davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22
The Responsibility Of Voting.

There never was time perhaps, in the
history of our State or County, when SO
much responsibility rested upon the exercise
of the elective franchise as at the coming Oc-
tober election. This responsibility is shared
by both the Republican and Democratic par
ties, and it should be a question of grave
consideration for every member of either
party, before he casts his vote, how far that
vote may effect the interests, not only of our
County and State, but of the Nation. The
Gate City. Keokuk, puts the case in strong
and forcible light, as follows rrr-
"a single vote in this county or some sther
county in the State may elect single men,
ber of the Legislature, whose single vote may
decide the political character Of that branch
of the Legislature, and thereby decide who
shall be United States Senator for six years.
And that United States Senator may in
course decide during the next Presidential
term the political character of the United
States Senate by his VOTE And if such a
series of events should occur,f Pit is evident that
a single vote might not only decide the des-
tiny of the Republican party, but might even
seal the fate of the country. ..Ll..
We hold that there is sufficient proba-
bilty of one or all these events involved in
the coming election to demand of every pa
triot ard honest man careful consideration
the responsibility which rests upon him,
not only for his exertions and influence, but
for the casting of his single vote on. the day
of election. No more indifference, no old
time prejudice nor personal dislike will avail
before the bar of conscience or the bar of God
as justification ofa vote cast, or vote with
held, where ultimate consequences so numer-
Gus depend on the issue Of the election"
We commend the above to the candid
consideration, especially of the Republicans
of this County. With harmony in your
ranks you have the power to secure proper
expression of your views in the Legislature
next winter. Bot if, because you have not
secured the candidate you could have desir-
ed, OF because they are not the best perhaps
that might have been nominated, you per-
NIT your votes to remain at home or to be
diverted to third party, you stand chance
of having representative that will report
the very opposition Of your views by their
votes and acts, and work irreparable injury
to your party. It's for you to decide, wheth-
err you will permit this, or choose the lesser
evil of having your Die,cs, if not so ably as
YOU could desire yet correctly and consci-
entiously represented. The case needs no
labored argument to make it comprehensive
And the responsibility involved. commends
it to the careful consideration of conscientious
voters. Washington Towa) Press.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

"MIND YOUR Ps AND Q's"-The origin of
this phrase is not generally known. In ale
houses, where chalk scores We're formerly
marked upon the wall or behind the door of
the tap room, it was customary to put those
initial letters at the head of every mans &C.
count, to show the number of pints and
quarts for which he is in arrears; and we
may presume many a friendly rustic to have
tapped his shoulder, when he was ndulging
too freely in his potations, and to have ex-
claimed as he pointed to the score, '.Giles!
Giles. mind your P's and Q's."
When Toby, the ''learned pig" was in the
zenith his popularity, a theatrical wag, who
attended the performance, maliciously set
some peas-a temptation which the animal
could not resist, and which caused him i'm.
mediately.to lose his cue The pig exhibit
or demonstrated with the author of the mis-
chief uron the unfairness of what he had
done. 81 only wished" said the wag.
''to see fToby minded his Ps and Q's.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

A WORD FOR 'IrExs'-Mr. Beecher saws
of the column Of Items in newspapers, that
it is worth more than all the small fry Of cor
respondents, with an editor thrown in, to
boot. Like cavern it stretches along in col
umns, with packages and parcels, spices Of
gems, bits of fragrance or cunningly wrought
metals, gathered from the Orient and from
the whole world besides The items of the pa
per, like the stuliing of a Thanksgiving tur-
key, represent everything in the house, crusts
Of bread, Crackers and allspice."
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22
The Decline of Races.

Much his been said OF late about the inhe-
rent force ofraces. The Anglo Saxon boasts
his blood, and claims supremacy over human
ity, appealing proudly to his career of con-
quest in both hemispheres, while the North
American Indian and the Mexican fade before
his progress, as the leaves of the last of the
saason are exterminated by the opening buds
Of to-day. The disturbance of such compla
cancy would be an ungrncious task, and, in
deed, there Is strong showing nits support;
but it behooves the dominant race to search
after the source of their strength, lest, like
Samson, they be shorn of their locks and
compelled to grind in the mill of the Phis-
tines. ff..agae.t ID ........... ...E ra .s......
The earliest allusion to the Germanic ne y
pie in the annals of history describe them as
barbarians possessing the singular grace of
chastity. They, in that ancient day, aston
ished the Romans by their reverence for wo-
men and ministers of their religion were
priestesses. Divorce was hardly known among
them, and adultery and fornication were cap
ital otfenses. This was the race which CON
quored the Roman after his thousand years
OF imperial dominion, when he had sunk in
the mre of debauchery. The Anglo Saxons,
who exterminated the lewd and savage Brit
tons, were branch of the family, and held
the martial rights in such esteem that they
compelled the adultress to select between
suicide or death by torture; then, burning
her body to ashes, executing upon the spot
her partner in guilt The race originated
the chivalry Of the middle ages, with its de-
votions to the female sex, wreathing in its
crowns the laurel and the lily of chastity
Hence sprung the Puutdns and the English
Home, and our Pilgrim Fathers. The hi
ding of power in the race is CHASTITY. This
endows our blood with the royal preoga-
tive whichmasters others through its infusion
either extinguishing, or combining and
elevating. When, however, the virtue that
has conferred manly vigor is polluted when
the cacdliere serraate of the Italian becomes
an attendant upon our wives; when the
laxity of French morals governs our legisa-
ton; when fornication is protected and adu-
terry unpunished; when the faithless spouse
is pitied but not ondemned-Samson has
fallen into the embrce of Delilah, and his
locks are shorn. The nation will awake from
the debanch captive, whose doom can be
read IN the silent streets of Pompeii, and
among the ruins Of the Coliseum Ne.o
Highlander. e
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

They SHALL OBTAIN MERCY. Ifyou find
a man to complain of the coldness Of the
world, be sure you will find that he has never
brought anything into the world to warm it,
but is personal lump of ice set in the mids,
of it. IT, you find a man who complains that
the world is all base and hollow, be sure
there is something wrong with him. And SO
in the other way, kind man will find kind
ness everywhere about him. The mercifu
man, as general thing, viii obtain mercy
He who has always had kind excuse fol
others who has looked at the brig test side
of the case; he who has rendered his pardon
and his help whenever he could, who has
never brought his fellow-man into any strait
by reason of not helping him, will find tina,
the mercy which he has bestowed flows back
upon him in full and spontaneous spring.
He will make merciful world by the mercy
he himself shows.-Reo. f. IT. Chapin.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22
A Most Excellent thing i'm WO.
man.

There is one part of woman's education
often forgotten or neglected the culture and
formation Of Y ntle voice. 1t is a grea.
gift of nature to b, aided by culture-an in.
strument ofpoweful influence for good
speak not of singing hymns, now, and the
cultude of harmony for musical purposes
though these tend TO Gods praise or to give
innocent anusement-but this gentle voice
viii be able 70 guide and persuade to good
the manly heart Of a faithful husband-wil
mitigate sorrow, lesson trial, and speak o.
hope and JOY to her dearest friend andconnec
tions, in acc ,nts at once powerful and pleas
ing Let Us then he careful in our schools tt
cultivate this most valuable requirement =
How different in all respects, to family
and for friends and neighbors, are the kind
gentle, persuasive accents have described,
from the sound we sometimes { alas! too Of
ten) hear in the close abodes of poverty and
trial-high, harsh, female treble tones of bit
ter import-scoldin, and reproaching and
driving away from the hearth and home
(perhaps to sorrow and to sin)the husband
and the children
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

Music.-There is something very wonder
tul in music. Words are wonderful enough;
but music is even more wonderful. 1t speaks
not to our thoughts as words dot speaks
straight to our hearts and spirits, to the
very core and root ofou soul Music sooths
US. stirs us up i; itputs noble feelings into
us; it melts US to tears we know not how;
1t is language by itself, just as divine, just
as bleSsed.-KingsIey's SerD7oas
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22
"reminiscences Of Daniel web.
... ....... SfRr .... .... g.. .........

The following conversation occurred at the
dinner table where Mr.. Webster for the first
time met Col. Preston, then new Senator
from South, Carolina. Colonel Preston, -
said the great Massachusetts, lawyer, in his
stateliest manner, 81 am happy to greet yon
as member of the body to which have
the pride and honor to belong, but regret
to see that Southern gentlemen so often
stand aloof from me-" Mr.. Preston
answered in polite and deferential terms
when the other continued: 1.-THE truth is,
| am far more Southern man than North
ern man, and think that I should be trea-
ted as hail fellow by all my Southern col
leagues" "May I beg to know" said the
other, the grounds upon which you make
this claim ~ Certainly" replied Mr.. Web
ster. "In the first place. am very fond of
horse race, and believe The turf is South
ern institution. Secondly, l have in my
cellar hundred dozen ofthe best wine, un-
paid for, and that understand to be "a trait
of Southern life Thirdly, before daylight
shall be under TIE table, and suppose YOU
are willing to admit this to be characteristic
Of Southerners." Enough" shouted the
other, LAUGHING, you have vindicated your
claim to be my compatriot" ...-.....
Some of my readers will recollect the ex-
quisite manner in which Mr.. Webster used
to relate the following: One night before
railroads were built, he was forced to make
ajourney by private conveyance from Bal
timoie to Washington. The man who drove
the wagon was such an Unlocking fellow, and
told so many stories of robberies, and mur-
ders, that before they had gone far Mr.. Web
ster was somewhat alarmed At last the
wagon stopped in the midst of dense wood,
when the man turned suddenly round to
his passenger, exclaiming fiercely: snow,
sir tell me who you are" Mr.. Webster re-
piled in a faltering voice, and ready to spring
from the vehicle, II am Daniel Webster,
Member of Congress from Massachusetts,"
"What y rejoined the driver, grasping him
warmly by the hand, ''are Won Webster ?
Thank God thank Col! You are such an
ugly chap that took YOU for highway
man" ."-1Hilbuy.a's "reminiscences.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

A SchoolmaSter, as apuniShment to one
of his pupils for swearing, ordered him to
take pair Of tongs aud watch hole in the
hearth until he had caught mouse. The
boy took the tongs and domureiy waited fol
the visitor. Directly after. he saw mouse
peeping out ofthe hole. cautiosly placing q
leg Of the tongs on either side of the hole, h
grasped the mouse, and triumphantly swing
ing it aloft exclaimed-"By Cd, rv,
got him r.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

The Richmond Enquirer ofSept. 7 says:
"Mr Douglas essay can be regarded in no
other light than as an incendiary document,
calculated to produce nothing less than .
repetition Of the anarchy and bloodshed
which has lately disgraced the soil Of our
Territories. We publish it only for the pur.
pose of pointing out its errors, and of warn
ing the conservative men of the whole coun-
try against this last and most dangerous
phase which Anti-Slavery agitation has yet
assumed
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22
Who Will Move the Crops Z
A correspondent ofthe Terre Haute Und.
Erpress, writing from this city throws some
light on this vexed question .t

A correspondent ofthe Terre Haute Ind.
Erpress, writing from this city throws some
light on this vexed question d.
Here is lady No. !, with ten acres ofwheat
gracefully thrown around her person-twelve
bushels to the acre. Ten times twelve are
one hundred and twenty, at eighty cents a
bushel: 120xs0-s96.
Lady No. 2, toddles under four tons o.
hay at seven dollars and a half per ton =
4x7.5o-s3O. She stands erect, as stiffiy
as see Norwegian women every day with a
load of kindling wood on their heads.
Lady No. sweeps the path and the cir.
cumiacent dog fennel with train in which i:
exhibited one yoke of steers at $45-$9O.
Lady No. A is enrobed in twenty acres OF
corn, forty bushels to the acre and wortl
thirty cents a bushel: s0ox30-S24O.
Lady No. has mule colt suspended
from each ear, at $15-$3O.
Gentleman No. ] wears in his fob span
of matched bays $500.
Gentleman No. studs his shirt bosom
with three hogsheads Of tobacco, and is oiled
and perfumed with six bushels of onions.
Gentleman No. 8 gets fuddled on l cwt
of hemp, begins dinner with dessert and eats
up to fish.
Gentleman No. 4 flourishes cue, and bu.
sizes himself from morning until night, and
from night until morning with bagging a
splendid crop of wheat-in the pockets of a
billiard table.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

BEARS In WISCONSIN, The long dry
spell has driven the bears from the woods in
to the settlements In several directions
near here, they exhibit themselves daily and
and afford fine opportunities to hunters
On Thursday, worthy City Treasurer,
Henry Boiling, who is on hunting expedi-
ton up north with Eastern friends, sent down
a bear which he or they laid out, and which
weighed about 200 fts.-Portags City Bod.
ger State. m
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

An ANCIENT Bins NEsr-The Hereford
journal, in an article on the Hereford Catne
dral restoration, says:
A curious little discovery was made when
opening part Of the Norman arcade in tn,
western wall, adjoining the large fifteenth
century window. On removing some ashle,
of that period, the remains ofa birds nes,
We're found, and a perfect egg remaining
This is preserved as a curiosity, as it must bt
45o years old, and perhaps older still, bu
how much we cannot venture TO guess.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

A Louisiana paper in recording the death
hy lightning Of two likely negro men,"
says: 1.-The electric fluid Of the clouds
seems to be no rcspecter ef persons. 1t
would as soon kill negro worth fifteen
hundred or two thousand dollars as u " poor
white man" not worth the powder and lead
that it would take to blow his brains out"
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

Near Jacksonville, ILL.,, on Sunday, Aug.
2sd, a lad named Carter, about twelve years
ofase, took up a gun, when was sitting in
the corner Of the room, and play fully pointed
it at his little sister, SOME three years old.
Unfortunately the gun was loaded and the
contents We're discharged into her body,
mangling her horribly, and killing her al
most instantly. @
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

A little paper called +" The Spy" at Cleave-
land, Ohio, is edited by ayoung lady, who
in the personal column, spied so closely into
the affairs of a Young gentleman Of that city,
that he declared war, went to her sanctum,
and demolished her fixtures and printing
press in toto, throwing the latter out Of the
window Spunky fellow, that
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

Gov. Wise boasted in Congress few
years ago that there was not single newspa
per in his district He evidently rejoiced thai
his constituents couldn't read. Now don't he
wish that himself couldn't write?-Lou Jour
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

SINGULAR CHANGE OF NAMH.-The history
of the Democratic party, says the Boston
Traveller, can be read in the name Of its chic.
organ. AT first it was the Globe, aud con
cerned itself with the welfare of universal
humanity. Then it became the Union, and
devoted itself only to the U. S. Now it i.
the Constitution, which is interpreted MS to
leave more than one-half the country out O
the consideration of the Government 1t.
next name will probably be the Administers
ton, when it will have to make but one more
change to become extinct like its namesake
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

Tue GREAT EAsrERN.-A letter received
in Portland by one Of the directors of the
Css--a rh...-- = ~
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

Domestic rule is founded upon truth and
love. If It has not both of these, it il moth
ing better than desnotism
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

A poet says: Oh, she was fair, but sor-
row came and left his traces there."- What
became ofthe balance of the harness he don't
etota
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

The lovers of the pathetic will admire the
following:
Oh wake the wind sighs low, ny love, .st .r
The vale sleeps low in mist
Oh wakei my heart is woe, my love,
Till ye arise AID list.
'Tis something like mile, my love,
I've dashed through damp and dew,
Ger hedge-row, ditch, and ste, my love, ..,
With tender song for you. ..s..........
So wake: for well you know, my love, .-
My temper $ none the best, E. ..5ar.
And as to pdtience, oh my love, .ia
cannot say I'm blest.
The clock Is striking one my love,
Low hangs The dew filed cup;
My song will soon be done, my love,
So up fond lady, up!
What sleep ye vet soundly, love,
s -e- You jade, you wont you rises
While here slng-confound you, love ID.
To beetles, gnats and flies.
Well, then, from high grass now, my love,
MY exit will make, ..t.stsg s-fY
+. Yet FIRST through sash and glass, my love, %
This gentle b,icIbat take!
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22
BY MARY Z. CLARKE.

'She is woman, that is enough to make
me dislike her" IN d as
The words fell upon my ear, as lay Just
waking from my afternoon nap, upon my sofa
ssHoraca ~
Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-17
CITY & NEWS ITEMS.
THURSDAY MORNING, MAR. IL, 1859

THE MAsQUERADE.-The party at Chapin's Hall
last night was quite numerously attended by mas
queraders, and the gallery was crowded to excess
The managers were compelled to refuse admit.
tance tc large numbers. The crowd in the galleries
was so large that fears were entertained that it
would give way. Additional iron posts were
placed under the gallery, which undoubtedly pre-
vent shocking catastrophe
We have neither time nor space to more than
mention the principal characters which struck our
attention. Among the most noticeable in the
comic line was Miss A A, as Aunt Lizzy, all
the way from Vermont. Miss NJ J. W, as the
Evening Star, was indeed star, and attracted all
eyes. Miss S. H, as Night, was fine per-
sonatiOn. Miss C. s. personated the Red
Rovers Bride, and Miss c. the Pirates Bride.
Miss NJ. ]. NJ, as the Morning Star, was pretti-
iy dressed. Miss L. H. c., as the Gipsey
Queen, was dressed with much taste Miss F.
NJ appeared as the Goddess of Liberty, ard
Miss S. c., as the Swiss Peasant Girl Miss \.
q. A., as the Turkish Slave, was in beautiful cos
tune, and was the attraction to which all eyes
turned. Nils G. s., as Pocahontas; Miss S. E.
K, as the Flower Girl; Miss G. H in her
riding dress; Miss H. A. H, French Peasant;
Miss J. b, washerwoman; Miss W as q
Dutch girl; Mrs. c. as the Lady of the Lake;
Miss x as Quakress; Miss W as an old
woman; Mrs. T, Pastry Cook; Miss H as
Jemima; Miss G. E, as Daughter of the Regi.
ment; Miss NJ. B, as Sheperdess, each and
all, in their several parts, acted to perfection.
Among the gentlemen, Mr.. S. c., as tre-
mendous Shanghai, would have put to shame the
crow of any barn yard fowl in the country n. s.
W took the character of Julius Caesar; H W.
P Chimney Sweep; C. c. took the ancient
character of Son of Malta; E. P, of the
Dutch Military, company which made their ap-
pearance on the floor, and went through their
drill The evening was one of gaiety and enjoy
ment, every one going in for the greatest amount
of fun.
Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-17

ODD Fellows CELEBRATIoN-NATIoN AN
NIVERsARY.-An adjourned meeting of the com.
mittee for making arrangements to celebrate the
26th Of April, was held last evening, and the live
lest enthusiasm appeared to be exhibited on the
part of all to make the coming anniversary mem
orable day. each of the eleven Lodges in t1e coun-
ty was fully represented except one, and every
Lodge had adopted the plan set forth by the COM
mittee at its last meeting Entire Lodges will be re-.
presented in the procession, and from present ind.
cation the brethren of the mystic tie will have a
day long to be remembered. The committee ad-
ded to their programme the luxury of public
dinner, to be had Immediately after the procession
and Grafton exercises are concluded.
As the subordinate committees are now fully or
ganized the plan will soon be given to the public.
Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-17

[a.l KBtoQ B or K Kt TO B are equally
good. In the late match between Horphy and
Andersen, MOrphy defended to Q Kt with P
toQRa
Gb.l Generally considered stronger than to
Q3.
(c.l Very well played; this move Wrests the at
tack from Cleveland and the Detroit players pre-
serve their advantage in a very pretty style.
i'd Cleverly conceived; the defence cannot
now take the pawn without losing piece.
[e.l Better to have played P to ORA.
III The attack cannot prevent the loss of q
pawn
[g.1 A lost move
[h.I Should have played to Q Kt and then
PtoQR4.
III The key move of an ingenious combination
to draw the game.
III All this is finely played.
[k.l And Cleveland had sure drawn game
~ A sad mistake; the bishop was taken with
the idea that if Rook retakes, K takes Kt P, and
then K or Kt would have taken p The Cleve-
landers overlooking the check at Kt winning
the Kt.
Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-17

e The Scow June left this harbor yesterday
for Port Clinton with few barrels of -four; also
the scow EroIie for St. Clair with 20 tons of Fire
Brick.
Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-17

THE PROMISING YoUTH.-A friend says that
the asprant for favor introduced to our readers
yesterday morning under the above cognoman,
should be photographed as a type of Young Amer
lea. His teacher we think exhibited firm exam
pie Of self possession under difficulties. He must be
made of sterner stuff than some of us.
Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-17

@-The funeral of Miss Smith, whose sudden
decease was noticed in the Leader of yesterday,
will take place from the residence of her father on
the corner of Euclid and Perry streets, at 10
O'Clock this morning.