davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22
Statistical Information.

Hour glasses We're invented at Alexandria
$50 years before Christ.
Its estimated that the oak tree lives in a
state of nature 1900 years.
The sum of $l5,OOO,OoO 9 is expended each
year in London for Intoxicating drinks.
Vaccination was first tried upon condemned
criminals, in the year 1921.
The interest of the British national debt is
over t24,00O,0OO sterling.
Looking glasses were first made at Venice,
in the year 1900.
Iron was first discovered by the burning of
Mount Ida, l4o5 years B. G..
Muslins were first manufactured in England,
during the year 1881.
The first jury ever empanneled was in Eng
land, during the year 970.
Air is 8l6 times lighter than its bulk in water.
A queer, but correct calculation.
Military uniforms were first adopted in
France, by King Louis XIV.
Letters were invented by Memnon, the Egyp-
tian, 1922 years B.. c.
The plague in Europe, Asia and Africa, CON-
mencing in 5S8, lasted for SO years.
The average coinage of the British mint,
for the last thirty years, is $1S,000,O0O per an
mum.
Linen was first discovered and made in Eng
land in the year 1853.
Microscopes were first invented and used in
Germany in the year 1921.
The cost of cigars smoked every day in New
York City is 100000.
The first private library was that of Aristotle,
collected 525 years B. c.
The respiratory tubes of the human body
measure in length % miles. 1
According to the statistics, one third Of the4
population of England are paupers. !
The first literary magazine in America was
by Franklin, publised in l741.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22
A Queer Boot Jack.

A London Magazine, giving an account OF the
hunting adventures of the late Major Rogers,
of the Ceylon Rifles, says that he killed, in the
course of his life, "twelve hundred elephants''
Of course, he had met with many singular adj
ventures and hair breadth escapes. One of his
adventures is thus related: ale had just had
capital sport with a herd of these animals-his
four guns had all been discharged-When an
unseen elephant made a charge at him, from the
skirts of the Jungle. There was no help for it
except to run, and for one hundred yards Major
Rogers kept ahead, feeling at every step, the
animals trunk trying to i%nsinuate itself round
his loins. A turn round a tree gave him a mo-
mentary advantage, which he made the most Of
by springing into the branches; Che was as MINI
bic as a cat, and as strong as a liOn) One foot
higher, and he would have been out OF the
elephants reach; but before he could draw up
his legs, the elephant had got him firmly clench-
ed in the coils of his proboscis.
"Still, Rogers pulled against him, thinking it
better to have his legs wrenched from the sock
cts than to fall back bodily in the animals pow
er. The. struggle, however, did not last long,
for to the delight Of the pursued, and the cha
grin of his pursuer. the Wellington boot, that
the former wore, slipped off and extricated the
leg, and saved the life of poor Rogers. The
dilemma, however, did not end here; for the
elephant finding himself baked of his prey, after
destroying the boot, took up his quarters beneath
the branches, and kept his expected victim in
the tree for twenty-four hours, when the tap
pal, or country postrnan, happened to pass by,
Rogers gave him notice of his position, and on
this being intimated to the nearest village, the
elephant was frightened away by tomtoms and
yellings. Had this occurred in a deserted part
of the jungle, poor Rogers would inevitably
BOreQEis,
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22

The WORST OF CAPT1vEs.-A coorrespon-
dent of a Detroit paper, writing from Tecumseh,
Mich, gives the following account of the lust
of gold:
What won't avarice do? Near this village is
the homestead Of rich farmer, who cunts his
hundred acres, about all under improvement,
with fine buildings. He has his package of bonds
and mortgages for loans to his poorer friends
All competence is supplied. He is a hard-wor-
ker, and his children are "well to do" by their
own industry. California gold has not salts
fled his thirst for gain. He has sold his last
years crop for over $4,000, converted it into
yellow boys, and started with his team for the
valley of the Sacramento, leaving all his en-
dearments in this world for the hope of adding
to his already perplexing pile of dollars.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22
Jamestown, July 10. lS49.

STEALING a WHOLE HousE.-A wealthy pro.
prietor who resides in Paris, but who has es,
tates in the ACCOMPLISHMENT of Chateauroux,
possessed, among other property there, a house
which he let to a tenant well recommended
Receiving his rents with great regularity, and
having little leisure, he troubled himself very
little about it, and for a year or two had not vi
sited the neighborhood. A failure in the usual
receipt of his dues, awakening his curiosity,
however, he took the diligence and travelled to
Chateauroux. He easily arrived where his
house was-but the lot of ground on which it
stood was vacant. On inquiry among the neigh
bors, he found that the tenant had ordered the
house to be pulled down, and had departed. af-
ter selling the materials for a round sum.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22

The D1AMoND.-The Mining Journal says:
interesting as is this queen of gems to all, and
although they are exposed in dazzling quanti-
ties in all our jewellers windows, it is strange
that the art Of cutting and polishing diamonds is
almost unknown in London, we may say Eng
land. We believe that there is but one indivi-
dual in London who follows this peculiar art
The Dutch have, for ages, nearly monopolized
the diamond cutting trade of Europe, and so
expert are they that on our showing them a
rough diamond, they will tell, to the greatest
nicely, what will be its shape when cut, and al
most, to the hundredth part of a grain what the
polished gem will weigh. 1t follows, therefore,
that most of the rough diamonds which come
to this country are sent to Holland to be polish
ed. Diamonds are found of very different CO.
lors to what is generally believed; not only are
some pure, c~olorless crystals, but yellow and
greenish, indigo blue, passing into red, Glove,
various shades of brown, asparagus, leek, and
mountain green; and Mr.. Mohs mentions a
grayish black diamond, the rarest of all"
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22

SAssAFRAs MEAD.-Decidedly one of the
best, most palatable, and, think, most healthful
beverages for warm weather, is SassaJras
Mead. 1t is also very cheap, and may be pre-
pared by any one who will take the trouble to
procure the materials. Miss Leslie gives the
following recipe for making it:
Mix gradually with two quarts of boiling
water three pounds and a half of good West
India molasses, and a quarter Of pound of tar
taric acid. Stir it well, and when cool, strain
it into a large jar or pan; then mix in q quarter
of an ounce of essence of sassafras. Transfer
it to clean bottles, Gt will fill half a dozenO
cork it tightly, and keep it in a cool place
Have ready a box containing about a quarter
of a pound Of carbonate of soda to use whit
To prepare glass Of it for drinking, pour a
little of the mead into a tumbler, stir into it a
small quantity of soda, and then add sufficient
ice water to fill the glass-giye it a stir, and it
will Immediately foam up to the top.
The principal materials for this excellent pre-
paration may be obtained at the druggists
Germantoacn Telegraph. @
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22

THE CANADIANS AND The QUEEN.-Sir AL
Ian McNab, now in England, says the Picayune,
writes home to his friends who are raising such
a disturbance in Canada, that things look more
promising for them in England. If his state
ments are to be relied on, he has been success
full in bringing the English Government to a
pause in their demonstrations Of favor towards
Lord Elgin and his French supporters. He
writes that orders have been sent not to pay a
cent of indemnity to any former rebel. The
Queen, he says, suspends action on the question
Of approving the indemnity bill, and a notions
to be made in the House of Commons for the
production of the petitions sentsfrom Canada
to the Home Government for the disallowance
of the Indemnity bill and the recall of Lord
Elgin. This can hardly be expected after the
stand already taken by the British Government,
and its approval Of the course Of Lord Elgin.
TTEnrepe Is on the eve Of GREAT chanpas.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22

AIR WH1sTLE.-It is stated in a New York
paper that a Mr.. Daball, of New London, has
invented an air whistle for steamboats,, which
can be heard at much greater distance than a
bell. The pilot of the steamer Lawrence says
a gentleman assured him that he heard it when
four miles from Bartlett's Reef, against the
wind. The Knickerbocker made the whistle in
a dense fog, thirteen minutes after having heard
it, which must have been five miles distant. A
gentleman Of Huntington says he heard the
whistle at Bartlett's Reef, IA miles Distant
This is an invaluable improvement for steam
ships or steamboats,, and may prevent many ac-
cidents.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22

One FAULT.-He who will turn away a
friend for one fault, is a stranger to the best
feelings of the human heart. Who has not
erred, at least once in his life! If that fault
were not overlooked, to what depths of infamy
would not thousands have descended! We
know not the peculiar and pressing temptations
to which another may be exposed. He may
have fought m~anfully for months against the
sin, and still kept the secret locked in his bo-
som. At last he was overcome. In a moment
he yielded. He would give worlds to recall the
act. He has mourned over it in secret, and re-
pented in dust and ashes. Shall we forsake
him? Earth and heaven-justice and human
ity-philanthrophy and rcligion-cry out, "For-
give him!" He who will not forgive, must pos
sess the heart Of a demon. Surely, the love of
God is not in him.-Portland Bulletin.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22
Portrait of u "Father''
BY ZONE OF THE FAMILY"

~NA A'1 IL
We find the following remarks made /
JOHN VAN buren,, at Cleveland, Ohio, in t..
Boston Atlas.
"But. Mr.. President, we want a nation
party. We have none. We have no Natioi.
Editors. | speak of the Democratic party.
Richie is not and organ of the Democra! ,
party. True, he might become so. Icanycr
well imagine that he might become radical.
antl-slavery. Nothing in the past history {.
that man goes to preclude the possibility Fl
such an event. He denounced Gen Jacks
In terms OF the most abandoned bitterness
"The election of Andrew Jackson said he, "..
the Presidency of these United States wou,;
be a greater calamity than war, pestilence, Ct
famine" And yet, afterwards he turned il.
and helped to elect him twice to the Presidency
lie denounced the independent Treasury I.l
as a measure fraught with danger to the libc.
ties OF the people; as an Internal invention {.
the President and his Secretary, by which o. I,
kind OF currency was to be provided for Tie
government and another for the people; IN d
now he floods the air with appeals to stand ly
it, as a basis upon which the disbanded Demo
cracy may be rallied! whilst his ink turns pale
at the frightful vigor with which he deals out
encomlums upon it, as the perfect production.
OF human wisdom. | am reminded of a remark
Of the lamented and revered Silas Wright
He said "that Richie experienced no difficulty
at all in changing his position; but that very
facility %extinguished every particle of his III
%fuence." He may come right; but he will
present a spectacle which will challenge tic
contempt of every one who shall have a fair
claim to be ranked as a human being. Look
at him, sitting at the seat of government. A
Convention of slave holders is assembled to
hold lamentations over the advance of the free
spirit of the land, and consummate their plan
for the dissolution of the Union. A sIave-hoidcr
occupies the chair of state, knitting his brovs
to Indignantly frown down the efforts of free
men for freedom; and the Union is threatened
by Southern men on every hand. Docs
he speak? Does he sound an alarm and give
notice Of danger? No. But there he sits, IT,
menfing over the removal of a Collector OF
Customs, OF pregnant with holy horror, When
the head ola decapitated inspector rolls from tic
block! Yes, there he sis, like a s~uperunnuatcd
market womaaa, by the road side, crying ouer her
broken eggs!
In my opinion, the only tune which he can
play upon his cracked organ, to which the De
can universally respond, is this:
"oh! carry me back to Old yirginee!"'
Great laughter.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22

AN lMPUDENT DARKEY.-The following col
o-ed paragraph is from the same letter as the
preceding:
A gentleman, moving it seems in the first CO.
lored circles of Boston, anxious to go abroad,
applied through a friend to the Secretary Of
STATE for a passport. Mr.. Clayton very pro-
perly declined, stating that it was not the Gus
tom of the department to grant passports to
persons of color, who received projections only
when they were in the service of diplomatic
agents of the United States. This very proper
course attracted universal censure from all that
class of fanatics who seek to pervert to their
own ends all things good, bad and Indifferent
What a theme for Mr.. Giddings in Congress,
and the old women out of it, this will be!
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22

1t is possible that Capt. M'Quae, of II. NJ. s
Dadalus, has now to say of the fame he acquir.
ed by the discovery of the great sea snake, as
Sir Edward Mortimer did Of his disappointed
asplrings!-
"Anda all my crop is peeds;"
for the following narrative indicates something
of the kind. 1t is given by Mr.. ]. A.. HERMAN,
commander of the ship Brazilian, now in the
London Docks
ale left the Cape on the 18th Feb. running
with a strong south e~asterly wind for four days.
On the morning Of the 2lth the ship was be-
Gained in latitude % south, longitude 8 east,
about 40 miles from the place in which Capt.
MQuae, K. ~, saw the great sea snake. About
eight O'Clock in the morning, whilst the captain
was surveying the calm heavy riples well of
the sea through his telescope, the ship at the
time heading nOrth-north west, he perceived
something right abeam about a half a mile to
the westward, stretched along the water to the
length of about 25 or 80 feet, and perceptiblv
moving from the ship with a steady %sinuous
motion. The head, which seemed to be lifted
several feet above the water, had something re-
sembling a name, running down to the floating
portion, and within about 9 feet of the tail it
forked out into a sort of double fin. Having
read at Colombo the account of the monster
said to have been seen by Captain M'Quae in
nearly the same latitude, Mr.. Herman was led
to suppose that he, had fallen in with the same
animal, or one of the same genus; he immedi-
ately called his chief officer, Mr.. Long, with sew
eral Of the passengers, who, after surveying the
object for some time, came to the unanimous
conclusion that it must be the sea serpent seen
by Captain MQuae. AS the Brazilian was max
ing no Roadway, Mr.. Herman determined to
bring all doubts to an issue, had a boat lowered
down, and taking two hands, with Mr.. Boyd of
Peterhead, near Aberdeen, one of the passen-
gers, they approached the monster, Mr.. Henri
man standing in the bow of the boat, armed
with a harpoon. The combat, however, was not
attended with the danger which those on board,
apprehended, for on coming close to the object
it was found to be nothing more than an i'm
mense piece of sea-weed, evidently detached
from a coral reef, and drifting with the current
which sets constantly to the westward in this
latitude, and which, together with the swell left
by the subsistence Of the gale, gave it the sin
uous snake-like motion. What appeared to be
the head, crest, and name of the creature, was
but the large root, which f1oated upwards, and
to which ~serveral pieces of coral reef still adher-
ed. He now regrets that he had not preserved
it in a waterbutt for the purpose of exhibition
in the Thames, where the conflicting motion
produced by the tide and steamers would give
it a like Weekly Neus.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22
A Century Ago.

But for the inopportune rush of the foreign
news, and what has still more subdued our mora
lizing propensities, the tremendous heat of the
weather last evening and night, we should
have ventured a homily this morning upon the
text of copy, now lying on our table, of the
"Pennsylvania Gazette"-Benjamin Franklin's
Pennsylvania Gazette-of the date of June %,
l749-that is to say, of this day one hundred
years back? A look at the little piece of brown
wrapping paper, just thirteen by sixteen inches
! square, in which the philosopher was content to
address himself to the world-or wilderness of
Philadelphia-at that time-not to speak of an
inspection of its contents-would satisfy any
one that a great many things might be said with
p~ropriety on such an interesting subject, in rela-
ton to newspapers-in relation to the world,
which has changed quite as much as newspa-
pers to America-to the mighty Republic which
Benjamin Franklin, although at that time sus-
p~ecting and about to trace the existence of
electricity in the clouds of Heaven, never dream
ed was to flash out with more than the light
ning's power and splendor from the misty future
of the Colonies. We have space for a single
glance at one Or two of its characteristics
What do our readers suppose is the subject
of the ''leader" in our ancient and reverend an
te-temporary, edited by Benjamin Franklin!-
For their satisfaction We extract the whole ar
ticle, which, is only two lines long, is stuck
away in the modestest corner at the bottom of
the third column of the third page;and is about
all the matter in the whole paper that bears
unmistakable evidence of its origin. 1t is in the
following words:
"All persons indebted to Benjamin Franklin
for a years Gazette, or more, are desired to
pay"
Another remarkable feature about. this ancient
Philadelphia paper, is the advertisements it con-
tains of the sale of slaves, of which we find
three or four, one relating to a whole "snow"
load of "men and women servants" with sin
dentures;"-"a negro wench, l9years old" who
scan wash, iron and cook very WE'LL" "a likely
negro woman with a Young child" fit for town
Or country business" "a young negro man"
"who has had the smallpox &c. &c. &C.
Phil. Amer.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22
PLAQ u e NINE:
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST %, 1S49.

LOcoFoco DEFAULTERs.-The following is
from late letter of "Phi. Ro," the Picayune's
Washington correspondent:
The number of defalcations thicken daily,
the Louisville papers of last night (3d) having
brought on a report of the defalcation of the
late pension agent of that place, Dr.. Lane, who
is said to have lent $4,000 public money to some
one who is now unable to repay it. DR.. Lane,
as you are aware, has been removed, and is now
a candidate for Congress at the approaching
election. 1t is rumored some defaults in the
Indian Department, among agents, will soon be
unveiled. | know not if this be true, but should
not be surprised if stranger developments were
made in that most complex Of all the bureaur
of the Government.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22
lTEMS-.-An new rac0 o
1911 .-HZ-- -l-1N ~

IrEMs-.-A new race Or
powerful, and Sseven and q half fe6tlnN
have been found in the interior of Africa.
Sir Thomas Coltman, one OF the JUDGES n
the Court of Common Pleas in London, died.
Of Asiatic cholera, on the nth ulf., iu the 6stIl
year Of HE age. ea
The town walls Of Agde, built by the Pho
%nicians, 1900 years ago, have been torn down,
and sold at auction.
Commander Lynch's Expedition to the dead
Sea is well spoken Of by the English critics.
An Englishman, writing from San Francis
co, says that a Major and captain in the Us.
Army employ themselves in rowing q ferry boat,
by which they make much more money than
by attending to their military duties.
On the 14th ult., Mrs. Butterfeld, of Hitch
en-, presented her husband with their twenty
fourth child, about a month after the twenty
third anniversary Of their wedding-day!
James Ward, the ex-ehampion Of England,
has exchanged the pugilistic for the artists pro-
~fession, and has executed an excellent painting
of s'The Setting Snn." He isaself-taught.
Three hundred and fourteen officers Of the
British army have resigned within the year, and
twenty-nine have died.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22
THE MEMPHIS CONFERENCE.-The meeting

THE MEMPHIS CoNvENTIoN.-This meeting
destined to be the largest, perhaps, that ever
assembled in this country-is to convene on the
Esd of October next. A large number of de-
legates have been appointed from several of the
Southern and South Western States. The
Crescent, in some remarks upon this subject,
says: "The work is the building of a railroad
which shall connect the Mississippi with the
Pacific; the way in which tits to be done is to
carry it by the Paso del Norte. 1t is to this
latter point that the whole strength of the
Memphis Convention should be turned; it is
on this subject of the Paso or Southern route
that all the intellect and all the energy of the
assembly should be exerted."
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22

THE GAMBLERS FATE.-A gentleman of the
village Of Paterson, N. J., has shown the Ma
tional Intelligencer a five dollar bank note of
the Northern Bank of New York, upon the
back Of which is written the following:
This is my last five. God only knows where
/ will get more. l part with it as though it
were my last friend. l started with $3.50 for
California, and got as far as here and gambled.
need not add-lost. Inow invoke death.
JOSEPH Cross.
Fort independence, March IA, lS49.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22

IMPORTANT INVENTION IN RESPECT TO THE
DECORATIVE ARTs.-Miss Wallace, a lady of
fortune, has recently discovered a mode of gid
ing and coloring the interior of tubes of glass,
which when SO prepared, from a most magnif-
cent beading for the decoration of rooms. It is
also applied to the framing of pictures with
great success and in a variety Of ways, in con-
nection with decorative art, at once novel and
attractive. Several specimens Of this beautiful
invention are now exhibited at the Society of
Arts, Adelphi.-London Magazine of Science.
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22

ONE OF THE FATHERs.-At the celebration
Of the 9TH ult., at Bridgeport Conn. there was
present on the stage where the grafton was
delivered, an old revolutionary soldier, named
Hammersby, who stated that he was in his
ninety-third year, had had never been sick a day,
and had never drank a glass of wine or brandy
in his whole life. He said he was probably the
oldest total abstinence man in the United
States. sraf s+
Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22

u"Glad to hear it-very!" "Glad of what?
-ha!" "Vy, glad you got your pay" "What!
the amount of my bill?" "Yes! to be sure
doesn't it say received PAYMENT I vos jist vor-
rying myself to death to know how I'd make
It I'D for YOU"