davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-14
l'0rrcsPoladcnce.
DEPoRTxENT AT CHURCH.


The writer Of the following will excuse
us for giving tho contents of his letter to
the public, but we could not better express
the ceilings of chose who have returned to
the East after q residence in our fair city
than by doing So:
DAYToN, o., Oct. 5, 1853.
MR. MAHIa I: Though am in this bcauti-
ful city of banners, surrounded with all its
beauty and grandeur, find it not easy to
exist without hearing often from your own
beautiful and aourishing city and country,
which l.have SO recently left, and asths best
and surest means Of doing so and OF keep
ing pace with progress and improvement,
10 to read your excellent Taper. SEM you
my name as subscriber for one year. You
will please forward it to me immediately.
One would hardly imagine that Muscatine,
50 rough and unsightly to the passer- by.
possessed half SO many attractions which it
does, until he is once deprived of its pleas
ant advantages and associations. Indeed,
in but few respects is any older city ahead
in progress of improvement and there are
very few advantages of which any city car
boast which you have not besides, there il
q charm about lite in the "Far w est" thai
is to hs realized in n, other cou ntry. Ir
no country have found people freer, hap
pier, or better. or more willing to enjoy
Sheir freedom than in tn "Far West.
But ] did not design this for an article
hut could not we'll refrain from saying wha
bavs. ! may write you again.
Respectfully, J.M
Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-14
Discovery Of the MiSsissI ppi.

The discovery OF the Mississippi bY
De Soto involves one Of the most inter
ec,iag volumes Of the early exploratio ms
in North America by the chivalry OF
Spain. when Spain was power on the
earth. and her soldiers, excepting their
bigoted cruelty to the indians. were the
living realities, in courage aud gallant.
ry. ol the steel clad knights Of the dark
ages.
Hsrnando de Soto, sometimes called
Ferdinand de Soto,l as Governor Of Gu
ba. had received the title Of Marquis Of
Florida, from Charles v. ~hen. with
nearly thousand men raised in Spain,
he undertook the formal occupation Of
the peninsula 10 which he owed his title.
Ten ships were fitted out in Spain to
carry out his troops and aecessary stores,
aud they sailed from San Lucar for Gu
ba. in April 1889. On the 18th Of May
the same year, Solo. or De Soto, as We
shall call him, sailed from Havana on
his Florida expedition. with nine ves-
sells. nine hundred men besides sailors,
two hundred and thirteen horses and a
herd Of swine. On The 3O,h Of May he
arrived in the bay Of Espiritu Santa or
the Holy Spirit, (rampa Bay) where he
landed .hree hundred men and pitched
his camp. but being attacked BY large
force Of Apalaches known to Us as the
warlike Seminoles.) he was compelled I q
retire. He. however, landed again with
his whole available force. including a
de tachment Of priests and friars, and
several pieces Of heavy artillery. But
De Soto was not satisfied with the sim
pie occupation Of Florida. As an Off
Ger of Pizarro in his dashing and stirring
adventures in Peru, he had seen too
much Of The wild romance Of Indian war.
fare to be onten. with the monotony o
mere military experiment at coloniza
lion. SO. with vague expectation Of
discoveries Of gold among the aborigi'
ues, he set out due west, with his ar
my of some six hundred men, including
many distinguished Spanish hidalg'
who had joined him and his fortunes 70
the love Of adventure. After hume rou
bloody battles with the Indians in hi
i .oute. in one Of which two thousand o
the natives were slain. and nearlya hun
dred of the Spaniards. De Soto, in Az
gust, l542, reached the Mississippi ri,
er on the bluff now known as Natche
on The Hill, and the only elevated poil
on the river for hundreds Of miles
either diIection.
Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-14
The New Carrot.

Il can hardly spare 1t, Jeannotte, but
as you have set your heart upon it, why
| suppose | must.'
The young wife looked with rapture
upon the ten shining gold pieces.
'One hundred dollars.' she said to her
self, 'how rich it makes me feel. 1t
seems great deal to pay for carpet,
but gold worth is gold,' the old saying
Is, and one good purchase is better than
dozen poor ones. I'll buy one Of the
finest and most beautiful Brusselsr.'
Afternoon came; the rosy babe was
laid asleep in his cradle. and the little
maid received score of charges TO lin
ger by its side every moment till the
darling woke up. Jeanette, flushed
with eager anticipation, looked the pref.
,iest, and throwing mantilla over her
handsome shoulders. she was just hur-
rying away when loud ring at The door
brought very pettish 'oh, dear! and
the expected intrusion.
'Oh. Jeanette dear Jeanette =
and pale young creature sank painting
on the sofa. I'VE are in such a trouble
such dreadful trouble Can you hel p
us' Do you think we could borrow b
hundred dollars from your husband
Couldn's you get it for US. Jeannettel-
You know you said | might always rely
on you when trial came, and poor
Charles expects every moment to have
his stock Of goods attached, and he is SO
sickly
Dear, dear! said Jeanette, her great
and good heart suddenly contracting. -
: Edward told me only this morning not
10 ask him for any money for three
months;' and she gathered her purse
tightly in her handkerchief; Pm sure i.
-I-only-couid oblige you, would /;
but expect Edward is really hard push
ed. You know he has just commenced
business. Cant you get it elsewhere!
Have you tried|
'Yes,' answered her friend despond-
ingly, I've tried everywhere. People
know that Charles is sick. and cannot
repay Immediately. Oh! it seems TO me
some creditors have such stony hearts
MIR. J-knows just our circum-
stances. yet he insists upon that money.
Oh il is SO hard 1t is so hard /!
Her piliful voice, and the big tear.
running like rain down her pallid cheeks
almost unnerved Jeannette's selfish
ness.
But that carpet-that beautiful car
pet she had promised herself SO long
aud so often been disappointed of it
possession, that she could not give i
up. She knew her husbands hearl-an
that he would urge her TO seli-denial-
no; she would not see him-if she did
was all over with the carpet.
We'll, said her poor friend. in de
spending voice, rising 10 60, I'm sorr
you can't help mo; ! know you woul
| il you could, and it is something to kno
5 ihat-but 60 back with heavy hear
{ Good morning. dear Jeannette; / hoI
/. you will never know what it is to wa
or suffer-
/. How handsome the new carpet look
d as the sun streamed in Oh its wreath
a flowers and coiors Of faYn and blue, a
Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-14
MUsCATINE, IOWA: FRIDAY, OCTOBER IA. 1853.

the subject. At length he grasped III
idea, and il was the model Of this upo,
| which he was at work when Jane
urged him to join the sailing party.
Late at night his cousin returned
weary with pleasure, and found him
sitting at the table. sealed packae,
before him, his cheeks flushed. an unu.
sual brightness in his eye. and peculia,
expression on his countensnce.
About week after this, . gentleman
knocked At ihe door. 1t was opened b,
James, who was then alone.
i wish TO see Mr.. Grey gluncina
with smile at the peculiar decorations
Of the room.
my name is Grsy.' returned James,
placing chair for the guest.
ALLOW me to congra :ulate you on
your success. Mr.. Grey said the gem
tleman, pointing TO the counterpart Of
the model which stood upon the table.
my success l do not unders tand
you. SIR said James.
: Are you not Mr.. Grey, the inventor
Of this delicate and important machin
cry
Il am Mr.. Grey, but am not an in
ventor Of any thing returned James,
somewhat bitterly. Here is the fo,tu-
ua'e person, my cousin. William Grey
he continued as William entered
i rejoice in your success. young man. >
said the stranger 10 William. your
plan has met the entire appreciation of
the committee of which l um one. My
name is Wilson, and am authorized TO
pay you the thousand dollars, and also
to advance you another thousand dol.
lars on condition that you superintend
the erection Of the works 10 be estab.
lished.' a " - 5a@as
william was astouished. overwhelm-
ed, and after expressing his thanks, add
ed, i am yet an apprentice, and my
time will not expire within three
months. After that will accept the
offer, if you will wait till then.'
An apprentice !! said Mr.. Wilson,.
show then, let me ask you. have you
obtained such a knowledge Of mechan-
ics?
'Dy saving my leisure moments,
joined to lore Of my business, as in
volving some Of the bes. interests Of
man. at
Six months after that time saw Will.
liam in responsible Office. with high
SALARY, and the patentee OF several use.
full inventions, while James was jour
neyman laborer, with twenty-five dol
lars a month.
'Well, James, said Hrrry Gilbert,
short time after. William is somebody,
after all. tn
Yes returned James, Il think we
judged him wrongly once. ] would
give all have in the world to live over
my apprentice life. These leisure mo-
lnents are what make the man, after all,
Harry (!
Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-14

Love MAKING IN OLpEN TiAEs.-In
the history Of the Troubadours are very
long and curious directions for making
love. In the reign of Elizab beth. tho
following practices prevailed: Play.
ing with the little finger in amorous
dalliance sitting or lying at the feet of
their mistresses in ball-rooms looking
sugar-plums in their eyes, as they called
gazing closely aud amorousiy into each
others optics. They also exhibited
their passion publicly. A pendent lock
Of hair, often plat ted and tied with rib.
bon, and hanging at the ear, was so
fashionable in the age OF Shakespeare,
aud wards, that Charles /. and
many Of his &C Hrtiers wore them.
This lock was worn on the lef. side,
and hung down by the shoulder, consid.
erable longer than the rest of the hair,
sometimes even 10 the girdle. 1t was
supposed 10 have the effect Of causing
violent love, aud was originally French
custom. Wigs were made 10 obtain it.
Burton adds 10 the love.lock flower
worn in The ear. kissing the eyes was
a mark OF extraordinary tenderness. In
the forepart Of the stays was anciently
a pocket. where women not only carried
love>letters and tokens. but even their
money and materials for needle work.
When prominent stays were worn, low
ers dropped their literary fasors into
them II woman put a love-lotteg
into the bosom pocket, il was token OF
her affection. Willow garlands were
worn by persons disappointed ia love.
supposed from the trees promoting
chastity. or the famous passage in the
Psalms The liberties allowed to low.
ers. and even TO intimate acquain,ances
in The times of Elizabeth and James
were very indecorous.
Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-14

TRUE LlAERAL truly LIBERAL man
employs all the means in his power to
do all the good he can. He does not
rush in with fire and ord 10 abolish
imperfec,ions which are sometimes una
voidable. He endeavors, by cautious
progress to remove the ills Of the body
polite, but eschews violent measures.
which crush one evil but to create an.
other. In this imperfect world Of ours,
he is content with The good. until lime
and circumstances favor him in his as
pira,ions after the better.
Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-14

crimson. its soft velvety richness-sn
how proud felt little Mrs Jeanette a
the lavish praises Of her neigh bors. /
was bargain, too she saved ten dol
lars in its purchase aud bought pair o
elegant window shades--a beautiful
match for her carpet.
Il DECLARE, said her husband, 'this
looks like comfort; but il spoils all my
pleasure to think Of poor Charley Som
ers the poor fellow is dead
Jeanette gave sharp scream, and
the flush faded from her face.
Yes, and that rascally -! For
the paltry sum Of one hundred dollars,
he attached every thing in The little
shop, and was SO insulting Besides, that
Charles. springing angrily up in his bed
ruptured a blood vessel and lived scarce
ly an hour afterward. You know he has
been weak and sickly this long lille
And Mary?' issued from Jeaune,te's
bloodless lips. y
She has dead child, and they tell
me her life is despaired Of. Why on
earth didn't they send for mel could
easily have spared The money for ,ha,
purpose. If it had stripped me of the
las, cent. :hey should have had it,
Poor fellow-poor Mary
And | might have saved il all 7.
shrieksd Jeanette, sinking upon her
knees upon the rich carpet: .Oh, Ed
ward. will God ever forgive me for my
heartIessness? Mary did call here, and
with tears begged me to aid her--and l
II had the whole sum in my very, hand
-and---and | coldly turned her away.
Oh, my God forgive me, forgive me!'
In the very agony Of her grief, poor
Jeannette would receive no comfort. In
vain her husband slrore 10 soothe her;
she would not hear a word in extenua-
lion Of her selfish conduct.
i shall never forget poor Mary's tears
II shall never forget her sad voice, they
will haunt me to my dying day. Oh,
take IL away-that hateful carpet-I
have purchased it with the death Of my
dearest friend. How could | be so cru
ell shall never be happy again-nev.
or, never J!
Years have passed since then, and
Mary with her hus band lie toge ,her un-
der the green sod OF the chuIch yard
Jeannette has grey hairs mixed with the
bright brown Of her tresses, but she lives
in home OF splendor. and ncne know
her but to bless her. There is q Mary, a
gentle Mary, in her household, dear to
her as her own sweet children-she is
the orphan child Of those who have rest
ed side by side for ten long years.
Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-14

We never hear men,: ION making bar
gain. use the common phrase, "We'll
not quarrel about a triae," without be-
ing sure that trouble is in the wind
Every contract, every one for the value
Of dollar. should be explicitly settled
down 20 its minntest partic ulars. SO
that there can be no possibility Of miss
construction. Ii this is neglected, diff
ficulty is nearly certain to arise. Many
an honest man has been cheated. many a
friendship has been broken for life, be.
cause bargain has not been fully sta
ted, because the parties would not qua r
rel about trifles.
Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-14
Earth shine and alOon-shine.

The phenomena of "the old moon in
the new moons arms, is thus explain.
ed in Chambers amusing and instruc-
tive Tracts:
alt has been stated that the moon is
invisible when out Of sunshine. This
is strictly true, although word Of ex-
planation may be needed 20 prove the
fact. Often within day or TWO Of the
time Of new moon, the dull surface Of
its body may be seen family traced ou
on the twilight sky. No, only tibet
crescent of the shining portion is vis,.
ble-the entire face OF the hemisphere
turned towards the earth is also obscure.
ly percep;ibls The old moon lies, as
it is said, within the arms OF the new. /.
Now, the light BY which the old moon
makes its appearance under these cir.
cumstances, is really sunshine, nolwith-
standing the position the solar orb
holds beyond the lunar sphere but i t
is twice-diluted sunshine-,he silver has
been transmitted into lead by the touch
of earth. The sunlight does not pene-
trato through the moons substance, bui
~ SoWCS W tHC CdItu-IS tHcuCc tuLOWn n
back to the moon, and from the moon re-
turns TO earth again. At the time of
new moon. the earth, it will be remem.
bered, is on the opposite side Of the
moon to the sun; consequently the illu
nina, ed halt OF the earth is shining on
the moon, and the leaden hue we perceive
is the moon seen by earth shine This
earth. shine is thirteen times stronger to
the moon, than the moon.shine Is TO US,
on account OF the comparatively larger
dimensions of the terrestrial sphere.
Some astronomers state that This earth-
shine on the moon changes its ash-grey
tint into a green one when the part Of
the earth opposite to the new moon is
that which contains the verdant and
forest-covered plains Of South America.
There can be no doubt that this earth
shine on the moon is more vivid when
the terrestrial atmosphere, through which
it has to pass, is clear, and that 1t is
made dull when the air is laden " il h
clouds and mists. Arago believes that
we shall, some time or other, be able 10
ascertain the mean state of our own at
mosphere's transparency, by watching
the ashy lints that appear on the obscure
portion Of the moon.
The Nevada journal., 1853-01-21

sence to Hon. H. Murray, which was
read and laid over. under the rules
This bill was ably reported against by
Ralston and Hubbs in the Senate, from
the minority of the judiciary committee,
but it passed. We presume the House
will pass the bill in the face of the
strong objections against it, We OBJ
serve simultaneously with this bill the
passage of an act repeating the power of
the Governor to fill vacancies during the
absence of Judges.
MIR. Letcher introduced bill for an
act to provide for the removal in certain
cases of criminal prosecutions, from the
Court of Sessions to the District Court.
The bill was referred to the Judiciary
Committee.
The Nevada journal., 1853-01-21

lie feeling. This opinion Of the article VIC
have good reason to believe was not gener-
ally entertained. With the exception we
have named, the statements of the article are
corroborated by even the witnesses for the
Prosecution. The article pretended to he
nothing more than a statement of facts No
infercnccs were halarded. No inaammatory
appeals made to the public No terror of cor
popui held over the head of the magistrate
No suggestions as to the trial or release o.!
Ault. A startling event had occurred in the
county. A mans life was taken in our
midst. All the details of the event and the
character of the man, we were naturally ex.
pectcd to furnish. We succeeded in giving
them SO faithfully, that persons who saw the
occurrence declared the account could not
have been more accurately drawn by an eye
witness. We did nothing more or less than
VIC shall try to do in every instance, believ-
ing the truth can never prejudice the course
of justice.
We take this occasion to remark that We
deem the censures applied to the acting Pros
ecutng Attorney for his zeal in this case,
altogether improper and unfounded. The
community should never find fault with an
officer for strict attendance to his duty
Especially in California, where crime has
had such impunity, and stepped bench and
bar with impurity, should the people uphold
and be grateful to faithful prosecuting Off
Ger, even though the line of his duty may
lead him into conflict with the sympatles Of
the community. When ccnsure is applied
to such man, for such cause, first pause
and reflect upon the immense amount Of
crime that has gone unpunished in this State,
for want Of Jealous prosecution. There is
little danger that man will be punished
wrongfully, while there is much that the
guilty will escape. When county attorneys
and juries do their duty, society will be purg-
ed of many stains and defilements.
The Nevada journal., 1853-01-21

MINING The fine weather of the
past week has been generally anl sue
cossfally used by the miners The sup
ply of water by the bitches is ample,
and the hills are melting away like
snow, under the hands Of sluiees. In
the ravincs leading from the Cayotc
range, miners are running through the
tailings, from the hills, and make it pay.
Mining has not been so proftable for q
year as j, now is We have advices
from several miles round, and in every
direction the miners are improving the
bright sunshine. The express oiicc cs re
buying up large quantities of dust, and
sending it below by tho one and two
hundred pounds at time. Goods are
coming into the market, provisions be-
coming cheaper, and everything prom
'3es good spring business.
The Nevada journal., 1853-01-21

are enlisted to produce morality, in ten
years from now the state will have ret
regarded. Such means hinder the end
in view. They but add fuel to the
flames. They rcnounce the sympathies
and excite the passions of mankind. =
Only false religion or morality can be
advanced by the sword The disciples
ofChrist were commanded to preach the
Gospei-not to force it on men, and our
latter day philanthropists will do we'll to
heed the admonition.
Since the above was in type, we have
received communication relating to
the meeting, which will be found in an
other column.
The Nevada journal., 1853-01-21
Plank Read 10 Marysville.

BY rare accident we lave received q
Marysville paper, the Herald of the 18th.
1t says:
sour neighbor of the Express is out in
favor of plank road to Nevada. We
like the idea very much, and hope the
citizens ofNevada will be equally pleas
ed with it, The Express concludes its
editorial on the subject with the follow
ing paragraphs, which we heartily en-
dorse -
This proposition, it occurs to US
would be greatly to the advantage of
Nevada and Grass Valley, as they would
furnish nearly or quite all the lumber,
thus keeping the larger portion of the
money expended at home and furnishing
active occupa ton for their numerous
mills, and ready market for their lum-
ber.
That the project is entirely feasible
there can be no doubt and that it could
be accomplished in a few months is also
certain; neither is there any doubt that
the Investment would prove one of the
most profitable in the state. We COM
mend this lubject to our cotemporary,
the Journal, and solicit from the editor
an interchange Of opinion upon the sub
| iect. We have no hesitation in recon-
me nding the project to capitalists as one
of the most feapible and profitable in
which they could engage
1t is matter of great Importance to
the business of our city, Grass Valley
and this whole region, to have uninter-
rupted communication with some point
having access to the San Francisco mar
ket. Several months of the year we are
liable to be cut off from any but coca
sional communication with the river cit
ies-teaming rises to oppressive prices,
our market is stripped of goods and both
buyers and sellers are subjected to hea-
Wy inconvenience. The fluctuations of
trade are not the least of the evils pro-
duced. We could name some important
instances. Thus in the winter of 1S49-
so, transportation was 80 bad that even
the few people then here could scarcely
get enough to eat. Thinking they
judged by experience, the next year our
merchants laid in heavy stocks Of goods,
especially flour, at cost of $50 per hun
dred. The winter wor away, however ;
Few rains fell, transportation was easy,
Aon, Fell to $40, and heavy losses on all
.inde IF good ensued. Last year, the
nter was compare lively light, and
ner chants were confirmed in habit o
hinking there was no necessity Of la
.ls in large stocks of good, The las
'-"ere unusually hie3, and ms,
hope they fould f.l
The res
81