Part 14

In the United States, this, the centennial year of national existence, is opened with a general celebration all over the country. Visit of Dom Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil, and the empress. The great national Centennial Exhibition of arts and industries opens in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, and surpasses all previous world’s fairs of every land. Massacre of General Custer and two hundred and seventy-six men of the Seventh Cavalry by the Sioux Indians under Sitting Bull, near the Little Big Horn River, Montana. Appearance of the Greenback party. Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican) elected President, and William A. Wheeler Vice-President. Defeated candidate, Samuel J. Tilden (Democrat). The result is held to be doubtful, owing to existence of dual governments in Louisiana, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia, and a complication in Oregon; decision is referred to Electoral Commission appointed by Congress; decision for Mr. Hayes, March, 1877. In New York City, the first wire is stretched between the towers of the Brooklyn Bridge, and the blowing up and removal of part of the great reef at Hell Gate is successfully accomplished. Colorado is admitted to Statehood. Death of A. T. Stewart, New York merchant. In Brooklyn, New York, the burning of the Brooklyn Theater causes a loss of over three hundred lives (performance, Kate Claxton in “The Two Orphans”). Important inventions: the articulating telephone (Professor Alexander Graham Bell); hydraulic dredges (Bowers and others); machinery for making cigarettes; photography by electric light (Vander Weyde); the electric pen (Edison); steam-feed for saw-mill carriages; cable cars introduced (Hallidie). Commercial failures for year, 9,092; liabilities, $191,117,786. Immigration, 169,986; exports, $540,384,671.

In England, Disraeli secures passage of an act conferring upon Queen Victoria the title of Empress of India. News of the unspeakable atrocities committed under Turkish misrule in Bulgaria creates great excitement and indignation, but Disraeli, distrustful of Russian designs on Turkish territory, endeavors to adhere to a policy of non-interference. Gladstone, emerging from retirement, denounces Turkish oppression, condemns Disraeli’s inaction, and urges that the Ottoman Government “be turned out of Europe, bag and baggage.” A conference of great powers is held at Constantinople, England being represented by Lord Salisbury. Turkey rejects proposals of the congress, and Russia declares war as champion of the Christian Church (Greek).

In France, President MacMahon, as a political experiment, but against inclination, selects M. Jules Simon, Republican, from the ranks of the “Left” as Prime Minister in place of De Broglie, resigned. M. Simon organizes a new cabinet. Death of Aurore Dudevant (“George Sand”), French novelist. In Spain, the Carlists are at last subdued; Don Carlos escapes to France. A newly elected Cortes adopts new constitution providing for legislative bodies controlled by popular vote, also for freedom of the press, religion, and unions.

In Turkey, a conspiracy costs the sultan his throne, and, shortly after, his life; he is succeeded by Neurad V, and he in turn by Abdul Hamid II. Revolt extends to Servia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro; massacres of native Christians, pillage and destruction of valuable property. European powers remonstrate and urge reforms. Turks suppress revolt in Bulgaria, using measures of extreme cruelty and authorizing massacres by the Bashi-Bazouks (semi-organized banditti). In Germany, the movement is begun which ultimately results in transference of railroads to ownership of the separate states. Death of Ehrenberg, German naturalist. In Mexico, a rebellion breaks out and Diaz joins it, forcing President Lerdo into exile. Diaz becomes provisional President.

RULERS—The same as in the previous year.

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[Sidenote: =1877=]

In the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes is inaugurated President. The conflict in Louisiana between rival State governments is settled by the President in favor of Nicholls’s government (Democratic). President Hayes withdraws last of Federal troops from the South. Pennsylvania and West Virginia suffer from great railway strike and riots; in Pittsburgh, much property is destroyed and many lives are lost; freight and passenger service demoralized, and militia has to quell riot; strike unsuccessful. Death of Brigham Young, religionist and head of the Mormon Church. The “trade dollar” ceases to be a legal tender. Execution of John D. Lee, convicted of complicity in the Mountain Meadow Massacre (1857). Ex-President Grant sails from New York upon a tour around the world. Death of J. L. Motley, American historian. Manifestations in California against the immigration and the labor of the Chinese (see 1888); much general agitation this year over the rights of labor. Important inventions: the phonograph (Edison); the gas-engine (Otto); the Sawyer-Man electric lamp; transmitter for telephone (Berliner); carbon microphone (Edison); discovery of the two satellites of planet Mars (Hall). Immigration, 141,857; exports, $602,475,220.

In England, a war feeling develops against Russia; jealousy and alarm felt over her conquests in Turkey; origin of “jingoism.” A fleet is sent through the Dardanelles as a “demonstration” against Russia. Some disaffected burghers of the Transvaal (the South African Republic) invite England to annex their country. This is formally accomplished, and the annexation persisted in by England despite much controversy in Parliament (see 1880).

In France, M. Simon, being reproached by the President for radical tendencies, resigns as Prime Minister, together with the Cabinet. The President challenges criticism by dissolving the Chamber of Deputies and appealing to a national election, but a strong Republican majority is returned. Death of ex-President Thiers, French patriot and statesman. A French physicist, M. Cailletet, accomplishes the liquification of oxygen, hydrogen, and other gases; Pictet, in Switzerland, does the same. Invention of the Jablochkoff electric candle, and the chain and sprocket device for bicycles.

In Turkey, the Porte rejects the proposals of the conference at Constantinople, including its demands for the protection of Christian provinces, and Russia declares war against Turkey, announcing herself as the defender and protector of the Christians. Russian troops enter Rumania and cross the Danube; they capture Nicopolis and garrison, but at Plevna the heroic defense of the garrison of Turks against nearly two hundred thousand Russians and Rumanians lasts five months, the Russians failing entirely to carry the place by assault. The garrison of forty thousand men finally surrenders because of famine, and Turkish resistance collapses. In Mexico, General Porfirio Diaz is proclaimed constitutional President by the Mexican Congress, for term ending 1880. In Italy, Schiaparelli (astronomer) discovers the “canals” of Mars.

RULERS—The same as in the previous year, except that in the United States Rutherford B. Hayes succeeds Ulysses S. Grant as President.

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[Sidenote: =1878=]

In the United States, a great yellow fever epidemic spreads through the Southern States. Congress passes, over the President’s veto, the Bland-Allison Silver Bill, requiring the purchase monthly by the Secretary of the Treasury of between two and four million dollars’ worth of silver bullion for coinage (repealed, 1890). The silver dollar of four hundred and twelve and one-half grains is made a legal tender. Edison produces a perfected electric light for general use. Death of William Cullen Bryant, American poet, and of Bayard Taylor, American poet, essayist, and traveler. Important inventions: the carbon filament for incandescent electric lamp (Edison); Sholes’s typewriter perfected by E. Remington & Sons; the yielding spinning spindle bearing and the Gessner cloth-finishing press; gelatine emulsion dry plate introduced. Immigration, 138,469; exports, $694,865,766.

In England, protest is made by Disraeli against the Russo-Turkish treaty of San Stefano, and English diplomacy and firmness forces Russian consent to a congress of the five great powers at Berlin for settlement of terms. The Berlin congress cedes Island of Cyprus to England as her share of the spoils of the Russo-Turkish War, and yields to other demands of England. Disraeli returns from the congress, having brought back “peace with honor” and secured a great diplomatic triumph for England; height of Disraeli’s power. He and Bismarck the two greatest men in the world at this time (see 1881–1884). The Ameer of Afghanistan having rebuffed a British diplomatic mission, a force of English troops invades the country. Flight and death of the Ameer, Shere Ali; his son and successor, Yakoub Khan, submits to English treaty terms (see 1879). Death of Princess Alice.

In France, a great international exhibition is held in Paris. In Germany, the Congress of Berlin meets under the presidency of Prince Bismarck and modifies and revises the treaty terms of Russia with Turkey. Death of Petermann, German geographer. In Italy, King Victor Emmanuel and Pope Pius IX die within a few days of each other. At the last the Pope generously forgets their strife and differences, and sends the viaticum (eucharist) to the dying king. Victor Emmanuel is succeeded by his son, Humbert I; the Pope is succeeded by Cardinal Pecci, as Leo XIII. Rise of Crispi to prominence and power in the Italian Cabinet. In Mexico, under President Diaz, a stronger and abler government begins to develop; his consolidation of power secures domestic peace (see 1880). In Chile, a serious dispute arises with Bolivia and Peru with reference to northern boundary line (see 1879).

RULERS—The same as in the previous year, except that in Italy Victor Emmanuel is succeeded by Humbert I; Pope Pius IX is succeeded by Cardinal Pecci, as Leo XIII.

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[Sidenote: =1879=]

In the United States, James Gordon Bennett, proprietor of the New York _Herald_, proffers the government a ship, the Jeannette, for a voyage of Arctic exploration via Bering Strait; offer accepted, and the Jeannette sails from San Francisco. Specie payments are resumed. Death of William Lloyd Garrison, noted abolitionist and reformer, and of Caleb Cushing, statesman, jurist, and diplomat. Quinine placed on free list. Publication of Henry George’s “Progress and Poverty,” advocating the “single tax” theory. Captain Eads completes the improvements assuring better navigation of lower Mississippi. Important inventions: Lee magazine rifle; blasting gelatine (Nobel), an explosive more powerful than dynamite or gunpowder; “Standard” bicycle perfected. Immigration. 177,826; exports, 710,439,441.

In Afghanistan, the British resident at Kabul, Sir Louis Cavagnari, is murdered; the British forces prepare to renew the campaign. An expedition sent against the Zulus in Southeast Africa for repeated attacks on British settlers. Zulus subdued, and their chief, Cetywayo, captured. The Prince Imperial of France killed by Zulus while serving in English cavalry.

In France, President MacMahon, disapproving of certain changes in the army corps, resigns and the Senate and Chamber elect M. Jules Grévy (Republican) as his successor. Gambetta succeeds Grévy as president of the Chamber of Deputies, and Waddington becomes Prime Minister. M. Jules Ferry, Minister of Education, begins an agitation to exclude the Jesuits and all “unauthorized orders” from teaching in France; much bitter agitation. The Bonapartist cause suffers by the death of the young prince imperial. In Germany, great economic changes are wrought by Bismarck, including notable increase in tariff. In Sweden, news received that Nordenskjöld, Arctic explorer, had reached the Northeast Passage. In Chile, war against Bolivia and Peru declared; naval struggle watched with world-wide interest as being the first between modern iron-clads; Chilean fleet victorious; Bolivian and Peruvian army almost annihilated at Dolores (see 1880).

RULERS—The same as in the previous year, except that in France President MacMahon is succeeded by Jules Grévy.

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[Sidenote: =1880=]

In the United States, owing to a deadlock between Ulysses S. Grant and James G. Blaine, the Republican National Convention nominates a “dark horse,” James A. Garfield, who is elected President, with Chester A. Arthur Vice-President; defeated candidates, Winfield S. Hancock and William H. English, Democrats. Popular vote. 4,454,416 to 4,444,952; electoral vote, 214 to 155. Samuel J. Tilden had declined the Democratic nomination. Important inventions: the magnetic ore concentrator (Edison); hammerless gun (Greener); spinning spindle (Rabbeth); the “Rover” bicycle (Starley), the first of the “safeties.” Public debt reduced to $1,915,594,813; commerce, $14,760,000,000; immigration, 457,257; exports $835,638,658 (nearly double that of 1871).

In England, unpopularity of the Zulu and Afghan wars, depression of trade, and bad harvests develop dissatisfaction with Disraeli’s government, and the elections for a new Parliament result in Liberal victory; Disraeli resigns, and Gladstone, the “Grand Old Man,” again becomes Prime Minister. The Transvaal revolts against English régime and proclaims restoration of free Republic (see 1881).

In France, a general amnesty is proclaimed toward all political exiles, Including those who had been Communists. The first annual celebration of the fall of the Bastile (July 14). Suppression of the Jesuit schools, and restrictions passed upon religious orders. France annexes the Society Islands. Invention of the electric storage battery (Faure). In Germany, the great Cathedral of Cologne, begun in the year 1248, is completed. Diplomatic relations are renewed between Germany and the Papal See. In Afghanistan, a British force is defeated at Maiwand, but General Roberts retrieves the situation by his march to Kandahar. Abdurrahman, nephew of Shere Ali, is installed as ameer, and the insurrection raised by a rival claimant, Ayoub Khan, suppressed. In Mexico, Diaz’s term as President ends, and he is peaceably succeeded by Manuel Gonzalez (see 1884). In Chile, the United States Minister succeeds in bringing about negotiations for peace between Chile and Bolivia and Peru (see 1881). In Spain, the Cortes passes a law for the gradual abolition of slavery in Cuba during the next eight years.

RULERS—The same as previous year.

POPULATION—Washington, D. C., 147,293; New York (including boroughs now forming Greater New York), 1,935,367; New York (Manhattan), 1,206,299; Chicago, 503,185; London, 3,834,194; United States, 50,155,783; Great Britain and Ireland, 34,868,648. World population, estimated at 1,433,000,000.

Whatever is in any way beautiful hath its source of beauty in itself, and is complete in itself; praise forms no part of it. So it is none the worse nor the better for being praised.—=Marcus Aurelius.= (121–180.)

FROM THE LIPS OF ANANIAS.

These Little Tales Illustrate How a Good Lie, Well Told, Is Far More Honest Than That Polite But Hypocritical Invention Which Is Known as “Fiction Founded on Fact.”

A FISHERMAN’S REVENGE.

Enos Wilson, an enthusiastic fisherman from Brockton, Massachusetts, who is here on his spring vacation, is receiving the congratulations of his friends.

While out fishing in a canoe lately Enos got a bite from a dogfish. The dogfish bit the bottom out of the canoe and also carried away a portion of Mr. Wilson’s trousers.

This so enraged the doughty fisherman that he threw away his rod and line, and, jumping into the water, swam after the fish, overtaking it and holding it under the water until it was drowned.

The dogfish weighed nineteen and a quarter pounds on its own scales. It was a fresh-water dogfish and very vicious.—_Boston Post._

FELINE INGENUITY.

Short—I thought you were going to drown that cat?

Long—Well, they say a cat has nine lives, but this one has twenty, I think. Why, I actually put that cat into a tub of water and tied a brick round its neck; and what do you think?

Short—Goodness knows.

Long—Well, this morning when I went to look at the tub the cat had swallowed all the water and was sitting on the brick.—_Answers._

AN UNLIMITED EXPRESS.

“Trains in the South travel awfully slow,” said Robert Hathaway, of Atlanta, at the Plankinton House, “but it’s a base libel to say that conductors will stop trains to accommodate passengers who wish to pick flowers by the wayside.

“I was riding on a Central Georgia train about forty miles out in Campbell County, when the train came to a standstill. I could tell the train had stopped because I was looking out of the window at the time.

“When the conductor came through I asked the cause of the stop, and found it was a cow on the track. We started up, and had rumbled along several miles when it came to another stop.

“‘What’s the matter now,’ I called to the conductor, out of the window, ‘another cow?’

“‘Naw,’ he said disgustedly, ‘same cow.’”—_Milwaukee Sentinel._

A STORY IN STONE.

A Yankee traveling in England listened for some time to a crowd of men talking together about the wonders they had seen in other lands. While others expressed surprise at what they heard, the Yankee remained passive, and he even yawned when others were working up to a high pitch of excitement. At length one of the travelers said to him:

“Have you anything in your country so superior and so much more wonderful that you could tell about?”

“Waal, I just have,” drawled the Yankee. “There’s hundreds of more wonderful things over in Ameriky that we don’t pay no heed to.”

“Do you mean Niagara Falls and the Mammoth Cave and such things?” said one.

“Pshaw! We don’t count caves, nor waterfalls, nor burning mountains, nor boiling springs, though we can beat creation in such things. Say, did any of you fellows hear of the petrified forest in Arizony?—hundreds of thousands of acres of stone forests!”

“And the trees standing?”

“The trees standing? Waal, I should say so; and not only standing, but all in leaf and some of ’em in blossom, and others, again, full of nuts and other fruit, all turned into stone, mind you.”

“And I suppose there were birds in the trees?” sneered one.

“Birds! Yes, sir, no end of birds, all of the most beautiful plumage and all turned into stone. Even the nests in the trees and the eggs in them were petrified in the most wonderful manner you ever saw. I see some of you fellows doubt me. Waal, all I have to say is that what I am telling you is true, and I’ll bet any sum on it and take you there to prove it. I’ll tell you what I saw last time I was in the petrified forest. There was a hunter who must have been in the forest when the petrification took place, for he was petrified, too, and there he stood as straight as you please, with a petrified gun on his shoulder a-taking aim at a petrified bird. Why, the whole thing was so natural that you could see the shot and smoke coming out of the muzzle of the——”

“I’ve got you there!” interrupted the Englishman. “The law of gravitation would have brought down the smoke and the shot.”

“So it would,” said the Yankee, “but the funny thing about it was that the law of gravitation was petrified, too, and so the blamed thing could not work.”—_Tit-Bits._

A PEACH PUP.

“Speaking about dogs,” said Representative Beidler, of Ohio, “I suppose I have the most intelligent fox-terrier in the country, and he’s only a puppy yet.

“The other day he spilled his milk, and I cuffed his ears and chucked him out of the window. Next day he spilled his milk again, and I cuffed his ears again and chucked him out of the window. The next day, after he had spilled his milk again, he cuffed his ears and went and jumped out the window.”—_New York World._

THE EMERGENCY AND THE MAN.

“Some people deal with graft about the way a farmer in northern Pennsylvania dealt with an emergency,” said Mayor Weaver, of Philadelphia.

“This farmer called on a neighbor very early one morning. The latter, although much surprised at receiving such an early call, did not forget his hospitality.

“‘Come in, Jake, and set down,’ he said cordially.

“‘I don’t know’s I ought,’ said Jake, but after a little more persuasion he went. About fifteen minutes were consumed in miscellaneous discussion of crops, when breakfast was ready.

“‘Set by, Jake, and hev a bite ter eat,’ invited the still hospitable farmer.

“‘Now, act’ly, Silas, I don’t know’s I orter stay so long. Ye see, ’taint’s though I didn’t ’preciate yer kindness, but my roof’s afire, and I cum over ter borrer a ladder.’”—_New York Times._

WHERE TWO CLIMATES MEET.

A “digger” from California, eulogizing the climate, said:

“There’s a mountain there—the Sawyer Nevady, they call it—with a valley on each side of it, the one hot, the other cold. Well, get on the top of that mountain with a double-barreled gun, and you can, without moving, kill summer or winter game, just as you will.”

“What! Have you ever tried it?” asked one of his auditors.

“Tried! Often—and would have done pretty well but for one thing.”

“Well, what was that?”

“I wanted a dog that would stand both climates. The last dog I had froze his tail while huntin’ on the summer side. He didn’t get entirely out of the winter side, you know, sir.”—_Old scrap book._

STRETCHING IT.

An American visiting Dublin told some startling stories about the height of some of the New York buildings. An Irishman who was listening stood it as long as he could, and then queried:

“Ye haven’t seen our newest hotel, have ye?”

The American thought not.

“Well,” said the Irishman, “it’s so tall that we had to put the two top stories on hinges.”

“What for?” asked the American.

“So we could let ’em down till the moon went by,” said Pat.—_Exchange._

A piece ov satire, tew be beneficial, should be so rendered that every man who reads it or hears it shall say to himself, “That iz just, bekause it hits every boddy but me.”—=Josh Billings.=

? ? ? WHY ? ? ?

=WHY= was the sandwich so called?

=BECAUSE= the Earl of Sandwich (1718—1792) on one occasion, not wishing to leave his place at the gaming-table, called a waiter and ordered some slices of bread with ham between them to be brought to him, so that he could go on playing without interruption. To this combination his friends gave his name.

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=WHY= is a certain kind of paper called “foolscap”?

=BECAUSE= Oliver Cromwell substituted a fool’s cap and bells in water-mark for the royal arms granted by Charles I with certain privileges in manufacturing paper. When the “Rump” Parliament was prorogued this water-mark was removed, but the paper of the size of the Parliamentary Journal, seventeen by fourteen inches, still bears the name.

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=WHY= are elephants afraid of mice?

=BECAUSE= mice strongly resemble a little animal known as the chacana, which feeds on a small berry especially liked by the elephant. Chacanas live in the ground after the manner of prairie-dogs, under the bushes, and are often trampled upon by elephants. In their fright the little animals run up the tubes of the elephants’ trunks, their long, sharp claws catch in the flesh, and they cannot be ejected. An agonizing death is almost invariably the consequence to the elephant.

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=WHY= is noon the traditional and fashionable hour for wedding ceremonies?

=BECAUSE= the hour became the customary one in England many years since, for the reason that the bridegroom could not be relied upon to be sober any later in the day than twelve o’clock. It was naturally desirable that he should be responsible for his promises, and unless he was in a state of perfect sobriety this could not be. Hence the precaution of a noonday wedding.

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