davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30
PERKfN

The London cnrrespoA0OlDg ~ TIE New
York Hen"ld. under date of June =;
speaking Of this invention. which is old
says:
A committee Of the British army anc
navy sat upon the merits of Perkins steam
gun, and majority, save one, were il
favor Of adopting it, and those who op
posed. or were unc"nyinccd, had nothing
to rely upon as an excuse except the re-
port of-wkom Why. Of certain steam
boa, " army engineers. who did not be-
lieve Mr.. Perkins could do what he sait
he could. because he had never seeu it nc.
cou,plished. Steam can be worked prac.
tically and safely up to 1900 lbs. to til.
square inch and is worked up to half tina
every day in Mr.. Perkins Steam Works
in Regent square. London. The theorcti.
cal engineer, or artillerist, will tell you
that gunpowder has pressure far create,
at the time Of ignition than steam has
but he forgets that almost the entire mo.
mcntum of the ball from a fire. arm Is Civ.
en- it ut the time and in the space that tn.
powder takes to burn, while steam is ex.
erting an equal force the whole length Of
the barrel while the missile is being pro.
jectcd. Mr. Perkins declares that he is
able. aud will willingly undertake to throw
solid ball or shell. with a steam gun
from an ordinary war ship into fortified
town FIVE miles distant.
l. The Perkins steam gun will fire from
ten to sixty balls minute, and can be
kept going night aud day, as long as the
ammunition holds out. or during the plea
sure of the engineer.
2 The steam gun will have an affective
range equal to that Of the mo-t etficien
Armstrong Or Whithworth rificd gun
throwing balls accurately FROM four t.
six miles.
B. Any siaed barrel. the most efficient
in use or that can be made armstrong
WhitNorth's. Wheatlcy's, james, Par.
rot's, or any other-with any description
of bullet that can b. a>ed iu Firearms
can be connected with the proper steam
boiler aud used as a steam gun
/. The expense while in use is less thar
one half that vi ordinary artillery, Tia,
saving in ammunition during twclv,
hours shooting of u twelve-pouuder being
ut h.ast ifteen hundred dollars, or two "
three times the cost of All ordinary eau
NOD.
). Txel.l Of these guns ami oAs hun.
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30
The Confederate Flag.

y correspondent of the Charleston
-Mr"ry thus suggests change in the
dag of the Southern Confederacy:
We believe We sl,cak the sentiments Of
three-fourihs of the Southern people, when
we state that the Confederate flag has not
only failed to satisfy, but has greatly
disappointed them. The idea of COM
mittee having been occupied for weeks in
composing Or selecting from hundred
ditient specimens. flag to be at once
original and striking, s"ally rejecting all
who Lad furnished alLn lance O
good material, and adopting. as the result,
of their labor, what the Union and three
stripes Of Liucoln's abolition flag. Mr.
Russell, in one Of his letters, has well
styled it The counterpart Of the L. 5.
Flag" and so perfectly is it so, that in
Calm at seq it is not distinguished from
it. But not only is it stolen from the U.
S. Flag, it is also theft ofihe coat Of arm,
of another despotisn-we mean the House
of Austria, whuse arms are red,' with
a white bar running through the centre.
Nor is this all. The u. $. Flag itself
was directly stolen from the British East
India Company. with the poor addition Of
thirteen stars for distinction. Now, If the
coat Of arms Of the Confederate States be
drawn with three bars hmizontui, We pill
fer the arms Of the House of Austria; and
if We adopt the plan Of the Uni,ed States,
aud draw the coat of arms with the tats
perpendicular, We pilfer the arms of the
to~u Ut Beauvais, in France. So that.
whichever way we twist it, We will be
laughed at by everybody, and despiscd by
those whose embleus We have borrowed,
Not to say stolen We are living u,.d,r a
Provisional Government-may we not
hope that this may be also Provisional
flag: Oar Congress is soon to meet. and
We sincerely hope that Ibis question will
he brought up by some patriotic and able
member. aud hot allowed to rest until We
obtain. with the permanent Government. q
dag to be retained as permanent also.
We think the Southern people, generally
were anxious that the Southern eros.
should have been conspicuous in their flag
whirl iJ.A woui. - Vace lispcus. "nb
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30

MISCELLANEOUS IrEMs--A firm faith is
the best theology; good life the best
philosophy; clear conscience the best
law; honesty the best policy; and temper
ance the best ply sic.
Grapple ever with opportunity. And,
as you do not know when oppcrt unity will
happen along, keep your grappling-ir"ns
always ready.
Mourn not that you are weak and hum
bic. The gentle breeze is better shrn
the hurricane. the cheerful fire Of the
birthstone than the c"nfagraiion.
Domestic jars, when concealed are half
reconcilcd. Ills double task to step
the breach at home nud mems mouths
abroad
Men spend their lives in the service Of
their passions, instead Of employing their
passion IN the service Of their. lives
The reasoning power Is the cornerstone
of the intellectual building. giving grace
and strength to the whole structure
a pleasant jest in time Of misfortune IL
courage to the heart. strength to the arm,
aud digestion to the stomach.
If you employ your moDey in doihg
good you PVT. it out at the best in'er.s,.
A puuctual uan can always ind leisure.
u negllge0t one never.
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30

The "BoGrs" GOVERNMENT or MIsaoU-
EI.-Thc Columbia ,Nacsmcn, a Union
paper, refer. III the following language to
the new government:
The services Of Il Provisional Govern
or, for the short tiM,c intervening between
this and the election in November. Cab
not. VIC fear, be worth what they may cost
the people i'll domestic strife and fratcrnal
war. There may have bceh time, even
Il few weeks ago. at which the experiment
might have been tried with less peril Of
the public peace: but it may now end in
fratcrnal blood anu in promoting the
scheme of secession. We hope, therefore,
it will be abandoned.
The Missouri Telegraph, also Union.
speaks thus;
The State Convention has unwittingly,
hut efcctually thrown up masked bate.
~, from behind which the seccssonis;s
and re,olutionists may overwh.lra and III
tiinaiely carry the State with the Soutl,e,
Gohftderacy. Was this designed! The
only thing necessary to accomplish it t..
that the people re-elect the very officers
that t. e C"nvehtio has assumed to depose.
The history Of this Government presents
nothing parallel to this Ligh-lanlcd. rev.
olutiorary act of one ret of the peoples
servants attempting to oust from Office an
Other set. and then filing the highsvt If
Offices thus vacated, with some Of their
Own number. whose political sentiments
might have been barrier In the way e
any such choice by the people. VIII the
people swallow this prepared dose. or will
they re-asscrt their original and sovereign
.Loicc Z"
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30
Gen. Thomas J. jackson.

We find in late copy of the Richmond
Enquirer the following sketch Of Geu.
jackson of the Confederate Army who
| distinguished himself at Manassas:
Thomas j jackson is native Of Lew
is county. Virginia. and a relative of the
numerous and influential family of his
! name in that portion of the State. BY
the death Of both his parents, at an car
ly age. be was thrown penniless upon
the world. When yet quite young, he
exhibited manly self-reliance, and an
energy and a force of character. which
gave his friends satisfactory assurance
Of the success that was in store for him
in after life. Through the aid of gentle
men who took deep interest in his well
fare, he entered the Military Academy
at West Point, as Cadet, about the year
1913, and graduated with high honors
just at the beginning Of the war with
Mexico. During the whole of the term
spent at West Point, he never failed upon
all examination or received q mark Of
dcmcrit.
Young Jackson entered the service of
the Cuitcd States as Brcvct Lieutenant
under Gen. Scott, at Vera Cruz. In the
memorable campaign from Vera Cruz to
Mexico he achieved honoss of which a
veteran officer nigh. we'll have been
proud. In addition to his regular promo
tons during that campaign, Lieutenant
Jackson was brcvettcd Major for dis
tinguishcd services ut the battle of Che
pultcpcc.
At the close of the war with Mexico,
Major jackson returned to his native
State, with his health very much impaired,
in consequence Of which he resigned his
position in the army. He shortly after
wards accepted professorship in the
Military Institute at Lexington, which
Office he filled with ability and distinction
till the commencement of the present war,
when he accepted the post of Colonel,
conferred upon him by Governor Lctcher,
unanimously recommended by the Coun-
Gil, aud unanimously confrifsed BY the
Convention. .. lie was assigned 10 the
command Of our forces at Harpcrs Ferry.
and continued in it till he was supcrs dcd
by General Johnston. He then TOOK COM
n'and Of brigade, and was subsequently
appointed Brigadicr General by Presi-
dent Davis. During the n,anGuvres of
the army i'll the valley of Eirginiu, Gcner-
al jackson held conspicuous position.
and in the great battle of Manassas he
earned AL c,>iable and hevcr-dying dir
tinction. His command acted part in
that memorable eng" cement which will
not lie forgotten while deeds Of valor
and self sacrifice are remembered by the
people vi Virginia and Of the Confederate
States.
In person, General Jackson is near six
feet high, with an erect, muscular, we'll
kuit frame. lie has fine eye. brown
hair and full beard. His whole bear
ing indicates imam If iron will and stern
courage, aud marks him as one peculiarly
fitted to command"
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30

BLrSDINa AND CArn,xG TrGERs IN CocH-
IN CHINA.-Many Of them obtain their live
lihood by tiger-catchiug. They use novel
mode of ensnaring these savage boasts
Two Malays generally go in company and
travel over many parts Of the country
Those who follow this business regularly
have chops, or permits. from the Quong
of Saigon, allowing to build hut for their
use in any place they think fit. The hut
is built on the top Of fear ba,nboos, from
fifteen to twenty feet high. and rs the IT,
ger cannot climb these, the two men can
remain in it and watch their snares in
safety. The snare consists Of large leaves,
and sometimes pieces of paper. about six
inches square. covered on one side with
substance Of the same nature as bird
lime, and containing poison. the small
lest particle Of which. getting into the au-
imaps eyes, causes instant and total blind
ness. "a
They arc laid about thickly, with the
bird-.imed side upwards, in the track Of u
tiger and as surely as the animal puts bis
paw on one of the treacherous leaves he
becomes a victim; for finding it stick to
his font, he shakes il; he then probably
rubs his paw over his head. in the attempt
to rid himself Of these leafy membranes.
but they stick to his head and face he
then perhaps rolls himself on the ground.
when he becomes fairly covered; and
while scratching himself to get free, some
of the poisonous bird-lime gets into his
eyes and blinds him. He growls and
roars in agony. and this is the signal for
his captors to come and despatch him
The Malays then skin the animal, and
take away PARTS Of the body that may be
valuable. They leave the carcase, well
strewn with more leaves, as Lait for
other tigers. Other animals, and birds
also. they ensnare in the same mannes.--
BrOwns -fdtcnturrs IN Cochin (nir.a.
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30
LIFE OF WOMEN IN TIE EAST

The following description. taken from a
work entitled the Egyptian Sdpulchres
and Syrian Shrines,' written by Two sis
tcrs, the Misses Beaufort, is INTEREST," ,g:
The gayest sight We saw xas the
Sweet Waters Of Asia, to whidh LADY
Bulwer kindly took US, on tile grea,
day Of the year-the Friday aft r Kour-
ban Bairram. This is the summer Hyde
Park Of Constantiuople-the Sweet Wa
ters Of Europe being only in fashion
during the winter seasoa; there is no
beauty in the spot, save that of a few
fine trees, beneath whose shade Ehe wo-
men sit the whole day. The place was
excessively crowded, and one could not
have. better opportunity Of studyins
Turkish women ; they did not sec,n "
be enormously unlike the picture, drawn
OF them By those Of our modern poets,
who describe them as fair aud modest
pearls; sitting like snowdrops enclosed
in one Of Wards patent sealed cases,
the damp dews on the inside of the glass
answering to the ji,,lsasies throug n which
the .lnond-shaped eyes gleam in half.
veile.: light
Here the gay Haunting flowers of the
Bosphorine harems were sitting in a
closcly-packed mass upon the green
sward. under the shade of the elm. the
cvlors jumbled into each other. like the
pattern of . brilliant Partisan carpet,
thrown up upon groundwork Of their
white wells. almost dazzling in IFS con.
fused brightness, while the harshI bird
like. ccascless chatter Of the ladies'
tongues was almost reiiered by the &C.
casioual cry Of spoiled child er the
squeak of swaddle baby. Eac, group
d two or three women had their own
mattress, goolleh (clay jar) of water. and
an embroidered handkerchief, containing
their comestibles for the day chiefy
raw cacumbers. Of which they eat from
morning ill night-and most Of theu,
were smoking nargilchs. The richer
ladies were driving round and rotnd the
small meadow. seated in gildel and
painted 'ei'9as. something like oul royal
state coach, oaly two or three Of which,
had Curtains drawn to CONCEAL the in-
lnates.
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30

rugged looking; whilst in shrek or a
shout, or Ia the harsh, discordaut sound,
Of instruments, the waves are irregular
unequal aud broken up into secondary
vibrations Of all degrees Of amplitude.
An Grafton. delivered with varying IA.
pidisy. and with the pitch of the voice
greatly ,no.lulated in different carts, has .
very striking appearance in iis pkono-
g~la. Rapidly spoken parts have the
curves crowded together whilst in others
they are widely separated. The loud
tones Of the voice are shown bY the writ.
ten waves rising to perhaps half an inch
or more. in Height. whilst the low tone.
are not more than the eighth Of AN incl
high; the modulations If the Evoice arc
thus shown very beautifully by 1.-THE vary.
ing height Of what may be called the
letters Of sound
DIFFICULTY IN READING.
Thus. then. the problcm Of tie graphic
tixstion Of sound may be considered u,
accomplished; but pow a new difficulty
arises-that Of translating these evcr-vary.
ing curves back again into ordinary Ian.
guxge. If each word or syllable, or even
compound sound. of which otlr spoken
language is built up. were uvaf,ably rep
resented by the same system bf curves,
the work Of Transcription would be CON-
parativcly easy. This, however, is far
from being the case. Not only does the
impression vary with the tone Of the voice
the rapi'liiy Or lou.,iess Of u,terance, but
il has been found that the sametwOrds ut.
tered by one person are written down by
the instrument very differently from the
way they are when spoken by another;
just AS the hand writing Of one Ner<o dit.
fers from another. This. however, is a
difficulty which will be overcome by prac-
tice, and perhaps improved indtruu.ental
arrangements; even now We heat that Mr.
Scott is attaining some facility in reading
off these natural sten"graphs. The diff
culties. however. in the way of fluent
transcriptions into written language are
very great, as the student in This new
language has 80 many different FIRMS pre-
scented to him as the equivalent for the
same articulated sound; the iraaings not
being either true synthcsis Of tile words,
or a purely conventional sign like writing,
which has, let US remember. no phenome-
nal value, but is merely. 10 use ia mathc-
matical expression, function of the tome.
the intensity and the pitch.
The fact of being able to mako spoken
sounds record themselves permanently ~
paper, is Of itself most singular aid aston.
ishing; but if it is ever developed, as the
inventor says it shortly will be. to sufi-
rient perfection to enable it to take down
speeches which may be written olf verba-
tim. it is difficult to imagine thu impor-
tauce of the discovery, whether it be in
respect to the unimpeachable accl aracy oil
the process; the cutirc absence Of trouble
and expense in reporting any hrticulate
sounds; Or the great saving Of the time
and the exl,austiug l.bors Of ouf parlia-
n'cntary reporters.
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30
RANT MARy's BEAc0 n
n pUBLIsmRD svERY THURSDAY sY
ID. uua. . JAMES 8. DOWNS.

TsRns o. 6EIscRIrTIoN.-&1 so per an
nn1n, = b psIid within SIX months No
sutG ip1ion will be received for . shorter
period ss So - - puper -
except q IL - y de publishers.
To1ss = 4psxsrisIxe. 81 per square
e - ~ Insertion. and rs cts. for
every snhssqacns insertion. Twelve lines
q telnspastitute square If the number
of ipsertions be not mark ed on the adver-
tissment, It will be published until forbid.
end charged accordingly. A liberal de-
duction made to those who advertise by
the year
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30

"a - faar men, besides the
fireman of the ship. are only re-
lrpd to man one of these guns, whatev-
its sixe. together with the boiler and
IAN apparatus.
The ordinary boilers of steamer, if
eSletructed or adapted to the use of this
gun, can spare the steam and work one or
tuo guns while the ship is in motion, and
without any perccptive loss of speed.
8. A steam gunboat Of the ordinary
sixe used in the British Navy, a revenue
1sr, or a California or Transatlantic
II, with two of Perkins steam
twelve-pounders, with the ordina-
crs Ut the vessel adapted to the pur-
or q moderate sized boiler, like
"a 0f donkey engnne-would he more
1M = match for a linc-of- battle-ship,
nile crew of two dozen men would give
q sufficient reserve for relays and casual
ties.
9. Nothing is required except the rifled
barrels. the steam power, the solid or
explosive missiles, two or three men to at
tend, and hopper to pour in the balls.
10. On board ship, in fort, or in the
6eld. there arc no powder magazines.
s:aissons, or ammunition wagons or box
es to he blown up, or create alarm or
danger Of explosion, this calamity often
causing the entire destruction Of the
vessel and all GU board, or destroying the
lives of all within reach.
IL. The steam gun can be used in eve
ry description Of warfare-on board YES
sells, in forts, in the field with horse
power, Or attached to land locomotive
10 the same positions as ordinary cannon
NJ field pieces.
he ~, Nothing but metallic balls and
lp being used. every discharge. lubri-
the gun, touling is rendered impos-
while there is all the cleanliness,
{1rnlsrity Of action. and durabili-
- hfanna sana2el aip<ry. ,--I----@
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30

Some Of the Sultan's ramiiy q
each lady with a couple Of
the back seat Of the carriage.
gaily, il not as richly, as L.
Of the slaves are psttcd t.
much as their mistrcsses. ara
dom is sometimes the exfrr
ry Sinee tlle last ieu~ |
max has ceased to be g. p 7 :
has become only .'delusi6 =
concealed the features Of its. 80
it only sets off and enhance coIr
ty- IT.. 81
Like the indis:Inct, golden = gonn
Aeece - q i r.
Which surrounded and had the poliiIs u
Greece, Fl,
From the glances of men,
the single fold Of gossamcr al
the mouth and chin ac4ioG
ouSly on the fair faces q
noplc ladies than the ..va
shady riding-hats Of the
own country -.
There were some beauf
and some of those more zen = W. 49,
intelligence than the other. rcnainded
me Of sweet gentle faces At home but
these were few, for, in general they
looked sadly insane And ~ Va we're
assured on the best authori2Y that they
do not now by any means lead the en-
tirely vacant lives We are aceoet0snc0 10
believe they do; there Is scarcely a
harcm belonging to a tolcrably rich per-
son. where the ladies ~ nps' 4 read
French and play on the piane forts. be-
sides occupying themselves With many
kinds of embroidery, and soaae even,
sing and draw; one Pssha's wife was
mentioned to US who had latcly played
the whole of the '.Trovatore BY heart
TO our informant. But these accom-
pl!shmcnts are all learned lrom French
governcsses and tcmmes ele esan.bre. With
with these accon,pli
also the morals, o. r
teachers, who are
reputable class.
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30

For life In general, there is bat one
degree; youth is blunder; manhood
struggle; oid age regret.
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30

He that can keep his temper is Letter
Lau u. sL.t can keep his carriage.
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30

!ld correspondent of the New
l!As speaks Of Gen. Lyons
&uktle field, and his previ-

ufsrly to reinforce me am cblig-
% abandon the country If leave it
without engaging the enemy, the public
will call me u coward. If engage him.
[ may be defeated and my command cut
to pieces. am too weak to hold Spring
field, and yet the people will demand that
| bring sbout battle with the very ene-
my | cannot keep town against How
Can this result otherwise than against us?'
On the way to the field frequently rode
near him. lie seemed like one bcxilder-
cd, and often when addressed failed to give
any recognition, and seemed totally una
ware that he was spoken to. On the bat
tic field he gave his orders promptly, aud
seemed solici,ious for the welfare of HE
men, but utterly regardless of his own
safety. While lie was standing where the
bullets flow thickcst, Just after his faror-
lite horse was shot from under him. some
of his officers inserposed and begged that
be would retire from he spot and seek one
less exposed. Scarcely raising his eyes
from the enemy, he said:
lit is well enough that stand here
am satisfied"
While the line was forming for the
charge against the rebels, in
which he lost his life. Gen. Lyon turned
to Major Sturgis. who stood near him, and
remarked:
! fear that the day is lost; if Colonel
Selgcl bad been successful. he would have
joined Us before this. think will lead
this charge"
lie had been wounded in the leg in an
! early part of the engagrment-a flesh
wound merely-from which the blood flow
ed profuscly. Major Sturgis, during the
conversation, noticed blood on General
Lyons hat. and ut first supposed he
had been touching it with his hand
which was wet with blood from his
leg. A moment after. perceiving that it
was fresh. he removed the Generals hat
and asked the cause of its appearance
lit is nothing, Maj"r, no.hisg but wound
ia the head. said General Lyon, turning
away and mounting his horse. Without
taking the hat held out to him BY Major
! Sturgis, he addressed the Iowans he was
to co,anlaild with
| ''fwUurd men! InM lead you!''
/ Two minutes afterwards he lay dead on
the field. killed by = rifle ball through
the breast, just above the heart. In dessh
; his features Wore the same troubled ex-
prtr.si"n that bad becn fixed upou them
, ior tic pas. week.
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30

- men on board a steam vessel Of
ate size will throw more shot, and
{1ua effective range, than can be
half dozen seyenty-four gun
carrying 1000 to 1,2C0 men
St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-30

the Union part of it, and all the stripes.
BY simply making the Gag RID. With q
.rhite cross, consuisins ss Il The ssays of
hue. thereby retaining all the &hrec en-
blcms IF Republicans. red. Hhils andsblse.