davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29
The Chinese Language,

The Chinese Language, next to Egyp-
tan Hleroglyphics, has been the greatest
puzzle to Philologists. Its tangled maze
I Of characters, by some rcckoned as nigh
as sixty thousand in number--a complete
Jungle of human speech--has hitherto de-
tered all save few hardy delivers into
the intricacies of semi-barbarous jargons,
from its systematic study. Another OBJ
stacle in the way has been the jealousy
with which the Celestials have excluded
foreigners from their country, except in
rare instances, Through the potency of
British gunpowder and opium, aided by
other Christian agencies, treer inter-
course has been established with them,
and it is becoming every day more i'm
portant that we should make ourselves bet
ter acquainted with our antipodal neigh
bors.
We have been much interested in the
perusal ola Lecture recently delivered by
S. P. Andrews, Esq, before the New York
Ethnologcal Society, on the Chinese Lam
guage, which we find elaborately reported
in the New York Tribune, with great
number Of strengthening characters by
way of illustration. Mr.. Andrews is al
ready we'll known from his connection for
several years past with the Photographic
Reform, and he seems to have dug into
roots of the Chinese with the same ardor
which has characterized his labors in en-
deavoring to bring the absurd confusion
of our own heterogeneous orthography
into something like order He claims, in
deed, to have made discovery in the I'm
ravement of Chinese mysteries equal in
Importance to what Champollion has done
for those of ancient Egypt To under
stand the difficulties of The subject, ii may
be we'll to state that ''the spoken language
of China is excessively meagre, consist
ing OF no more than four hundred and fif-
ty words--all monosyllables without COM
position, and perfectly destitute of inaex-
ions or grammatical forms of any sort, for
number. gender, person, mode or tense.
The written language, on the other hand,
though without an alphabet, is abundantly
copious, consisting of thirty thousand
characters, exclusive of as many more of
variant forms, or which have become OBJ
solete,) expressive of nearly as great va
riety of ideas as the vocabularies of the
most cultivated languages of Europe"
A knowledge of only ten thousand char
acters, however, is high scholarship, and
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29
Marriage.

Powers the sculptor, writing to a friend
OF what people call the folly of marrying
without the means to support family, ex.
presses frankly his own fears when he
found himself in this very position; but he
adds with characteristic candor. ITO tell
the truth however, family and poverty have
done more to support me than | have to
support them. They have compelled me
to make exertions that hardly thought
myself capable Of and often, when on the
eve of despairing, they have forced me,
like coward in corner, to fight like q
hero, not for myself, but for my wife and
little ones. have now as much work to
do as / can execute, unless | can find some
moro assistance in the marble. and have
prospect of further commissions.
The truth as expressed above. by the
gifted sculptor, is like similar remark we
heard not long since, by gentleman from
Boston, who tried matrimony in the same
way, and found afterwards that the loose
fund, and the loose changei in his pocket,
which he had before squandered in ''fool-
ish notions"--(young mems wlfims, as he
called them WAS enough to support a
prudent wife, who, by well regulated econ.
omy, has proved fortune in herself, and
had saved snug sum of money for her
once careless husband A wife to direct
man towards prouder ambition. and to
general economy, he said, was like tirne-
y succor at sea, to save him from destruc-
ton on perilous voyage. .o.i y isdi
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29

way, and he determined to surrender -
lie is accused of the most attrocious treach-
cry in attempting thus to save himself af.
ter excluding his wife and children from
all possibility of escaping destruction. But
the confusion and din of such scene.
the suddenness and violence with which
events succeeded each other, and the tu-
multuous and uncomfortable mental agita-
ton to which they give rise, deprive man
who is called to act in it, of sense and rea-
son and exhonerate him, almost as much
as if he were insane. At any rate, Has
drubal, after shutting up his wife and chill
dren with furious gang OF desperadoes.
who could not possibly surrender, gave
himself up, perhaps hoping that he might
save them after all.
The Carthagenian soldiers. following
Hasdrubal's example opened the gates Of
the citadel, and let the conquerors in. The
deserters were now made absolutely des-
perate by their danger, and some of them
more furious than the rest, preferring to
die by their own hands, rather than give
their hated enemies the pleasure of killing
them, set the building in which they were
shut up, on fire.
The miserable inmates ran to and fro,
half suhocated by the smoke and scorch-
ed by the flames. Many of them reached
the roof Hasdrubal's wife and children
were among the number. She looked down
from this elevation, the volume of smoke
and flame rolling up around her, ard saw
her husband standing below with the Ro-
man General-perhaps lookingin in conster-
nation for his wife and children amid the
scene of horror. The sight ofthe husband
and father, in a position of safety, made
the wife and mother perfectly furious with
resentment and anger. "Wretch," she
screamed in furious voice that raised it.
self above the universal din, sis it thus
you seek to save your life while you sac
rifce ours! cannot reach you in your
own person, but kill you hereby in the
persons of your children" So saying,
she stabbed her affrighted sons with dag
ger, and hurled them down, struggling all
the time with their insane mothers phren-
zy, in the nearest opening from which the
flames were ascending, and then lcaped in
after them herself to- share their awful
doom. ..
The Romans when they had gained
possession of the city, took most effectual
measures for its complete Instruction.
The inhabitants were scattered in the sur
rounding country, and the whole territory
was converted into Roman Province
Some attempts were made to rebuild the
city, and it was for a long time place Of
some resort, as men fingered mournfully
there in huts that they had built among the
ruins. 1t, however, was gradually forsa-
ken. the stone crumbled and decayed,
vegetation regained possession of the soil,
and now there is nothing whatever to mark
the spot where the city lay.-Ab1ott's
History Of Hannibal.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29
A Rare Quilt.

One Of the most elegant productions
that fell under our observation in the hall
appropriated for the hand work of the la.
dies at our late fair, was quilt wrought
by Mrs. Charles Taylor, of Chicago. 1t
was composed of $500 pieces Of silk,
each of which was about an inch square,
and all sewed with exceeding beauty and
neatness. Its chief charm, however, was
the great skill evnced in the ingenious
blending OF colors, so as to produce a
proper effect in the representation of va.
rious figures which ornamented it inevery
part. A brilliant sun shone in the centre,
the moon and stars beamed out from one
corner, while in another appeared storm
in the heavens, with lowering clouds and
flashes of lightning. td g0ci3
Around the border were various designs
illustrative Of the seasons and of the rapid
growth ofaouf Western country. At one
place appeared barren heath, with the
indians and hunters roaming over it; next,
a trading post, as the first entrance of civil
ization; next a military station, with the
glorious banner of our country streaming
from the flag staff; then a city, and steam
boats and vessels gliding in and out of
port, All these ahd many other figures
which we do not now remember, were
brought out by the shades OF silk used, and
in our opinion, the tout ensemble was fully
equal, if not superior to any thing else up
on the ground 1t undoubtedly cost an
infinite deal of labor, and is well worthy
Of going down to successive generations
as specimen of taste evinced by its fair
contriver, both as TO design and workman
ship. We are proud of any daughter. of
Michigan who is competent to the produce
ton of such work. Who will equal her
by like effort 1.-THE next State fair!--Dc-
troll Advertiser.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29
John Mills, thn l|srmon Preacher.
HIS FIGHT WITH COL. TURK.

When the Mormons- settled IN Missouri
in 1888, an enthusiastic young man NAM
ed Mills was their most popular and ad.
mired preacher. Indeed so great was his
fame that whenever he held meetings a
crowd of the saints were sure to be pres
ent. f.e Ha.i .,
"a strong and violent mob of lynchcrs
was about this time organized to put down
the Mormons, under the command of Col.
Turk--one of the most desperately dam
gerous men that Missouri, or in truth, any
other country ever produced. Some of
the Mormons were tarred and feathered,
some were scourged with long. knotty
hickories. till they tainted from the excess
ofltorture and the loss of blood---others
were forcibly deprived of thor property.
and reduced in a day to the condition of
beggars--while others still shared doom
of more mercy and were shot down on the
prairie like so many wolves. At last
Turk resolved to take some OF the con-
ceit out OF the young preacher, Mills, and
he gave notice to his men accordingly.
Ii was dreadhlly cold night in mid
winter. 1888, and although the sky was
cloudless, and the .tij noon hone out in
all her splendor, the e5rtIi lay in II IL pear.
lv radiance. chill and clreary as a frozen
tomb; for thick she Of snow crusted its
surface. and the north wad howled over it
a dismal drgc. 1t was night to drive
even thieves and outlaws into barns and
stables for shelter, and to keep honest
people by the blaze Of their own roaring
hearlhs. t F+'t
And yet strange to say, in large log
cabin, within three hundred yards of the
Missouri River, then frozen from shore to
shore, at least one hundred p ,ople mad as.
.sembled to hold areligious meeting They
were Mormons, you may be sure. No IA
natic of an old faith would have turned
out on such night; they must be fresh
zealots, with some new idea but at its birth
in their hearts, and Gaming like meteor
in their imagnatons, or they never could
have ventured to tace such an ice BLAST as
Ahat. The congregation inciadad men
and women in about equal numbers, and
many of the former carried rifles, which
they grasped with one hand, even when
kneeling down in prayer; such was the i'm
minenoe of peril, either real or imagined,
as they deemed pending over them. "
~ The preacher-the enthusiast, Mills -
had advanced to thrilling head Of his
eloquent discourse, and was painting in
terrible free-language the bitter persecution
which has ever followed the footsteps of
all great refomers since the beginning of
time. Never before had he been half so
animated or half SO affecting. His blue
eye cleaned like tar-his voice pealed
like trumpet, shrll as the wind which
whistled over the house top; and his beard
less lip seemed literally loaded with mu-
Sic. Groans, tears, and wild shrieks from
the audience, proved the despotic power
Of his utterance. W ~
Suddenly, three rifles exploded in quick
succession before the door, and three sen.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29

GooD BooKs.--A young man who has
the fondness for books, or taste for the
works of nature or art, is not only prepar.
ing to appear with honor or usefulness as
a member of society, but is secured from
a thousand temptations and evils to which
he would otherwise be exposed. He
knows what to do with his leisure time.
1t does not hang heavily on his hands.
He has no inducement to resort to bad
company, or the haunts of dissipation
and vice; he has higher and nobler
source of enjoyment in himself. At plea
sure he can call around him the best com.
pany-the wisest and greatest men of the
age and country--and feast his mind with
the rich stores of knowledge which thew.
spread before him. Alover Of good books
can never be in want of good society, nor
in much danger of seeking enjoyment in.
the low pleasures of sensuality and vice. !.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29

EXERCISE IN EARLY LIFE.--To fetter the
active motions ofchildren, as soon as thew
have acquired the use Of their limbs, IS
barbarous opposition to nature; and to do
so under the pretencc of improving their
minds and manners, is an insult to COM
mon sense. 1t may, indeed, be the way,
to train up elevated puppets for short-liyed,,
prodigies Of learning; but never to form
healthy, well-informed, and accomplished
men and women. Every feeling indiyid-s
ual must behold with much heartfelt cons
cern, poor, little. puny creatures of eight
ten, or twelve years of age, exhibited BY
the silly parents as proficients in learning,
or as distinguished for their early mastery
ofthelanguages, elocution, music, or even
some frivolous requirement. The strength
Of the mind. as well as Of the body, is .ex-
hausted, and the natural growth of.bothis
checked by such untimely exertions.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29
n sIng3a EDITED AND PUBLISHED qF
by JAMm r. NORRIS.

-s 1.-THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY 3
.aoiIsA published every Saturday morning
bat 81 so per annum, if paid in advance
and 30 90 if paid within the year. Mark
-etable produce will be taken in payment.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29

Nothing sets soawide mark between
vulgar and noble soul,as the respect and
reyerential love Of womankind. The man
who is always sneering woman, is gen
orally either coarse profligsts 81 i
coarser bigotgais eG9iaA efi To
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29
Forward.

ou. Forward The day is breaking;
-'i''' Earth shall be dark no more;
'H' Millions fmen are waking
io' On every sea and shore;
80 With trumpets and with banners,
sph' The world is marching on;
= The air rings with hosannas;
4. The field is fought and won.
Forward! on crown and mitre vs.
aHii's We trample as we 60,
p While bright and ever brighter,
l-'NNN The fires OF morning glow;
L'lsi Our broken foes are flying,
yi'- in' Blasted by light from heaven;
y q Or in the battle dying,
sa9Aio Unwept and unforgiven.
1eyo Forward! though storm and thunder
t5nsm May roar TO keep us back;
Yl1ail Though the earth cleave asunder
~ aH Across our constant track;
mo shapes o, terror lrighten
% 1ao Hearts that are true and strong,
-gal But the flames their pathway brighten
saal 1ad And the thunders roll in song.
o" Forward! the world before us
nicir Listens to hear our tread; lu9
And the calm pure heavens DER us,
p Smile blessings on our heads;
-qae Hope, like an eagle. hovers A.
81 - Above the way we 60; '
noi And The shield ofpatience covers
70. ~ Our hearts from every foe.
r..
a,t Forward! let none now falter,
no The glorious end is near,
,sw When temple, throne and altar
a.gsae Shall fall and disappear: la
-si Truth, born of heaven, shall guide us
-o. To his own happy land; I
iiUi And evermore beside US, ..a..
. Freedom and Love shall stand.
Forward! as near and nearer
We draw unto our rest,
The light of joy shines clearer
In every faithful breast;
The past hath ceased to bind us,
Its chains are hurled away,
a. And the deep gloom behind us
Melts in the dawning day.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29
TO smnscRIHuRs

y Gri No paper will be discontinued, ex-
,cept at the option of the editor, until all
arrears are paid. All letters and commu-
.nications sent by mail must be postpaid.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29
MECHANICAL EXECUTION
BY H. ADOLPHUs RUTTER.

TERMS FOR ADVERTISING.
Advertisements inserted at fifty cents per
square fourteen lines or less) for the first
insertion, and twenty-five cents for each
subsequent insertion that is ordered.'
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29
JOB PRINTING.

JOB PRINTING, .i2iTs -.
Ofevery description, either plain or fan.
cy, will be neatly and expeditiously execut
ed at the office of the "Spirit of Democra-
cy," and at the most reasonable prices.
The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-16

''There is no room to doubt that great republican
party will unbroken front TO the assaants of the
principles upon which it marshaed at the late
vass. Republic of Ihursday
Thus ii seems the wing party is again undergoing one
of its periodical metamophoses 1t genuine humbug
Every six or eight years goes through all the stages
of change-egg, grub, chrysalis-but it always comes
out genuine bug-a humbug-the veritable thing
in color. shape and nature. which it was before the
periodical changes in our day. 1t began its being
under the name of the "federai party" 1t was
then composed OF the tories, monarchists. and arts.
tocrats OF the revolution-the who hated and de-
spsed democracy all its forms, and sighed only for the
establishment of such glorious government that of
Great Britain, even with all its conuptions" Having
been defeated by the democratic party under the lead Of
Mr. Jefferson, il became the commerce party" during
the embargo. From 1907 10 1912 it the ''war par
ty," and loudly camored for with England After
declared it became the "peace party" and gave
'ad and comfort" to the enemy, il has since done to
Mexico From that time, it has assumed various forms
and names Ii has been the natonal republican party"
the democratic whig party" the swing party and has
become 'the great republican party" Still the
rogue is known under whatever alias it may assume
and it will be. disguise its true character
thal the leopard can wipe out It's spots That distinctly
appears in all its phases and metamorphoses 1t is the
party forever with the true interests of the
1t is the party that builds up banks and corporations.
and goes for high duties and taxes, that may pamper
its privileged favones In short, it battles for the
capital Of money against the capital Of labor Instructive
conscious that its and its designs odious
the people, seeks to attain its ends by deception and
chcanery Hence its change of form and name, and its
professions Of principles which it does believe in
carry out in practice.
The Republic says Henry Clay belongs to this 'grea
republican party" So does Daniel Webster They both
it is said, have received avors from, and pledged
sustain, the Taylor administration. That is enough
Democrats now know what sort of cat is covered up
in the meal of "the great republican party"
The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-16

The Yeoman need have no fears OF Mr.. Browns deci-
sion in dealing with the hawks, If he accepts the office
He will be found executing the law to-day upon a
forfeited Indian contract and tomorrow renewing the
tract, for selfish purposes"
We do not know that we understand the object or
meaning of the paragraph which take from the Ma
tional Whig On inquiry at the Office of Indian Affairs,
we are assured that there has been Indian other
contract of any kind declared forfeited since the appoint
men of the present Commissioner TO the head of that
bureau, and consequently there can have been
al of such contract The insinuation if intended TO APP
ply to the present Commissioned, is not only false and
without any foundation whatever, but is wholly unwor-
thy of paper claiming to be the organ of the admins
traton There are no contracts made, forfeited
newed by the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs except up
on the order or under the direction of the President
head of the department.; and the Wing supposed to
have free access to those funconares, and through
them to all the books and papers relating Indian at
fairs it will be expected TO etract the nsnuation if in
tended to apply to the present Commissioner TO pub
lish statement of the facts and evidence which il
was made
The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-16

To The Editors of the Union:

To the Editors of the Union:
GENTLEMEN: In letter copied into the "Union" from
Philadelphia paper, find this sentence
''There now longer any apology for Keeping out
Mr. Reverdy Johnson who was accordingly provided Tor
beS ae hy and his regard
continents altogether 100 moderate. The appointments in
Baltimore said to be has and II must be admitted that
they popular, and give general satisfaction"
Whether Mr. Johnson is ''fshy" otherwise, is all
the to me, he is destined to whr his four years
out; and this will end his political No ''bull"
that can be issued from the Vatican OF the court house
Pope keep his head above water beyond this The
little Pope, who his father confessor and who dictates
all the appointments, will fall before him AT the meet
ing of the legislature tue city court will be abolished,
and thus his clerkshp and enormous lees OF $4,000
year 60 with it Or in any event. the fees will be at least
hs ys BON h nSs sna snd
ter will also be reduced reforms in other State offices
will be made; and the office OF attorney general will be
governor, instead OF its being life tenancy as now
The enormous fees here must come down to moderate
sandard-say $3 900 year.
But am wandering rom my purpose TOOK pen IN
popular, and, of course do not give gen
era satisfaction" Objection is not made much to the
manner Of selection. They are like the handle of jug,
all side, while the veterans of the party are all
prescribed The appointments are no more popular than
MT SO himself w1G az no me oo0 i nave been
for the votes of the people, he could not have got five
hundred Out of many thousands to support him. He
never was elected to any post All his advancement has
proceeded from the personal and unceasng energies of
his personal friends and the whole power of the press,
which they have always managed to bring into full play
in his behalf whenever he has been up for an Office OF
appointment, not election by the people
The whole work Of the Maryland appointments, from
beginning to end, has been in view OF The election OF
Thomas q Pratt to the United States Senate, and Mr.
Ciarke-a third rate lawyer OF Washington county-the
next governor of Maryland This done there will be
reform and the present clerks, registers Sc, will be
perpetuated in power for life 1t remains to be seen
9th marty he w
tolerate this trust not The spirit of reform is abroad
in the State and il will go until economy in offices is
established, and oppressive taxes essentially
duced The party that establishes TINS desired result will
be sustained by the people in the most signal and rum-
plant manner-mark it.
ONE OF THE OLD MARYLAND LINE.