davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16
Surprise Parties.

The New York Times says that this nstlu-
ton has reached that great city, via Washing
ton; but the editor thinks it is Of rural origin
The thing, be says, is in this wise:
"You are sitting this afternoon, say in your
quiet study, busy at piece Of writing that must
be ended with the evening. You havenpt shaved
to-day, and your makeup is only adapted TO close
domestic quarters. Your wife, in neat home
dress, 10 be sure, is with you at some woman's
work that cannot all be taken into her lap. The
baby spraws upon the carpet, surrounded by its
Babel of trumpets and dolls, go-carts and rattes.
ring at the door announces call. Before you
have had time to peep into the parlor To see that
it is SNUG, gentle tap at the door gives assurance
that it is some familiar friend. 1t opens, and a
brace of ladies that you are pleased to see, walk
in They are going to stay but moment, can't
Law off their boDnets, but have world Of news to
tell and of questions to ask. They have stad an
hour, an hour and half. and now they consent,
upon new urging, TO stay TO tea. You would
have been so much more comfortable if you could
have smoothed your hair and arranged your toilet
and, how unfortunate baby never had on so
soled dress before. 1t is Of no use 10 worry,
however, and to attempt the toilet nc% would be
but to call attention to the change. Tea scarcely
over, another friend drops IN, ana soon aHotHef,
and another. How curious that all should meet;
and, Of all days in the week, upon this, when you
are so poorly prepared? As the evening wears
on your door is besieged the bell rings almost in-
cessantly, and you awake to the feet at last that
you are the victim of surprise party 1t
dawns upon you that the ladies who took tea with
you were the advance guard sent out to keep
you from going abroad, and also to prevent any
''snugging up or formal preparation.
''But how will you refresh your friends when
they weary of walking and gosspng and the .pl-
ano2 Don't be distressed at all. The next ring
of the bell will admit company of colored men
from the confectoner's with trays OF oysters IN
every style patties, creams, ices, and hot drinks
in urns, all ordered by your guests on their re,
sponsibilty. Everybody will help himself and
his neighbor, and if you resign all care you VIII
be sure of an exceedingly pleasant time; and II
the stray lock over your forehead, the calcogown
or patched coat you are surprised in has caused
you any annoyance, be resigned with the consoIa-
ton that the dantiest and most carefully dressed
one of you visitors is liable to the same contiagen-
cy upon the next OCCASION"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

An AsrouYDINa FAcr.-We are informed on
good authority, that the following circumstances
really transpired on Saturday night last in Low
street near Exeter:
A card party played for various stakes until one
of then-a mountaineering in her language
"dead broke, offered to stake her infant child a
gainst dollar upon the issue of another game
The proposition was agreed to by her opponent,
who was chldless mother, and, being favored
by fortune or misfortune, the conclusion of the
game found her the winner Of the babe, bright,
healthy, male infant. The child, we learn, was
delivered without murmur, to the winner. and
and we Judge from the heartless conduct OF the
unnatural parent, that her offspring will find in
its new custodian as good home as the one from
which il was SO ruthlessly loSt.-BaH. RepuJh
can.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

Top-KHor CONE DowN-ln olden times the
ladies used to wear head dress of very insight.
ly shape, which they called ''top knot" The
fashion ran into great extravaganza, and at length
attracted the attention of the pulpit. 1t s related
that on ore occasion. celebrated preacher de-
nounced these topknots as prohibited by Scripture,
and quoted from one Of the Apostles tho command
"top- knots come do,cn I" He frightened some of
the ladies prodigiously; bat some of the more Gu
rous, referring to their Bible, were eased in their
conscience by finding that the whole of the text
read, "Let him who is upon the house-top mol
c0Me dOlunW
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

ROMANCE OF INDIAN LIFE.--A private soldier,
writing from Fort Laramie, March 18th, men
tions the following incidents OF the massacre Of
Lieutenant Grattan
will give You two facts connected with the
massacre, which have never seen in the news
papers. 4 musician, one of the party, owned or
married squaw, and on that unfortunate day,
when she saw danger threatening the troops, she
rallied her father and brother to preserve her lover
When he fell wounded, she rushed to him to pro
tect him from the arrows or perish with him.
Her father shot several arrows at the other In
dians. and was wounded himself in the Jealous de.
fence of the soldiers Then he sat down and wept,
as he could 90 no more. The hostile Indians then
rushed on the wounded soldier, tore him from the
embrace of his faithful squaw, and scaped him
before her eyes. After this she could not be pre-
vailed upen to eat or drink and starved TO death,
dying in nine days, and to 60 to reioln the pres
ence of the spirit of one she loved so dearly. The
only soldier that reached here alive was found by
an Indian, who, instead OF scalping him, minis
tered to his wants, carried water TO his hiding
place. and endeavoured to bring him into the fort
during the night. but being unable or afraid to ac
compsh his purpose, he turned back 10 Mr. Bor-
deau's house, bearing the soldier, and four In
dians overlook him and wished to Kill the woun-
ded man, or as they said, "that dog" The re-
ply of the noble friendly savage was, This white
man must live or must die," and he bore him
off in safety. Such generous deeds should be
remembered.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

e5- In the memoirs of Sir Robert Strange, just
published, it is mentioned that, in the pursuit af
ter Culloden, that knight had some narrow es.
capes. One of them is amusing: "When hotly
pressed he dashed into room, where the lady
whose zeal had enlisted him in the fatal cause sat
singing at her needlework, and, failing in other
means of concealment, was indebted for safety to
her prompt intervention. As she quickly raised
her hooped gown, the affianced lover disappeared
beneath its ample contour, where, thanks to her
cool deineanor and unfalterlng notes, he lay un.
detected while the rude aud baf1led soldery vain
y ransacked the house," To this lady, Miss Is
abella Lumisden, he was soon afterwards united
and her letters, containing much shrewd sense.
conveyed in the homely style of her day, make
up great part of the Memoirs.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

MAuoMMEDANs DISLIKE BELLs.-A letter
from Jerusalem says that the English ProtestantS
in the Holy City, have suspended moderate
sized bell before their place of worship, to the
great annoyance of the Mussalmen, among whom
there is general belief that the sound OF Chrs-
tian bell disturbs the repose OF the souls OF the
Mahommedans At one time, considerable DIS
turbance was created by this proceeding.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16
FRESH ARRIVAL

or Watches, Jelcelry and SlIrer TVee al J. ".
.MEREDITHS S, opposite .Nessrs. T. T y
j. B. Eskrdge7s Drug Store.
ss,HE Subscriber having returned from the North, re-
spect,ly invites the attention Of the public to the
we'll selected stock of the above goods consisting OF
Watches of the most approved Makers new and beauti
f STYLES of Diamond, Ruby and Pearl, Mosaic, Cameo
and Lava Breast Pins Ear Rings, Finger Rings, nc.
Also good assortment of Jett goods fashionable at
this time Silver Spoons, Forks and Ladies' and every
other article in his line Of business. Watches carefully
.cpaired and warranted. Every article warranted as
represented or the money refunded.
Stannton. Nov. |, 1851.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

The increase in the consumption Of paper is
thus stated. Forty years ago, three men, by han
sheets of paper in day, while row. by the use
of machinery, they can produce 10000 in the
same time. 1t has been calculated that if the pa
per produced yearly by six machines could be put
together, the sheet would encirco the world. In
France, only 10000 tons are produced yearly. Of
which one-seventh is for expectation. In Great
Britain, 900 tons are produced while the a.
mount produced in the United States is nearly as
great as in France and England together.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

PoMPEy's PLEA.-[ Two darkles in converse
ton. -Sam-You'l get it for hooking dat tur-
key last night. MasSa knows it," Pompcy.-
Il didn't hook it, Warn't de turkey massa's
Well. Amt massa's? Well, eat de tur.
key, didn't? Well. Amt de turkey part %
me2 Massa ain't got so much turkey, but ain't
he got more nigger? | tell ye de turkey only
change places.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

A SINGULAR CAsE.-There is at present in
the hospital of the Roule. at Paris, a gIenadier
sergeant of the 59th regiment of the line, named
TourvielIes, who has become both deaf and dumb
in consequence of the sensation produced upon
him by the explosion of a bomb shell within few
feet of him in the trenches at SevastopoE Ills
recoye-ry seems uncertain.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

INTENSE HEATIN AUsrRALA.-Messrs. Joseph
Stlling s. Co., of Adelaide. South Australia, In
their circular for the overland mail, say :-"Durlng
the last seven days the continuance OF hot weather
has been unparalleled since the establishment OF
the coloay ia this period, the thermometer has
constantly ranged night and day, in the shade,
from so to 100 degrees, according 10 situation !;
and from l3O to $50 degrees in the sun. Many
cases of sunstrol;e have occurred in the neighbor
hood death being the result in some instances
Apples are also being exhibited as havirg been
roasted on the trees from the fierce rays Of the
sun as perfectly as Though they had been in a
furnace"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

MODEL VERpIcr.-The Rome Georgia Cou-
rier publishes the following verdict, delivered by
"high minded, honorable and intelligent jury
of that State in the case of Abe johnson, VS..
Thomas Cameron
1--WE the gury choazcn and swoarne agre, that
tom kamyron must pa abe gonsing the u! amount
of 20 fire cents that the panetf pay over the won
kwart of liker for the benefit Of The g@Gry and
kosts will be rooled out"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

A YOU'VE HUsBAND.-OR making call the
other day, at the house Of the American mission.
ary, in Jerusalem, saw little boy, in the Tur-
kish custome, sitting on a sofa.-My first though,
was, "what an enormous turban that boy has on y
and my second, show very small he is /" Judoe
of my surprise, when | found he was husband
he being little more than ten years old. and his
wife not quite nine! Truly this is beginning life
young. And this remands me, that friend Of
ours saw an American lady in Alexandra. who
but twenty six years of age, was grandmother
This goes quite beyond early marriages in the
U. States.-.lGs. EaDles' 1ravels IN Egvpt.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

SIZE OF LONDON London extends over an area
of Is O29 acres or l22 square miles, and the num-
her Of its inhabitants, rapidly increasing, was some
5. 962. .239 on the day Of the last census. A con-
ception ef this vast mass of people may be formed
by the fact that, if the metropolis were surround
ed by a wall having north gate, south gate, an
east pate. west gate, and each of the foar gates
was of sufficient width to allow column Of persons
to pass out freely four abreast and peremptory
necessity required the immediate evacuation Of
the city. it could not be accomplished under four
and. twenty hours by the expiration of which time
the head of each of the fuar columns would have
advanced at no less distance than seventy-fve
miles from their respective gates, all the people
beipr in close file, four deep.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

Novel BUT Goop REASON FOR DECLINING A
CHALLENGE.--The New York Times States that
on Tuesday flare up occurred in Brooklyn
which resulted in Col. Jack, lawyer, chaleng-
ing professional brother, named Schoonmaker,
and that the latter declined accepting the invita-
tion, 'uaIess The Colonel tnould tatten himself up
sHticcientIyto be q mark TO shoot at" Col. j
has not yet indicated his intention to accede to the
request
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16
Valuable ITill Property for Sale.

DEING desrous Of changing business, we offer FOR
ID sale our Merchant Mill, situated Tinker Crees,
in Roanoke county, Va, and in one Of the finest wheat
growing regions in the Valley of Virginia Said mill IS
IN rsrate repair, nearly new and runs par burrs
and is capable of grinding from thirty forty thousand
bushels OF wheat year. 1t also runs pair of country
stones and crSher, which does good business i
has 20 acres good land attached with good spring ana
well convenient to the house ANY person wishing TO
buy mill property would do well 10 call and see said mil
before purchasing Terms accommodating.
= HENRY ENGLEMAN,
Nov 8. 1854 BOB'T A. DENTON.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

TAKING LANDLORD AT HIS WoRD-We
have heard of cool things, but never anything
cooler than the following The landlord OF ho-
iel at Whitehall called boarder to him one day,
and said: Look O. here! want yoa to pay your
board-biIl, and you must. I've asked you for it
often enough; and tell you now, that you don't
leave my house ill you pay it!'' Good! J" said
his lodger 'just put that in writing makea reg
ular agreement of it Pll stay with you as long as
| live!" !"-Knickerbscker Magazine.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16
DrNTISTRy.

B. ARTHUR (Graduate,) has removed to Bank
a. Square, opposite the Woodward House, where ne
resnecty tenders bis professional services tb the pub
lie. Every description of BLOCK TEETH and SIN
gle teeth mounted in the best Particular atten
fon paid TO cleansing and regulating the teeth oichdren
childhood being period when dental aud is OF vast mn
nortmce All the various operations of Dental Surgery
performed with strict reference to perrnaneney
Staunton, May 10, 1854.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

N,- The darkey who creased his feet so that
he would not make a noise when he went to steal
chickens, slipped from the hen roost into the GUS
tody of the owner. He gave as reason for be-
inc there, dat he only cum dar to see ct de
chickens sleep wid dere eyes open" lie was
cooped
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16
nt. A Yankee in Kelooshoo. Arkansas.

o. A Yankee in Kelooshoo, Arkansas, was
married TO young woman, and after four months
connubial felicity, was presented with black ba
by. lie ealled on his lawyer, related the circum.
stance aRd asked his advice. "Al right" SAID
the man of law; let me have the papers, and you
shall have divorce instanter." "Oh, hang
divorce" replied the Yankee; 81 only want tc
know if | can sell the cussed ngger!'
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

New ENGLAND QUAKERs.-The first Quakers
who came to Boston arrived in May, 1856. The
laws against the sect were very severe in the
Massachusetts Colony, and every Quaker found
in it was liable to the loss OF one of his ears
Four Of them were put to death. From the year
1864 to the year 1903 the Society of Friends
held regular meetings in Boston, and built the
first brick meeting house in the town. They have
now onlv oae meeting house in the city, which
thew used only occasionally. How different
lv ibe Ouakers are now regarded from what they
were by the Massachusetts, colonists in 1878,
when law was enacted subjecting every person
found at a Quaker meeting to be committed to
iail "to have the discipline of the house, and to
be kent to work with bread and water, or else
nav Is -
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16
SrAUNTON SPECTATOR.
sYJ. A. q L.. WADDELL, ia.
Il r. z NJ ).

t7-T Tie spectators is published once 'cssk,
ct Too Dollars year, if peid in adoance, or itoo DOT
tars and FJfty Cents if delayed beyond he expiration o.
Ele uer No subscription ,c be discontinued bu at tie
option of the Editors, until all arreardges are pad
SIj- AL COMMUNICATIONS TO The Editors 6y maH m"S'
be postpaid or hey iUH net be attended 10.
ADVERTISEMENTS Of thirteen lines COR Iess,)
inserted three times for one dollar and tloety nee cents
for euch subsequent continuance. Larger advertisements
inscrted in tie same proportion. -,
liberal discount made 10 those 'cho Gdcs''ss oy H's
ysor.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

A HUSBAND FOR DAY.-A very funny farce
is sometimes presented to the public. called "A
Nabob for an Hour" 4 melo drama has recent
ly been enacted in St. Adams, Vermont, which may
be denominated "A Husband for a Day" A
few evenings since, as we are informed BY cor
respondent, a lady whose husband has been in
California about five years, was agreeabIy sur
prlsed by the unexpected return of her better half
as she supposed. lie wore heavy beard and
moustache, and was familiar with many incidents
of their early life, and so fully established himself
in the capacity of her husband that he passed an
agreeable day in her company, ard obtained pos
session ofsome $500 previously RENTED for h'r
use, The happy pair were receiving the congrat-
ulations of their neighbors during The next day,
when 10 and behold the joy Of the lady was sud
denly changed TO bitterness BY one who had rs-
Gently returned from the gold region, and proved
TO her satisfaction that the would-be husband was
nothing more or less than good imitation OF the
genuine atticle--bearing the same form and fea-
lures, and having been an intimate friend OF the
true one. The marital impostor has been arrested
and now awaits his examination for $50 the in
dictment reads) assault and battery"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

APEG ABsvE.-A little mink boasted to one
of her little friends that her father kept car
riage. 'Ah! but, was the triumphant reply, my
father drives an omnibus
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

os- 1t was pertinent aad forcibIe saying of the
Emperor Napoleon, that, A handsome woman
pleased the eye, but good woman pleases the
heart the one is jewel, the other treasure.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

N5- An Irishman who applied for license 10
sell ardent spirits, being questioned by the Board
of Excise as to his moral fitness for the trust, re-
piled: "Ah, be jabbeTs, it's not much character
\ man needs to sell rum"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

To CURE FELoNs.-S. Osher, of Higganum,
Conn, informs us that by keeping the telon fin
ger in hot water for al ong time, If will remove
the pain. The water must be keP, as hot as it
is possible Tor the person to bear He cured one
on himself by this plan, and has Sknown OIL be-
ing equally oillcaclOus with uiheT persons.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16
HDBOOTS & SHOES.YG

Gheap B00CI 6NU6I haI dHU OdP HGU1 0'
FALL & WINTER SUPPLY,
n & ]. FAUST have Just opened their Fal and
I'll, Winter supply Of Boots, Shoes, Hats, Caps, &c.,
10 an examination Of which they invite their friends and
customers and the public generally feeling that
and nrce they cannot be beat has been known here
toiore They call attention particularly to their own
manufacture Of all kinds Of Gentlemen and Ladies w are
comprising every article in their line OF business and
warranted to be of good quality.
Hats can be bought of them from 5Ocents andupwards,
and Caps from l2g the inestall new fashion,
Also Trunks Umbrellas, sc. They respectfully request
portion of public patronage pedgins themselves to DO
their best to merit it.
Staunton, Oct. Is, 1854.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

A HUGE PILE OF SERPEYTs.-Baron Hum
boldt says: "Ia the savannahs Of lzacubo, Gul-
ana. saw the most wonderful and terrible spec
tacle that can be seen; and although 1t be not
uncommon to the natives, no traveller has ever
mentioned it. We were ten men on horseback,
two of whom took the lead, in order to sound the
passages, while | preferred to skirt the great
forests. One Of the blacks who formed the van
guard returned at full gailop, and called to me,
sHere, sir, come and see serpents in a ple.' lie
pointed to something elevated in the middle OF the
savannah or swamp, which appeared like bundle
of arms. One of my company said, This is
certainly one of the assemblies ofserpents which
heap themselves on each other after violent
tempest. have heard of these, but never saw
any; let US proceed cautiously, and not go too
near them When we were within twenty
PAGES it, the terror of our horses prevented our
approaching nearer, to which none of us inclined.
On sudden, the pyramida mass became agltated;
horrid Kissing issued from it; thousands Of ser
pents rolled spraiy on each other, and shot forth
out of the circle their enyenomed darts and fiery
eyes 10 US. Town was the first to draw back,
but when saw this formidable phalanx remain
at its post, and appear to be more disposed to de-
fend itself than to attack us, rode round in or
der to view its order of battle, which faced the
enemy on every side. then thought what conld
be the design of this assemblage: and concluded
that this species of serpent dreaded some cooSsean
enemy, which might be the great serpent or Cay
man, and they re unite themselves after seeing
the enemy, so as to resist the enemy IN mass.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

The drought still continues in Texas, and thero
is every prospect of 4 total failure of the crops
One paper states that the condition Of things is
truly 3aIming.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

o. Uneasy is the head that wears wig in !
gale Of Wind.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

A BUSINESS MAxM.-When You buy or sell,
let OF hire. make clear bargain. and never trust
10 "We Shan't disagree about IT,"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

ns- Elevated posts in governments are like
sleep rocks, only accessible 10 eagles and reptiles.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

"a SHORT Cur" to good business character
pay your debts promptly, and always when YOU
say you viii, or offer an acceptable excuse.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

rs Poverty must be woman--lt is 50 fond Of
pinching peison.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16
G. nj. COCHRAN. JR,,

A TTORNEY AT LAW, Staunton Va will practise
II in all the Courts holden in Augusta and in the Su
perior Courts Of Rockingham and Highland. Office in
the rear othe house, formerly occupied by Messrs
Niche & Robertson
Staunton Sept. 2S, 1853.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16

Take this gen,leman's baggage from No,
and order carriage and take him wherever ne
wishes to go-Free!"
The last We saw of Mr.. Suckerman, he was on
his way-at Broadway.