smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

Annual Report OF the Comm sioners-


The East Side Land.


The Park Commissioners OF Brooklyn are pre- par
ing their report Of the work done on the varieus
parks during the past year. The following are
among the main features Of the report:-In con-
sequence Of the last 100000 OF the $2,0 900
appropriated by the Legislature toward the beauti-
flying and embeishing Of Prospect Park being
nearly used up the work is going along slowly and
many improvements which the Commissioners
have in view must necessarily be laid over until
such time as the citizens Of Brooklyn see nt to
assist in the completion OF park superior in its
present state and natural advantages to anything
OF the kind on the Continent.


There is some planting yet to be done on the
south and west sides OF the Park and on Lookout
Hill ere the work for 1873 be completed; but that
cannot be done till the proper time comes, which
Is during the month OF October. The question has
been asked frequently Of the Commissioners and
on1cials when the work ON the Park will be COM
pleted. Two very important features OF the embel-
lishment are not yet CONNIE enced-vz., the erection
OF the hotel and refcctory the south side OF
inc DC
These buildings will be OF elaborate design and,
naturally, expensive. The plans OF them were pub


In addition TO these is the consideration OF build
ing q wall around the Park OF substantial and
nandsome stone, tue present common wooden
fence being not only out nf place in connection
with the general appearance OF the Park ITSELF
but even offensive to the eye after having looked
At some Of the interior work which engineering
skill and good taste have produced.


The Commissioners viii offer for sale the east
side land, consisting Of 1T acres, or 1404 lots,
lying east Of fatbush avenue, as soon as q favor
able market presents itself These lots WILL 1t is
claimed, realize 81 500 each In a short time, and
the sum total OF q successful sale would be
sufficient to insure the completion Of the Park.
The Mayor ism favor OF letting the land in ques-
ton remain idle for year or two. Comptroller
Schroeder and President Stranahan, OF the Park
Commission, coincide in this view OF the propriety
OF delaying the sale until the panic has passed
AWAY and the market is ripe.
Year: 1873

Important 10 Insurance Companlcs-


Action on . Policy.


Before Judge Curtis.


Jacob Goldman vs. The Fremans Fund Insurance
Company.--This action was brought BY plaintiff to
recover upon Q policy OF insurance. 1t appears
that at time stated, as alleged by plaintiff, nre
broke out In the dwelling house in which he re-
sided, and his personal property, consisting Of
clothing and furniture, wasl destroyed. He was
insured to the extent OF 5000. Defendant denied
the damage to the goods, denied the value OF the
same, and set up that the plaintiff was guilty OF
fraud IN his sworn statement to the insurance COM
pany, and that thereby the policy became vitiated
under the express terms Of the instrument


Judge Curtis charged the jury that IL was tncum-
bent on the pantif TO estaosh the identity OF the
property destroyed with that mentioned In the
policy, to show the value OF the same and the con-
seguent loss BY the 1re. The law presumes the In
nOcence OF every man until his guilt is established,
and the burden OF proof is on the defendant cor.
legged, false and fraudulent return to the insur-
snce company. The general rule OF law that gov
erns in that behalf IL that the jury must be satisfied
that the plaintiff wilfully, with intent to defraud,
made the statement and swore TO 1t that mere
error IN judgment, an honest mistake In the alb
OF intent to defraud, would not bar his right
OF recovery for such an amount as he had SHOWN
his loss to be-


The jury retired, and after an absence of about
lows:-Jury say they cannot agree tnat they have
stood eleven to one since they went out and the
one is SO pgheaded that he is not fitted to bs on
jury.n But in about half an hour alter this extra
ordinary communication TO the Court they came in
with verdict for plaintin in $780,
Year: 1873

The seizure and sale of cotton in the Ell
forccment of agricultural liens is now the
chief business of the merchants and law off
GERS of Abbeville 1t is proving to the farm
ers the most distressing period of this year o.
financial disaster and trouble. If it does moi
totally ruin this whole class, it will give them
a lesson that will prove Of great benefit to the
whole community in the future.


1t seems that no amount of reasoning OF
logic will do any good in this matter. The
farmers still persist in the suicidal policy Of
making large crops of cotton. Year after
year the same error has been repeated, apd the
truth must at last force itself upon the mind
of every rejecting person that the idea Of
growing rich on King Cotton is fancful and
delusive.


Last spring, when the crop was pitched and
the whole country "smelt rank to heaven" we
predicted the result which has been realized.
Next year, unless radical and general change
is made, we will be in still more distressing
condition. The present crop will scarcely be
sufficient to pay up for advances. TO pay a
merchant two per cent. per month on advan-
ces when a profit of twenty-five or fifty per
cent has already been added to the original
cost, will soon swallow up bale of cotton.
This being gone, and nothing left with which
to provide for his family or the necessary
stock, the farmer enters upon the new year
with rather a gloomy outlook. Stripped of
the years labor, what is he to do? Notwith-
standing the enormous profits Of the last few
years, the provision merchants will not be
able to give indulgence. About the only rem
edy is to SOW wheat, oats, and other grain, and
plant corn, potatoes and vegetables, so as to
the staple at ten cents, any one can pay two
per cent. on advances and twenty-five per
cent. profit, put up with the uncertain labor of
the present day-vex his soul, waste his time,
and spend his money for peace warrants and
ejectments in the dusty courts of odious trial
justices-then let him plant cotton to his
hearts content.


This is subject of such grave Importance
to all of us, that we may again revert to it.
AbbepMe Medium.
Year: 1873

A SAILORS DESCRIPTION OF HIS WIFE
A sailor who was recently married, gives the
following description of his bride and her ap-
pare, which we think will put some of the
"society'' papers to the blush: "My wife is
just as handsome craft as ever left the milli-
merry dry-docks; is clipper built, and with
figure head not often seen on small craft.
Her length of keel is five feet eight inches,
over all FIVE feet eleven inches; displaces
twenty-seven cubic feet ofair; Of light draught
which adds to her speed in the ballroom ; full
in the waist, spars trim. At the time we were
splced she was newly rugged fore and aft, with
standing rigging oflace and flowers, mainsail
part silk, with forestry sail of Valenciennes.
Her frame was of the best steel, covered with
silk, with whalebone stauncheons This rig
ging is intended for fair weather cruising I
am told that in running down the street before
the wind, she answers the helm beautifully,
and can turn around in her own length if
handsomer craft passes her."
Year: 1873

READY MoNEY.-Keep ready money on
hand if you can. No matter if it is little
sum. fit is only sufficient for the current
expenses, it is a great convenience to say the
least. Any one who has tried and compared
the credit with the cash system, will readily
admit the correctness of the above remark.
When you buy for cash you generally get
things cheaper--get better weight and meas
ure, and all the favors the dealer can extend
to his patrons. On the chronic credit system,
the matter is usually reversed. If you try
to avoid credit by borrowing, you improve
matters very little, if any. Hence we give
this advice, "Turn an honest penny" whenev-
er you can, and always have sufficient
money on hand to meet your small engage
ments
Year: 1873

We presume there are few of our
agricultural readers whOat some period
have not heartily anathematized the
mOles. Although these little animals
do considerable amount of good in
killing insects and worms which would
destroy grain, they more than counter
balance the benefits they confer upon
the farmer by the injuries they intiiet
upon the work of the gardener. They
appear to have a taste for the choicest
bulbs and for the roots of the rarest
flowers, while their tracks very speed
lily ruin the appearance Of smooth and
neatly kept lawns.


The Patent Office records show that
plenty Of inventive genius has been
expended in attempts to devise an
efficient mole trap. As soon as fresh
mole run is found, indicated of course
BY ridge on the surface of the ground,
hole should be dug and a large sized
ordinary flower pot set therein. Over
the top of this receptacle, a piece of
board Is placed, leaving a space Of
about three inches between it and the
edge of the pot, so that dirt from above
will not fall into the latter. The open
ings of the run lead, as represented,
into this space. The earth is replaced
and the surface of the ground restored.
The mole, in following his usual road
blindly, comes to the Orifiee leading to
the pot, inSO which he iDeOntinently
tumbles. As he is unable to crawl up
the sides or burrow through the hard
earthenware, he decides to remain and
wait for assistance, which generally
comes in the shape of gardener aud
a rat terrier The transactions of the
mole with the last mentioned of this
pair are such as TO destroy his taste for
bulbs or for future mining investiga-
tions.


In using this device, we caught seven
moles on the first day aud three on the
second day after sitting. Since then
we have captured one occasionally.
The result is a marked improyementin
the. aspect of our lawn and flower
beds. The trap was eontriyed BY
George Becker, gardner in Llewellyn
Park, Orange, n. j.. and is not patent
ed.
Year: 1873

LONG SERMONs.-The Early county
News man had this to say of long SER
mons We do not like long sermons /;
never saw any one who did; but many
people are afraid to say so. Sermons
should be good, but it is a rare
case for long sermon to be good
Throughout. They are scarcely more
entertaining than long editorials in
country newspapers. The advantage,
if any there be, is Oil the side of edi-
tOrials, for we can read them, as we
may elect; but, if caught by long SER
mon. between the pulpit aud the door,
we have no remedy but to hear it.
Year: 1873

a LITTLE boy born very far north
entreated his mother to tell him some
stories ABOUT bad boys, and upon her
expressing astonishment. said he want
ed to find out how they got out Of
scrapes.
Year: 1873

The THEATRE.-It is really great treat to
see such acting as that which the charming
Miss Gray afforded her rather slim audience
at the Theatre last night. She is an artist,
and it is pity that her reception here has
not been more cordial. 1t Is but just to say
that her support has improved considerably.
The play last night was Frou Frou, and of
course Miss Gray took the principal charac-
ter, which she sustained with degree of
grace and spirit that drew forth the warmest
and most enthusiastic applause.


Mr. Hggins's Sartoys was capital; but the
acting OF Mr. Pearson, Mr.. Barry, Miss
Mary Simpson-indeed, the acting of all the
company-was very good. At the conclusion
of the fourth act Miss Gray was called to the
front of the stage and handsomely compli-
mented by her appreciative audience.


Tonight the New Magdalen will be pre-.
sented, and tomorrow Miss Gray will take
u benefit, on which occasion she will appear
in Article At. The roaring farce of Sally
Scraggs will also be produced.


On Saturday there will be grand family
matinee, Which, of course, will be we'll pa
tronized.
Year: 1873

HABEAs CORPUS CAsE.-Lucien Ford,
charged with attempting 10 pass an order
which is supposed to be forged, will appear
before the Hastings Court this morning on
o writ of habeas corpus. The case, it is
said, involves the jurisdiction Of the Police
lustice.
Year: 1873

ACCIDENT AT RACCooN PITs.-Tuesday
morning colored man by the name of Da
vid Stokes, employed in Raccoon pit by Mr.
John Smith, a contractor, while endeavorina
to cut his task Of coal, was very badly mashed
by the coal falling out of the roof upon him
Il is supposed he is not dangerously hurt.
Year: 1873

In Vermont farmers derive their wealth
from several sources 1t IS seldom that a
iaI1ncr engages i'll one branch of farming
to the exclusion of all others. But what
department he pays the most attention to
depends in Il considerable decree upon the
relative price Of the different productions
of his farm. Notwithstanding this tluct,,-
alton, however, buttcr-makino has ever
been extensively carried on in this State.
Or course when butter is very low there is
a shifting TO something else. to return
when the price advances. But people
here are beginning to learn that if the
quality of their butter is right the price
will be correspondingly high. There was
a time when nearly every man expected
to get as much for his butter rs his neigh
hor. but that time has passed The butter
dealer IS beginning 10 realize that if he
would get the highest prices he must have
the best quality of butter. and there is no
such thing as decciyin@ his customers bv
irving to impose upon them an inferior
article. II has been customary ioi most
all large dairymen to keep their butter
until fall. so aS to pet 4 larger price for it .
hlt think IN 50 doing the butter has moi
been of so good a quality as it would have
been If it had been carried to market i'm
mcdlatelH after it was made. Some are
learning this fact and are sending their
butter to market weekly receiving as
much on even moro than they have
been accustomed to in the fall If this
plan can be generally adopted. much Ness
poor butter will be crowded upon olr
markets to be urged upon buyers at any
price they may choose to give


DaiNmen are also being aroused t. the
Importance OF trying 10 improve the quail
lty OF their butter by taking more pains in
rs manufacture. Large pans are intro
doced. holding the milking of as many as
twenty COWS, so arranged that icc-water
can How under the bottom and round the
sides OF the pans, cooling The milk, and
keeping II nj a more even temperature
during the hot season. BY this plan more
cream lS realized and better butter is made
besides saving an immense amount Of
extra labor required whom small pans are
IN use. improvements are being made IL
dairy rooms. and the coolest and most con
Ncnrhl place being selected for summer
use. But the end is not vet Good butter
Is a good thing, and the consumer is send
ing back TO the producer the cry for better
butter, for which he will pay a better
price, Let all heed the crY.
Year: 1873

\ MODERN MAEIAE When only 4 few
week ago, The cholera was raging in the
Sums of Berlin, a young physician scarce
" past his thittieth year, made himself re-
marked by the boldness and per5istency
with which he entered the infected quarter,
and the apparent recklessnesS with which
he exposed himself to the contagion. 1t is
worth while hat his name should be re-
corded and we'll remembered. 1t was Otto
Obermeir He had another object besides
that of relieving and if possible, curing,
the poor creatures whom he visited he
proposed to himself to investigate, in the
presence Of the living pestilencc itself, its
causes and its development. At last, the
brave Young soul thought that he had dis
covered the clue; and, with a heroism
as far above the heroism Of the battlefield
as it is nobler to sacrifice ones self to save
men than to destroy them, he resolved to
test his discovery upon himself. 1t was an
awful experiment; Obermeir knew full
well that he stakeG his life against the
hope of conquering the cholera. Obtain
ing from one of his patients some Of the
deadly cholera germs, he went deliberate
" to his room, placed q table with pencil
and paper al his bedside, lay calmly down
upon the bed, opened vein in his arm,
and inserted the deadly poison. He
thought he had discovered how to neutral
ize it; if so, man was master of the pesti-
lence forever more. But he was wrong,
and the error was fatal. He lived seven
hours, and then died; but during those
seven dy ing hours the young hero observed
with scientific eXactness, the effects and
progress of the disease upon him, and one
after another he noted his observations
down, until within the very half-hour when
the spirit left the body. These notes are
pronounced to have the highest value, ano
will serve the commission with new facts
the first importance; and 50 the dying
legacy Of Otto Obermeir may, after all
lead to the victory which he condemned
himself to Self-destruction in trying tC
achieve. [Appletons' journal,
Year: 1873

A lady took her son, of some five years,
to church After the minister had been
preaching about half an hour, the little
fellow grew sleepy and begun to nod. The
mother reused him into attention several
times by pushing but it seemed hope
less1case, she concluded to let him sleep
undisturbed. After while the little fellow
had his nap out. looked up in his mothers
face and innocently asked, Mother, is il
this Sunday night, or is it next Sunday
niUht o.
Year: 1873

One of the most heart-rending stories OF
the year comes from Fond du Lac. y
Young lady was passing through 4 piece
of ground adjoining Il farm house with her
lover, when the girl was attacked by
savage dog Before her lover could pro
tect her the dog had seized her by the
breast and tore the breast from her body
When the young man saw the dog shak-
inc a portion of the body Of his intended
he tainted away The Young lady, how
ever, did not faint. She was 50 mortified
that she seized fence rail and went for
that dog, and she pounded him until he
laid still When her lover recovered, the
young woman was trying to hide one of
the wire screens that people put over
plates to keep the flies off. 1t seems that
the dog didn't draw blood, owing to the
fashions at Fond du Lac, which 1t IS need
less to describe However there is great
excitement at Fond du Lac, and the young
man has broken off his engagement and
has bought that dog-what there is left OF
him, and he is going to set him again.
fla Crosse (Wis) Democrat.
Year: 1873

A gentleman of mechanical turn took
off his gas-meter to repair it himself and
put it on again upside down. AT the END
of the quarter it was proved with arthmet-
ical correctness that the gas company
owed him eight dollars and ttty-seven
cents
Year: 1873

L,Jy Principals for the City Schools


We print this morning a report submit
ted 10 the Board Of Education some eight
months ago. covering the question OF put
ting the public schools Of tho city into the
hands ol lady principals. The document
is both interesting and important and we
may say it was not pubIished at the time
only b ecause it escaped our attention. 1t
shows q very great pFepOnderance Of tes'
tImony in favor OF lady principals, and
greatly strengthens the case OF those
Who propose them Tor the schools OF
this city. Upon this report the Board OF
Education allowed Clay township school
to employ Miss MEHoLIN as principal, at
$500, with an assistant at the usual price
of$44O. This very inadequate compensa'
tion she consented to take for year TO
demonstrate that as good work can be done
by a woman as by man. The grammar
school OF Clay for this year has cost 5000
less, while the reports show as good work
or better, than any other school in the
city. Then, why should not Miss ME-
uOLlN be paid ms much as the other prin-
cipalsY If they receive $l,1OO, why
should not she have the same! Or if
she IS to have but $500, why should they
have morcS We should be pleased 10
have somebody "render reason" II there
Is any. There is ono kind Of woman's
rights we believe in most emphatically,
and that Is her right to be paid as well for
the same work as a man is paid.
II there Is to bG any discrimination, 1t
ought 10 be in her favor, not against her.
The whole world Is open TO u man. He
needs only courage anG capacity to carve
his way anywhere Not so with woman.
The vocations which social usage allows
her 10 enter are few and not often remu-
neratlve. Teaching is one for which she
Is peculiarly fitted. A woman of brains
and education is nine times in ten better
teacher than man Of the same mental
caliber and requirements. Why refuse
such woman the opportunity TO do the
work she is fitted for? And granting it,
why pay her half price for doing itS Or
why pay man double price for doing 1t
no better?


At the rate Of saving effected this year
10 Clay township, there would be saving
in the district OF 81 200 year. The facts
warrant the Board ol Education in en-
largiug their experiment We mean no
disparagement Of the male principals, but
want 10 see tho ladies compete with them
IN equal terms; and II the latter can afford
tn take the places for something less than
the &, 100 now paid, and do the work as
well as It Is now Gone, We sec no sR1cient
reason why they should not be allowed
10 do so. The cost OF tuition in this city,
as shown per capita in this report, is too
large. II there Is any way to reduce 1t,
without impairing tho efficiency OF the
schools, It ought to be done.
Year: 1873

George n. Sanders, a gentleman
who figured extensively before the wal
in New York city politics, and during
that eventful period, as a commissioner
for the COnfederacy, whose cause he
espoused from the first of its existence
is dead. So the telegraph informs US
and farther, that the sad event took
place at his residence in New York, and
was occasioned by heart-disease. Mr.
Sanders was essentially politician, and
never failed to make friends by bon
, homie Of manner that few could resist,
and which proved in the end bar to
bis reaching a position to which his
abilities otherwise entitled him. We
DO not believe that he ever was
a sybarite, but he was known
as a bon UiUant and "good fellow" !"
and it was also known that under it all
he concealed a talent for politics that
earned him pre-eminence in the coterie,
Of which Sickles and others were men,
bers, and which ruled the New York
Democracy for many years. Mr..
Sanders was one of the persons ac-
cused by Secretary Seward of try
ing TO infect New York with small
pox, but no one ever believed it of him;
and perhaps the great secretary was
the first to regret charging the jolly,
gOod-natuTed Democrat with a crime he
was as far removed from as any man in
the world
Year: 1873

were struggling in the water. Those
who saw the occurrence shouted the
alarm, and number Of men ran to the
river bank trying TO find a boat to row
out to the rescue. No craft could lie
procured, and the spectators were COM
PEELED to witness e awful spectacle of
seeing men drowning before their eyes,
aud no means OF assistance being avail
able. Four of the seven succeeded in
reaching the shore. but three were
drowned. A large crowd soon collected,
and a search was made for the bodies,
but at late hour last night only one
had been recovered. This was the Ie-
mains Of a man named NJ. Murray a
native of Ireland, aged about twenty
eight years. One of the other victims
was a man named Egan, and the third
was steamboat mate, name unknown.
A force of men will be at work TO Ie-
cover the other bodies to-day.
Year: 1873

Various trade unions in New York
are making arrangements for a mass
meeting in September to bring about a
general observance of the eight-hour
rule. They complain that little by little
the observance of the eight-hour day
work is being disregarded by the en-
ployees.
Year: 1873

There was much excitement in New
York petroleum circles yesterday, occa-
stoned by the sudden revelation that the
unusual amount Of seventy-eight mill
lions of gallons Of the stuff had been
shipped from that city already during
the present year, and heavy decline
was the consequence.