davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05
Congregational Singing.

Coleridge somewhere remarks that
while yawning, our ears are closed.
We have sometimes thought of the
practical effect of that remark, when
we have listened to the performances
of some of the choirs in our fashionable
churches. We are glad to know that
a change in the interesting part of
worship is now going ON.
In many of our larger churches, es-
pecially in the New England cities, the
choir is wholly dispensed with, and the
seats rented. A single seat is retained
for the organist, and the singing is
performed by the congregation. All
hail the day when in all our country
churches the same fashion shall obtain.
Saurin has the following sentiment
on the manner of praising God: What
contradiction, what contrast APP
pears, when lifting up the exterior
habit OF piety that covers some of us,
we examine the inward dispositions of
the heart. The psalms that are ut
tered by the voice are contradicted by
the tempers of the heart. The mouths
that were Just now opened to bless the
Creator, will presently be opened again
to blaspheme and to curse him. The
praises which seemed so proper to him
in whose honor they were offered, will
incur thisreproof, Thou wicked man
what hast thou to do, to take my cove
nant in thy mouth ?'-Ps. so, 49,
We are glad to see the following
paragraph in DIR. Wayland's sermons
to the churches; You viii not be sur
prised when / say that nothing but
congregational singing is appropriate
to the devotions of christian assem-.
bly,. We meet to ,oorship God. We
worship God by offering up to him the
oblation of holy affections.
In singing we offer up this oblatior
in unison 1t is then a service in which
every believer is expected to unite
Hence the airs should be obviously
simple. They should be emphatically
expressive of solemn, tender and de
vout emotion. However well adapted
music may be TO the expression o
other emotions. il it fail here, il is a
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05
Venetian Traits and Characters.

There are certain idylic notions that
Italy is a land where people are not
only idle with impunity,' but make
amusement the serious business of life.
| can remember that the book from
which | received my first impressions
of the earth's surface, was illuminated
with picture protesting to represent
Italian life. The spirit of inquiry had
long caused me to doubt the exact fl
deity of this representation; but it cost
me pang to learn that the picture was
utterly delusive. 1t has been no part
of my experience to see an Italian sit
ting upon the ground, and stunning
the guitar, while two gaily-dressed
peasants danced to the music. In sad
truth, almost the only idle people /
have seen in Italy are the foreign tour
lists, the very rich Italians, and such of
the very poor as could get no work to
do. am sorry, for the sake of the
picturesque, to say that the Venetians
of to-day, at least, are an industrious
race, and work cheerfully and constant
ly for very little money. 1t is gen
orally fair to conclude, when you see
them idle, that it is their fate and not
their fault; and their diligence is the
more surprising to us of northern and
free lands, because their climate sub
dues and enervates us, and because we
can see before them no career open to
intelligent industry With the poorest,
work is necessarily hand to hand
struggle with hunger; with those who
would not absolutely starve without it,
work is an inexplcable passion.
Partly because the ways of these
people are so childlike and simple in
many things. and partly from ones own
swindling tendency to take oneself in,
there is something pathetic in the pa
tient content with which Italians work.
They have naturally SO large q capaci-
ty for enjoyment, that the degree OF
self-denial involved in labor seems ex-
orbitant, and one feels that these chill
dren so loved of nature, and 80 gifted by
her, are harshly dealt with by their step
mother Circumstances. There ought
to he truth in the silly old picture, il
there is none. and ! would willingly
make-belieye to credit it, if / could.
am glad. however, that they work il
old-world, awkward. picturesque ways
and not in commonplace. handy. mod
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

least an impertinence. Unless il fan
the flame of devotion, it were better to
omit it entirely, and lift up our souls
to God in silence.
And if this be so, by what name
shall we designate that service which
is performed merely as matter of
musical advertisement, when the most
solemn truths of which the mind can
conceive, are used for the frivolous
purpose of professional display?
Can that be the worship of God.
which is enacted by men and women
hired from the theatre and the opera
house to regale the ears of an audience
OF musical amateurs Can it be pleas
ing to God to exchange the oblation of
holy affections for mere sensual OBJ
location ? The Savior whom we wor-
ship has said, where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there
am lin The midst Of them. My breth-
rem, do we believe this
Is such service as this meet OBJ
lation to offer to the Saviour who is
present in the assemblies of the saints I
When he demands of ms the tear OF
penitence, the yearning of holy love
and the confidence of childlike faith, is
it seemly to offer him instead, trills
from fashionable opera /?
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

The EXPRESSION OF DREss. Women
are more like flowers than we think.
In their dress and adornment they ex-
press their nature as the flowers do in
their petals and colors. Some women
are like the modest daisies and violets;
they never look or feel better then when
dressed in morning wrapper. 9th
ers are not themselves unless they can
flame out in gorgeous dyes, like the tu-
lip or bush rose Who has not seen
women Just like white lilies2 We know
several double marigolds and peoples.
There are women fit only for velvets.
like the dahlias; others sre graceful and
airy, like the ezaleas. Now and then
you see hollyhocks and snnfowers.
When women are free to dress as they
like, uncontrolled by others, and not
limited by their circumstances, they do
not fail to express their true characters.
and dress becomes form of expression
very genuine and useful Meredith.
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

HoRsE- BACK EXERCISE stamina
of constitution and vigor of body, SO
much superior in former generations
as compared with the present was ow-
ing in great degree to exercise on
horseback. Years ago it was the only
means of land transportation save on
foot Horseback exercise for both
sexes was general and common with
the memory of many now living, as it
is now in England. 1t gives robust
ness to the body, vigor to the mind,
freshness to the countenance, cheerful
ness to the spirits, and health to the
yiscera. In internal disease it is toe
much neglected. Dyspepsia, bilious
complaints, consumption, have in
creased in ratio proportionate to the
disuse of the saddle and pillion.
In those complaints it is Invaluable
and if we We're able to control the
matter, the regimen should be compul-
sorry. 1t brings more muscle into
healthy action than any other thing
except boat rowing, and produces that
divertive influence upon the mind, so
much needed, yet SO hard to obtain.
For the feeble maiden, with the rosy
hue of heaven upon her cheek, it will
do more than all things else combined
and if used early, will be worth all the
pains and labor needed for the trial.
1t also tends to give person graceful
motion, and he or she who can ride a
horse elegantly has progressed far tow
ard personal dignity and politeness.
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

add to it the Photographic portraits OF
the Japanese embassy. You will re-
mark the face Of one OF the strangers,
for he is the very image of your son. .
The father could perceive the resemb-
lance; the features were certainly the
same, but the closely shaven head, and
the Oriental costume, greatly puzzled
him. He, however, went to the court
yard of the hotel in which the embassy
was staying, and was SO fortunate as
to srriye just as the japanese was pass
ing out. The original of the portrait
he at once recognized, and called out,
us that you Frantz p In moment
the son---for Frantz it really was-and
the old man were locked in each others
armes. The ambassadors, who wit
messed the scene, were greatly moved
and old Bleckman's troubles were now
at an end, as the son is wealthy and
prosperous.
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

GLoRIoUs News FOR THE PEopLx.-
There is panic among the produce
and provision dealers and in conse-
quence, prices are going down. May
this panic grow, increase, enlarge.
prove contagious, until it seizes upon
every Spectator in the necessaries of
life, in the emergencies Of the country
LIN anything that abbreviates tho
means of honest living and embarrassed
the resources of the land Only let
-four, and beef, and butter, and sugar.
and coal, and gold go down to reasona-
BILE figures, and millions will not care
if a host of spectators who have been
pushing up the cost Of food and fuel.
go down with them, too low to be able
ever to rise again to resume their sell
fish and vampire occupation. Let the
people and the republic live, though
alms-houses must be built wherein to
support the pauper spectators.
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05
HATES OF ADvERTrsINGi
YOUNG AGAIN.

Il a, old man sits in his high-backed chair
Before an open door,
Tslls hot across the hoor.
4 ~ r. lrousy citi Z 70 an aneient clock
Has notched the hour OF four.
h,seze blows in, and a breeze blows out,
From the summer-scented air;
Al n antters now on his wrinkled brow,
And now It lifts his hair,
"a he leaden lid of his eye drops down,
As he sleeps in his high-backed chair.
Tho old man sleeps, and the old man dreams
i His head sinks ON his breast
4 his hands relax their feeble mold,
y And fan to his lap in rest.
q The old man sleeps, and IN sleep ne dreams,
And in dreams again Is blest.
The Years unroll their dreary scroll
& He child again
y,s mothers tones are in his ear,
And drifts across his brain,-
And he chases gaudy butterflies
81 Across the grassy PLAIN
..Ue pluchs the Wild rose in the woods,
n And wreaths Of eglantme,
~ And holds the yellow buttorcup
81 Beneath his sisters chm.
And angles in the meadow brook
With a bent and naked pin.
h. loiiers down the grassy lane,
*f And by the trimming pool,
And sigh escapes his parted lips,
As he hears the bell for school;
"A nd he wishes it never were nine o'clock.
81 And the morning never were fun.
hi. mothers hand is on his head
81 Her kiss is on his brow;
#That summer breeze blows in at the door,
i With the toss Of leafy bough,
a And the boy is white-haired man again;
But his eyes are tear-tlled now
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

MISTAKES N FRfEvDsHIP. --Very sell
dom, indeed, do we read q whole char
acter at single glance. The heart of
man is as boundless in its extent, and
as varied in it's SCENERY, as any vast
continent in the physical world. The
most intimate friends are continually
fitting out exploring expeditions to
traverse nameless seas and rivers, and
to note new mountains, if not new
CULTS, in each others spirits. Those
who are called frank are only relative
ly transparent. Like many in the
early church, who pretended to have
everything in common, after all we do
keep back part. But it cannot be
withheld forever. Intimacies imply
revelations; familiarity will bring hid
den things to light. Then appear un-
foreseen tests Of the reality of our affec-
tons. Then appear Unforeseen tests Of
the reality Of our affections. Then we
learn how magnahimously we can for
bear and endure. II there are any
flaws in our love, they will be inevita-
bly, discovered. If it is complete and
genuine, it will vindicate its worth by
.sossquvsta "a J---iA and fear Alaa
we cannot count the instances where
unreasonable expectations have ended
in discord and aversion. On every
side we meet hundreds who, with un-
clasped hands and separate pathways,
cannot rid themselves of memories Of
the time when they hoped for abiding
peace and satisfying unions. Ofall the
ihcurnful suggestions of literature, we
cannot recall one that is sadder than
this, which we read lately in the light.
or darkness, rather, of some OF our
modern tendencies -
Two lovers, soon after their happy
union, are separated by death. How
vivid is the faith of the survivor that
they shall meet again Surely. some
where they shall be reunited. Is there
not space enough--are there not stars
enough in the wide heavens? And
all they want is little space to love in
some foothold given them in the
creation. All the rest of their eternal
Joy they carry with them--such Joy as it
would surely be amazing waste and
prodigality to let fall out of the uni
verse. What if they had lived little
longer on the earth ? Perhaps the star
would not have been wanted. Chris-
tan Inquirer.
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

AN INpUsrRrous MONARCH. Peter the
Great once passed whole month at
tho FORCES of Muller, during which time
after giving due attention to the affairs
of State, which he never neglected, he
amused himself with seeing and exam
lining everything in the most minute
manner, and even employed himself in
the business of blacksmith. He sue
ceeded SO well, that one day before he
left the place he forged eighteen pounds
Of iron, and put his own particular
mark on each bar. The boyars and
other noblemen of his suite were en-
ployed in blowing the bellows, stirring
the fire, and performing the other du-
ties of blacksmith's assistant. When
Peter had finished he went to the pro-
prietor, praised his mandatory, and
asked how much he gave his workmen
per pound.
"Three kopecks, or an altina,' ans
wered Muller. lll
Very WELL" replied the Car, II have
the earned eighteen altinas."
Muller bought eighteen ducats, offered
them to Peter, and told him that he
could not give workman like his Ma
jesty less per pound
Peter refused the sum saying: keep
thy ducats (; have not wrought better
than any other man; give me what you
would give another l want to buy a
pair of shoes, of which l am in great
need"
At the same time he showed him his
shoes, which had been once mended, and
were again full of holes. Peter accept
ed the eighteen altinas and bought
himself pair of new shoes, which he
used to show with much pleasure, say
ing "These earned with the sweat
of my brow" One of the bars of iron
forged by Peter the Great, authentica-
ted by his mark, is still seen in lstia in
the loge of Muller Another similar
bar is preserved in the cabinet of curl
osities at St Petersburg
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

A PLEA FOR CHILDREN. and love
little children. Tolerate these pests.
Comfort Nellie over her dead bird, and
don't call Nellie's little white kitten a
cat 1t is enough to break juvenile
heart to have ones darling snubbed.
How would you like to hear your own
Frederick Augustus called a,dirty young
one? The little ones have their trag-
edies and comedies, and laugh and
weep more sincerely than you do at
'Falstaff'or Lear They love, marry,
keep house, have children, have we'd
dings, and funerals, and dig little
graves for dead mice, in the garden.
and mourn into small white handker-
chiefs, and get brother Jim to write an
appropriate inscription for its tiny
headboard. Is not human nature in
little, and in its way, as deserving of a
certain respect? You do not despise
your own reflections in concave mir
ror, you know. Cherish the children
mend their frocks, don't scold them
for broken toys, for man is not more
inevitably mortal than playthings
Don't strip their fat shoulders in WIN
ter, nor toast them in fannels in dog
days, because somebody told you to.
Don't drug them, don't 'yarb' them,
don't stuff them with pastry; don't
send them to infant schools at three,
or to fancy balls at ten, or teach them
the commandments earlier than they
can remember mother goose.
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

NOTHING TO EAr.-The mans family
may consist of wife and several
daughters, for whom he provides by
arduous daily labor, and yet his com
forts, the very Necessities OF his exist
ence will be dependent on the capacity
of one general servant, who must wait
upon and attend TO the orders of hei
mistress and the "young ladies'" as
well as cook the meals, ''iron masters
shirts nicely" and do the drudgery
If she turns out an ignoramus, as is
often the case, when changes are SC
frequent, there is a chorus of lamenta-
ton from the whole family. The new
girl cannot wash and iron, cannot broil
properly, cannot make biscuit, or dress
poultry, and the entire household must
therefore be put on short and vile al
lowance, and submit to other inconven-
fences, until substitute is found bet
ter informed as to her duties. Such a
thing as dividing up the work of the
house and performing for themselves
some of the nicer culinary operations,
so that the regular machinery of the
establishment shall not be interrupted,
seems never to enter the heads of the
female members of the family. The
young ladies" exhibit their addressed
hair and unbrushed nails at the late
breakfast table, and complain loudly
of the short -comings of that unfortu-
nate meal, but they would be amazed
if even papa" were to dare hint that
they held the remedy III their own
hands.
This dependence upon ''help" is dis
graceful to American women. There
is no necessity for all doing what is
technically called "their own work, "
but every mistress of house should
understand how to practically operate
in every department, and be able and
expect to instruct her daughters, SO
that health and comfort may be quite
independent of servants ignorance
or caprices. A man has right to de-
mand this as o return for his labor in
providing for their wants; and it is a
great proof of forbearance on the par,
of men in general, that they submit tc
SO much discomfort, the result of laz-
mess, ignorance and false pride, on the
part of their wives and daughters.
Nothing to eat, could be as often and
as truthfully placed over the compare
lively rich mans dining-room door as
over the poor mans cellar, all for want,
not of raw material, but of cooks
Jenny June.
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05


REPORT Your SUCCESS much
that is known by our successful far
mers is never communicated! We see
fields OF the richest grain, excellent
cattle, good fences, ETC.; farms that tho
mind singles out among inferior hand.
and is delighted at such prosperity,
wondering how the improvement was
brought about. Who has not such
farms in his minds eye? And yet
these farms are unknown; only the
neighbors are benefited by the exam
pie. Here is valuable matter. Why
not report the success, how it was
brought about. 80 that others may get
the benefit? Ii matters not il il il
said in homely way, If it is only said.
- Valley Farmer. aeF ei
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

aid of his art to ladies among whose
black or golden hair the silver lines are
beginning to show themselves, he re-
minds them that white hair was the
"rage" in the time Of Louis XIV, and
prophecies u speedy revival of the
same preference. In short time all
the ladies' will wear powder, and you
will see how charmingly becoming this
fashion will be for your smooth and
graceful forehead The inexhaustible
flattery.of the Grand Ducal hair dress
er has an agreeable and acceptable
comment for all his customers.
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

A DUTcH ROMANCE of the
Paris Journals tell the following story
relating to the interpreter of the Japan
ese embassy now in Paris: Frantz
Bleckman was a native of Holland. but,
being of rowing disposition, embarked
on board vessel bound to Batavia TO
seek his fortune. Years sped and moth
ing being heard of him, his friends at
last concluded that some accident must
have befallen him, and he was no long
er living. His father remained in Hob
land, but being unsuccessful in bust
ness he came to Paris. Here his re-
sources soon failed him, aud on writing
to his friend to solicit q small loan. hs
received the following letter in reply
Il send you the money you ask for and
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

ern fashion. Neither the habits nor
implements of labor, in Venice, are
changed since the progress 81 the Re
public ceased, and her heart began to
die within her. All sorts of mechanics
tools are clumsy and inconvenient; the
turner's lathe moves by broken inn
pulses; door hinges are made to order,
and lift the door from the ground as it
opens back Upon them; all nails and
tacks are hand made; window sashes
are contrived to be glazed without put
ty, and the panes are put in from the
top, so that to repair broken glass the
whole sash is taken apart; cooking
stoves are unknown to the native cooks,
who work at an open fire, with crane
and dangling pot-hooks; furniture is
put together with wooden pegs instead
of screws; you do not buy door-lock
at hardware store, you get fabbro
to make it, and he comes with a leath-
ern satchel full of tools, to fit and finish
it on the door The wheelbarrow of this
civilization is peculiarly wonderful in
construction, with it's prodigious wood
en- wheel, and its ponderous incapable
body. The labofers whom / have seen
at work with it on the Lido in summer
were airily habited in a single futtering
garment-but little more numbered in
deed, with clothing then Adam, when
he trundled his wheelbarrow, so that it
was quite like being in Eden to look at
them. The canals are dredged with
scoops mounted on poles, and manned
each by three or four Chiozzottc. There
never was pile-driving machine known
in Venice; nor steam-tug in all the
channels of the lagoons, through which
the largest craft are towed to and from
the ports by rowboats. In the model
ofthe boats themselves there has doubt
less never been changed from the first.
Yet in spite of all this backwardness in
invention, the city is full of beautiful
workmanship in every branch of arti-
fcing, and the Venetians are still the
best sailors in the Adriatic - Cores
pondence Boston AdUe,tiser.
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05
n.,,- The cure Of an evil tongue mus

pD- The cure Of an evil tongue must
begin at the heart. The weights and
wheels are there, and the clock strikes
according to their motion. A guileful
heart makes guileful tongue and lips,
1t is the workhouse where the forge OF
deceits and ISLANDERS is. and the tongue
is only the outer shop where they are
vended, and the lips the door Of it,
Such ware as is made within and nc
other can come out.
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

rJ- do you enjoy going to church
2" asked lady caller Of Mrs. Par
tington. Law me. l do, !" replied Mrs.
f. Nothing does me SO much good rs
to get up real early on Sunday morn
ing, fix up, and go to church, and hear
a real smart minister dispense with tho
gospel" p
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

Ssy-The brother Of Beethoven signed
his name, 10 distinguish himself from
his landless brother, "---von Bssth-
oven, landowner" The immortal eom-
poser reported by signing his. Ind
wig Won Beethoven, brain owner"
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

bay A lady in an omnibus at Wash
ington, espied the great unfinished
dome of the capitol. and said innocent
ly. Il suppose those are gas works :"
Yes, madam, for the nation" was the
reply Of fellow passenger.
The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05

~ "You bachelors ought tobetaxed
said lady to a resolute evsdsr Of the
moose matrimonial. Il agree win you.
madam. Wa the reply 'beshslosism
ID great LUXURY" ~ bs,.d.rr