davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19
SHODDY.

Terrible times of sorrow and need;
Times to make hearts of adamant bleed;
Times that seem to have been decreed
To chasten our wayward nation;
Fathers and brothers thinning away;
Bread growing scalcer every day;
Famine to pinch and sword to slay-
'Tis woful stuation!
But even as Nero, in days Of old,
Unmoved, heard Roman fre-bells tolled,
And saw the "machnes" that ratified and rolled
To the scene Of the great disaster.
The while he rosined his fiddle and bow,
And played some classic "Bob Ridley, Oh!'
So we make merry while all things go
To the dickens faster and faster!
Parties, sociables, visits and calls,
Operas, hops and Russian balls.
Mid broken pillars, and totterng walls,
Enough to bewilder body;
Silver and gold and gems of the mine,
Satins to rustic and silks to shine,
Feathers and fuss, and frippery fine
Paraphernalia of shoddy!
Carriages flash through the crowded street,
Flunkeys in livery stiff on each seat,
Buttoned and capped from head to feet
Most solemn majestical funkeys;
And "tigers' to let down the steps with bow,
Learned only by tigers, and heaven knows how,
Dressed in fashion must allow,
Like that Of the organ monkeys
The ladies who walk when the weather is fair
Show marvellous tastes with q marvellous air;
Nothing can be too splendid to wear,
Too gaudy, too fine or too funny;
For credit is good when the prices are high,
And government nod or wink of the eye
Can pile up "grcenbacks'' clear to the sky
"Greenbacks" being shoddy for money.
So yellows and blues and scarlets gay,
Go sweeping the pavement every day,
Making a rainbow Of poor Broadway,
With a glare that is really stunning;
And even the churches where fashion goes,
Are a mass of follics and turbelows,
Filtration and foolery under the rose
Past even the Serpent's cunning
While shoddy over its turtle gloats,
Our soldiers shiver in rotten coats
And our tars 90 down in their leaky boats,
The victims Of contract building;
And Poverty starves in its wretched slums,
Or freezes to death when the north wind comes,
While shoddy is picking the sweetest pums
For its bed of gingerbread gliding.
But what cares Shoddy for all these things?
Shoddy, the richest OF paper kings
Shoddy, who dances Gddles and sings
On the crater of wild infatuation
What does be care? Not sou marques;
He fattens and battens in luxury,
AS il his reign were a thing to be
OF eternal perpetuaton.
But Damocles' sword hangs overhead;
Justice may sleep, but she is not dead.
'Vengeance is mine!'' the Lord hath said
And soon, at the end of the story,
Fruitiest wine shall be biterest gall
Silk and satin make shroud and pail.
Truth shall arise and Shoddy shall fall
To the nations lasting glory!
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

If Congress lays the extra tax on whiskey.
wond it not be inst and fair to raise the
be an exceeding great burden on these
worthy gentleman if they are compelled to
pay this extra tax ou, oftleir present saW
ries.
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

A letter from near Milwaukee, Wis, thus
describes the intensity of the late cold spell
there: "A man could not live out more
than fifteen minutes without being frost Bit
ten. Thermometer refused to indicate-the
mercury would run down in the bowl al
most as soon as exposed. froze my ears
in going forty rods; and neighbor in ex
posing his bare hand three minutes, froze his
fingers. The hostler at the hotel froze his
fingers and ears in trying to hitch up horse.
and then had to give it up. 1t was fortunate
he did, for if the driver had started be would
have frozen to death.
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

The Sacramento Bee says that at an
early hour on the morning Of the 5th, three
cames crossed the Sacramento and Yolo
bridge. They came overland from Benicia,
and are on their way to the deserts beyond
the Sierra Nevada, where they will be EN-.
ployed, as we understand in packing water.
etc. Recently they were Uncle Sans pro-
pertey, but they were recently sold at Beni
cia by order Of the Government.
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

MAORI INGENUITY.-The natives of New
Zealand are hard pressed for powder during
the present war, and some how or other they
either procure it or they manufacture a sub
sttute. The latest instance of their clever.
ness was discovered when a native woman
offered sovereign for a quantity Of little
trap eyelet holes, such as ladies use in lacing,
and on inquiry it turned out the Maories
required them for PERCUSSION caps, having
found that the top of common lucifer
match inserted in the centre of these eyelet
holes answered every purpose.
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

"Talk about women taking" says lady
of our acquaintance herself by no means de-
ficient in eloquence; "why, look at the del
bates in the House Of Commons, public din
ners, the vestry meeting and, above all, the
gossip, gossip, gossip, at those horrid clubs!
You talk more in week than we do in a
year, though, to be sure. what we do say has
got some sense in tip Frazer's Magazi7se
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

Our BRAINs.-An amusing typographical
error occurred in one of the New York pa
pers in printing General Halleck's report of
operations. The General who enjoys the
'obriquet of "Old Brains" wrote in depreca,
ton of the immense cost of army transporta-
ton, and made out case for himself by say.
ing that "our trains have been materially
reduced during the year." Imagine his dis
gust when he found the boast printed, "our
brains have been materially reduced!' Ar.
temus Ward might add. N. B.-This TO-
sarkasm"
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

The Nevada Transcript says they have
commenced operations again on the famous
Well Lead, near the Zinc House, and are
driving ahead, in taking out ore, very rapid.
Iy. The 7ranscipt further understands that
the Pocahontas Company, located at the
lower part of Nevada county, struck some
rich copper ore, in their claim, one day last
week. A great many companies in the
copper regions are making extensive prepar.
atoms to 90 to work in earnest.
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

A JUsr REroRr.-A preacher ofsmsll in
telect, depending more on the power Of a
sanclimonious long face for passport
through life, than for any important good
be could accomplish, rebuked brother for
social firesde, and perhaps somewhat friv-
olous conversation: "Brother," he replied,
81 keep my nonsense for the fireside, while
you give yours from the pulpit"
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

porsona advertisements charged full rates.
Obituary. Birth and Marriage Notices, published
without charge: 5o - on.hl,, ~
yearly advertisers.
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

Bob LINcoLN.-The Presidents son :.
"Bob," As he is called, a lad of some twenty
summers has made himself half a million
dollars rs Government contractor. Of
course Bob's jocular daddy had no interest
in the contract 1t is also said that Mrs.
Lincoln is secret partner in number Of
speculations. 1t requires money to buy $3,-
600 shawls and give slo,o 900 parties, and by
having an interest in lucrative contracts ia
the way to "get the money back again.
But Chase's steam p, esses can grind out
plenty Of greenbacks. So ION with the
dance" Eachanoe.
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

The enrolment list for the northern dlsl
trict of the State has boon completed and
contains "a, ,73l names, of which probably
10000 are liable to draft
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

An abolitionist wants to know, if London
is not 'the government what relation he
does sustain toward it9 An exchange replies:
"Linco!n sustains the same relation to the
government that clown does to circus"
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

The Plumas Union says that the Chinese
are Aocking in that county in great nuns
bers.
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19
Englfshmen and the California vern.cu-

If the man in the moon were to drop
down in our streets inquriug the way to
Norridge, be would perhaps be somewhat
puzzled by the language in which answers
were made, though the manner might be-
unexceptonably polite. People who come
from the Eastern States are somewhat fami.
liar with slang, and so get along toerably
we'll. But Englishmen. and particularly
those who come from the British colonies
on this coast, where they have drunk wholly
from the we'll of English pure and undefled,'
are particularly puzz ed. Quite delegation
came in on the last steamer from the north.
and their bewiderment under some of the
things said to them is said to have been
funny IN The extreme. One Of them was
driven from the wharf in hack; on reaching
the hotel he handed the driver a IS gold.
piece which was quietly pocketed. After
waiting minute, "Give me my change."
cried the EngIishman, Don't see it," said
the driver. "Why, just gave you pound"
was the indignant reply. "Don't see any
change" said the driver; and further con-
versation ensued which was told by the
Englishman himself. Rushing into the office
of the hotel he addressed the proprietor
Look ERE, what kind of blarsted country
IS this, you know? gave bloody acki
man pund, and when ask him for my
change he says he don't see it, | tell him
he don't see it because he put it in his pocket
you know, and then he says it's all in my
eye, and he don't see it. What does hs
mean by don't see it9 asked him again
for my change, and he says: You're bik!'
What's bilk9' says l. IT'S man that
don't pay says he-what did he mean bv
that? Give me my change again said l.
llant hon hi.,' said he; what did he mean
by 'haint hon il!' Give me my change
said |. I'll give you pasler on the bugle,'
said he; what did he mean by paster on the
bugle, and what kind OF blarsted country
is this, any 'ow? It's not the correct thing
on stranger, you know" The EngIishman
was right-it wasn't.-S. +. Bulletin.
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19
THE PLACER HERALD.
h,,shed every Saturday Morning,
Nevadastreet, Auburn rn'Piaceroouh'y'o"i''oS
r. & c. n. MITCHELL.
,f ,bscription---Invariably in Advance
.rrs OF ADVERTISING.

O,o snuore Of Ten LINES, (thls sIZeu typc,J
First insertion. .:....'.'''' oo oo
Zach Zach subsequent insertion. ............" ! 90
Eor half square Give lines) or less.... W
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

Daily California Repub-
lican, Sacramento.
Daily Express, Marys'lle.
Daily Beacon, Stockton.
Esmeralda Star, Aurora.
Placer Herald, Auburn.
Colusa Sun.
Aurora Times.
Chronicle, lone City.
Democrat, Nevada.
Telegraph, Folsom.
Dispatch, jackson.
Enquirer. Dutch Flat.
Journal, Yreka.
Trinity Nationalist, Wea-
verville.
News, Knights Landin 6.
Sentinel, Santa Cruz.
Pajaro Times, Watson
Vile.
Tribune, San Jose.
Gazette, San Mateo.
Pacific Echo, Napa.
Tuolumne Courier, Co
lumbia.
San Francisco, May l
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19
IrOnclads VS.. Stone Walls.

The Philadelphia Ledger, creditng the
report that the siege of Charleston is to be
rased says:
The result proves tolerably conclusivelv
that the Admiral has but little faith in the
offensive qualities of the irouclads, and that
though they are capable of enduring a vast
amount Of hammerng, they are not capable,
in return, of inflicting injury, either upon
stone walls or sand batteries, equal to what
they themselves would be exposed to in the
time necessary to do it, The defect of the
Monitors for offensive work appears to be
their slow firing, arising from carrying only
of two guns, and they having to revolve the
whole circumference of the turret, whose
great weight necessarily makes the work a
slow one. Whether this is such defect as
to destroy the utility for war purposes of
such class OF vessels we will leave for naval
experience to decide; but it seems well estab
lished now, that if we want to reduce such
forts as defend Charleston harbor, we must
have vessels capable Of dischargng rapid
broadside fire to make them equal to the
force with which they must contend.
The attack and defense of this harbor is
one of the most remarkable events Of the
war, and the experience gained will 90 far
to settle many of the questions which have
recently arisen in military and naval circles
as to the efficiency Of new powers and the
new mechanical construction which science
has introduced into modern warfare. The
raising of the siege by no means stops all
operations against the city The land bat
teries will probably still keep up slow fire
on the city, so as to make it an uncomforta
bic place to live in, and prevent troops from
occupying it n any large numbers There
is evidently other work intended for the
military, for it is no longer concealed that
alarge military and naval force is collecting
in the Gulf, for operations at some point
not yet certain, and which, it is supposed, is
to co. operate with some movement in the
military plans for the coming campaign.
RE ENLIsTMENTs OF THE CALIFORNIA Vol,
UNTERs ON THE Rio GRANDE.-A California
volunteer writing on 9th January from
Fort Whippe, Arizona, to the Amador Lel-
ger says
On the Rio Grande there is considerable
excitement about enlistng in the veteran
corps. About 100 of the First California
Infantry re-enlisted. The Amador Noun
taineers are all going home first, the furlough
granted veterans being too short to admit
of their coming home and returning in time.
don't think any o. them will re'enlist until
they are discharged. We have no commits
stoned officer with US that started with us.
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19

The DEATH BANDAGE OF GENERAL WALK
ER.-Lieutenant S. H. Drennon, of this city,
who has just arrived from Havana, brings
with him, hermeticaIy inclosed in glass,
the bandage which covered the eyes of Gem
eral William Walker, when he was shot at
TruxiIlo, Honduras On the glass inclosure
is the following inscription: Remnant OF
the bandage which encircled the brow of
General William Walker, who having hon
orably captuIated to NorvelI Salmon, com.
mander of II. B. M. steamship of war Icarus,
was treacherousiy surrendered to the Hon.
duras authorities and by them executed on
the llth of September, 1860, in the town of
Truxillo. Posterity will do justice to their
memories. The victim will be depored
while the traitor will be execrated." The
bandage is thick with gore, full Of bullet
holes and is partially burned-the file exc
cutioners standing so close that the discharge
set fire to it, 1t was secured by the orderly
sergeant Of the General, given to William
Folton, of Havana, anc by him forwarded
by Lieutenant Drennon to the father OF
General Walker, who resides at Nashville,
Tennessee. " Y. Times.
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19
THOMAS BOYCE,
THOMAS BUYCE,
ADVERTISING AGENCY, :,
NORTH EAST CORNER OF
Montgomery and Washington Streets,
SAN FRANCISCO.

Democrat, Santa Rosa.
Cumberland Presbyter,
PachecO.
Alameda Gazette, San
Lcandro.
ISolano Herald, SuisuD.
Marin Journal, San Ra-
fael.
Oakland Press.
Oregon Democrat, AL
bany.
Oregon Union, Corvallis
Cosmopolitan, Mazatlan.
Oregon Sentinel, Jack
sonville.
Herald of Reform, Eu-
gene City.
Democratic State Jour
nal. Dalles.
Review, Eugene City.
Washington Standard.
Olympia.
British Columbian, West
minister.
1863
The Placer herald., 1864-03-19
LET THERE BE PEACE!

We fully agree with contemporary who
declares that they who believe the Peace
party faction, reckon without their host
Its adherents are found in every State dis
trict, county, town, villinge and neighbor.
hood throughout the land, South as we'll as
North. From the Arstook to the far off
'far west" loses itself in the sands of
the Pacific, are those who dem and
peace for our distracted and war-rent coun
try, and day by day, hour by hour their
ranks are swelling, not with the timid and
'rresolute, but with the brave and patriotic
and honest hearts of men who nsver feared
danger for themselves, but who see it and
feel for their country.
No party ever before rose with principles
pnrer, better or more patriotic. Its forma,
tion was forced by the mad acts of our rulers
N trampllng the Constitution under foot,
and seeking to change our Republican form
OF Government from representative democ
racy to a despotism. Even now, growing as
the Peace party is, its members would glad,
ly hazard the results of national battle on
a platform demanding peace, and thus bde
the fate of battle with peace against its AM
tagonist war principle, and agree to abide
with cheertulness by the result; for we know
that wherever the principles of peace have
been boldly avowed, and candidates stood
broadly on peace platform, they were eth
er successful or had largely increased vote,
And thus must it ever be, when men advo-
cate a principle which will save a country
from anarchy and misrule and restore peace
to land filed with bloodshed and death
In the final success of the peace men is the
last and only hope of the Republic. That
success will attend their efforts we think
there is no doubt, and the guilty Belshazzar
never saw the handwriting on the wall, the
Meme, meme, tehel upharsan of his eternal
overthrow more clearly, nor yet with more
guilty conscience or greater terror than do
our rulers see The onward movement of the
great Peace party. Peace is life and pros
perity to the nation: to them is political
death and utter ruin. BLESSED are the
Peacemakers.' Penn. Je6ersonian.
Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1864-09-01
1PrRIIc-No. llO.l

AN ACTto grant the right of pre-emp-
tion to certain settlers on the Ran
cho Bolsa de Tomales, in the State
of California.
BE u enacted By the Senate and House
of Representatives, Of the United States of
america ia Congress assembled, That it
may and shall be lawful for the Com
missioner Of the General Land Office
to cause the lines of the public sur.
veys to be extended over the tract oil
country known as the Rancho Boise
de Tomales. in Marin county, Califor
MIA. the claim to which. by James D.
Galbraith. has been adjudged invalid
by the Supreme Court Of the United
States, and to have approved plats
thereof duly returned to the proper
district land Office Prouded, That
the actual cost Of such survey and
plating shall first be paid into the
surveying fund by settlers, according
to the requirements OF the tenth Sec
tion Of the act of Congress approved
thirtieth of May, eighteen hundred
and sixty-two. to reduce the expen-
ses of the survey and sale of the pub
| lie lands in the United States"
Sec. 2. 4ad be 1t further enacted,
That after the return of such approved
plats to the district office, it may aud
shall be lawful for individuals, settlers
upon the said Rancho Bolsa de Tom
ales, to enter, according to the lines
of the public surveys, at one dollar
and twenty-five cents per acre, the
Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1864-09-01
Correspondence Of the Charles City Intelligence
Letter from the Go. Superintendent.


Letter from the Go. Superintendent.
Mr.. EDITOR Permit me to con
time my account of school visits. as
follows:
August Cd, A. NJ, l visited school in
sub district No. III, Floyd township
VIM. Sprague. Director Miss Keziah
Andrews, teacher. Wages, $3.50 per
week and board herself House, log !;
pleasant and comfortable-neat and
clean-rented by the district.
Apparatus, Globe, Mitche's Out line
maps, a good black board, aud Web
ster's Unabridged Dictionary. Fur.
niture, water pail and cup, stove,
broom. chair, table. aud benches for
seats. A sensible community, thus
providing apparatus for their school.
Most teachers are compelled. like the
lsraelites, when in Egypt, to make
bricks without straw" or, in other
words, to teach without means, Schol-
ars present, 9. On the list. Is. For
good order and quietness this school
cannot he surpassed. No whispering
no studying aloud. Judging from
those present, the school is well clas-
sified, and we'll advanced IN learning
in respect to age of scholars. Though
Miss Andrews is beginner in teach.
ing, she is certainly doing well. This
is good school and Miss Andrews
must have had some worthy prede.
cessors. Patrons of such q school
cannot long be without a good sub,
stantial school house Of their own.
August I'd, P. NJ, visited school in
sub-district No. 9. Cedar township
VIM. B. Howard. director. Miss Ju.
liza G. Montgomery, teacher. Wages
$3.50 per week and boards around
House. log. Pleasantly situated in
the edge Of a beautiful grove. Quite
commodious and comfortable on the
inside.
Apparatus. Webster's Unabridged
Dictionary and blackboard. Furni
ture, water pail and cup. broom. stove
desk, and seats very well arranged
Desk serves as a pulpit. Scholars
present, 9. On list, 90. Scholars
, present, all small. Seemed to be do
ing quite well. Arrived quite late
and left quite early in consequence o
the appearance of rain. Think Mis-
, Montgomery quite competent from th
, exercises performed. Scholarship O
: school in respect to age, middling.
II. WILBUR,
: County Superintendent.
Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1864-09-01
'aasst6arS tgs COURSE Of empire takes its @ap.'
CITY, FLOYD COUNTY, IOWA, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER l. 1864

cial life may be said to meet. Th,
greatest wealth and the most abiec
poverty are often separated by a sin
gle wall-the highest literary culture
is met by the most degrading igno
rance-the most exalted religion.
sentiment by the lowest superstition
the most liberal views by the mar
rowest bigotry-the most exalted vir
tue by its corresponding vice, YET
:" the Lord is the maker of them all,
though it would be slanderous t.
charge Deity with making many in
dividuals what they are. Man has
evidently sought out few inventions
in large city.
A somewhat intimate knowledge
of New York at former period ena,
blcs me to observe and note few OF
the most marked changes, viz: The
city has increased sensibly in popula
tion, business, and business faculties
The present extensive and gorgeous
saloons and refreshment rooms in con
nection with prominent hotels, in imi.
tation of those of Paris and other con.
tinental cities, have mostly sprung mp
within the past fifteen years. They
must be seen to be realized, and to
compare extravaganza in country
place with these, is like drop to the
ocean. The streets are quite as clean
as formerly. The number of street
rail roads and horse cars is large
ly augmented. the police is better or
ganized, and the number Of unfortu-
nate females seen upon the streets at
night appears to be much less than
formerly, perhaps owing chiefly to i'm
proved municipal regulations. Beg
gars and fag-stone swcepers are also
less in number, and | think the man-
ners of hack and omnibus drivers
slightly improved so, in all those re-
spects, it is to be hoped progress has
been made in the right direction.
Hotel expenses have nearly doubled,
the side walks are swept 10y expen-
sive and expansive crinolinc, and the
number of liquor and Lager bier"
signs would not indicate very rap
id advance Of temperance. The sup
porters of Gov. Seymour" my
friends" as he said in the riots of
lS63--are also too numerous to indi-
cate the absence of secession sympa-
thy or disloyal sentiments. The Cen
trail Park-some five miles up town
is a modern thing. and a most desira-
BILE one in the city's history. Invalid
adults and sick children can there
find something resembling the country
fresh air, rocks. lakes, streams,
trees, shrubs, flowers, &c.
Truly yours,
J. w. s.
Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1864-09-01

We have advices from Europe TO
the goth ultimo. The French papers
expect an engagement in the English
Channel between our war vessels and
rebel pirates. Great Britain intends
to recognize Maximilian's empire in
Mexico without waiting for the action
Of Juarez. Complaints continue to
be heard, according to rebel sympa-
thizers in Parliament, Of British emf
grants being entrapped as recruits for
our army. Parliament has been pro-
rogued, aud the Queens address on
the occasion declared a purpose TO
continue the policy Of strict neutrali-
ty in regard to the American war.
The French papers have an announce
ment that peace has been arranged
between Germany and Denmark by
the conference at Vienna.