davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
Caught in a. Trap.

1t was lately that a strange event occur.
red in tee vilane of Champignolles, France.
One OF the inhabitants had dug pit for the
purpose Of catching wolf, and after cover
ing it, put or the top, to attract the animal,
a living goose. Another inhabitant of the
village saw from disrance the goose, fut-
tering and struggling to get loose. The OBJ
scuriiy tit being twilighD not permitting
i'm to distinguish the trap, he approached
and fell to the bottom of the pit. The pit
was eight or ten feet deep, and the sides
were perpendicular. Great was the aston.
isnment of the man, and greater yet was
his embarrassment at finding himself in that
position, and 1t was not until after having
for some time called in vain for help that
he resolved to wait patiently for Daylight,
and meanwhile make himself as comfortable
as possible. But hardly had he taken this
resolution. when he felt heavy weight fall
on his shoulders. This was a wolf, which,
attracted by the bait, had also been caught
by the trap You can easily imagine the
gLt of the unfortunate man. Indeed the
terror of the four legged animal was not
less, for it rereated at once and laid itself
down in On, corner and did not move during
the night. At length day broke, and to the
poor companion of the wolf il seemed time
for it to break for the night had appeared to
him terribly long. The owner OF the trap
came early to see what he had caught, and
found his neighbor in the pit. He drew out.
tho unfo-fupoto mon r,o~o daad tbac N l;,o.-
but he was less generous towards the wolf
which he killed, notwithstanding his exsm-a
plary conduct through the night.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
Fountain of Blood in a Cavern

L. G. Squire's notes On Central America
describes wonder vi efusiUn OF fluid, re-
sembling blood near the town of Vitud, in
the state of honduras. 1t appears that
there is continually oLzing and dropping,
from the rnof OF cavern there, a red iiquid
which, upon falling, coaguIates, SO as to
precisely resemble blood. Like blood, it
corTupts; insects deposit their .arva in it,
and dogs and buzzards resort to the cavern
to eat it. Attempts have seve raj times been
made to obtain some of this liquid for the
purpose OF analysis. but n all cases without
success, i'll consequence o. lis rapid decon.-
pos ition, Whereby the bottles Containing il
w re broken.
The small cavern or grOttu, during the
day, is visited by OuzzarGs and hawks and
AT night by multitude of vampire bats, for
the purpose Of feeding on the unnatural
blood. 1t is situated On the border OF
rivulet, which i. keeps redeemed with a small
flow of the liquid, winch has the color, taste
and smell OF blood. In approaching the
grotto, GiSagreeubie odor is. observed, and
when it is reached there may be some pools
of the appart nj b.OUd in state OF ccusula-
ton.
.i'he pecuiatilies Uf this liquid are con-
sidered due 10 the rapid generation in this
grotto OF some very prolific species of in
fusoria.
The California State Journal, remarking
ON the sbuve, observes that the eStero of the
town oil Montery Contains species Of blood
red iniusoIia-the larvR Of water insects
which, at certain seasons of the year, smell
precisely like i-e>h fish, or, on exposure in
vessel, ike putrid fish. In some seasons
it has been found dried in flakes, and of the
intense color OF vernlillon.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
Labor

ihere is vast amOunt.of foolish discus
sion and lalse sentiment in regard TO the
respectability of labor professions. Every
industrial pursuit that is homes and promo
tive of human weli-being, is respectable.
honorable, aud dignifed. The chimne,
sweeper Is only vulgar la50rer, and his
calling mean one. when he sinks below
and demeans mis- toll. Let him pursue his
work steadily and earnestly, and he is en-
titled to as much respect as tie telescope
maker. The profession of labor has no
esse ntial merit in itself, beyond being more
or Jess productive; the merit belongs entire
ly to the manner of It's .purs it.
Some pride themselves on living above
and Independent oi labor, scJrning all its
pursuits as low ard ignoble. Such are
drones, who eat what they do not earn, and
1t is sufficient punishment for them that
they can see nothing in their desire or des-
tiny but an utter antIpoae to the generally
revealed character of God and man. Others
pride themselves upon the, syclu,iveness or
aristocracy OF prof ssion, as though honor
and dignity came t. labor from isolation in
stead of usefulness. These would cali
labor honorable, in proportion as they could
handle it without soiliug their gloves. 1t Is
hard to say which 0: the two is most lgar
he " no decries and scorns all labor tina; is
soilec o: soi!ing-all common, every day
toil-or he who values labor only as it is
begriIned with dirt, and turns up his nose
at the man who works with hands and face
cleaner than his own. Both are immensely
vulgar, and bath will have to learn much
before they truly understand the nature Gud
dignity OF honest labor.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
Why Major McCulloch Declined
the Goyernorship OF Utah.

Major Ben. McCulloch'ha bee at Wash
ington ior everal days, strenously urged BY
the President to undertake the Governor
ship OF Utah. The MAJOR. among other rea-
SONS for declining, sugge<te that he would
inevitably suffer in p .blic est mation,i the
reason that the people would expect him 20
string up Brigham Young a. once. and thrazl
his asheranso oo"ndiy-gen Ie pastImes or
indulgence in which he was well satisfied
that the Mormons would give him no pretext
when they found him backed by troops. If
a peaceful policy wss to be pursued-as he
believed it must be necessarily-the Maj,r
thought il better that some man of whom
the public have less ferocious idea, and
consequently less .ierocious expectations,
should be the instrument o. its initiation
and developement at Salt Lake. The Pres
ident was unwilling to let him off on this
plea, and then the Major fired his reserve,
informing the bache lor Executive that he
couldn't go, because he was intending to get
married soon--a duty the discharge Jf W ich
he had neglected for forty years or more,un-
til his day of grace had nearly expired. This
brought Mr.. Buchanan down. He
at once acknowledged its invincibility, and
bowed his acquiescense - Cor. n. Y.
Times.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
Charles Fenno Hoffman, the Insane
Poet

The Editor of the Pittsburg Jour nal in
recent letter from Harrisburg Pa, where he
visited the Asy lum for Insane, thus speaks
of one who was the prince ofAmerican song
wtiters-Charles Fenno Hoffman
His disease is of peculiar form, and DR..
Corwen tells me, presents the only instance
he ever met with of hallucination of FIVE
senses-touch, taste, sight, smell and hear
ing.-The most distressing indications of
his disease are exhibited in his fancies that
somebody is touching, or pressing ,or pinch
ing him ,or that he sees persons and objects.
which trouble and disturb him.
A trace of the alteration is apparent in
his reminding me that our last meeting was
many more than sixteen years ago .and with
a sudden turn, forgetting the lapse of time,
to make polite inquiry after Young lady's
health as if he had parted with her but yes
terday. The casual visitor will fail to de-
tect traces of insanity in Mr.. Hoffman, but
will ordinarily.se pleasantly impressed by
his elaborate politeness and courtly demean-
or. His intervals of perfect tranquility are
rare, but he is rarely much excited, and
never violent. hear with much regret, that
there is almost no hope of any | ornament
improvement in the case of Mr.. Hoffman ,and
that our best expectation for him can reach
no higher than he may long survive. bathed
in pleasant delusions of the memory, to do
the honors of the house, and sadly to re-
mind the visitor that between the toweri ng
intellect and insanity. there is tut thin
partition, which breath may abrade or a
blow destroy and break down forever!
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
| WHOLE NO 984.
Thunder of Waterfall: s.

DR.. Tyndal makes the following observa
tions on the production of bubbles in con.
Dection with the origin of the sound of aqi.
tated water:
When the smoke is projected from the
lips of tobacco-smOker a little explosion
usually accompanies the puff; but the na-
ture OF this is. in great measure, depend-
ent on the state OF the lips at the time,
whether they be dry or moist. The sound
appears to be chiefly cue to the sudden
bursting of the fin which connects both
lips. Ii an inflated bladder be jumped upon,
1t will omit an explosion as loud as a pistol
shot. Sound, to some extent, ALWAYS ac-
companies the sudden liberation of com.
pressed air. And this fact is also exhibited
in the department of Jet.
If the surface of the fluid on which it falls
intersects its limpiG portion Of the let en-
tiers silently, and no bubbles, as before re-
marked, are produced. The moment, how.
ever, after the bubbles make their appear
ance an audible rattle also commences.
which becomes louder and louder as the
mass of the jet is increased. The very na-
ture of the sound prunounces its origin to
be the bursting Of the bubbles; and 20 the
same cause the ripping Of streams and the
sound OF breakers appear to be almost ex-
due. have examined stream
or two, and in all cases where afipple made
itself heard have discovered bubbles. The
impact of water against water is comoar-
atively subordinate cause, and could never
OF itself occasion the murmur of brook, or
the musical roar of the ocean, 1t is the
same as regards waterfalls. Were Niagara
continuous and without lateral vibration,
1t would be as silent as a cataract of ice. 1t
is possible, | believe. to get behind the de-
seeming water at one place; and if the at
tention of travellers were directed 10. the
subject, the mass nigh, perhaps be see;.
through. For in all probability it alsu has
its contracted sect;ons;" alter passing
which 1t is broken into detached masses.
which. plunging successfully upon the afr
D.adtrr. iornscd By their precursors, sud-
-enly hberate their Contents, ard thus Gre !
ate the thunder Of the waterail.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
ltllers.

Thomas Carlyle has said, somewhere in
his voluminous works, tn, the word has
'one monster-lhe idle man Who can
doubt it!
Young man, are you an idler! Are you
cousenling, under some prrtext or other, to
live on the earnings OF Others. Do you
plead bad health, while they are ieebler
than you' Are You spending your hours in
utter idienoss, while even your mother and
sisters are pricking their fingers with the
needle, or sklnnng them at the wssh-tub, to
keep you in bread and butter, and hide your
lazy carcass with decent clothes, We have
kaopn some young men y as mean as this
Arouse yourself, young man. Shake of
the wretched and disgracefut habits Of the
dO-nothing, if you have been so unior,uuars
as TO incur them, and go 10 work at once.
But what shall dor you perhaps ask.
Anyihiag,rathcr than continue independent
aud enteebhng, and nddemoralizing idieness
Eyou can get nothing else I, do, sweep h
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
The Love of Home.

We clip the following eloquent extrac,
from the lecture delivered by Henry WarG
Beecher. in Cincinnati. upon Patriotism.
'lf your childhood home was happy. sa i'd
he, if your early days we're fortunate days
of love, nothing can sever your heart from
your old remembered home. 1t would be a
glorious pleasure to him to see the treasures
of art in the caPita Is of Europe,-but it
could not touch those deeper chords that vi
brate when he meets his boyhood compan-
lons,and in an instant bring back the vision
Of years long gone by. He might desire to
see the sun 60 down from an italian sky or
ascend among the rising Alps, but rather
would he behold him from his fathers dwell
ling, suffuse the West and picture trees and
mountains against golden sky, and feel es
he used to feel, when the sun in going, took
something of his very soul with him. What
would he not en- dure to stand where Chr list
stood, to rest where he sat, or remain where
he laid down in patient burial. He would
gladly walk through the sleepless night in
solemn vigil, until the morning light should
s reak through the dew-drops on his hair
and yet it could not move him so as to 90
to the side of the hill where his mother was
buried and sit down there while the past
came back again, and childhood and love
walked oefoee him in the blessed resurrec-
tion of vision. So hath it been ordained,
that our early affections come to US with a
SAVIOR that not the strongest later feelings
can give.
None know these things so well as the
emigrant and wanderer, for il seemeth that
it is the bod, only, phich goes away from
home-the heart neuer emigrates. Are there
any reflections SO solacing as the very re-
memberings of home-the old farmhouse,
the broad door-stone the humble hearth the
meadows where scared up birds and
found early flowers, the trees that pelted US
Difa ohestnuts. phex De 'ell. d them wiM clubs,
the orchard, purpled in Spring and redolent
in Autumn! Ali these are in the remem-
5rance of every man, ifIt has been his lot
to be born at all, (laughter)-that is, to be
born in the country =
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
Are we going to Ruin?

George D. Prentice of the Louisville
Journal lectured in Hartford recently, on
"The political aspects of the country of
Mhich he takes vey,,desponding view. The
following outlines of his remarks is given in
the Hartford Free Press.
al, is time to return to first principles
There are symptoms Of decay in our day in
our government. Disunion and nonarchial
sentiments are spreading. The education
of our citizens is neglected Our politicians
are selfish, and the general tendency is to
anarchy. We have one entire st te In open
hostility 10 the Constitution, supported in
it by three others, and the sympathies of a
half a dozen more. The Union never en-
countered such open opposition as during
the last campaign, when dissolution was
openly threatened in certain contingenc es.
The presen. apparent peace is but a truce
faction still cri's for war, The fundamen-
tai principles ofthe government are openly
called in question. This is pregnant with
terror: the starting of the keystone from
the arch; the click, if not the "crack of
d >om." We lose national pride; the Mis-
sissipian threatens to hang the citizens of
New hampshire; the impetous Carolnian
strikes down the scholar from Massachusetts,
and their constituents take sides W ith them.
The nation is bristling over with repugnan-
ces. Who shs III arrest these eviisi The race
of statesman, of giants, have departed, and
no successors appear. We have pub! ic men
in abundance, but no statesman. Three
fourths of them are reckless demagogues
who regard first themselves, and then
nothing. Across the polished brass of their
soul. not the most distant thoughts of coun-
try fits. There is not enough of moral
courage in hundred politicians to stiffen
one upper lip. They''dare not stand up and
say their souls are their own, or if they do,
they append asubiect'to the "Constitution"
and to "the majority" Back-bone.ess, they
stand up like empty bags, or basely pros.
rate themselves at the feet of faction. In
stead of being leaders of the multitude, they
resent the pot house and the clubs<.sm.
-sItsis easy to flatter our national van ity but
he truth must be told. The North and the
South are piling up combustibles which the
ightnings may fire. A few revolutionary
PATRIOTS yet live and they may survive the
ruits of their labors bnt if we are true to
ourselves and our country, we NAV yet avert
he storm"
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02

more; having children is left to the irish!-
What lady thinks of having children about
her nowi or if she is SO unfortunate, dom,
she put them to wet nurses to begin with.
and boarding school afterwards. We re-
peat-we have come to pointwhereboung
men hesitate and grow old before they can
decide whether they can marry and after
wards keep clear of bankruptcy and crime.
What is the consequence. There are more
persons living single life-are there more
leading a virtuous life, 1t is time for moth
ers to know that the extravaganza they en-
courage is destructive of the virtue of their
children; that sllsthe foolish expenditures
making to rush their daughters to matrimony
are, instead of answering that end. tending
to destroy the institution Of marriage alto
gether.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
John Phenix In the Ladies Car.

John Phenix,' the inimitable wit, thus
tells an incident connected with a ride on
the New York Central Railroad. He re-
letes it in letter to :he Knicfs4t1chsr
Magazine, and puts it on record to serve as
a caution 10 future innocent travellers. He
says:
i had observed at each change oe cars,
and they were frequent, when the general
scramble took place, one ca: was defe 1ded
from the assault by stalwart man usually
of Irish persuasion, who, deaf to menaces,
unsoftened by entreaty, and urcorrupted by
bribes, maintained his post for the benefi: of
the .leadies.' 'Leddies' car sir. av ye please;
forTid car for gintleman without 'Ieddies.'
Need ! say that this car so reserved was by
far the most uncomfortable of the train,and
that with that stern resolve which over
distinguishes ne in the discharge Of my
duty toward myself,l determined to get into
it coute qai cote. So when we changed cars
at Utica, i rushed forth, and seeing a nice
young person, with pretty face, bonnet and
shawl, and large portmanteau. urging her
way through the crowd, stepped up by
her side, and with my native grace and gal
lantry, offered my arm and my assistance.
They were gratefully accepted; and proud
of success, l ushered my fair charge UP to
the platform of the ladies caa. My old ene-
my was holding the door. is that your lady,
sir!' said he.
= With an inward apology to Mrs. Phonix
fer the great injustice done to her charms
by the admission, replied 'Yes.' Judge of
my horror when this low employee of mo-
nopo olizing and unaccommodating Railroad
Company. addressing my companion with
the tone and manner of an old acquaintance,
said, We'll, Sal, guess you've done we'll,
but | dor't believe his family will think
much of the match
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
From the Newburyport Mass. Herald.
Who Marry and have Children in
America

More than four-sevenths OF the marriages
in Massachusetts, are among the foreign
born. Why is 1t! For the most simple of
reasons-the foreign born can afford to get
married, and the native born cannot; and
this must bel SO as long our ..extreyagant
modes of life continue. In social life there
never was people tending to deeper and
more destructive social corruption-and that
is most evident from the records of all the
courts and columns of all the newspapers
than Americans. Our fathers used to tel
of the proaigacy of Paris; their children tell
OF the mysteries of New York--a city not
far behind any in Europe And making
proper allowances for size, how far is New
York ahead of our other cities and towns!
Once was the time when a wife was a shelp
meet;' nom in a thousand of cases you can
change the meet to 'eat,' and make it read
more truthfully.
We boast of our system o: education; we
have female high schools, female colleges
female medical schools, ,and femalejheavens.
Our girls are refined, learned and wise ;they
can sing, dance, play pianos, paint, talk
French and Italian, and all the soft Ian.
guages write poetry, and love like Venuses
They are ready to be courted at ten years
and can be taken from school and married
at fifteen and divorced at twenty. They
make splendid shows on bridal tours, can
coquette and firt q: the watering placea and
shine ike angels at winter parties. Blu,
Heaven be kind to The wretch that marries
in the fashionable circles. What are they
at washing floors! Oh, we forgot; nobody
has bare floors now-how vulgar that would
be-! What are they at making bread and
boiling beef! Why, how thonghtless we
ars-to be sure they will board, or have ser.
wants. Whist are they at mending old
clothes! But there we are again; the fash.
ions chsnge SO often that nobody has old
-lothes but the rag men and the paper max.
ers now! What are they at washing ba.
bies' faces and pinning up their trousers!-
And here is our intolerabls stupidity once
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
MASSACHUSETTS Constitute NAL AMEND

MASSACHUSETTS Constitute NAL AMEND
MENrs.-The amendments OF the constitu-
tion of he old Bay State submitted to the vo-
ters on Friday, were all approved by large
majorities. The amendment requiring read
ing and writing" qualifications of voters re-
ceived about two-thirds of the vote cast;
and those introducing the district system IN
'electing members Of the Legislature we're
adopted by a tuIl three. ffths vote. The vote
in the state was light one.
The vote in B1ston on "reading and wri-
ting stood Yes 2s65,No 2OIs. In lOl towns,
Yes l4,45l, No s407.
The amendment provides that no person
shall have rightto vote, or be eligible to
Office who sha!l not be able to read the con-
stitution in the English language, and to
write his name. The provisions do not ap-
ply to persons physically incapitated,to per-
sons who now have the right to vote, nor to
personss60 years of age or over when the
amendment tales eject.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
STRENGTH AND Power OF 1nE.s-T

STRENGTH AND Power OF IpEAs.-The
"Doctor," aistlong Webster hater, was 81 {.
ing on Matt's bench, talking against Web
ster, as was his custom:"R Ralph Waldo EN-.
erson's ideas will live forever, while Web
ster's ideas will die with him. Emerson's
ideas have force, have power; but it is moi
so with Webster's." "Tha.'s::a lie, )" saio Mat
sand you know it. If one of Daniel Web.
ster's big thoughts got into Ralph Waldo
Emerson's head, it would split it open like !
pitcher with ice in it! Now, get off thst
bench, for you can't say anythna more
against old Dan in this shop."-Lovsil
Courier.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
MAN.-We take the following rich NOR
sci from one of Dow Jr's Short Patent Ser

MAN.-We take the following rich NOR
sci from one of Dow Jr's Short Patent Ser
mons: ~
Man looks upon life just as he does upon
woman-there is no living with them, and
be can't live withou, them.-He will run
after them, and rather than be held he will
lose his coat tail and charac,er-kiss them
for love, and kiss them for leading him into
trouble. So with life: he partakes of its.
pleasures and thDn curses it for its pa ins;
gathers boquets of bliss, land when their blos-
SONS have faded, he finds himself in posses
sion of bunch of briars,-whch is all
owing to a little incident that occurred I'M
Paradise when man was as green as a tobac-
CO worm; and unsuspieious as tree-toad
in thunder storm. He was told to increase,
and multiply, and SO he accordingly in-,
creased his cares and curses, and peopled
the world with parcel of candidates fo{
perditon, and am one of Them
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-02
D fH0BURN EDITOR & PROPRIETOR.]
NEW SERIES, VOL. I, NO .27.l

you did not 1oubt my love' she asked
in half surprise.
Mono. But words and tokens of love
are always grateful. You are dear i, to me
as life. Let US keep the golden links that
bind our hearts together, bright as the be-
ginning. Furnishing them daily with small
sweet courtesies. Forgive me, if, in ought
have seemed cold or indifferent-,here has
been neither in my heart
Ever after, the golden links were kept
bright, FURNISHED daily by the small sweet
courtesies of which the husband had spoken