davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28
Influence of a Newspaper.

A school teacher who has been engag-
ed q long time in her profession and wit
messed The influence OF a newspaper upon
the minds OF family of children. writes
to the editor OF the Ogdsnsburg Sentinel
as follows:
lhave learned it to be the universal fact.
without exception, that those scholars OF
both sexes al d Of all ages, who have had
access 10 a newspaper at home, when com
pared with those who have not, are:
l. Better readers, excelling in pronun-
citation and in emphasis, and consequent
ly read more unders,andingly.
2. They are better spellers. and define
words with ease and accuracy.
8. They obtain practical knowledge
of geography. in almost halt tho time j,
requires others. as the newspaper has
made them familiar with the location of the
governments and doings on the globe.
A. They are better grammarians, for
having become so by the style in the news
papers. from the common advertisement
to the finished and classical oraiion ofthe
statesman. they more readily comprehend
the meaning Of the text, and consequent.
ly snslyse its construction with accuracy
S. They write better compositions using
better language containing more thoughts
more clearly and connectedly expressed
g.. Those young men who have been
for years readers Of the newspapers, are
always taking the lead in the debating so
cieties, exhibiting more extensive knowi
edge upon greater variety OF subjects
and expressing their views with greater
Auency, clearness and correctness in thei
use OF language.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28
1etttgl.
rHH MsANTHRorE.
by $. puIsR GRAVES.

I.
| wander o'erhs weary earth,
A lonely, ibrken. he ar,ed one.
3 know no pleiure, have no JOY,
Ia In the wide iorld am alone; .3ax
: The friends lyed in youth are fled
S. Some sleep beneath the churchya ard
mould,
5 And others in Sr distant lands,
Pursue . toisome search tor gold I! :
Alone ! alone that dreary word
l.sa now can ally comprehend.
For ! hass livs 10 prove how false
! Are al wh0aermsd mo once their
friend ;atls
And have sn3rsd pangs Of grief,
s. And bitter, bShiing hours Of woe.
Ger wrongs anl treaohery as great
AZ mortal heft may ever know.
/ mingie with III young and fair,
nv song y smsdmes tree and light;
Bot 81. when gIyestis my laugh.
~ Ny soalsis Pfnged in deepes. night, !
8 For then beioremy memory's eye Is
Come ihoss Mo lie beneath the sod.
And earnest. vopeIess prayers arise.
That may met them with our God
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

iuii Here was the being 10 whom, but a
few hours ago, had owed my lii.-a
poor, slight. unprotected child--lying be-
fore me. with death already written on his
brow-a and yet had never known OF his
danger. and never sought him out after
the conflict How bitterly my heart re-
preached me in that hour. They noticed
my agitation, and his old frieDd--the sea-
man that held his hesd--said sadly.
Poor little Dick--you'il Il never see the
shore you have wished for so long. Bu,
there II be more than one--when your log 8
out,' he spoke with smotion--.to mourn
over you.
| Suddenly the little fellow opened his
eyes, aud gazed vacantly around.
Has he come yet z he asked in low
voice. Why don't ne come 2
Il am here. said |, taking the little fel-
lows tand. don't you know me, Dick
He smiled family in my face. Then he
said
You have been kind to me, sir-kind-
er than most people are to = poor orphan
boy. have no way to show my gratitude
unless you will take the Bible you'll
| find in my trunk. It's a small offering,
| knew. but it is all have
4 burst into tears !; he resumed:
Doctor. & am dying. ain't IL said the
| little fellow. for my sight grows dim. God
bless you. Mr.. Dantor,h.'
Can | do nothing for you, Dick 2 said
| |, .you saved my life. | would coin my
own blood to buy yours
Il have nothing to ask don't want
to live-only it it's possible, let me be
buried by my mo,her-you will find the
name Of the place, and all about it. in my
trunk.
'Anything-everything, my poor lad,
answered chokingly.
The little fellow smiled taintly-it was
like an angels smile-but he did not an
swer. His eyes were fixed on the stars
flickering in that patch OF blue sky tar
overhead. His mind wandered
1t is long-iong way up there--bu,
there are bright engels among them. Mo.
,her used TO say thst | would meet her
there. How near they come. and see
sweet faces smiling or ma from them =
Hafk is that music z and. lifting his fin
ger. he seemed listening intently for q
moment He tell back and the old vet
| eran burst into tears. The child was dead
did he indeed hear angels voicesi God
/ :, =
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28
Col. Benton.

man in the George Law nterea, ap.
proached Col Benton lasisesson, while he
was walking in Pennsylvania Avenue, and
said:
Good morning, Mr.. Benton
The salute was returned
Il see the mail steamer BILLS up to.day
Yes. air.
.Benion. couldn't you be prevailed up.
on TO go for the employment Of more
steamers by the government
Yes cir. upon one condition.
The fellow smiled as il he was going to
get Roland Of suggestion for his
Oliver Of bride:
Aye, on one condition-that they could
be used TO transport such rascals as you
are 10 some distant penal colony!'
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

Tom MooRE.-Alludins to Tom Moore'
Mr.. Irving said that he took extraordinary
pains with all he wrote. He used TO com
pose his poetry walking up and down .
gravel walk in his garden. and when he
had line. couplet. or stanza polish
ed to his mind he would go into little
summer house near by. and write ii down.
He used 10 think ten lines a good days
work. and would keep the little poem by
him for weeks. waiting for single word.
On one occasion he was riding with Mr..
Moore in a cab, in PARIS. and the driver
carlessly drove the vehicle in a hole in the
pavement, which gave il q tremendous jolt.
Moore was tossed alok, and on regaining
his seat, exclaimed: fe
BY Jove, I've got ii!' ..-
Got what?' asked his companion, in
some alarm.
MY word,' was the reply. .lhavs been
trying for six weeks. and now that rascal
has jolted il out OF me.
On reaching his room Moore inserted
his word, and Immediately dispatched the
finished song 10 the publisher in Lon.
don. .More,' added MIR. Irving. twas Q
most captivating companion, ,andthe sweet
est ballad singer ! ever heard. No one
could forget him that heard him sing"
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28
Aqri1nIinraI
FARMERS AND OTHERS. it is suggested. woald
serve the interest Of one another, and at the ssas
time oblige US by contributing Of their stock ii
information to this department or The Spisiss sal
Crops for 1856.


We believe there neyer wsrs tetlef.
prospects for our farmers 10 use every
effort in raising large crop than ,hsrs.
are at present. This war in Europe will
prevent the cultivation ofihe soil in nam.
ber Of extensive and fertile districts, which,.
heretofcrs, have raised large amount 81
surplus products. This win open : ar.
for our farmers to fill up. Corn i becone-,
ing more an article Of food in Europe
every year. Three times the qualify
was exported in 1854 that thsfs was il,
the preceding year. AZ il il the most
important grain crop in our country. ~
advise, still moro extended euliivation.
Of il. Potatoes seem to have become one
of the most fallecious crops. Farnsre
should not trust to them, but SOW, and
plant other crops, and depend on iheW
asif moi po.atawsre 10 be raised: For
the past ten years, most Of the Potetese
raised have rotted during winter /. tbsy
seem 10 have lost the quality o. pressryl.
ton which they once possessed. II )
few years more, perhaps this diseasS will
wear out. Farmers should raise more
oats than they have hitherto done. Is
this par, Of the country, il i slnes,, :
certain crop, and is now profitable one.
Beans should also be, cultivated, 90 shas
We may have avariely Of crops. Plsnl
these crops instead Of tobacco. and q
will predict that yon win be the better isr
i, mex. fall. The present cenyulsions q
Europe can have little influencs, "a ihs
price Of tobacco, while they double lhs
value Of almost every other erop. This
has been 80 sensi6iy fell ~ our u isilssS iiss;i
during the past year. that i iis not nsesSs
sary to say more.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28
A Preacher in q Fix.

y
The editor Of the St. Louis Christian
Advocate in recent issue, relates tho
following incident: q isslsza
1t was late Saturday night ere our friend
had completed his manuscript for the ensu-
ing day The family had long since re.
tired, and ell about the house, himself ex.
cepted sound asleep. The whistlng OF
the cold wind, the occasion al rstiling over
The hard paved etof a carriage, whose
passengers had been somewhere or some-
where else keeping late hours, and the
whack Of the watchmans club, were the
only sounds TO be heard, when our faith
ful man wrote the last sentence Of his
Sunday morning 8 Sermon" Meditaiing
upon preachers .'hard lot," he then re-
tired to rest. where he fondly hoped to
quiet the storm which hard study or the
stimulating effects Of tobacco had raised
in his nervous system.
1t was late next day when he again
entered his study. to take one more look
at his manuscript before going TO church.
But alas some one Of those changes
which affect all things sublunary has been
made. His manuscript which he has
tus. Where could ii be? Ii had been
carefully prepared from "beloved breth-
rem" to the last "amen." Every had
been dotted. and every crossed, all COM
pleted and left upon the table. the preced-
ing night. Where could it be? Nor
wife nor children" could tell; and, alack
the bells began to ring. Call up Biddy.
the housemaid. She comes as fine spe-
cimen OF the Green Isle as one would
wish TO see.
''Biddy, did you see anything of ser.
mon left on the table here last night"
"Plsze yer riverence, sur, it's myself
that's no, heerd a.sermon sence cum till
Ameriky. 60 till mass every Sunday.
but have never heerd no sermont at all,
at ALL" 4
20, that's not what mean. Did you
see q manuscript sermon-some paper
written on. | lef, here on the table?''
"Shure, an it's some bits o. paper.
marked all over an over, that ye'd be Of.
iher indenl"
"Yes, that. it exactly. Did you Sc.
them7' 5ss4 ~
."Tndeed, sur, an il was myself that
took 'em to light the FIRE wid: an sure
thought it was kind in ye to lave 'em fol
me. all SO nice and handy"
Reader il you want to know .'what fol
a Sermon they had in --- chsrcl, las
Sunday, you must ask the congregation
the above was rather too good for US te
keep. so our good friend must excuse U,
for telling IT, We sympathise with him
/ in the loss of his sermon, but cannot CON
ceal the case. 4
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

GrWe find the following beautiful an
ecdote in the editors table OF the January
number Of Graham:
We know q beautiful blue.eyed girl. ol
some three years old. who was nestled
in her mothers arms, at twilight, looking
out at the stars.
Mother said she, sit is getting dark.
And what makes it dark, Caroline 2
said her mother.
Because God shuts his eyes, replied
the little poet.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

er When plants. through accident or
neglect. get frozen, they should be well
syringed or sprinkled over head, through
a fine. rose watering. pot. with cold wafer.
Great care must be observed in shading
them from tho sun tillthe frost is tho rough
ly drawn out, which should be done as
gradually as possible. Standing them on
The floor Of the house 10 the best plan
that can be adopted. Care mus, be taken
that they do not again freeze after syring.
ing. II seems not to be generally un.
derstood that frost merely suspends. bu,
does not entirely destroy vegetation; and,
unless plants are very tender. with care
full treatment they may, generally, be
saved.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

ADv1cE.-..Ven you arrives at the dig
nicy of sawin' wood, Lafayette, il you is
elevated to that 'ere profession, mind an
saw the biggest stick fust, cause Wy? you'll
have only The little uns to saw ven you
gets tuckered out. Ven you eat pie. as |
'opes you may if you live to be man.
alwuz eat the crust fust, cause the crust
ain. good thing to top With. specially il
il s tough and thick as sole leather. Ven
you piles up wood, alwuz put the big ms to
the bottom alwux, Lafayette. cause it's
mighty hard exercise to lift 'em to the top
OF the pile. These are the r'sults Of hob
sarvation. Lafayet an may be depend.
ed Oh. an its all for your good that say
it," IVY, father, responded young hope
full. "vat a 'normous ''sperienc you must a
had!''
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

SINGULAR OPTICAL lLLusIoN.--The Paris
correspondent Of the New York Times
says that q gentleman living in Brussels,
some what troubled by cobwebs and spots
in his eyes, rubbed them ono night with q
few drops OF extract of ballsdona. In the
morning the cobwebs had gone, bat the
whole outer tacs Of the world had changed.
His newspaper which had been placed by
his bedside, was composed Of type 30
small that he could hardly sdeciphsr il.
He rang the bell, and his STOUT servant
wench had shrunk into a thin. little girl OF
ten years. He got up in great fright,
and looked after his clothes--,hey were
the garments OF child, but as his own
limbs had diminished in proportions. he
easily got into them. He found his wife
and children at the table, the former .
dwarf, and the latter row dolls. He
hurried otto his ply sicians; the horses he
met looked like dogs, and dogs like rats.
Everything was Lilliput and Cinderella.
Lotions were applied TO the victims eyes.
and the next day Brebdignag returned
bringing back the cobwebs and spots
This phenomenon called mieropie. does
not seem to have occurred more than hall
a dozen times. though it may be brought
on=at will by the employer Of certain sub
stances. asA8 sa ssfs 5&as7a 5,.4 Isl sis.t,,
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

fTlfyou want your nsip phbors to know
who you are. give party and forge, 10
invite the folks who 1.-Two next door,
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

0er Humility ever dwell. with men Of
noble minds. i is q flower that prospsrs
not in lean and barren soils; but in ground
,ha. is rich. i. fourishcs ard is beautiful.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

New COLLINS STEAkER.--The model
OF the new steamer, TO replace the lost
Arctic, and to complete with the Persia.
the forthcoming steamer ofthe Cunarders.
has been adopted at New York. She is
to be three hundred and seventy feet in
length, some torty feet longer than the
present steamers ofthe line. and the pow.
ar and capacity other engines are 10 be
fifty per centum greater than any other
American steamer sfloat. She is expect
ed to GROSS from port TO port in nins days
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

OF John. said a careful father. don I
give your cousin Simon's horses too many
oats, you know they have hay
.Yeth, thur said John, moving towards
the barn. 50
And bark ye, Jobn-don't give them
90 much hay, you know they have os.s.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

Charcoal for Hags.--Proside trough,
or other suitable receptacle, fill il with
and place il in your hog pen
Few articles that can be administered
to swine win prove moro bens6cial than
this.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

To MAKE HOME INTEREsrING.--Every
time your husband comes in up and tell
him. the Bridget has broken another one
of.them yaller platters.' and then brancl,
off on those distressed people up stairs
who will persist in throwing potatoe par
ings into the front area. Having disposed
of,his, tell him ,ha. the butter he sent home
is strong enough to pull tow-boat, while
the beefsteak which come from Mutton's.
the butcher arrived just in time TO get up q
fight between the maltese cat and old
Siubb's brindle dog-a fight that terminal
ed with the loss of,he steak and the gain
OF two quarts ofassorted hair. As soon
as this strikes in tell him the wood is out.
and that Mr.. Anthracite has sent around
again for the amount Of that coal bill.
lfyou could throw in here few hints a.
bout your wanting new dress. and little
Bobby looks as if he was taking the small
pox, the effect will be electrical.
Wives who like to have their husband's s
amell OF hot toddy and segsr smoke. should
cut the above out and practice on it.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28

Jim, | believe Sans got NO truth in
him. Z
you don't know, Bob; dar's more truth
in dat niggar dan all res on the planta.
tion.'
.IIow do you make dat?'
why. he never lei any OUT.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28
Ancient Babylon.

IL VIII hOb oO W. EOthOh hu"A tuo iohcu
Government, two or three years ago. sent
three gentlemen TO make scientific and
artistic researches in Media, Messopota.
mia. and Babylon. One of them. NJ.
Jules Oppert, has just returned to Paris,
and it appears from his repor, that he and
his colleagues thought il advisable to be
gin by confning themselves to the explo.
ration OF ancient Babylon. This task
was Of immense difficulty. and it was en-
hanced by the excessive hea, OF the sun,
by privations OF all kinds. and by the
incessant hostility OF the Arabs. Alter
awhile NJ Opper,'s two colleagues fell i'll.
so that all the labors OF the expedition de-
volved upon him. He first Of all made
excavations Of the ruins Of the famous
suspended gardens Of Babylon. which are
known by the name OF the Hall OF Amran-
ibu. All; and he obtained in them q num-
Der Of curious architectural and other OBJ.
jects, which are destined to be placed in
the Louvre at Paris.
lie has succeeded in making series OF
minute surveys, aud in drawing up de.
tailed plans Of this immense city. His
opinion is even the larses, calculations as
to it's vast extent are not exaggerated; and
he puts down the extent at the astounding
figure OF five hundred square Kilometres.
French measures, (the SO. kilometer is
l.l96 SO. yards) This is very nearly
eighteen times the size Of Paris. But OF
course he does not say that this enor.
it; it comprises within the walls huge
tracks of cultivated lands and gardens for
supplying the population with food in the
event OF siege. n. Oppert has discov-
cred the Babylonian and Assyrisn meas
ures. end by many Of them had ascer-
tanned exactly what part of the soil was
inhabited and what part was appropriated
for gardens. On the limits Of the town.
properly so-calIed, stands at present the
fourishiDg town Of Hiliah. This town.
situated on the banks OF the Euphrates.
is built with bricks from the ruins. and
many OF the household utensils end per
sonal ornaments Of its inhabitants are
taken from them also. Beyond this town
is the vast fortress strengthened>by Nebu-
chadnezzar. and in the midst of II is the
royal palace, itself almost as large as Q
town. NJ. Oppert says that he was also
able to distinguish the ruins OF the ia
nous tower Of Babel; they are most i'm
posing, and stand on site formerly call
ed Borsipa, or the Tower Of Languages
The royal town. situated on the two banks
OF the Euphrates. covers space ofnear.
|ly seven kilometers. and contains more
interesting ruins. Amongst them are those
nf the royal palace, the fortress. and ths
suspended gardens. In the collection o
curiosilies which NJ. Oppert has brough
away with him is a vase, which he de
clares 10 date from the time of one of tn.
Chaldean sovereigns named Narambel
This is somewhere about one Thousand
six hundred years before Jesus Christ
also a number Of copies OF cuneiform in
scriptions, which he has every reason Il
believe that he will be able to dscipher.
The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1855-01-12
Political Drummond Lights.

The vote in the House of Representatives
upon the question of passing the River and
Harber bill, Notwithstanding the Presidents
objections, stood yeas Ss, nays 80. or the
80 nays, 10 were from Locoloco members,
including Disney, Shannon and Olds of Ohio.
Thanks 10 the people, neither of the trio can
vote nay on River and Harbor bills in the
NEXT Congress. or the bf Wings voting,
SO voted to pass the bill in spite of Pres.
dents veto, but only 35 Democrats had the
independence TO put themselves right on the
record in opposition TO the Presidents 3
wrong.
The Chicago Journal publishes the yeas
and nays, and pointedly remarks:
"The River and Harbor bill has gone to
keep company with the Capulets for another
year and the Northern and Western states
may place il TO account Of Franklin Pierce,
=. A Douglass, and our invaluable Democ.
rscy, mads up of such Legislators as the two
Aliens Of Illinois, Breckenridge of Kentucky,
Dsvis, Hendricks and Miller of Indiana, Dis.
nsy and Olds o! Ohio and II ether Drum.
pond lights ofthe Nineteenth century"
The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1855-01-12
The Lancaster Gun.

Our readers have probably noticed in the
letters from the Crimea accounts of the Lam
caster gun, which has proved to b. most
effective weapon against the walls Of Sebas-
topol, although it has not been altogether
safe gun Tor those who handled it, two or
three of them having burst. The Montreal
Gazette gives the following description of
this gun and of the principle of its opera
tions.
at is a well known iaGt that it is impossi-
ole to cast balls or bullets in 81 ch a way
that one side will not be heavier than the
other, and it is also well known that this cir
cumstance defects the projectle from its
right line. With small arms this difficulty
is overcome by the rifle barrel, which being
spiral, acts upon the soft substance .: the
leaden bullet, and gives ii rotary motion
before leaving the muzzle Of the rifle, which
continues until the ball is stopped. BY this
means the heavy side is alternately turned in
all directions, SO that any tendency in one
direction is Immediately couuterbalaHced by
revolution of the bullet which changes the
position of the heavy side, and the result is
that the ball flies in direct line. Now,
however well this plan may answer ior snail
arms and leadsn balls,the groove is impracti.
cable for cannon and cas-, iron balls, and it
has long been a problem to discover some
means Of making riiled cannons.
"The Lancaster gun processes to have as-
complished this by means OF the elptical
bore, out Of which is to be thrown an ellipti-
cal projectile, either shot or shell. Without
plates we may not be able to make all our rea.
ders understand our explanations, but we
hope most Of them will do SO. The gun s
large, because It is at long range that Its
great precision Of aim tells best over the
common gun, and its appearance is that of an
ordinary large cannon, except that ihe mouth,
instead Of being circular, is elongated like
an egg, having one axis longer than another,
We will suppose that the mouth is the lar
gest up ard down; that Is, that the longer
axis is vertical. 50 that the ilaitened ball fit
ting It would stand on its edge; but the bore
winds gradually from tho mouth to the breech
OF the gun. so that. when the ball is driven
home to the proper position when the gun is
loaded, twill have turned one- quarter around,
and will lie horizontally; that is, at right an.
giles TO the longer axis of the mouth of the
gun, and on one side. When the gun is fred
the ball must make one revolution for every
four lengths Of the gun, and thereby counter |