smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

PROJECT FOR THE RELIEF OF THE SMITHS,


JONEsEs, BROWNS, RoBINsONs AND OTHERS.


To ire Edifor Of me Trtbune.


SIR: have taken the liberty to write you
in respect to subject Of seeming unimportance refer
10 the simple matter of the of persons. The sys-
TEN OF naming persons in English-spcakng coun-
tries, and the character of the names when
gven unlike most other matters which relate to our
daily use and interests, has been permitted
to follow its OF natural development.
We name the after the father, although usually
giving different baptsmal name. The consequence OF
this custom is that many names have become OF such
that they have almost lost the character Of
names at ALL as for instances Smith, Brown, Jones' john
son. Davis. Miller, ETC. There are persons In every COM
munty whom TO designate 1t is necessary to utter some
other qualifying term in order that the hearcr may under
stand who meant This Inconvenience Is felt by per-
sons who have the misfortune TO be bearers OF com
mon name and by those who have business relations with
them 1t will be necessary to sort OF prejudice
which exists against mans changing his name and
sort of false pride in adbering to ones name


do not feel competent suggest the method by which
it ought to be applied but it would seem that tins plan
might bring about the end desired namely, simply fOf
each male person old enough aud desiring to do So TO
select other and adopt it, or course, 1t VIII
be useless TO include women in this arrangement, as
they have already method by which they may change
their names The husband might adopt the name Of the
wife should that namo be preferable or as in
spain the husband and wife might each retain his and
her own name. and the children adopt whichever
name they might choose Of the two. SO lar
as the legal effect is concerned, 1t was held and
decided by the courts long ago that person may change
his or her name and adopt another at pleasure This is
personal privilege which the courts will not attempt
to abridge But to avoid any question the name might
be changed in the method provided Dy special statute
I'm every State and Territory The proceedings in
that would be preserved matter of record and
evidence of the change. might have said in connection
with the mention of the prejudice which exists against
the changing OF names, that if the measure proposed
could be made popular in any particular locality the
movement would sweep over the country.


ST. JOscph, HO Nov. 27, 1875. JOHN j. JONES.
Year: 1875




SIR: In its anxiety about third terms, Con-
gress ought forget the first term OF the keeper OF
the House say first for 1t Is to he taken
for granted that there will be change. No Democrat
could consistently permit opponent in politics to re-
main In this important and influential place, especially
when the majority OF them doubtless believe that the
prices present keeper have been chiefly responsible
for the fghtfu increase Of bribery during the last four
years and believe his pie to have been at the bottom Of
half unjust and yrannical acts passed by Republican
Congresses His successor ought to be chosen in pub
lie competition which the leading ladies OF the Democ-
racy should supervise They know the important part
the yiands OF the Capitol will play in the history OF the
country the next years and it Is their duty to
watch not to wait The luncheon OF Congressman is
far important to the country than the breakfast of
the foreman OF the jury was to Mr. Pckwck, and care
should be that the choice falls whose
hash is above suspicion and whose pie-erust Is not
crustaceous. LOBBY.


Washington, Dec II, 1875.
Year: 1875




SIR: 1t cannot be regarded as a proof of the
supremacy Of the present age that comparatively
little attention bestowed classical studies II
make OF but English books or If we do not
beyond the literature OF living nations there is danger Of
being affected with foreign faint; OF supporting
our intellectual existence by ament not perfectly suited
TO our condition. There particular reasons why
classic learning should be cultivated In this country,
ii IL q free nation and there should be limits to in
qury II desirable that the condition OF man in every
ago should be known; that human nature should be
studied under her it, aspects that every branch OF soc
cety and every form OF government should be under
stood Ancient literature has become the common prop
erty Of mankind and what better inheritance
can a country receive from tho ancient re-
pubes than the writings which contain the
thoughts and sentiments Of their finest minds
The noble characters which distinguished the varions
epochs the history OF the ancient republics have been
Justly held up for models OF imitation The most eminent
and distinguished men in OatOTy, poetry history, law.
etc. have been well yorsed In the languages, and have
had their minds early mbued with love Of these chaste
and polished models Of antiquity. Why then should not
the youth Of this age be s0licitOus 10 master them
Their acquaintance will be found to be attended with
great and permanent advantages among which IL Will be
sufficient barely mention their tendency TO Improve
the principal faculties of the mind and 10 beget purity
aud refinement Of taste that other Kind of learning
can bestow. J. II. u.


Neie- York, Dec. 20, 1875.
Year: 1875

CUSIOM-HOUSE DUES.


WHY SHOULD THEY NOT BE PAID IN LEGL TEN


DERs "A SCHEME or RESUMPTION.


70 the Editor Of The Tribune.


SIR: Is there any good reason why the Gov
.mment should not receive legal tenders in payment of
Custom.house duesi Everybody else is obliged by law
TO receive them in payment all debts and why not the
Government You would perhaps answer: III they ou
so receive them would they get the gold 10 pay
interest Oh the debt IL" My answer to this Is;
"Jnsi where the merchant gets lt-buy it UnGer
the present plan the Government is hcarder OF gold,
as also the merchant and the specuiator iof
day of Nav next legal tenders woud be received nv the
Government for all dues and Cancelled at the late OF
held Sy the Government and 6y individuals would bo
thrown upon the market, and the Government paper
With our bonds at premium upon all the the
be- an easy matter for the Secretary Of the Treas
nTy to arrange win LONDON pahne1 sle him 70 meet
his gold interest lie could do this by the sale bOnds,
instead of boarding as he does and thereby keeping
az the price OF article. which is his interest ana ts
interest OF the community al large TO S.V~ 70 "oiN
naturally aud in accordance with the laws OF 'raue


Ne,o- York, Dec. 4, 1870. ''


IIhe obligations to collect the customs revenues
IN gold gold certificates, and demand notes, ana 10
establish and maintain the Sinking Fund are imposed
ON the Government by Section of the Act OF Feb.
25. 1862, which authorized the issue OF the FlVe-
twenty bonds of 1862 If the United States were
weak nation like Peru or Italy, proposition 10 COZ
ec its duties in deprecated paper and to disregard
the Sinking Fund would be considered as step
toward reputation. We conceive that the superior
financial strength of the United States does not alter
the case. No one disputes that we can collect the
duties in gold and also raise thirty or forty millions
q year and apply it to the payment OF the PuOhc
Debt.


On the other hand, the collection of the duties IN
rreenbacks would not make the gold premium IN
the long run a particle lower The real support OF
the premium is the constant drain on our stock OF
that metal for expectation. Could the shipments OF
gold be stopped, the gold premium would very soon
disappear As the acceptance of greenbacks for
duties would have no tendency to turn the eX-
changes in our favor. gold would continue to be as
scarce and consequently dear ever. Less paper
and lower prices would favorably influence the ex-
changes and the destruction of million dollars IN
greenbacks each month. as our correspondent pro
poses. would infallibly lead to exporting more
and importing leSs.-Edl
Year: 1875

AN EXPERIENCE IN TRAVELLING IN EUROPE-LACK


or KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORICAL PERsoNAGEs-


NEEDED TRAINING.


TO the razor Of The Tribune.


SIR: am but can old woman" and not a
very cultivated one for In the days Of my youth girls
did not command the vast educational opportunities
which are now one OF this country's proudcst boasts
And having reached that blessed stage Of
when ignorance least recognizes in how much II de-
ncicnt-being moreover, deeply interested in womans
educationI have been watching the gradual enlarge
ment OF her horizons and rejoicing the fast increas
Ing number Of semnaries, colleges and universities
which have offered welcome to students Nor
have fallen very short Of that state Of happy national
concet which rests exultingy the declaration that
American women are the best educated in the world.


But last year 1 was brought down forcibly, and not
very pleasantly from the Nights Of this persuasion and
made to realize that In direction at least this much
Dossted education amounts 70 amentaby little. had
Year: 1875

HOW THE FATAL LADDER WAS CoNSTRUCTED-A NEW


THEORY OF THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.


To the Edit0r OF The Trt6uRe.


SIR: The New-YOrk papers have commented
with moro or less severity the OF the ScotUda
aerial ladder which resulted last month in serious aeci
dent The Abbot Downing Company, makers OF the ladders


felt that any suggestion their the Coroners
inques would be improper, tending TO prejudice iu
dical investigation, and submitted to good deal Of
MISREPRESENTATION ia the hope that the manner OF CON
strucon and OF the accident would be made clear
In that investigation. regret to say that either the
facts were not brought out by the Coroner the evil
that the ladders made from certain draw
ings aud specifications furnished by the Fire De-
partment in which every detail wns carefully and
Innutey described including the kint OF wood to be
used the and shape OF each piece Of wood and ron
as well as the size of the rungs aud holes The Com
many contracted build the ladders in accordance with
those plans and specifications and did so build then
from the best material and in thorough and workman
like manner This was distinctly testified TO at the in
quest by the officers OF the Fire Department, without
single exception. Spruce designated in those
specifications the wood to be used and the size OF each
piece was distinctly stated When the ladder is raised
fastened 10 the opposite end OF the truck from that
which the ladder rests II from movement The
force applied the lever prevents the ladder from
descending and the guy ropes prevent IL from swaying
In the opposite direction


AZ the result OF the Company's inquiries into the
causes Of the disaster was found that at the time OF
the trial of the ladder the Chief Of Battalion Mr. Nash
was ut near the top. The ladder had been. raised
Year: 1875

To the Editor Of The Tribune.


SIR: Seeing an account in THE TRIBUNE Of
the discovery OF "eherio force" leads me to relate
similar experience Last year powerful eectromagnet
was bdilt in the workshop OF laboratory. II was
with little disgust that found ourselves able TO
make with tho experiments described by Dr. Beard In
THE TRIBUNE Of Dec. o. The coils of wire surrounding
Year: 1875

WHIsKERED.-One of the lady immi-
grants who arrived from the East by
yesterday mornings train, says the Sac
ramento Record Union OF last Saturday,
attracted more attention at the depot than
any one else, in consequence of wearing
chin whiskers, of beautiful auburn and
about two inches in length, and very
good match for those of her husband. If
it had not been for the fact that she was
caring for nursing infant, many would
have been inclined to believe that she
was ne.
Year: 1875

CHARLES NoRDHoFF was sent by the
Herald to Fall River, to report upon the
conflict between the mill owners and op-
orators and concludes letter as follows !:
The operatives are mere machines
they are not fellow beings. No doubt
this manufacturer is a representative OF
the respectabiity' of Fall River. Seven
families control the whole industries of
the place, and they are all of a kind.
They are deacons in the churches, run
the town, direct the way the laborers
shall vote, and pray on Sunday for the
salvation Of sinners All the correspond
ents Of monopoly sheets that can be raked
together cannot excuse the conduct of
capitalists who hold on to a doctrine which
is brutal and tyranncal. The strike of
the operatives was very unwise and tool
ish; bat the sooner such men as control
the industries of Fall River are subdued
by a powerful trades organization the
better it will be for mankind"
Year: 1875

Nor less than 100000 worth of oysters
will be sold from the Shoalwater bay beds
this season, the gathering and moving OF
them forming one Of the chief industries
of Washington Territory.
Year: 1875

Reason should teach us that n blOtchy,
rough or pimplcd skin depends entirely
upon an internal cause, and no outward
application can ever cure the defect.
Nrvetinp is the great blood purifier
Year: 1875

One of a troupe of minstroIs,
after playing piece of music, said
that it was his favorite-that he had
played it to the admiration Of large
audiences. Said he "On one oc-
casion my friends intended &c ex
press their appreciation of it b
showering flowers upon me. They
could not get the flowers, but got
eggs rs substitute. When l played
my piece the house was so crowded
that they could not hand them to
me--so they just threw them at me.
One Of them hit mo square on the
nosc--and III bet ten dollars that
the hen that laid that egg was not
in u healthy state"
Year: 1875

The call for meeting of the DEM
ocratic executive committee of this
county, on Wednesday, resulted in a
failure. They failed to get a quorum,
and hence nothing was done. There
is general dissatisfaction and objection
to the call made by Mr.. O'Neal, as
chairman of the committee for this
district, for district convention. The
people will have none of it. A pri-
mary election is all they will allow,
and we believe that the majority favor
an independent decentralization
Leader.
Year: 1875

The city council Of Houston de
clines TO entertain the old veterans
and the Telegraph, in its modification
and indignation, calls upon the citizens
10 come forward and treat the old vets
with the hospitality they deserve.
Year: 1875

West Church festival commences this evening
and will continue tomorrow evening. The Elm
Street Baptist in the City Hall and the Brandy
wine NJ. E. festival in the church will continue
ali Il G week
Year: 1875

wealth. OF hate years, however, the
Experience of the adventurous element,
restless in older communities and longs
ing for legitimate fields of industry;
has led to the deliberate consideration
Of chances and possibilities. It is not
likely to be led by All ignis fatuus,
even in pursuit of gold The solid
and certain basis of our mineral wealth
affords no possibility for deception:
The miueral deposits Of Montana are
richer than any other country. Expe-
rience and experiment have demon
strated it. These facts are becoming
notorious, and men of the character al.
luded to are morally certain to select
it in the long run as .affording the
most reasonable prospects for the ac-
cumulation of competence and wealth.
An essential need of Montana is a.
meads OF making these facts familiar
to the public. We have no immigra-
tion society. We have published no
statistics. Information is wanted, and
there is no avenue pointed out through
which to supply it. These are draw
backs that should be corrected. five
enter rightly into the field of competi-
ton for population and industry we
are sure to get it.
Year: 1875

had mother you have never known
how good it was to have her take you
in her lap when you had stubbed your
toe, and hear her say:


Poor one-don't cry!"


When my boy or girl comes home
from school, tears falling and chin
quivering because some one has snub-
bed them, or because the teacher has
been cross or the lessons hard, I know
what they want take them on my
knee, smooth their hair back and say:


"rm sorry. 1t used to be SO when
Twas child, and know how hard it
is. But, never mind; some day we'll
have our horses and carriages, keep
hired girls, five coachmen, live in a
palace, and the sun will rise on our
front stoop and set in our back yard"


1t helps them at once, and it isn't
ten minutes before Small Plea is play.
ing horse with the table-leg. and Long
Primer is singing yankee Doodle to
her doll


II does me good, man though l am,
to have old Mrs. Harrison come over
to our house She hardly gets her
nose inside the door before she cx-
claims:


my soul alive! Why, what als
you"


Nothing" reply.


"But you look pale; you are writing
too much; you poor man-you'll be i'll
your grave in month if you don't
take better care Of yourscf,'


| know in my own mind that my
health is good; that | sleep well; that
my ribs are accumulating fat, but new
er,hcless it does me good 10 hear her
go on rs she does. If | were boy of
ten or twelve, Id fall from tree or
&c; halfdrowncd just for the sake OF
seeing her wipe her eyes on the cor
ncr Of her check apron, and hearing
her say:


Poor boy. I'd give a thousand dol
lars to take your pain away"


Mr.. Cooper is one Of my sort of mon.
| If woman comes to him with tears
III her eyes, and says that her cow is
dead, or her boy is sick, or she can't
paw her taxes, he doesn't lean back and
20 to figuring the interest on fifty cents
for five years, or wondering if he can't
take an advantage and get a mortgage
on her little home 1t would do you
good to see the dimplc in his fat chin
grow deeper, and his big bosom swell
as he strikes his knee with his fist and
exclaims: "l'm glad YOU come to me
first, I'll 20 right out this minute and
sec about it. TO home, my good wo-
man, and don't you shed another tear!'


meet few other such men. Ill
they como across lad wailing over
cold toes. or fall, or a beating, they
viii stop, pat him on the head, and 10y
speaking a. dozen kind words they will
make the boy almost believe that he
lives under a new sun and in new
country. /" ii@


/ When sckncss or fire or food comes
/ like a man to knock at my door and
inquire if he can be of any use. 1t he
can do me favor ! shall ever feel
grateful: if there is nothing for him to
do, feel grateful for his offer, and
almost wish that he had some trouble
80 that could offer my purse and my
services.


Isay hang a man who skulks along
in the fence corners for fear that some
one will want to borrow dime OF him,
or will ask his strength for moment
to help roll log away. The Lord put
us here to help each other-to work
Year: 1875

There have been added to the feet during the
year one small prope Her Of about thirty tons,
commissioned for duty In the harbor and Day Oh
revenue cruisers on the Atlantic coast, and, at
the same time, are specially used in connection
with the ife-saying Service. Plans and specifca-
tions have also been prepared and proposals in
yited for the construction of a small steamer for
harbor duty at Philadelphia. The steamer
authorized to be built for the Pacific coast Is we'll
advanced, and 1t is expected will be ready 70 20
into commission next season.
Year: 1875

The Belfast Me, Journal tells how
an enterprising woman is making money
there: sit is not on that article of diet
made by the our grandmothers that we
are to speak, but pancake of a less di-
gestible nature manufactured at the Bel
fast shoe factory. Nothing in the shape
of leather is allowed to go to waste in
that Institution. Even the shavings
from the sole leather have their use, and
from them the pancakes are made These
shavings are placed upon table before
the operatives, who separate and careful
ly spread them ont within small cast
ing with paste, in layers, like raisins in
a box-frst leather, then paste, and the
whole Patted down compactly. When a
cake is completed, it is about one foot in
length, four inches wide, and half an
inch in thickness. They are then laid
away TO dry, and in three or four days are
ready for use, which is to be cut up into
inner heel lifts. Their manufacture is
not very pleasant job, as the girls who
make them are up to their elbows in
paste. When the factory first started,
this work was given to Alma House at
four cents per cake. She became 40 ex-
pert that she could easily make 100 per
day. Being an enterprising woman, and
seeing money ahead, she contracted
with the proprietors for the sole manu-
facture, at four cents apiece, and then
hired help. To-day she has an apart
ment off the sale-room, and employs six
women, who turn out from 300 to 400 a
dav
Year: 1875

According to Beaudemoulin, If a
quantity of dry sand be placed in box
of thin sheet-iron, or even in a canvas
bag, and subjected to slight compress
sion, it forms a mass capable of resist
ing pressure of sixty tons, without
breaking or even straining the envelope
The sand, however, remains perfectly
divisible, 40 that if small hole be
made in the box or bag it will flow slow
ly, and with SO little force that even a
small piece of paper pasted over the op-
ening will check the flow. even with the
sixty tons weight upon it. NJ. Bean
demoulin thinks this discovery may be
utilized for building purposes, since the
filled boxes need merely be held in place
by framework; while being very thick.
they would form n protection for dwell
ings against variations Of Temperature.
Such walls, moreover would be fire.
proof 1t is also suggested that for low
ering heavy buildings, or even entire
buildings, which by change Of street
levels, have been left too high above the
roadway, the sand -bags could be placed
beneath, and their contents allowed
gradually to escape, thus letting the
load slowly settle down.
Year: 1875

Tree culture in the United States is
becoming quite extensive. Under the
act Of Congress offering one hundred
and sixty acres of land TO any person
who would plant forty acres Of them to
trees and cultivate them for eight years,
about one thousand one hundred per-
sons, il is stated. had taken up one hun
dred and seventy thousand acres of land
in Minnesota, up to January. BY the
effort of the State and private and asso-
ciated effort, it is estimated that twenty
million trees are now growing in Mime
sofa, besides those planted under the
Congressional act. A report on the sub
ject says that the cost Of planting and
cultivation is marveIlously small, in
many cases not exceeding from two TO
Eve cents a tree. The artificial culture
of trees is coming more and more in
vogue in California, and the demand
for young trees to set out, this spring, is
said to be very large.
Year: 1875




MONEY AND THE MAGPIE.-An old
woman in Wales, who was known to be
possessed of money, died and left only
two pence halfpenny to be found in the
house. This occasioned great suspicion
of poor girl who lived with her, and
who solemnly declared that she knew
nothing of her mistress affair. While
the relations were examining her mag
pie which the old woman kept repeated
ly cried, "I'Il hide more yet-I'll hide
mere yet," striking his bill against the
floor in one place 30 often that he at
tracted notice, and carpenter was sent
for to take up the plank. II was fasten-
ed with well-co1cealed spring. and
more than a9O0 was found under it.
Year: 1875

In our opinion, man and wife should
carry separate pocket books. Nine cases
out of ten, the wife does as much to-
ward enriching the household as the
husband does himself; but, even if she
didn't-she is bone of his bone and flesh
of his flesh. His money is partly hers;
and why not grant her certain portion
of his income-say ten or fifteen per
cent, to be all hers. The average man
who spends fifty cents day for cigars,
beer, and other luxuries, is very apt to
whine when his wife requests him to
hand over five dollars for some needed
purpose. They may all talk as they
please. but we firmly believe man is
more extravagant than woman-and
twice as selfish. To our mind, the spec
tacle of woman being compelled to
go to the man to get money TO make
him a present with, is humiliating in
the extreme. Give your wife as much
per week as you would servant, al
least. And yes we know of men who
would stand aghast at the idea Of giving
their wives what they give the colored
cook, who doesn't do half the work
and that not half so well.-[C Columbus
Gazette.