davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13
Boston Journai.
The Distance of the Sun from the Earth
Increasing

The German journal has given some tables
which proves that the distance between the
earth and the sun is increasing annually, aud
argues from it that the increasing humidity
of our summers and the loss of fertility by
the earth are to be attributed solely to this
circumstance.
No credit has therefore, been given to tradi-
tons of ancient Egyptians and Chinese, ac-
cording to which these people formerly said
the suns disc was almost four times as large
as we now see it, for they estimated the ap-
parant diameter Of the sun as double Of what
it Is seen in our day.
IT, however, we pay attention to the CON
tinued dimnution of the apparent diameter
of the sun according to the best observation
of several centuries, we must suppose that
the ancients were not mistaken in the esi-
mates they have Transmitted to us.
In the course of six thousand years from
the present time, they assume that the dis
tance will be so great that only an eighth
part of the warmth we now enjoy from the
sun will be communicated to the earth, and
will be covered with eternal ice in the same
manner as we now see the plains of the north
where the elephant formerly lived, and have
neither spring or autumn.
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13

impatient for the sacrifice, when the strong
arm Of the law interposed in its might and
majesty to shield him. The venue unpro-
ven, or even in doubt, would have left to
the tribunal of justice no other alternative
than to bid him to 60 out again free wan
derer upon the earth, with the blood and
guilt thick upon him. But the God who
'marketh the sparrow when he falls" in his
inscrutable providence, had yet in reserve an
eloquent witness against him-whose faithful
heart was steel to the wes of the corrupter,
whose testimony fell upon the astounded
ears of the jury, as
Confirmation strong,
AS proof of holy writ
No blood had ever been seen on the road
and no appearance of any struggle there. If
the killing had been done in the road, the
horse, whose rapid flight and wild fright
must have been occasoned instantly by the
death struggle, would have known nothing
of the tree in the wood. The scene was pic
tured before the minds of the jury-as if
typed by the glorious art of Daguerre; the
decoy into the wood-the robbers demand
for gold or blood-the death struggle at the
tree-and the instincts were destined to vim
dicate, as if by miracle, the unerrng certain
ty of retributive Justice; and thus the venue
was proven-thus the doom Of the prisoner
was sealed, and thus
A pebble in the streamlet
Hath turned the course of many river;
A dew drop on the baby plant
Hath warped the gallant oak forever.
The verdict Of the jury was, that the pri
soner was guilty, and sentence of death was
pronounced against him, which was after
wards commuted to imprisonment for life, in
the State Pententary.
In that gloomy catacomb of human hearts
and hopes, where time is as eternity, and by
a sense Of liberty lost, William Patterson now
eXpiates his dreadful crime
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13
NUMBER 40.
Letter from Guavmas.

The schooner Jennette, Captain Leeds,
thirty days from Guaymas, arrived Yesterday
BY her we learn that things were in very
unsettled state, and all Americans were
grossly insulted daily in the streets of Quay
mas, in various ways, by hooting at them
and doing everything displeasng in their
eyes-in fact they 60 so far as to spit in
their faces. The very name of an American
is enough to subject them to the grossest of
insults, without having the power OF the
means to resent it. Nearly all Of them are
spotted and constantly annoyed, A Young
man named Rogers is momentarily expected
to be ordered to leave the country, or be
dealt with more harshly in some other man
ner. The MeXicans are continually on the
alert for invaders; they have quite large
number of troops, and are expecting rein
forcements daily. No American considers
himself safe when travelling through the
country. Our informant tells us that several
Americans, who were in no way connected
with the late expedition, were shot;-amono
them were three drovers who had bought
three hundred head of cattle near Hermosillo.
and drove them to Altar, where they were
herded; we were unable to learn their names:
their cattle were turned loose. The authori-
ties at Guaymas were much dissatisfied with
tn discharge of Mr.. Rasey Biven from pri-
son, as the news of the murder of General
Crabb and his party did not reach them
until three days after the departure of Mr..
Blven, who sailed in the British ship Eclptic.
for Mazatlan. Had he been there at the
time, there is no doubt but he would have
met the same fate as the expeditionists.
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13
News of the State

lhe Democratic Convention to nominate
County officers, meets in Tuolumne County
on the 23d inst,
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN NEVADA.
The County Central Committee in Neva-
da have fixed upon Thursday, July 9th, for
the meeting Of the nominating Convention
The primary elections are to be held on Sat
urday, the 9th of June.
The tunnel Of the Columbia and Stanislaus
River Water Co. is completed. The dimen
slons are tunnel proper, 1900 feet long,
feet high, and 7 feet wide. 1t is to be
flumed the entire length.
A lively little cowhidng affair took place
IN Nevada on the 3D. Result: cordurav
tights, ribs running the wrong way. soma
laughter, some Indignation, some fripbt
Cause, 'sarse."
FRUITFUL CouNTRY.-The Mariposa
Go@ette, gives us an astounding item. the a,l
thentlclty OF which it declares indisputable.
Near Mariposa, during the past weak. a
father was presented with a mutual pledge Of
affection, on certain day, and two DAYS af-
forwards with another!
EMGRANrs Coming. - An interior paper
is informed by Mr.. J. p Redmond that
from letters late y received by him, it appears
that the emigration from Polk county, Mo-,
to this State, will be greater this year than
ever before. The families now on their way
from that county will bring with them over
two thousand head of cattle.
"TURNED UP AGA1N."-Willis, the default-
ing witness in the case of The People rs.
Whitman, has turned up" in Sacramento.
the Bee says, "looking as fresh and hearty as
usual"
IREMIuM FOR THE BEST ESSAY ON QUARTZ
MiNING-Among the additional articles to
be be included this year in the list of prizes at the
State Agricultural Fair, is one for the best
Essay on Quartz mining
TIE New STAMP Aor-This act which
goes into affect July lst, is not generally
understood. 1t affects written contracts to
be performed without this State, but does
not atfeot checks drafts, contrscts, deeds
mortgages, or her papers operating within
this State. except Insurance policies.
In Buenos Ayres. a cut from the ribs of 8
young horse especially female, is preferred
to the very best beef.
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13
Railroads in New England.
The following table exhibits the extent
and cost Of railroads in New ENGLAND:
Sll7.659.52S
Total

Thus it will be seen that in period of
twenty years nearly Sl5O,OOO 900 of New
England capital has been invested IL New
England railroads alone. The magnitude and
importance Of this investment will be better
appreciated when it is considered that the
whole amount of capital invested in the
banks of New England is only a fraction
over SllO,OO0,000; the investments in rail
roads exceeding investments in banks about
thirtyfve per cent. Many of these invest
ments were unwise in the extreme, and will
probably result in loss of one-third, or
$4,000, 900; but the foolish as we'll as the
wise have called for capital and obtained it,
while at the same time large amounts have
been carried away for similar purposes in
the Western States. There are still several
unfinished roads in New England which are
calling for more money, and the amount of
investments will doubtless soon reach the
sum of $l5O,00O,OOo. 1t is this enormous
demand for capital which has kept up the
rates of interest SO long, and although that
demand for the New England States is nearly
at an end as we may suppose, it is still very
heavy elsewhere, ana will make a vast drain
upon capital for many years to come, both at
home and abroad Where the currency
could have been obtained to sustain these
great operations if the mines of California
and Australia had not been discovered is
difficult question to answer.
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13
Horrors of the Jail of Vienna.

Let us listen for moment to the voice OF
a recent victim of the Austrian Court, the
young and patriotic Count Gonfalonieri
whose crime it was to be an Italian, and to
love his country. In few of the most aw-
full lines ever penned, he thus wrote the
history of his life:
81 am an old man now, yet by fifteen
years my soul is younger than my body
Fifteen years existed, (for did not live, it
was not life,) in the self-same dungeon, ten
feet square During six years l had com
panion; nine years | was alone. | never
could rightly distinguish the face Of him
who shared my captivity in the eternal twi-
light Of our cell. The first year we talked
incessantly together; we related our past
lives, our joys forever gone, over and over
again. The next year we communicated our
ideas to each other on all subjects. The
third year we had no ideas to communicates
we we're beginning to lose the power of re-
Election, The fourth, at intervals of month
or so, we would open our lips to each other,
if it were indeed possible that the world went
on as gay and busting as when we formed
a portion of mankind. The fifth year we
were silent. The sixth year he was taken
away-I never knew where to execution or
to liberty; but was glad when he was gone;
even solitude was better than the dim vision
of that pale vacant face After that was
alone. Only one event broke in upon my
nine years vacancy. One day Gt must have
been year or two after my companion left
me) the dungeon door was opened, and a
voice know not from whence, uttered these
words: "By order of his Imperial Majesty, l
intimate to you that your wife died year
ago." Then the door was shut; | heard no
more. They had but flung this great agony
upon me. and left me alone with it again."
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13

SwEAR1NG.-An intelligent lady, whose
little boy was beginning to swear, anxious to
express to the child her horror of profanity,
hit upon the novel process of washing out
his mouth with soap-suds whenever he swore.
1t was an efectual cure. The boy under
stood his mothers sense of the corruption
of an oath, which, with the taste OF the suds,
produced the desired result. The practice,
il universally adopted, would raise the price
Of soap.
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13
The Battil Of Serapiqui.


"But hark!-that heavy sound brakes in once more,
AS if the clouds its echo would repeat;
And neerer, cleerer, dedlar than befor.
Arm! arm! it is--it is the cannons openin roar"
BYoN.
Twas just as rerelree was sounded by the 70,
We marched contiguous to the cam San juan
In brethles silense each his muskit held,
Redy to lanch dstruckshon gainst the brests
Of the oposin fore.
Mornin was brakin in the gollin eist,
Flingin glory over flour and feeld
That maid one think of happiness and trends,
All mel | thort how all unconscious of mpedin
danger
The Costyricans ware.
Just as was indulgin in these nacheral reheck-
shions,
And thnkin on the uncertainty Of yuman life, &c,
Bang went a gun, and down fel Pawl Cunningham
fProm M or leens) as dcd as Socrates wen
lie had drunk the pzen'd cupwich the Atheneans
gave.
Poor feller (not Sockrates, but PawD he did save
his bakon
tEcksques the pun) nor was he cute enuf to save
his life,
The capten stood by him and cort his last ecks-
prin 81,
"Forward' he shouted-on rushed
Like Avaanshcs from the Alpin hytes
The slorter was mensc, for when the sun had
reeched
His hest altytude, he found us ftcng still,
In fact all day the battl ragged veheemently,
Till Murkery the mornin star proclaimed the day,
Wen 10! we found the Costyricans all had fed,
But why should persu this heam to farther lenth?
And tel how next upon Castiloh we did march,
And how with slorter CRATE we ware repulsed,
Until the cri "save ke peW' which smote crate
Bony's ears
At Worterlu, ran threw our ranks with an eleek-
trick sped.
I fame would drow vale upon this scene,
fain would teech my hart Obeleveon's spell.
And in the Fuchare seik to drownd the Past
For still in dreams see those scenes agane,
Vile Jove sets on the topmast crag of fame
Clapin his wings in desperashin
Respectfully yours,
ADOIFUS JONES,
late of N. A.
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13

Contentment produces, in some measure,
all those effects which the alchemist usually
ascribes to what he calls the philosophers
stone; and if it does not bring riches, it does
the same thing by banishing the desire for
them.
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13

A WEALTHY CLIENT.-By the report Of
the Secretary Of the Treasury, we perceive
that Government has brought 1900 suits
during the present century against defaulters,
to recover $6,2l3,000. In all these cases
the conclusion of the suit has been that the
defaulter has not been found, or has been
dead or insolvent, and Government has had
70 pay the costs.
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13

steam stage wagon has been constructed
to run on common roads, by company form-
ell Of citizens Of Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio
which was recently tested and is said to have
given complete satisfaction.
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13
Barometer for Farmers.

In one of his letters, Humboldt says that
a barometer should be considered as neces-
sary on farm as plough but farmers gen
orally prefer to trust in the moon and other
exploded nonsense, rather than to invest
thirty dollars cash in reliable instrument
that would repay them tenfold A substitute,
called I.eoni's Prognosticator, ia sold for ten
dollars. 1t consists of a vial full of clear lq-
uid, in which swims snowy substance; in
fine weather that substance lies on the bottom
but before storm rises on the surface, with a
tendency, to the side opposite the quarter from
which the storm is coming. The substances
are kept secret. An ordinary barometer in
dicates the density Of the atmosphere. Le-
oni's instrument evidently indicates its cleo
trio state, and for that reason we are of opin-
ion that it is better instrument to proenos-
ticate the weather. The following is a sub
sttutc that will not cost more than shilling.
and for aught we know it may be the identical
thing itself. Dissolve some camphor in alco-
hol and throw into the solution some soda;
the camphor will be precpitated in snowy
flakes. collect these by passing the mixture
through filter, and put them in vial with
clear alcohol, in which as much camphor as it
would take has been dissolved Cork it,
place it where it will be not disturbed, exam
inc it every morning and night.
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13

An old widow, when her pastor said to her,
"God has not deserted you in your old age"
replied, "No, sir; have very good appetite
still"
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13
The Retort Courteous.

Chesterfield was at rout in France where
Voltare was one of the guests Chester
field seemed gazing about the brilliant circle
of ladies. Voltare accostod him: "Mv Lord,
| know you are a judge: which are the most
beautiful, the English or the French adies?"
Upon my word,' replied Chesterfield, with
his usual presence of mind, 81 am no judge
of paintings" Some time afterwards, Vol
taire being in London, happened to be at a
noblemans party with Chesterfield; a lady in
the company, prodigiously y rouged, directed
her whole discourse to Voltaire and engross-
ed his whole conversation. Chesterfield
came up, tapped him upon the shoulder and
said: ''Sr, take care that you are not cap
tivated." "My Lord" replied the French
wit, 81 scom TO be taken by a English craft
under French colors"
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13

Chevreau, in his history Of the world, tells
us that il was created the 9th of September,
on Friday, little before four o'clock in the
afternoon.
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13

CHINESE SUGAR CANE IN TEHAMA Co.
gentleman who resides at Oak Wood,
near Tehama, planted about the 10th of
May, eighty hills of Chinese sugar cane,
nearly ali Of which germinated very freely,
and now the cane is from six to eight inches
high, and give promise Of an abundant yield.
Many of our farmers, says the Beacon, are Of
opinion that the Sorgho Sucre is bound to
occupy an important position among the
products of California agriculture The wild
oats which are fast dying out from repeated
moving and pasturage, it is thought, will
soon be superseded by. this cane, which
from the exuberance of its seed and foliage
will supply the place of both grain and fod-
der.
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13

A PARsoN IN DIFFIcuLTy.-A young par
son lost his way in the forest and it being We
hemsntly cold and rainy, he happened upou a
poor cottage, and desired lodging, or hay
loft to stay in, and some fire TO warm him.
The man told him that he and his wife had but
one bed and if he pleased to lay with them he
should be welcome. The parson thanked him
and kindly accepted it. In the morning the
man rose to 90 to market, and meeting some
of his nsghbors he fell laughing. They
asked him what made him so merry about
the mouth. "Why," says he, 81 can't bat
think how shamed the parson will be when
he awakes, to find himself alone in bed with
my wife," PiHsburgh Pa Post
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13
Later from Carson Valley

The expressman Thompson, reached Mo
keIumne Hill from Carson Valley last Friday
evening. He reports the arrival of sixteen
teams on the lst June from Salt Lake. (nr;n.
cipally apostae Mormons,) with their fami
lies. They bring no later news from Salt
Lake City. About twenty teams start from
Carson Valley, on the 10th inst via the Bio
Tree road, to California for supplies Of mer-
chandise. 1hoy estimate the value of this
intended cargo at $4,000. Several largo
droves of cattle from Utah are en- route 10
California and will be in soon. The Nor
mons report the grass abundant between
Salt Lake and Carson Valley.
The prospecting party that went to Wal
ker's river few weeks since, had returned,
bringing intelligence of good prospects Oh
tanned. They will return as soon as the
water falls sufficiently to permit advanta.
gnous work.
The impression that the world ia TO be at
an end on the 18th June is so prevalent in
Gallcla that the peasants are becoming some
what dlifcult to manage. The poor ignorant
creatures have been confirmed in the idea
that they have but few weeks to live by tLe
aboh'lon OF the passport torture" in Austria.
ana the reduction OF the passport tax in Rus
STA. According to a correspondent of the
Ost Deatches Post, the lower classes express
themselves as follows: "No one now trou-
bles himself about the world and its inhabi-
tants a man can 60 where he pleases as it
is now all the same whether he is here or in
America"
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13

Ns- The following is by returned Fillibuster,
who lately eft" in Walkers Grand Army Of In
vasion. Hear the poic:
The Placer herald., 1857-06-13

An old joke revived is going the rounds
Of the papers, that there is a letter in the
postoffice at Uniontown, Belmont county, O.,
directed to the biggest fool in the county.
The origin or re-orgin Of the story was at
New Orleans some years ago A letter
reached the New Orleans postoflice, directed
''To the biggest fool in New Orleans" The
postmaster was absent, and on his return
one Of the younger clerks in the Office in
formed him of the receipt Of the letter.
"And what became Of it," inquired the
Post Master.
"Why," replied the clerk, "I did not know
who the biggest fool in New Orleans was,
and SO, / opened the letter myself"
"And what did you find in itl" inquired
the P NJ.
"Why," responded the clerk, "nothing but
the words, "'thou ort the man."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-11
GOLD MEDAL PREMIUM
VI PIANO FORTES.
WILLIAM KNABE,
(Senior partner In the late firm of

KNABR GAEHLY Il Co.,
Continues the manufacture and sale of grand ano
square PIANO FORTES, under the name -z~rN
Of William knabe 4 Co., at the old stand 49,
Nos. ], s. 5 and North Eutaw street opttI nv
pOslte the Eutaw House, Baltimore.
They have also just opened new Sales Room nj
No 17 Baltimore street, between Charles and Light
streets, ON the premises partly occupied by MIR
Henry McCanery as music store, where they will
keep constantly on hand a large assortment of PLAIN
and highly finished grand and square Piano Fortes.
aiso, MelOdeOns, from the best makers, from to s.
octave, some with double key boards, double reeds
and stops to suit small churches.
Befng extensively engaged In the manufacture
Pianos, we will sell wholesale and retail, the mos
liberal terms.
Our Pianos were awarded the highest premium
(gOd medal at the Fairs of the Mary land Institute
two successive years-OctOher, 1885, aud l856-In op
position to fourteen and eighteen pianos from sOms
of the best makers from New York, Boston ard Bal
tIInOre We wore also awarded the first premium, al
the Industrial Exhibition held in Richmond, VIr-
ginia, 1855 and 1856. They have also been awarded
the highest premium lsver medal at the Metro
polItan Mechanics Fair for 1857.
In addition to this we are In possession OF testimo
mails from the most distinguished professors
amateurs in the country, which can be seen At our
warerooms, speaking for themselves and others OF
the high appreciation In which our instruments
every where held.
All Instruments arc guaranteed for five years, and
privilege or change granted within the rst six
months from the day of sale If the instruments do
give entire satisfaction.
Wholesale dealers will find it to their advantage
to give a call before purchasing.
Pianos exchanged, hired, and tuned.
mar l6-ly VIM. KNABE & CO.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-11

u cargo Of OK horns was shipped a few
days ago at 81. Paul, NJ T., for New York, via
New Orleans
III Miss Ann Rylev. aged IS years, was killed
by an express train on the II udsOn river Railroad
at CrOton, day or two since.
III man named Williams, in Albany, on
Thursday, attempted to cut the throat Of his mo-
ther. she escaped from him, when he cut his
own throat. He Is supposed to have been seized
with TT Of insanity r.
NJ A young man named John Sturgeon was
Instantly killed on Friday while at work at the
windlaSs on board boat in the Schuyikill; the
capstan bar few back, striking him on the head
with terrible force.
NJ The Camden and A Amboy Railroad one day
last week received 81 100 for freight on peaches
at ei hit cents per basket. They were all sent to
the New York market.
IC Mr.. VIM Kane, Of Albany, was, on Tues
day caught in some mac chinery, at factory on
Id Hill, and whirled around at the rate Of sixty
revolution. a minute; his ribs were broken and
the bones of his legs fractured; he cannot Proba-
bly, recover. d..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-11
GREAT INDUCEMENTS OFFERED FOR
NJ CASH

H. SEMKEN, JEwELBR,
offers at greatly reduced prices, CASH, the fol-
lowing articles:
Gold Hunting English Patent Levers, full jeweled
from S50up.
Gold Ladies' Watches, full jeweled, in variety, SIS
up.
All Watches are guaranteed for I2 months.
Gold Guard. Fob and Vest Chains, at wholesale
prices; all kinds of Fine Jewery, such Bracelets
rs Ea5 keEs aSs Shf B
Canoes, Mosalcs, ETC.. at astonishing low prices:
Pure Silver Ware-SpOons, Forks, aud all kind of
fancy Silver Ware-lotcer than ever offered before
Silver, plated Ware-such as Spoons Forks, Cas-
tors. Cake and Card Baskets, Butter Coolers, etc.
will be sold at rnanxfacturers prices.
IL Our main object in offering such ndu
is 10 reduce present large stock for ready
cash, contemplating some alteration IN our bHSi
ness.
Persons IN want of anything in our line invited
to call; we shall take pleasure in convincing them
that sucn opportunities of purchase fine goods at
such reductions seldom offered. All goods war
ranted as represented. III. SEMKEN,
aug Is $50 pPnnsy lyania avenue,