davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18
ORGANIC SUBSTANCE OF PLANTS.

ORGANIC SUBSTANCE OF PLANTS.
l. The organic substance of plants
chiefly consists of woody fibre, starch,
and gluten.
O. Woody fibre is the substance which
forms the gaeater part of all kinds of
wood, straw, hay, and chaff, of the ghells
OF nuts and of cotton, flax, hemp, &c.
8. Starch is white powder, which
forms nearly the whole substance Of the
potato, and about half the weight eff oat-
meal, wheaton flour, and of the flour of
other kinds of grain cultivated for food
4. Gluten is substance like bird
lime, which exists, along with starch, in
almost all plants. 1t may be obtained
from wheaton flour, by making it into
dough, and washing it with water.
5. The woody fibre is the most abun-
dant IN the stems Of plants, and the starch
in their seeds.
6. Starch also exists abundantly in the
roots of the potato, and other similar
roots.
Z. Woody fibre, starch, gum, and SUI
gar, all consist of carbon and water only.
8. AS the leaves drink in carbonic acid
and water, all these substances NAV be
derived from their food.
8. Leaves return the carbonic acid
TO the air, because they do not require it
to form woody fibre and starch
10. The carbonic acid gas in the at
mosphere would be exhausted by veget-
alton, If it were not continually renewed
from sources
II. These sources arc three in number.
Fsrst-From the breathing of animals,
since all ANIMALS throw off small quan-
tity of carbonic acid from their lungs
every time they breathe. This NAV be
shown by breathing the air from tho
lungs for some time through clear lime
water, by means of a small glass tube, OF
straw, when the lime water will grad
ually become milky, as 1t does when pure
carbonic acid is passed through it.
Second--From the burning of wood
coaiseandles, &C., since the carbon which
wood contains, when it burns in the air,
forms earbonic acid gas Just as pure car
bon when burned in oxygen does.
Thiyd--From the decay of Vegetables
and rootsin the soil, since this decay is
only Q slow kind of burning, by which
the carbon OF plants becomes at last con.
yerted INTO carbonic acid. ~
l2. Animals and plants appear toliye
Tor each others support Thus the ami
NAL produces carbonic acid, upon which
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18
A CONTR AST

About half a century ago, distingu-
ished member of Congress, in the course
of speech before that body observed ::
"ln country so extensive as America,
and where the people are so widely scat
tered, it is work of immense difficulty
to have regular and accurate account
of the measures OF government communi-
Gated through every part of the Union.
1t can scarcely be conceived by those
who have no call to visit the interior and
more retired parts of the country, how
much the peace ofsociety is disturbed by
the propagation of malicious falsehood.
The most wicked lies are kept in circula-
ton for months together, and before they
can be efectually contradicted the peo-
pie have become almost frantic"
That was in the days when members
of Congress were wont to inform their
constituents of the progress of public af-
fairs through the medium of printed cir
cular letters. But what contrast be-
tween that time and the presents Now
the inhabitants of city two thousand
miles from the seat of government read
at the breakfast table the doings of their
representatives of the previous day,-re-
ported with niinuteness and accuracy. In
no part of the country can the people be
deceived beyond twentysfour hours, as to
any event connected with the administra-
ton of public affairs regular are their
means OF ofinformation through the medium
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18
From the Southern Literary Gazette.
LINES TO A BELOVED VOICE.
BY CAROLINE HOWARD.

Speak it once more, once more, in accents soft
Let the delicious music reach mine ear;
Tell me in truthful murmurs oft and oft
That am dear.
Teach me the spell that clngs around n word
Teach to MY lips the melody of thine
And let the spoken name most often heard,
BE mine, 6e mine.
Why in the still and fading twilight hour
When lone and tender musings fill the breast
Why does thy voice, with its peculiar power,
Still my umest9
Why does the memory of thy faintest tone
In the deep midnight come upon my soul,
And cheer the passing hours so sad and lone,
AS on they rolf
Obi if my passions overflow their bound,
And pride, or hate, or anger, call for blame,
Do thou with earnest, mild, rebuking sound
But breathe my name.
But show the better way by thee approved,
Bid me control my erring, wayward WILL
And at the chiding of that voice beloved
AU shall be still.
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18
EVENING SoLACE.
BY cURRRR BELL.

The human heart has hidden trearures,
In secret kept, in silence sealed;
The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams. the pleas
ures,
Whose charm were broken if revealed.
And days may pass in gay confusion
And nights in rosy riot fly,
While lost in Time or Wealth's illusion,
The memory of the Past may die
But, there hours of lovely musing,
Such is in evening silence come,
When oft as birds their pinions closing,
The hearts best feelings gather home,
Then in our souls there seems to languish
A tender grief that is not woe;
And tho'ts that once wrung groans of anguish,
Now cause but some mild tears to flow.
And feelings once as strong as passions,
Float softly back-a faded dream;
Our own sharp griefs and wild sensations,
The tale of others suferings SEEM
OH when the heart is freshly bleeding.
How longs it for that time to be,
When, through the mists of years receding,
Its woes but live in revery
And it can dwell on moonlight glimmer,
On evening shade and loneliness;
And while the sky grows dim and DINNER,
Feel no untold and strange distress
Only deeper impulse given
BY lonely hour and darkened room,
To solemn thoughts that soar to heaven,
Seeking life and world to come.
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18
THE SNAKE GRASS.


A British sportsman tells the follow
ing ludicrous tale of his fir experience
in cunning in this country. lie had hired
black, Apollo, to show him where to
find woodcock.
On entering the covert | soon found
the use of Apollo's thick jacket. Never,
in all my experience, had / seen any
thing to equal the denseness of this
thicket, or the size and sharpness of the
tholns. My gauze like coat was soon in
ribbons, my eyes nearly blinded, and my
face in streams of blood. This, added
to the almost overpowering heat made
my position enything but agreeable, par
ticularly as we had not as yet seen sin
gle cock in near half an hours beat.
Apollo glidcd about, peering into the
trees in a most extraordinary manner, as
| thought and was upon the point of
asking him if we could not find some
more open spot when | found something
strike me on the face. Almost blinded
by the blow, put up my hand; a cry of
horror escaped me; found had grasp
ed the cold coils of an enormous black
snake, whick was hanging from a tree
over my head.
Apollo looked round, gave "a low
chuckle, and was proceeding onward
when | called on him for mercy's sake
to stop.
"Ya! va! ya!" laughed the old wretch;
'im only poor black snake"
"Only black snake" said I, my flesh
creeping with horror; 81 did not know
there were any snakes in this part of the
country"
"No snakes, masa?, Why um chock
full of snakes dis swamp; i'm full of cop
per heads We enebber come into swamp
wild ut de tick boots cause if copper bite
um, i'm dead man, sar Dare, massa!
look under dat shumac bush. Just by yo,,
boot; dare one tundering big chap"
"Let us leave this dreadful place,
Apollo, said I.
"What before we find de woodcock,
sar?"
"Confound the woodcock!" said |, now
losing all patience, and determined, if
possible, to put an end to my disagreca-
situation.
AS soon as we got out Of the woods,
dismissed my guide and with my dogs,
undertook to beat some open fields, in
which soon found plenay of quail
The fields being fresh mown there was
no lay for the birds, but to my satIsfac.
faction I saw that the quail mostly flew
TO piece of long grass in the meadows
which was left unknown. Having ac-
compGshed my undertaking, I entered
the grass, which was thick and up to nv
waist. Quail after quail arose, and as
often fell to my gun, and / became SO
elated with my success that all thought
of pam, fatigue, black snake, or copper
head, was gone; and though I did now
and then hear a rustling in the grass
which made me start wpen picked up a
shot bird, | was much too delighted to
heed such trifes. My pockets were get
ting heavy, and was in the centre OF
the grass when ] heard shout from g
hill at some distance, and looking up saw
q person who .bY his gesture appeared
to he in the highest state of excitement
Now had hitherto always found il
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18
A DRAFT ON THE BANK.

4 The Cincinnati Commercial relates the
following anecdote--which is character.
istic enough to be true, at all events =
-Four persons mad seated themselves in
the mines to play game of poker-the
ante, as substitute for money, being
handful of gold dust. They continued
playing some time without either side
winning much. At length one of the
party, who had good hand, went hand
full "better."
"Isee that, and so pint better" cried
another, who also had 'strong" hand.
"I see that" responded the first, "and
go quart better" "Well, see that.
and go you gallon BETTER" responded
the other. This rather Disconnected his
adversary for a moment, as it diversified
his pile"-but, confident in the superior
strength of his hand, he collected togeth-
er all the gold dust he had left, and put
ting it aside, coolly remarked TO one of
his companions, "here, Jim, watch my
pile till ! go out and dig enough to call
him."
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18

to be the best practice, when challenged
afar off by enraged farmersor their SER
vantssas trespasser, to be both blind
and deaf until the prosecutors approach,
during which time one may either make
off or feign ignorance of any improper
intentions. The sport at this time was
too good, and cost too much labor, to be
easily given up; and although l heard
the farmer following at the top of his
voice, and saw him running as fast as his
legs csuld carry him, I still continued
shooting AT last he was near enough
to make himself heard.
"Halloa! there, you tarnation fool /!
come out of that long grass"
go yes" thought |, "seed ground
very likely, but HE on good dogs, we
may get brace of birds before his short
legs can reach lis. I"
Come out of that long grassP again
rang in my ears.
Not till can't help it, my lad,' thinks
|. 'Hie on there: we have dozen be-
vies if we have one in this piece of stuff
yet
'Ob! you contancarous varmenti Come
out ofthat long grass
The enemy is close upon us. One shot
more, and then to close quarters.
By the eternal be you mad, or be
you deaf?' cried the man, now at the
edge of the grass, and in an agony of ex-
c!tement; due you wish to be a dead man?
Come out of that long grass, say
His last words, spoken with great e.
hemence, made me pause; steel-tr ps
and spring-gm came into my Thoughts.
Come out, come out, of that long grass,
or by the etarnal you're a gone sucker.
Almighty smash, don't YOU know that is
my snake grassS Come out, you tarna-
ton fool
Snake grass, said in a low tone,
raising myself on tiptoc, and standing on
the very smallest space of ground. Snake
grass, sir; what's snake grass?
Come out [ say, and if you get away
without death in your carcass-which by
the immortal pumkin, rather think YOU
never will-Ill tell you what snake grass
is
Trembling, / crept out of the grass,
and approached the farmer who stood
wiping the perspiration from his head
Well, said he, Il have heard tell on
daned fools that go on bird hunts, but
may be absquatilated etarnally if / ever
thought feller was fool enough to go
into piece of Jarsay snake grass after a
poor miserable quail.
Pray sir what do you mean by snake
grosss'
Not know what snake grass is? Well
| might have seen by your out'ards that
you want Of this location. But don't
you know these here clcalings are chock-
full of varmint snakes? When we mows
we leave piece of long grass for the tar
nation reptils to go into, and when the
grass gets dry, you see, we sets fire to it,
and burns all the venomous varmints, and
so makes kind of clearance of the snakes
every year. Lord marcy when seed
you in my long grass-which ought to
be chockfull of coppers--I thought you
must be gone sucker, and how on arth
you escaped is beyond all, and that's
fact
l felt sick and faint and leaned upon
my gun for support. My escape had
been miraculous. Thanking the farmer
for his kindness in warning me of my dan
ger, and declining his invitation to par
take of refreshment at his abode, made
the best of my way to Colonel Obadiah's.
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18

amused at the little fellow, asked him
what he chewed tobacco for.
"What / chaw tobacco for?" replied
the boy. JWhy, sir, Ichaw it to get the
strength out of it, to be Sure, what dye
think [ chaw it for?"
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18
TnE PnEss OF souru CARoI1NA.-

THE Press OF SoUTH CARoMN4.-
The growth and vigor of the newspaper
press in this country for some years past
is truly astonishing. Every mail brings
us additional evidences the success and
enterprise of the newspaper establish
ments of the South. We are rejoiced to
see this state of things in our own State
particularly and the many well conduc-
ted papers now established in the upper
Districts must be of immense advantage
to the people. There is no branch ofin-
dustry-agricultural, commercial or me-
chanical-but must be invariably benefit
ted under the influences of these presses.
Light and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. morals
and virtue, must ever be the concomitants
of a well sustained press amongst peo-
pie. Had we space to enumerate, we
might mention the papers we allude to /;
but we comprehend all when we say of
the newspaper press of South Carolina,
that, in point of ability, correctness of
tone and sentiment, and the successful
pursuit of this honorable vocation, in all
respects, the newspaper press of this
State is unsurpassed.
South Carolina, by her devotion to
Democratic principles-by her unwayer-
ing defence of State Rights-and by the
exalted patriotism of her statesmen, un-
polluted by the debasing influences of
party strife--has frequently been sneered
at and held up to ridicule by the party
hacks and political brawlers of her sister
states. But the filings of party ribaldry,
or the paltry exhibitions Of envenomed
spite, so often hurled at their noble little
State, find no sympathizing heart or pen
among her editorial corps. They are
met with scon, and repelled with con-
sclousness ofinIegrity, principle, which,
in too many instances, is manifestly want
ing in their assailants. We challenge the
strictest scrutiny and most rigid critical
examination, when we assert that the
press of South Carolina stands unsmpas-
sed in every quality which tends to ele-
vate the morals, augment the happiness,
or preserve the independence of the peo-
pie whom they represent.
Well, then, for om conclusion. The
people of this State should sustain first
their own newspapers. To use com
mon saying, they may go farther and fare
worse. Their city, town and district pres
ses should be literally patronized, because
the newspapers of South Carolina are a
unit-one and indivisible-in defence of
the rights, interests and institutions of the
South. There is no diversity of sentiment
with regard to these whilst, in their dig
nifed and manly defence of the fair fame
of our gallant State and her people, they
have been in a great measure Instrument
al in placing her in the elevated position
she now occupies--notwith her
defam"rs-among her sister States Let,
then, our own presses, from the seaboard
to the mountains, be literally sustained,
even if occasionally it should be at the
sacrifice of some cherished journal pub
lished elsewhere. For the people ofSouth
Carolina may be well assured that in them
they have their best and truest friends. -
South Carolinian.
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18


amused at the little fellow, asked him
what he chewed tobacco for.
"What / chaw tobacco for?" replied
the boy. JWhy sir, Ichaw it to get the
strength out of it, to be Sure, what dye
think / chaw it for?"
'tIF 1T COMES WARM after this, we shall
have everything starting out of the ground
directly"
Heaven forbid--I have two wives un-
der it."
A YANKEE TmcK.-A young lady of
Connecticut, became extravagantly fond
Of young lawyer in the neighborhood,
who treated her partiality with great lev
ity. Finding her suit rather hopeless,
and beinc iully determined to enter the
state o, matrimony NJ some rate or 9th
er she alopted thc following plan All
at once SIC was taken iii, and her mala-
dy seemed to rhroaten death. AT this
crisis she sent lor ,ho young lawyer to
draw her will, and 70 his astonishment
she disposed of an enormous estate, in
legacies and endowing public institutions.
She shortly after however, recovered to
enjoy her own wealth, and the young
lawyer began to feel something like love
for her, his address became constant, and
his attentions marked; in fact, in a short
time they were married; but, alas! he
had to take the a0iU for the dead.
AN OUTRAGE of a most disgraceful
character was perpetrated by FIVE indi-
viduals, in Cleaveland County, Id miles
southwest of Lincolnton, on Sunday
night last, about dusk. A residence,
the property of Alexander Norton, Esq,
was forcibly entered, the old gentleman
and his lady severely beat with sticks,
freshly cut in the neighborhood, and
their escrutoire robbed of from $14O to
5000, and the old lady thinks upwards.
They then left the premises, and, it is
hoped, will not escape detection. An
outrage SO villianous, has never before
disgraced the community, and thus it is
doubly lamented and. condemned, while
there IS spirit abroad that will be both
ready and willing to q
qPut a lash in every honest hand,
To whip the rascals naked thro' the world"
Mr.. Norton is one of the most respec-
table citizens of Cleaveland county, that
part formerly belonging to old Lincoln.
He has been blessed with competence,
and prudence and industry have but in
creased his store. Hard, it is, that thus,
in his old age, jogging on slowly to the
grave with his only tie on earth, his last
hours should be invaded, and "a thirst for
money jeopardizc his few remaining years.
. "The way Of the transgressor is hard"
Gods finger IS on thens--Liacol,e Courier
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18

plants live, and from this carbonic acid
and water together, plants produce starch,
&c, upon which animals live.
| ID. Water consists of oxygen and b.
drogen
IA. Every 0 lbs. of water contains s
lbs. ofoxygen, and h. ofhydrogen.
Is. It's very wonderful that water,
composed as it is of two gases, hydro
gen. which burns readily, and oxygen,
in which bodies burn with the greatest
brilliancy,) should put out all fire; but
there are many substances, the compost
tion of which is almost equally extraor-
dinary.
10. For instance, it is extraordinary
that aOhite starch should consist of black
charcoal and water only, and that sugar
and gum should consist of the same ele-
ments as starch and woody fibre.
II. We may say, then, that all these
substances consist Of carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen
Is Gluten consists of all the four ele-
ments-carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and
nitrogen-united to little sulpher and
phosphorus.
10. Plants obtain carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen from the air; but nitrogen,
sulpfu', PHOSPHORUS they usually obtain
almost solely from the soil
Notc-Hence the importance of ad-
ding to the soil manures which contain
these three latter substances.
The FARMER.-He is public benefac-
tcr, who, by the prudent and skillful out
lay of his time and moncy shall make
single field yield permanently double
crop; and he that does this adds square
mile to the national territory; nav, he
does more he doubles to his extent the
territorial resources of the country, with
out giving the state any larger territory
to defend. All hail, then, to the impro-
vers of the soil Health and long life to
their fortune May their hes,rts be light
and their purses heavy; may their dreams
be few and pleasant, and their sleep the
sweet robes of the weary May they see
the fruits of their own labor, and may
their sons rear still heavier havestsl
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18

ARREST OF THREE CoUNTERrEITERs.-
The usual quiet of our pleasant village
was somewhat disturbed, late in the after
noon of the Sd instant. by the arrival of
four strangers who, "dusty with travel,
fiery hot with speed" made straight for
the Court House, and loudly called for
the Sheriff, instead of following the mole
general custom of riding to hotel and
halloing for the landlord. Uponim inquiry,
we ascertained they were four gentlemen
from Virginia, in pursuit of three fellows
who had been passing counterfeit money
in the "Old ominion, " and thinking that
too easy business, had added TO it the
robbery of an old gentleman they met in
the road just before they crossed the
North Carolina line.
The scamps Of whom the party were
in pursuit, had passed through the vii
age the evening before, with two tobac-
co waggons-rather a slow way to tray
el when the minions of the law are in pur-
suit of man-and could not then have
been more than fifteen miles from this
place. After procuring warrant for
the apprehension of the fugitives, and
being joined by Mr., Smith Jones, the eff
ficient Deputy Sheriff of the District, and
Mr.. Richard Hix, of this place, the party
again resumed their chase. The wagons
had reached Cokesbury, in Abbeville, be-
fore they came up with them, and sue
ceeded in capturing the mcn they were
in pursuit Of On being taken, the pris-
oners confessed having passed counterfeit
money, but denied the robbery. And as
they expressed desire to be carried back
at once, without being confined m Jail
here until requisition could be obtained
from the Governor of Virginia, they were
taken Immediately ON, to stand their trial
at home. LauycasviHe Herald.
"Now PArRIcK," said Judge, "what
doyou say to the charge; are YOU yuilty
or not 2"
"Faith, but that's difficult for your hon
or to tell, let alone meself. Wait till /
hear tho evidence" g
A YOUNG TOBACCO CHEWER.
A little boy, not over ten years of age,
was seen the other day cramping his
mouth full of 'tfne cut" when gentle
man standing by, who became somewhat
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-05-18

EMIGRATION AND COLONIZATION.
''Ma, SAID young lady to her moth
er the other day, "what is emigrating?"
Mother-"Em "Emigrating, dear, isa young
lady going to California"
Daughter.-"Whatis is colonizing, ma ?"
Mother.-"G Golonizing, dear, is marry
ing there and having family"
Daughter.-"Ma, / should like to 90
to California -
Taibotype Drauing. "A friend Of ours
has sent us specimen Of Talbotype
dia@ing, an improvement on daguerreo-
tipping, which consists in fixing the object
on paper instead of on metal plate. It
is a new invention, and the picture before
us-a cottage, the residence Of DIR. Blaney,
in Chicago-is remarkably c,har and dis.
tinct. We are not aware that any pic
lures after the Talbotype method have
yet been taken in New Orlea0s. The one
under notice was executed byDr; Bianey,
Professor of Chemistry in the Medical
College OF Chicago, who, we are inform
ed, has made still further improvements
in this beautiful art. IN, o. PIC. + z
"When you salute lady or gentle
man TO whom you wish 70 show paa:t;cu-
lar respect, in the street you should take
your hat entirely off, and caGse it to de-
scribe a circle of at least ninety degrees
from its original resting place. The infe-
rior classes Of men, as you may see if you
think fit 20 tako notice Of them, only press