davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

BE SURE OF Your ssFAoTs. ."-Theorisers often
fail on account of careessness in adopting or ln-
vestigating what are reported to be "facts. =
Mechanics have long puzzled themselves over
the question, "Why will water-wheel do
more work at night than by day, other circum'
stances being equal 2"-it being conceded oy a
large majority of those who have worked oy
water power that such was the case. All SORTS
of theories have been advanced to account for
the difference-such as variation in atmos-
pheric pressure, increased weight of the water
from decreased temperature, DO, but Wltnout
settling the,matter. The question was recently
discussed in the Scientific American, which ad-
mitted the "factn as undeniable, although un-
accountable. One of its correspondents, now
ever. instituted series of careful experiments
mon the subject, and the result showed very
small fraction in favor of the performance OF tne
wheels in the day time Whether our me-
chanical philosophers will be any more success.
full in solving the latter phenomenon remains 10
be seen. The subject reminds us OF the pro-.
position made to some scientific men by one OF
the English Kings, viz: A vessel being hiled 10
the brin with water, why does not the placing
of a fish therein cause the water to overhowf-
The sayants at once entered upon learned and
profound discussion of the cause OF such re-
marksble circumstance, when one, little more
cautious than the rest, ventured to inquire OF
the King if it was really fact, when he Learned
that the King was as wise upon that point as he
was himself! Again We say, be sure OF your
ssfacts n-.0ur7lGI.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

HUMBoLDT's VIEWS oY SUNDAY AS DAY OF
REsT.-Neither the author of Cosmos nor his
brother William, was ever accused OF fanaticlsm
The writings Of the former may be searched !. IL
vain for evidences of his views of revealed rellg
ion; but he has left on record in his correspond
ence the cearest testimony as to the value OF tne
Sabbath. Perhaps it may be entitled to quite
as much weight with Germans and Americans
as the no-Sunday DEGREES of beer-garden meet
ings. Writing to friend in 1850, Alexander
Won Humboldt says: (See vol. l, p. 1922
completely agree with you that the institu
tion of fixed days of rest, even If it had no con-
nection with any religious observance. is most
pleasing and truly refreshing idea to any humane
mind towards all classes OF society. There IS
nothing more selfish or soulless than when the
rich and elevated look down upon Sundays and
holydavs with certain contemptuous dlsgust.
The selection of the seventh day is certainly the
wisest that could have been made. Although II
may seem, and to some extent optional to short.
en- or lengthen labor one day, ! am convinced
that six days is just the true measure suitable 70
men in regard to their physical power and per-
severance in monotonous employment. There
is, likewise, something humane il this, that the
beasts which aid man in bis labof should snare
in the rest. To lengthen the time of returning
rest beyond measure would be as inhuman as
foolish. have had an example of this in my
experience. When spent several years in Par
is, in the time of the Revolution, saw this in
stitution, despite its divine origin, superseded by
the dry and wooden decimal system. Only the
tenth day was what we call Sunday and all Gus
tomary work continued for nine long days.
This being evidently too long, Sunday was kept
by several, as far as the police laws allowed it,
and thus again too much idleness was the result,
Thus we are always between two extremes as
far as we remove from the common and regula-
ted middle path.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22
Observation of Facts.

Liebig justly notices the excessive difficulty OF
really good observation. 1t is an art only &C.
quired by long practice and culture. People
speak of facts with confidence which, to the
philosopher, is quite amusing. He is as ready
as they can be, even more 30, to admit the va.
lidity of facts; but he is not so ready to admit
that the observations they christen by that name
are true facts. "The man" says Liebig, "who
only sees with his eyes an object before him has
no claim to the title of an Observer which is re.
served for him who takes notice of the different
parts of the object, and sees the connection be
tween the parts and the whole" There are
"facts" to support every absurdity. No specu-
lation was ever so baseless as not to have some
"faots" on which to rest. But "many individu'
ais overlook the half of an event through care
lessness; another adds to what he observes the
creation of his own Imagination; whilst third,
who sees sufficiently distinctly the different parts
of the whole, confounds together things which
ought to be kept separate" Liebig gives an e.
musing illustration of the value of the evidence
furnished by uncultivated witnesses: "ln the
Goelitz trial. in Darmstadt, the female attend,
ants who soasked and clothed the body observed
on it neither arms nor head; another witness
saw one arm and head the size OF mans nst
a third, physician, saw both head and arms o.
the usual size."
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

WHY DO CHILDREN DR.-The reason why
children die says Halls Journal of Health, isbF-
cause they are not taken care Of From the day.
of birth they are stuffed with food, choked with
physic, sloshed with water, suffocated in hot
rooms, steamed In bed clothes. So much for in
doors. When permitted to breathe breath of
air once week in summer, end once or twice
during the coolest months, only the nose is per-
mitted to peer into daylight. A little later they
are sent out with no clothes at all, as to the
parts of the body which most need protection.
Bare legs, bare necks, bare arms, girted mlddles,
with an inverted umbrella to collect the air and
chill the body. A stout, strong man goes out
on cold day with gloves and oyercoat, wooden
stockings and thick double soled boots, with
cork between and rubbers over. The same day
a child of three years old, an infant in flesh and
blood, and bone and constitution, goes out with
soles as thin as paper, cotton socks, legs un-
covered to the knees, neck bare; an exposure
which would disable the nurse, kill the mother
in fortnight, and make the father an snvalid
for weeks. And whya To harden them to q
mode of dress they are never expected to prac-
tioe. To accustom them to exposure, which g
dozen years later would be considered down.
right foolery. To rear children thus for the
slaughter pen, and then lay it to the Lord is too
bad. We don't think the Almighty has had
any hand in it. And to draw comfort from the
that he has any AGENCY in the
death of child, in the manner of the quoted
article, is presumption and proclamation.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22
A woman,s Question.


There has seldom been published anything
prettier, and never anything more womanly,
than the following touching poem, by Miss Proc
tor
Before I trust m! fate to thee,
Or place my hand in thine,
Before let thy future give
Color and form to mine,
Before peril all for thee, question thy soul to'nignt
for me.
break ell slighter bonds, nor feel
A shadow of regret;
Is there one link within the past
That holds thy spirit yets
Or is thy faith as clear and free as that which can
pledge to thees
Does there within thy dimmest dreams
possible future shine,
Wherein thy life could henceforth breathe,
Untouched, unshared by mine9
If So at any pain or cost oh tell me before all is lost
Look deeper still. If thou canst feel
Within thy inmost soul,
That thou hast kept portion back,
While have stsked the whole,
Let no false pity spare the blow but in true mercy
tell me 80.
Is there within thy heart need
That mine cannot fulfill
One chord that any other hand
Could better wake or stills
Speak now, lest at future day my whole life with
er and decay.
Lives there within thy nature hid
The demon-sprit, change.
Shedding passing glory still
On all things new and strange?-
It may not be thy fault alone-but shield my heart
gainst thy own.
Coudst thou withdraw thy hand one day,
And answer to my claim
That Fate, and that to-days mistake,
Not thou-had been to blames
Some soothe their conscience thus; but thou, on
surely thou wilt warn me now.
Nay, answer not-I dare not hear,
The words would come too late;
Yet would spare thee all remorse;
So, comfort thee, my Fate:
Whatever on my heart may fall, remember, s0'uk
risk IL all
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22
MISCELL L A N Y /.
A Reporters Description Of Fever and A


SuCe
If our local department has been better for
the past two days than before, it is to be attrb-
uted to the absence of our regular reporter,
who succumbed for forty eight hours to an at
tack of what in Western parlance is termed "a
gur," in the vernacular, chills and fever. Peo-
pie who have never enjoyed bout with this vig'
orous affection have missed series of sensations
to which all others are as pig iron to doubloons.
The primary symptoms are sense of of gone.
ness'' in the stomach, the diaphragm feeling as
though it were an imperfectly inflated balloon
floating amid space without ballast, altogether
in violation of the physiological unities. at the
same time your head feels as though it were a
bass drum, with four boys humping at each end.
This for about two hours when the chill comes
on. The chill is an institution that would, we
think, have more sorely tested the patience OF
Job than all the "boils" in the universe 1t
commences at the bottom of the spine and slow
Ily ascepds until it reaches the brain. Its prog
ress being about an inch to every five minutes,
the taller the man the liyelier the time he has
of it. When we say lively, we mean that the
teeth for the time being usurp the functions OF
the tongue, and chatter as incessantly Jas beVy
of advanced spinsters at country tea party
The only sound that can equal it is Pete Motifs
race horse solo on the bones. The peculiar SEN
sation of the chill can be family initiated by sus'
pending cake of ice down your back by set
of pulleys, passing over the ears. Draw up the
cord so that the ice ascends the spinal column at
the rate of an inch per hour, and you have toll
erably good idea of "the chill" Of course it is
understood that the experiment is performed
when mercury stands at zero, and you stand up
| to your knees in snow bank. After lying in
| this condition, under the weight of six heavy
quilts-whch impart no warmth whateyer-you
have an interval of rest. Then comes the fever,
and you pass through the opposite extreme OF
heat. You imbibe gallon-more or less-of
lemonade, and then, worn out with the shake,
fall asleep. If you are in a cheap boarding
house, the landlady may, perhaps, send up the
servant, with request that you will "please
| get up and do your shaking on chair, as the
bed isn't accustomed to rough usage" Such
things have beeen done, and may be again. 1t
looks rather unfeeling, but is nothing to what is
endared upon waking from that sleep. Then
comes the misery of the ague. The excruciating
head ache, which still remains. is bad enough,
but not worse than the impotenoy of ones un-
derpinning, the limbs feeling as though every
kneepan had its bottom knocked out, and every
| tire-plug one met in the street was stuffed re-
ception- chair, will extended arms, imploring
you to be seated. Henceforth we shall never
wish our btterest enemy greater misery than
the ague. Compared to it, all other maladies
become mere whimseys.-North american.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22
POETRY.
ya the Editor of the Richmond Wig:

To the Editor of the Richnsond Whsg:
The following touching tribute to the memory
of his old home, was written by Mr.. Pike Pow
ers, lust before leaving Eastwood" near Staun
ton 70 reside in Halifax. Mr.. Powers Is wei
known in Virginia, as one OF her rlPest scholars
and as q teacher has no superior. Inc following
lines breathe forth the very soul OF Its apthor'
who is noted among his friends for his strong
attachment and deep-toned piety; r. WIS.
To MY Old Home.
Farewell dear home; thy cool and peaceful shades
No more shall soothe my spirits weary hours;
Beneath thy trees my children's feet no more
In happy play shall hallow thy green sod
Thy roses, watched by loving eyes SO long,
And trained by gentle hands so tenderly,
No more shall greet us with their vernal bloom,
And all our nursing and our care repay.
Strangers and pilgrims hers-we're passing on;
But if we scatter roses in our path,
To cheer some other way-worn traveller,
We have not wholly lost thee, dear old home.
Farewell, ye mountains with your changing forms'
Your varied hue; your shifting light and shades,
Now robed in gloom, now smiling in the sun,
Now sharply set against the evening sky,
Now foding in blue dimness. far away,
Like some fair vision of our childhood's dreams.
How often as I've gazed upon your tops,
Rising in solemn grandeur to the skies,
Have earthly toll and care been all forgot,
And calm and holy thought been raised to HIM
Who spread aloft the curtains of the sky,
And garnished earth with loveliness and liked
Upon their base the everlasting hills?
His tender mercies are Ger all His works;
His love is whispered in each passing breeze
And beams in every flower that decks the t1eid.
But what are mountains, flowers and peaceful shao'
To you, dear friends, with hearts so warm ana true
Whose gentle words and kindly deeds so Oft
Have cheered ifes darkening day, and smoothed II
path.
Alas alas but, my sad heart be still!
The same blue sky still bends above us all;
The same light gladdens, and the same pure air
Still cools each fevered brow, tho sundered far;
And the same Father, mercitul and good,
| Still spreads Ger all his overshadowing wing,
Still hears his childrens cry, supplies their wants,
| And binds them to each other and himself,
By ties which time nor change, nor death can break
Then Oh, my soul, cast every weight aside,
Each useless sorrow, and each vain regret,
And onward press up to our Fathers home,
That glorious home, with many mansions fair,
| Where Jesus, precious Master, Brother, Friend,
With spirits of the just made perfect dwells-
No sighng hearts, no failing hopes are there,
No sckening disappointment, nor despair,
No death. no tears, no partings, no regrets,
But life and love and peace eternal reign.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

A CLEVER IDEA OF HAM.-We have little
six.year.older at home, who is noted among our
friends and acquaintauoes for bis original and
precocious sayings.
The other day he broke out very aprlptly
with
ssFather what makes negroes blacka"
His father tried to explain the supposed rea'
SONS to suit his comprehension, and in the course
of his remarks said that they were descendants
of Ham, one of the sons Of Noah. George pom.
dered awhile, and at last frightening up, he said,
very gravely,
"Was it smoked ham, father2"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

A DECIDED SEIL.-A young man from the
country writes to complain that having seen
Fowler & Wells advertisement to the effect that
they had on exhibition ''the skulls of the most
noted men in the world" he went there aud
was disappointed in not finding the skulls of Ma
poleon Ill, Garibaldi, James Buchanan, Edward
Everett, Henry A. wise, E. Merriam, and Horace
Greeley.--Sat Press.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

ToorH.AouK REMEDy-As anything that will
relieve PAIN with which all are more Or less af-
ficted, should be made known, we take pleasure
in publishing the following remedy for tooth
ache, furnished by friend discovered by acci-
dent: Chloroform and Tannin, in the following
proportions, viz: Chloroform half ounce, Tannin,
80 grains. mixed. Saturate small piece of raw
cotton with the mixture, and place in tho cavity
Of the tooth, and instantaneous relief will be af-
forded.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

At Lynn the other day Sunday School teach
er asked little girl, who the first man was p
She answered that she did not know. The
question was then put to the next an Irish child
who answered" Adam, sir" with apparent
satisfaction. "La," said the first scholar, "you
need not feel so grand about it, he wasn't an
Irishmanln
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

A youth was lately leaving his aunt's house
after visit, when, finding it began to rain, he
caught up an umbrella that was snugy placed
in corner, and was proceeding to open it, when
the old lady, who for the first time observed his
movements, sprang towards him, exclaiming-
"No, no, that you never shall I've had that
umbrella twenty-three years, and it has never
been wet yet, and am sure it shant be wet
now !"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

81 say, landlord, that's dirty towel for q
man to wipe on
Landlord, with look of amazoment, replied
swell, you're mighty particular. Sixty OF
seventy of my boarders have wiped on that tow
el this morning, and you are the first one to find
fault.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

"Are you the matel" said an Irishuan ir
New Orleans to the cook of ship lying in port
mo" said he, "bnt I'm the man as boils the
mate"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

Many persons give US the dying words of great
men, but none of them are so touching and beau
tiful as the last words Of the schoolmaster: 'It
is growing dark-school may be dismissad."-
Down to the gates Of an unseen world he car
ried the love and regard of the children he had
trained. It was his last dismissal.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

OURIosrTIRs TRoH ATRIoA.-Mr. Paul du
Chaillu, of New York, moved by love and ad-
venture, has been hunting beasts and birds IL
Africa for the last tour years, and has returned
laden with spoils, part of which he is exhibit
ing. Among the novelties which he introduces
to the American public for the first time are sew
eral splendid specimens of the newly-discovered
race of Troglodytes known as Gorillas. These
creatures are exaggerated monkeys, and COM
bine the cunning and nimbeness OF the Sinniar
tribe, with the muscular power OF at least three
prize fighters. One of DR.. Chaillu's full-slzed
males would probably whip Sayers, Heenan, and
Morrissey all together The larger specimens
are about five feet five inches high, and ffty-twe
inches around the chest, with neck like bull's
and arms as thick asa mans thigh. They cal
fruit, but are furnished with very long and sharI
mandibes, like q squirrels or woodchuck's and
probably could tear flesh as easily as tiger
The general appearance of the Gorilla is that Of
a libeous caricatureI on mankind, and some
skeletons of the species exhibited in the same
collection, would be easily mistaken, on casual
inspection, for the framework of detormed hu
man beings Besides the Gorillas, OF which
there are several representatives old and young
Mr.. du Ohallu succeeded in "bagglng" some a.
miable monsters of the same genus, which he
claims to be new varieties, and which, by right
of discovery, he has bonored with the tough
names of ''Nschiego" ard 'Koolo Kamba." :,
The ''Nschiego" are the most intelligent OF all
three, and builds canopy Of boughs and leaves
in tree, and, squatting on broad branch be-
meath this SHELTER. defes the rain and the
scorching sun. 1t is to be regretted that
Mr.. du Ohaillu could not have brought his trog-
lodytes and his many other indescribable quad
rupeds and birds to hisoountry in living state
but that was utterly impossible, owing to the
scanty assistance he had from the natives, and
the great distance of bis hunting ground from
the sea coast. Although stuffed, they will be
objects OF great interest to naturalists because
most of them have never been seen in this coun,
try either in public or private collections, and
some of them are absolutely new to the most
complete geological or ornithological classlnca-
tions. The Philadelphia Academy OF Natural
Sciences, under whose auspices Mr.. du Ohaiilu
made his expedition, are enchanted at the
wealth of new birds which he has brought home
with him, and have purchased from him, at hlgl
prices, specimen of every bird in his possess
sion. They are of all sizes, from the little bee
killer (the humming bird being unknown IN Al
rioa) to the towering crane, and and are distln
gushed by the gay colors of the tropical world
Journal Of Commerce..
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22
FOR NEW YORK.


11HE New York and Virginia Screw Steamship
i Company's new and FIRST CLASS STEAM
Err, ''h1T. VERNON viii leave New York eve
ry Saturday afternoon at o'clock arriving at Alexan-
ds about 10 o'clock on Monday.
Returning she will leave Alexandria every Wed
nesdsy at o'clock p. NJ. IN time to receive passen-
gers arriving by the trains of the o. A. and Manassa
Gap Rail Roads.
Accommodations for passengers are first class il
every respect.
Passage including Meals. $3.50
N. B.-Shippers will please note that this is THY
ONLY DIREcr LINE of Steamers between this port ane
New York.
A commodious Depot has been erected on the Com
panys Wharf, through which the Railroad track ha
been laid that goods by this line can be received
at all times and shipped without regard to weather
and without expense of drayage, &c.
No commission charged for forwarding.
Insurance effected on all goods, if desired) at Ss
premium.
For freight or passage apply to
F0WLE Il co. AGENTS Alexandria,
II. r. CR( AWEIL Il co. Ae'Ts, Y.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

The love that has naught but beauty to keep
it in good condition, is short.lived, and subject
to shivering fits.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22

Down East there resides certain NJ. D. One
very cold night, he was reused from his slum.
bers by very loud knocking at the door. AT
ter some hesitation, he went to the window and
asked
"Who's there2"
ga friend"
"What do you wanti"
ITO stay here all night"
"Stay there, then," was the benevolent reply.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22
gtauntplr Spettator.
JOS. A. WADDELL, ,.,r,.,o,,-
l.. WADDELL, Jr., Froprie'ors'
RICHARD MAUZ1s
TERMS.

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