smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

vibration due to q moving load like railway
train or the tramp of regiment. 1t sank
down under mere steady weight, and thereby
gave conclusive evidence of the criminal care
lessness of its builder.


The important matter now is, that there arc
hundreds. perhaps thousands, OF such tiimsy
death-traps on our rural highways. As our
correspondent points out, the weight under
which these bridges give way is almost GER
tain to consist largely of human beings, and
their fall of necessity involves loss OF life.
Prompt examination Of these bridges is the
fist measure of safety. A formula could
readily be constructed by which the carry
ing capacity of every bridge could be
ascertained, and that might be indicated by
an inscription upon the bridge, as 1t is with
every railway freight car. Structures which
are unfit to support their own weight, like
the Truesdell bridges, should be debarred
from use till effectually strengthened. After
these fpoInts have been secured by proper
legislation, it will be in order to consider the
propriety of ulterior measures. 1t may be de-
sirable to make it criminal offense for town
authorities to contract for structures that man
ifestly endanger human life.
Year: 1873

and that his creditors one and all, whether
they sold him palace, an advertisement or
fan, were ready to trust him. The man had
absolutely no capital but impudence and
audacity, and they knew it. He had not como
from abroad with factitious reputation as a
moneyed man; but in the sight Of them all
Quilted miserable little shop, where the
sheriff sold him out for two or three hundred
dollars, and opened business requiring q
capital of millions. The moral points itself.
These people expected to get their money
back again. Nobody, certainly, was minded
to confer marble dwellings,, antique bronzes,
coats, boots, or newspaper putting on him
gratis. They expected him to succeed because
they knew by experience that impu-
dence and audacity are as good CAPT.
tai as a man can have in the present condi-
ton of this country. They carry him but for
q short time, perhaps, but they do carry him.
They reckoned no doubt that chances were
that thisiadventurer, being, no doubt, a good.
natured as well as vain fellow, would pay his
first friends out of his first windfalls. That
they reckOned without their host is so much
more their fault than their misfortune, that
we really have no more sympathy with them
than their debtor.


The mere fact that such a career is possible
among 80 shrewd people as ours shows thai
there is something exceedingly rotten in the
state. When our rulers, men with great
reputation to endanger, are not proof against
temptation, why should not every petty broker
have his share Of the grab gamef
Year: 1873

The funeral ceremonies to-day over the
ashes of the great Chief Justice will show all
that the piety Of the living can do to honor
his memory. There will be little outward
pomp or parade. 1t would i'll beft the modest
habit and the moral grandeur of his life. But
city draped in mourning and nation thought
full over its loss will testify to the extent of
the popular appreciation Of this spOtless states
man.


Our crowded columns give some impress
sion of the universal response of regret
and homage awakened by the news of his
death. The regard for him knows no bound
aries of sect or party. The whole country
unites in grief for his loss and in pride for
his lofty career and example. The representa-
ton at his funeral will be almost universal
Opponents and friends will meet at his bier
with no further differences of opinion about
his place among our worthless. Every age will
be there, from the veterans whom he startled
with his calm and logical audacity genera
ton ago, to the youths who are just entering
upon political life whose conditions
have been SO ,yreatly changed by him.
There is no danger in funeral honors
paid to him. There is little possibility of ex-
aggeration. Here, at least, is a career which
may be praised without reserve, and Initiated,
as nearly as lesser men can approach 1t, with
out fear. He strove for noble ends in noble
ways, and all the glory and praise that can
now be heaped upon his name do honor to
the only country which could have produced
him. and the only one which can worthily
a Iifa lilo his
Year: 1873

A competent authority estimates the Vaiuo
of eight street railroad franchises In TINS Guy
at S1O,3O1 All. This is exclusive OF COURSE y,
the value of real estate, rolling-stocK' anu
other property. Yet these eight corporations
have acquired these lucrative franchises With
out paying one cent to the City or the state
Under a new system of legislation, such d
lavish gift of valuable privileges will be I'M
possible. We have begun to sell the right 10
use the streets for such purposes. corre-
spondent of THE TRIBUNE, in q letter pun
Iished on our fourth page, discusses the only
remedy which seems 20 be left for application
to the companies which have secured then
franchises and are bound to defend themselves
in possession. 1t is suggested that some
eouitable share of the earnings of the roads
should be paid into the City Treasury. ms
is not new proposition; but the manner OF
its presentation will attract the attention and
evoke tbe discussion which the subject de-
tnandG
Year: 1873

1t was supposed that the great number of
murder cases on the docket would prevent the
retrial of William NJ. Tweed during this Sum-
mer. But the vigorous young District-Attorney
has given notice of his intention to call this
great case on Monday next and another
long, tedious rehearsal of an old story may be
anticipated,
Year: 1873

All show of resistance ~ill be sternly put
down. And when that b done we suppose
Gen. Grant will have guaranteed to the State
republican form of government and protected
IL aoainst domestic violence.
Year: 1873

There might have been an investigation into
the alleged use of money to influence legisla-
ton on the Usury bill, in Albany, if each side
had not accused the other. Two Assemblymen,
at least, were eager to have an inquiry pushed !;
but one speaker was sure that the bribery had
been on the side of the friends of theibilL and
the other was equally positive that money had
been used to defeat it. Is not this little
farcicalH Of course, after such charge and
counter-charge, the Assembly was glad to hear
no more about an investigation.
Year: 1873

Indeed, / fancy. that the. truest maxim
must be applied with caution, and the con-
sideratlon of circumstances. And that all
proverbs are framed for general, rather
than particular direction.


Jane had been taught by precept and ex-
ample kind of thoroughness which is ex /.
cellent in its way, but fatal to the peace and
comfort of woman in ordinary circum-
stances, If she rigidly adheres TO it. My
wife and her sisters worked with the best
materials; they must have just the shade
of cotton, silk, thread, and these must be
just so fine or so coarse. Buttons must be
of just the right shade and of the most ap-
proved style. Braids must match the col
or of the material TO hair. 1t was the
poorest economy to use any save the best
trimmings In garment, and false judg-
ment TO buy anything but the best fabrics.
So Jane, in obedience to these maxims, had
worried and fretted herself over the work ;
ltspepdlng time and strength in matching
and hunting over stores in attempts to
match silk, buttons and braid, then work.
ing herself nearly to death, making up lost
time. BY the same means, also, stock of
sewing materials accumulated upon her
hands. Sometimes a certain shade of sew
ing silk was wanted for bit of trimming,
and dozen yards would be used, out of
one hundred; a similar call might not
come in lifetime. So spools of cotton
would be purchased to hem baby's apron,
and no further use for them, &C., &c. And
all the time the remains were gathering
buttons by scores of dozens, their use gone
by with the garments for which they were
designed, lay idle upon strings in out OF
the way boxes, in company with braids,
gimps, fringes and the like.


But the economical experiment must
have come from something in the air, since
my foolish pride in horsefesh and my in
dolence in the matter of walking, with my
wiie's adherence to vain traditions, receiv-
ed a shock so nearly together.


Be that as it may, we went on, not with
out demonstrating the truth of that other
proverb-about the first step being the one
which costs.


In year we had together gained mighty
victory over "sundries" and, as we said to
each other, were laying the foundations oil
our house in earnest. With all our self-de-
NAL and economy, we were never so little
pinched as now there had never been q
time since the babies came, when an extra
expense was so easy and cheerfully met
We could better afford some little excur.
sion, easier help some unusual distress
please and surprise each other, even though
we were saving for great object.


We had learned, though it took a long
lesson, what is true in so many directions
that freedom comes through victories gain
ed over self-indulgence. That the conques
of weakness and folly is the price of lber
ty.


And so, as I said at the beginning, my
idea is that, with small incomes, ones on
ly reliance must be on saving in small
things. And but for my wholesome dreat
of proverbs, 1 should adopt for strug
Cling families, take care of the cents ant
the dollars will take care of themselves -
The Ladies' Repository.
Year: 1873

COAL MINE DISASTER IN ENGLAND
Though England is subject to collery dis
asters, none perhaps has been more terri
BILE than the one which recently occurred al
Pelsall Hall Colliery. In this pit forty
miners were working, when an adjacent
and disused mine, full of water, which had
not been operated since forgotten times,
and whose existence was unknown, burst
its partition and swept through in resist
less flood into this busy hive. Several saw
ed their lives by swimming, and one man
had remarkable escape, being carried for
quarter of a mile underground clnging
to ladder. When taken out he was in
sensible Seventeen others escaped, but
there was no help for the other twenty-five.
The efforts to pump out the water contin-
ned for days, while around the edge of the
pit the wives and children Of the doomed
men gathered, rending the air with their
cries. The appearance of fire. damp left no
hope, but the women hoped against 1t.
There being Il superstition in the mines
that as long as the wife refrans from eat
ing the husband will remain alive, for days
tears were the only meat these poor women
fed upon, until in imminent danger oftheir
lives they consented to take bread, and
then all hope departed from the village.
Year: 1873

WEIGHTY WoRDs.-When Horace Gree
ley had brought to an end the revelations
he chose to make of his recollectons of his
busy life, he wrote these well weighed
words, which could hardly have been pen
ned by a man not conscious of having striv-
en- to serve his Master and his neiehbor
with singleness of heart:


"My life has been busy and anxious, but
not joyless. Whether it shall be prolong
ed few or more years, l am grateful 1t has
endured so long, and that it has abounded
in opportunities for good not wholly unlm-
proved, and in experiences of the nobler
as we'll as the baser impulses of human
nature. l have been spared to see the end
of great wrongs which once deemed in
vincible in this century, and to note the
silent upspringing and growth of princl-
pies and influences which hail as destin-
ed TO root ont some of the most fragrant
and pervadin evils that yet remain. re-
alize that each generation is destined TO
confront new and peculiar perils, to wres-
lie with temptations and seductions un-
known to its predecessors yet ] trust that
progress is the general law of our being,
and that the ills and woes of the future
shall be less crushing than those of the
bloody and hateful past So, looking calm
ly, yet humbly, for that close in my NOR
tai career which cannot be far distant, l
reverently thank God for the blessings
vouchsafed me in the past and with awe
that is not fear, and consciousness of de-
merit which does not exclude hope, await
the opening before my steps of the gates o.
the eternal world
Year: 1873

THE FLEA.-When a flea, under II micro
scope, is made to appear as large as an ele-
phant, we can see all the wonderful parts
of its formation, and are astonished to find
that il has a coat of armor much more COM
plete than ever warrior wore, and compos-
ed of strong, polished plates, fitted over
each other, each plate covered like tor
toise-shell and where they meet, hun
dreds of small quilts project, like those on
the back of porcupinc or hedgehog.
There are the arched neck, the bright eyes,
the transparent cases, piercers to puncture
the skin, a sucker to draw away the blood,
six long ,jointed legs, four of which are
folded on the breast, all ready at any mo-
ment to be thrown out with tremendous
force for that jump which bothers one
when he wants TO catch him and at the
end of each leg hooked claws, to enable
him to cling to whatever he lights upon. A
flea can jump hundred times its own
length, which is the same as If Il man
jumped five hundred feet and he can
draw load Two hundred times his own
weight.
Year: 1873

The diflculty that arose between the Police Com
missioners and the ST. Patrcks societies about the
line OF march to be pursued by the parade on the
18th inst was amicably settled yesterday. "a COM
mittee of the societies called upon the Board OF
Police yesterday and proposed that the parade
shoud adopt the line from Twenty-third street and
Second avenue to Second street and the Bowery,
to Canal street, to Centre,and thence to Chambers
where they will take the sidewalk and continue to
the City Hall Park entering by the last gate. Pass
ing through the park the column will go through
ingtOn monument, along Fourteenth street to
Ninth avenue, to Thirtyfourth street, and down 70
the Cooper Institute, where they will dsperse.
This arrangement being entirely satisfactory 10 the
Police Commissioners the affair was settled there
and them The details OF the proceedings ior tue
day were referred TO the superintendent of Ponce,
with pOWor
Year: 1873

An examination was held yesterday before JUS
tice Riley in the case of Aonzo Dec and his wife,
who were arrested on Saturday morning on q
charge Of setting fire to a small frame building In
which they kept a cigar store, on Myrtle avenue.
Smoke was seen by a policeman issuing from the
premises in question, an upon entering the place
kerosene oil and burning rags were found near a
wooden partition In the store. Dec, who Is an old
man and victim OF paralysis was found asleep In
an adjoining apartment. There was nothing ln
the evidence adduccd to criminate the accused,
and the case therefore dismissed.


There were twenty-eght fires In Brooklyn during
the month VI February.
Year: 1873

The Fate OF the Charter-Wnat Ii AhkeAy


To BE Done.


Governor Dix paid visit to the Mayors once at
the City Han yesterday afternoon. He was shown
into the private room of His Honor, and shortly
after the arrival Of the Governor Comptroller Green
was ushered in. The conference was strictly pr-
passage Of the New York city charter In the
Senate, to certain notifications desred
therein and to arrangements that were
necessary to be made for The accomplishment OF
those notifications. There is every reason to be-
lieve that the cooperation Of the Governor will be
obtaipcd in this direction and that action In rela-
ton thereto will be taken On the return OF Gov
ernOr Dix to Albany.
Year: 1873

The Board OF Assistant Aldermen met yesterday,
President Wade presiding.


The Board concurred with the Aldermen in the
adoption of resolution that the different street
railroad companies shall pay to the city FIVE per
cent OF their gross receipts, and also in the adOp
ton OF resolution authorizing the Board Of
Year: 1873




JERSEY Crr, January 3o.-Abou.
nine o'clock this morning . fire was
discovered in the tower OF . granite
building at Weehawken, known ss the
Steven Castle and occupied BY the
family of the late E. A. Steven. Tbs
fire was caused BY an over.hsated gal.
vauized pipe, and in spite Of the efforts
of the inmates it was found necessary
to sound the alarm. Engines from this
city were at once dispatched. but for .
long time spprehensions were felt that
the whole building would be destroyed.
The house stands on steep bill and
great difficulty was experienced in get
ting water to it the firemen being oh
liged to attach one hose to another, and
powerful pumps were attached before
the water could be thrown to the top OF
the tower. About two O'clock the
heavy wood cornice surrounding the
tower took fire and the fremen were
compelled to cut it away. The sides Of
the tower were also forced out, aud At
three o'clock the flames were nearly
subdued. Great damage WAS done to the
main building by the water, the walls
cracking and the carpets being satu.
rated. The damage will reach 10000
fully insured.
Year: 1873




New YoRK, January 3O.-A special
dispatch to the Timer from Port Deposit
says the severe freezing weather which
prevailed during the past forty-eight
hours has widened and deepened the
ice, forming q tremendous ice gorge ex-
tending to Wilson's Island, four miles
down the river past the town and
several miles up stream. The snow OF
Monday lies deep on the hill sides and
is stiff frozen. At one place on the
wharf the ice is sixteen feet high and
the water being fourteen feet deep is
filled to the bottom with q solid mass
of ice thirty-four feet thick. The pres.
sure of the stream 70 move it down is
not yet sufficient.


Nothing from the Alaska.


The officers OF the Pacific Mail Com-
pany have not yet received any intelli-
gence OF the missing steamer Alaska


Decidedly Cool.


About IL o'clock this morning q man
quietly walked into the Office Of the
city Sanitary Inspector, where numsr-
GUS health inspectors and clerks were
assembled. and coolly announced to
them that he had the smallpox. Verbal
information to that effect was hardly
necessary, as 8 glance at his face was
sufficient to show that he was suffering
from confluent smallpox in its worst
form. He was . German named Chris
tian Oberheiser, and said that he lived
on Staunton street The man was at
once sent to the hospital, and the rooms
OF the Health Inspector were thorough
ly disinfected.


Tweed's Trial.


Summing up in the Tweed case
which was continued to-day. John
Graham began his address to the jury
for the defense at half past ten. He
closed at the recess according to ar
and was followed by Ire
main in behalf of the prosecution. 1t
is not likely the case will 60 to the jury
to-day. Judge Davis will deliver his
charge tomorrow morning, when the
case will be given to the jury.


Increase I'm the Price OF Coal.
The members OF the Lehigh Coal
Exchange, which regulates the price
Of coal mined in the Lshigh region OF
Pennsylvania, adopted a schedule OF
prices Tor next month. The rev scale
shows an increase Of thirty five cents
per ton since the last meeting.
Year: 1873

Everybody round Detroit, says the
Free Press, has heard or seen Che .noto-
rious "MOllie Matches" young fellow
of thirty or thcreabonts, who had lifted
more 'leathers," than any pickpocket Of
his age in the country. A day or two
since "Matches" turned up missing,
and his pals in Windsor announced that
he had gone TO Savannah, Ga, TO see his
dying mother. IL seem that the thief
wanted to go 10 Chicago, and fearing
arrest ON this side, he disguised himself
as a clergyman, having OH the standing
collar, white choker, and double breast
ed black coat, a regular man Of the
cloth. A wig and pair Of spectacles
so changed his appearance that he was
safe, and for effect he carried along a
Bible. The fellow asserts that thus dis
gus d he talked with the officials Of the
ferry boat aud with policeman on this
side, and his questions were promptly
answered and his disguise unsuspected.
lie was in Chicago three days, going
about in the role of a minister, and it
is believed that he '1ifted enough green
banks to make the excursion profitable.
He started for home Tuesday evening,
while waiting in the depot for the train
to leave, he noticed portly good-tem-
pered man evidently with full wallet,
wiping his mouth as if it had just had a
drink Of something cheering. snatch
es" at once took the man aside and read
him a lecture on the sin Of swallowing
mint -julps and sweetencd brandy. The
man, who is reported TO be a Bos-
tonian, interested in the sugar-stave bus
mess, pleaded to have weakness which
should have been suppressed long ago,
but for family trouble, and the two soon
became well acquainted.


When the train started both occupied
the same seat, and their conversation
for the next three hours was on such
topics as u make a man feel nearer TO
that good place beyond the clouds
"SIatches1 finally introduced the SUBJ
ject of cholera morbus, in order TO get
back to the practical world, and he show
ed the stranger bottle of stuff which
he said had been put up for him i'll But
| falo. The Boston man tasted, and the
taste was so good that lac wished he had
the ''morbus'' little in order to cure it.
He was pressed to stake hold" as the
liquor was q preventive rather than a
cure, and up went the bottle again and
again. About midnight the Boston man
was picture of happiness. He slept
without a break until he reached De-
troit, and was then so stupid that if it
hadn't been for the preacher he might
have walked out of the wrong end OF
the depot. His intention was to &C
East with the other passengers, and
why he didn't is more than he can tell


He woke up at O'Clock in the Afternoon
t. find Ii nself in bed at small hote


on Woodbridge street west. 1t is need


less to say that he had been robbed o


his gold watch and wallet the latter con.
tanning several hundred dollars.
Year: 1873

r ..I ||I ~


When a woman puts three. mackerel
to soak in a disb-pan, whose sides are
eight inches high, aud leaves the pan ON
stairway, she has accomplished her
mission and should 60 hence. That was
what Division street woman did Fri
day night. Filled the pan At the pump
aud then left it standing on the steps Of
the porch, while she went into the next
house to see how many buttons would
be required TO 90 down the front Of q
redingotc. And a mighty important af-
fair that was, 10 be sure. And there
was her husband tearing through the
house in search of handkerchief, and
not finding il, of course And then he
rushed out into the yard, wondering
where on earth that woman could be,
and then started down the steps with
out seeing the pan, or dreaming that
any one could be so idiotic AS TO leave
it there. Of course he stepped on it; or
at least that is the supposition, as the
neighbors, who were brought out by the
crash that followed, saw Mortified man
and q dish-pan, aud three very demoIal-
lied mackerel, shooting across the gar
den, and smashing down the shrubbery.
and nice sight was that unhappy man,
when they got. him on his feet. There
wasn't dry thread ON him, and his hair
was full of bits of mackerel, and one Of
his shoulders was out of joint, and his
coat was split the whole length Of the
back, and he appeared to be out Of his
head. He was carried into the house
by some of the men and laid on bed,
] xrh In har a g.
teen women assembled in the front room
and talked in whispers about the inscru
table ways of Providence, and whatsa
warning this was to people who never
looked where they were going. D