davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09
Loss Of the Fashion.

The New Orleans papers are filed with
accounts of the destruction by fire of the
splendid Vicksburg packet Fashion about
ten miles above Baton Rouge on the 9th
ult. We publish in another column the
statement of Captain Pratt, which gives
the most Ineligible account Of the catas
trophe that we have yet,seen. The cotton
seems to have taken fire by sparks from
the chimneys, Immediately after which the
whole boat was enveloped in flames and
totally destroyed, together with valuable
cargo and many precious lives. AS soon as
the fire was discovered the cool and heroic
pilot steered the boat to the shore, where
she was made fast and all in front safely
landed. But the middle of the boat being
wrapped in q sheet Of fame all egress to
those aft was cut of, and the unfortunate
passengers had left them the alternative
of being burned alive or to attempt to
save themselves by jumping into the river.
In this way many were saved, but also
many were lost. :"
It is impossible to say how long the list
Of the lost may prove to be. We have
seen the number stated as high as sixty,
the large majority Of whom were the col.
ored passengers on deck. Only one lady.
is known to have been lost, Miss Belle
Edwards, of Iberyille, sisterin-law of our
friend VIM. A. seay, Esq, Of this Parish
She was last seen standing in the rear of
the ladies' cabin with her'sunt,, who in
vain implored her to jump with her into
the river. Among the gentlemen lost was
Mr.. Henry N, Stewart Of Bayou Sara, and
Mr. Thomas Montague, the pilot, who Der.
ished while nobly discharging his duty at
the wheel. A number Of children are miss.
ing. Judge McMurran, Of Mississippi, for
merly law partner of General Quitman.
who jumped from the hurricane deck and
broke his leg, subsequently died III New
Orleans Of his injuries, 'I' -
About 200 bales Of cotton were con.
sumed. The boat was valued at $l25, 900
and was owned principally by A. s. Mans-
field & Co., of New Orleans.
Though the officers all seem to have ex.
erted themselves manfnlly to rescue the
unfortunate passengers from horrible
death. and are entitled to much credit for
their efforts, yet I'VE cannot help thinking
that this disaster, as we'll as many others
similar to it, might have been avertod by
proper precautions. If o shower Of sparks
from two chimneys continually fall on the
exposed surface of such O combustible ma
terial as cotton. the mystery is not that so
many. but so few, steamboats, are DESTROYED
BY fire. We believe there is a law which
requires the masters Of boats to cover their
cotton with tarpaulins while under way.
II this precaution had been taken the
Fashion would not have been lost. The
carelessness Of steamboat captains has be.
come proverbial, and If the laws viii not
see that those who recklessly expose hui
man life are punished, the travelling pub.
lie owe 1t to themselves to secure their
own safety by refusing to patronise snch
boatsas show so little regard f0r human life
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

U Elections have been held in our
Town on the I'd aud 18th inst for Mayor
and Councilmen Of the Town to serve for
the year 1867. The following are the off.
GERS elected:
MAYOR-E. R. Biossat
CouNcrLMEN-Joseph Fellows. Julius
Levin, Jacob Walker, W. o. Damon and
Edouard We'll. s'>.....
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

e 1t seems that Mr.. James Madison
Wells, who was elected Governor of Lou
isiana as tho embodiment Of wisdom. virtue
and patriotism, made an attempt to get
General Sheridan to try the New Orleans
rioters by military commission. While
the Supreme Court of the United States,
composed, with o single exception, of
Northern judges, is decreeing the uncon-
stitutionality of these modern instruments
ofunjustifable murder, it remains for the
miserable production Of Southern State
to endeaTsr to fasten them upon a people
who honored him only to be betrayed.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

eA- Moses Rosenthal & Bro, with the
best compliments Of the season to their
customers and gentle reminder of "pay
day come" respectfully refer them to their
advertisement for the Winter Of 1867, and
beg to assure them, one and all, that they
are ready and willing to serve them. We
can still vouch for them and do It once
more with pleasure. =
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

~ The valuable and desirable town
property, known as the Louisiana
Bakery, and two other frame dwellings,,
are offered for sale. Any one desiring
investing in such property viii find it
greatly to their advantage to call on
V. Girard on the premises. g..
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

s@. The fine brick store of R. C. Hyn-
son, Jr., is offered for rent. This store is
the very finest and most commodious bull
ding in Alexandra, and peculiarly adapted
tor business Of any kind. By calling on
The proprietor, terms, ETC., can be made
known.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

a HEAP OF MoNEY.-T war indemnity
Of twenty million thalers, paid BY Austria
TO Prussia, wss conveyedito Berlin in one
railroad express train. The whole amonnt
was paid in silver. It was loaded by the
ton, and took twenty men six DAYS 70
count Il. Ten clerks twelvs tellerss and
tmrty-slx gendarmeS accompanied the
train. ....-Ta5t Assx. ~
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

seA That Sahsng pariot, Holt, and the
nn6oaled hero, Ben. Batlr, were recently
hob-nobbing together in the city Of. Wash
>ington. Whose lives are they plotting to
take away by hired witnesses next time
What unfortunate woman is. the victim Of
shair mqrderous devices; 10.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

ss- The weather has been the past week
eald. very cold, but beautifully clear and
bsaoing. with the exception of q LIGHT
shower ofrain Monday night.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

R The obliging officers Of the Steam
Frs F. D. Hinei Bart. Able, Navigator, New
Era! St. Nicholas and National will please
accept our thanks for favors. vr
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09
I, Woman and Marriage.

Ihave speculated a great deal On
matrimOny. / have seen young and
beautiful women; and pride of gay cir
cles, married, as the world says, well.
Some have moved into their costly
houses, and their friends have all come
and looked at their furniture and their
splendid home for happiness, and have
gone away and committed them to their
sunny hopes cheerfully and without
fear. 1t is natural to be sanguiue for
them, as the young are carried away
with similar feelings. / loveto ret. un-
observed, IN q corner and watch the
bride in her white attire, and with her
smiling face and soft eyes meeting me
in the pride of life, weave q waking
dream of FIXTURE happiness, and Der.
suade myself it will be true. / think
how they will sit upon the luxurious:
'sofa as the twilight falls, and builds
gay hopes and murmur ii low tones
the not now forbidden tenderness; and
how thrillingly the allowed kiss and
beautiful endearments Of the welded
life will makeeven their partingjoyoous,
and how gladly they will come hack
from the crowded and empty mirth Of
the day to each others quiet company.
I picture to myself that young creature
who blushes even now at his hesitatinQ
cares, listening eagarly for his foot
steps as the night steals on, wishing he
would come, and when he enters at
last, and with an affection as undyinp
as his pulse, folds her to his bosom. I
can feel the tide that goes flowing
through the heart, and gaze with him
on the graceful form asshe moves about
for the kind Offices of affection, sooth-
ing all his unquiet cares, and making
him forget even himself in her youug
and unshadowed beauty. Igoforward
for years and see herluxuriant hair put
soberly away from her brow and her
girlish graces9 resigned into dignity,
and l0veliness chastened with the pen-
tie meekness Of maternal affection.
Her husband looks on-with q proud
eye, and shows the same fervent, love
and delicate attentions which first won
her and her fair children are grown
about them, and they go on, fun Of
honor and untroubled years, and are
remembered g when they die.-[Irving.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

sa. The Lamoth Bridge Store and other
Improvements, with one hundred and four
teen acres Of good cleared land. are offered
= for rent.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

sa. The regular weekly Packet, st.
Nicholas, with a fair trip, touched our land
ing early Monday morning. shegoesdown
this morning at 10 clock.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

eGl- The Roman Catholic church Of St.
Thomas Manor, Charles county, Maryland,
built one hundred and fifty years ago. was
burned on the 4th last.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

4
Laws making Sunday day Of gloon
and penance, and we have never bee,
averse to the enjoyment ofany i,noce,l
amusement on that day. But, we mus
say that men such as we have describe,
can find better and more proftabl'
mode Of spending their Sabbaths tina,
at the card Or billiard table. .Rondo i
another Of our fashionable amusements
and one which we confess has Away
excited our establishment more thar
any other. How any msn, possessing
the habits, feelings, or instincts Of {
gentleman, can stand hour after hour
in a sitting fetid atmosphere reekinl
with every imaginable bad odor, in
close personal contact elboMing and
being elbowed by q dense crowd Of the
lowest refuse Of mankind, and all fo1
the highly intellectual and ernobline
occupation Of rolling about a hand fnl
Of little ivory balls, utterly passes our
comprehension. We suppose it is their
innate love for gambling-their insane
passion for risking their own to win
other peoples money that lends a charm
to this strange amusement and we pity
even while we, contemn the vacuity Of
heart and mind that can find no nobler
pleasure than this. The ever increas-
ing,, and to Us, perfectly horrifying
practice Of profanity is another fashions
able custom Of the day. Even the
presence Of ladies is no longer any Sc
curity against hearing oaths shocking
enough to curdle the blood in ones
veins and make the hair stand erect
with horror. The awful name Of the
Supreme Ruler Of the universe, coupled
with the most outrageous blasphemy,
is now as familiar to our ears as house
hold words; and the command not to
take it in vain as completely ignored as
though it had never been promulgated.
We are inclined to believe, however,
that the practice proceeds in many, not
so much from innate wickedness of
heart and q desire to insult the author,
Of their being, as from want Insufficient
sense to know better. Many men are
80 scantily provided with ideas that
they frequently interpose an oath for
want Of something better to say, or else
they deem their bare word Of so slight
value as to require the confirmation Of
an oath. We advise the first class Of
gentlemen to provide themselves with
, copy Of Webster's Dictionary, and see
!, by diligent- study, they cannot dis
cover some term of commendation
equally as expressive and appropriate
Is q "deviSsh good fellow or a |
9 damned fine woman And to the
asst we would respectfully recommend
yuch q course Of conduct as will render
unnecessary half a dozen oaths to boil
ter up their assertions. eWemust now
lose, not for want Of matter for fur |
her remark but for want of space
What we have said has been said, not
With the intention Of giving pain or |
'fence to any, but with the hope OIL
. few. In conclusion, We
would say briefly to all who have
1oung children growing up around
hem, to look well to theirown conduct,
md heed well lest the prolific seed
own by the parents sin and folly ripen
n future years into the childs crime
nd disgrace. 1@ 4%f
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09
mates that it is, and that these two

mates that It Is, and that these two
writer's share the honor Of exhum-
ing from the rubbish Of Spanish 70
nance story which affords the
groundwork of a production as in
teresting as the little poem before
us. Now this is not strictly true
The student Of Spanish history is as
familiar with the ravishing of Flo
rinda, as with the exploits of the
Gid, the defeatof Boabdilel Chico, OF
the abdication Of Charles, the Fifth.
We remember to have read, about
the time this poem was written, an
elaborate account of it in a ponder
GUS Spanish history Of twenty vol.
umes, whoseauthor. withmuchgrav-
ity, ascribed to this crimethe "woes
ulnlnumbered" to which the people Of
Spain were subjected, from the time
when the 'last Of the Cloths" lost
his. crown, to the tune when the
"last Of the Moors" heaved his ''last
sigh"-el wltimo sospiro del Moro
as he cast a final look towards the
towers of the ALEXANDRIA and the
Handicapped SUBMITS Of the Al
puxara. To the fervid imagination
of the Saracens, fresh from the en-
chantments of their own homes, we
must ascribe the many marvellous
stories which have crept into Span
ish history, and which it is almost
impossible to separate from events
that are known to be authentic. If
Cervantes hadlived a few centuries
earlier it is not unlikely that Don
Quixote himself would have taken
his place as an historic character
along with Ferdinand and Philip,
with Cortez and Pizarro.
The subject of this poem is we'll
suited to the peculiar inclination of
it's author'simagination. Evident
~ believing in the innate weakness
Of her own sex. and the corruption
Of ours, we can recall morethan one
piece in which she has devoted her
covers TO the deliniation of the
wrongs whichresult from thatweak- |
ness, and the outrages which orig !
mate with that corruption. Andif|
the breeding of the Imagination
over the crimes and weaknesses of
fallen humanity tinge her writings
with q melancholy hue, she can at
least have the satisfaction to know
that as high authority as Edgar A.
Poe sets down a proneness to mel
anchOly as one Of the surest indica-
tions Of high poetic talent. The
metre, too, seems to be afavorite of
hers, and is handled in this piece
with the same dexterity that char
acterises some of her former pro-
auctions.
We are glad to observe that our
fair parishioner has resumed her
pen and again betaken herself to
her literary labors, with so much
enthusiasm, as the brilliant columns
Of a contemporary journal abundant
ly show. We only regret that she
should consent to waste her intel
lectual energies on the ephemeral
productions of the daily press, in
stead of embodying her thoughts in
some substantial and enduring
of her genius.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

&g. The River has fallen three feet in
The last week, and keeps receding tolerably
fast. s q
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09

brocade silk are tangible representa-
tives OF the twenty and fifty dollar bills
which they respectively cost. But
pray, my dear sir, what have you to
show for the many dollars that have
gone out Of your pocket for the pur-
chase ola vile weedi Nothing. All
gone-money, cigars, and pleasure gone
like the "unsubstantial fabric of q Wis.,
ion that leaves not q wreck behind
Or rather, yes, they do leave very
visible and tangible result in shattered
nerves, failing health, and ruined teeth;
to say nothing Of such trifes as a pois-
oned and poisonous. breath hair, beard,
and clothes filed with the disgusting
odor Of stale tobacco smoke, and the
filthy slime that covers every side
walk, store, and gallery floor, threaten
ing destruction to the dress Of every
lady passing, and offending every
sense at one and the same time. But
these, though bad enough, are venial
sins compared with other fashionable
amusements Of the day. Let us sketch
for our readers benefit scene of fire.
quent occurrence. It is a Sabbath day.
and peaceful and calm as it seems to us
the Sabbath should always be. No
rude sound Of labor breaks the holy
quiet; the hammer, saw, and plane that
are heard on all sides in our busy
streets on every other day have ceased
now, and no harsher noise disturbs the
peace than the rollof carriages
to the church door, or from within the
building the hushed hum of voices
mingling in prayer or sweet strains Of
praise and Thanksgiving to our Father
above who gave US this season Of rest,
and commanded that we should keep it
holy Now let us turn from the house
Of God-we have not far to 60 only a
street or square more or less to cross !
Nay, since the destruction of our
churches by the Yankees, and the con-
sequent occupation of the Town HILL
for purposes Of divine worship, we have
only to 60 down stairs and far differ
en ' scene meets our eyes. Here are a
merry party assembled round a table
where the click Of the cues, therolI of
the balls, the loud laugh and jest and
frequent oath make ct music for Sab
bath day: qlL Hg/ rurf1
Billiard-playing onsunday! and who.
are the playersi Doubtless you will
say some low rowdies, or else laborers
who after spending the week in toll
choose this mode ofrelaxation on Sun
day. Perhaps so, and perhaps not
Perhaps these are the first men Of our
town gentlemen Of leisure who can
devote just as much of the week as they
please to cards and billiards, and who
do devote to them whole days and
~ : - Z q ! !. -
nights that might be better spent, and
yet will not refrain on this one day
men Of education, station, and ability,
who should be and are looked up to as.
leaders in our community, and who.
ought to encourage virtue and morality
BY force Of their example instead Of
throwing the whole weight Of their in
huence into the opposite scale. We
are no adVOcata fnr Ccnro,tsn,,t H.,
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09
F ASHION,.s
FOR THE ENTLEMEN.
Written for the Democrat. ]

FOR THE G ENTLEMEN N.
Written for the Democrat SIT
Last week We promised a renewal Q
our strictnres on this subject, promisin
that the lords Of creation . might ex
pect to come in for a share of the well
merited ehastisement due the universe
follies Of the age. But be not alarmed
gentlemen, nsoastaches win be spared
for, beside that we have more importan
subjects for animadyersion, we confes
to some slight ,predilection for thos
Fhirsute appeadages. ~
Weonce heard gentleman learne'
in the law say that he considered a Ii
king for moustaches a sufficient evi
dence Of q weak spot in the brain; bu
we acknowledge a difference of opinio,
on that point. Yes, we like the nous
tache and whisker, and consider then
great ornaments to manly face; bu
we plead guilty to no such tolerance 70,
goatee OF imperial, one of which re-
minds us too forcibly of the ANNA
from which 1t takes its.name,. and tht
other of a chimpanzee only partially
acquainted with razors. But we will
pass them by for the present neither
will We say anything Of standing collars
which seem to be invented for the ex-
press purpose Of extinguishing the
wearer'a eyes or excoviating his ears;
Of boots that compress the feet into
most painful tenuity, and could well
standa comparison as instruments Of
torture with the "boot" known to US
in history as one Of the gentle means Of
coercion resorted to by the half-civil-
lied rulers Of the middle ages; Of coats
that are now worn just below the hips,
and anon almost emulate the ladies
trains in their sweeping longitude. As
we said before there are more impor
tant subjects than any of the mere
OF dress to excite the disapprov-
ing comments Of the writer who wishes
to make his pen instrumental in serv-
ing the best interests Of thecommunity
in which he lives. Graver themes for
can be found on every side
Than any follies in dress that are not
to health. For instance, what
5hipk You, gentlemen, Of the fashiona-
Die habit Of smoking and chewing to-
,acco spending annually hundreds of
dollars that might be applied to some
good and worthy purpose fora pleasure
as unsqbstantial and evanescent as the
sir that watts away the fumesi Many
man who complains bitterly If the
,xtravagance Of the women Of the pre-
'ent day, and declares pathetically that
t is enough to make man weep to see
he quantity Of silk required to build q
ady's dress, spends more in one year
or tobacco and cigars than his wife's
inc dresses cost. And it must be said
n behalf Of the fair that, if they don't
ret their moneys worth, they have at
east something to show for it; and Mrs.
[ones'velvet bonnet, and Mrs. Smiths
'rocade silk are tangible representa-
ives Of the twenty and fifty dollar bills
which they respectively cost. But
ray, my dear sir, what have you to
how for the many dollars that. have
'one out Of your pocket for the pur-
hase ola vile weedi Nothing. All
one money, cigars, and pleasure gone
ike the "unsubstantial fabric of q Wis.,
on that leaves not q wreck behind.n
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09
NEW 0ILIANS C0RRESP0SD

NEw ORLEANS, December425, 1866.
| Friend Democrat =. One Of those mys-
terious tragedies tSat occasionally startle
the world and shock humanity, occurred
here on Friday night week ago. At the
house Of a Mr.. McLsp. corner of>Magasine
and Sixth streets, a social meeting Of three
or four gentlemen took place They
played cards and were entertained BY Mr.
McLin with cakes and wine-and during
the evening the party were waited upon by
Miss Hendricks, q young lady Who had
been al inmate Of the house tor about two
months. Miss Hendricks vas person Of
quiet and retiring manners, good character,
and well spoken Of BY all vho. knew her..
The visitors left the house about halfpast
eleven o'clock, all parting in good spirits.
The family retired short time after, and
the next morning. Mr., McLin called to
MISS HENDRICKS tnat 1t was time to get up'1
but received no answer. He returned to
his room and informed his wife that Miss
d. was sleeping very sound, and that they
had better let her rest. Mrs. McIin then
went herself to call the young lady, and as
she received no answer her husband took .
Ratchet and broke the door open and they
both entered the room and found Miss
Hendricks lying in one corner Of the room
ina dying condition, from injuries to her
head, evidently caused BY . blow from
some heavy blunt instrument. Medical
assistance was at once called in-but the
victim Of this foul deed was beyond hope
Of recovery, and died the next morning, |
without having recovered enough to speak |
.uSsv~ AZ