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Newspaper
Brimfield Gazette
Location
Brimfield, Illinois, United States of America
Date
Dec 19, 1877
Page
2
The text notes that January derives its name from the god Janus, the two faced Roman deity who presided over beginnings and transitions, reflecting the month’s place at the year’s start.
The article lists multiple astronomical events for 1878 including lunar and solar eclipses. It notes partial and total eclipses visible in regions like Utah Washington Charleston Chicago and Boston with times such as in the evening and morning observations. It mentions dates in July August and August with specific hours and places and observes the eclipse of the moon on August 12 with local timings.
Fragmented OCR shows outdated postage rates by region. It mentions charges on newspapers and periodicals sent to regular subscribers, payment in advance, and details about international postage including Spain Morocco and Luxembourg with various fees. The text is garbled but portrays historic postal rate structure and registration fees.
War dispatches recount the fall of Plevna as Ottoman defense collapses after a brutal siege. Osman Pasha wounded, surrender unconditional, 3,000 Turks killed or in action, 20,000 wounded in hospital, and 0 soldiers captured. Turkish suffering worsened by cold famine and lack of doctors.
Dispatch from Bogor dated December 18 reports sixty Turkish battalions attacked Grand Duke Vladimir's forces along the line. The 37th Division joined late, striking the Turks on the flank and forcing a Turkish retirement toward Krasni. Bouse or reliefs claim gains at Metchka, but Germans.
Paris reports say MacMahon faced a political standstill with the Senate after a new ministry was proposed. A deputation pressed him to stay, but he resigned. Dufaure was tasked to form a moderate Left cabinet. English treason arrest in Berlin cited amid upheavals in France and Crete unrest grows with insurrection in AIsmo province.
A labor movement forms a cooperative factory in New York City as striking cigar makers recruit from multiple shops to staff the experimental plant. The report notes broader labor unrest and economic fallout as business failures, fires, and governance tensions ripple across the era.
Ward Wyatt and Frank Webster United States special bailiffs were wounded in an ambush by moonshiners. Wyatt had his eye shot out and Webster was shot through the head. Capt F B Webster deputy marshal led a posse and faced overwhelming numbers. Wyatt suffered six bullets to the face.
Dispatch notes evidence in the Huron loss inquiry is complete and a formal decision awaits. Officials suggest the court may find error of judgment, with the captain’s course likely correct but misjudged water depth and strong sea forces. The report touches on naval exams, Nicaragua routes, and other political matters.
Advices report Cal Young crossed the Rio Grande chasing depredators and engaged Mexican Indians. Two of the latter were killed and three wounded. Young burned their camp and property. Significant freight: twenty four car loads of xilka and toax valued at $5,000,000 arrived in New York from San Francisco by rail. Several banks and firms named in insolvency notices. A pastor at HL Patricks Church Limba NY faces contempt charges for defying a Recorder's Court order in a bigamy case. Windsor Canada rose roof of Treasury office robbed for 40,000. Postmaster Frye of Brockton Me convicted for improper stamp sales under postal laws.
The excerpt outlines a Senate session with J. B. Buntin of Louisiana seated after a vote of 49 to 8, various bills introduced including land forfeiture for railroad grants, Utah criminal trials, and direct election of Senators. It notes the President's salary bill discussions, the schedule for Tuesday, December 11, and petitions on women’s suffrage liquor laws and tariffs, plus border troubles in Mexico and removals to Naval Cemetery.
The narrative covers Senate proceedings with discussions on action to fund and pay bonds, a resolution on Mississippi navigation, executive sessions, and the Deficiency Appropriation bill. It notes votes, adjournment timing, and committee assignments including promotion of commercial relations with Mexico and inquiries into Indian and civil service matters during recess.
An interview with a Nez Perces ally recounts views on Chief Joseph and Sitting Bull, noting Joseph’s humane conduct and desire for education, Sitting Bull’s savage image, and comparing their followers. The piece cites land loss, improvised wartime wealth, and the tribe’s push toward peace after heavy casualties and dispossession.
Washington reports detail a court inquiry into the Huron disaster. Master Conway, saved from drowning by fishermen after losing every garment, appeared naked before the court. Admiral Stegers reproved him for lacking a uniform, noting regulations require court appearances in uniform. Conway explained he had nothing left after the shipwreck.
The Ohio State Treasurer's annual report shows total cash receipts of 5,413,423.42 and total disbursements of 4,726,414.06, leaving a cash balance of 687,009.86 on Nov 16. Taxes from county treasurers for the common school fund totaled 1,670,115 with 90,269 still undistributed. Forty-two of eighty-eight counties drew more for school needs than they paid in.
A wife asks for time and tasks before the opera while her husband, working downstairs, rushes to finish a cuffing glove alteration. The scene shows a bustling household and domestic humor as the couple waits for the first act to begin. The Chicago Journal reports a light, domestic vignette.
Washington notes reveal federal estimates for the coming year are smaller overall by about 18.9 million compared with current year needs and far below 1877 figures. The cabinet outlines reductions across most departments, with some increases to cover clerks, postal facilities, and agriculture bonuses, while interest on the public debt shows steady declines.
The piece traces Christmas origins from pagan Saturnalia to Christ’s birth celebration. It notes scholars debate the term Yule, early festival practices among Romans and Britons, and the papal decree under Pope Julius I that fixed December 26 as Christ's nativity observance after extensive inquiry by Cyril of Jerusalem and theologians across East and West.
A young man named Mr Shylay schemes to visit a man named Tom but causes chaos when the servant leads him into a parlor. He traps the cat, topples a table, ruins ornaments, and collides with the mother in a cascade of mishaps while attempting to bow and explain.
An uncertain dispute near a mansion ended with a stern verdict from an older woman and another, forcing a man to avoid the mansion for life. The scene erupted in the street leaving him to bear a cloud of trouble hanging over his reputation.
Illinois items note St Clair county debt relief and surplus funds, public schools facing color-line tensions in Collinsville, rising divorce cases in Coles county, temperance pledge support exceeding two thousand in Springfield, and a state auditor action revoking a New York fire company license in Watertown.
A San Francisco Chronicle report describes an electric bit device tested at iRecord stables to subdue a difficult horse named Cognac. The system uses copper wire in a leather bit and gloves connected to a pocket battery, delivering shocks to calm or control the animal. The inventor claims shocks vary in intensity, potentially rendering a horse manageable, though observers note sensational risks and the abnormal apparatus.
A historical note describes three rat-control plans. The French tub trap uses a submerged island and a falling valve releasing a trapped rat into water. The New York plan covers the rat hole with caustic potassa to deter and spread fear. The Dutch method lets rats cannibalize each other in a large trap until one strong rat remains.
The passage urges casting out old sins and social ills while welcoming noble living, moral reform, and a brighter era. It envisions unity, peaceful progress, and a compassionate, courageous citizenry guided by Christian values and ethical renewal.
A collection of humorous observations and quick quips on society, manners, politics, and daily life. Jokes touch on churchgoing, drinkers, savings banks, geography, love, and courtship with light satire and playful wordplay. Named individuals and places appear in scattered, era-typical jests.
The report lists active granges per state, paid up members, and new grange organizations since the year began. It notes New York, with McMillan and Eure, having representatives in Congress for the XLVth session.
The Turks trench diggers stock up with intrenching tools and will, on fair ground, form formidable positions within an hour. A slope is chosen for defense. Reair trenches are semi circular with two small front trenches for fifty men each, one hundred yards back three larger semicircles as reserves, and a main trench deeper and wider to shelter the remainder.
A Valparaiso man recently reportedly picked up a horse and carried it across the road, a claim echoed in Indiana papers. The Burlington Hawk-Eye mocks the notion as easy, joking that lifting a horse by slipping lines under its tail can raise it over a dashboard into one’s lap.
The admission of Eustis to the other vacant Louisiana seat gives every state its full representation in the United States Senate for the first time since March 4 1861 when the Southern Senators withdrew. There are now seventy six Republicans thirty nine Democrats and thirty six others, reflecting an evenly balanced Senate.
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