smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

The letter of DR.. S. G.. Howe, which we publish


to-day, is the first authoritative announcement


of a scheme destined, as we believe to end in


very important results. 1t explains nothing


more than the formation of a commercial


partnership for a lease of the Peninsula and


Bay of Samana; but it is evident that the
merchant adventures who have embarked in
this enterprise do not bound their ambition


by the control of few square miles of fertile
land and the ownership of certain coal sheds


Once in possession of the only commOdiOus
harbor and the only important trading port of
the Dominican Republic, the whole country
lies before them, and the proprietary rights of
the present weak and bankrupt government
are Certain sooner or later to fall into their
hands. Whatever wealth the Dominican side
of the island possesses, whatever capabilities of
production it has to be developed, will doubt
less belong if ali goes well, to the energetic
and spirited men who have secured this
immensely valuable concession. Possibly
the history of the great English and
Dutch trading companies which achieved
such wonderful projects in the East Indies is
to be repeated among the Western isles. The
transfer of title deeds to land may be Only
the first step in the transfer of sovereignty
and the modest factory" wherein tropical
fruits, and sugar. and coffee, and dye-stuffs,
are bartered for cotton prints and hardware,
may be the cradle of new political State.
At all events, we may take it for granted that
this scheme, If it lacks some of the romantic
spirit of adventure and the dazzling possbili-
ties which tempted the founders of the British
empire III Hindostan and the rich colonies Of
the Netherlands in the islands of the Pacific,
does really point to the establishment of
controlling American influence not only in
SANTANA Bay, not only in the Republic of Santo
Domingo. but throughout the West Indian
and the building uD of CONNER
Year: 1873




We make no apology for printing another
private letter in regard to the dsquieting state
of things which exists in Louisiana. The
writer is a merchant of high character and
position, taking no interest in politics except
that which must be taken by every citizen
who sees the safeguards of life and property
threatened by lawlessness and disorder He
insists upon a point too much neglected by
the one side and sedulously Obscured by the
other. that the issue in that State is no
wretched quarrel of Kellogg and Warmoth,
but question In which the very existence of
legal government is at stake. 1t is disastrous
to the unfortunate people of Louisiana that the
country has passed so recently through
an exciting electoral campaign. The public
mind has had q surfeit of contention, and
takes only languid interest in anything
resembling political strife. 1t is therefore
difficult to make people see that this gross
illegality and usurpation Of Federal officers in
Louisiana Is pure anarchy and nothing less
At this hour there is no law, properly speak
ing, in that important State. Judge Durell
and the officers of the Cust0m-house are the
only standards of legality or justice left to
Year: 1873

There ATE few Of us that cannot recall an
hour when we gazed wistfully into the sky,
watching some slow-moying cloud and wishing
to dwell forever in its feecy depths. But to
all of us resident in this and adjoining cities,
whether we Were Of airy mind, or prided our
selves on being practical" there came yes
terday the experience of dwelling in cloud
land. Leaving the matutinal buckwheat and
mocha, we stepped forth into a world of
white. While yet our infants pressed their
noses against the window-pane, We, becoming
as ghOstly as our surroundings, faded into nor
very thin air. So rarely does il hapnen
to as to be thus involved, that wo
do not learn TO regard thick foes with
due complacency. The Londoner knows their
value. He has found that with them comes a
hearty appetite. To the ladies' they bring the
blessing of fair soft complexion; in fact if
it were not for the danger that they might be.
Year: 1873

lost in it., we should advise all our young
women to make it point to promenade in .
fog. People who profess 10 know, say that
herein is the reason why British danes retain
their bloom 40 much longer than ours--wbo
only walk abroad when they can be seen OK
all men. We may also recommend walk In
fog as a cheap substitute for an ocean trip.
Ii is about the same thing as seeing London


A considerable surface OF snow, with little
wind, and temperature above freezing point,
may at any time supply the conditions tor
satuTating the air with moisture. IL Is found
that snow thus melting in sunshine will give
humidity TO the air above il more rapidly than
water in any other condition If the upper
strata Of air thus become supersaturated, tho
material is provided for rain or snow; If tho
lower strata, fog or dew. Even though all
the other conditions were provided to furnish
us with fog, our frequent western winds
must usually drive it away; but excepting
such morning mists as may blow in from the
ocean and disappear under the warmth OF the
sun, these white -robed visitors must always be
exceptional in New-York There has not been
one lasting an entire day for some years. The
causes which bring fogs in Winter are, how
II,
barbor. Ferries are dismal enough in fog;
tiresome enough if obstructed by ice but
when some slight thaw brings fog and ice to-
gether, the impatient crowd that trampS about
on the ferry-boat and peers sullenly into tho
vacancy around it, grows gloomier than an
army of undertakers.


We are firm in the conviction that the Ill
wind that blows nobody any good has not
yet been discovered by the Signal Service
observers. Whether it was the temperature
or the pressure of the air that was Lowered
enough to precipitate all this moisture upon
us, we know not but we feel certain that
somebody was benefited by it. No doubt the
streets were in horrible plight, but as there
is no hope that all the snow could be oarted
away from them, let us rejoice that the fog
helped to melt it. Your Observant skater viii
tell you that fog melts ice faster than rain.
Your philosopher might suggest that
this is because the fog particles, being
more subdivided than rain-drops, part
with their heat more readily. Besides.
rain might have Occasioned great
damage by flooding. Moreover, our good
readers who pay their debts and take The
TRIBUNE regularly must recOllect that all
cannot be so fortunate. There are some
who do not ply. There was poor Harold
Skimpole, who could only walk in certain
streets where he did not owe the shop
keepers. TO gentlemen in his position,
fog through which the heaviest creditor could
not see might afford the liberty Of the whole
city. We have no doubt tho men who tolled
the bells so dolefully all day at the ferries got
extra pay for their services. At least they de-





shippers when beating gOngs to drive away tho
demons of the air. There is still another
class that was profted: somebody makes
steam whistles and fog-hOrns, of which many
must have been worn out yesterday.
Year: 1873




Two enviOus editors, one in New-York and
the other in Brooklyn, who apparently spend
all their waking hours in inventing stories
about this new spaper, instead of looking after
their own have recently published an unusual
fiction, as malicious as it is prepOsterous,
concerning the business and the ownership OF
THE TRIBUNE. The libel being plain, and the
intent to injure our business transparent
we purpose to give them just
twenty-four hours for an explicit
and absolute retraction. The counsel Of
THE TRIBUNE has instructions this morning
to advise Mr.. Henry c. Bowen and his New
York echo of the falsity of their publications and
request immediate correction. That falling be Is
instructed to institute immediate proceedings
for libel We propose to have a little less
falsehood hereafter retailed by rivals about
THE TRIBUNE, or to make it expensive.


Meantime, we have only to say to our patrons
that since the announcement that the principles
of Mr.. Creeley's card were not to be aban-
doned in The conduct of The TRIBUNE,
our business has shown marked
improvement in all its branches, that the sub
scriptions to the Weekly and Seml-Weekly
have especially increased, and that the latter,
in particular, has already, this year, passed
the highest figure it has ever heretofore at
tanned,
Year: 1873

OUTETING SUSPICIOUS By SUPPRESSIONS


The Brooklyn Bridge Company proved itself
q very close corporation yesterday by declining
to make public the important reports rejecting
on the management which it il well known
have been submitted, and for fortnight or
more have been kept secret. We have under
stood that this delay was had in order to give
the management, which has been charged with
Irregularities, an opportunity to offer it's defense
before any charge was made public. This we
believe to be only fair, and have 80 stated.
But any disposition totally to suppress
these reports, and keep the facts from
the taxpayers Of the two cities so largely in
terested in this work, will bring upon the
heads of the management worse condemna-
ton than they are likely to get for past
offenses.


Let them explain if they can; nothing can
gratify this public more than to learn that
work executed with such encouraging rapidity
has been conducted economically and hon.
estly. But to conceal the facts, if the facts
be to the contrary, is to augment the
original oifense, incitc to more searching
and suspicious investigation, and in the end
add to the penalty to be inflicted for the
crime, if crime there has been.


There is little doubt in our minds that tho
affairs of the Brooklyn Bridge Company need
investigation. The Committee of Fifty,
abOring as it did under all sorts of difficulties,
convinced itself many months ago that there
was something wrong there. Its members
were laughed at as "old fogies" who
knew nothing Of the modern city and its in
creasing needs; they were unsupported by
the citizens for whom they voluntarily labOred;
they were obstructed in their inquiries by the
officials who ought, as honest officials, to have
courted investigation. They were old-old men
who had grown tOprosperity as well as age in tho
City of Churches, who were identified with it's
growth and welfare, and were particularly in
terested as large taxpayers in securing cheap
and honest government. They represented no
local political clique or general political party
they had no constituency except the people
they served gratis and without hope of office,
for the first principle under which they organ


lied forbade their acceptance of any public
position. 1t is to this reviled Committee of
patient taxpayers that Brooklyn is indebted
for the little it knows and the much it sus
poets Of the msmanagement Of the affairs of
the Bridge Company, and it may have TO re-
sort to it for further information. 1t cannot
be concealed that these suspicious are
grave and they will not be quieted by any
process of suppressing facts which the people
have right TO possess. The wiser and
safer plan is to let us know now exactly what
the trouble is, and then we may look for 3
remedy.
Year: 1873

Now that gold-bearing quartz has once more
been discovered in Alaska (as they say. we
may give up the pineapples and bananas
which were to come from that favored cline.
We must look, it appears, for our domestic
tropical fruit further south in the Pacific.
Year: 1873

The verdict in the Stokes case will doubt
less be reached tomorrow, and the long and
tedious trial be forever ended; for whether
the verdict be acquittal or disagreement OF
the jury, it will probably never be tried again.
Year: 1873

Happily the absurd claim of the Board OF
Supervisors that they continue to exist beyond
the time for which they were elected will be
settled before they can do much mischief, by
the organization Of the new Board.
Year: 1873

From Arkansas and Louisiana trouble is
reported likely to culminate in violence on
Monday next. In Arkansas, it is said there is
a movement to attempt the Inauguration OF
Government by those who have been ruled out
by the State Canvassing Board. A similar
crisis is threatened in Louisiana. In neither of
these cases is any such precipitation of con-
flict justiliable or warranted
Year: 1873

So many complications are thrown around
the dispute between the Controller and Cham
beraIn that the main point at issue threatens
to become lost. Whatever the merits of
either side, and however the dispute may
be settled, we trust the Controller will not
fail to insist that the interest on the public
funds shall go to the city and not to any bank
whatever.
Year: 1873

The Atlantic cable, with its accustomed
attentiveness, tells us what The London Times
thinks of the annexation of the Sandwich
Islands. 1t is opposed to flibustering in the
abstract; believes that the Islands are in a
fair way to be peopled by Americans; and
looks with disfavOr on any nation taking pos
session of Hawaii by force. The inference is,
that while we may not capture the Hawaiian
Kingdom by filibustering expedition, quiet
taking possession by peaceful settlement
would not be a specially reprehensible pro-
ceeding In the guise of this last-named
scheme we are likely to have the annexation
question broached. Of course, the sailing of
a powerful American war-steamer for Homo
lulu is only acknowledgements with the
state of affairs in the Islands; and the de-
parture of three British war-vessels for the
same port may be equally without reference
to the orphanage of the poor little Kingdom
in the midst of the Pacific. But it is pretty
certain that no sort of American annexation
scheme will long exist in Honolulu without
the vigorous remonstrances of other nations.
Year: 1873

There is some encouragement in the state
ment that the doors of the Credit Mobiier
Investigation Committee will be opened when
the Committee assemble next week. 1t was
great error to make the examination secret !;
no adequate excuse was ever offered for such
a course; and the sooner the blunder is recti-
fed the better for al concerned. If the Com
Inittee do not see this and act accordingly, the
House must order the doors opened; the SEN
timent of the public is unmistakably and
wholly against the dark-lantern inquisition.
If the developments clear the inculpated Con-
gressmen, let the world know It, If not-well
in any case let III the light.
Year: 1873




CoLoNBL B. 4. DUvAL-In reply
to yours of the nineteenth ulti-
mo, which ! have been unable to
answer sooner, by reason Of great press
of business, have to state that it is my
opinion that the payment to the sheriff
of any tax in tressurer's warrants, for
which they were not In law receivable,
is no satisfaction or payment of the
taxes, and that the lien therefor, and
the right to collect such taxes in money
lawfully receivable, is in no wise effect
ed thereby. The sheriff, in the collec-
ton Of taxes, is but the agent of the
state, county, or municipality to which
the tax belongs, His powers and duties
are fixed and prescribed by law,
which the taxpayer is as much
bound to know as the sheriff.
If the taxpayer and sheriff, act
ing under the mistaken idea as
to what funds are receivable for any
particular tax, or under the provisions
of law which is void, the one pays and
the other receives in satisfaction Of such
tax funds which are not In law receiv-
able therefor, this il no payment of the
tax, and does not eXtinguish the right Of
the State, county or municipality to
demand and collect the tax thus at
tempted to be paid, in funds lawfully
receivable therefor. If, then, the rights
of that power to which the tax belongs
are not taken away, neither is the right
of the sheriff, who is but the agent to
demand that which belongs to his prin-
cipal, and which, by virtue of his
authority, he Is only entitled to receive
in such funds as will legally satisfy and
pay off the demands Of his principal.
In demanding the payment of a tax
which had before been attempted to be
paid in funds not receivable in funds
receivable, the sheriff Is not acting in his
own right, but in fiduciary capacity,
and is not to be estopped by his former
action. To eXtinguish the tax, there
must be q payment of the tax In such
fund as the law authorizes to be received
by, and such as the law requires to be
received into the treasury from the sher-
iff. The law requires the taxpayer to
pay his taxes, and it is the payment,
and not the receipt OF the sheriff, that
satisfies the demand. | take it, then,
that your sheriff may collect in funds to
be received in the treasury, which the
law requires, all taxes which have been
paid to him in treasHrer's warrants, when
such warrants we're not by law reeeiv-
able la payment thereof, and may,
when such taxes are not paid in lawful
funds, distram personal property or re-
turn the lands delinquent. II the law is
otherwise, it will work very great oppres-
sion. The effect would be that q
sheriff who, supposing II to be receiva-
bic, had taken treasureG'g warrants,
which were worth but fifty cents on the
dollar, would be compelled TO pay into
Year: 1873

4AASSltAAEEAs


Special TO the Appeal


JACKSON, March 21.-The senate Oc-
eupied the day squabbling over the bill
relative to county boards of equalization.


The house was occupied on the school
bill, which was lost, by As to As. A sub
stitute providing that the office of coun-
ty superintendent be elective caused a
lively debate.


The report of the subsidy committee
was made the special order for Tuesday.
The attorney general was on the floor
during the debate on the subject, calm
aud unruffied as eeis in a frying-pan.
The subject promises interesting reading
matter, to be continued with the history
of the State superintendent of education
and his little speculation in maps. 1t is
a matter Of regret that these two wor-
thies are not on good terms, as in this
their dire need great consolation might
be given each other.
Year: 1873

SOMETHING OF GsoRcE Euor's PERSONAL
ArPEAR,NcE That George Eliot Is what She
thus reveals herself to be, probably only a
few of our readers know. With a nature
keeny alive to the charms of physical beauty
in all its forms. and II great capacity Of low
ing as woman loves man, and of being loved
as woman loves % be loved of man, she is
50 unfortunate in her personal appearance
that she will not allow her photograph To be
given to the world. even if She has consented
to have it taken. Her face lacks even that
charm which is sometimes given to the ugli-
est features by an expression Of intelligence
or kindliness. Nor Is the gentleman-Nlr.
George Lewes-whose name she bears through
the courtesy of her friends, without having
a legal claim to it. a much more attractive
person than herself. while his manner Is said
to be as forbidding a. his face These are
the conditions of her life here, and to these
she adds despair of happiness or recompense
to man beyond the grave. Surely here is
enough to account for no little of that gloom
and deep bitterness which is diiiused over all
she great-souled woman although
She plainly Is. And here we notice re-
markable coincidcnce-that the two greatest
living novelists, one in English and the other
in French literature, as two women who
came before the world with the male pseu-
donyme of George, which they have both re-
tanned through all their several careers tha
beth are without the consolation of religion


faith; that they have both had bitter expc
rience in their sexual relations. and w.


''learned in sorrow what they taught


song - and that both have in those relation
not according to the statute in such ~


made and provided. Let Us add, however
that in the case of the lady known as George
Eliot, Miss Evans and Mrs. Lewes, it is ad
mitted on all hands that, Notwithstanding
her lack of legal claim to the recognition Of
a wife, no one would have one whit more
real respect for her il she had been married
by the archbishop of Canterbury in West
minister Abbey.-R. q. White.
Year: 1873

After referring to the announcement in
the Sentinel of the nomination of Bradley
Barlow for Governor by Albert Clarke, the
Woodstock Post takes the trouble to say
that the Senfinei - carefully abstains from
indicating a preference, and accura tely bal
ances itself on the fence" The Post then
also " carefully abstained from indicating a
preference. and now, with so much addi-
tional weight upon that same = fence,
perhaps we better get down; and, as our
Woodstock friend seems to be considerably
concerned to know how We stand, in order
to relieve his anxiety, we will inform him,
that if the contest should be confined to a
choice between Messrs. Barlow and Park,
we should prefer the Franklin county man.
1t is, however, a long while before the next
State election, and it is not improbable that
between this time and that time, other gen
tlemen, equally as capable as these two
may allow their friends to present then
names for the chief magistraey of the State
Wait, and we shall see what we shall See
Richford Sentinel.
Year: 1873

The avaricious man is often the victim OF
his own greed. A Peoria boy had two
lunches of fire-crackers given him on the
Fourth, which he crammed into his pocket,
but noticing another lying idle on the side
walk he crammed that in with the rest. II
CHANGED that the vital spark was present in
the soul Of that idle cracker, and suddenly
that boy became the busiest youth in all
that town. There were about $50 distinct
explosions in that pocket, and at each one
he turned two double summersaults and
shrieked with terror. When quiet was al
length restored he clapped his hand upon
the scorched and lacerated ruins Of one,
healthy abdomen, and groaned his disappro-
baton of the Pilgrim fathers for ever estab
fishing free country.