davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06
Fortune Telling"

How anxious men are to pry into the book
of futurity, and from its dim pages strive to
read their destiny. And yet they will pur-
sue a course that they know will as assured
ly lead them to sorrow, anguish, shame and
vice, as they know any fact that has already
t~ranspired. The man who hampers with in
toxieatng drinks-who gets the consent of
his mind to become a moderate drinker-has
ten thousand living assurances all around
him that such a course leads to disease, ~
r.Etau6A, u~egrauatron ana drunkenness; a3a
yet he ventures on, and processes to indulge
the hope that he will escape the horrible retri-
button that has befallen others around him.
What a strange infatuation! Surely, no.
thing else could so stultify human reason, and
blind the plainest dictates of common sense.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06
Sixteen Years Old.

1t is just sixteen years since Prof. Morse
put up the first Electric Telegraph in Amer
lea. The first piece of news sent over it
was the nomination of James X. Polk for
President, made at Baltimore and announced
in Washington ''two hours in advance of the
NALL
No one of that day, probably not even the
Professor himself, dreamed how closely the
Electric Wire would be interviewer with our
daily life. Now, railroad trains are run by
electricity. Thieves are caught by electric
tricity. Lost children are found by cleo
tricity. Fire bells are rung by electricity.
Watches are set and clocks strike BY cleo
tricity. Armies march and fleets sail at its
bidding. Treating are negotiated at its
word. Two friends in remote towns, by its
help, sit down and have a family game Of
chess. Two Emperors, a thousand miles
apart, by its help, carry ON a seige of .
distant city.
BY night it flies all over the world gath
ering news to serve up to us at breakfast B,
day it flies all over the world. here coneraf
ulating a bride, there ordering a funeral
here warning of disaster, there summoninl
help to a wreck, here buying pork by tn
hundred barrels, there selling grain by tn
thousand bushels, a~rraigning for feasts an
fights, for sermons and stock-bargains, for tn
harmonies of q concert and the discords of
convention, for law-making and law-breakine
the fall of Empires and the fall Of the the
mometer, the candidates for the Presidenc
and the candidates for the Penitentiary. Tn
ly the romance Of the Arabian Nights
tame beside the reality of the Electric Wir
Albany Journal.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06
RALEIGH, G.
WEDNESDAY,, JUNE 6, 1860.
What It Costs.

IF the money that will be spent in Wake
county alone for intoxicating drinks, for cleo
tioneering purposes, this summer and fall,
could be counted up and placed in one pile
before our eyes, there is scarcely a man in
the county that would not be astounded at
the amount. Hundreds and thousands of
dollars viii thus be spent-enough to give six
months or a years schooling to every child
between eight and fifteen years of age in it
or erect neat houses of worship in every des-
titute neighborhood-or carry food and raj
ment to every afflicted and suffering honae.s
But instead of doing any good, this large
amount ofmoney will be spentin demoralizing
the people-engendering idleness and vice
degrading DEMONSTRATING the hearts of
wives-entailing misery and poverty upon
families, and spreading broadcast the seeds of
wiekedness and ruin. Many a man who is
now a sober one will have become a drunk-
ard before the Presidential election in Novem-
Der next. Many a promising young man, the
: pride of his parents and the hope of his fami
> ly, will have formed an appetite that he can
Z; never shake off, but viii eventually drag him
; down to a dishonored grave.
!. Pause, reader, and ask yourself: IsitIY
If you indulge in the destructive bowl, no one
can assure you that such will not be you
:" fate. But if you will refrain; if you occupy
a the high ground, "touch not, taste not, han
Z die not" then you can safely say, others ma.
fall, but as for myself | am secure. And ma,
: God grant that every man in the county AM
il in the State may make this high resolve.
. And to him who would tempt and allur
> his fellow-men by plying the intoxicating cuI
4 we would simply reiterate the language of tn
u, inspired prophet of old: "Cursed is he VIII
n, putteth the bottle to his ~neighbors' mouth,
W Re
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06
The Love of the Beautiful.

No soul Isl SO barren thatit never feels athrob
of its higher self,-an aspiration for its lost
divinity, a yoOrning for its loftier destiny
The midnight student, digging up Greek
roots, combining words to make ideas, rests
his beating forehead on his hand, and re-
calls soothingly some period Of his life which
was natural, true and happy. The sweating
machinist covered with SCOT and dust pau
scs in his toll, thinks of the loving faces of
his wife and children at home: and his next
shalt is polished with q more graceful curve,
the wearied expression passes away from
his face; his labor is ennobled by its object,
whiolsis tho beautiful.
God has indeed breathed into us a part of
hinself-that infinite thing which is called
soul We're the discord of the earth done
away, life would be all poetry in the pres
cnt state of things, too many of us make of
1t most miserable prose. But that the poe
try OF our nature can be extinguished is i'm
possible. The past present, and our inhe-
rent shadowing forth of the future forbids
the idea. At some period of life all man.
kind is prompted by nature to be natural
to find beatty in the mountain, the forest,
the river; and no longer to delude them.
selves with false ideas of happiness. Ever
the most ignorant and wicked Of the human
family have yet something left of the true
and beautiful in them. FaIstafr after hi.
long career Of drunkenness and vice, of rob
bing and lying, on his death-bed sbabbled @
green fields :" it is one of the most exauisit
touches of nature by the great ife-translatol
In this test of life,-for he lives most VIII
loves most,-we all start from a level. Sou
do no business at the banks, and they new,
shave notes. The man of millions bows
the production Of some humble boy. wi
in his affinity for the beauty of form, h
carved from u stone his lesson Of poetry 4
the world While banks make and brea
fortunes grow and dwindle, some obscu
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06
A Word to Young Men.

FoRTHE BENEFIT OF A "YoUNG MAN IN RALEIGH"
One of the meanest things a young man
can do, and it is not at all an uncommon oc-
currence, is to monopiize the time and at
tention Of a young girl for a year or more,
without definite object, and to the exclusion
Of other gentlemen who supposing him to
have matrimonial intentions, absent them
selves from her society. This selfish dog
in the manger' way proceeding should be
discountenanced and forbidden by all parents
and guardians. 1t prevents the reception Of
eligible offers of marriage, and fastens upon
the young lady, when the acquaintance is Fl.
nally dissolved, the uneviable and unmerited
appellation Of tairt.' Let all your dealings
&&il NTH T0BAfgafn Ih EAti many whose education and
position in life would warrant our looking fol
better things, are culpably criminal on those
points, is no excuse for your short comings
That woman is often injured or ~wronged
thrOughthe hottest feelings, adds but a black
er die to your meanness. One rule is al
ways safe: Treat every woman you meet al
you would wish another man to treat you
innocent confiding sister.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06
The Liquor Traffic.

We have been forced by the pressure of
the times, by the timidity of the moral
reformers, by the Indifference of the public
mind to make an effort against the evil, and
by the want of moral courage in our legisla-
ture, to defer to a distant day, perhaps never
to arrive, the continuous effort to arrest this
enormity by the aid of legislative inter-
ference, and to hush for awhile our old bat
tie cry, 'Down with the liquor traffic.
| Not that we are discouraged OF disheartened
by the little success attending the effort, but
because we see no hope of e~ffccting any thing
by connecting the issues of the question, with
politics or politicians. Still the evil goes on
not only unchecked, but apparently with in
creasing accumulation. The magnitude o.
the evil has really grown less, in some peoples
eyes, than formerly; and men who in former
days would have scorned the vocation
have been led, either by ayarice or or .
ed necessity, to embark in it.
Its evils are unmitigated-its ruin to DO
dies and souls is going on without lmit-th
vocation is as damniBg and degrading as ever
and the sober sense of community is as ar
alterable in its Judgment Of the traffic an
traficers as the convictions and purposes {
men can be.
What is to be done to check the overflow
ing desolation? Will men never scene
er feel the evil which it entails-neyer wal
up to the damaging character of the trafi
until they open their eyes in eternity, ar
confront the ghosts of their unhappy victim
whom they have slain by thousands? Alas
then twill be too late to repair the damag
or to amend their way. Can we do othe
wise than beseech the guilty trafickers,
cease the demon4ike purpose which driv
them on to deeds Of blood, which they mu
bitterly lament in chains of darkness fc
ever?
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06

| child may be modelling his mud-images, or
drawing his charcoallines on the wall gath
ering thoughts which shall live eternally.
"a thing of beauty is a Joy forever" 1t
is cheering to think that not a fine thought,
or noble emotion, or a worthy impulse shall
ever die. II must be an inherent belief in
most minds, hat by some power beyond,
the good deeds, so dim and obscure among
| the rubbish of the bad, shall be some time
separated, and shine forth in their own
| purity, unsullied by the base ignorance and
error of the world. Call it faith or super
~stition, it is planted in the soul ofman, and
for a purpose. We all look forward to the
time when the beautiful, the true, the good,
shall be triumphant,-we do all at some pc
riod of life, form plans for the elevation of
ourselves into something better. Even toll
itself becomes beautiful when its o bject is
the beautiful.
Every one, however rude and uncultiva-
ted, make some distinction between grace
full lines and harsh angles, between harmo-
Nous colors, and those which are repulsive
and out of place. It is the instructive yearn-
ing to separate the lovely from the unlove-
", that induces man, studying nature, to Inn
itate. And the picture which he paints, OF
the statue he moulds, is not only an imita-
ton Of nature, but an expression of his owr
soul. 1t is as fascinating and powerful as i
is suggestive. 1t Isl poem revealedin form
or color revealed only in proportion to the
capacity of the beholder to appreciate it. 4
noble statue is an object of physical beaut.
to all but to the true lover Of art'its idea
value is inestimable; for, in surveying II
he builds up within himself a statue-poem
an idea as distinct and glorious as the sta
ne itself. He may be in part capable {
expressing this feeling but never wholly
: for the impulse that he receives is unboul
; ded. AS thefkscan be:no fixed standard
beauty, SO various are the capacities, and
different the degrees of cultivation, so thel
can be no limit to its appreciation. The ia
Their we progress in cultivating a taste fl
art still more enticing labarynths do we di
Germ, and the deeper is our desire to kno
and revel in them.
We live too much in dense cites, am
!, smoke and gas too little in the wood
!, among the mountains. There is much Low
illness in nature that is as a sealed book
man. The heart of man, in a bent bod
| cooped up among boxes and barrels, los
: its life, gets full Of dollars and cents, viii
: drive out faith and love. Pure air and I'll
scenery are a good remedy. Examine t
sunset Genes of nature minutely-you sh
s find no fault The twilight on the wat
S the shadows OF the trees, the red light
= the hills, the infinitely varied Clouds
are faultlessly, exquisite beautiful fwelo
, at them in detail, or feel the grand harmo
, of the whole, we shall see that if there is
ror at all, it is in ourselves, and not in
thing which we can but partially comp
!, bend, and which is infinitely above our c
u icism.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06
Individuality.

The richly descriptive pen of the writer.
the glowing imagery of the eloquent orator.
the grand delineations of the gifted painter
the ideal dreams of poets, and the sturdy
arm of the stern %artizan, have all been enpau-
ed from time immemorial in recording the JOYS
and sorrows-in depicting the hopes and
aspirations-in drawing the lights and shades
in singing the joyful notes of hope or wall
ing the requiem of its buried anticipations-
i'm hammering out the rude metals and
converting them by the handiwork of gent
us into crowns to give insignia and gran
| deur to earth's titled ones-aH, ALL have
been employed to give a panoramic view of
the world we live In. And yet how imper-
fect-how very far short they come of re-
vealing the secret heart-throbbings of even
one of the millions that throng our teeming
earth, much less the pulsations of the might
ty universe of which they present them
selves as the representatives. While they
bring to view the great and mighty develop
ments of nations, states and communities,
they give US but little insight into the deli
cate Municipalities of our race. "Every
heart knoweth its own bitterness and sa
credly is it kept from the prying eyes of its
unsympathising neighbors. Our pleasures
: how little the world knoweth of those ster
r ling joys, which give to life its stay and com
e fort. So-truelis IL, that the greatness an,
glory of the multitude brings no happines
/ to the wounded heart of the sorrowing one
nor do the vices of others tarnish the joy
,e of those whose pleasures flow from individl
al purity and virtue.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06

"a John d. Defrees, writing from Wash
ington to the indianapolis Journal says;
Twenty years ago l was a locker on at
the doings Of Congress. The two men who
attracted the most attention were William
Cost johnson of Maryland, and Thomas f.
Marshall, Of Kentucky, They were the most
brilliant orators-the observed Of all obser-
vers." Mr.. johnson, died in this city a few
days ago, a pauper and an outcast, unnoticed
and .unlamented- The papers, a few days
ago, informed US that Mr.. Marshall is the
inmate Of a hospital at Buffalo, diseased and
miserable, and about to diei Intemperance
! o. course, is the cause Of all this"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06

TREATING BY CANDIDArEs.-One of our
State political exchanges advises candidates
to spend their money for documents to circu-
late among the people, instead of treating to
liquor. When a man a a dime with
which to buy a drink, let the candidate hand
him a document, tell him to read it, to take it
home to his wife and children. BY this plan,
says the exchange, candidates can effect ten
times as much good-and instead of demoral.
izing the people, will enlighten them" A
patriotic and moral suggestion, truly, and one
We hope that viii be practiced upon by every
candidate in the State.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06
The Drunkard's Home.

In the higher walks of life, before dissipa-
ton has consumed the substance of a man,
the home of the drunkard may still, through
the care and effort of the other inmates, pre-
sent externally an air of comfort and happi-
ness. By management, even when its rich
halls are filled with company, the desolation
which really dwells within, may be conceal
ed; but in the quiet hours, when DO curious
eyes are peering into the chamber, there will
be found in the detected countenances of wife
and children the ruin which dwells there
But when reduced to penury and want, the
home of the drunkard is always known when
you pass it. See the shivering children as
they sit about the door, unclad, unfed and
filthy. Ask where mother is? The reply is
tsShe is sick" Enquire. about the father, and
the eldest stammers out, II don't know, sir.
He went away yesterday and has not come
home. / reckon he is at Mr.. ---s gros
shop"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06
RALEIGH FEnALE sEnrNARY.-This ev

RALEIGH FEMALE SEMINARY.-This eve
ming Tuesday the Address before the Young
Ladies of this Institution, will be delivered
in the Methodist Church, by John w. Hays,
Esq, ofOxford. Commencement exercises at
the Seminary next evening "wednesday the
9th. The public are invited to attend.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06

To'W. r. p, near Rakigh.'-Weare tired
of having you attempt to palm off on us as
original, poetry stolen from others. A per
sistency in it may bring down upon you an
exposure of your plagiarism, with your full
name. So We advise you have done with it
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06
RALEIGH. N. G.. May 9th.

IE7ALEIUuj ~ Vi 1"J -ON-"
Mrs. A. M. GoRMAN :-WM you be so
kind as to publish the enclosed selection i n
the ladies Department of the cage" this
week and oblige, A FRIEND.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06

DIED, near Fayetteville, on the morning. of
the 31st ult, MIR. James B. Ferguson, aged
about "a years.
We grieye to find the above brief
mcnt in the last Fayetteville Observer. As a
beloved personal friend and a devoted tenn
peranee man, we mourn the departure of Bro.
Ferguson. We have known him long and
we'll, and have always found him a true man
in all the relations Of life and we feel sure
that the end of such a man was peace.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06

GUTTA PERcHA CEMENT RooFING.-We in
vite the attention of our readers to the adj
ve~rtisement of Messrs. JOHNS CROSLEY,
New York, in another column.
The numerous experiments made for the
last few years, to produce a substitute for
tin, slate and single roofs, have at last led
to a perfect triumph in the GuTTA PERcHA
Cement Roofing offered by these gentlemen,
Possessing, ina great degree, the features
of elasticity, "a qualification of a ROOFING
Cement actually necessary and long sought
after durability and cheapness, combined
with the fact that it is a weather and fire
proof, its general adoption annot be too
earnestly urged.
This Cement is recommended in the high
est terms by the New-York & Erie R. R.
Co., and also by the officers of the leading
Insurance Companies throughout the coun.
try.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06

Died, In La Grange, at the hotel, LEoNr CENer,
a young Italian woman of remarkable persoaalappear-
ance and intelligence. She appeared to be- OF the high
foot and alone. During her short illness she received
every attention from our worthy landlord and his ex-
ladies principally, having become much interested in
her. For the kindness shown her she expressed much
fully aware of her situation. She exhibited unusual
calmness and ~fortitude in the solemn hour Of death
Her last words, spoken calmly and distinctly, will
never be forgotten by those who were gathered around
her bedside: F" Fatherl Motheri the hour has come.
/ have longed for it, Then, with sudden energy.
throwing up her arms. exclaimed: with you at last
All! glorious Heaven ~ Then sinking back she ex-
pired, peacefully as a babe falls asleep. Her ward
robe, though scant, was made of such articles as be-
tokened former splendor. She had means sufficient to
procure a decent burial without the aid of charity.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06

4AA1AS eAs ~ ~ ny
Whilst life is yours, | admonish you use it
tenderly; guard it well do not abuse it. 1t
is the greatest of responsibilities. At the end
the ~aIlimportant question will be, "How
have We lived?" Upon it will hang eternal
veal or woe. Have an answer prepared ere
the Judge be come.
Daylight f1ickered in the socket of nature,
and still | was bordering. The stars began
to peep forth timidly; it was the time of
ssh~earth-light and of song" Silence slum-
bered on the couch of solitude. / was alone.
From the plains of Memory, Remembrance
brought me a song-a heart-shed song@a
spell to rouse my soul and fire my brain. Its
gushing, wild, witching melody stirred the wa
tiers of emotion its language fell m%ournfully
it saddenened me; ittold me of a good and
pure, yet world-Neary heart, of a firm faith
yet broken spirit The song was that of the
italian Exile's Orphan.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06

Leoni was willing to die; and why? She
spoke of Gcd as her sole protector; she said
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06

MUsIcAL.-The Pupils of Mrs. Harriet
Whitaker's Music School gave a Musical en-
tertainment on Friday night last. Their
proficiency and skill evinced that they had
teacher.
The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-09-15
REMEMBRANCE.

How awcls The wanderers heart IN joy
A. 10 mcaIs his chiIdhood's hom'.
From which til ough many chang iul Jcar.,
lis restless .pri' ,nnm"d.
loss bright each vision .N',gg along
Each srcnc OF boyhopd q yrars;
Loved treasures of fond memory = store,
Al miles, all hopes, all fears.
Though Other skies hang deeper blue,
Aud sunshine always ihrrc,
Yet homo bears hearts SO warm and true
We find thnm not cI'cw here.
though cold HI storm king .w.opg srouud,
Ut Joy lw.I'1 ia On" breast,
G..Ir love md truth ar ever found,
Both w'.cInc smiling quests.
hud childhood ficnds--l clasp the hand
Extended 60 ne nov,
Ind bless tho pow which st'l doth give
Hopes iairrs', brightest glow.
Aud should tl. day b. iuru.d ,n night,
No star o. hope appear,
How sweet thr comfort pc 20 fad
There's on Lind tue hirni n'ar.
Hut why then sad : tho bap- sweet soar
Should bear alivoly tome.
Like tanning s'r"-'m "''r m"tsy H.l
I,.w larrh'rgIy along
j|r' q. iu ymu' cul nsl.. NV
doth waufor with 90" s.l,.r,.
Aud vtdd0ui ,yuty gu.r 81 Iry
linr atUFghrE captive sings.
iut SET, ihau,h al around rs darh,
Iup!Hs ola. 80. beam, Ger head.
Like .3lnr I.', s,a:,."g o'or tho loub,
Wbnr. ,l,.qs the loved, the deal
l. beck Js ui, 10 v"n dim shore
Across. a .'h's dmll. 'arl ga,
Wa. FL 4 .I,a boo ~ O, pal, no more
Yur.. a.li meet Sol. B. f....
The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-09-15
THINE EYES, Ny LOVE.

Z A.y TIL me that The nUn J, mp
High DER the mountain tops,
And rrom hi, Crown Of golden hight
! shower 81 g.Slucs, drops
They break ihr sweet links Of my dream,
And bid me meet his glory;
Thine eyes, nay iovr--;hin" eyes, my love,
Arc ali thr sun know.
The midnight vault of heaven appcars,
lis i"wclpd o'cr with stars;
Like frozen spilit, do they gicam
From ont thy ICY bars,
II H. not 81 then mysteries
Ny painting soul would uHd
Thine eyes, my loyr--thiuo eye, my love,
Arc all The stars need.
tn, cath is scattered DER with Fl wcT5,
They greet me rs I pas;
Thc hluc fmgct-mc-not peeps ont
Among the 'yaviug grass;
I'll, pautics dqrl,. the violr's gray,,
Ia vain to M they speak.
Thine eyes M lovc-tliu" eyes, my love,
Hold all The hurs s'uk.
THE sun will st, the stars grow dim,
The Aowcr,ts nil decay,
Bu, there Is Joy within my heart
They cannot pass away,
Task not tor a brighter world
A life Of deeper nii,s;
Thine eyes. my loyc--tliuc cy's nay love,
Have mad a heaven Of this.