davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24
Curious Custom.

An English gentleman, who has, lately
travelled in Palestine, recently gave de-
scription of the curl us scenes that are
enacted in the Church of the Holy Sepul-
chre. He said that when you first enter.
ed the church, you would be surprised to
see party of soldiers, with their swords
by their sides, and their guns stacked
within reach. 1t seemed a sacr,lege in
such a holy place, and struck one rather
unpleasantly. But he soon found out the
necessity for it, According to the law of
the country, every sect is allowed to wcr
ship there and as it is considered equally
sacred both by Christians and Mahome-
dams, all wish time for their mode of
worship. The law allows them an hour
each They commence at six in the
morning. At that hour, those who have
the first privilege enter, bringing with
them whatever is necessary to conduct
their particular religious rites. They 90
through their prayers and chant, and all
is very quiet till about a quarter to seven,
when those who have the privilege of the
next hour begin to arrive. At first, all
his decorum but presently the new
corners begin to hiss and mock. As
their Numbers increase, and they become
stronger, they shove and crowd and as
the time lessons, they get more and more
bold. A few nit ues before seven, they
proceed to more forcible demonstrations.
They think, it they can clear out these
blasphemers few minutes before the
time, they have doue so much good work
for God while the worshipers, on the
other hand, think, if they can keep pos
session few minutes after the time, they
have done an equally good work. As
some of these sects use torches, candles,
slaves orcruoks, in their worship, they pro-
coed to use these ~ weapons OF offence or
defence, an a regular melee ensues, Then
come in the soldiers, who separate the
combatants, by filing in between them,
turning out those whose hour is up, and
leaving the place in possession of the last
corners. Ii blood is shed the church is
closed FOR the day. Such scenes are oc
curing all the day long, and the pres
euce Of soldiers is therefore absolutely ne.
cessary. u.la...
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24

The Freyburg Organ.
Dec. "a, 1867,

Mr.. Micawber's famous saying about
waiting for something to turu up is good
one 10 laugh at but bad one to live by.
1t leaves the mind all at loose ends when
all its faculties and resources should be
gathered up and concentrated upon SONG
definite task. 1t makes man the fo6t-
ball OF circumstances, to be kicked to and
fro between failure and success, When be
ought to comm nd circumstances and COM
pei them to carry him On triumphant in
his chossn career.
1t does not require great talent aud ex =.
traordiuary opportunities to succeed, if
only one has decision enough to choose a
course for himself, and irmness en- ugh to
keep it, could spend much more than
the hour in quoting instances Of great and
rennwned success, the whole secret of
which was concentration of plan and ef-
fort. In other words, very common
man found out what he wanted to do,
and then he did it with all his might. *
Let me give you one such instance sufi-
GENTLY interesting in itself, although not
attended with as important consequences
as many that might be named.
The little city of Freyburg, in Switzer-
land, has the largest organ in the world.
When in full play, it pours forth tenn pest
of sounds through forest of. pipes,
''seven thousand and eight hundred 10
NUMBER shaking the walls and the
foundations of The old Saiul Nicholas
Church 10 which it stands All the mu-
steal bands in Boston, New York and
Philadelphia combined would not make
au orchestra equal in power to this nigh
ty instrument alone.
IL is all the work of of one man, named
Alleys Moser. He was poor; he was not
thought to be master in his art; he never
received any adequate reward for his labor.
Without assistance or suggestion from
others, be formed the design of building
for his native city an organ which travel
ers from distant nations should turn
aside from their journeys to hear, and
which, when heard in the darkness of the
cathedral at night, should make an hour
for then never to be forgotten. And so
poor Moser began his life's work, and he
persevered for long years 10 the face of
opposition and poverty and ridicule, until
his task and his life were finished togeth.
er. His aim may not have been the
. highest, nor his motive the best. But he
persevcred with the faith of martyr till
his work was done, and now it stands
among all similar works in the world, like
Mont Blanc among the mountains, peer.
less aud alone. When skiilful fingers
. touch the keys, the mighty instrument
responds with myriad voices, ranging
through infinite variations 10 sweetness
and compass and power. Now it pours
forth the heart breaking notes of the
"Miserere" with a voice SO piteous and
human t1at it would seem as if lost soul
were imprisoned and wailing in its will
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24
The Wonders of Ancient Rome.

Modern writers, taking London and
Paris for their measure of material civil
ization, seem unwilling to admit that
Rome could have reached such pitch of
glory aud wealth and power. To him
who stands within the narrow limits of
the Forum, as it now appears, it seems in
credible that it could have been the CEN
tire of a much larger city than Europe can
now boast Of Grave historians are 10th
to compromise their dignity apd cbarac.
ter for truth by admitting statements
which seem to men of limited views to be
fabulous, and which transcend modern ex-
perence. But we should remember that
most of the monuments of Ancient Rome
have entirely disappeared Nothing re-
mains of the palace of the Caesars, which
nearly covered the Palatine Hill little
Of the Fora which, connected together,
covered space twice as largs as that in
closed by the palaces of the Louvre aud
TuiIeries with all their galleries and
courts almost nothing of the glories of
the Capitoline Hill and little compare
lively Of those Therm8 which were mile
in circuit. But what does remain attests
an unparalleled grandeur-the broken pill
lars of the Forum the lofty columns Of
Trajan aud Marcus Aurelius the Pam
theon, lifting its spacious dome 200 feet
in the alr the mere vestibule of the
baths of Agrippa the triumphal arches
of Titus, T.ajau aud Constantine the
bridges which span the Tiber the aqus-
ducts which crossed the Csmpagna the
Cloaca Maxima, which drained the marsh
es and lakes OF the infant city but above
all the Colosseum. What glory and
shame are associated with that single edi-
flee !! That alone, if nothing else remain
ed Of pagan antiquity, would indicate a
grandeur and folly such as cannot now be
seen on earth. Il reveals a wonderful
skill in masonry, and great architeotu-
| raj strength it shows the resources and
wealth Of rulers who must have hao the
treasures of the world at their command !;
it indicates an enormous population, since
it would seat all the male adults OF the
city of NV York j. shows the restless
passion of people for excitement, and the
necessity on the part Of the rulers Of
yielding to this taste. What leisure and
Incidence marked city which could Of.
ford to give up so much time to the de-
,noralized sports What facilities for
transportation were afforded when so
many wild beasts coul be brought to the
capital from the central parts of Africa
without calling gu. unusual comment =
H ow imperious "a populsce that compelled
the government to provide such expensive
sports Hours at Home '.''i .. '
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24

REMARKABLE DIsCovERY.--A few
days ago, while some workmen were ex-
cavating cellar In Polk township, Mon
roe county, Indiana, the workmen struck
what appeared at first to be solid ledge
OF rock, and, when sitting down to rest,
one of their number began idly to pick
at an apparent assure, when block of
stoue, nearly two feet square, disappeared
with dull thump. The men set eagerly
to work, and removing the bottom of the
pit disclosed chamber with SIX foot cell
ing, and eighteen by twenty ,five feet
within the walls, which are of solid, neat
ly scanned stone work. Ranged III rows,
on rudely constructed platforms, were
twelve skeletons, each with tomahawk and
arrow, heads at their Sides. ear-rings and
bracelets Of solid silver lying where they
dropped, and piles of what appeared to
have been furs, in the centre of the plat
form, each pile crumbling to dust as soon
as exposed to light. A number ofitools,
made of copper, and hardened equal to
the b"st cas- t-steel, were unearthed, and
fresh discoveries are constantly being
made.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24

KILLED HIS Own HENs-Old Col.
Higgins who on 'e owned quite large
flock of bans, which he was very careful
to keep shut up during planting seasons,
and his wife would let them out occasion
ally to enjoy themselves 10 the garden
The Colonel seeing them in the garden
one day, supposed, Of course, they bs-
longed to his ueighbor and greatly en-.
ragged at the destruction Of bis property,
he seized bis old musket aud 1blazed
away at them, and sent lad with the.
dead chickens to bis neighbours house,
with a message couched in language
rather more forcibie than polite. The
next day the operation was repeated, and
so on for several days, and the Colonel
was greatly astouished at his neighbours
silence and good nature, as he never sent
back any more than very polite thanks
for the s'gif !" as he expressed it. Well,
it so happened that the Colonel vent to
look after his hens one day and found
very few in the pen. After looking aud
wondering for while, the reason for his
neighbours good nature dawned upon
him, and he was heard to exclai,n
81 have been killing my own hens, aud
that old rascal has eaten them all p
The old fellow has never heard the last
Of those hens, and was never known to
shoot another. ...,.r rra. ~
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24

A GRAIN OF CoMFoRT.-Deacon Gloat
lost his only sou, a youth of eighteen.-
The bereavement was severe one, aud
under its aff1 lction the god man mourded
as one without hope. Friends sympa-
tbzed, coudoled and prayed with. him,
but could not heal the wound Or assuags
the pain. lie would not be comforted =
His minister went to him, urged fortitude
and forbearance besought hin to Look
into his heart and try to recall, by re-
membrauce Of the past, some incident in
the life Of the deceased, which would be
source and means OF consolasion.-
"Think," be said, "of the virtues of the
departed youth. Remember his love aud
obedience, and from the past draw drop
Of consolation. L. there not" be contin-
ued, "some remembrance, some incilents
of your sons life that can afford you SON.,
ISOLATION in this affecting ,ur ? Try and,
think, brother" After some reflection,
the deacon replied that he thought there
was one circumstance from which he found
consolation. ooh yes, that's right -
What is it, brother ?' "Why," y. /
the deacon, "the boy ,oas most 'a-'i.-
nate eater"
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24

BLACK ANGELs.-A short time before
the French Revolution the mania for lib.
erty was manifested many times by the
excessive protection given to the negroes.
Among the favori:es Of the color, there
was young fellow who enjoyed the repu-
ta'ion of being a good artist. Boua-
parte being First Consul, the negro came
one day to ask his protection in regard to
a picture which he wished TO place before
the public, but it had been criticised so
much, that he did not dare to show it
without the favor ami sanction of the
Consul Bonapsrte manifested desire to
see it. and it was accordingly brought
into his presence. The painting repre-
scented the Eternal Father, the Virgin
and the Son of Gnd, surrounded BY au-
gels, but all were black ! AT seeing it
Bonaparto was unable to contain himself
and burst into loud laugh. The artist
vindicated himself, saying: "The whites
believe that black skin is mark Of in
fanny by which the descendants of Cain
are condemned we on the contrary be-
lieve that the white skin Was given to
men as q curse. You believe that God
and the angels are white, aud why should
We not believe that they are black p
"You have an Indispensable right to
make them so, and to paint as many
black angels as you choose replied the
Consul "but when they are completed
the best use you can make of them is to
send them to The Island of ST.. Doniu-
go.' ... ,-...
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24

|. VEGETATION IN THE MooN.-It was
for long time the common conclusion
among astronomers that the moon was
withous an atmo phere, AMI destitute Of
water aud that, consequently, neither
animal nor vegetable life could be sup
ported Gun lis surface But several emf
nent modern astronomers have maintained
that the moon has an atmosphere, though
Of very limited extent. And q.ite, re-
Gently Mr.. Schawbe,, a German .slstro-
nomica professor, thinks he has hiscov-
cred signs Of vegetation on the surface Of
our satellite It is we'll known that there
are certain dark hnes or scratches, as they
appear, extending across the slopes of the
highest mountains in the moon. These
have been variously explained !; some re-
gardng them as the beds of dried up
streams others as the channels left by
torrents of lava others as having some
other origin. Prof. Schawbe claimed to
have discovered in these lines gresnish
color, which appears at certain seasons,
lasts few months aud then disappears.
He therefore regards these lines as belts
of vegetation. If his observations should
be decisively confirmed by those of other
| astronomers it will settle the question that
the moon has both air aud water, and
will therefore remove any presumption
against the existence of animal life on its
surface.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24

derness of pipes now it rolls up the ju-
bilant thundcrs of the "Ilalelujah Cho-
rus in such mig ty volume that the en-.
iranced listener foIge's the earthly tenn
pie and the work of human hands, and
imagiues himself surrounded with the
lrumLets and voices of heaven 10 mum
brs without number Now it sounds
the war note wild and high. mingled with
the tramp of hosts and the battle hymn Of
men that march as they sing And now
it MARBLES Sweet Hore," with silvery
accompaniment of singing birds aud muir.
murng bro *, and rustling foliage around
the peasants door. Now it chants the
unearthly strains of clustered monks, in
terwoven with echoes that creep al ng
corridors of stone and club the sepuch.
raj arches of the catbedral's lone-drawn
aisles. And then again it bursts forth
with such tempest of sound as shakes
the hills when storms are abroad among
the Alps and tbunders leap from cloud to
cloud. And all this mighty food, this
deep resembling sea of instrumental har-
mony, came forth from the hand and
brain Of one poor man, who made its Gre
alton the task of his life, and who with.
drew all thought from everything else that
he might do one thing we'll. Aud his
success shows how much depends upon
fixing it clear y in the mind what to do,
and then suffering no side influence to
withdraw attention from the chosen task.
His experiment proves that any thing
best worth having is within the reach Of
him who has decision enough to choose it
with all his bear, and self.commaud
enough to seek it with all his strength
Rev. DR.. d Murch
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24

CURIOUS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES q
noisy creature would man be we're his
voice in proportion to his weight, as loud
as that of locust! A locust can be heard
at distance of one sixteenth of a mile
The golden wren is said to weigh but half
au ounce, SO that middling sized man
would weigh down not short of four thou
sand of them; and it must be strange if q
golden wren would not outweigh four of
our locusts. Surprising, therefore, that
common man weighs as much as sixteen
thousand of our loousts, aud that the note
of locust eau be 'heard one sixteenth of
a mile, man of common dimensions, pref
| ty sound in wind and limb, ought to be
able to make himself heard at the distance
of. one thousand and six hundred miles;
aud when he sneezed his house ought to
fall about his ears Surprising fiea to
weigh one grain. which is moro than its
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24
WILLIAM ANDERSON l In the Circuit Court
vs.. for Hartford county, in
BENJAMIN F. ANDERSON, Chancery.
and others.

THE Bill filed in this case states that
William Anderson, late Of Baltimore
county, deceased, died seized in fee of a
tract If land, situated in Hartford county,
called s.Barnett's United Fields" con-
tanning one hundred and sixteen acres,
more or less, which is described in a
deed from William Bonn and wi e to said
deceased, duly executed and recorded
That said deceased, by his last will, d.
rected said land to be sold alter the dealt.
OF Elizabeth Tracy, who then occupied
the same, but is since dead, the proceeds
to be divided among his heirs-at-law, and
appointed said Benjamin f. Anderson his
executor, who has neglected and refuses
to sell said land. That mpainant and
the other children of said testator and the
children of his deceased son Joshua, who
are named in said bill, are his only heirs
at-law.
The Bill further states that Mary j.
Meads, Caroline Lutho, VIM. Renshaw,
JOHN Renshaw. Jas. Renshaw, Mary
Hale, Sarah j, Rigdon and Others claim to
have some interest in said land. which
complainant denies, and AYERS that it will
he far the interest of all the parties enti-
tied to have said lands sold and the pro-
ceeds divided under decree of said
Court and prays for, decree for sale
of said land and partition of the proceeds.
And it appearing that two subpPnas
against the said defendants, Mary. j.
Meads, Caroline Lulho, VIM Renshaw,
j n Repshaw, am Isl Renshaw,
Mary Ha Il and Sarah j. Rigdon
have been returned non est. II 1t is order
ed this 29th day of November, 1852, that
the7complainant, by publication Of this
order in some newspaper printed and
published in Hartford county, once in each
of four successive weeks, three months
beforeth 10th day OF May next, give no.
tice to the said defendants of the sub
stance and object of said Bill, and warn
them to appear in this Court, in person or
by attorney, on or before the fsaid 10th
day of May next, to show cause, if any
they have, why decree should not be
passed as prayed. otherwise the allegations
of the Bill may be taken pro coWesso
against them. IL
VI A. w. BATEMA IAN. 3
True copy, Test,
.oi,A.LiNGAN JARRETT, Clerk.
ian l76gF ''.-f b .|fNNfs'A '''. 90 .' '
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24
ADVERTISING IN CHINA.-Their man

ADVERTISING IN CHINA-Their man
uer of advertising is very striking. The
streets are mostly narrow, aud from the
upper part Of the houses hang long strips
of wood at right angles, setting forth in
large letters, and with quaint devices, the
trade of shoemaker, optician or what else.
These boards, which appear to be about
three feet wide, are the whole height of .
moderately tall house, and as each trades
man vies with the other setting forth his
claim upon public attention, by the gau-
diness Of his colored advertisement, the
effect is like that Of q town hung with
flags on gala day. aDf
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24

@srA man who had lately occasion to
provide himself with pair of new shoes,
took the measure Of his own foot TO nice
~, intending to send a boy to the shoe
makers, about three miles distant, to fetch
him the shoes. Something, however, oc-
Cured to prevent the boy from going, and
the man resolved to go himself. He ao-
cordingly set off for the cordwaiuer's, and
was about half way on his road, when he
suddenly stopped short, scratched his
head, and muttered to himself: "Confound
it! / forgot the measure" Back he wen t
accordingly to procure it, and then pro-
ceeded to his original destination, where
he learned with establishment from the
man of avis, that bis own foot would an-
swer better than the measure
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24
CHRISTMAS EVE.

Shut out nothing to night, love,
The wind will rise as the sun goes down,
The lights be hid in the far off town; n.
The scud gather up angry and brown,
Shut out nothing tonight.
Shut out nothing tonight love, <...'
hear the roar of the sullen seas,
dashed into fury by the breeze q = n
Which stirred just now our poplar trees
Shut out nothing tonight.
Shut out nothing tonight love, q h..
Trim the lamp, for the wick burns low,
Place it where the steady glow
May light some traveller through the snow
Shut out nothing tonight. .f.
Shut out nothing tonight, love,
Rustic the fire to pleasant blaze;
Letsus sit in its warmest rays y .'k a
And quietly talk of the dear old days.
} Shut out nothing tonight. 'a..
Shut out nothing tonight, love,
What noise was that at the window pane ?
A flake of snow or a drop of rain -.a--
Speak in whisper and listen again.
r Shut out nothing tonight.
Shut out nothing tonight, love-.
To morrow the Christmas bells will ring
Choirs unnumbered joyfully sing W Igr,
TheSglory of a newborn King .--a-' (.
Shut out nothing tonight.
Shut out nothing tonight, love,
Not even the dead, as they quietly lie .-
Under the folds of the wintry Gky, .-.."i
Widen the circle, and say come NIGH
Shut out nothing tonight.
Shut out nothing tonight, love,
This hallowed-night of all the year,
Bring in the wine and spread good cheer,
Warm every heart and dry each tear
Shut out nothing to night.
I. E. H.
Dec. "a, 1867, ...- . .-... Il
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24
esls- During the Mexican war, gov

Beg During the Mexican war, gov.
eminent train was at ono time passing
through Texas, aud en3amp,d for night
near one of the large towns Oae Theo.
phius Witchet, a teamster, being some
what Of a wag, went to the principal hotel,
and booked himself IT, Witchet, NJ. D."
Instantly landlord, servants, and all hands
wera full of bows and scrapiugs, the most
obseqnious mortals imaginable. Present.
", however, ono Of the officers came in,
aud addressed him with authority Soon
as an opportunity Offered, til, landlord
sidled up and inquired if he was an army
surgeon. "No,'' was the reply. Them"
said the landlord, "what does NJ. d. mean
after your name ?" "Mule Driver" was
the reply. II
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24
45-The practice of snuff taking was pro-

90 G5-The practice of snuff taking was pro-
baby introduced into Europe about the
same time as smoking, and 6rst appears to
be publicly noticed in 1924, when Pope
Urban VIII, issued decree against the
habit of taking snuff in church during the
celebration of mass. In England it was
formerly the practice to take snuff in .
small spoon, and not BY the pinch !; 10
France, SO late as the last century, snuff
box was an Indispensable appcndage of
every person having any pretensiou to
fashion. a,o ! als aa 7 a''a'r'"
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24

5 A Pretty Coop WAY.-A clergyman
going to a misery old lady to beg for o
worthy object, found himself refused on
the ground ofpoverty. Fegning himself
much interested in her story, he expressed
great surprise thereat, and said: 81 had
not thought you in such want" aud then
taking out some money be said, s" here is
something that will do for the present
purpose; when ! call again | win bring you
more" The old lady xasso euraged that
she gave him good round SUN to show
him that she did not mean she was O
pauper.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24

actual weight, and to jump one and u. half
yards, common man Of ne hundred and
City pounds, Jumping powers 10 proper
ton, could jump twelve thousand eight
hundred miles, or about the distance from
New York to Cochin China. . ..
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-24

p@- Little deeds, like little seeds, grow
TO flowers or to weeds.