smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

five feet high, and on this he had placed
hickory pole fifteen feet, and climbing
TO the top OF this pole placed above il .
fishing rod d teen ION the top OF which
was small streamer four and half feet
long floating at height oil three hundEed
and fifteen leet.


The large streamer on the end OF tAe
hickory pole, which was cleared this
afternoon and still remains is fifty
feet long and nine feet high, but on as-
count OF the breaking Of the pole by the
wind is not quite SO high as at first.
when it fioated at height of three hua-
dred feet. Mr.. Weston made the asoeas
on both occasions by the lightning roda-
Year: 1876

Mr.. Joseph X. Weston, the lightning
rod man, this afternoon climbed the
steeple Of the First Presbyterian Church
and cleared TO the breeze the strsamer
which had become entangled with the
line and pole.


The wind was at the time very high
aud the task anything but an easy one.
The steeple Is Two hundred and eighty
Year: 1876

A bill has been recently INTRODUCED in


the Legislature of New York, Intended


to provide for superanuatrd teachers in


our public schools, or, rather, for those


whose lives have been spent in this ser


vice. The arguments in its favor, as


presented by the New York Times, are


that the teachers are as mnch a part of


our civil service as our judges. and that


as the State has to a certain extent fixed


the compensation Of teachers, it has de-


stroyed the competition which would


actually increase that compensation, as


in this educational system the number


of teachers is more closely economical


than in the private school; that if the


public schools were abolished private
schools would spring up, giving employ
ment to an equal and perhaps superior
number of those engaged in our public
schools. Again, that i'm this sense of
competition the effect has been to make
teaching in these schools a transient oc-
cupation and has an injurious influence
upon the educational qualifications of
our teachers; that our public schools
suffer from the want of teachers who are
willing to take up this as life employ


nent, or long enough to impress the
results of their experience and study on
the schools


The provisions of this bill are, that it
IS intended to provide for teachors EN-
ployed in the public schools of the State
thirty years, if men, and twenty-five if
women; that the amount of the pension
is to be determined by the respective
Boards of Education or corresponding
bodies, who are to establish the proofs
of the term of employment. The funds
for this purpose are to be derived from
the United States Deposit Fund, and
each pensioner is to receive at least one
half the amount of the salary paid for
services at the time of retirement, and
that the educational, authorities are ELL
powered to increase the pension, if there
seem to be sufficient reasons for doing
so. The concluding argument is forci-
BILE and to the effect, that it is obvious
that the services of person who has
been teaching for twenty-five or thirty
years should be recognized, that if the
teacher during this time has not been
able TO provide for the comfort and hap
piness of his or her declining years this
should be provided for by the State, and
that such a measure would contribute
greatly to the improvement and perma-
nence of our public school system, in
the character and qualifications of those
who would be thus induced to engage in
teaching as life employment.-TOtedo
Year: 1876

A successful battle has been made
upon corporal punishment, SO we wage
war upon soul torture, as being an enc
my far more inimieal to public educa-
ton. We demand of teachers that the
treatment of their pupils be such as is
prompted by a genuine self respect, an
honest pride that scorns to take ad-
vantage of their position, controlling
sympathy with childhood and its lines
of activity, a Christian spirit of forbear-
ance with the failures, and an abiding
reverence for the souls cf children. We
appeal to teachers that they abstain
from every form of petulant exactions,
of censorious criticism, of iniudicious
fault finding. Onbehalf of the little ones
we petition. Let them alone; they are
worried over much; their school days,
that ought to be their most pleasant
sessona, are rendered irksome because of
some underfiow of heartlessness. We
have no desire to put this too strong;
We could hardly do so, for We think the
facts will more than sustain our position.
We do not intimate that it is general-it
is not. AS a body, our teachers are of
natures too noble. But its existence as
a practice by many, altogether too many
teachers, is a stubborn factt that will not
be gainsaid, and it is of these we ask
better things. Ii but one soul has been
tortured or wronged by some inexpedi-
ent of ill timed criticism, or 10y some
unkind and unmerited rebuke of a single
teacher, it were enough to command the
sympathy Of our pen. Let us, then,
have in school management patient,
sympathetic and charitable treatment of
our pupils, and our word for it, we shall
soon see our schools endeared to the
hearts of the children, and ourselves
occupying an enviable place in their re-
gard. - LhjcagO Teacher
Year: 1876

We commend to our readers the wis
dom and justice of the following re-
marks of Judge in Blair county, Penn,
upon the general subject of prosecuting
teachers for using corporal punishment
in the government of schools: "Any
teacher who is SO forgetful Of the duties of
his high calling, or the far reaching con-
sequences of his acts, as TO maliciously or
cruelty beat pupil, should, without
faltering or without hesitation on your
part, be convicted of assault and battery.
On the other hand, it is of the greatest
moment that our teachers in our public
schools be encouraged and sustained in
every proper exercise Of their authority.
The very existence OF these institutions
depends on sustaining the teacher in his
authority, when properly exercised, in
the school-room. If the teacher is
stripped of his authority to enforce at
tenticn, or to prohibit disorder in the
schoolroom, by unfounded or trivial
prosecutions, the end of The system for
good Is very near at hand. Rebellion
and contumacy on the part of the pupils
will become chronic; the teacher, in
stead of training youth, will be engaged
in a continual contest TO maintain his
authority"
Year: 1876

Mr.. GEORGE w. CURTIS has written
a letter in favor of pensioning common
school teachers, In which he SAYS:
Teaching in the public schools is as
essential a part of the public service as
the discharge of duty in the army and
navy, and the faithful servant in one
branch is entitled to the same consider
alton as his fellow servant in another.


The pension would make teaching an
assured career, and constantly attract
to it the best teaching talent in the
country, and the efficiency and value of
the schools would be promoted Just in
the degree that teaching ceased to be
temporary resource, as it now so often
is. The best service in any public de-
partment is always the cheapest, and
the advantage that the State would pur-
chase by this little outlay would be in
estimable. cannot help thinking that
the proposition must command the warm
sympathy and support Of the more in
teiiigent friends of the common schools
and with all my heart 1 wish il sue
Year: 1876

LIEUTENANT CAMERON, the African
explorer, is thus spoken of by the Eng
Hsh Independent: although he has
won his spurs at so early period in
his life, it is impossible not to aeknowI-
edge that he heartily deserves the warm
est things that can be said on his be
half. Few men in this generation have
achieved so much, and the ultimate re-
suit of the service he has rendered can
not be overestimated. He has by natu-
raj right become in public estimation
the worthy successor of DIR. Livingstone,
and no honor can be more valuable than
such a reputation. The highest euIogy
has been pronounced when this has been
sincerely said. As we read the story of
his extraordinary feat, it wins upon our
enthusiasm, and when we contemplate
the results which may issue from it to
the African race, that enthusiasm takes
tone Of profound gratitude 1t is not
necessary here to describe the progress
of the enterprise with whieh his name is
associated; what we particularly note is
that, ike almost al the most successful
and useful explorations OF modern days,
il has been undertaken not merely with
a scientific purpose, but in the interests
of civilization, philanthropy and re
ligion."
Year: 1876

Don't live single hour of yonr
life without doing exactly what is to
be done in it, and going straight
through it from beginning to end.
Work, play, study, whatever it is
take hold at once and finish it up
squarely and cleanly, and then at
tend to the next thing, without let
ting any moment drop out between.
It is wonderful to see how many
hours prompt people contrive to
make of day. Tt is as if they pick
ed up the moments the dawdlers
lost. And if you ever find yourself
where you have SO many things upon
you that you hardly know how to
begin, take hold of the very first one
that comes to hand, and you will
find the rest all fall into file and
follow after like company of we'll
drilled soldiers, and though work
may be hard to meet when it charges
in squad, it is easily vanquished
if you can bring it into line. No
man ever largely succeeded who just
looked his work in the face.
Year: 1876

NOVEL READING.-Nows so far as the
intellect is concerned there is question
whether absolute idleness is not at least
as advantageous as the reading of novels.
There is probably no condition of e1ist-
ence, out of sleep, which is so little an
exercise of the mind as tina: of novel
reading. The person engaged in it sits
without exertion of any kind, and has a
certain quantity of pleasant excitement
poured into him through the eyes. That
is all He is intellectually, no less than
physically, as passive as a cup filled
from the pitcher. Unless he reads to
criticise and reflect, which is not the
case one time in thousand, he j. SIM
ply engaged in the LATEST possible sort
Of pleasure seeking. 1t might be better
for him or her, intellectually as we'll as
physically. to be engaged in some brisk
bodily exercise, involving attention.
judgment, and care to avoid being hurt.
This, at least, would be tonic; while
of all occupations novel reading is most
passive in its nature and relaxing in its
tendencies. N. Y. Times.
Year: 1876




A hundred years ago a Virginia
belle was not to be won without
foolcap and red tape. This was the
certificate that the bride had to sign
before her lover could get a mar
riage license. ''Thc bearer hereof
has my permission to procure from
the authorities the necessary Gre
dentials, which shall duly and hon
orably merit my attention in the
support of my affections, to contin-
ue through the end of all things,
which shall refect,every ray OF hon
or ascribable to so resplendent an
element or sentiment of my right
mind, and which shall henceforth
be strictly adhered to the proper
form, at my instance and his i'm
portuaity, in the making valid of all
things pertaining to the stream OF
my desire to become his partner
in the vigor of my youth, in the
morning of my affections, properly
directed to the momentous obliga-
ton of conjngal embraces in endless
felicity. In witness to above, l have
hereunto," etc.-N. Y. Tribune.
Year: 1876

A few days before the graduation
exarcises of his class were to take
place Custer was thrown into the


guard-house by order of the COM
mandant for having permitted a MS
t;cuff encounter between two under
class men while he was officer OF the
.dav He was not Permitted to take
mart inthe ceremonies of graduation,
and when his class left the military
academy for the regiments to which
they we're assigned, he lay in dis
Grace awaiting a court martial. This
was in June, 1861. The war had
lust begun, and the armies were or
ganizing. There was great want
of competent drillmasters, and some
one suggested to Gen. Scott that
there was a superior drillmaster
in the guard house at West Point
So young Custer was sent for' ana
Dlaced at one of the barracks near
Washington to instruct the green
volunteers in the manual OF arms.
inst before the battle of Bull hun,
Mcdowell, who was in command OF
the army of the Potomac, asked for
an engineer. Custer was detailed to
act temporarily in such capacity
on McDowell's staff, and took an ac-
tive part in the battle, distinguish
ing himself for GOODNESS, bravery
and efficiency ,and aiding materially
in the reorganization of the army
afterward. His service was so M
portant that the order for his court
martial was revoked, and he was
sent into active service with the
Fifth regular cavalry under Nc
Cleilan. It was not difficult IN those
DAYS for voang man OF his ability,
enterprise and daring, to rise, and
in1S;;:; he found himself major
gene.;t, at the age of twenty-five.
Year: 1876

We have had some moro rain again and every thing seems glad of it.

 The election excitement is not en- tirely over yet. Every one wants to have it decided one way or the other and end the suspense; but time enough will tell the story.

 Some rascal entered the house of Mir. Henry St. John one week ago last Sunday while the family were at church and car ried away several dollars in money and several articles of value. Nothing has been found of the missing things yet.

 Tine weather is beautiful indeed, not. withstanding the many prophecies to the contrary. =

 We have had two or three small snow storms, lately, but they went away almost as suddenly as they came.

 News is scarce, and no smash-ups or failures around that know of. s-.~

 Small pigs are plenty and cheap.

 The colliers are nearly through with their jobs around here and are looking for more. s as34 x. VI
Year: 1876

Semiramis, the Assyrian queen, is cred ited with the invention of weaving and Pliny accorded the invention of the Loom to the Egyptians, but it seems to be left 10 the Read Carpet Go. of Bridge port to perfect the weaving of carpeting

 It is said that there are no goods more perfectly woven or more durable than these goods. Messrs. HALL, & READ keep on hand all the patterns of the Go. and also very extensive assortment of Velvet Brussels and Venetian Carpeting.
Year: 1876

The Pacific Railroad announces a large gain in population along its line. This emigration is mainly. however, from the states west of New York. New England contributes scarcely anything Has the old hive stopped swarming?
Year: 1876

MASTER YOUR CoUGH AT ONCE with Hate's Honey of Horehound and tar. Every affection of tue lungs, chest or throat tending to consumption, is not only relieved but absolutely obliterated by this wonderful vegetable pulmonic. Sold by all druggists.

 Pike s Toothache Drops cure in one minute. 32.4w
Year: 1876

THE GREAT POWERS, it is reported, are
not quite at Que rs to what should he done
in Herzegovina. Austria wished for the
Province large measure of self government,
while Russia is not thought to demand more
than a faithful adhesion to his promises of
reform by the Porte, The Russian Embassy
at Constantirope is believed to have been
the most influential for some time past, and
it is probably with view to retaining that
influence, as the time has not come for more
active measures, that the st. Petersburg su-
horties seem inclined to treat the Porte
with more consideration than those Of the
country nearer to him.
Year: 1876

"What are these thoughts that surge across
my heart and wildly papitate in cvry crew
ice of my brain' What is this strange long
ing after the unattainable2 Am what Irealy
seem, or is it, "a it were not so much the in
fnitesimal as the uuspeakabe' Let me- he
calm. have reread Don Juan to day.
Alas, will there ever he another Byroni May
there not be somewhere coming towards me
from the mist Of the mountain top or the
flowers Of the valley, some such crowned
youth who---EIere papa called out, if
you don't come down to dinner, it will have
to he postponed till Tomorrow Coarse ideal


was obliged to 90 for many reasons.
Year: 1876

The power of contrast was never more
strikingly illustrated than in the speech Of
Senator Morton yesterday, in which he
gave the history of the State of Mississippi
during three Of its eventful periods That
is, the first period before the war, the
second Immediately after the war, when
the Confederates controlled the State, and
the third period being during the years of
Republican control. 1t was shown that
the history of Mississippi during the first
period and before the war was history of
fraud, robbery and reputation. The list
of State and county defaulters, as presented
to the Senate, counted by the dozens. I'm
mediately after the war we have the same
disgraceful record. Confederate rule was
marked by the same spirit of plumber of
others which had made the State dis
grace to the American name before the
war. The burden Of taxation was thrown
upon labor, while jobbery and levee con-
tracts filled the pockets Of those who are
now talking so loudly in regard to ''politi-
cal purity" When the Senator came to
deal with the history of the State under
Republican rule it was shown that taxa
ton was lessened, the credit of the State
improved. schools multiplied and all the
forces of progressive civilization set in
Year: 1876

motion. Under emancipation and Repub-
lican institutions the State has advanced in
everything which goes to form a thrifty
society. The revenue of the State is in
excess of its expenditures. Its crops equal
in value those produced before the war.
This picture Of peaceful, prosperous,
highly taxed Mississippi was presented in
strong contrast with its previous history Of
financial fraud, commercial dishonor and
reputation. The picture and its startling
contrasts viii awaken the mind of the
North as nothing else has during this long
struggle over Southern reconstruction.
The unproToked subyersion of the lawful
government of this prosperous State by
violent armed minority is a direct blow
at the stability of the Union. 1t is
blow at the Union, because. it
asserts the principle that the Southern
whites have right above the Constitution
to exclude the colored citizens from all par
ticipation in the government of the late
slave States Of the Union. To admit tn s
color-line argument is to admit revolution,
1t is to Mexicanize the South. 1t is to
make the United States a so-called "white
mans" Government, to be controlled by
the turbulent and lawless white element
which occupies the Southern States.


We know of nothing which will so
thoroughly open the eyes of the North to
the actual condition of Southern affairs as
the facts involved in this bloody Mississippi
business. The State of JEFF. Davis, of Re-
pudiatiOn and of Jake Thompson comes
forward and claims the right to murder
inoffensiCe citizens because those citizens
are colored and Republicans. Aud this in
the face of facts which prove the State to be
in most prosperous condition, with light
taxes, an economical administration of gov
ernment, and where the cause of general
education is extending among the children
of both races.


The speech of Senator Morton on this
subject should be produced by the million
and scattered broadcast over the North
1t should find its way this winter into
every Northern home, so that the honest
people of the country may read the story
Of unprovoked outrage which has deluged
apeaceful Commonwealth in blood in order
to once more "unifY" the Confederate
South and overthrow the dearly bought
results of the war.
Year: 1876

satiate morbid desire to retaliate on the
North for its sentiments on the amnesty ques-
tion, or viii they arouse patriotism enough to
pass the bill and show the world that they are
indeed reconstructed and in love with the
Union!


If the sentiment which prevails In some
parts Of the country respecting amnesty con-
tinues two or three years longer; if the House
of Representatives insists on making treason
honorable; II the Centennial gush increases as
rapidly in the future as it has In the past, the
year 1880 will find the sentiment of the country
go changed that the Boys in Blue will blush to
say that they fought for the Union-pot out Of
shame, but from fear of public derision.
He just arrived in the city from Jackson,
Mississippi, and, as he stood in front of the
Arlington hotel, he suddenly struck an argu-
mentatiye attitude, and, placing his index
finger in the palm Of his hand, said: 81 tell
you, there is nothing like it. 1t is better than
tannery; costs less than a saw-mill; easier
to run than a cotton-gin, and there's millions
in it. All you've got to do is to take two tons
of dead niger to one ton of guano, throw in a
little plaster, and you've got fertilizer that
will raise the devil on the worst ground in
Mississippi. I'd rather have one Of these fer
tilizing factories than to go to Congress any
time;" and grinned radiant grin, which bore
unmistakable evidence of how full his heart
was with the milk of human kindness.
Year: 1876

THE labor of preparing thorough and
reliable exposition of affairs in the South
crn States is difficult task, and one which
Senator Morton has fully accomplished in
his speech on the Mississippi question.
There is not single newspaper in the
city OF New York, however, that has had
the fairness TO give TO its readers of this
remarkable speech even the usual Asso-
ciated Press synopsis of ordinary speeches.
In short, the so-called Great Dailies have
pursued their customary policy of attempt
ing studiously to keep the facts relating to
the Southern situation from the people.
Year: 1876

RErEE,ESTATIvE TUCKEE is another
rash cX Confederate whose speech did not
appear promptly in the Congressional
Record Whenever one of the regular fire
caters in the House speaks his mind plainly
the MCTc discreet Democratic managers
compel him TO withhold his speech 'for
revision. Perhaps this may be described
as free speech: it is certainly taking great
freedom with speeches that have already
Irrr made
Year: 1876

Nh. .STENGER destroyed the effect of his
constitutional argument against the Cen
tennial appropriation yesterday by after
wards pleading the stingy act. He thinks
each three of his constituents are unwilling
to pay dime every hundred years of their
lives for the celebration of the GLORIOUS
Independence day. They will not thank
him
Year: 1876

The PRESENT reverence of the ex- Con.
federates for the Constitution is simply
amazing. How scrupulous they are To
what a nicely do they weigh each dot,
cross and comma in that instrument! They
have turned expounders of this charter of
liberty. To kill few niger voters causes
no disturbance of their nerves or scruples
Year: 1876

At dinner party there were two sisters
present, one widow who had just emerged
from her weeds, the other not long married,
whose husband had lately gone out to India
for short term. A young barrister present
was deputed to take the young widow down
to dinner. Unfortunately he was under the
impression that his partner was the married
Ss tbem
gan with the lady remarking how hot il
was. "Yes, it is very hot" returned the
young barIister. Then happy thought
sue gested itself to him, and he added with
q cheerful smile: "But not 80 hot a. the
place to which your husband has gone.'
The look with which tho widow answered
this ''happy thought" will haunt that youag
bsrrister till the day of his death.
Year: 1876

To.MoFrow and Next Day.


It has been intmated that the several
State Offices in this city will be closed to
the public on Monday and Tuesday. A
little will be done but to talk politics in all
Offices and places Of business, the public
will not seriously object.
Year: 1876

An opera house that will hold 5000 people
is thought to be the great need Of New
York, especially when the managers can
not get more than 200 persons in ut single
performance without making new dead.
heads,