davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Butte record., 1856-01-26
Sharpe's Rifles

The following account Of Shares
Rifles, from the Missouri Democrat,
will be read with interest at the pre-
sent moment -
"This recently invented weapon, if
it possesses one-half the power and
capacity claimed for it by its proprie-
tor, is destined soon to supercede eve
ry other weapon for warlike purposes
now in existence. 1t is the most eff
cacious and terrible fre-arm in exist
ance. The small carbine now used
by the United States mounted men
throws ball with deadly accuracy
one-quarter of mile, and can be fired
ten times a minue. 1t is not compi-
Gated in structure, is easily cleaned,
and suffers no injury from wet weather.
Mr.. Sharpe is now preparing models
for four new species Of his weapon,
VIA small pocket pistol, calcula-
ted to throw Minnie ball one hunred
yards; a cavalry pistol with range
of five hundred yards rifle suitable
for footmen, with range of one mile,
and a large gun to throw two-ounce
ball or small shell one mile and a
half, or as far as a man or horse can
be seen to advantage. With this lat
ter weapon, Mr.. S. declares he can
set on fire ship at distance of near
ly two miles, and prevent the use of
field artillery, by killing the horses be-
fore the guns are brought within good
range.
.sThis rife, in the hands of good
marksman, is equal to ten muskets,
bayonets and all, for, place man SIX
rods distant with a musket and bayonet
and before he can bring the bayonet in
to use, the rife can be loaded and dis
charged ten times. They carry balls
with great precision and force. Mr..
Sharpe intends these rifles to become a
national weapon, and should Congress,
by using little liberality, purchase the
patent, the country would be possessed
of means of warfare unequalled IN
the world"
Butte record., 1856-01-26
A Crucfixion in China.

An American, writing from China to
the New York Times, after giving an
account of the numerous executions OF
the rebels, says:
Two weeks since, to vary the scene,
they had crucifxion. A woman was
sentenced to be cruched for the crime
of having given birth to one of the
rebel chiefs. If father is rebel, his
family are considered the same, and
the whole family from the old man of
fourscore to the child of four years.
share the same fate. The poor woman
was nailed to the cross while living,
a cash made across the forehead to the
bone, and the skin pealed down so as
to hang over the eyes; after which the
breasts were cut off; they then pro
ceed to break every bone in her body;
a large knife was next thrust into the
throat and passed downwards, cutting
thechest open. The executloner then
thrust his hand, and grasping the heart,
tore it from its socket, and laid 1t beat
ing and reeking before the judge. AT
Shanghae they drown them by dozens.
Butte record., 1856-01-26
Unpre1neditated EIOquence.

As an example Of powerful and un-
premeditated eloquence, may be given
a short answer of Curran, the Irish Or
ator, to a certain Judge Robinson
"the author of many scurilous pam
phlets'- who, upon one occasion when
the barrister was arguing case be-
fore him, had the impotence to re
prach Curran for his poverty, by tel
ling him that he expected ''his law IL
brary was rather contracted"
''It is true, my lord," said Curran
with dignifed respect, ''that | am
poor and the circumstances has Ger
tainly somewhat curtailed my library /;
my books are not numerous, but they
are select, and I hope they have been
perused with proper disposition. |
have prepared myself for this high
profession. rather by the study Of good
works, than by the composition of a
great many bad ones. am not a
shamed of my poverty; bat | should
be ashamed Of my wealth, could have
stopped to acquire it by seruility and
corruption. If | rise not in rank, |
shall at least be honest; and should l
ever cease to be so, many an example
shows met that an ill-gained reputa-
ton, by making me more conspicuous,
would only make me the more uni
versally and the more deseryedly con-
temptible. ."-Broagham.
Butte record., 1856-01-26

Like the winds through the aisles of
a cathedral, sweeps the stream of
thought through the chambers of the
brain. 1t may linger while, playing
a melancholy music, but it is net
thine; thou knowest not whence it
cometh. 1t flashes on thee, like the
lightning from heaven, when thou least
expectest it, and all that is thine own
is to recognize its presence. As the
flute, in the hands of the master, rem
ders wonderful harmoy, so it is with
men. The mysterious fabric of the
brain, with its organization of exqpi-
site fnenesss, is but flute Or a bugle,
and the breath of the master is the liv-
ing God. Reader, what is Memory
but the shadow of the past! When
events bave lost the fullnes Of pre-
sent reality, they yet leave an uncer-
tain image in their rear. On some it
falls like the sunbeams on the noun
tain SUBMITS, lighting them up with
glory; on others it falls gloomy and
oppressive, like the deepest shade of
midnight around the mountains base.
The saddest recollections of some men
are as but the shadow Of a butterfly
on garden at noontide-they cover
an atom of the soul, and that but for
a moment; those of others are like
the image Of the earth cast upon the
face of heaven, that reaches to eclipse
the farthest star.
Butte record., 1856-01-26
POlVgamy.

The son of chief (of the Puncah
tribe,) a youth, eighteen years old.
wishing to connect himself with some
Of the most influential men of the tribe
for the sake of securing their counte-
nance, had interview with one Of the
most distinguished, and made an ar
rangement with him for the band of
his daughter, whom he was to receive
on a certain day, at certain hour,
and for whom he was to give two horses
a gun, and several pounds of tobacco.
1t was enjoined on the father, as a con-
dltlon of the espousal, that he should
keep the contract profound secret.
In like manner, he soon made similar
arrangements with three other leading
men Of the tribe, each of whom had
a young and beautiful daughter of mar
riageable age. To each of the ia
theirs he promised two horses, as stip-
ulated for in the first instance laying
on each the same injunctions of secre-
crecy, until he should announce to the
whole tribe that ho was to be married.
At the time appointed, they all assem-
bled, ignorant Of the fair hand that was
to be placed in his. He got some of
his young friends to lead up the eight
horses he then took two of them,
with the other presents agreed upon,
and advancing to the first Of the chiefs
with whom he had made the compact,
and whose daughter was standing by
his side, said to him, ''You promised
me the hand Of your daughter on this
day, for which was to give you two
horses,o etc. The father assented, re-
ceiving the presents, and giving his
child, when some confusion ensued
from the Simultaneous remonstrances
which were suddenly made by the 9TH
er three parents who had entered into
similar contract. AS soon as they
could be paci6ed, and silence could be
restored, the ambitious young chief
exultingly replied, ''You have all ac-
knowledged, in public, your promises
to me, which shall expect you to full
fl. lam here to perform all the en-
gagements which have made, and |
expect you all to do the same" No
more was said. He led up the two
horses for each, and delivered the 9TH
er presents, leading off to his wigwam
his four brides !-West. Reuieac.
Butte record., 1856-01-26
33net's Curnsr.
Maine Law Melody.


Ir is admitted and mourRed by many that
a prohibitory law, BY general acquesence in
its requirements. should not have proved
more effective; but neither the friends nor
the enemies Of the '-bill' will fad ANYTHING
to complain of in the following playful expo
sition of the way in which the law may be
evaded. 1t is an extract from ''Maine Law
melody" and is supposed to be a modern mid
night conversation between '.spirits":
"Humph," said Brandy the bold,
I'm condemned to to be sold
No more in the way of a frolic;
Only this very day,
chap over the way,
To procure me, pretended the collie
When l saw myself pass
In an ounce measure glass,
felt such measure improper;
And with anger vow,
For Eve not cork now,
1 Iexploded, and blew out my stopper
"Faugh,' said Port-"Only think
That such comforting drink
As I'm well known to be, should see
Metaomorphose so strange,
And, oh terrible changel
Notemy name in the Pharmacopea
To be sure | am sold
Just as much as of old,
To many dry droppingin in gent;
Who makes wry face,
Says, Mine bad case,
just give me pint of Astringent"
That's how they take me in,''
Then ut-gurgled Gin,
As cocktail or sling I'm not lawful;
But 'spasms' or 'giddiness,
Or pains in the kidneys,
The way that I'm swallowed is awful r'
True" quoth Rum; Just to see
How the patients bolt me,
With phiz as if was emetic;
And by way of sham,
Pass me off as fam,
By calling me 'Diaphoretic' -
Thus each one chimed in
That he thought it a sin
With such nauseous new friends to be dwellig;
With cough stuff and senna,
Ipecacuanhai
And vile asafoetida smelling;
What with hartshorn and 'ile,'
And stuff for the bile,
And many quack mixture cried up;
And nasty black teaches,
Each stomach it retches,
And one really brings his inside up
The foregoing would seem to indicate that
many places have become very sickly since
the passage of the Maine Law, that "were not
So before" Some have even gone so far as to
quote St Paul in favor of Wine as remedy for
a very popular al lment under the new law:
Take little wine for the stomach ache %
Butte record., 1856-01-26
German Pcisoners.

Amid the most stealthy-footed and
domesticaly- benign of this feline race,
were the Widow Zwanigar and Mrs.
Gotfrid of Germany They were
among the most successful, though not
the most distinguished, in this art of
poisoning. They went on their way
Staying around them, for years upon
years, and yet were too good and agree
able to be suspected, though death
was but another name for their shad-
ows. Funerals followed the fatal sis
ters as certain ly as thunder follows
lightning, and undertakers were the
only men that hourished in their path.
The Widow Zwaniger was an admir-
BILE cook and nurse. Her soups and
coffee had a peculiar strength her
watchful care by the sick bed was in
all hearts; she kissed the child she
meant to kill, and pillowed the aching
head with such soothing address that
it never ached again. Mrs. Gotfried
was SO attractive a person that her
ministration was sought by people of
much higher rank than her own; she
was so warm a friend, that she was
friend unto death, and one attached
soul after another breathed their last
in her arms. Husband after husband
departed, and still it practiced its Gun
ming. At length, in her four and fftieth
year, she was detected and arrested.
In prison she walked amid the appa-
ritions of all lier victims, wept tears
Of tenderness over their memory, and
finished by desiring that her life might
be written so that, having lost every
thing else, she might enjoy her fame.
All women of this class have an ex-
traordinary degree Of vanity, and what
is more, they have perfect passion
for their art.
The Marchioness de Brinvilliers was
an enthusiast in the composition of the
rarest poisons, OF which her accom-
plice, Sainte-Croix, was so eminent
compoundcr. The admiration of her
beauty, the distinction of her rank,
afforded her a feeble satisfaction in
comparison with that of watching the
operation of some subtly lethal es-
sence. She certainly was not the mere
marchioness, but the princess Of pois-
oners and yet it remained for Mad
anne Ursinus to give additional touch
es of perfection to this peculiar char
actcr. She was at once lady OF
fashion, pietist, writer Of useful
tracts, poetess, and poisoner.-
Through all the dangers of these vari-
Gus careers she lived to good old age
of seyenty-six year, and died-iamen-
ted. Brevilliers, Zwaniger and Gotfried
confessed that they were conquered by
their crimes; but madame Ursinus,
branded in public opinion, continued
to defy it, and conquered even that;
and to the very last persisted in play
ing the heroine. Nay more, without
confession, remorse or penitence, she
>trove in her own way, and with no
trifing success, to achieve the reputa-
ton Of saint.-Dickea's Household
Words.
Butte record., 1856-01-26
Fashionable Church.

The following is from the pen of Fan
ny Fern. The picture is perfect
She is describing a fashionable church,
supported by the upper ten; You en-
ter the church porch. The portly sex
ton, with his thumbs in the arm holes
of his vest, meets you at the door,
He glances at you; your hat and coat
are new, so he graciously escorts you
to an eligible scat in the broad aisle.
Close behind you follows poor, meek,
plainly clad seamstress, reprieyed from
her treadmill round, to think one day
in seven of the immortal The sex
ton is struck with sudden blindness.-
She stands embarrassed one moment,
then as the truth dawns upon her, re-
traces her steps and with a crimson
blush, recrosses the threshold, which
she had profaned with her pleblian
feet. Hark to the organl 1t is a
strain from "Norma," slightly Sab
bathized. Now the worshippers one
after another glide in-silks rattle
plumes wave, satins glisten, diamonds
glitter-and scores of forty dollar
handkerchiefs shake out their per-
fumed odors what absurdity to preach
the gospel of the lowly Nazarite to
such set The clergyman knows
better than TO do so. He values his
fat salary and handsome parsonage too
highly. So with velvet tread he
walks all around the ten command
ments-places the downiest under the
dying profigate's head-and ushers
him with seraphic hymning into an
upper ten heaven.
Butte record., 1856-01-26
Migrtllantons.
The Exigesscies OF Life.

There is nothing exaggerated in
what we relate below. Extremes meet
more numerously, in the capitol Of the
EI Dorado, probably, thin in any 9th
er spot recognized by history, or the
Omnipotent on his footstool-at least
this was the case from 80 to '54.-
That the puissant aristocracy of birth,
aducation and family prestige, has
been extensively sprinkled among the
outcasts and the unrecognised of Cal
ifornia, is lamentable fact. Depu-
tations from the ''6rst families" of
both Europe and America-(North
and South) have been made suffers"
by the general leveling which formed
an early feature in California. The
fortunate disciples of Croesus never
thought that there could be seen in the
kitchen of a restaurant in Commercial
street, a full fedged live French count
skinning potatoes But such is the
fact, even at the present moment
Whoever supposed that among the rag
pickers that make their rendezvous III
the sand hills beyond Clarke's Point,
could be found men who few brief
wears since, made all Paris resound
with the praise of their lyrics, and
throw up its hands in admiration at
the sententious & scorching phillippies
against the then existing Government /!
Yet such Is the fact.-Many Mar
ouis and Baron can be found at this
very moment peeling onions, preparing
leeks, or kneeding dough in the pur-
lieus of the eating houses in Pacific
street. Not ten days since we saw
Chinese Mandarin perfect Celes-
tial autocrat from the Central Flow
cry Kingdom, who has by his simple
ipse dirt doomed many of his country
men to strangulation, and performed
numerous other official functions of
equal Importance and vitality at Hong
Kong, setting up ten pins in Montgom-
ery street,-aye, and to the '.sit'em
up' of the 'outside barians" he was
an obedient and submissive respond
ent. Who would suppose that there
Butte record., 1856-01-26
Beautiful and True.

In late article in Fraser's Maga-
zine this brief but beautiful passage
occurs;
Education does not commence with
the alphabet. 1t begins with a moth
er's look-with fathers smile of ap-
probation, or sign Of reproof-with
sisters entle pressure Of the hand,
or brothers noble act of fol bearance
with handful of flowers in green
and daisy meadow-with bird nests
admired, but not touched-with creep
ing ants, and almost imperceptible en-
mets-with humming bees and glass
bee-hives-with pleasant walks in sha-
dy lanes, and with thoughts directed
in sweet and kindly tones, and words
to mature acts of benevolence, to deeds
of virtue, and to the source of all good,
to God himself.
Butte record., 1856-01-26

Twenty Years Ago.

l met girl the other day
Some twelve years old, or so,
The image of nymph l loved
Some twenty years ago.
The blushing cheek, the sparkling eye,
The hair of raven flow
All how they set my heart a-blaze
Some twenty years ago.
| spoke-her answers did not mucn
Of wit or wisdom show
But thus the lovely Mary talked
Some twenty years ago.
What! could shallow girl like this,
My heart in tumult throw
l must have been little green
Some twenty years ago.
I've met the lovely Mary since
Her charms have vanished though
Her wit and wisdom are-the same
As twenty years ago!
l look upon her faded cheek,
Unlit my feelings glow;
And thank her that she scorn'd my love
Some twenty years ago!
Fond boy who now would'st gladly die
To please some simpering Miss
God knows what thou wilt think of her
Some twenty years from this
Butte record., 1856-01-26
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Sec. 4 The regular meetings of the Board
OF Supervisors shall he held at the county
sest Of their respective counties. on the hrst
Mondays Of May August, November and Feb
ruary, and shall coutiuue from time to time,
until sll the business before them is dis
posed OF. The Board shall also meet on the
second Monday after each general election, to
canvass election returns.
Butte record., 1856-01-26
STATE GOVERNMENT

J. NrELY JOHNSON, Governor.
r. NJ ANDERSON, Lieutenant Governor.
HuGH C. MURRAY. Justice of Supreme Court.
SOLOMON HEYDENFELT, and
DAVID s. TERRY, Associates.
G go W WHITdAN, Controller.
HENRY BATES, state Treasurer.
W. S. WALLACE, Atty General.
JoHN II BR EvvsrER, Surveyor General.
JAMES ALLEN, State Printer.
i. WILSON,
F s. MCKENZIE, and
FLux BELL, State Prison Directors.
Butte record., 1856-01-26
COUNTY COURT.

2 The regular terms of the County Court
en- the first Monday of February, May, and
August. and on the fourth Monday in Novem-
Der of each year, and shall continue from term
10 term, unless all the business Of the term be
sooner disposed Of
Butte record., 1856-01-26
COURT OF SESSIONS.

S3' A term of the Court of Sessions
shall be held at the county seat in Butte coun-
ty on the second Monday of February. May,
August, aad on the first Monday in December
OF each year, and shall continue from term to
term, unless all the business be sooner dis
posed Of
Butte record., 1856-01-26
DISTRICT COURT.

Ninth judicial District, composed of the
Counties of Butte, Colusi, aud Shasta The
terms of the District court for Butte County
commences as follows: On the second Mondays
Of March and June, on the fourth Monday OF
August, and on the third Monday of Decem-
her
Butte record., 1856-01-26

How young men can consent to loaf
about the corners as they do, when a
good dose of arsenic can be purchased
for six-pence, is really surprising. It's
something that we can't understand.
Butte record., 1856-01-26
PROBATE COURT.

! 4. The regular terms of the Probate
Court shall be held on the fourth Monday in
February, and May. third Monday of August,
and on the second Monday in December OF
each year, and shall continue from term to
term unless all the business be sooner disposed
nf
Butte record., 1856-01-26

He only is worthy of esteem that
knows what is just and honest, and
dares to do it that is master of his
own passions, and scorns to be a slave
to another's. Such one merits more
respect than those gay things wo owe
all their greatness and reputation to
rentals and revenues.-Dr. Fuller.
Butte record., 1856-01-26

A man should never be ashamed to
own he has been in the wrong, which
is bnt saying in other words, that he
is wiser to-day than he was yesterday.
Pope.
Butte record., 1856-01-26
RMMSNN sMNH,

MR D. BROOKS, having purchased the
lTA interest of Mr.. Learned, has removed
the establishment 10 the Union Building
where customers will find eTtry rything arrang-
ell with artistic taste. and may st,ll depend
upon enj ,yins the lgx1ry Of good shave.
,Iye n.m ! call.
Butte record., 1856-01-26
COUNTY OFFICERS.

JOSEPH E. n LEWIS, County Judge.
?. FREER, Sheriff, Butte County.
MILES CHAPLIN, County Auditor.
WM LATrIMoRE, County Treasurer.
X. 5. MAYNARD, Assessor.
J. J. KLINE. Public Attorney.
RANDALL HOBART, Public Administrator.
Butte record., 1856-01-26

A Deacon in Boston, who became
rich in the grocery business, boasts Of
what he has done for temperance, by
mixing at least gallon of pure wa
ter with every gallon Of liquor he sold!
The Deacon was decidedly great on
temperance! Get to Heaven, sure
Butte record., 1856-01-26
A Quakeress, being jealous of he

A woman is either worth nothing or
a great deal. If good for nothing,
she IS not worth getting jealous for
if she be true woman, she will give
no cause for jealousy. A man is a
brute to be jealous of such a woman
fool to be jealous of a worthless one
but double fool to cut his throat
for either of them.
Butte record., 1856-01-26
--------
JUDICIARY.

SOLOMON HEYDENFELT, Chief Justice.
HUcH G MURRAY, Associate Justice.
CHAs. H. BRYAN, do do
WM. p DAINGERFIELD, Juge 9th District.
Butte record., 1856-01-26
THE CABINET.

wsi MARCY, OF n. Y. sec'y of state.
JANIS GUTHRIE, of Ky, sec'y of Treasury.
RoB' McCLELLAND, OF Mich, secy of Interio
JAEnfs C. DoBBIN, of N. c. sec'y of Navy.
JEFFERSON DAVIS, OF Miss sec of War.
JAMES CAMPBELL, OF Pa. Postmaster Genera.
CALEB CUSHING of Mass Attorney General.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-10

Ice on THE SIDEwAIKs.--The streets are get
ting in worse condition every day. Some
venerable citizens say that they remember
when there was street department attached
TO the city government, and they also think
that this street department used to keep the
public highways in o decent condition. We
think, however, that this must have been seve-
raj centuries ego. At present, we only pay
money for the purpose, but nobody knows where
it goes to. Just now, we desire to call the at
tenion Of private citizens to the fact that there
an ordinance compelling them to keep til II
sidewalks clear Of snow and ice, and that they
are liable TO fine if they do not comply with
the provisions. 1t is duty which they owe to
humanity as we'll as to the law. We are daily
called upon to chronicle severe accidents
sometimes fatal casualties, caused by falling on
the ice, Yesterday morning early travellers
in Broadway would have found skates quite
convenient, and they thought themselves fortu-
nate if they got down town with a severe con
fusion or compound fracture. Retail traders
will find it much to their profit to keep their
sidewalks clean, and to make the crossings in
their vicinity navigable without stills. Clear
otf the sidewalks.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-10

TREMENDOUS STRUGGLE N New HAMPSHIRE
1t is manifest that unless President Pierce can
restore the Grenite State to the democracy. he
viii make very poor show ut Cincinnati. The
election is soon 10 come Off which is to decide
he question; AM the administration has opened
the campaign with grand democratic sortia
from Washington. Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia: Mr..
Orr, of South Carolina; Mr. Weller, of Califor
mia. and Ex-Governor Lane Of Oreoon-all
leading democratic members Of Congress
among the forlorn hope at the late demo.
cratic grand rally at Concord. Great was
TIE enthusiasm; but the other side appear
to be equally enthusiastic. How far the ALI
aDce Of last year between Know Notbinas and
black republicans will hold good, remains TO be
tested but az without success the administra-
ton will be wholly unavailable at Cincinnati.
the opposition may depend upon it that all
available appliances will be used to reverse
the overwhelming popular decision Of last
spring. Some think that it would be good
policy to let the democracy have the State in
the hope that such a result may possibly bring
about the denomination Of Mr.. Pierce. Bat
we apprebend the Cincinnati Convention will
lie too sbrewd for that. Nops c0yoas.