smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

1t is but seldom that a great nation has
reason to mourn the loss almost at the same
time of two of its most honored and distin-
guished citizens. The death of Agassiz and
the death of Judge Nelson, occurring as they
have done SO near each other, have commanded
the attention of the press, not only here, but in
Europe. Here, as there, it is felt that two
good men have passed away from the scenes
Of human activity and that the world is poorer
from their absence. Judge Nelson was old
and had retired from active life; Agassiz,
though not young was, until quite recently,
full of hope and full of enterprise; but the
death of the one and the other has created
gulf which it will be difficult to bridge.
The name of Agassiz is associated with
some of the grandest triumphs of modern
science. A foreigner by birth, he was an
American by choice and by hearty adop-
ton; and in the future his name will
be associated with American history.
Of all the scientists of the present time
no one was moro daring and at the
same time more conservative than Agassiz;
and, wide as was his knowledge Of the book of
nature, he never found that that knowledge
conficted with the Book of Revelation. In
this respect he was model scientific inquirer
Judge Nelson, in his day, occupied different
sphere and had different work. During his
active life there was, as there is in ours, great
temptation to do that which was wrong. But
this man has passed away with
record which is as white as snow
record which covers alike his career
as lawyer and his career as judge. Of how
few of our lawyers and judges still left in the
midst of us could SO much be said Venality
is too common at the Bar and on the Bench;
and although of late improvement has been
made, there is need for greater improvement
still Agassiz and Nelson have both left
lessons behind them The lesson read by the
one is that the deepest knowledge is not in
compatible with the highest form of religious
belief. The lesson read by the other Is that
success in legitimate calling is not antago-
nistic to purity Of life and integrity of char
acter. -r~-sF>
Year: 1873

The Weather Bureau, we learn, is now add
ing to its storm-signalling machinery q new
s'whsel within wheel" This is system of
coast signals lining the Atlantic beach from
Cape Hatteras northward. This novel ex-
pertinent is designed to bring vessels which
have been out of port for several days on the
high seas under the telegraphic premonitions
from Washington. Thus vessel, having left
Cape May an hour after storm-warning is
hoisted, will proceed but little way before
the coast-signalman vii notify her of the ap-
preaching cyclone.


The HERALD more than year ago urged
the adoption of some expedient like this to
caution vessels in transitu Of the great Atlantic
gales, and the present experiment will be
hailed with pleasure by all who sympsthize
with the perilous life of the mariner.


This new branch of the Meteorological
Department will use the international signal
code Gust issued by the Bureau of Naviga-
tion), in which its observers have been dill
gently trained at Fort Whipple, Va These
observers will cooperate with the officials of
the Life Saving and Wrecking Service now
on the coast and they will be in Independent
and telegraphic communication with the Gen.
tral Signal Office at Washington. The wires
for this service have been already suspended
from New York (or rather Sandy Hook) to
Barnegat and along the entire Jersey coast,
and are now being laid from Norfolk to Cape
Henry and Cape Hatteras. Submarine cables
will be used to cross intervening inlets and
make the network complete.


This is, we understand, the first service ofthe
kind ever undertaken. The cautionary signals
have heretofore, not only in this, but in Euro
pean countries, been displayed to vessels in
port; but the present arrangement will assist
the thousands of vessels which constantly run
up and down the coast to ''get wind" of COM
ing gales and stand out of the way. If these
signal stations can be connected by cable with
our off-shore sentinels at the lightships and
lighthouses their prospective usefulness and
value to the shipping would, we suggest, be
very greatly enhanced. We remember how
last summer the steamer E. M. Arndt came
into this port at the front of storm, which
she was the first to announce, and which fol-
lowed upon her westward wake. 1t seems in
the highest degree probable that if the coast
signal station could bs connected with the
lightships. such early announcements of ad-
vancing northeast gales might be greatly in
creased and great good done.
Year: 1873

for increased taxation 70 meet increased ex-
penditures and reduced revenue was doubtless
the proyocation to this resolution from the
House. As between the Secretary and the
House. the country viii certainly sustain the
House against an increase of our taxes and in
favor of general retrenchment in the ma
tional expenditures
Year: 1873

SUMMERS DoUBLE TEAM.-Senator Sumner,
it seems, wants to make q double team Of
General Amnesty and his Civil Rights BILL
Are they not strong enough to travel alone
and in single harness?
Year: 1873

and expenditures. A change may como over
members before they meet in January. par
ticularly if the administration. which is well
nigh all powerful. should be determined to
use the party whip and force its measures.


Although the resolution proposed by Mr..
Kelley is not very explicit, and seems to be
framed to prevent the idea getting abroad
that any great increase of the currency is
contemplated, it seems to carry out that
gentleman's well known views regarding
legal tender and convertible currency.
temporary loan on bonds means.
we apprehend. new issue of
bonds. bearing, as Mr.. Kelley says, a low rate
OF interest in currency-three sixty-ive per-
haps-and these being redeemable in United
States notes are intended to give elasticity to
the currency. 1t would be we'll, prob
ably, if relief could be obtained both
to the Treasury and the business interests
of the country while passing through present
circulation-if the present amount could be
put in such form as to give elasticity.
Withdrawing the national bank circu-
lation and substituting in its place
legal tenders would not increase the
volume of currency, while at the
same time it would afford all the relief the
Treasury needs, or is likely to need 1t would,
besides, give the profit of three hundred mil
lions of circulation to the government and
people. That amount of six per cent
bonds taken up with the legal tender
issue would save to the country eighteen
based directly on the credit of the govern
ment if kept steady or not augmented must,
in the course of reasonable time, with
favorable state of foreign trade and
exchange, approximate to q specie basis.
The greenbacks would become as good as
gold. It is not the greenback currency that is
in the way of specie payments, as many fool
ishly argue, but the balance of trade and our
indebtedness abroad. We should reach specie
payments no sooner if all the legal
tenders were Withdrawn and national
bank currency were issued in its place. In
deed, we should be further off, and
it may we'll be doubted if we should ever have
a specie basis with a national bank currency
of six or seven hundred millions We would
have the government look steadily toward
specie payments, and direct all its measures
to that end, and if possible fix some time
in the future for that. There is nothing
scarcely that this country cannot accomplish
when fully resolved. In the meantime, how
ever it would be better to overcome the ex-
isting embarrassments of the Treasury by re-
trenchment than by increased taxation. AT
any rate the greenbacks could be used in the
way we have mentioned without initiating the
volume Of currency in circulation.
Year: 1873

ONE RESULT OF THE HARBoR DISTRACTIONS,
caused by the vast quantities Of ashes and
garbage which are being constantly thrown
into the river and bay, has been shown in the
stranding in the bay of the fine ocean steamer
Greece, belonging to the National line. The
regular channel is being rapidly filed up
by these distractions and certainly the
prompt action of Pilot Commissioner Blunt
against such unlawful practices is sadly
needed, if we wish to keep the commerce of
the metropolis intact. couple of swift
police boats patrolling our waters night and
day and keeping sharp lookout for delin-
quents, will serve as an efficient check against
such an unwarrantable nuisance.
Year: 1873

Our strcets-Thc Duty OF tho Authori-


Among the many nuisances that aflict tax
payers, most of them owing their continued
existence to the apathy and criminal careless
ness of the constituted authorities who are
supposed to watch over the interests of the
city, the least tolerable are those that infest
our thoroughfares. The condition of some of
the principal streets after o rain storm or a
heavy fall of snow is disgraceful in the ex-
treme and dangerous to pedestrians. In many
places ruts and defective pavements are per-
mitted to remain as man traps, and severe in
juries are frequently the result. Street lamps
are at times extinguished by the wind and no
effort is made to relight them. Iron doors and
ventilators cucumber the sidewalks, and are
admirably adapted for breaking limbs or rip
ping clothing. The public complain and
journals are filled with indignant remon-
strances against these nuisances; but no
sensible action is ever taken to remove them.
The patrolman walks leisurely along the
street, making note of the number of un-
lighted lamps he has passed on his beat, yet
he never thinks of relighting them, although
it would not interfere in the slightest degree
with his special duties. How easy, too,
would it be for the knight Of the
shield and baton to throw q plank OF two
across a dangerous rut or place stepping stones
where the slush and mud are ankle deep? This
is mode of utilizing the police that cannot
be objected to on reasonable grounds. They
should be compelled, in their capacity as pro-
tectors of person and property, to remove
aught that may be injurious to the same when
opportunity offers Now that we may look for
the commencement of the real winter season,
with its attendant snow, thaw, rain and slush,
the question of street cleaning should also be
considered from o practical point of view.
Treacherous hillocks of frozen mud, hidden
in pools of slush, should not be allowed to
remain until the sun alone removes them. The
police authorities, with very little exertion,
could render our streets comparatively COM
Portable, even during the most inclement win
ter. The only question is, will they do it?
Year: 1873

The EMPRESS EUGENE, according to a news
despatch which we publish this morning, is
deeply grieved at the sentence passed upon Mar
shall Bazaine. A visit about to be made to Queen
Victoria has been postponed in consequence.
Why should not the Empress be grieved? The
disgraced Marshal of France loved the house
of which she is prominent representative, not
wisely, but too well. What may happen in
France we know not; but if the Bonapartes
at an early day return to power Bazaine will,
NO doubt, benefit by Eugenie's grief Bazaine
has chance which poor Ney had not


SIGNIFICANT OF Nor VERY hard TIMES
To see twenty or thirty private carriages at
ore time in front Of one of our Broadway
fashionable jewelry stores, and streams of
others going and coming from nine A. M. TO
four +. M
Year: 1873

Shooting OF Joseph Hohan In West Street


Last Night-AGtempt to Rescue the


Prisoner.


An alteration took place last night in front OF
No. II West street between two brothers, named
Michael and Joseph Hoban, that ended in the
former drawing pistol and shooting his brother
in the left breast. The wounded man is the pro-
prietor of the liquor saloon in front of which the
row began and lives IN the next house. Michael
was employed by him as barkeeper. What the
origin of the difficulty was the police have not
yet been able to discover but Oncer Shaw.
OF the police boat Seneca. who saw the end Of the
disturbance, says that he was standing In West
street, near to where the two men were disputing
At first he took no notice OF them, as he was there
on dIty looking alter some thieves, The noise Of
the voices attracted his attention, and, turning he
saw the men grapple each other. He ran to them
to separate them, but before he got the spot he
saw Michael Hoban pull out pistol and fire at his
brother. After firing and seeing the man fall Ho-
ban started to run away, but the officer FOL
ban struggled with the officer, and, find
ing he could not get away. turned the
able to take it from HIM before he could fire. The
excitement caused by the affair brought a large
crowd together, and several attempts were made
TO rescue the prisoner IRON the officer He raped
for help and an officer from the Twenty
seventh precinct went to his assistance. Between
station house. where he was locked up. Onlcer
Shaw was severely handled and had his clothes
gOou deal torn, out ne succeeded IN performing
his duty and deserves commentator for his con-
duct. The wounded man was then conveyed to the
station house,. from where he was sent to
the Park Hospital. The physicians at that
institution pronounced the case hopeless last
night, and said that Hoban bleeding freely in
ternally. When brought to the Twenty-seventh
precinct station house the wounded man refused
to give any account OF the affair, and added that
he saw no pistol and did not think his brother had
shot him. The brother, however, when put into
the cell, said he had shot him, and used some very
strong language against the dying man. Consider.
able excitement was caused in the neienbOrhoOd
by the circumstance, and people Hooked In crowds
to the scene Of the shooting last night to speculate
on the possible cause OF 1t. Coroner Young has
charge OF the case.
Year: 1873

A correspondent gives to the Hopkins,
Nesc Era the following as a speech made
BY Gen. jackson. when he was yet poor
backwoods lawyer in Tennessee and un-
known to fame. He was employed to
prosecute negro for the murder of au-
other in a f. of jealousy, and bis speech
to the jury was the following paragraph:


mo more shall the voice of the poor
murdered man be heard in the songs of
the merry corn huskings. No more shall
he pluck the snowy sotton ball. No more
shall the forest resound with the echoes
Of his hunting horn as with his dogs he
chased the opossum and the coon. No
more shall his nimble feet keep time 10
the mEsic Of the harp as he paited juba
and ous the pigeon wing. That voice once
50 joyful is nsw hushed in death. Those
limbs once no agile are now rigid and still.
His body now lies upon the blood-stained
turf, with his big toe pointing up to the
blae arched vault of Heaven"
Year: 1873

There is now and then persen so stu
pid as to believe that advertisements in
the newspapers are not generally read,
and that money expended in advertising
is practically wasted. Even such will
concede that if a hundred men of polite
address, of fluent speech and ready wit
we're to call upon hundred others and
get the ear Of each long enough to say
John Smith, or Jones, or Thompson, at
such place, has such and such goods at
such prices, or would sell farm or house
and lot, or has lost horse or pocket>book
or would loan money, etc., We say, such
men will concede that the services Of this
hundred men would be of great value to
Smith or Jones, and in some manner ad-
vantageous to the party to whom this
statement was made, These one hundred
men could not be employed to 60 from
door to door, and make this statement to
ten thousand people at less than a cost
of several hundred dollars each trip. All
thisis done by the newspapers at cost of
few shillings, or few dollars at most,
and the visits are made each week after
week, and day after day. The messenger
who travels addresses himself to the ear,
ard takes the party addressed when he
may have his thoughts absorbed in bust
ness or other matters but the newspaper
reaches the party sought through the eye
when the reader has his thoughts solely
fixed upon the paper before him.


But those who affect to believe that
there is little use in advertising Urge as
an objection that the advertisements are
not read. They can easily be convinced
Of their error in this respect by making
inquiry. Let them insert an advertise
ment Offering to purchase some article
that is tolerably plenty in the market,
and they will be flooded with offers to sell
before the ink of the advertisement is dry.
An entel prising weekly that has circu-
lation OF one. two, or three thousand
copies is in a position to do the village
merchant great good, and for which, as
rule,the publisher does not get one-fourth
of what he justly deserves. In its sphere,
the weekly is Of quite as much service to
the advertiser as is the daily, and often
times enjoys the privilege of being the
exclusive family visitor, privilege the
daily seldom has.
Year: 1873

Oliver Wendell Holmes says this is the
way women prepare to play on the piano /:
at was a young woman with as many
white founcss round her as the planet
Saturn has rings, that did it. She gave
the music. stool twirl or two and buffed
down on it like twirl of soap-suds hand
basin. Then she pushed up her cuffs as il
she was going to fight for her champions
belt. Then she worked her wrists and
hands to timber m, suppose, and spread
out her fingers till they looked as though
they would pretty much cover the key
boards from the growing end down to
the little squeaky one. Those two hands
of hers made jump at the keys as if
they were acouple of tigers coming down
upon flock of black and white sheen,
and the piano gave great howl as if its
tail has been tread on. Dead stop-so
still you could hear your hair growing.
Then another howl, as il Che piano had
got two tails, and you had trod on both
Of 'em at once; and then grand clatter
and scramble, and strings of jumps, up
and down, back and forward, one hand
over the other, like stampede Of rats and
mice mora than like anything l call
music"
Year: 1873

We often hear little boys telling Of the
wonders they will do when they grow to
be men. They are looking and longing
for the time when they shall be large
enough to carry cane and wear q tall
hat and not one Of them will say that
he expects to be a poor mau, but that
every one intends to be rich. Now money
is very good in its place; but let us tell
you little boys, what is a great deal bet
ter than money, aud what yeu may be
earning all the time you are waiting to
grow large enough to earn fortune. The
Bible tells us that "a good name is rather
to be chosen than great ri ;bcs, an loving
favor rather than silver and gold" A
good name does not mean name for be-
ing the richest man in town, or for owning
the largest house. A good name for
wearing a pleasant face an6 carrying
cheerful heart; for always doing right, no
matter what we may be.
Year: 1873

Don't be afraid of little fun at home,
good people. Don't shutup your houses
lest the sun should fade your carpets,
and your hearts lest happy laugh
should shake down some OF the musty
cobwebs there. If you want to rum
your sons, let them think that ell mirth
and social enjoyment must be left on
the threshold when they come home at
night. When once home is regarded
as only place to eat, drink and sleep
in, the work is begun that ends in
gambling-houses and degradation.


Young people must have fun and re-
taxation somewhere. If they do not
find it at their own hearthstones, it will
be sought in other, and perhaps less
profitable places. Therefore let the fire
burn brightly at night, and make the
home ever delightful with all those lit
tie arts that parents so perfectly under
stand. Don'trepresst the buoyant spirits
of your children half an hour OF mer.
riment round the lamp and freight OF
home blots out the remembrance OF
many O care and annoyance during the
day, and the best safeguard they can
take with them into the world is the
unseen influence of bright little do
mestic sanctum.
Year: 1873

Some men seem to be sent into the
world for purposes of action only. Their
faculties are all strung up to toll and
enterprise; their spirit and their frame
are alike redolent of energy. They
pause and slumber like other men, but
It is only to recruit from actual fatigue
they occasionally want quiet, but only
as a refreshment to prepare them for re-
newed exertion, not as normal condl-
ton to be wished for or enjoyed tor
itself. They need rest, not repose.
They investigate and reflect, but only
to estimate the best means of attaining
their ends, or to measure the value OF
their undertaking against its cost; they
think, they never mediate. Their mis-,
sion, their enjoyment, the object and
condition of their existence, is work
they could not exist here without it;
tbey cannot conceive another life as de.
sirable without it. Their amount OF
vitality is beyond that Of ordinary men
thew are neyer to be seen doing nothing
when doing nothing else they are always
sleeping. Happy souls! Happy men,
at least
Year: 1873

Every night of the year an average OF
two hundred and sixty men and women,
outcasts of society, destitute strangers
and incorrigible vagrants find shelter
and rest in the various police station
houses of New York city. Seventy-hve
per cent. of these dodgers are undeserV-
ing of aid, but it is preferable to have
them under police surveillance at night
than to allow them to roam about the
streets and take advantage OF the care
lessness Of servants to commit petty
depredations. Ten per cent. OF the
worst class, as Investigations show, are
either professional mendicants or are
boarded by relatives, and in the course
of the year acquire knowledge OF every
station.house in the city. The rule in
station-houses has been, where the ap-
plicant for lodgings is known to be
undeserving and has for several nights
in succession been accommodated, 70
prefer charge of vagrancy against him
or her and let a magistrate act. Vicls-
situdes of trade and labor have much to
do in the winter months in filling the
station.houses with dodgers. OF the %
per cent. of honest dodgers the bulk
consists of strangers to the city looking
for employment and of migrants wait,
ing for funds from or intelligence OF
friends. There appears to be but little
inclination on the part of the ward de-.
tectives to become acquainted with and
classify the numerous petty thieves
who, when out of luck, claim the sta
tion.houses as their homes.
Year: 1873

Mr.. Turner, of England, will not
amuse his children next Christmas with
stories of Santa Claus because he is
disgusted with that fabulous person.
Last Christmas he determined to sur
prise the little ones by descending the
chimney and playing Santa Claus for
their benefit. So he dressed himself In
a fur overcoat, loaded up with toys,
went out on the roof and jumped into
the fue. When he was about halfway
down he stuck, and could goneither one
way nor the other. Then he began to
veil for help. Mrs. Turner's brother,
who lived in the house, thought it was
a burglar, and he fired both the barrels
of his gun up the chimney ut him. And
then Turner felt more dissatisfied than
at first. The neighbors thought from
the excitement that the chimney must
be on fire, and in ten minutes the fire
department was out, and sixteen half
inch streams were pouring down the
fiue on Turner. Then he wanted to get
out worse than ever. At last, when the
truth was known, they tried to lift him
out with O rope, but without avail and
eventually they were compelled to un-
build half of the upper part of the
house to release him. It cost him one
hundred pounds for repairs and wear
and tear of body and mind. And now
he don't care whether Christmas ever
comes or not.