davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-09-03
'The Press. n Powerful Engine

|
per week. We can see no reason
why Flaluemine cannot support on'
daily paper, while Baton Rouge sup
ports three ably conducted dali,
sheets. all doing a land office business
getting rich, and proud under the
influence cfprosreritv. Q
The Comet has been thinking o.
making its appearance at 8 in The
mroning, ! Q NJ, and ?. NJ. to salts
fy increasing demands for there's
nothing to do. but to change the beau
tifully set up standing advertisements,
and shift "the figures
To show the community that we
fullyVaprreciate their "liheral patron
age" last week we went to the con
siderable outlay Of cash 81, to get a
new and becoming "head,'' to take
the place OF our old worn out noddle :
and next week we shall have a tale.
written expressly" for the Comet -
We have handed the materials" over
to get worked up-have the cuts ready
engraved, and expect when it zap
pears it must create an immense SEN
sation.
The tale may be looked for on our
outS,dc. Heretofore we have been
crowding every thing important with
in hereafter our outside will be illu-
minated with such brilliant SOUL stirr-
ing tales, sfreeze the young blood. and
make particular hairs stand on end
like --- hogs bristles.
There il abundance of evidence now
to show that this is a literary com,nu-
nifty, highly appreciative of all man
ner of mer't The fact is no LONGER
proble,natical. it is fixed evidence
may be had on the tables of McCorm-
lex y Co, At the Post office. and Her
and this evidence is ronclu-
sive when YOU come to examine the
subscription books of the daily press.
and see the number of respectable par
les unpaid. The Comet ,r,W keep
u to the wants Of this great (pros-
'ectively,l metropolis.
Our arrangements with the consoli-
lated Grape Vine Line is such as
o be able to spread before our read
'rs, the very freshest news in advance
# New Orleans, and great many
orelgn items, before they are known
my sebcyc else. We shall not be
'ver eolnpuuctious about the justuess
1t our claims. to public patronage, SO
We receive it." The "9uid pro guo"
vii act as an alt-healing balsam, in
he time to come, pretty much on the
anne principal it has in the time past.
How DO seu FEEL !'"-In all
he different forms in different Ian.
,uages, of salutatiou, GLOW do you
eel is decidedly the most significant.
How do you come along" is vulgar
Spression, and the French How do
ou carry yourself is also ohjectiona-
lie. How do you feel' embraces
he whole, and gives rise to some COM
lon-place subject of conversation
lore interesting than the state Of the
Gather We were forceably struck
18th this fact, when we heard a gent
reply in answer to the above ques.
on Il feel like takin somethia."
The question chow do you feel" ap-
Gals directly to the inward as well as
le outward man. it addresses itself
the body as vel! as the soul. When
e hear it used, there is kind of
7mpathy that springs up within us, ]
The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-09-03

| North st, was discovered on Fire thu
flames breaking out in the attic o
the building which leads to the be
lief. in connection with the fact. thai
few nights ago an attempt was
made to fire the building. that it was
the work Of an incendiary.
Whether this fire is the result of riv-
airy and jealousy in business, or not
we have no right with the light be-
fore lis to speculate. The matter is
worthy of, and should Immediately
receive strict judicial investigation.
Within the past two years several
fires have occurred here. exciting sus-
picion that insurance hap been the
cause of them. There ere certain
facts in reference to this point, that
citizens should bear in mind. The
first and foremost is, that no man can
recover more of an Insurance compa-
ny. than what he loeses. Thus a
man may insure his house and stock
for ten thousand dollars. and il may
not be worth more than one thousand
lie pays the premium on ten thousand,
but when he burns. he receives only
the amount of loss. There is of course
a difficulty met with. in ascertainipg
the amount lost; but the way is gen
orally pointed out in the policy of in
snrance itself.
There is not a shadow Of doubt that
many fires occur in our own Metrop
oils, owing to the fact. that parties in
snred, have vague idea that they
will receive the sympathies of the
community. and with the amount Of
insurance in their pockets, walk off
to a more favorable latitude to play
same game over.
Some Legislation is impcritively de
on this subject. Marine in
surance is always by open policy, but
the check against fraud, is the merch-
ants invoices. The Insurance com
panies should provide for assessing
he value of property insured, either
quarterly or annually, and yet
this would not secure the community,
because some faithless scoandrel may,
,fter his stock is insured, run it off
md then set fire to the budding.
Insurance in an honest community
8 commendable, but among thieves
md dcgenerat'ng society, the evil
fleets are daily witnessed.
Mr.. Henry Shodel, the proprietor
# the Brewery, was in New Orleans
he other day, when an attempt was
made to fire his house, On his return
We understand that he made state
nent of the fact to his Hon., the May
+, with request that the attention
{ the police to the fact should be
allied, which was done. On the night
{ the fire, a party was to have stood
uard according to arrangements, but
hey did not.
There is no doubt but what the fire
vas the work of an incindiary, and
ONE one owes the State o shaved
cad and a few years services in the
'enitentiary. We hope the matter
ill be immediately investigated. The
were the property Of N. st.
Iartin, Esqr., and insured. The
ocl1 Of malt, and beer-making apra
ltus, was the property of Mr., Henry
hodel, and was also insured.
SHORT NorroE.-By special mes
nger from the springs we are in c
rmed that there will be ball on t
hursdav nirht Of this week. being
The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-09-03

HtHn hDNlisNtN ~ |hHtis hit W
cf the matter, and the rroprietv and
eSrediency, ia being fully if not fairly
discussed The True Delta came out
the other day with an article headed
"]he inu,ility of a Mayor and ad.
.lacei plausible reasons for abolishing
that office.
The curse Of the whole republic ia,
the number Of silerure Offices Ma
'ional, State, and Municipal. There
are too many they make Office hold
ing and office seeking u profession, aud
-idleness the qualification. Wherever
and whenever an Office il found to be
mere sinecure, it is the rrerogative Of
the power giving power, to abolish it,
and we'll might number we wot of,
he dispensed with
The argument 50 frequently urged
i'll favor Of the candidate for office,
"tflat he has large family-is poor
and stands in need of the place is
frought with the most serious evils to
the body polite. Every man should
have somc occupation apart from Office
holding: and educate his children in
the belief that they must depend upon
,hhir own native talent and Industry
for support. Any other calling is
more AoaoyGb}e, fer when the whole
truth il unmaskcd. office holding ia
made by thc argument nothing else
than "rauperism the reward ofidle-
ness and iii many instances worthless
ness, Hoy many Young Americans
there are. comirg up around us who
are tolerated in idleness and the lack
Of an honest trade, under the impress
sion that they must be supported by
Office II hunIliating 70 think Of. But
it would seem that AS society advances
in knowledge the number of offices in
crease, instead of diminishing, as they
should
Tho people should be jealous Of
their prcsogative % create office. If
men arc TO ill offices because they
need them. aud till them for no other
reason than because the office must |
have "a head whilst clerks are al
lowed out Of the public treasury, to do
The whole work-If veteran Starcrs
in political life, 'an0 he provided
for; for the countr, 5 sake provide a
standing veteran fund out of the pub.
lie treasury, that the industry of the
nation, may not he directly taxed to
support droncs. il society.
u The Bayou Sara Ledger has
an article in reference to the vacant
Judgeship in the seventh District, and
says that several persons have said
they will not vote for the Hon. John
Yea, because he was born in Ire
land.
Mr. McNca, is a learned and tai.
ented gentleman, we have not the
pleasure of his acquaintance, but hear
bim spoken of by those who have. as
such without dissenting voice. lie
came to the United States when about
three years cid, and has remained here
ever since. In East Felieiaua where he
was educated, he has praeticed his t
rrofession-tilled the land--and rep
resented his parish with honor and ,
ability in the State Legislature. ,
It is t silly fanati,ism now, a; this I
late day, to cry out prescription" ,
against such man. If this is the S
complexion of Know Nothiugism in f
Bayou Sara, il does not receive it '
from the great and powerful organiza- /
The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-09-03

Bare headed BdWfdced Bouuets.
Is there any lady in this city who
candidlv thinks that the little swiveled
ur-narrow contracted bits of ribbon.
and the gauzy stuff set on the back
of the head by fashion, is pretty The
question is plain one, and should
meet with 4 plain unequlvocal an
swer Are they pretty9 II there is
any three ladies' of good sense to
pronounce them so. then we will never
say more about them. In default of
that opinion, we pronounce them ter.
ritficlv horrible. If the ladies' would
only reflect for a mmonent, and con
slider the damage done fair eomplexions
bv this bald faced aud barharous fash
ion. then t ey would certainly be in
terdicted at once.
The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-09-03


tyIn card from Maj. Kelly TO
the Pieayune, that gentleman says the
account Of the recent duel at Bayou
Sara, published by the Natehez Free
Trader, is not true lie says TINT
"the parties met to fight, and after
the eShange Of shots, DR.. Edwin de-
manded of Inc, the frienda,f DR.. Witch
er, settlement of the affair, or That
| should fight him, which ] accepted
Mt once, but Mr.. Beeeheno's require.
ments Of Dr. Witcher would have
amounted to the abandonment of the
cause of quarrel, and he would not
consent to make up upon such terms.
] exerted oil the influence I possessed
to reconcile the parties, but without
effect Finding that nothing but au-
other meeting would satisfy the gen
tlemen, l. at the request Of DR.. Wit
cher, arranged with DR.. Edwin that
they should have meeting the next
day, with double barreled shot guns.
Before tins could take place, DR.. Wit
cher and Beecheno were arrested and
bound over to keep the peace.
FIFTEEN MINUTES AROUND New
ioRK --Messrs. Dewitt & Davenport,
Nassau street, New York, have our
thanks for volume with the above
title, from the pen of G. G. Foster,
Esqr. The work embraces, in the
graphic style of that author, sketches
Of New York life as it is-pictures
that cannot be overdrawn, Of the vice
and immortality Of Gotham. That
such work4- although they boder on
The satirical, tend to aid the work Of
reformation, is unquestionably so;
and for this reason they have strong
Claims upon society at at large.
Fifteen Minutes will soon be on
he table of Heroman, and McCorm-
ok d Co.
~ Messrs. Leonard Scott Il Co.,
The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-09-03

IL Messrs Leonard Scott 4 Co.,
of - Fulton St. New York, have our
thanks for the July Number Of the
London Quarterly Review. 1t con-
tains eight sterling articles-"Tbc
House Of Commons, Milman's Latin
Christianity, The Drama, Classical
Dictionaries, The Electric Telegraph,
Christianity in Melanesia and New
Zealand, Queen Elizabeth and her
Favorites, and Lord Lyndhurst aud
the Eastern Question.
The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-09-03

1-In the last Fcliciana Wing we
notice the resignation Of Mayor Car
man. In his letter to the board Of
Alderman he says:
Finding it impossible for me to
devote sufficient amount of my time
to discharge properly, and | fear sat
isfactorily, the duties incumbent on
me as Mayor Of the Town Of Clinton,
without neglect'ng my private duties,
induces me TO offer this, my resigna-
ton of said Office, which | desire to
take effect on the twentieth day
of September next.
For tFe kind and gcntlcmanly
treatment | have received at your
hands while acting as your presid-
ing officer, you will please accept
my most sincere thanks and best wish
es for your future prosperity aud hap
piness and through you. | would
return my thanks to my fellow citi-
zens of Clinton. for having twice cleo
ted me to the Office | am now about to
resign.
Wherever, Carman goes, and what
ever he does must be crowned with
success. He is clever land lord, a
popular public officer and good
printer He is the same affiblc gen.
tleman in any and every character
called on to play in the panoramic
dyaHia Of life.
The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-09-03

SEVERAL Coon CHANCES. 1t will
he seen BY reference, that Robt Beel.
Esqr,, offers for sale valuable real cs-
tate on the Levee. Both of the lots
are desirable locations for business -
He offers also the unespired lease on
the West Baton Rouge Ferry, with
the steam boat now plying, and all
the aprurtinances. Here il rare
chance for some one to get into a pro-
titahle business
The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-09-03
Jbr 'l})rrtlu Culnrt
GEORGE A. PIKE,

EDITOR ANn PROPRIETOR.
The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-09-03

SHORT NonoE.-By special mes
cnger from the springs we are in
formed that there will be ball on
Thursday night of this week, being
the Third of the season. Though the
notice is short, still it is believed that
the ball going damsels OF East Fclici-
ana and East Baton Rouge, will be
on hand at this half way house in the
Green woods, on that occasion, We
shall endeavour to have a reporter on
hand, to make a uote."
Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-21

The Wigs in Congress.-We cannot but
commend, tsays the Alexandria Gazette,) the
course Of the wings in Congress, so .tar, this
session, and trust that they will not deviate
from their present wise policy-which is, to
keep watchful eye upon the doings of the Ad;;
ministratian, fearlessly to expose errors and
corruption, if any are found to exist, sedulously
to attend to the public business, and studiously
to avoid mixing themselves up with the fac
tons and feudS that prevail in the opposite
party. 1t is a temptation, we admit to some
men, occasionally to take advantage of such a
state ofthings as we now find, in order to make
political capital. But temporary expedients
of that kind seldom are productive Of lasting
benefit. Let the wings strive to be the party
of Retrenchment and Reform, and of attention
to the business affairs of the nation. Let the
country see that the wings are more intent up
on promoting its interests than those of mere
party. This is the path of duty and policy, and
by pursuing it truth and justice will yet prevail.
Memphis Eagle and Enquirer.
Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-21

JUL1EX's SLEIGH RIDE.-A Cincinnati paper
tells an amusing story by way ofiIlustrating the
effects produced at one of Julien's concerts
there by the performance of his "Sleigh Ride
Polka" A young gentleman of rather affec.
tionate turn of mind was there it seems, with
his sweetheart. The hall being excessively
crowded, he was obliged to put his arm on the.
seat; consequently almost around the lady, Du-
ring the excitement Of the "Sleigh Ride Polka y
The lady was, of course, much shocked, and
demanded the reason of such unwarrantable
rudeness. The gentleman made thousand
apologies, saying he must certainly be insane,
or else he had been carried away by the truth
fulness of Julien's music, and merely put his
arm in that position to prevent her falling out
of the "sleirb"
Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-21
PERSEVERANCE.

Take the spade Of Perseverance;
Dig the field of Progress wide;
Every bar to true Instruction
Carry ont and east aside;
Every stubborn weed Of error,
Every weed that hurts the soil,
Tare, whose very growth is terror
Dig them out, what'er the. toll -
Give the stream of Education
Broader channel, bolder force;
Hurl the stones of persecution
Out where'er they block its course;
Seek for strength in selfexertion;
Work, and still have faith to wait;
Close the crooked gate to fortune;
Make the road Of honor straight.
Men are agents for the futurel
As they work, so ages win
Either harvest of advancement,
Or the product Of their SIM
Follow out true cultivation
Widen Educ&ion's plan;
From the majesty of Nature
Teach the majesty ofman!
Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-21

g1 On Thursday 18th May the people
viii be called upon to elect three Judges of the
Supreme Court--ene for each division of the
State, an Attorney General and Reporter for
the State, Chancellor for each Chancery Dis
trict, and an Attorney General for each Judi
cial Circait.
For the Supreme bench it is understood that
the present ineumbents, Rob. ]. Mckinney
r. L. Caruthers and o. A. W. Totten, are can
didates for reelection. Jo w. Bell of Nash
vile, formerly of East Tennessee, is candi
date for Attorney General and Reporter for the
State, and 7. Nixon Van Dyke for Chancellor
in this District These gentlemen are all able
lawyers, and wo1ld adorn the positions to which
they aspire.
Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-21


Free Trade in Sugdr-A New York letter
of the 18th says 1t will perhaps, interest South
ern readers to know that great move is being
made at the North and West, or beginning to
be made, in favor of reduction or doing away
altogether, the Sugar protection clause of the
tariff. Our Legislature has already taken a
step in this direction, intended, of course, to
operate on our State delegation in Congress-
Free trade in sugar is the cry, and there are
some, doubt not, who care less for the free
trade as the principle, than for the chance Of
hitting Southern Sugar growers a rap. 1t is
estimated that the consumers of Sugar in the
United States pay yearly tax of $l2,0O0,0OO
solely to protect the prices Of home-ground Su-
gar. Ofthis sum $9,0oa,0 900 goes to the Gov.
eminent, $4,000, 900 to about 1900 Sugar Plan
tiers, and some 100000 to profits and adyan-
tages Of importers and wholesale and retail
merchants on the $l0,000,e00 duty and increase
cost above noted. This is called pretty strong
sweetening, and it is argued, that with free
trade in Sugar, we should get our sweets about
three cents cheaper than at present. Tea and
Coffee, which are less common necessity, and
many other comparative luxuries, are on the
free list, and it is urged that Sugar and Mo
lasses should follow suit. The idea will not be
relished, l reckon by louisiana and Texas
Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-21

The Costume Questionable London Ad-
vertiser says, ut gives us much pleasure to be
able to state that the Queen has most gracious
ly intimated to Mr.. Buchanan, the American
ambassador, that it will in future be left to his
excellency to appear at state balls and her Maj
esty's dinner parties; in whatever costume is
most agreeable to himself The Lord Cham
berlain has also made similar communica-
ton to his excellency, relative to his custume
on the opening or closing of the sessions OF
Parliament"
Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-21

Young America.-Senor Jose Manuel Gal
legos, Delegate to the Congress of the United
States from the Territory of New Mexico, can
not speak word of English, and of course
does not understand a word of what is going
on IN the House. A member asked leave to
offer resolution that he be permitted TO intro
duce within the doors of the hall person to
interpret to him what was said; but the leave
was objected to. Some one resent dryly re-
marked that if the Delegate did not under.
stand what was going on in the House it was
sometimes the case with every body else
Constituencies.
Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-21

Judges ftte Supreme Court-The present
Judges of the Supreme Court are announced
as candidates for reelection before the people,
at the ensuing election which takes place on
Thursday, the 18th of May next
We will be pardoned for speaking in part;eu
lar, of one of the gentlemen, the Hon. Robert
l.. Caruthers, the candidate for the middle di-
vision; and.we will not be regarded as making
AN invidious distinction between him and his
worthy and distinguished associates, for to him
we are bound by the strong and lasting ties Of
friend and benefaetor; and of his commanding
ability, pre-eminent qualifications, profound le-
gal learning and his many excellent qualities as
man, we feel that we can speak freely without
being influenced in the slightest by the cireum.
stances by which we are surrounded IL Knox
vile Register.
Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-21

A YAyDAL Act IN WAsHINGToN.-It was
stated under our Geographic head yesterday
that the stone presented by the Pope of Rome,
intended as a tribute of respect to the memory
of Washington to be placed in the National
Monument, had been stolen and destroyed on
Sunday night. The Washington Star says:
The Waterman on duty was J. c. Stewart;
he saw the perpetrators Of the daStardly act
from his Matchbox; be had with him double
barrelled gun loaded, and ready for use. The
men came to his box, and he asked them if
they intended to injure him, they told him to
keep quiet, and they would not hurt him, as they
wanted to take view of the place. They then
tied rope around the box, pasted some pa,
pers over the windows, and went off He kept
still, and they took the stone, placed it on a
truck and carried it to the river, where the
fragments were found. Stewart after he thought
they were gone. opened the window and says
he burnt the rope and got out, reused Mr. Hill,
ton the day watchman, and told him what had
occurred. Hilton asked him where the dog
was that he did not alarm him? Stewart repli-
ed, Il don't know reckon they poisoned him. ;,
Hilton looked for his dog, the most faithful
watch on the ground and found him dead
These statements were made to us by persons
at the Monument. The whole subject is to
be investigated by the directors.