davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Sierra citizen., 1854-10-07

the hall an old negro Servant made a grab
at my hat, but held on, and in triumph
carried it into the parlor, where, in the
midst of introductiohs, faring lamps and
waving and futtering of silks and cash.
meres, bowling, scraping, fuss and feathers
to all of which / was more or less deal
and blind, down upon piano stool III the
corner, l socks my hat.
The two cousins close to me, introduced
me; bowed; one of the Misses Degrand
came forward; | was introduced; and as
she in the tip of fashion, made her per
fectly grand theatrical bow to me, l
grabbed her by the hand in the most
democratic manner imaginable, and shook
it most heartily. She not only blushed,
but by her eyes / saw that she was like
wise mad as a hornet. Her sister and
she had a word, and then her sister avoided
me: Things grew no better fast, from
one bpngle got into another. In whist
| was ignorrnt and awkward, in a hop
waltz with one Of the cousins, | trod on
her toes till she screamed, and in trying
to mend the matter, | stepped on the
founces of Miss Degrand's dress and tore
off five yards at least. In despair, I
backed down, saw a seat, back upon it.,
my head dizzy, rushed, and down | sat
squash upon my hat! In confusion /
arose, snatched up my pancake-looking
affair, which | frenziedly held up to the
vulgar gaze. There was roar of laugh
ter, in which l did not join l assure you;
! gave rush forward, hit the corner of a
table, tilted over the astral lamp-such
crash Il kept on, made for the door,
which, just then old Degrand was enter
ing, araurt courier of his old negro man,
who bore large tray we'll filed with wine
in glasses. | struck the old gentleman
so forcibly that he fell back upon Pompey,
glasses and wine, and on in my mad career
[ proceeded Going out at the wrong
end of the hall / found myself in a dark
dining room, but jerking open the first
door in advance, / went out into hall,
thence to an ante-room, cropping in the
dark, struck my forehead against half
open door, saw bushels of stars and-feH
senseleSs!
How or when l got home the Lord only
knows, but for one week, had head too
big for hat, and pair of terrifcally
black eyes. AS soon as able to travel l
left that settlement" never to return.
The Sierra citizen., 1854-10-07

GOOD FOR BALTIMoRE.-During the re-
yolutlonary war General Lafayette, being
in Baltimore, was invited to d ball. He
went as requested, but instead Of joining
the amusement, as might be expected Of q
young Frenchman Of twenty-five, be ad:
dressed the ladies thus:
Ladies, you are very handsome, you
dance very prettily, your ball is very fine,
but my soldiers have no shirts"
The appeal was irresistible. That ball
ceased; the ladies went home and went to
work, and the next day large number Of
shirts were prepared by the fairest hands
Of Baltimore, for the gallant defenders of
their country.
The Sierra citizen., 1854-10-07
Tribulations of Bashful Man.
BY FALCONBRIDGE.


How early impressions and reminiscen-
ces of youthful days cling to us. How
easy, clear and distinctly we can see our
first dicky, the first boots we wore, or
books we read, while thousands Of sublu-
nary things coming in at much later
date, are almost obsolete in our memories
II emembcr-faith an hundred years
would not dim the recollection" said
Frank Fox,-"my first grand dash into
society,"" was old enough to have been
better educated in the ways of the world,
but it was my weakness to be rather
bashful was too timid and unsophisto-
Gated, and hence my difficulties. We
lived in small rcghborhood, but abund-
antly supplied with live people, and any
quantity of good-looking girls. While |
was in jacket and trowsers we gals and
Buys got along together slick as whistle
as our Yankee friends say. But by and
by left home to return a double@fisted,
bullet-hcaded individual, in coat and
pantaloons and from about four to eight
sprouts ofa sickly sort of a mustache orna
tnenting my upper lip.
The little girls left behind me, had
Not been neglected by nature or art;
returned to find that timc-even that brief
period of FIVE years-had worked wonders.
Susan, Jane, Ann, Mary, Polly, Betsy, &C.,
had become Miss Jones, Miss Smith, Miss
this and Miss that; ergo they were young
women and setting their caps for beaux.
I. was soon known that | had got home.
Some new accessons to the population
had been made in the way of two arlsto-
cratically inclined families from the city
Of; and these families had some
three or four highly-inished daughters
each. Well, we saw them, they saw us;
for the FIRST four or five days we kept
shady, ogling the girls-beg pardon
young ladies, at distance, lodging them
if they we're likely to get too close, and
making ourself mighty scarce if any of
them made their appearance about our
domicil.
Frank" said my sister-in-law-for l
never was blest with sister, or perhaps
should not have been so backward in
coming forward, you see-well, my broth
er's wife says to me, Frank, why don't
you buck up to the girls !? they come over
to see you, really believe, and whenever
they appear, away you shoot, as.if mad
dogs were after you. You are not afraid
Of them are you?''
"N-n-no." l Ihesitatingly replied.
"They won't bite YOU"
"Dont suppose they WILL" said |.
Then don't be stupid, when Miss
Smith and Miss Jones, and the two Miss
Desrands come over again. let me-ah
here comes Miss Jones, now Frank"
"A--a Lofty, Lofty don't" nervously
lmPiored her.
"Ill introduce you, don't be stupid
stand still"
I'm hanged if a." but it was too
late.
"Good morning, Lizzie, glad to see
you-whispering to me, who stood trem,
bling like Lest, ''stand still, you goose"
Miss Jones'" to me, sotto voce, "open
your mouthr' "Allow me to introduce you
o,ry brother, Mr.. Fox; Mr.. Fox, Miss
%ppesi" to me, @hold up your head and
spseakr"
"Ah-a-a good morning, sir-beg
peFdon, how dye dol" This perfectly
Hefcnlean feat, quite exhausted me,
ssg came 20 near choking in my life
The Sierra citizen., 1854-10-07

The WISE MAN OF THE VlLLAon-Was
there ever a little village of dozen
houses without one Of the seven wise men
within its walls? The following passage
from the Knickerbocker, will remind YOU
of the oracle Of your own neighborhood:
Some years after, Mr.. Glider was to
be found still working back of bis front
shop window. His hair was turning
white NOW, and his tongue getting all tho
garrulity of old age. He liked to talk OF
things he had seen Or heard; and would
tell old stories by the hour to the friends
that would drop into The shop, working
away all the time at his watches and Jew
elry, and they leaning on the counter or
railing, quietly drinking in his words, or
listlessly dreaming with him, but of some
thing else"
The Sierra citizen., 1854-10-07

ENDURANCE CEASES TO BE VIHrtE.
"Sir! You have called me scoundrel and
a liar, you have spit in my face, you have
struck me twiee. hope you will not at
tempt to carry this any further. for if yotf
do, you will arouse the sleeping lion in my
breast, and I.cannot tell what may be the
consequence"
Had the above ,ndignitics been pefpc-
trated on a "last" Californian, there might
have been q ''iewel fitI"
The Sierra citizen., 1854-10-07

N. p. WILLIs.--The Eastern itemizers
have been waiting with great anxiety for
Mr.. Willis to die. In a late number Of
the Home Journal, he says am in some
danger Of recovery believe"
The Sierra citizen., 1854-10-07
No. S..

PoEsY.-The following is one of the
happier efforts of an Arkansas poet, orig
inally intended for; Grahams Magazine.
The writer has preserved that peculiar
foreign accent SO facinating to sentimental
ladies. California potts please copy.
the we; 'iar grozc quite wsrrun. And the
roles iricklcn from my he'd and neck aud
and my boldly clean down TO my feet, and
is every stich Of cio,ssts,; a;yliich, spiles my
charrums.
sez to jane, jane the,wethers mighty hot
and she sez Rei';en that's a sartin fact.
and jane side like blen cofy pot
and her sole seemed i'll hard pain rackt.
seq jane spOse mad X 9 brcot beast
should run at you, and ope his mouth and
put
MS pllzen teeth upon you savadgely, at least
o inches jest abuv yer little foot
No FAIrH.-A traveller called ut q
very inhospitable hut in Aroostook Valley,
and was refused admittance by the snap
pish landlady:-
Every well,' said the hungry traveller.
you will want nothing to eat tomorrow.
"Why not?" inquired the woman:
Because answered the weary man.
"the Indians are digging tunnel ut
Moosehcad Lake, anu they are going to
turn .afl The waters Of the Lakes into the
Aroostook valley, and you and all the rest
of the people are to be drowned"
Upon this intelligence the old lady hur.
ried off to the priest to inform him that q
food was to overflow the valley, and to
ask what was to be done in the sad emer-
gency.
The priest endeavorcd to quiet her foars
by telling her that God had promised that
he should never send another food upon
the earth.
"But," exclaimed the afrighted woman,
'it isn't God that's going to do it's the
cussed Indians"
KNOWN NoTRING SIGNs.-The following
are said to be the words used by the know
nothings, when two of them meet:
"Who dar''
"Dinna know"
"What you?'
"Go he"
"Scallywag!"
"Yaw."
The little finger Of the right h.nd is
then placed on the right ear, which is .
signal for separating, and as they turn to
go away, they both exclaim in whisper,
"Git eout !"-Doac' Eaa Paper.
The Sierra citizen., 1854-10-07

nis pizen teeth upon you savadgely, at least
b inches jest abuv yer little foot
, 1854-09-16
: A WHOLE NATION OF BRANKLINs,D-

"A WHOLE NATION OF BRANKLINs." p
The following paragraph recently appeared
in the leading editorial of one Of the lead
ing newspapers of London;
1--WE have a few great engineers, and
mechanics, and a large body of clever
workmen; but the Americans seem likely
to become whole nation of such people.
Already their rivers swarm with steam
boats, their valleys becoming crowded with
factories, their towns surprising those Of
every State of Europe, except Belgium,
Holland and England, are the bodies OF
all the skill which now distinguished a
town population, and there is scarcely an
art in Europe not carried on in America
with equal orgreater skill thandn Europe,
though it has been here cultivated and
improved through ages. A whole hation
of Franklins, Stevensons and Watts in
prospect, is something wonderful for other
nations to contemplate. In contrast with
the comparative inertness and Ignorance
of the bulk of the people of Europe, what
ever may be the superiority of few well
instructed and gifted persons, the great
intelligence of the whole people of America
is the circumstance most worthy of public
attention.
, 1854-09-16

AN ODD SPECULATION. - A gentleman,
Mr.. Harrington, has revived in n lecture
which he has been delivering, the discussion
rs to the fate of Sir John Franklin and his
expedition, insisting that the compass nee
die indicates that large quantities of elec-
tricity are continually travelling towards
the poles, that being condensed, combus-
ton ensues there, and that they arc the
two hottest portions of the globe. He
maintains that this is indicated by the loud
cracking noises heard in those regions,
and the aurora borealis, as well as by a
current of water from the north. He i'll
sists that there must be temperate climate
between the ice bound quarter and the fire
at the pole, and that animals in the polar
regions migrate to the north during the
winter. He contends that Sir John Frank
lin may be in the genial climate, but that
without fuel or steam he may be unable
to return, on account of o constant wind
rushing towards the pole, to feed the fire.
London Times
, 1854-09-16

The MAN WHO DON'T ADVERTISE. You
meet him occasionally, and know him when
ever and wherever you encounter him. He
is his own betrayer. His business he will
not advestise, but involuntarily advertises
himself wherever he goes. His coat is al-
ways little seedy. He never rejoices in
new beaver. His shirt collar manifests
decided tendency to skulk behind his
cravat-an unfailing indication of declining
prosperity He looks at you askant sus-
piciously, as though you had designs upon
him. He always wears a meek, hang dog
sort of expression of countenance, like a
tenant Of life at sufferance lie has the
blues. He has the dyspepsia. He has
nothing to do at present-nothing better
in prospect. His pockts never resound
with the sweet music Of the rocks The
clean pages of his ledger are rarely sulIied
with entries. He is like mummy in the
great world around him, unknown and un-
cared for-like the fifth wheel of a coach,
out of place and worse than useless.
, 1854-09-16
The Opposition to the Democracy, and its new
Srhene for the Future,

NUHULiV AUl tHJ HuthlV
. When the opposition to the democratic
party, in 1882 33, united under the name
of wings, they avowcd that they had COM
bined for great patriotic purpose, and
by dint Of panic cries of all degrees of
violence, they succeeded in revolutionizing
Congress, and in greatly embarrassing the
action of the heroic jackson. They were
trusted and tried for time by the Ameri-
can people, and while they could hold to-
gcther they were able to carry out their
measures. We can but remember what
these measures were when we recall their
triumph in lS4O-the result of their union
against the democratic party. The bank,
the bankrupt law, the tariff Of 1912, the
distribution. of the proceeds of the sales OF
the public lands. and the repeal Of the in
dependent treasury, were the trophies OF
that era of whig rule. These enormities
were sought to be justified by the pretence
that they were necessary to the general
welfare; but very brief trial soon led to
their overthrow; and in one case at least
that of the bankrupt law--the same Con
gress that enacted the law, subsequently
and almost unanimously repealedit. These
were few of the consequences that follow
ed the fusion of the opponents OF the demo-
cratic party under the name of whig.-
They combined for patriotic purpose, as
they alleged, and such were the fruits Of
their combination.
A new idea has, however, occurred to
this opposition in 1854. They united for
success before, and their acts have become
historical. They now DIVIDE for victory
In the one case they came together in one
party; now they separate into many. The
name of whig is dead. Its charm has dc
parted Made powerful watchword by
such statesmen as Clay and Webster, il
cannot be worn by those who discard theiI
examples Hence new appellations are
assumed; and now the country is told thai
, the game of the opposition is to let eacL
faction fight under its own sectional ban
ner; so that when each has triumphed
, they may come together, and, in one grand
: aggregate, throw themselves against tht
democratic party. Thus we see the abo
! litionists rallied in one quarter, under thciI
peculiar doctrines; the know-nothings or
ganized in another the money power il
another; and the advocates of class legis
lation in another They profess to be
guided, as usual, by honest and patriotic
purposes; but, as usual, their combination
must end in the inAiction upon the people
and upon posterity of brood of evils fal
more malignant and dangerous than any
which the country has endured as the lega
cy of whig majorities. s. Washington UniO"
, 1854-09-16

CHEAP PAlNT--For the outside of dwell
ings and outhouses, where economy and
durability are considerations. Take bar
rel and put in it a bushel Of quick lime,
slack the latter by pouring over it boiling
water-covering the lime four inches deep,
and stirring it till Stacked; dissolve two
pounds of Sulphate Of zinc (white vitro) in
water, which must be added to the whie-
wash. This will harden the lime when it
is applied to the wood, leaving firm white
crystalized surface. TO make the wash a
cream color, add four pounds of yellow
ochre; for fawn, add four pounds Of UNI
Der and one pound of lampblack; stone
color, one pound Of umber and two of lamp
black.
, 1854-09-16

HIGH PMcE OF PAPER-English papers
state that white paper has become alarm
ingly scarce, and the press will perhaps be
reduced by-and-by to Showing brown .
like the stage-managers we have heard Of.
Already some Of the country newspapers
have added a half-penny to their price.
Printed paper, too, in the shape Of rare
books, is mounting in value every year
The first edition (l637) of Milton's COmus,
a very thick book, was sold the other,
by Messrs. Southeby & Wilkinson, for
$l25 "a.
, 1854-09-16

If you want to serve humanity effect
lively, don't commence by sending tracts
that are never read, and flannel shirts that
are never worn, to Africa but help the
needy around you. If there arc any old
maids about get them husbands if wild
ows, console them if pretty girls, please
them if pangs, preach the true word to
them, stir them up, turn, twist, fry, boil,
stew or cook them into something Christian
and good. After that, look out for the
heather and other folks in foreign parts" /"
Good.
, 1854-09-16


THE SoUArTERs OF KANsAs.-The 81
Louis Republican has correspondence from
Whitehead, Kansas Territory, which shows
that that place is destined to be one of the
cities of the territory, Whitehead is des.
cribed as follows:
The site is about Eve miles from st.
Joseph, at the termination of the ridge
which bounds the plains on the east, and
is adapted to the improvements and the
construction of a large city. The river
here bends southwark and washes the base
Of the ridge, with channel some fifty
feet deep. The rich and beautiful prairies
spread out westward 10 the remotest ex-
tent Of vision, while the magnificent forests
of the river bottom, and the Black Snake
Hills, occupy the eastern view. 1t will, at
no distant period, be place of great COM
mercial Importance. The country around
is filing up with most enterprising and
intelligent people. Thousands have al
ready come in, and thousands are still
coming. The lands for from ten to twenty
miles back have, with but few exceptions,
been claimed by squatters. They are de-
ternined to improve and develope the
country as speedily as possible, and they
will not be long in doing SO, for l never
saw more energetic and intelligent body
of men anywhere They consist of the
best stock Of Virginia, Kentucky, Tennes-
see, and Missouri"
Squatter sovereignty was established at
Whitehead on the oath of June by the
formation Of Squatter Association, which
pledges itself to sustain all claimants Of
100 acres Of land who shall become mem
bers Of the association. One person shall
not hold, and claimant building cabin
or tent within less than half mile of an
other shall be considered and intruder.
Sixteen persons, forming the advance
guard Of the Nebraska Emigration Com
pany, organized in New England since the
passage Of the Nebraska Kansas act left
Worcester, Mass, on the l7th inst, amid
the cheersof q large assemblsge of friends,
for their new homes in the far West.
, 1854-09-16

The CHOLERA IS NOT CoNTAoIoUs-Som
persons suppose that there is infection
about the disease. A simple fact will dis
pei this belief In the Franklin street
Hospital, New York city, there arelthfee
female nurses, and three permanent male
nurses, who have been in attendance since
the Path Of June, yet neither the nurses
nor the physician, nor any one connected
with the Hospital has been attacked by the
disease!
, 1854-09-16

TREASON RESPONDING TO TREAsoN.-When
the avowal of reasonable sentiments is
tolerated in the American Senate, it is
not surprising that they are responded to
and applauded in such assemblages as meet
together to form coalitions TO resist the
constitution and laws Of the Union. The
late disgracefnl reputation of his consti-
tutional obligations by Senator Sumner
was echoed and and applauded in the late
coalition convention which assembled at
jackson, in Michigan. At this convention
a DR.. Curtis spoke as follows:
If there was slave in the room, and
slave-hunter came to claim him, he would
advise him to arm himself and if u COM
missioner could be found base enough to
recognise the laws of the United States
and return q slave, he would tell him to
shoot down his master, and then be sent to
prison in preference to southern planta-
ton. He occupied military position, and
he would like to have slave-catcher come
to Oakland county TO take away q slave
he would like to have the military called out
the tenth regiment, for instance, to assis,
in sending back slave-he did not kHoir
lohether tdey aOOuld take him back or not"
The effect of such reasonable sentiments
was to drive the honest whig portion Of
the convention out of the body, and to
leave an unmixed band of abolition dis.
unionists to plot their reasonable designs.
These are the legitimate fruits of tolera-
tion Of mortal trarson in high places. Upon
such offences, committed by men occupy.
ing elevated positions, the power of an in
dignant popular sentiment must be con-
centrated until our national councils arc
purged of this class Of dangerous politi-
clans.
, 1854-09-16

ANOTHER MAMMOTH SHIP.-The Boston
Transcript of July 26th says =" At d.
McKays yard, East Boston, the keel is
being laid to day for new clipper ship to
equal the "Great Republic " in size-or
of 1000 tons burthen-to be built for
Messrs james, Baines & Co., of Liver
pool, and to be named the Donald Nc
Kay" The enterprise and success of this
famous ship builder seems to be unparal-
leled."
, 1854-09-16

pS- A letter written by an officer at.
tached to the Japan squadron, says that on
the part of the Japanese Commissioners, it
was at first much insisted upon, that the
United States government should allow "a
stipulation that no American lady should
ever visit Japan ! So prepostrous de.
mand was not cOuntenanced for moment
by the gallant Commodore.
, 1854-09-16

D9- People always feel virtuous the
mornining after they have made night Of
it. The man who would pick your pocket
or put bullet through you, without COM
Function by the light Of gas and cham
pagne, would preach you sermon on the
depravity Of human nature by the light of
the sun reflected through the empty bottles
, 1854-09-16

b1- There is no disgrace in debt. Is
it not national ? Credit is the soul of COM
merce-the foundation Of the State. The
man who refuses you credit, is a Radical
and Revolutionary of the worst description.
Have nothing1to do with such an individ.
ual
, 1854-09-16

D9r Elbow your way through existence,
perfectly indifferent as to who you may
jostle or Inconvenience. If, as you walk
the street, person is in your way-tread
upon his heels-he will move, aud you can
take his place--so in the paths of life.
, 1854-09-16

B9- The Washington monument is now
1852 feet high. About 100 stones have
been contributed by States, cities, &c
Every block will be visible and legible
from the ascending staircase. The COM
plete height Of the Obelisk, 500 feet, will
be bewildering.
, 1854-09-16
New Goods,

SECOND STREET, POST OFFICE BUILDING.
Just received and now opening general assort
- mcnt of
Dry Goods, Groceries, Goth
ing, &c, &c,
Such as Frock Dress Sack, Prince Albert,
Business and Over Coats
Doe skin, Fancy, Cashmere, Satinet and mole
skin Pants.
Black Satin, Cashmere and Fancy Vests,
Hats, Ladies' and Gentlemen's Boots, Shoes Cal
tiers, Slippers and Childrens Shoes of all kinds
good assortment of white coored, calico, hicko
ry. check and under Shirts at prices to suit the
times.
Also-Crape and Merino Shawls Ribbons Bonnets
Lace, Cloves Hosiery Perfumery, Fresh ground Corr
Meal, Dried Apples Rice, Sugar, Coffee Tea, Candle,
Tobacco and SOapX
All of which wikbe sold very low.
W. NJ. RUTLEDGE.
Olympia, June o,-'54 IT,
, 1854-09-16

soUTHWORTH g. CO.,

NO. Ga, BArTEEr srnEEr, coErER or nAL1ArEr
SAN FRANCISCO, cALF0RSIA.
IMPORTERS Of Ensllsh and American Hardware,
Bar and sheet iron-Por,sble Gra Mis-. ~
SAW MILL IRONS .C0ALPLETks
Horse Powers; Carpenter Tools; Ns l1
TinmAns Tools and Machines;
Together with afall andWeI assorted sloek q gool
In the Hardware line. .g |fl t.... IA u
Plows manufactured by Evans 4 Adams, Galc11, -
nois. Also from the manuiactoy q Joll fnilfs
Piattesville, lllnois- ~ fr.., .iei,.iI
San FlncisoO, Aug. I, 1858. 5lH