smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

Blaines letters simply prove him to be
an inevitable stock dabbler, a passion
which his dignified position in the speak.
ers chair did not seem to allay. While
presiding over the House he performed
a service for his friend Fisher by getting
Logan to detach damaging amendment
from the Little Rock railroad bill and Sc.
curing the land grant for that organiza-
ton. His greed for gain caused him to
bore Fisher with repeated admonitions oi
the vast service he had performed for
him in that case, and he doubtless was
we'll paid at some time for his labor
Blaine is not a man to work gratuitously
he is too much of a Yankee.-COmie'
Ho,fyu1L
Year: 1876

We have no opposition to make to any
Presidential candidate in our parry, from
any of the States, and will support who
ever is nominated by the assembled De-
moCracy in convention, although we had
and have strong convictions as to whom
the party should present for the support
ofthe people of this great country for the
Presidency. We are, however, willing
to yield to the will of the majority, the
wisdom and good sense of the st. Louis
convention, and although it may not be
"Ohio's favorite son" we will be called
upon to support, we will raise his banner
to the breeze, and ask the people to rally
to the standard bearer of Democracy; for
to the Democratic party alone-as the
whole Republican organization has be-
come corrupt, beyond redemption--the
country can look for encouragement and
a surcease rom the present disastrous
condition of affair - Youngstown Tindi-
Gator
Year: 1876

Our County Commissioners at their
session last week reduced the county tax
levy one mill on. the dollar of valuation,
being reduction to the tax payers of
the county some forty thousand dollars,
compared with last year, We rejoice to
be able to record this.
Year: 1876

A correspondent wiring from
Hope Valley, under date OF Octo-
Der %, says: Showing very hard
in the valley. The snow is al
ready eight inches deep 1t is
showing at the rate Of two inches
per hour now. Fair prospects for
a big snow storm. Fears are en-.
tanned of great deal of stock per
ishing in the mountains if it con
tlnues 10 snow all day. We think
the snow is eighteen inches deep
on the mountain. There are sev.
eral large bands of sheep in the
mountain yet. Sheep are very
difficult to get out in the deep
snow. Two years ago to day they
started out of this valley with
their cattle and the snow was two
feet deer. 1t was with great dif
fculty that they got over the
mountains, but the sheep were oil
out before the storm.
Year: 1876

Many ridiculous patents have
been granted by the examining
committee Of the patent office
at Washington. The Wash
ington Chronicle mentions that
one man obtained a patent for n
combined plow and cannon, and
gives a ludicrous sketch Of


what might happen if the cam
non went off when the plow
was in use. y patent was gran
ted to another person-so says
the Chr0nicle-ior tying abrick
to cows tail, so as to prevent
her from switching her tail in
his eyes while milking. Anoth-
er received patent for placing
a house on rollers, so that it
could not be shaken to pieces in
case Of an earthquake. Any
one who has ever examined the
models in the patent Office will
recall others as curious as these.
Year: 1876

A young Ohio man had a sweet.
heart whose parents did not look
with favorable eyes upon his
suit. But the male parent had
the peculiarity Of drink, and this
young man knew It. So oue
evening not long ago he provided
himself with a bottle Of the bever-
age known under many names,
but which is commonly called
whisky, and repaired to the f4mily
dwelling. lie sat down socially
and produced the bottle and he
aud the father engaged in drink
and talk, which resulted in the
sale OF the daughter to the young
man for the sum Of FIVE cents


Then, lest the parent should so


Der tff and relent, a clergy man
was called immediately in and
the twain were united. Proba.
bly, the wife will find, as time slips
by, that her husband values her
at just about the purchase money
paid and will treat her according
ly. ...
Year: 1876

1t is stated in insurance cir


cles that the effect of the late
decision of the United States
Supreme Court in the Southern


Insurance cases reaches far wi


der than was at first supposed.


1t is said that the principle laid


down by the Court is such that


all parties who have taken out a
policy Of life Insurance and then
failed through one cause OF. an
other to continue the, payment
Of the premiums, can recover an
equitable value of the amounts
so paid by them. The compa-
MES, Of course, will not admit
that such a broad latitude OF
construction shall be given to
the opinion Of the Court, but
the probability is that, as this
view is taken by SO many of the
legal profession, considerable
additional litigation will grow
ont of the. matter.
Year: 1876

The Luzerne (Penn.) Leader


relates this incident: The ter


rible accident at the railroad


bridge at Pittston, by which


Robert Helme was almost in


stantly killed, is Of too recent a


date to have been forgotten by


our readers. The sorroWful
disaster brought to the home of
the deceased q terrible desola-
ton, and the wife who was left
to mourn his sudden loss was
nearly distracted. For many
days after her husband was
buried she continued to deplore
his death, and went nearly wild
whenever she thought Of it.
Her nights were passed in rest
less rawlings, and her days were
gloomy and cheerless. 1t was
feared by her friends that her
mind would become diseased if
her grief was not some way as
suaged. At last she dropped to
sleep one sunny afternoon, and
while thus at rest she dreamed
that her husband was coming
back to her, and, bending over
her, implanted a kiss upon her
brow. She askedhim to remain
with her, but he told her he
could not, thai he was too hap
py where he was, but that they
would meet again hereafter in
the better world. The vision
passed and she awoke. Since
then her thoughts have been at
rest, and she is thoroughly i'm
pressed with the belief that her
husband is happy and that she
will go to him when she comes
to lie down in the grave beside
him." -..-
Year: 1876

A man by the name Of Ford,
living in Lewis county, was III
dicted for keeping a dog and
failing TO pay the tax on him.
There was a motion to quash
the indictment upon the ground
that the act of the Legislature
taxing the owning, keeping or
harboring dog as a privilege
was unconstitutional. The fol-
lowing is the decision:


In the Circuit Court of Lew
is county. State of Tennessee
VS.. Ford.


It is insisted that the Act of


the Legislature Of this State,
known as the Dog Law, is un-
constitutional, so far as the own
ing Of a dog is declared priv
ilege and taxed as such. The
Constitution of this State, Arti-
Gle 2, Section 80, says;


"NO one species of property
from which a tax may be collec-
ted, shall be taxed higher than
any other species of property
of the same value. But the
Legislature shall have power to
tax merchants, peddlers, and
privileges in such manner as
they may from time to time di-
rect "


The Supreme Court have
from time to time, declared that
dogs were property, and that
for injuries to them the owner
had a remedy by action at law.
Then they are property accord
ing to our Supreme Court, and
it follows under our Constitu-
ton that they cannot be taxed
higher than any other species
Of property of the same value.
The Legislature shall have
power to tax privileges, but the
right to acquire and hold prop
erty cannot be taxed as a priv
ilege. 1t is an inalienable right.
But particular use Of any
kindOf property may be declared
a privilege-as the standing Of
a Jack for compensation, or
charging fees upon a billiard Ia
bic for the privilege of playing
thereon. But under the Act
known as the Dog Law, it is the
owning of the dog and not the
particular use of him that is
taxed. The keeping of dogs
is declared a privilege, Act 1875,
chapter 81, Section l, and eve
ry owner or harboyer of a dog
or dogs shall pay, &c. In my
opinion this act is unconstitu-
tional so far as it attempts to
tax the keeping, owning or har-
boring dogs as a privilege, and
L SO hold, and the indictment
will be quashed.


The Attorney General APP
pealed to the Supreme Court.
Year: 1876

Z


In the LondonDivorce Court,
lately, woman prayed for dis
solution of her marriage on the
ground that she was insane at
the time it took place. She
was then. SO prostrated with
grief at the loss Of her husband
as to lose her reason, and a man
in a much humber station of
life than herself persuaded her
10 marry him. She has since
been i'll an asylum but was now
sane. The evidence being per-
fectly satisfactory, the marriage
was dissolved.
Year: 1876

1t is to be hoped that fair
play and honesty will prevail,
and atiTilden and Hendricks
may be permitted to assume
their official duties peacefully.
Butt is arrant folly to attempt
to disguisethe fact that the ell
tire country is intensely appre-
hensiye of grave complications.
Year: 1876

Eight years ago a man in
poor health was put off train
on the Pennsylvania Railroad,
eight miles from Lancaster, be-
cause he would not pay one dol
lar and fifty cents over and a
love his fare for a seat in
sleeping ear there being no
room for him in any of the 9th
cr cars. He entered suit against
the company, and the other day
was awarded $3.50 damages.
Year: 1876

We now have the fall Of the
autumn leaf. Also the fall OF the
man who steps on it on the wet
pavement. A leaf no longer than
a ten cent note will get under the
heel of a man worth two hun
dred and thirteen thousand dol
lars and make him sit down so
sudd ,nly that the most particular
eye can't tell whether his hat or
his collar button flew the high
est.
Year: 1876

some proper method Of counting the
electoral votes The respect which the
Senate had for the House would lead It,
of course, to appoint committee as re-
aueSted, and the committee might super
sede the necessity for the passage OF thus
bill.


The resolution fixing the compensation
OF witnesses summoned before the Senate
or any OF its committees st three dollars
per day and five cents per mile each way
for travelling expenses was passed with
an amendment providing that witnesses
residing west OF the 10th meridian be
paved seven cents mile each way when
the place of their examination shall be
east of the Mississippi river.


Mr.. Edmunds called up the message
from the House announcing the passage
OF resolution providing for the sp-
pointment OF committee to act with
committee of the Senate, to devise some
way of counting the electoral vote, and
submitted a resolution referring the
message of the House to committee
to be composed of seven Senators, with
power to prepare and report without un-
necessary delay such measure as will Sc
cure lawful count and the best dlspo-
sition of all the questions concerned
Herewith, and said committee TO have
power to confer with the committee of
the House. Laid over till Monday and
ordered printed.


After Executive session, the Senate
adjourned.
Year: 1876

THE Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, which is under Republican control
refused to surrender their dispatch to the
House Investigating Committee. There
seems to be a very general desire to the
part OF the Radicals to conceal matters.
They are initiating the Silent Man in
the White House.
Year: 1876

ZACH. CHANDLER was once temper
snce lecturer. He travelled with his
brother. The brother would deliver the
lecture. ZACH. would get drunk and be
set on the stage as fearful warning to
the public against the evils of intemper-
apca
Year: 1876

TO RoT, OR Nor TO RoT.-Vietor Hugo
is to become President of "society for
the study and practice OF cremation"
He has, as usual, laid down great
truth for its Inspiration: "Man ought to
disappear, he ought not to rot"
Year: 1876

A MoHAhMEDAN Chinaman, accord
ing to the Shanghai Courier, who had
lately been married to woman to whom
no WAS fondly attached, fell sick and lay
at the point of death. The wife, in talk
ing farewell of he husband, clasped her
hands and swore never TO wed any ono
else when he was gone. For whiIo she
kept her vow. Suitors came and went,
but sho was constant, and it is probable
would have remained widow il Wang,
also hohammedan, had not become her
lover. Possibly neither he nor she had
read of the fate which attended the fair
lmogene when she was iaithcss to Il o
memory Of Alonzo the Bravo. One day
tho husband, on entering his wilo's room,
saw with perfect distinotness tho figure
ofh man sitting down, gazing ilXodly up
on her. The apparition seems to havo
been somewhat Objectionable to Wang,
for we are further told that he started
violently and asked his wilo whom she
was keeping company with ?" To which
the lady replied, Nobody" and Just
then the spirit vanished. Sorely per
picked Wang left the room and threw
himself on tho couch in the adjoining
chamber to sleep. But in tho middle OF
the night no was aroused by tremend
GUS bump IN his wife's apartment, sue
ceeded by screams, and hastoning to tho
door no found that she had fallen out of
bed, and that blood was flowing from her
nose and mouth. Nor was this all Tor
unfortunate Wang perceived that his
wife's reason had departed, and that, ap-
parently possessed by some strange spirit
she was addressing herself in the char
acter Of her husband, and pouring out
the most bitter denunciations of her own
conduct in having broken the vow sle
had made" A Thoist priest was sent
for TO exercise the ghost, but futile were
his charms and useless his sorceries. Mrs.
Wang had gone stark, staring mad, and
30 she remains.
Year: 1876

in this mornings REPUBLICAS contain, cards of


rst-class establishments in all braLches Of busi.
ness in the District. Many persons daily feel
the need Of Just such an arrangement to enable
them to easily hnd what they want. We have
aimed % make this as complete and easy Of
reference as possible and are sure that VIII be
frequeatly consulted by all having any klnd of
business totrensact We intend to keep 1t up In
q reliable and convenient form, and improve 1t
from time TO time. Any persons notrepresented
In IL, that would like to be, should send in their
cards at once, go ss to get an even start with
their neighbors in go desirable an advertising
medium, and one of such universal and constant
reference .as our large circulation among the
best classes must make Of this.
Year: 1876

About o'clock yesterday afternoon an alarm
was sounded from box 81, and the cause was a..
certained to be the discovery OF hrs in the laun-
dry of the residence-Of the Brl!ish Minister, at
the corner of Connecticut avenue and Twentieth
street. A pan Of wax used for laundry purposes
had taken fire and caused the alarm. The flames
were quickly extinguished without calling the
department into service, and with no other dam
age than the burning Of the wax.
Year: 1876

But since have listened to the address OF the
distinguished gentleman, whose eloquent perio1s
still tingle through every fibre and tissue Of our
souls and hold as under the spell Of some deli
cious enchantment, am satisfied you will agree
with me in the opinion that they have been guilty
OF q still more egregious blunder-one IN fact
which ought to be sufficient TO blast their reputa-
tion as literary caterers for all time to come-.he
miferable, objectionable mistake at festival
like the present, Of bringing on the bacon and
cabbage after we have had the Strawberries and
Ice cream. Laughter. II Is but charitable to
suppose, ana perhaps but justice to the gentle
men who invited me, to say that i am here to-
night purely by mistake. Laughter For
cannot imagine that they could have mad any
secret malice against me which they wished to
crafty BY inticng me into oae OF the most din.
cult and trying positions ever occupied in my
hfe--the humiliatiug predicament of being COM
PEELED to realize, to Its fullest extent, my own


UTTER AND AFFECT POVERTY


Of thought and expression when measured BY the
theme upon which am expected to speak For
what can / say Of the genius OF Robert Burns
which has not been already said thousand
times, and that, too, with an elegance, a beauty
and force Of dictIon far beyond the reach Of any
power that possess? What single thought can
suggest to any genuine lover Of his species
especially 10 those whose halcyon days were spent
on the "banks and braes o. bonnie Doom" or by
the elastic waters Of ''the winding Ayr"-that
Year: 1876

The throwing out of Mr.. Killian's bill to
legally affirm the right of every passenger on
the horse cars to seat for a fare shows that
the railroad lobby has been busily and, so
far, successfully at work. 1t is, indeed, pitt
able that by using arguments with two or
three of ''the boys" the member from
Squash county, the members for Squirtville
and Tadpoletown, and getting the mem
Der for Rings to keep out of the way, city
like New York should be left at the mercy of
grasping monopolies willing to pay the
price. OF the New York members of the
Committee on Railroads, to which Mr..
Killan's bill was referred Mr.. George Y.
Whitson is said to have gone over body and
soul to the monopolies while Nicholas
Muller kept out of the way when the vote
was taken. The adverse report of the
committee was accepted by the Assembly,
but this by no means need end the fight.
In the first place, Mr.. Killian's bill was de-
fective in not providing adequately for the
enforcement of the mo seat no fare" rule;
and although Mr. Killian was willing to
have it amended in accordance with the
draft of bill drawn up for Mr.. Bergh, no
steps were taken to that end The fact that
the adverse report on the Killian bill was
rushed through the Assembly in Mr..
Killian's absence shows that the majority of
the committee had carefully calculated their
time. The proposal now made to have the
bill discussed in Committee of the Whole
may bring out tho real feeling of the House
upon the subject, and will at any rate put i'll
the pillory of public scorn the members who
can provo so recreant to their trusts us
to choose in favor of the plundering horse
car companies and pickpockets of New York
against public decency and comfort. We
should like to see in full list of yeas and
nays the names of the creatures of the horse
car companies who are willing to say by
their vote that tho tired working girl, the
weary workingman and citizens generally
have no rights that the grasping monopolies
and the pickpockets, their allies i'll plumber
ing tho people, are bound to respect The
admirable draft of a bill submitted by Mr..
Bergh should be substituted for, or its main
provisions incorporated in, Mr.. Killian's bill.
Tho monopoies must be taught that ''con-
vincing" the majority of a committee is n
different thing from buying up an entire
Legislature, or else the Legislature must so
down to history rs the cheapest and most
contemplate of the line of iibels on law
making bodies that have earned the disgust
OF the people.
Year: 1876

would not be, but he could and would turn
the scale in favor of some honest rival of
sound views. Reform ought to be the para
mount issue, and we wish well to every
Presidential candidate who has a record as q
reformer. If Mr.. Tilden should develop
strength and become formidable his oppo-
nents would be forced to bring forward
a man of high integrity to compete with
him and we care not who the individual is
if the Convention will only nominate thor
oughly incorruptible man. For the same
reason we should be glad to see Mr.. Bristow
go into the Cincinnati Convention with a
strong support. We do not know that he
would make a good President, but if he
should grow formidable as a candidate no
republican of low moral tone would have
any chance for the nomination, or, at worst,
Mr.. Bristow's supporters could turn the
choice in favor of the least Objectionable of
his rivals We wish that every State con-
vention, of both parties alike, would pledge
its delegation to some citizen of high and
unquestionable probity, that the honest men
of each convention would combine to defeat
the trimmers and tricksters, and then let the
strongest of their own number win.
Year: 1876

For the production of the miasm to which
intermittent fever is due it is held that the
combined operation of heat and moisture on
vegetation is an essential condition. De-
cayed vegetable substances newly turned
over and exposed to the summer sun; excava-
tions made to depth beyond that reached
by the plough and which thus expose quanti-
ties of earth rich with vegetable mould; or
swamp lands whose grasses are covered by
water at one season of the year and exposed
to the sun at another-cases like these supply
the conditions for the production and ex-
tensive dissemination of miasm. In the
case of the ponds just drained at the Central
Park there were perhaps some elements of
danger. Pond beds may become so packed
with decayed vegetable substances that the
whole body of their water is q saturated solu-
tion of gases resulting from such decay, and
as the water is vaporized in the summer sun
the gases thus given off would be harmful.
But the case would be even worse if there
should be any considerable difference of
level at different seasons as matter sub
merged at one time would in the dry warm
weather of early autumn be thus exposed to
the scorching heat. 1t is a good precaution
that has been taken, therefore, in the clean
ing of these ponds. Some apprehensions
are expressed that disease may be caused by
the present exposure of the matter taken
from the bed of the ponds, which has been
used on lawns; but there is no danger in
such exposure without warmer days than
any we ever have in March. Mud taken
from the bed of a pond is not agreeable to
the nostrils in pleasure garden, and that
is an objection to such use of this substance,
but it cannot affect the public health.