upon the Auditor, where
neither judgment, discretion or his own
opinion is involved or required to be ex-
ercised. 1t would be quite as inadmissi-
BILE for clerk to refuse to certify a judg-
ment rendered by court because he did
not approve, or sheriff to refuse to exc
cute a writ because he thought it was
wrong. 1t is obvious that Mr.. Graham
has no responsibility or discretion in tie
matter.
Year: 1871

Railroad Accidaa.-The freight train
bound for Danville from this city on Satul-
day night last, met with quite serious
accident Just this side Of Danyille, near the
off the entire train, the engine ran down on
the switch, but not going far enough, the
cars which had been let loose came with
such force against the engine as to smash
the tender to atoms and seriously damage
the engine. Several freight cars were
thrown from the track and the contents
scattered. 1t being the engineers first
trip, and the night quite dark, he was con-
sequently not acquainted with the track.
He jumped from the engine just in time to
save his life.
Year: 1871

Elegant Entertainment. The friends and
members of st. Patrick's Church (Catholic)
having determined to give grand picnic
for the benefit of their church, have made
all arrangements, and selected the fair
grounds as the place, and tomorrow as the
time, for holding it. Our Catholic friends
are seldom excelled in their efforts to give
pleasure and comfort to those they enter
tain. This being true, we advise all who
wish to spend pleasant day and enjoy the
refreshments SO layisely provided, that they
would do well to go to the fair grounds to.
morrow. The terms and arrangement APP
pear in an advertisement to be found in oul
paper.
Year: 1871

to Onr 81. New York built the


Erie canal to control the trade Of the


West, which she enjoys almost undis-


turbed to this day. France built the
Suez canal to compete for the trade Of
the East, which since before the days Of
solomon has proven remunerative.
Chicago built a road to the West be-
fore her connections with the East


were completed In order that she


might become the central point for
stream of trade and commerce that


has made her the astonishment
Of mankind. We, too, have


had our eyes turned to the setting
sun and there have found the EI Do
rodo, the spring, the source Of most
Of our wealth. five are to make this
spring perpetual we must nurse it


and tend it; If we are to become the


Chicago Of the Southwest, as we now


promise, we must, like Chicago, own
and control our freight lines and


must directly profit by their earnings.
Men ride in other peoples carriages
only until they can buy one Of their
own. None Of US pay toll cheerfully.
It is human nature to desire perfect
freedom-freedom Of any control or
dictation. If Memphis would
be perfectly free of all outside infu-
ence, she must have entire control of
her carrying trade. Our bankers who
profit by exchange and cotton bills,
our insurance companies who reap
rich harvests upon open policies, and
our cotton and grocery merchants
who make handsome commissions on
Arkansas cotton and fair profits on
returning goods sold, all must come
up, and by an effort, such as will show
that we are a United9peOple, and not a
mob without community aim or
purpose, furnish the money needed
to save US from the degTa-
datiOn Of the sale to st. Louis, Louis
vile or Cincinnati, perhaps New Or
leans, Of the packet lines that have
brought Us two thirds the cotton that
we have handled this year and car
ried back as return cargo merchan-
disc Of more than equal value. Hsr-
chants and business men Of Memphis,


HiU yOu do it,
Year: 1871

One Of the lessons our people greatly
need to learn is the superiority of simpli
city and elegance to that of extravaganza
and display which are fashionable every
where amongst MS at the present time.
The style OF living, the furnishing of Our
houses, the mode Of dress. the equipage.
and in short the entire arrangements of
Our lite, are quite as offensive to a refined
taste MS they are seriously Objectionable
on economic grounds. Ostentation takes
the place of elegance, and the ambition
to outdo Others in the matter of expense
is more rspicuously apparent than any
retirement OF cultura 10 serviceable ends.


1t would be well if more of our people
would study the best models of style
among the aristocracy for whom they
affect so much veneratior. In the fami-
lies of many of the nobility and gentry
of England, possessing an unusual in
come, which of itsslf would he an ample
fortune, there is greater economy of dress
and more simplicity in the furnishing of
the dwelling than there is in many of the
houses of onr citizens, who are barely
able to supply the daily wants of their
families by the closest application to bu-
sincss. They have more servants than
we do, but labor is much cheaper there
than here. But English ladies make
more account OF one silk dress than ours
do of twenty. They generally dress in
plain, substantial garments, neatly
trimmed. reserving their costlier articles
and iewelry for great occasions; and
would look with suspicion upon the
woman who decked herself in drawing
room attire FOR a shopping excursion
sweeping the streets with her trail. In
stead of turning their furniture out ot
door every two or three years and re-
placing it with new and fashionable
styles, they take pride in preserving tho
articles that were used by their anceS
tors, and value them quite as much toi
their simplicity, soldity and age, as fol
the associations connected with them
Even their carpets are used years longer
than ours before they think of replacing
them, and their china-ware has, in many
instances, been in and out of fashion
MANY times since it was made. How
much better it would be for our people
to catch the spirit of such conservatism
as this, and exchange eXtravagance tor
elegance, vulgar ostentation for simplici
ty and refinement The amount o
waste in our American homes is useless
and essentially vulgar display is appall
ing even to contemplate.-Ihe Colder
| A0e
Year: 1871

A gentleman in country town buried
his sixth wife. Shortly after the funeral
he met the minister who officiated, and
offered him three dollars. The minister
declined to take it, saying he was not
accustomed to accept pay for snch sery'
ices The gentleman coolly replied,
lust as you say; but that is what I've
been in the habit Of paying w.s ..
Year: 1871

gloves were OF dark brown hue corresponding
With the skirt. The hat was while turhan.
trimmed with light blue of a very delicate
shade, and crowned with handsome blue
and white plume. Jewelry of etruscan gold
OF a tasteful pattern, the set consisting of
bracelets and earrings, and dimin1tive
black lace veil completed costume with
which the most critical and inattentive lady
IN the audience could find no fault. The
close attention OF the young lady to the
nymhs' her careful listening to the sermon,
and her reverential manpe, during the prayer
excited the enthusiastic admiration of all fem
liilhe observers who could not themselves
spare time Tor devotion. But this was ex-
cusable.- Chicago Republican
Year: 1871

FEED Hay CAREFULLY. There are
hundreds OF tons OF hay lost every win
ter among farmers by careless feeding


We have been astonished sometimes
when Witnessing the amount wasted
around barnyards and stacks. The waste
Is entirely unnecessary, and if it were
made the rule OF every farmer never to
feed any kind of stock upon the ground,
thousands of dollars might be saved an
nually. There are times. to be sure,
when the earth is frozen dry and clean !:
but if racks are not provided, fully one
half of the time the hay will be dealt
out either in wet snow or mud, and a
good portion lost. Portable racks should
be used around stacks, and their location
changed every few days. The racks
should be SO constructed that the stock
can get at their feed handily, and at the
same time made so that the hay cannot
be pulled out and trampled under foot.
Year: 1871

Mr.. TWEED says, in regard to Comptroller
Green's exhibit Of the financial condition OF
the Department Of Public Works, that there Is
. discrepancy between his own statement
and the Comptroller's, and that there shall
be no stoppage Of work on the great
public improvements now In progress. II
there is discrepancy in Mr.. Tweed's favor
between the actual condition Of the finances Of
the Department Of Public Works and the
Oomptroller's statement II is to be hoped that
II amounts to enough not only to keep the
works going but 10 relieve Mr.. Tweed, to some
extent Of tho charges OF immense extrava-
canoe and misappropriation of the public
nQpsy under his care.
Year: 1871

THE PEOPLE OF New YORK are willing to
spend money literally on their public works, for
the establishment, Improvement and enrich
ment of their city, provided II is honestly
expended. They desire to put stop to steal
ing, not to abandon enterprise. Will Deputy
COMPTROLLER Green remember this fact
Year: 1871

Tho Weather in the City Yesterday.


The following record will snow the changes in the
temperature for the past twenty -four hours in CON-
parison with the corresponding day or last year,
as indicated by the Thermometer at Hudnut's Phar
macy, HERALD Building corner OF Ann street,
Year: 1871

THE COMMITTEE OF SEVENTY are largely
interested in the welfare of the city. II the
public works are stopped real estate will de-
teriorate thirty per cent. Will the members
of the committee advance the money to pre-
vent this calamity and to carry on the govern
ment2
Year: 1871

DEPUTY GREEN has beea promised all the
money he needs to carry on the city govern
ment and prosecute the public works. The
government is now nearly at standstill for
want of funds. Will the Committee Of Seventy
redeem their pledge and advance Deputy
Green one hundred thousand dollars each
small amount to them-to redeem the city
from bankruptcy?
Year: 1871

baggage smashing as n Fine Arr.


The Boston Commercial Bulletin says.


Baggage-smashing, as q fine art, has
reached high state of perfection in this
country, and the skill, ingenuity and per
severance exhibited by railway porters
and employees in reducing the strongest
built trunk to hash of wood, leather and
iron must be highly encouraging to the
trunk-makers New York and the West
produce some human bombshells who
stand at the head Of the destructive
brotherhood for the anmhilation Of bag
gage A heavily-timbered, iron-clad,
armor-plated trunk will only stand two
or three days trip and the handling Of
two or three of these rail-wreckers before
il is reduced to old junk. On q recent
trip we put our faith and our clothing in
a heavy soleIea.her yalise, landsomely
built; It held together as far as Washing
ton, and we began to believe that some
great reform movemestQr revival mad
taken place among porters aud railway
men; that some railroad Father Matthew
or hotel Elder Knapp had arisen, and
that the debased baggage-smasher had
signed n pledge to abstain from destroy
ing even SO much as q handbook, or
had experienced a change of heart and
with it more tender hands. II was Eith
hopeful spirit, therefore, that we unsus-
pectingly parted with our trusty port
mantean at the depot in Washington
Alas for the fallibility of human hopes;
that eiegent piece of leather was de
liyered to US ia New York, at the end Of
the day s journey, nealiy manufactured
into leather shoe-strings. A s.out,
leather-covered flask of cologne had
been web Epulverized, and the fragments
of glass iudiciously distributed in our
linen, where il YES calculated TO excite
the most lively emotoa. 4 bunch Of
cigars had been converted into snaG and
fine cut; in fact, the remains Of every
thing of perishable nature attested the
muscular energy and activity of the
American baggage smasher.


AS the travelling season is approach
ing, we would suggest 20 any new rail. |
way company, who wish TO win immortal
fame, and advertise themselves in the
most thorough manner, that they an
nonnce that they will guaranteed the safe
delivery Of baggage, except in cases Of
the usual railroad accidents for which
nobody is to blame" Such a guaran-
tee, faithfullyearried out, would largely
increase the Business Of any railway,
and cause them 10 become known !
throughout the civilized wUTid as the |
benefactOrs Of minkind
Year: 1871

CUTTING GLASS AND STONE BY SAND BLAST
AT meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, held on the 10th of March, an in
teresting paper was presented by James Ham
blet, upon Tighlman' process for etching upon
glass by II blast of sand. For this purpose the
glass or stone is simply covered with paper, cut
or perforated in the desired pattern, and then
exposed to the sand blast, which cuts the ma
terial wherever the surface is entirely exposed in
very delicate aud well-defned manner, the
elasticity of the paper apparently preventing
the action of the sand on the covered parts. We
have not room for the details of the process by
which the sand is directed against the glass +;
but there seems no doubt that the method prom
ises an important revolution in decorative and
constructive art. In eight seconds n pane Of
common window glass can be ground or rough
eued while ordinary sunk letters in marble an
inch and half long, can b0 cut in less than
minute.


Attention was called by DR.. Kneeland to the
agency of a similar principal in nature and ref
erence made to the observations of Mr.. Blake
upon the action of the drifting sand on the gran
lite at San Bernardno Pass, in California. Ac-
cording to Professor Wyman, glass windows on
Cape Cod sometimes have holes worn in them
by the drifting sands blown by the winds. Sim
liar agencies exist in Australia on large scale,
and specimens of hard rock cut into fantastic
shapes are not unfrtquently found in mineral
ogical olecton5.-HaPer'S Nagasine for De-
cember.
Year: 1871

FASHIONABLE WOMEN Fashion kills more wo-
men than toll or sorrow. Obedience to fashion
is greater ransgresson of the laws Of women's
nature, and greater injnry 10 her physical and
mental constitution, than the hardships of pow
erty and neglect. The slave woman at her task
will live and grow old, and see two three
generations of her mstresses pass away. The
washerwoman, who has scarce ray of hope to
cheer her in her tolls, will live to see her fash
ionable sisters all extinct. The kitchen maid is
hearty and strong, when her lady has to be
nursed like a sick baby. 1t is a sad truth, that
fashioned -pampered women are almost worth
less for all good ends of lite they have but little
force of character, and still less power of moral
will and quite as little moral energy They live
for no purpose in life-accompsh no great end
They are dolls in the hands of milliners and ser
wants, to be dressed and fed in order If they
bear children, servants and nurses do all the
nursing rearing and training. And when reared
what are they what do they ever amonnt to
but weak scions of the old stock? who ever
heard of a fashionable woman child exhibiting
any virtue, any power of mind for which it be-
came eminent. Read the biographies of our
great and good men and women. No one of
them had a fashionable mother. They nearly
all sprang from women who had as little to do
With fashion as with the changing clouds.