davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11
THE SERF QUESTION IN RUSSIA.
The following letter is from an American


ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. ~, 1893.
The serf question in Russia is one not 80
easily disposed OF as the newspaper para
gT-phs wou'o ieao one 10 suppose. Imagine,
for moment, lhe real dlinculWes IN the way
Of the measure wien YOU come to consider
the vast interests at stake. TO change the
social, the political, the domestic duties and
relations OF such a numerous population, can
not be accomplished in day, nay, ia gen.
sraiioB il must be the work Of time, gradual,
slow aud steady, to be sure.
The cony ocation Of MOBILES now sitting at
st. Petersburg to deliberate upon the serf
question have a very serious work before
them, and do what they may, propose what
they may, or let the wish of the Gar he what
1t may, they will not make much progress,
except apon paper, as yet.
II is not the question of the freedom Of the
serf alone which has to be settled, but with
that question must be adjusted the tenure of
the lands, the rights of the communes, the
new status of the serf, new mode of taxa.
ton. In word, chaos must coue agsia OF
of which order mas. spring iustaRtlxs ~ ,son-
sequences the most dire will ensue. II
One very significant argument is already,
advanced by the ssrf-he says:-'Bs sure, I
belong to master, but the land belongs to
me. Why? Because our master cannot sell
us from the land without our CONSENT there
fore the land belongs to us. Consequently,
ii the Lord (Cza) ibera.es us, the land re-
mains with us; we cannot be separated with
out our consent. Again, the land pays no
tax, but we pay the tax for the land, and
therefore il is ours
Now, this argument is conclusive to the
scrf: lie takes lis stand upon it and will be-
knrd To move from time immemorial the land
has been divided and allotted to families per
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

HEAT FROM THE STARs.-Doctor lardner
saws ut is u startling fact, that if the earth
were dependent alone upon the sun for heat,
it would not get enough to make the exis
tence Of. animal and vegetable life upon its
surface. 1t results from the researches OF
Pouilet, that the stars furnish heat enough in
the course of year to melt n crust Of ice
seventy-fve feet ihick-almost ms much rs is
supplied by the sun. This may appear strange
when we consider how immeasurab,y small
mus, be the amount Of heat received from any
one Of these distant bodies. But the surprise
vanishes, when We remember that the whol,
frmament 10 so lhiekly sown with stars, ths
in me.places thousands are crowded to
gether within space no greater than tha
! occupied by the full MOON"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

AN OLD MANS ADvIcE.-The Rev. Daniel
Waldo, late chaplain TO Congress, says :-"l
nm now m old man. have seen nearly q
century. Do you want to know how TO grow
old slowly and happily! Let ms tell YOU
Always eat sowly-masticate well. Go to
your food, to your rest, to your occupations
smiling Keep good nature and a soft tenn
per everywhere. Never give way TO anger
Cultivate good memory and to do ths you
must always be communicative; repeat what
YOU have read; talk about it. DR.. Johnson's
great memory was owing to his communica-
tiveness. You, young men, who are Just
leaving college, let me advise you to choose
profession in which you can exercise your
talent tho best, and at the same time be
honest"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

a MIsNoMER.--On one of the Hudson
River Railroad cars was box tabled "Gried
apples" The baggage master thinking il
uoo heavy for the bulk of dried apples, ex-
amined it. metallic coffin was found,
which was claimed by man who said it
held the remains of his grandchild, and that
the box was so marked to secure n ready
Transportation. This is not n solitary case,
Dead bodies are often labeled as food, and
sent thus all over the country.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11
Too TRUE FOR JoKE.-The story is,

Too TRUE FOR JoKE.-The story is
"Tommy my son." said fond mother,
"do you say your prayers night and morning?"
ayes, that is at nights, but any smart boy
can take care Of himself in the day."
Alas how many of us are prone to forget
God in prosperity, and to think of Him in
adversely. When the sun shines we walk
thoughtlessy of His Providence; but in the
dark night how glad we nre to take hold of
His guiding hand.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

tg- Josh was brought before a country
squire for stealing hog, andlthree Witnesses
being examined swore they saw him steal it.
A wag having volunteered rs counsel for
Josh, knowing the scope of the squires
brain, arose and addressed him as follows;
"Nlny it please your honor, can establish
this mans honesty beyond shadow of a
doubt; for have twelve witnesses ready to
swear they did see him steal H." The squire
rested his head for few moments upon his
hand, as if in deep thought, and then with
great dignity arose, and brushing back his
hair said: "lf there are twelve men who did
not see him steal it and only taree that did,
| discharge the prisoner. He is innoeent!-
Twelve to three! Clear the room"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11
THE POST.
ATHENS, FRIDAY, FEB. II, 1880.
Passenger ana Naii schedule
rAsr rryNEssEE AND GEORGIA RAIL ROAD.

s5y- The ladies of Havana have forward
cd an address to Queen Isabella, protesting
against the sale of the Queen of the Antilles
to the United States. They "desire to die
under the glorious flag which they ssluted at
their birth; and that the Island of Cuba, the
first American land discovered by Christie
pher Columbus, shall remain to the nst unit.
ed to the crown of Spain, sirco her sons are
Spanish by birth and feeling"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

s-9y- Gen. Qnitman attributed the cause
of his decline, up to the last moment of his
life, to poison, administered to him in the
shape of arsenic while resident OF the Ma
tonnl Hotel, at Washington. He used to
assert that it was mixed up with the sugar,
and substantiated this by the fact that du-
ring the entire term Of the malady, which
afterwards assumed the name OF the hotel,
no person was taken i'll who reirained from
the use of that article.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

ALLEGED CoRRuPrIoN.-'rh New York
Times Washington correspondence says:-
The charges upon which Mr.. Sherman yes
terday claimed committee Of investigation,
are specified aud very serious. Corruption
is distinctly charged on the awards of ma
chnery contracts, and it is farther charged
that certain member of Congress had re-
ceived $500 for influencing contract. AZ.
fidavits from different parties declare that
they have been obliged to pay per centage
of their wages to the master mechanics o
the New York Navy Yard, to get employ
ment-N O, Bulletin ..
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

tg- The Washington correspondent Of
the Baltimore Patriot relates the following
anecdote of Senator Chesnut's wife, which
furnishes n happy instance of n graceful re-
cogniton. Fifteen years ago, Major H.,
who was fellow-passenger with Mr.. Ches-
nut and his wife on homeward bound Eu-
ropean packet, began the recital of story to
them, in which he was interrupted, and, no
opportunity occurring for its conclusion be-
fore the termination of their passage, the
voyagers became separated Mt New York, and
remained so until day or two ago, when the
Major waited upon his former ncqnaintonces
to welcome them to Washington. The first
greetings over, Mrs. Chestnut, with n smile of
pleasant expectation, said snow Major
IL, pray relate us the remainder Of that
| story"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

CoURTISG BY TELEGRAPH.-A certain
young man whom we shall call Smith, was
employed ut an office on the National Line
In the course of business he ascertained that
the person having charge of II station in n
small town some seventy miles distant, was
young lady, and that her name was Sarah.
Forthwith, in the interval Of leisures, flashed
over the wires this message.
"Ay name is Smth-fiow old are you?"
10 which the answer was promptly re-
turned:
"Nly name is Sarall-None Of your 'busi-
ness !"
The next one runs thus:
81 am not married-What are you worth!''
"Worth million"
As u climax the youth replied:
"Will you marry mes"
The answer was "yes;' and in four months
they were married.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

ltY- A story is told by Canadian paper
of u Mr.. Castor, who was Standing beneath
u trap door, when sack o! wheat fell
from an upper story directly upon his head,
dislocating his neck! lie immediately raised
up his hands, and pulled itback into place,
ms the workma who "hsard the bones snap
again into their sockets" will swear! Mr..
CASTOR is supposed to be aswel US ever.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

.- When lvcrson, of Georgia, made his
late foolish disunion speech. Seward was set.
ting before him, and at the close of the
speech, shook the southern Senator warmly
by the hand, and congratulated him upon his
eloquent effort. The two Senators then had
laugh at the game they were playing to
gull the poor fools, of both sections, who
cannot discriminate between wise patriot
ism and the trickery Of politicians who talk
treason in order to win popularity. And
whilst lverson was making the aforesaid
speech, Toombs said to some gentleman near
him :-"lverson hasn't read up the markets
The price Of negroes has gone up. am 20.
ing to remain in the Union, and rather think
Georgia will too" Thus ii will be seen thai
whilst the simple sovereigns are trembling
for the fate of the Union, the disunionists OF
both sections, in Congress, are making merry
over their own niamon, tfckery, and laugh
ing at the fools who think them seriously de
Tending sectional interests when their sole
motive is to advance themselves ut home
ClarkSpiLle Chronicle
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11
whom there is no appeal, declares "vengeance
Is mine, will repay. saith the Lord"

uOther sins only speak, murder shrieks out
The element OF water moistens the earth, .
But blood 2ies upwards and bedews the heavens"
Even though the crime has no record save
in the breast of the guilty man, TO him, all
nature seems TO rise in witness of the deed,
the breezes bear the tale as they sigh softly
by, the act appears written and blazoned
forth on onch glittering sunbeam, the solemn
midnight finds an accusing voice, and the ra-
diant stars that fall with such hallowed glenn
on the upturned countenance Of innocence
and purity, nre 10 him as so many blazing
eyes revealing the innermost recesses of his
polluted soul. He sleeps, bat starts in pale
alright as in fancy hears his victims dying
groan he walks abroad, and men SEQ him
alone, but he shrinks and cringos with hor-
ror, for a pale face haunts him; he feels u
cold, ,constraining hand, hears TO otsteps, which
he imngines must be tracked in blood, ever
on his course. Miserable being, who, daily
dies thousand deaths, yet breads darker,
an eternal one to come! Though Justice
delay to strike-though the vengeance Of
man sleep and -tnrry, he cannot escape One
whose eye looks Creation through, and from
the Throne which Justice and Righteousness
make their habitation, asserts that "Though
hand join in hand, tho wicked shall not 90
unpublished" ZIoLA.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

s9y- A puncluaI man is very rarely poor
man, and never man of doubtful credit
His small accounts are frequently settled,
and he never meets with n difficulty in rails
ing money to pay largo demands. Small
debts ne elected ruin credit, and when a man
has los. that he will find himself ut the bot
tom of Il hill he cannot ascend.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

For THE LEGlsLATURE.-The Carroll Pa
triot, Of the 9th ult, announces Il. ~ Will
liams, ESQ.,, rs n candidate to represent Car
roll County in the neAt legislature.
The same paper announces John McDou-
pald, of Gibson county, as II candidate for
joint representative from the counties OF
Henry, Carroll, Gibson and Madison.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

e4S- Mr.. George Melius, the manager Of
the Louisville Theatre, suggests that the
managers of all the Theatres throughout
the country shall set apart the 22d of Feb
ruary inst, for the benefit of the Mount Ver-
non Association. The idea is a first rate
one, and We hope it will be universally adOp-
ted .....
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

s4y- a writer in the Chattanooga Gazette,
proposes Col. II. B. Brabson, as n suitable
person to be run for Governor, by the Oppo-
silion, at tho approaching election. The
same writer also suggests A. G. Welker
ESQ, MS The candidate for Congress, in this
District,
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

Nep York, Jan. 26.-The steamship Hi
nois has arrived from Aspnwall, with dates
from that port to the 29th ult She brings
the California mails, and one million two
hundred thousand dollars in treasure. Her
Pacific news is generally anticipated
California business was dull, but the min
ing news was favorable. H.I
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

RICH CARGo.-A steam boat arrived a few
days ago at our wharf, from the Red River,
with large party of gentlemen and ladies
from the northwestern parishes, who are visit
ing our city for pleasure and amusement-
Among them were eight widows, whose ag.
gregate wealth amounted to hve millions Of
dollars. One of the said ladies Is the owner
of six hundred slaves, and the other makss .
crop of three thousand bales of cotton.
| Netp Orleans Della.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

rY~ Mrs. Russell and James Hilton were
arrested in Chicago last week, for indulging
in hugging and kissing in the street. The
woman being the aggressor, was fined $40,
and the man So.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

QUANTITY OF BLOOD IN A HoRsE.-lf We
assume the weight of horse to be twelve
hundred pounds says the American Veterina.
ry Journal, the whole quantity of blood will
amount to eighty-four quarts or one huRdred
and sixty EIGHT pounds, of which about forty
five quarts, or ninety pounds, will flow from
the iugular vein previous to death; although
the loss Of much smaller quantity will
sometimes deprive the animal of life.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

sag- Internal mprovements-Taking to
good beef steak instead of bad whisky.
e-ss- There is Yankee whose nose is so
sharp that after using pocket handkerchief
for week, il is full of holos.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

:AY- There is n gentleman in New Or
leans, merchant and II planter, and, we re-
gret to add, bachelor, whose income this
year viii! reach the handsome sum OF five
hundred thousand dollars, who twenty.four
years ago, was clerk with salary of fifty
dollars n month.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11


THE New BILL OF ABoMlNArIoss.---Ac cor.
respondent of the New York Journal of
Commerce thus describes the Pension bill
which recently passed the House Of Repre-
senta,ives:
Tho new Pension Act, is more objectiona-
BILE than any previous one of the sort. PEN
sions are granted by it to men who have be-
fore had full pay, and bounties in money aud
in land. Pensions are granted by it not for
long service, as in the case of revolutionary
soldiers, but'of merely nominal service for
six months. Pensions are granted by it TO
all who were accidentally in or near place
where powder was burnt, even for one day
or hour. BY construction Of the Pension
Office, heretofore all who were called out in
expectation of battle, are to be considered
us having been in battle.
But, even without any forced construction,
the new Pension bill will require an expendi-
ture from the Treasury of, as some estimate,
from fifteen to twenty millions year.
THIS mons,rous bill passed the House by
such a vote, as will warrant the supposillon
that it could be passed over the Executive
veto. Who knows that the same influences
that prevailed in the House, will not govern
the Senate? Would they not govern n
President, too, were he candidate for re-
election
The House has in this act been Influenced
by II fear of popular displcasure, md members
have admitted that they would not be re-
elected, if they voted against the sold sol
der's" bill. So, the source of the evil is with
the people and the sold soldiers" themselves
and the fact is not fattering to the good
sense OF the people, or the patriotism OF the
sold soldiers" 1t shows that the former are
led by humbug, and the latter by cupidity.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

s4s- The Chicago Press says that young
lady, now sewing girl in that city, has re-.
ccived letter from an uncle in New York,
stating that herself and two unces in New
York had fallen equal heirs to the comforta-
Sle sum of E27,OoO,oOo, or about Sl35,OOO,.
900, by the recent death of an uncle at Call
cutta, India, where he had accumulated his
immense fortune in mercantile pursuits.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

ENGLISH LAw.-Lord Campbell says it is
law in England, that jury who cannot
agree "may be locked up during the session
of court, and then carried in cart to the
borders Of the next county, and there shot
into ditch"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

Leg The New York Independent says, If
it were publishing failures as formerly, 1t
would have to report James Buchanan q Co.,
suspended-too largely engaged in outside
operations, fllibustering, &c.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

icy A man named Johnson, committed
suicide, in Hancock county, Ind, last We'd
nesday, by breaking hole through the ice
on pond, and then crawling under.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

s5Y- A Mr.. Kick was married to Miss
Shinn, by Esquire Rowckamp, last evening.
We suppose the lady preferred being kicked
to shining it alone in this world Cincin-
natl Times.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

eg- "lke," said rusty old heather of
the desk, show do astronomers measure the
DISTANCE to the SUM" "Why," replied tho
young hopeCBh "they guess at one fouuh
tho distance, and then multiplies by four."--
The desk-wOrm tainted.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11
THE GOVERNMENT REV ENUE.

The Federal Government, in its revenues,
has nearly run ashore. II Is spending one
dollar and fifty cents for every dollar recev-
ed into the National Treasury. and child can
Judge how near both ends will meet with
such an exhibition. The friends of the kd-
ministration may well be alarmed at such an
exhibit of the Treasury, and no one ought to
be- satisfied with it except believer in the
doctrine, that, when you get to the bottom
of things, any change must be one for the
better. The Richmond Enquirer declares
that "the present expenditure of SS00O0,O00
per nnnum more than exhausts every source
of revenue, and that the people demand, ma.
turally and justly, that the rate of expenditure
shall be reduced within the limit of available
revenue" 1t further states that the "Execu.
tive advises number of extraordinary ex-
pendiiures, which, II resorted TO, will raise the
yearly expenditures to nothing short of
$i2o, 100000" and it affirms, without. .hesita-
tion, that "the men who pretend TO represent
the cause of conservatism, economy and re-
form, must boldly assai the leading recon-
mendatons OF the Executive, involving pro-
posas for unprecedented expenditure"
But, If the leaders of ths Democratic party
assaii "the leading recommendations of the
President" and charge and convict him of
extravaganza, what becomes of the Admins
tration and the party that placed it in power,
and has continued TO sustain il? They must
all 60 by the board. ....
We have never known period in the his
tory of the Government when its indebted
ness has increased so rapidly, and, in some
respects, we are forced to add, SO causelessly.
The immense jobbing schemes connected
with army supplies have made enormous de-
mands upon the Treasury. An usclessly ex-
pensive California niercoures is an her cause,
costing, in the transmission of the mails, for
example, about 10 cents for each letter. The
Custom House revenues are collected at a
cost which ought to be reduced one-third at
least; and the same extravaganza is seen in
the service connected with the Department OF
the Interior, the General Post Office, and
with the Army and the Navy. There ought
to be prompt revision of the Revenue Laws,
in order to secure adequate revenue and n
reduction Of expenditures, to correspond with
the general income. But, instead of this, the
Secretary of the Treasury blunders in his
estimates, misleads Congress by his figures,
and creates false hopes by his want Of knowl-
edge MS to the real state of facts. A surplus
of many millions ut the start is thus pulled
down to an Indebtedness of millions, and
every day things nre getting worse. A wise
and prudent man lives according to his means
keeps his expenditures within his income,
and takes care not to run in debt head over
heels. Let Congress wake up and put tho
Government once more upon its feet!-Ney
York Erpress. ..
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

w" Crops and Corre, the two men who
killed officer Rigdon in Baltimore, a short
time since, have been convicted, each, of
murder in the first degree.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

~ When Tennessee girl is kissed,
she frowns and says: "Put that article right
back, sir, whore you stole il FROM"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

or There is u young man in Vermont
who feeds his geese on iron filings, and
gathers steel pens from their wings.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

NORFOLK, Va, JAn.30-'rhe Rev. Mr.. Curtis,
who was lost by the burning of the steamer
North Carolina, was an Episcopal clergyman
from Chester, South Carolina.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-02-11

ssg- If II bottle be emptied of water what
fills the vacuum Sometimes wine, and some.
times rot nut