davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

The SCULPTURE OF HABIT.-Did
you ever watch a sculptor slowly fash
ioning a human countenance 1t is
not moulded at once. 1t is not struck out
at single beat. 1t is painfully and labo-
riously wrought. A thousand blows
rough cast it. Ten thousand chisel-
points polish aud perfect it-put in the
fine touches, and bring out the features
and expression. 1t is a work Of time,
but at last the full likeness comes out ;
and stands fixed and unchanging in the
solid marble. Well so does man un-
der the leadings Of the Spirit, or the
teachings Of Satan, carve out his own
moral likeness. Every day he adds
something to the work. A thousand
acts of thought, and will, and deed,
shape the features and expressions of
the soul-habits Of love, and purity,
and truth-habits Of falsehood, malice,
and uncleanness, silently mould and
fashion it, till at length it wears the
likeness of God, or the image and sup
erscription of the Evil One.-Plain
Parochial Sermons. sse& .Hr. .z-hi-i
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27
SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1858.
County. superintendent.

.. s County. superintendent.
This new Office, created by the educational
bill recently adopted by the General Assem-
bly, of this State, does not, as some have
supposed, take the place of School Fund
Commissioner. The County Superintendent
has no control whatever of the school fund.
The following extracts from the law will
give our readers an idea of the duties of this
officer: ,-g... .. -.
SEC. 40. On the first Monday of April
next. and biennially thereafter, on the sec.
ond Monday of March, in each organized
county in this State there shall be elected
one County Superintendent of Common
years. and until his successor is elected and
qualified. $50
SIC. AZ. 1t shall be the duty of the County
Superintendent, with two competent Assist.
ants, whom he shall select, to examine all
such persons as shall present themselves. at
the proper time and place, rs to their ability
to teach orthography, Reading, Writing.
Arithmetic, Geography and English Gram
mar, and such other branches as may in
special cases be required. and If the exami-
u"tiou oe eSatlSldcloTy, anu IL He Is SdClSucu
that the applicant is of good moral charac-
ter, he shall issue certificate in duplicate
that the bearer of the same is qualified to
teach the branches above specified, and such
others as the case may require, one copy Of
which shall be filed with the Secretary of the
district in which he is employed to teach.
The County Superintendent shall enter upon
a register to be kept for that purpose the
names of the teachers receiving the certi6-
Gates, and date of the same. lie shall also
give public notice of the time and place Of
holding such examinations. A certificate
from the Professor of the Normal Depart
ment of the State University shall give to its
possessor all the legal rights, powers and
privileges of certificate from any school
officer or officers, provided the person receiv-
ing such certificate has completed a course
in the State University, satisfactory to the
Professor Of the Normal Department of the
State University. .....
1t is also made the duty of the County
Superintendent to visit the different schools
in the county at least twice in the year, and
on the 18th of October annually to report
their condition to the State Superintendent
of Public Instruction. 1t will be seen that
this is very important Office.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

For the Journal
Barker,s Last Lecture -. On Free.
dom, &c. ..
The honest judgment of m audience re-
spectacle in numbers and intelligence, al
ready passed upon Mr.: Barker's last effort,
is that, compared with those that preceded,
it was failure. Nearly, if not quite,
half the time occupied was employed in re-
plying to our brief review of his lectures
upon the French Revolution. He had the
magnanimity to acknowledge our respectful
treatment, and was on the whole gratifed
that we thought him not quite a fool. Unless
some talent for honest discussion is in future
exhibited in reply to any structures we shall
be pleased to make upon his performances,
we may be constrained to alter that opinion.
At present, we think him little less wise
than Solomon, for instance, who, according
to MIR. Barker, was one of the greatest fools
in the world. #a ~ .-g
In reviewing his first lectures, ! briefly
attempted to show that he misrepresented
facts in describing the characters of such
men as Robespierre, Danton and Marat, and
stated some facts to show that the writing
of the most distinguished French inhdsla
were not, as he alleged, promotive of truth
and righteousness, but of the reverse. In
his reply, he made the assertion that the
three great revolutionary leaders were moral
and religious men-and sprinkled much su-
gar upon their devilism, to make it appear
respectable. If the worst species Of radical
ism constitutes religion, then were they re-
ligious men; if all the crimes of which they
were guilty were attributable to their relig-
ion, then were they religious devils. If Mr..
Barker honestly believes that Robespierre
was good man, and that the qualities be
exhibited when directing the movements Of
the ''mountain party" in Paris originated
from good motives, what in the name Of
goodness constitutes bad man
If Mr.. Barker's own conduct 10 based upon
such reasoning, his most appropriate place
will be to stand as specimen OF total de-
pravity in some theological museum for the
remainder of his life. If tho elevation in a
church Of . nude woman, who wss honorsd
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

with the appellntion Of the "Goddess Of
Reason," constitutes religion, then were th,
revolutionist leaders religious men ther
were those who composed numbering and
lawless mob religious men. The tendency
of the French revolution is not justly repre-.
sented by such men Us Mr.. Barker. A revo-
luton should do something toward estab.
fishing virtue and justice in social life,
which this to any great extent did not. The
only object apparently in Mr.. Barker's lec-
lures upon the French Revolution is to
consign, if possible, the Christian faith to
contempt or oblivion. ......-. Lad.
That part of his lecture which he proposed
to devote to Freedom was made up mainly
of lavish, indiscriminating ridicule and in
vective against different parts of the Bible,
with scarcely one sensible observation to re-
lieve his ribaldry lie conveyed no impress
sion of honesty or learning none of truth
or candor. -..... ........ ..s......
The only intelligent construction to be
put upon his argument is that Infdelity,
Freedom and Paganism are identical. In
his attempt to exalt the beauties of ancient
Paganism, and enforce its superiority to
Christianity, the doctrines of Julian, the
apostate, were forcibly brought to our rec
ollection, and the similarity of his character
and his teachiags to those of Mr.. Barker
make the comparison worthy of passing
notice We have heard that he was formerly
a Methodist preacher. -, --,.-........t.. ...
Mr.. Barker attempted to make an argument
in favor of the idea that the Declaration of
American Independence originated in tho
spirit of skepticism, in which he was sup
ported by some foolish Christian clergyman.
What is there in tnat document that STAN ps
it Atheistical or that conveys an idea that
it was conceived in spirit of skepticism
Did not the patriots who signed it appeal to
the Supreme Governor of the Universe to
witness the rectitude of their intentions
and state at its close that resistance to ty-
rants is obedience to God?
From the manner in which the subject of
Freedom was discussed, it doubtless means
freedom to disbelieve everything that ought
to be believed; liberty to represent Christ
as hypocritc, know-nothing, or fool ;
that there was not a single respectable man
among all the Apostles; that all the distin-
guished characters mentioned in the Old
Testament were either knaves, fools or cruel
despots, except Esau, who was entitled to
some respect for selling his birth right.
If we had never entertained belief in the
total depravity Of man, there was much in
this lecture to confirm our faith, for we can
safely say that we have never met so striking
an example of that doctrine as in this mod
ern Julian.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27
Our New Educat, t,onal system.

Our New Educational system,
Owing to the extreme length of the edu-
cational bill adopted by the General A ssem-
bly, of this State, on the 18th inst, We will
have to decline the offer Of S. made to each
newspaper in the State that will publish it
entire before the drst Monday in April. The
bill makes about twelve columns. A syn
opsis of it will, We think, be more generally
read and be more satisfactory to our readers
than the bill itself. s4 E-s a-. .a agg..
Sec. lst Declares that each civil township
is a school district, except incorporated
towns or cities of not less than l 900 inhab-
itants, which may be organized into separate
districts. The remaining part of the town
ship to be considered as separate township
2. One or more schools to be taught in
each sub-district at least sixteen weeks in
each year, otherwise tho district to be de-
prived of its portion of the school fund,
unless satisfactory reason be given to the
County Superintendent for the failure to
keep such school.
8. If persons may be better accommodated
at the school of an adjoining district, they
can attend it and draw their proportion Of
the school fund from their own district.
4. Relates to townships in unorganised
counties. zz-a s.gt. .-.-zgrR ? e-T So
S. Every school district is made cospo.
rate body. egs saa ss. aa
6. The duty of trustees to give ten days
notice of their respective district townships,
on the first Monday Of May next, by posting
notices in FIVE conspicuous places and (7th)
when the electors are assembled in accord
ance with such notice. they shall organize by
appointing President and Secretary, who
shall act as judges Of the election.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

her. It's probable that the theater is
school of vice rather than of virtue,
that the ballroom is a promoter of dis
sipation, and that indiscriminate soci-
ETY. has its temptations and its dangers ;
but female boarding school, shut of
from general society by law, its mem
bers lacking free exercise in the open
air, denied the privilege Of daily amuse-
ments, and presided over by teachers
who fail to understand the nature of
the precious material they have in
charge, is as much worse for minds and
morals than all these combined as can
we'll be imagined. l know female
boarding-schools properly conducted,
whose teachers know what girl is and
what she needs, and who contrive to
lead her through this transitional pas :
sage Of her life into healthful and ra-
tional womanhood; and | know others
whose very atmosphere is that of fever.
l know boarding-schools where. beaux
are the everlasting topic Of conversation.
and where an unhealthy imagination is
so stimulated by irrational restraints
and mutual fellow feeling, that the
foundation ofenearly every character is
necessarily laid in rottenness. aas
If any young woman, in a boarding
school or out of it, should find herself
a subject Of any of the diseases which
I have pointed out, she should seek
remedy at once. If she finds herself
moved to 60 a shopping for the simple
purpose Of talking with the clerks, let
her remember that she is not only doing
an immodest and unbecoming thing,
but that she is manifesting the symp-
tom of that which is dangerous mem
tai disease. To begin with, she is
doing very silly thing. Again she is
doing that which compromises her in
the eyes Of all sensible young men,
If she finds herself possessed Of unac-
countable procllvities to mineral diet,
or foggy reaching for something
or other that manifests itself il pro-
found condolences with one similarly
afflicted, or any one Of. the hundred ab-
sorbing sentimentaisms, let her re-
that she is mentally and NOR
ally sick, and that for her own comfort
and peace she should seek at once for
Her only safety is in seeking
direct contact with a healthy occupation
for all her powers, intellectual and phys
ical. Dreams, imaginations, silly talk
and twaddle about young men, yearnings
after sympathetic hearts, the dandling
of precious little thoughts of beaux on
the knees of fancy, AM all that sort Of
nonsense, should be discarded-kicked
out of the sacred precincts Of the mind
as if they were so many foul reptiles.
Get out of this feverish and unhealthy
frame just as soon as possible, and
walk forth into more natural, digni-
fed, wo manly life.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27
H m o IL OU s

W Uncle Isaac was great stickler for
grammar. He always stuck to it that the
adjective gool admitted Of no degree Of
comparison, .for,n said he, ''what il good is
good, and good is good enough" Ona day
brother Jake was reading aloud the adven-
lures of an unlucky and not remarkably
bright youth. When he came to the sem
tence, Long ere Joe returned" Uncle Ike
suddenly interrupted for the seventeenth
time. aTnt, boy! that's very bad grammar;
read correctly cared there is no such
compound adjective as long ear" se
c. Have you net mistaken the pew.
sir?" blandly said a Sunday Chesterfield to
stranger who entered it. Il beg PARDON y
said the intruder, rising to go ont, 81 fear
| have; took it for Christians" ".
c." John, spell effects.' "F.x. p
"Kight. Next spell seedy." 'C-d." "Righ,
again. Now spell cakes" "K-a-x"-
There's good Loy!" said his mother, hand
ing Johnny some Of the latter. ...--..-.. ..
Gy The ladies say they are opposed to
stopping the MALES on the Sabbath, espe
cial)y in the evening unless they stop at
their houses. + F
AZ A merchant lately advertising for a
clerk who could bear ontinement, received
an answer from one who had been in Jail
seven years. --. ...... ,........-
W IL avn going to the Post-office, Bob,
shall inquire tor you?" We'll, yes, il
you've mind to; bu: l cont think you'll
fud me there. .-.-...
Gy man bought table, but never took
it away, and the seller thought the man the
most un-com- for table man he ever saw.
Why is vain young lady like c. n
firlned druukard7 Because neither If them
is satisfied with the moderate use Of the glass.
C. If a small boy is called lad, is it
not proper to call a bigger boy laddera
Cos: clEScE.- Mostly used BY US in judg
inp the act OOS of Others.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

b@- The G 'nzales (Texas) Inquirer, of a
late date, says: The grasshoppers, having
about completed the destruction of vegeta-
ton, have, caDnibal like fallen to work de.
vouring each other at least they seem to
be dying off very fast, and wherever there
is dead one there are half dozen live
ones around it, eating it up. 1t is thus
that there is limit placed by natural laws
to restrain the ravages of these insects.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

fT In view of the run the Balmoral red
petite oat) style is having in this country, a
patriotic Yankee thus appeals to the patriot
ism Of Yankee girls to adopt costume of
their own:
Once in while why can't We have
truly Yankee notion?
Nor such profound allegiance pay
e. To fashion cross the ocean
What could be finer now than this,
(And mark ye, too, how dashingD
petticoat red, white and blue,
With silver stars all flashing!
rEra.r a~.g
7- Then hang the Yankee c"lors out,
(And Scottish skirts. confound 'em y
Our girls shall take the world by storm
With vtsrs and stripes around 'em.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

The LEvlArHAN's VIsIr TO AMERICA
The Boston Journal says that Capt. Harri.
son, who il to command the Leviathan,
writes that he is to be in Portland, Me-,
with his vessel, in the latter part of June,
and that he proposes to remain there with
her seven weeks.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

cT Mr.. Case, the new member of Con-
gress from Indiana, is said to have made a
decided hit, in the House, on Thursday. The
correspondent of the New York Tribune says:
Even Mr.. Letchcr came over to the Repub-
licnn side of the House and listened with
marked interest. The most telling point
was the parallel drawn between Buchanan's
Message against the Kansas rebels and the
language Of a Royalist pamphlet of 1874,
denouncing the New England rebels. The
ideas and language of both are nearly iden-
tical. Thus is Buchanan convicted of pla.
giarism from this Tory argument. ....
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27
MONDAY, MARCH %, 1858.
County Convention.

The Republicans of Muscatine county are
called by the Chairman of the Central Com
mittee to meet in Convention next Saturday,
to nominate candidate for Superintendent
of Common Schools. We hope to see all
sections of the county represented in this
Convention, and that a candidate will be
nominated upon whom all can unite. Our
opponents, we understand, will bring out a
candidate also. The results of the elections
in this county in August and November last
show that our party must be active and
united if it would achieve victory.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

NEWSPAPER CHANGE. - The Dubuque
Tribune has been discontinued, and its pat.
ronage merged with that of the Times
which is now the only Republican daily
published in that place.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27
The Pr0ud Lover:

The Proud Lover:
never yet could understand
How men could love in vain
hold it weak and wrong to love,
And not BE- loved again.
For inc, must have heart for heart,
Deny me that, and we mus, part.
There be who love, or think they love,
b Without return for years;
They waste their days in fruitlcss sighs,
Their nights in hopeless tears.
No. such am 1; my heart is free,
I love not her who loves not me
=- al RICHARD H. SrupDARD.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

THE LEcoMProN FRAuD CANNOT Pass
The New York Tribune of Thursday pro
fesses to have s'private and confidential ad
vices from Washington" fully justifying the
conviction that the Lecompten fraud cannot
pass the House Of Representatives.. 1t will
of course be driven through the Senate early
this week. but by smaller majority than
Its Advocates anticipated. Thence it goes to
the House, where q very different fortune
awaits it. The iniquitous device will
either be laid on the table IF the House or
so amended that its own fathers will disown
-.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

+ Iowa AaRlcULrrRAL COLLEGE = The bill
establishing an agricultural college and ex
perimental farm has passed the General AS
sembly of this State 1t appropriates to the
enterprise $40, 200 and the proceeds of the
five sections of land granted by Congress to
the State for the erection Of capital build
ings. The location of the college is to be
determined by the Board of Trustees, who
hold their first meeting on the second Mon
day in January next. The Trustees, eleven
in number, are as follows: 50 80 90 .ss-a
NV. Robinson, of Desmoines; Timothy
Day, of Van Buren; J. D. Wright, Of
Union G: W. F. Erwin, Of Woodbury. W.
D. Wilson, of Polk; Richard Gaines, of
Jefferson; Suel Foster, of Muscatine. J.W
Henderson, Of Linn; Clement Coffin, Of Del
aware; E. H. Williams, Of Clinton E. G.
Day, of Story @ .st t.E
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27
IOWA NEWS.

SINGULAR DROWNING CAsE-Aman named
Zimri Twiggs was found drowned in slough
near Brighton, Washington county, on Wed
nesday evening last, the 18th inst. His
body was standing upright, with his head
partly out Of the water seeming to be sup
ported in that position by his overcoat.s The
deceased, it seems, had attempted to cross
the slough on horseback. His horse was
found on the side of the slough opposite to
that on which he started in. Two. carpet
bags filled with clothing were found floating
in the water, and about $40 in money on the
person of the deceased. He had evidently
started on protracted journey. Mr.. Twiggs
was citizen of the town of Washington,
and, we learn, was highly esteemed. He
had certificate of membership in the NJ. E..
Church and Methodist hymn-book in his
pocket From some domestic troubles which
had recently befallen him, a suspicion was
aroused hat he committed suicide. He had
been married only about month previously,
but it seems that his bride loved another,
and proved faithless to him. Thisso affected
his mind that he packed up his clothing and
started for Kansas on horseback, at a, late
hour on Tuesday 1t is supposed that he
was drowned early Wednesday morning.
We obtained these particulars from Mr..
John Schock, of this city, who passed the
place few minutes after the body Of the
drowned man had been recovered from the
water. ..-....
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

e. An old lady of our Acquaintance be-
lieves every, calamity thst happens. to her
self a trial, and every one that happens to
her friends judgment.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

MusoATlNE COUNTY BIBLE SoeIErY.--The
anniversary meeting of this Society, auxiliary to
the American B. bic Society, held at the Meth.
odist Church last night. The former officers of the
Society were reelected, with one exception. Ad.
dresses were delivered by Jacob Butler, ESQ, md
Rev. John Harris. A collection was taken up,
but we did not ascertain the amount received. The
depository of the Soc ETY. is at the drug store of F.
Fl. Stone-Daily, 22d.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

The MAaAzINEs.-H Harper's Magazine for
April, with "the Vrginians," has been rec ivcd at
Burnett's book store. It is really choice number.
Also, the Knckerbocker for April, sparkling as
usual with its happy thoughts and pleasant say
ings. Call and get . cory. .-..--- r-- - :.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

AN UsURPATION From TIE BEGINNlNG.-
In . recent speech at Columbus, Ohio, Mr..
Matthews, a Douglas bolter, said .....
s'Therc is no use to brave it out any lon
ger. The history of Kansas, it must now
be admitted, from the beginning to the
present time, has been usurpation."
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

To CORRESPONDENTS. - Anti-Bigot, +"
"B.tby llus and "Mrs. Lucy T, have each forgot
TIN to comply with our invariable rule to require
the real name of the author Of communication
h. for, publiships it, The contributions Of the two
last named are scarcely worthy of publication how
ever. The former i. sheer nonsense, while the lat
ter, slthough intended for poetry, is exceedingly
discsrdant English. The idea conveyed is good
one. aud could probably be better presented BY the
writer in pross than in poetry.
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

SrABBrNG GAFFAlR.-Michael Bonfeld stab.
bed Thomas Lamb, yesterday, ia "n Irish boarding
house near M,son's Hotel. Lamb lives at Wilton,
and had come to this city to take away his brother
whose leg was smashed ON he railroad track some-
time since. The stab was inflicted IN the right
groin. and was severe one. It is difficult 10 say
vet whether it will prove fatal. Bonfeld va,
brought before Mayor Meason by Mnrshal Unger
and held to bail in the sum Of one thousand dol
lars for trial next Thursday. H. faild to give
hail and was committed. We shall visit for the
evidence before giving the particulars, merely re-
marking, however, that the assault seems to have
been unprovokcd-Dsily, I'D. s
Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

|Ec CHICAGO AND Rock Island ReAD.-The
earnings of the Chicago and Rock island
Railroad Company for '7a @
February, 1857, were $64.229.4l
February, 1885, - e'r'--- 60,6s6.45