davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22
Office hunting.

AN American citizen would certainly deem
it a foul dishonor to have it said of him that
ne was fed and clothed by the munifcence
OF the State that he was 9 burthen crowded
upon public living /; that being too lazy and
thriftless to earn his bread otherwise, he has
been g~raciously permitted to do chores in the
public Offices of the Governments, for which
he was to receive not more than the average
OF men earn at the common trades of the coun-
try. The highminded American freeman
ought to feel indignant at such imputations
yet such is the precise position in which the
majority of Office beggars place themselves,
in their rage for place. Shame upon their
noble heritage! They are the most pitiful
paupers in the land.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22
What will Mrs. Grundy saw"

NEARLY one half the world is ever revolv.
ing the question-as to what the other half
will think and say of contemplated actions.
In all things this must be answered before
decisive steps are taken. All such are mis-
cradle serfs-bond slaves to the opinions of
others. They have no self-government rule
they are destitute of the freedom of opin-
ion. The ubiquitous and busy, Mrs. Grundy,
is their model and their mortal fear, who
shapes their household, their feasts, their
garments, their s~ociability, theirmorals, their
religion, their all Poor string'halted souls!
there is a wheeze of apprehension in every
breath they draw. They ere living exam
Piles Of the science of nose-leading!
If half the world are not SO led, society at
least furnishes an abundance Of such slaves.
They are wonderfully plenty-plenty as
blaekberries. What will Mrs. Grundy say?"
drives them in focks. To be found stand
ing alone in some independent position sub
.jects the individual to a terrible fear and
torment. 1t is something of a social perdi-
ton from which the poor, unhappy mortal
is ever struggling to escape. Thew seem 70
have lost all thought of personal ;ndenen.
dence. Mrs. Grundy's views determine tba;,
action upon all subjects. To the hats with
Mrs. Grundy and all the little Grundies -
Let US have more personal independence. and
less bowling, scraping, cringing and faWninp
to the heavy yoke imposed upon us by the
worlds opinion. \
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22
a safe house to sleep in.

A lawyer Of high reputation Of the city of
Philadelphia, was travelling in one of the
Southern States, and being belated one eve
ming, after a long days ride, he was COMPEL
ed to turn into a house on a solitary planta-
tion, and asked for a shelter and hospitality
for the night. His request was granted
In the course Of the evening he thought he
observed something reserved in the maste r
Of the house, which awakened his suspicious.
lie was at length conducted to bis chamber.
which was adjoining the family rom. There
he dwelt on the circumstances which alarm
ed him till his excited Imagination was filled
with thoughts Of nightly robbery and assas-
sination. He proceeded to barricade the
room as best be could. lie fastened
down all the windows; against the doors
he piled up tables, chairs, everything that
was movable in the room. While thus en-
gagged, words uttered in a low voice caught
his ear and increased his alarm. He placed
his ear at the key hole. The man of the
house was engaged in family prayer. A
mong the objects of his intercessions, he was
praying for : the stranger whom the provi-
dence of God had unexpectedly brought to
lodge beneath their roof that night When
he got through, our traveller friend arose
from his STOPPING posture. Imagine the
change of his feelings. All his fears had
vanished. Though no Christian himself, be
knew that the prayers Of Christians are like
guardian angels to the abode in which they
are offered up, and went to bed and slept
soundly and sweetly, feeling that the house
where God was feared and worshipped was
a safe house to sleep in.-Am. Messenger.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22
Important to Grain Dealers-How to
Kill Weavil.

The latest Freneh-papefs contain an i'm
portant statement of certain experiments
made to ascertain the fact that anatheties
(the substances, such as ether, cloroform,
&C., which are used to Supply patients
previous to undergoing surgical operations)
have the power of destroying all kinds Of
insects injurious to tie preservation of
grains. Experiments on large scale were
made at Algiers by ordeIof the Minister
OF war; and M. Doyeres states as the re-
suit, that two grammes sf cloriform per
metrlcal quintal of wheatsare sufficient to
destroy every insect in ths silos (corn pits
hernetlcaily closed, common both in Alge-
ria and Italy, in the course of four days
Five g1rammes of %.sulpuret of carbon will
enect the same IN t~Wenty-fpur hours. Not
only the insects, but even the larvae inside
the grams are completely e~ztirpated and
the grain, after being shoyeled four or five
times In the open air, does not retain a
trace OF the operation. Cattle will eat
the Barley thus treate | even while still in
fected with the odor, and without any in
furious effect. It is we'll known that
grain lying in heaps produces a considera-
BILE development of %caloric, to prevent the
bad effects OF which it must be shoveled
two or three times a day. NJ. Doyere has
remarked that grain treated with anaesthe.
tics does not evince the same tendency
he is nevertheless Of the opinion that hi'
experiments are not sufficient to establish
this as a positive fact, al therefore, re
oommends that further trials be made.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22
The MAKING Un..u

Il wish [ hadn't said it; Dear me!
what would | give if | could only recall
it ? murmured Mrs. Leeds, as she leaned
her face down on the arm she had rested
on the breakfast table, while the thick tears
sobbed up in her blue eyes.
She was a pretty little woman, the wife
of a year, though tears dimmed her face,
and the trouble at her heart shut off the
roses from her cheeks, that cherries No
vember morning, with dull-brownish clouds
piled low about the sky, and the hoarse
wisd cracking and rumbling through the
trees outside.
TO think, too continued the lady, rails.
ing her head once more, and abOt"AotedfJ
HHtlng Ine rUvCr or THe unfna te~-pvt, .ht
should have spoken SO GROSSLY and SHARPLY
to me, just because l said | should like
that new velvet carpet at Myers. Well
| don't believe, for my part, there was evel
such a thing as a woman satisfied witt
what sne has got. l think it was really un
kind of him, any way; and nothing in tn,
world could have made me believe, when
married Henry Leeds, that he would hay,
used that tone of words in speaking to me
But | guess / was more to blame than he
after all; for l said a good many ~satirica
things. | almost wish my tongue ha,
been cut off before they passed my lips
but somehow my temper got the better Q
me, and he went off without one kind word
or even kissing me! Here was anothe
outbreak of tears.
He won't be at home till night. an
how can | ever get through this long, dres
ry, dismal day, knowing all the time Hal
angry with me he who has been such
true, generous, loving husband! How
wish l could see him, just a minute, an
forgetting all my pride, wind my arm
about his neck and say, HAL, I'm reall
sorry; won't you forgive me this once p
and | will too
The pretty lady sprang from the tabl
new determination frightening the fail
color in her cheeks, and bringing back IL
sparkle to her blue eyes.
! III take the omnibus, and go rigl
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22
@Me. ~.
Filtration.

THE Supreme Court ola neighboring State
decided that when a man has for a lone
time firted with a Cultivated upon her in
visited her in private, bestowed pres-
ents npon her and played the agreeable TO-
wards her in the various little winning WAYS
it is prima facie evidence of his HAVING
promised to marry her. And it has been de-
cided in another State, that when a married
woman firts with any man, that man not he
ing her husband, furnishes prima fdcie evil
dence Of %infdelity towards her husband.
which, in a trial for divorce, should 90 very
far with a jury in finding against her.
This is just right. Aman has no business
to canter around a girl, win her affections, be
in the way of some honest fellow, and per-
haps be the means of the girl losing more
eligible offers for marriage, and then sneak
off like a suck-egg pup and say, he was ''only
passing away the time just for fun p Or
what right has a married woman to turn
away from her husband and practice the in
vincible arts of the sex upon the tender
hearts of susceptible young men There is
no fun in any such games, and something
ought to be done with all such-the gracious
knows what
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22

THE INFLUENCE OF THE NEWSPAPER
Thinking men often deplore the frivolous ma
ture of the reading of our age, and the waste
of time and intellect over the countless news
papers which find their way into the count
ing room and the parlor. But there is a
bright, as we'll as dark side of the picture,
and papers conducted with eminent ability
are important educators of a nation. The
poet Croly speaks in the following eulogistic
strains Of the daily and weekly. e~ =,
all human works, is the creation of print
ing. 1t is to the honor of England that, in
this country, it approaches nearest to excel
l%ence, in intellectual vigor, in variety of
knowledge, in extent of information and in
patriotic principle. 1t has, like all the
works of man, occasional imperfections, and.
perhaps, the most prominent are its too min
ute details OF ofenses against public purity.
But there is scarcely a newspaper in this age
which would not have been regarded as a
triumph of ability in the last. In fact. the
newspaper OF England is the great practical
s teacher of the people. Its constant and uni
t versal teaching alone accounts for the supe-
d rior intelligence Of the population. Schools,
- lecture-rOOms and universities, important az
they are, altogether fall behind it in public
eHect or ma that to retain their influence,
y they must follow in its steps.
Those steps may now and then turn from
the right road, but their native tendency is
forward and upward. This Intellectual
giant always advances, and carries the
& country with him, to a height which no 9th.
er country, ancient or modern, ever attained,
b or perhaps, ever hoped to attain. If in the
age OF foreign CONFUSION, England has un-
dergone no catastrophe-if, in the fall of
monarchies, she has preserved her hereditary
throne-if, in the mingled infdelity and su-
perstition Of the continent, which, like the
If mingled letters and frenzy of a lunatic hos
pital, have, in our day, exhibited the lowest
humiliation of our nature, she has preserved
{ her freedom and her religion attribute all,
under God, to the yigor and intelligence of
If public investigation, the incessant urgency
e of appeal to the public mind, the living or
ganization of which, the heart, is thu press
L of England"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22

down to the Office, and make up with him;
see if I DON'T
The young merchant was leaning, with
a weary, half-dejected sort of expression,
over his desk, about which were scattered
bills, drafts, letters, in endless confusion.
Some thing had gone wrong. His clerks
knew this when he came into the store that
morning, SO gloomy and r~etirent, SO thor
oughly unlike his usual brisk, energetic,
jovial manner, that always carried sunshine
into the dark warerooms. Even the por-
ter felt something of this, for he stood at
a respectful distance from his employer
and didn't indulge in any of his old stale
jokes.
Suddenly the merchant looked up, and
saw his wife making her way through the
store, straight to his desk. How pretty
she looked that morning, in the little taste
full velvet hat, with its crimson trimmings
6 about her cheeks, that were SO charmingly
: becoming, and that half smile dimpling The
rosy, small mouth, that he could hardly
: believe had said such very unkind thing
to him only a few hours before.
Now Harry Leeds was very proud o
his wife, and of the evident admiration
which her occasional advent at the stor
! always excited. He rose up to meet hel
, the surprise inshis face half chasing th
cloud therefrom. She came close to hin
Henry whispered the soft, eager, tin
id voice, Pm so very sorry [ said thos
cross things to you this morning. W:
:. greatly to blame, and they've made me Vi
happy ever since; so I've come clear dow
IS here to hear you say once more that yc
love me-
n. The cloud was all gone. There was
world of fond tenderness that look
IA down from those dark eyes on the lady.
why, bless you, Adeline! you haver
% come clear off here for that I was me
ar to blame than you, a great deal, but son
business matters were troubling me, a.
". I'm a touchy fellow, I guess, any how.
mt mo, you're not (; I felt all the time Il
you were displeased with me. But you
"a love we just as wellas ever?'
tn That smile, that glance, would have s
ied isied any wife.
red She is a jewel, any how murmul
ca Henry Leeds to himself, after she had Ie
tho as he arranged his disordered desk, witt
face as changed and bright as the sky O
h . side, for the sun had suddenly pluns
the clouds. IF We have pretty good So
re- this week, I'll just get her that carpet
a Christmas present-see if | don't
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22

MEDICAL TREATMENT.-The following are
a few of the many ways in which the igno-
rance of the public, in regard to several parts
of medicine which they are competent to I'M
derstand, influences injuriously the conduct
of physicians. /. Ignorance of the natural
course and progress of diseases which are
essentially slow, and not to be altered by any
artificial means, often leads the friends OF the
patient to be urgent with the medical atten-
dant to employ more powerful measures, or
at least to change the means used, to give
more frequent or more powerful doses, &c.
2. Ignorance of the power of nature to cure
diseases, and an undue estimate of the power
of medicines to do so, sometimes almost com
pei practitioners to prescribe remedies when
they are either useless or injurious. 3. The
same ignorance not seldom occasions dissatI
~isfaction with, and loss of confidence in those
practitioners who, from conscientious mo
tives, and on the ~justest grounds of art
u1IuuU ucLIvIJy OF IF6m prescribing medlcln
unnecessarily and leads to the countenanct
and employment of men who have obtained
the reputation Of greater activity and bold
ness, through their very ignorance of thu
true character and requirements of their art
4. 1t is the same state of mind that leads tn
public generally to give ear to the most rid
culous promises of charlatans; also to run
after the professors. and practisers of doc
trines utterly absurd and useless, as in tn
instance of homeopathy and mesmerism, o
dangerous, except in the proper cases, as i
the instance Of hydropathy. 5. Finally, it
the sam ignorance Of nature and her pro
ceedings that often forces medical men t
multiply their visits and their prescription
to an extent not simply unnecessary, bu
really injurious to the patient, as could cas-
ly be shown.-Sia J. Forbes.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22
Remarkable Answer to PRAYER.

A most remarkable answer to prayer oc-
CURED in the life and successful ministry OF
Rev. John Collins. while preaching in the
town of L., at a private house, the two rooms
occupied by the congregation were crow
ded full. Several persons stood round the
door for want Of better ACCOMMODATIONS. A
young man of superior Intellect and mental
culture, who had taken pains TO become
skeptical, and was inclined to CONSIDER the
profession of christianity as a weakness was
attracted to the spot b. the fame 81 the MINIS
ter. He remained on the outskirts OF tue
congregation, where he could hear alstlncuy'
and thought he was quite unobserved Dy ths
preacher. In this, however, he was mlsta-
ken. At one time, during the delivery OF
the discourse, he SO far forgot hlmseit as 70
fall under the observation of the Keen ana
penetrating eye of Mr.: Collins. The lntelii-
gent and prepossessihg appearance OF the
young man moved the heart of the speaker.
He paused a moment aud offered up a short
prayer, mentally, foE1is immediate awaken
ing and conversion. After Mr.. Collins resu-
med, the first word b uttered was eternity
That was spoken wit q voice SO solemn and
impressive that its import was felt by
this thou ghtless you man. It had never
struck him before as did then. All things
beside seemed to 6taipg IN comparison
to ii. Before TIE &ekdlscoprse this
Young man was RSIKEned. That sermon
was never forgotten by him. He sought ar
acquaintance with Mr.. Collins and a shor
time after this accompaniedhi him to one of hi
appointments in the county, and, at tn
close of the sermon he remained in class t.
enquire what he mustido to be saved TIL
afectionate and gentle manner of the preach
er made a stronger impression upon his pen
itent companion. On their return home, Nj
Collins told his younglfriend that he had
request to make of him which was reasons
BILE, and he hoped would not be rejected
The question was, that he would read tn
{ New Testament at least fifteen minutes ev,
3 ry day till his next visit! The promise W;
made and strictly p%erf5rmed. At first, Il
! young man laid his watch on the table so
to be exact as to the time, but the interest
+ the Scriptures increased so that the time
reading was increased daily. After this,
= covenant was made to meet each other at t
throne of grace at the setting of the sun.
: was not long before the young man was ha
PLY converted to God and united with t
d Methodist Episcopal Church. Reader, tn
+ young man is now the Hon. John M'Les
= one of the Judges Of the Supreme Court
: the United States.-Brig Recolections Of
". Walker.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22

A WIFE's PowER.-The power of a wife
for good or EVIL is irresistible. Home must
be the seat of happiness, or it must be I'M
known forever. A good wife is to a man
wisdom and courage, and strength and en-
durance. A bad one is confusion, weakness,
discontinue and despair. No condition is
hopeless where the wife possesses decision
and economy. There is no outward pros
perity which can counteract Incidence. ex-
travagance, and folly at home. No spirits
can endure bad domestic influence. Man
is strong, but his heart is not adamant. He
delights in enterprise and action, but to sus
tain him he needs a tranquil mind, and a
whole heart. He needs his moral force in
the conflicts of the world. To recover his
eq%uanimity and composure, home must be
to him a place of repose, of peace, cheerful
ness, of comfort and his soul renews its
strength again and goes forth with fresh Wig.
or to encounter the labors and troubles o.
life. But if at home he finds no rest, and
is there met with bad temper, s~ullenness OF
gloom, or is assailed by discomfort or com.
plant, hope yanishes and he sinks into de
spair.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22

The NECESSITY OF ExERCIsE.-The benefits
of exercise to those whose occupation does
not lead them to make any physical exertion,
cannot be too highly estimated. The body
must undergo a certain amount of fatigue to
preserve its natural strength, and maintain
all the muscles and organs in vigor. The
activity equalizes the circulation, and distri-
butes the blood more e~ffectually through ev-
cry part. Cold feet, or a chill anywhere.
shows that the circulation is languid there.
Tn muscles during exercise press on the
veins and help forward the current by
qulckenlng every vessel into activity. The
valves of the heart are in this way aided in
the work of sending on this stream, and re-
lieved Of a certain amount of labour. When
exercise is neglected, the blood gathers too
much around the central region, and the CD
preston about the heart, difficulty of breath
ing, lowness of spirits, anxiety and heayiness,
numerous aches and stitches, are evidences
of this stagnation. People are afraid to take
exercise because they fancy they wantbreath,
and feel weak. But the very effort would
free the heart from this burden. nv nroino
the blood forward to the extremities: it would
ease their breathing by liberating the lung,
from the same s~uperabundance it wouIc
make the frame feel active and light as IN,
effect of equalized circulation and free ac
tion.-THe Laos of Health
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22
Mr.. Toodles in Real Life.

As Captain Ruhin and a gentleman for
merly connected with the press were pas
sing along Fifth street, near Race about IL
o'clock Saturday night, a lady opened a
window above them and called for help,
what is the matter, madam asked the
gallant Captain.
'Oh! sirs, was the reply, there are
thieves in the house. [ am alone, and [
beg you to come to my protection
Most certainly replied the Captain
Have you seen the thieves? Do you know
they are in the house.
yes, yes, they are in the entry. I
heard them talking. The door is locked
0rH buo ruUry now and L
beg Of you not to leave me until you arrest
them
The Captain shared his own weapons
with the ex-local editor, who stood boldly
by him, and easily unlocking the door,
they threw it quickly open. There was
the william! They caught him and pulled
him into the street.
Hello, hello J muttered the thief, what
do you (hick) mean, thus (hic) dragging
a man out of his (hic) own house?'
Your house YOU can't come that, ny
dear fellow said the Captain, Stand up
you're not drunk.
My friends sputtered the intruder
you're mistaken in the man. l tell yo1
that I am
: Here the lady at the window gave
i, scream, which she followed with
Let him go! let him go! gracious Hes
vens, 1t IS my hus6and.'
1t appears hat this Mr.. Toodle, No. {
q had gone home very late, pretty well owe
; come with liquor. He managed to get il
side the door and close it after him, bl
: the effect of the brandy upon his brai
y confused him, and he could not tell whic
; way to proceed. He was debating tn
question to himself, when his wife, slee1
ing above, aWoke, and like a timid lady
she is, instantly came to the conclusio
F.! that thieves were in the house.-Cinc
natl Times.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22
Splrd Of tge4ge.
IA H ,E.c.
wgDHggBRg, 3gag AZ, 1881.
A. Positive Arrangement.

Subscribers receiving their paper with a CROSS
MARK, are thereby notified that in four weeks
from the receipt of the first number thus marked,
their subscription years will expire; and unless
renewed within that time, the paper will be dis
continued. This rule will be inhexibly adhered to
sg The Editor returned to his post after
the present issue was all made up ready for
press. He must therefore put ofhis say til
next week. His Correspondents will be
promptly attended to.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22

pa We have just printed a supply of the
latest edition of the Constitution of Subordin-
ate Divisions, which we offer for sale at 81
per hundred-postage prepaid. There are
many Divisions working under the old Con-
stitution, which contains many articles that
have been repealed, and others that have been
materially changed and modified. 1t is i'm
portant all should conform their actions to
the present law, and hence we have prepar-
ed ourselves to supply Divisions with the
latest edition. Send on and get Is, so OIL
100 copes. If.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22

A SAD SroRY.-The following brief but
telling paragraph is from the obituary an
nosncement in the Montreal Gazette of Wed.
nesday last:
Persisted on the steamer Montreal. .Juna
Goth, Bryce Hall, Brydekirk village, Dunn.
friesshire, Scotland, aged 43 also, Jane
his wife, aged At William, their son. aoad
% Simon, IA i; Robert, 10; Peter, 7 Catb-
crime, their daughter, aged l8; Mary Ann
II.