smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

AN article credited to the Mobile Reg
ister, has been furnishing material for
thrilling articles in many organs lately.
It was consideration of the problem
"How to get rid of the negro as voter,
and, starting with the assumption that,
sooner or later, "he will be disfranchised
and thrust out of politics" it announced
that when ''the reorganlzed Democracy
of 1877" got into power, each state would
settle this question in its own way
When we think how much eloquence
this piece of nonsense has inspired
and might yet inspire, we cannot
but regret TO read in the Register that
no such article ever appeared in that
paper, which, on the contrary, advocated
and aided in securing the ratification Of
the existing Constitution of Alabama,
framed and adopted by Democrats, in
which is incorporated the provision thst
mo educational or property qualification
for suffrage or office, nor any restraint
upon the same on account of race, color
or previous condition of servitude, shall
be made by law" This is not the first
forgery of the kind and probably is not
the last
Year: 1876

The steamer Lady Franklin was burn
ed st an early hour this morning while
lying at the dock at Amherstburg, Mich,
but the Captain and crew, with the eS-
ception of the first mate, were saved.
Year: 1876

RADICAL papers are now adorned with
double-leaded editorials on the brighten
ing business prospects throughout the
country. Our merchants and manu-
fscturers, our mechanics and laboring.
men would like to see some evidence OF
it. The thousands of men able and
willing to work, who are almost reduced
to beggary, will thank these Rad
ical editors for such substantial evil
dence of the truth of their song, ss
will at least procure them an occasional
days work.


The truth is, and we are sorrow 1t Is
so, that this is all balderdash; a siren
song to the suffering, to lull them into
endorsing Grantism. Times cannot get
better until the cause of the bad times is
removed. A change of government
policy must first come; prosperity will
follow.
Year: 1876

JUDGE and Mrs. THOMPSON have jnst
returned from an extended tour of a
month, through the East and through
Canada. They spent ten days at the
Exposition, making a careful examina-
ton of the relative evidence of the vari-
Gus countries, as to their influence and
effect upon the civilization OF the world,
and taking the evidences of progress
and the contributions of the various ma
tions of the world, to the culture and
comfort of the masses of mankind. Their
Judgment Is decidedly in favor Of our
own country. In all that relates to the
progress of the people and their general
culture, and the evidences of improv-
able comfort, they are decidedly OF opln-
ion that the United States are the leaders
in the material civilization OF the world
and that the highest manifestation OF
an advancing improvement belongs to
these, our United States.
Year: 1876

GALVESTON, Sept. 27.-This morning
General Braxton Bragg dropped dead
while crossing Twentieth street in front
of the postotfice, aged 81 years. The body
lies in stste at Artillery Hall. The re-
mains will be taken to Mobile if ar
rsngements can be made with the New
Orleans steamers for conveyance. He
was in his usual health up to the moment
of attack. The cause of death was q
fatal attack of syncope induced BY disease
of the heart.


Two thousand dollars have been sent
to the relief of Savannah and Brunswick
Year: 1876

AUSTRIA AND GERMAyY.-There are
hard words between the Austrian and
Germany press that seems to have a
peculiar significance just now. In the
United States the press, as we know
by the capital experience of the civil
war, has dangerous capacity for the
excitement OF the public mind and for
putting the disputes and differences of
sections In sucn position Is TO make
compromise impossible. 1t was the
infammatOry Southern newspapers
more than any other single force in the
country which made it necessary that
the settlement of sectional differences
should occur on the battle field. This
power of the newspapers TO put into a
hostile attitude populations that pre-
viOusly only differed i'll opinion is with
us a consequence of the absolute free
dom of the press. But, strangely
enough, the press seems TO possess the
same power in Europe, and there it is
a consequence Of It's trammelled con
dition. Thus the structures Of the
Austrian press on Germany's attitude
excites the sub jecis of this criticism,
because, as the Austrian government
has the full authority 20 prevent such
publications, the fact that it does not
prevent them will be regarded i'll Ger
many as an evidence that The opinions
are not merely these of the journalists
but of the government. In Australia
the same view will be taken of the
German answers, waich will certainly
not be less than the Austrian criti-
ciSms.
Year: 1876

A young lady at Forest Grove a
few days ago tried to settle a love
atfnr by taking strychnine, but in
stead OF settling that, she unsettled
her stomach-or rAti er the physician
did, wh'n he plunged his pump down
Der threat.
Year: 1876

French FEELING AGAINST GERMANY.
Perhaps it would not be altogether
fair to attribute the recent manifes-
tations of hostility 10 Wagner's music,
at a French concert, to hatred for the
country he represents, though there
can be no doubt that the latter senti-
ment had something TO do with II.
The school of music of which the dis
tiugu shed composer is the head has
always been 'caviare TO the general
and even the triumph attendant upon
the performance of his Trio!ogy has
not closed the mouths of those adverse
critics who refuse 10 see any genuine
art in his productions. Wagner more
over has never been popular with The
French, who do not appreciate the
productions of his school, and whose
taste in music is under all circumstan>
ces radically different from that of
their Teutonic neighbors. Neverthe-
less it is highly probable that in his
sing Herr Wagner's death march the
Partisan amateurs felt that they we're
getting a small instalment of that
reUanche for which they are supposed
TO pant SO srdently, and in especial
were recording their indignant pro
test against the German Emperor
recent observation that Wagner had
founded distinciively German school.
Whatever the motive of the display
of hostility, however, it must be ad-
mitted that it was equally silly and in
bad taste, and that such exhibitions of
spleen and fury are calculated to make
the iudicious grieve.
Year: 1876

HoN. LAFAYETTE LANE is defeated
for Congress. The people OF Oregon
seem 10 have repugnance to electing
any man TO Congress second time.
1t is now seventeen years since the ad-
mission Of Oregon as State, and dug
inc the whole of that time she has
never elected man second time TO
Congress. We had hoped that Mr.,
L ne would prove an exception to the
rule, but he is ordered to step aside
AMI a new man takes his place. We
hope that the change will not prove
injurious to the interests of the State
Mr.. Lane had served the people well
and deserved the compliment of re,
election.
Year: 1876

LIFE ISsURaCE.-The decision of the
United States Supreme Court, on the 23d ult.,
in relation TO Southern life insurance policies,
il of much interest TO persons whose policies
become void during the war. or to the heirs
of such as have died. In brief, The court de-
ciies that the policies are, as the companies
elected TO insist, extingnished by the non
payment of premiums. though eansed by the
existence of a war, but as it was without
fault of the assured the latter are held to be
entitled TO recover the equitable value of their
premiums with interest from the close of the
war. One point decided by the court is of
importance to all policy holders 1t is that
in estimating the equitable value of policy
no deductions can bo made from the amount
which calculations give as is sometimes done,
where policies are voluntarily surrendered for
the purpose of discouraging such surrenders,
and the value should be taken as of the day
" hen the first default occurred in payment
of he premium, by which the policy became
forfeited. In each case rates of mortality
and interest, used in the tables of the COM
pany, will form the basis of the calculation.
Year: 1876

The New York Sun is evidently get
ting ready for an item. It describes a
locality on an adjacent railroad which it
says els the most probable place for the
occurrence of the next cne," and says
that at the spot ia dozen COWS and one
horse are pastured in lot unfenced and
open to the road. The horse is lame
and does not move quickly, and he has
got accustomed to the whistle of the
locomotive, SO that it has little terror
for him. The train generally comes
nearly to standstill before he gets off
the track. After he gets little more
familiar with the cars, it will probably
be necessary to run over him as the only
way of getting rid OF him. Journals
which desire to be ahead with the news
will do we'll, therefore, to keep one re-
porter stationed at this point. He could
occupy the intervening time before the
accident in interviewing the occupants
of neighboring houses, writing down
their names, and ascertaining what mum.
Der of the injured passengers they could
respectively accommodate. And as it is
part of reporters business in such
case to state the value of the property
destroyed, he might have preliminary
appraisement of the old horse and the
COWS, and also find out the cost of the
locomotive and the cars liable to be
smaahod."
Year: 1876

We have remarked of late, the Scie,a-
tifc american says, the introduction
into tLo market, under high sounding
names, of various strong potash combi.
nations intended for laundry and cleans
ing purposes. One Of the preparations,
which appears to contain more caustic
potash than other ingredient, lately
caused the death of child who acci-
dentally ate little of it; and we have
found the same stuff strong enough to
remove old, hard paint from wood work
when merely wetted by the same and
allowed to rest thereon for perhaps an
hour or two. We advise our readers to
let such preparations severely alone:
they are ruinous to clothes, and, except
to cleanse kitchen floors or other grease
soaked places, should not be used.
Even the ordinary low grade soaps are
heavily charged with soda and impuri-
ties, which, the manufacturers say, they
are obliged to use, in order to hold their
own with fraudulent dealers who adul-
terate still more heavily; and these soaps
are also highly destructive to fabrics.
1t is much better economy to purchase q
good quality, even superior quality of
white soap for household purposes; for
the extra cost of the soap will, in the
end, be more than saved in the lessened
wear Of clothes, of oilcloths, and Of
paint. It is hardly necessary to add
that strong aikali soaps should never be
used on the skin, as their effe is corro-
sive and harmful. The object of using
soap for the toilet is simply to overcome
the natural oil which exudes from the
body, and render it possible for the
water to combine Herewith; and very
little of the mildest soap is ample for
this purpose.
Year: 1876

When the Nicolai railway was con-
structed, in 1918, from st. Petersburg
to Moscow, the work was done under
contracts with American engineers, and
the cars and engines were supplied from
Baltimore by the famous establishment
of the Winans Brothers. The Russian
priests oppose every modern innovation,
and of course they were "down on the
railway. When the road was opened
they determined to stop it, and SO they
went in force to point on the road and
set up holy picture to stop the new
work of tho devil. The train came
slowly along and the engineer seeing the
picture standing on the track thought
there must be man behind it, and so
came to halt. The assembled multi
tude raised a shout and the priests
called out that the saint was all-powerful
and would prevail against wickedness.
The officer in charge of the train came
out.and took survey of the situation.
Then he told the engineer to run back
a quarter Of q mile and bring the train
to halt. The shouting was redoubled
and the priests we're in the most rap
turous delight. But their exultation
was soon changed to grief, as the mas
ter of ceremonies told the engineer: !:
"Put on all steam and 60 ahead without
regard to consequences" The engine
went ahead and down fell the picture,
torn and crushed by the wheels of the
locomotive. Modern civilization was
triumphant. and the priests and their
followers no longer shouted in triumph.
Year: 1876

The Reading (Penn.) Times says: A
new enemy to the growing crop of corn
has been discovered this spring, which
is committing considerable destruction
in some sections of the country. 1t is a
peculiar black worm which can scarcely
be crushed on the loose earth, as it is
encased in suit of armor difficult to
break. They operate in the corn hills
by eating off the young plants. As
many as ten or twelve worms are some
times found in one hill. The cutworm
has hitherto been a great annoyance,
but this new pest is said to be even more
destructive. In some townships farm
ers are busy replanting cornfields that
have been thus devastated. Paris green
has been found to be as efficacious in
exterminating these worms as it is in de-
stroying the potato bug. Powdered
white hellebore is also said to be very
efficacious.
Year: 1876

Bill Lee, a noted desperate, was hung
at Oquawka, ILL.,, for one of the most
brutul crimes ever committed. His
courage left him on the gallows and he
had to be supported until the drop fell.
His last words were "Young men,
you see me before you in the prime of
life, and hope you will be warned in
time. When drinking remember me,
and prepare to meet me high up in
heaven by the dazzling throne. God
knows there was no murder in my heart.
Whisky and women brought me here
not good women. Let my fate be a
warning to all young people," As the
rope was placed around his neck tears
rolled down his cheek, and he said:
Remember, young man."
Year: 1876

The Pensacola (Fla.) Gazette has the


following account of an exciting adven-


ture Captain John B. Guttmann, of


the Pensacola Guards, signalized him.


self in an odd encounter and came out


first best. Riding down to the shore Of


Escambia bay. the captain noticed Q


strange commotion in the water, and that


the beach for considerable distance


was covered with fish from six inches to
one foot and half in length, some dead
and some still jumping, while others con-
tinued to spring from the water, above
which showed the sharp dorsal fin of 8
shark, cutting the surface as he pursued
the fish. The sporting spirit of the
captain was fred, and springing from
his buggy he opened his pocketknife,
with blade less than three inches long,
and rushed into the water, which was
thigh deep where he encountered the
shark, and pushed his little knife into
it. The creature did not seem to feel
it, and it's hide was so tough that the
captain could not rip it, so he continued
his thrusts while the shark endeavored
to turn SO as to seize him. Finally the
shark felt the blade, and retreating
twelve or fifteen feet charged back with
a rush. The captain sprung aside as it
attempted to bite him and seized it by
the fin, which was ten inches long, and
piled his knife while they waltzed round,
the shark continually turning in the en-
deavor to bite. Finding his knife of no
avail against the nine lives of the shark,
the captain caught up short heavy
piece Of drift wood which opportunely
came within reach, and as the fish threw
its head out of water struck it a severe
blow at the base of the skull which in
stantly stunned it. He then drew it
ashore, where it was dispatched. It was
exactly five feet in length. In the
earliest stages of the conflict Capt. G.'s
three companions, who were off in the
woods at its beginning, came out on the
bluff and called out in alarm: "It's a
shark come out of the water p That
Prussian gave his lips their usual twist
and simply said: ct know it," and
went on with his amusement, which he
says was almost equal to some fun he
has had with bears and bull bisons,
numbers of both Of which he has slain.
Year: 1876

A painter in Meriden, Conn, fell
from roof the other day, struck on a
freight car and smashed the roof, rolled
off, struck on his head on a rail, and
then got up and went home. He said
he didn't feel very well, but would go to
work in day or two, and he did.
Year: 1876

HONE LIFE 1NsURANCE.-The Louisiana
Equitable Lite Insurance Company, organ
lied in 1863. has steadily advanced in popu-
lar estimation and stands to-day one OF the
favorite institutions of our city and State.
The annual election for directors and off,
GERS WAS held On the seventeenth of April
last, and the result is given in the adver-
tisement to be found in our columns this
morning The gentlemen chosen are among
the most successful and reliable merchants
of our city, in whose care the company will
be sure to prosper. This is home company,
and as such it deserves the support and en-.
couragement of all of our citizens. In ad


dition to this it should be borne in mind
that the rates of the Louisiana Equitable
have not been advanced, but are the same
to- day as when the company was first or
ganized, while nearly all of the Northern
and Western companies doing business
here have advanced their charges, especial
ly on Southern business. In some instances
the rates of to-day, when compared with
those Of 1870, show an increase of over
sixty per cent. The rates of the Louisiana
Equitable are the same as those of the Mu-
tual Life Of New York, company having
now nearly $80, ,00O, 900 of assets. The off.
GERS of our home company know that with
care and economy these rates are sufficient
to bring success, and believing that life in
surance is one of the necessities of life,
they are unwilling to overburden our peo-
pie with high rates, either for the purpose
Of rapidly rolling up wealth or making a
big show, and they richly deserve the sue.
cess and popularity which they have gained.
Year: 1876

One OF the most remarkable human
beings ever seen in this country, or perhaps
in any other, arrived in this city last week,
and is stopping at the St. Charles Hotel,
with her parents, direct from Mexico, and
unknown to the American public. This
child, Lucia ZArate, was born at Vera Cruz,
and is said to be twelve years old. She is
twenty inches high and weighs scarcely
more than five pounds. Imagine French
doll walking and talking to you and some
idea of her appearance can be had. Stand
ing on psrlor floor her head reaches about
to the seat of an ordinary chair, and yet
her limbs and body are in all respects we'll
proportional. Mrs. Belknap could get no
more than one toe of her foot into the Mexi-
can girls shoe. Her head, about as
big as big mans fist, is we'll shaped and
covered with soft brown hair. The only
thing out of line with her size is her nose;
that was evidently made for a lar ger girl,
but it will do. She has bright black eyes,
and is intelligent, conversing with little
voice in the language of her parents. She
runs and plays about the room as if she en-
joyed her little life, and salutes and bids
adieu to her guests with evident propriety.
In the way of q joke che offered to carry
tat reporter on her back, and STOPPING over
asked him to climb up on her shoulders.
The little midgit will astonish any one who
sees her, because She Is SO tiny and 80
human. Standing by the side of Tom
Thumb che would reach his elbow, and the
General would look like an Overgrown and
bloated aristocrat. The Lilliputian is to be
taken to the Centennial Exposition, and
stops here for few days to consult dolls
dressmakers about fashionable wardrobes
for herself. In the meantime she will hold
receptions at the Academy of Music.
Year: 1876

The New Orleans Pacific Railroad Com.


By reference to the Court Record it will
be seen that Judge Lynch has exercised due
judicial discretion in the matter of the bond
to be taken for the appeal ordered by the
Supreme Court On the dissolution Of the in
junction asked for by L. C. Roudanez.
There are many parties interested in this
suit. First are those who. with Mr.. Rou-
danez, seek to restrain the city from allow
ing the voters to say whether or not they
will help to build the road. Then there are
the Mayor and Administration, and it, in
justice to their policy, seems - if they
were opposed to any action whatever.
Then there is the Pacific railroad, eager to
have its claims presented to the people,
and with energy enough to survive any de-
feat it may receive. Last of all is the pee
pie that wants q road and knows no way to
get it.


Judge Lynch appears to have cut the
gordian knot. He takes the ordinary bond
OF appeal, with the additional clause that
the appellants shall be liable for all dam
age that may accrue.


That there may be NO surprise, he has
fixed next Saturday for the intervenor, the
railroad, to prove it's probable damage.
This should be satisfactory to the appel
lants and the voters, as well az the COM
pany that applied for it,
Year: 1876

Attention! Those of our readers who
wish to dispose of their furniture and house
hold effects should call ON Colonel Mont
gomery before making other arrangements.
His long experience in the auction business
is q guarantee that he will do the best
for those who intrust their business with
him. He will make sales at the residence
OF the parties. or remove them to his sales
room, No. 60 Camp street, for their better
convenience
Year: 1876




Louis Republican, May II, writes:


The select committee on federal affairs in
Louisiana will leave for New Orleans by
the end Of this week, and begin q thorough
and rapid investigation of the charges of
corruption in the government offices, es-
pecially those which are made with such
appar. MT truthfulness against the New Or
leans CustomhOuse ring. A few days since
Mr.. Sproule. prominent citizen of the
Crescent City, went before the committee,
and after being assured that his name should
never be known in the connection, gave
some very important data by which the
committee could be aided in their lnvestiga-
tiOns. He stated that his life would be in
danger if the fact of his appearance before
the committee should become known to the
members Of the ring. The committee ex-
pect to finish their work in three weeks,
and will conduct their examinations with
that end in view, as the resolution under
which they were appointed requires their
report to be made ut This session.
Year: 1876

Dg" All of the Argus pop-guns are


turned on the editor of the Press. Not
word to say of the many charges laid
at the door of the radical candidate for
Sheriff. We are Of greater importance


than we thought we were, and "by gad /"
We'll run for office ourself, anot her year