davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17
A Chinese Gentleman,s Hnnsa.

He first took us to his country house, now
uninhabited. 1t was the perfect residences
Of Chinese gentleman. There was a very
large garden with bamboo hedges and large
fish tanks, edged with walls OF blue bricks
and perforated tiles. HIS pigs were in ad-
mirable condition, and as beautiful as the
Prince Consorts at Windsor About the
grounds were nutmegs, mangosteens, plan
tains, cocoanuts, darions and small Creep
ers, trained into baskets and pagodas. In
eide the house, the drawing rooms had
doors sliding across circular openings. We
then went on 10 this good genileman's pri-
vate residence, entering by Chinese tri-
umphal gate. He tells me he has Ten miles
of carriage road round his estate 1t is on
fine undulaling tract of land, reclaimed from
the jungle, and laid out with rare taste. In
the outskirts tiger killed man the other
day. In his garden found Jacko, living in
a cane cage, next door 10 a porcupine:
there were also some rare birds Further
on, some very small Brahmin bulls, Cash
mere goat, and family of young kangaroos-
There were all sorts OF unknown beautiful
flowers placed about in enormous China
vases. Here first saw the tea plant grow
ing. II is OF the cameia tribe, three or four
feet high, perhaps, and bears small white
flower, like an open dog rose Also was
shown The ''moon flower kind Of round
ed convoIvulus that only opens at night.
There was bower of monkey cups" the
pitcher flower, which collects water, and
from which Jacko refreshes himself IN the
iuRgles The fan palm produced water by
being pierced with a Penknife, of clear,
cold quality. Several minute creepers were
trained over wire forms 10 initiate dragons,
with egg shells for their eyes and there
were many OF the celebrated dwarf trees
the first ! had seen-little oaks and elms,
about eighteen inches high, like small
withered old men. The house here was
superbly furnished in The English style, but
with lanterns all about it. At six the guests
arrived-mos,Iy Euglish-all dressed in
short white jackets and uowsers. The
dinner was admirably served, in good Lon
don style. and all the appointments, as re-
garded plate, glass, wines and dishes, per-
feet The quiet, attentive waiting of the
little Chinese boys deserved all praise.
After dinner we lounged through the rooms,
decorated with English prints of the Royal
family, s,atueites, ''curiosO'' from every part
o! the world, and rare objects iu ade stone
aud cracked China.
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17
NUMBER Al.
Italian Girls.

The idea Of a girl in Italy is indissolubiy
connected with that of being devoid of all
moral sense, infallibly preferring wrong to
right, and who can only be kept from harm
and evil by the most increased waichfulness
mothers whole maternal duties towards
her daughter, seem considered in Italy 10
be comprehended in the one act of vigi-
lance. My daughter has never been
twenty minutes at a time out of my sight,"
said an Italian countess, boasifully and by
this declaration she appeared to think that
she merited to rank in the worlds esteem
with the mother o! the Gracchi.
girl belonging to the upper ranks OF
life in Italy is practically prisoner until
she rnarries- into society she must moi en-
ter; neither in the morning tete nor the eve-
ming dance is she permitted 10 display her
| charms and graces. An occasional walk
with father or brother is permitted but she
must not go out of the house unless accom-
panied by her nearest kindred. To be seen
alone. even but few yards from her ia
theirs door, would entail upon her the
deepest disgrace, and heaniest censure.
Kept under perpetual surveillance, every
line she writes, and every line she receives.
are subject 20 rigid scrutiny.
| The girl belonging 10 the humber classes
of society shares also, in great degree, in
/ the same restrictions on her liberty. The
| grown>up daughter of woman keeping a
| lodging house in Florence could not prof,
| by my offer 10 take her TO see the ceremony
of the Lavanda, at the Pitt Palace, solely
because she was unable TO procure escor. TO
/ the best part OF the town to the place where
| resided A work girl going to her en-
/ ployer's house has to provide herself with
some companion and, in emergencies,
have sometimes seen little child do duty
as duenna for the occasion.
In the country the same rule prevails; no
peasant-girl is ever to be seen alone and
| equally in the higher as in the lower classes
of society, would any infringement of the
social code, in this respect, be fatal 10 mat
rimOnial expectations. Under these circum-
stances, the proceedings Of unmarried Eng
| lish ladies' excite The wonder and envy of
their sex in 9Italy. Often have | been
amused al the way in which the most COM
monplace exploits have been magnified icio
heroic actions and not unlrequently did
| find myself elevated to the dignity of
heroine, when utterly unconscious that
had in any way merited the name assigned
TO me.
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17
From the Phila. Erening Builetia.
THE LONG AGO.

Near murmurinS, sun-kissed streamlet,
GIaddeniiIg as It's waters How,
Lived maiden, fair ant. gentle,
One who loved me,-years ago.
There's mill upon that sireamlet,
Old and time worn, brown aud low,
Where the dripping, slow, old mill wheel,
Turned i'll sllence,-years ago.
Where the rushing waters Issue
Madly forth the mill below,
Having done their destined duty
In their prison,-years ago.
Siands,a wall Of licheaed granite,
Where the blue eyed daisies grow.
Meek!y looking up 10. heaven;
There net her,-years ago.
MANY blossom scented evening,
.sh the sinking sun was low,
"a we held sweet conversation,
Near that mill wall years ago.
Aud yvhen Winter o'er the meadows
Snrsads his dazzling robe of snow,
ynvy. of love still passed between Us,
warm aud hearl-ielt,-yearS ago.
Now-she sleeps beneath the valley,
On her crave the violetss s9row,
Bnt in heaven her pure soul prays Tor,
Him who loved her,-years ago.
OF Eve wandered 10 that hIllock,
In the church yard. green and low,
And,in silent, biiter sorrow,
Mourned my darling,-yeas ago.
uow we met, and loved. and parted,
Name, on Earth can ever Know
Nor hox pure AID gentle hearted,
Beamed that dear o:.e,-years ago.
When rxe entered that. Dire I'd Portal,
Leading from this vale OF wo'
Those dear hauds shall reach To aid me,
Lnyed as once,-lon5 yeats ago.
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17
The Road to Ruin.

THAT young man is walking the road TO
ruin," said lawyer, as he sat iu his office
door, and fixed his eye on very smart
looking person passing
The remark arrested my attention, and as
looked upon the fair brow, the elegant
figure, and the elastic step of that young
man, rapid train of thoughts passed thro
my mind.
"Walking the road to ruin 2" Could it
be possible Were all the loves, the hopes
the purposes, which rested on his life. 10
be disappointed z Was he with that bold
brow and fearless step, walking into the
whirlpool of destruction, the shadows OF
despair felt thrill of horror, and an
impulse 10 call after him, and warn him OF
his danger, but he passed round corner,
and disappeared from my sight.
Turning to the gentleman whose remark
had so stirred me, | said, abruptly:
"What do you mean, sir? Wha, have
you seen in Frank Johnson to warrant such
a thought Z"
He said very slowly:
ale dresses too well, and keeps too much
company
"And pray sir' replied, somewhat in
dignantly, "is this all the reason You have
! for your remark ? feared you had discov-
cred him TO be addicted TO drunkenness oil
gambling-or-l did not know what terri.
/ bic evil.
My friend was not one OF those croake rs
who are always grumbling about the de
generacy of the times, and proPhesying
evil of the young, and his words surprised
/ while they grieved me. He read my
/ thoughts Alright, and continued
al think it is bad enough however fol
he is Just as surely on the road TO ruin as i
he were addicted TO :he vices you mention
I do not say he is as far gone but wha
I does that amount to? OF all who are ir
/ that road you cannot tell who will land ir
] perdition first You look on the old topper
/ bloated and staggering, and say he is well
nigh there, but he may creep on and yor
! dashing young fellow, now so far behind
may pass and distance him before yor
/ think OF II"
''You certainly cannot think i: little
! thing that young man spends more thar
/ he earns or that he-whsiever his cifcum
stance-makes his expenses exceed his in
come? Such a course opens the very flood
gates of temptation on his soul anj places
him in position where the devil has moth
! ing TO do but 10 lead him captive at his will
A fearful step is he taking in the road II
| rain, who is contracting pecuniary liabili
ties which he has no means to meet.
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

Pure HEARTs.-I think we must all ad-
nit there is nothing so beautiful as pure
heart-a heart through which. Jesus has
gone as be went through the courtsi OF the
temple al jerusalem driving thence every
thing that offended-all haired, all malice,
all jealousy, all: envy, all uncleanness-a
heart whose thoughts are pure, whose de-
sires are pure, whose affections are pure,
whose motives are pure, whose purposes
are pure, whose priHciples are Pure,-a
heart that is the house of the Immaculate
Spirit of The infinite and eternal God 0,
there is nothing beneath the sky SO attract
i've, so beautiful, so desirable, so glorious
as pure heart? If not, if candor and con-
science constrain Us 10 answer in the mega
tive, let Us ask another question-Uould we
have pure hearts Are we groaning after
conformity TO God 2 Are we hungering
and thursting alter righteousness !
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17
IS11rATloS OF AWIDE AwEKE-AlI VIII

IsITIsTloE OF AWIDE AwEKE-Ail who
enter the Black Republican Wide-Awake
Clubs, it is said, have to pass throogh a
certain inititatory service, and be submitted
TO The following caiechism -
Q. Do you believe in supreme politi-
cal being @. do the almighty nigger.
Q. What are the chief objects of the
Wide Awake Society A. To disturb dem.
ocra,ic meetings, and 10 furnish conductors
for the underground railroad
@. What is your opinion on The great
question of the day! A. ] believe Abra-
ham Lincoln was born, that he built fiat
boat, and split three million rails.
@ Do you drink lagerl A. am pas
sionately fond of that commodity.
@. If you are admitted as a member of
this society, do you promise 10 love the
nigger, 10 cherish him as you would broth
er and cleave unto him through evil as well
as good report, and hate the Democrats as
long as life lasts and water runss
A. All this solemnly promise TO per-
form, so help me-Abraham.
The candidate is then invested with cap
and cape, somebody gives him a slap on
the side of the head and tells him to be
Wide-Awake
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17
For the Star
For The Star.
ny First Experience in School Teathing'
BY CARLOS.

Srranae-absurd nay even ridiculous as
il NAV appear 10 you, yet It Is neVef'heiesS
,rne tnai (I mean myself was once
scboal teacher. Listen whilst relate lew
eff INV experiences, and aver ihat "H'' !
.,I;s,;,c,lv assert in this article Is true, nay
more than true ; il is refined truth | flau
a s-calI'' to school in The Southern par' Oh
- county. known by the euPhorious cog
nomen and descriptive appellatIon oil -suu
swamp And well did ii deserve Inc name:
for in extent and depth Of mud II resemoleu
the far-samed Okeechobee. On Monday
morning the 18th day OF November
1859, YOU might have beheld me "eho'he
nv way towards the shoo house, having ="
company wheeIharrow in which was ue-
nosi,eJ some coal, an axe, and dozen
n.pss of glass. Travelling in this manner
for Two miles over hilly country, ala tot
much elevate my spirits. On the door
found lie size representation oil mssen'
cu, in with knife. couid not at Inc une
give the artist much praise. Puulng new
leather hipges on the door-boardins up
places intended for windows chasing 'he
chickens from the raiters-hxlng a noari 10
serve as a desk, and like emPioymeh's,
kept me busy until near schooi-'iu1e' ahu
vel. nv ewes had not been greeted oy Inc
'annearance of one scholar. Soon, however,
a lean, Iank son of Adam made MS appear
ance. and after taking scrutInizing vie"
.of the school room, turned ronnd anu
thanked me Tor my diligence, and hoped
that | would attend 10 the fires regularly,
adding that he was TO be my teacher. My
l,ot was raised TO commence an actIon OF
eiec,ment, when happening TO notice lhat
he was taller Than myself ! desisted, and
politely informed the gentleman OF my
claims TO the leadership. Muiering
threats of vengeance full of dire import 10
myseIf, he departed. Bat he had successor
whom | quickly sent however. to some
school directors-about ten miles distant.
Towards noon The scholars had collected
in, and motley assemblage ii was TO be
,sure. Thongh they only numbered seven'
vet there existed remarkable variety, not
only in age, color, and talent, but IN books
One negro had Cobb's Spelling BOOK one
Iiuie girl in A, B, C's had Pixies Arithme-
tic, one boy had Kirkham's Grammar IN
which he wished 20 commence reading,
and the balance were bookless. On interro-
eating bright eyed little girl as to what she
could stndy, the reply was, Fec s'" mel
fush skfayn I found to my sorrow ihiat 'ne
Dutch language was the prevailing one. "A
lille dishsariened asked litlle boy IN the
corner what ne would like study; when he
suddenly turned round, caught up his din
Ger basket, and kindly proHered me d huge
chunk o. fried mush, and some bread and
molasses. I soon found ont that The poor
fellow was dumb, land was sent TO school so
as TO be out Of The way. IN two OF three
hours had The school arranged and classi-
fed, and then proceeded tol make = long
address,--staiiug the advantages. .of!t tsduca-
- -. -
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17
A WORD 10 THE WISE.

Love hailed little maid,
Romping through the meadow;
Needless in the sun she played,
Scornful of The shadow.
"Come with me-" whispered he
Listen, sweet, TO love and reason"
by and by" she Knocked reply
Loves not i'll season."
Years went, years came
Light mixed with shadow
Love met the maid again,
Dreaming through the meadow
"Not 30 coy" urged the boy;
List in time TO love and reason"
"By and by" she unused reply;
Loves still in season."
Years went, years came;
Light changed 10 shadow
Love saw the maid again,
Waiting in The meadow.
"Pass no more my dream is DER;
| can listen now to reason"
keep the coy" mocked the boy;
Loves out of season.
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

MAEEERs.-Young folks should be man.
nerly but how to be,>is the question. Many
good boys and girls feel that they canno,
behave 10 suit themselves in the presence
of company. They are awkward, clownish,
rough. They feel timid, bashful, and self
distrustful, the moment they are addressed
by a stranger, or appear in company
There is but one way to get over this feel
ing, and acquire easy and graceful manners,
that is, TO do the best they can all the time
at home, as well as abroad Good manners
are not learned so much as acquired by
habit. They grow upon rs by use. We
must be courteous, agreeable, civil, kind !,
gentlemanIy, and womaply at home, and
then it will become a kind of second ma
ture everywhere. A coarse, rough manner
at home, begets habit of roughness which
we cannot lay off if we Try, when we go
among strangers. The most agreeable per-
sons we have ever known in company, are
those that are most agreeable at home
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

DURING the sitting of Court in Connecticut,
not long ago, on a very cold evening a
crowd OF LAWYERS had collected around the
open fire that bIazed cheerful on the hearth
in the bar. room, when a traveller entered,
benumbed with the cold but no one NOV
ed TO give him room 10 warm his shins, so
he remained in the back part of the room.
Presently smart young limb of the law
addressed him, aud the following dialogue
ensued -.
sYou look like a traveller ?''
"WaI, suppose | am came all the
way from Wisconsin What distance TO
come on one pair of legsp'
"Wal, done it anyhow"
"Did you ever pass through hell, in any
of your travels Z"
ayes, Pve been through the outskirts.
81 thought likely. Well, what are the
manners and customs there Some of US
would like to know"
"Oh, you'll find them much the same as
in this place-the ta,rye's set nearest the fire"
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

FATTENISG TURKEYs.-A writer in the
GermOnto1rn Telegraph furnishes that journal
with the following statement "Much has
been published of late in our Agricultural
journals, in relation 10 the alimentary
properties of charcoal. Ii has been re-
peaiedly asserted, that domestic fowls may
be fattened on it without any other food,
and shat, too, in shorier time, than on the
most nutritive grains. made an expert
ment, and must say that the result sur.
prised me, as | had always been rather
skeptical. Four turkeys were confined in a
pen, and fed on meal, boiled potatoes and
oats. Four others, of The same brood, were
also al The same time confined in another
pen, and Ted daIly.on the same articles, eu.
with one pint OF fneiy-puIyerized charcoal,
mixed with their.meaI and:potatoes. They
also had:a plentiful. supply of broken char
coal in their pen. The eight were killed
on the same dayiandIihsre was difference
of one aud half pounds each in favor oi
The fowls which had been supplied with the
charcoal, they being much the latest, and
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

Nor BAD-'First class in oriental philo :
sophy stand up. Thibets, what is life p
IL ife consists of money, a horse, and a
fashionable wife,
"Next What is death q
"a paymaster who settles every5ody's
debts, and gives the tombstone as receipts
in full of all demands
'What is poverty 9
THE reward OF merit genius generally
receives from discriminating public"
What is religion g
"Doing unto others as you please, with
oct allowing return of the compliment
sWhst is fame g
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

OsE AHEAD-A couple of girls put bull
frog into iheIhired mans bed 10 see il they
couldn't make him talk Dave threw it out
the window and never said word. Soon
after he put half bushel of chestnut burs
into the girls bed. About the time ne
thought their bodies would make the least
shadow, Dave went TO the door and rat
tied the latch furiously. Out went the can.
die and in wentiihe--girls, but they didn'i
stick, though the burs did. Calling TO them
TO be quiet, he said he!only wanted 10 know
if they'd seen anything of that pesky bull
frog. He'd give two dollars 10 fnd it.
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

THIS man who travels thousand miles in
thousand hours, may be ioerably quick
footed bot he isn't touch 10 the woman
who keeps up with the fashions.
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

A CHAP up country, speaking of the rainy
season the year he was married, said "It
rained when he went counting, rained
when he got married, and squailed the same
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

a "CoSFIDEEcE MAN."-The man who
thinks he can help a good-looking servant
girl 10 place the stats in a bedstead, without
exciting the suspicion of his vile.
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

IL you think ii an easy thing TO square a
circle, just go aud settle your wife's bill for
hoops
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

HE who kneels and siaggers most in the
journey of life, takes the straightest cut TO
the devil
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

A WIscossrE paper, describing alfarm
which the advertiser wants to sell adds =
"The surrouding country is the most
beautiful the God of nature ever made =
The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-17

IT is said that the Tartars invite man q
New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-12-13
THE COMMON COUNCIL.

BoRAD OF ALDERMEs.-A special meeting of this
Board was held last night, Mr.. Nixon, President
in the chair, and Messrs. Delabarre, Forstal Cox,
HARRISON and Whitney present.
The Finance Committee presented a report ad-
vsing the adoption of resolution accepting bids
of sundry parties for farming the revenues of the
city markets. The resolution was adopted, and
ordered to be sent to the Board of Assistants for
concurrence. This being the only business for
which the meeting was held, the Board adjourned
until next Tuesday evening.
BOARD OF ASSISTANT ALDERMEN. Board
met last evening Mr.. BakewelI in the chair.
The Treasurer's report showed fund on hand of
$ST6 SO.
The Comptroller reported adjudication of two
contracts for canal cleaning. Referred.
A resolution from the Board of Aldermen to reft
the Mayors parlor in the City Hail. was laid on the
table.
resolution from the same Board to pay Messrs
McGl & jackson 5000 for their share in the salt
warehouses at the foot Of St. Mary street. was
concurred in.
The Finance Committee presented the usual re-
solution to pay current expenses, which was adopt
ed. Also, an ordinance regulating the City Jail
adopted. Also an ordinance fixing the salaries of
the Commssaries of the city markets. This ordi-
nance was discussed at considerable length, and
amended and adopted,
The Finance Committee reported the usual an
nual ordinance fixing the rate of taxes and licenses
on business, professions, vehicles, ETC., for the
year 1861. 1t was made the special order for the
next meeting, and ordered to be printed.
The Board of Aldermen asked concurrence in
their resolution approving the sale of the market
contracts. Concnrred in.
The Committee on the Police and Fire Alarm
Telegraph submitted resolution for paying &564
for expenses, salaries ETC., connected with the
telegraph. Adopted.
The Board then went into secret session.