davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17
THE VALUE OF SELF -ExERTIoN. value o

THE VALUE OF SELF F.ExERT1oN.-The value oi
selfexertion appears nowhere more decided than
when we follow the track Of those who became
eminent without having the advantage ground oi
instruction from which to start There is scarcely
anything more gratifying to the mind than the
well-written life of person whose intellectual
struggles through every difficulty, arising from
want Of books, want of examples, want Of patron,
age, and who, Notwithstanding these impediments'
continues to struggle till be triumphantly emerges
into notice. Art surrenders some of her choicest
secrets science smiles, and fame or emolument, or
both, place the successful experimenter far above
common names. Not scantily are the inches in
the temple of Fame commented with lasting me-
morals of persons thus claiming their well deserv-
ed honors- persons who have been the boast and
blessing of their day, by dint Of unsubdued pa
tience, fortitude, and vivacous genius. Every de-
partment of art and science is filed with them.
The stimulating gexamplesare on every hand From
the lowest rank of life they start forth. They
break all the shackles ofignorance. The repulsive
frowns of the crowd can not daunt them. The
fears of the timorous they do not listen to. De-
termined to excel, they do excel Their native en-
ergies urge them forward in the honorable career
till success, more or less complete, CROWDS their
glowing efforts.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17

THE DEPTH OF SPAcE.-Some years ago Prot.
Bessel, of Germany, commenced series Of astro-
nomcal measures for getting the exact distance OF
the fixed stars, thing that had never been done.
The instrument which he used, in connection with
powerful telescope, in his experiments, was asun-
measurer After three years hard labor be was
50 fortunate as to obtain parallax but so minute
that he could hardly trust his reputation upon it.
But after repeated trials and working out Of the
results, he was fully satisfied that he could give the
true distance to 81 Cygni. But who can compre-
hend this immense Distance ,072, ,00O, ,00o, 600
of miles? This, according to Besse is the distance
of the nearest fixed star to the SUM- All astrono-
mers confirm the correctness of Prof: Bessers cal
cuatons But this distance, great as it is is moth
ing to be compared to the distance Of the milky
way. Sir William Herschel says that the stars or
suns that compose the milky way are 80 very re-
mote that it requires light, going at the rate Of
1900, 900 of miles in minute, 10000 years to
reach the earth. And he says there are stars, or
rather nebulae, FIVE hundred times more remote.
Now make your calculation: 100, O,O0O years reduced
to Minutes and then multiply that sum BY l2,0OO,-
900 and the product By 500. What an overwhelm-
ing idea The mind sinks under such thought;
we can't realize it, it is too vast even for oompre
hensien.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17
READING.

A taste for good reading has long been observed
as one Of the most effectual safeguards to young
men against vice and crime. In the first place, it
serves to give employment in those hours Of leisure
and freedom from work which would be likely 9th.
erwise worse than wasted. Tothe young man who
has no taste for reading, the evening hours become
loaded with temptation. 1t is tiresome to sit mo.
ping by the stove, and he naturally drifts to the
tavern, the saloon, or the billiard and card table.
There be finds others like himself, with vacant
hours to while away, and thus grow up those hab-
its and associations which soon eventuate in dissi
patton or lead to crime We doubt fone instance
in thousand can be found of young mans ma
king shipwreck of hopes and character who was
accustomed to spend his evenings at home reading
good books; and we say to any parent that well
stocked library and an abundant supply Of news,
papers and magazines, with the habit Of reading
on the part of your boy, is worth more to keep
him out of mischief, and to make man Of him,
than any other single influence at your command.
Again, the habit of reading confers positive
strength and elevation Of character. The well.
read man is usually the wellinformed man. Read.
ing is the great stimulus of thinking The instan'
ces are rare of great writer and thinker who was
not himself great reader. There is no stimulus
of the mind so powerful as communion with other
minds. The mass Of young men, especially Of the
working mechanic and trading classes, need this
mental excitement to preserve a symmetry and
eauipoise of character. The farmer is in danger
of having his thoughts fall too much into the rou
tine of his daily life. A good book or newspaper
expands them, sets them to work upon other top
les, ,.and gives them wider scope. The mechanic,
after mastering the details of his business and per-
fecting himself in it, ought to leave his trade with
his tools when he goes home at night, and in good
reading find wider cultivation Of bis whole nature.
The trader who allows his mind to run constantly
upon his business soon becomes narrow, one-sided
man. He, too, needs to get out of his rut and
give his thoughts wider range. To all Of these
the book, the magazine, and the newspaper is a
necessity. Weekly Republican.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17

point being thus established, he was conveyed Il
the boat On approaching Mr.. Sidell, his eldes
daughter, noble girl devoted to her father, threw
herself in the doorway of the cabin, and with fash
ing eyes, defed the lieutenant and his men-aye
she used some gentle cpithets with that needlelke
point which woman so well knows how to give tt
language ; but without avail. The order was giver
to the marines to advance, which they did with
bayonets pointed at the defenceess girl; the slight
barrier was broken down, and Mr.. Slidell became
prisoner ofwar. The Secretaries were next taken
and the entire party transferred to the San Jacnto
en- route to Fortress Monroe and Federal prison.
The ladies declined to accept the preferred hospi
taties, and at hapast three the painful interview
was ended, and the two ships were steaining on tc
their destinations
1t is needless to say that every man on board the
Trent Immediately thereafter held personal in
dignation meeting in his own breast and continued
to do so for the remainder of the voyage. The
cabin became miniature forum, where all the
changes were rung on neutral rights, national honor
and international law, while the forecastle echoed
with the conversational grape and canister of the
sailors as they exploded their rough eloquence on
the iron walls and big artillery of Old England.
Everybody on that steamer was ripe for declara-
ton of war;
How Lord John Russell, in behalf of the British
people, demanded the release ofthe commissioners
and their secretaries, and suitable apology for
the aggression committed, and how the United
States yielded thereto sending the four Confed'
crates in an English steamer to St. Thomas, where
they resumed their passage to England, are mat,
ters Of history.
My own trials in running the blockade, for the
nonce, at least, were ended My dispatches were
safe in the heels of my boots, where [ had fitted
them before leaving Richmond, and had only to
fulfil the important mission before me. Before part,
ing, more than one passenger on board the Trent
took occasion to thank the British Captain for his
noble frmness in refusing to exhibit his passenger
list, for names were written there which would have
consigned to the ''donjon keep men who had al
ready cost the Federal Government millions Of dol
lars, and were on their way to inaugurate wal
upon the seas, which, in captured ships and q
worried navy was destined to increase the debt by
millions more.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17

MEN WITHOUT HEAR1s.-We sometimes meet
with men who seem to think that any indulgence
in an afectionate feeling is weakness. They will
return from journey, and greet their families
with distant dignity, and move among their chill
dren with the cold and lofty spendor Of an iceberg
surrounded by its broken fragments There is
hardly more unnatural sight on earth than ope of
these families without heart. A father had bet
ter extinguish boys eyes than take away his
heart WHO that has experienced the joys Of
friendship, and values sympathy and affection,
would not rather lose all that is beautiful in ma
ture's scenery than be robbed Of the hidden treas
ures Of his heart? Cherish, then, your hearts
best affections. Indulge in the warm and gushing
emotions of flial, paternal, and ftaternal love.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17

THE MMD.-Tbe mind of man, in its progress
toward it's higher destiny, is tasked with the physi-
cal earth as problem, which within the limits of
life, it must struggle to solve. The intellectual
spirit is capable of embracing finite things. Man
is gifted with powers for studying the entire circle
of viaibse creation and he is equal, under proper
training, to the task Of examining much Of the Sc
cret machinery that stirs the whole.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17

ty of the paper, the e1sctuess Of the register and
tho lustre of the ink. The work contained twelve
hundred and eighty-two pages, and an immense
amount Of mental, manual, and mechanical labor
Eighteen copies of this edition Of the Bible are
now known to be in existence four Of which are
printed on vellum. Two of these are in England,
one of them being in the Granville collection. One
is in the Royal Library at Berlin, and one in the
Royal Library at Paris. OF the remaining four
teen copies ten are in England; there being copy
in Oxford, Edinburg and London, and seven in
the collections of different noblemen. The vellum
copy has been sold as high as eight hundred dol
lor,
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17
Seleeted gpetrp.
THE GOLDEN SIDE.

There Is many rest In the road Of life,
If we would only stop to take IL;
And many tone from the better land,
If the querulous heart would make II!
To the soul thai ts full Of hope,
And whose beautiful trust meier faueth,
The grass is green and the flowers are bright,
Though the winter storm psevaileth
Better to hope, though the clouds hang low,
And to keep the eyes still lifted;
For the sweet blue sky will soon peep through,
When the ominous clouds are rifted!
There never was night without day,
Or an evening without morning;
And the darkest hour, as the prOverb goes,
Is the hour before the dawning.
There Is many gem in the path OF life,
Which we pass In our Idle pleasure,
That is richer far than the jeweled crown,
Or the miser's hoard OF treasure;
II may be the love Of little child,
Or mothers prayer to Heaven,
Or only beggar's grateful thanks
For cup Of water given.
Better TO weave In the web Of life
bright and golden filling,
And TO do Gods will with ready heart,
And hands that are ready and willing;
Than to snap the delicate, minute threads
OF our curious lives asunder,
And then blame Heaven for the tangled ends,
And sit and grieve and wonder.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17

BE FIRM. The winds and the waves may beat
against the rock, planted in troubled sea, but it
remains unmoved. Be you like that rock, young
man. Vice may entice, and the song and the cup
may invite. Beware stand firmly at your post
Let your principles shine forth unobscured There
is glory in the thought that you have resisted
temptation and conquered. Your bright example
will be to the world what the lighthouse is to the
mariner upon sea-shore; it will guide hundreds
to the point Of virtue and safety.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17

est fools in the world the reason is they are not
educated men. Learning is only the means, not
the end its value consists in giving the means of
acquiring, the use of which, properly managed, en-
lghtens the mind.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17

TIE FIRST PRINTED observation-disclosures the
inventor of the art of printing; and the very first
use to which the discovery Of printing was applied
was the production of the Bible. This was &C
complished at Mentz, between the years 1850 and
1856. This Bible was in two folio volumes, which
have been justly praised for the strength and beau
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17

EDUCATION. suppose that every learned
man is an educated man. No such thing. That
man is educated who knows himself, and takes &C
curate common sense views Of men and things
around him. Some very learned men are the great
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17

TEMPERANCE This cardinal virtue can not be
too highly estimated. It is that due restraint up
on the affections and passions which renders the
body tame and governable, and frees the mind from
the allurements of vice." This term has wide
signifcation Not only should it be observed in
its popular sense, and the immoderate use Of ar
dent spirits be avoided but we should be temperate
in all our relations in life. We should cultivate an
amiable disposition, and should not indulge to ex-
cess in any thing which, being good in ITSELF may
become injurious by abuse. "Be temperate in all
things" is a good motto which, we fear, is too
often overlooked. It is the duty Of those who pre-
side over the lodge to nculcate this teaching not
only by words appropriately spoken in the lodge
room, but by their conduct in the world Upon
them devolves sacred duty which cannot be slight
ed.-Masonc Paper.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17

On CATCHING CoLD.-Catching cold is a COM
mon phrase for an attack Of catarrh, but it is q
very incorrect one. One year suffered so very
severely from series of colds, that my attention
was drawn specially to them. Iwasthen lecturing
on medicine, and nearly every night from five
o'clock to six during the winter months had to turn
out from warm room to go through all weathers,
lecture for an hour in theatre heated by stove
and lighted by gas, and then return again to my
snuggery at home. When I felt fresh cold be-
ginning, tried in vain to account for it, until &C.
cidentalIy saw in Copeland's Dictionary that the
most fertile cause Of cold was coming from a
moist, cold air 70 hot and dry room. This at
once explained to me the reason of my frequent
suffering, for I had invariably gone into my hot
room straight from the cold. I, of course, soon
changed my habit; dawdled in the hall while Ia
king off my great coat, perambulated the rooms
which had no fire in them, went up and down
stairs, and the like, ere I went into my study,
whose temperature was also reduced. Since then
I agree with friend who says that acold comes
from catching hot and ] am disposed to think
that there IL strong analogy between chilblain
on chids toes and cold in a persons nose,
throat and lungs.-Dr. Thomas hn'an.
LET Us HELP One ANorHER. little SEN
tence should be written on every heart and stamped
on every memory It should be the golden rule
practiced not only in every household but through
out the world. By helping one another We not
only remove thorns from the pathway, and anxiety
from the mind, but we feel sense Of pleasure in
our own hearts, knowing we are doing duty to a
fellow creature. A helping hand, or an encoura-
gng word is no loss to us, yet it is benefit to 9TH
ers Who has not felt the power Of this little SEN
tence? Who has not needed the encouragement
and aid of kind friend? How soothing, when
perplexed with some task that is mysterious and
burthensome, to feel gentle hand on the shoulder
and to hear kind voice whispering: 'Do not feel
discouraged; see your trouble, let me help you.
What strength is inspired, what hope created,
what gratitude is felt, and the great difficulty is
dissolved as dew beneath the sunshine. Yes let
us help one another by endeavoring to strengthen
and encourage the weak and lifting the burden of
care from the weary and oppressed, that life may
glide smoothly on and the fount of bitterness yield
sweet waters; and He, whose willing hand is ever
ready to aid us, will reward our humble endeavors,
and every good deed will be as "bread cast upon
the waters to return after many days, not to US,
to those we love.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17

millions more
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17
ed into her veins the 'Theodora" speeds from the
danger like frightened race-horse.
0n,o ,,,oro +ba dorLnoe, eotfloe oround no cfill

ed into her veins, the "Theodora" speeds from tht
danger like frightened race-horse.
Once more the darkness settles around US; still
every second we expect shot We listen for al
alarm we look for rockets and signal lights. L
scarcely seems possible that We should have al
most'run the enemy down and not been discovered
yet it is even so, and half hour later we have the
qualification of accompanying Captain Oakley tc
the cabin, where he communicates to the anxious
occupants the cheering news that we are beyono
the reach of immediate pursuit. 1t is nearly three
o'clock in the morning, and over q stifly brewed
punch we unite our congratulations in the little sa
loon and retire to rest.
Three days more we arrived at Nassau, N. p
the Paradise of blockade runners and spectators.
Here We saw another Of our tormentors in the
shape of small schooner employed by the New
York Insurance Companies to assist vessels In dan
ger and save their cargoes when wrecked and as
we steamed in with the Confederate flag flying bold
ly at the masthead, she made for us. In the dead
calm which prevailed, our piston rods and paddle
wheels had the advantage of the Yankee skipper
sweeps, and he looked biliously blue when we af:
forwards met him at the hotel in town. 1t is an
interesting historical fact that this island was orig
inaly included in the grant of North and South
Carolina, and was regarded by the King of Eng
land as natural outpost of these colonies. Strange
it is that after the lapse of two hundred years the
late war should have demonstrated the value which
the king attached to the place.
Our object in touching at Nassau was to transfer
the. Commissioners and their families to the Eng.
lish steamer "Coronac," then plying once month
between New York, Nassau and Havana, but un'
fortunately she had left a day or two before. We
accordingly sailed that afternoon for Cuba. We
had crossed the Great Bahama Banks, and passed
the Double Head Shot Light, when Captain Oakley
came aft and said large steamer was bearing
down on us to the southwark and westward, and
that possibly it might be Federal cruiser. Long
and anxously did we peer at that stately stranger
through the ships glasses, wondering and wonder,
ing in vain as to her character and intentions. II
was one of those beautiful October days, in which
it is hard to be unhappy about anything, but fan
! II Il S6o
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17
proslayery sentiments, all of which he repudiated

pro-savery sentiments, all of which he repudiatet
when the war opened better chance in anothe,
direction. He was reelected to Congress in 1858
and it was during the latter part Of this term tha
he became an actor in the most terrible and dis
gusting tragedy that has stained the annals Of the
national capital
The circumstances of this affair, as appeared
upon the trial, were these: Mrs. Sicklcs, who was
the daughter of a woman with whom it was alleged
Sickles had once maintained criminal connection
resided with her husband in Washington There
through an introduction by her husband, she be-
came acquainted with Philip Barton Key, gen
tleman of culture and address, who became fire.
quent visitor to Sickles' house, and the acquain
tanceship With Mrs. Sickles eventually ripened in.
to criminality It is said that Sickles knew or
suspected of this intimacy. At any rate, it was
the common talk in the city long before he took
measures to avenge his 'dishonored bed.' Ar
anonymous note addressed to him, with details Of
Mrs Sickles' crime, reused him to action. 1t ap'
pears that eighteen hours after the receipt Of this
note, and when, as the prosecution afterwards con-
tended, he had had ample time to cool off from the
first effects of the dreadful disclosure, he sailed
out with friend, and finding Key at the corner Of
Lafayette place. near the Club House, slaughtered
him where he stood. This was on Sabbath af.
terpoon, as Key was on his way home from church.
Sckles shot him with revolver in the groin. The
wounded man took refuge behind o tree, crying
out Don't shoot me- Don't murder me- Sick
les followed him up, and shot him again. He fell
to the sidewalk and for moment rested his head
upon his arm. Sickles then stood over him and
shot him in the breast. Just then Butterworth
came up, and touching Sickles on the shoulder
advised him to desist Sickles took his Friends
arm, and the twain walked away. The murderer
exhibited the Utmost GOODNESS during the entire af
fair. Key never spoke after the third shot. He
was taken into the Club House and expired in 8
few minutes.
The murder took place February g.. 1859, and
the trial came off in the following April-just ter
years ago. It lasted from the 4th TO the Goth
and created great excitement both in Washington
and throughout the country. A great array Of
counsel appeared for the defendant. Among them
were Edwin N. Stanton, James 7. Brady, John
Graham, Thos. Francis Meagher, Reverdy John
son, and Colonel Phillips Of Alabama. The Hon
r, n-I p