davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
The Utterly Disengaged Bach
eEOr.

He is generally fve-and-twenty, for
We do not allude to old bachelors. He
dresses well, but not anxiously. It does
not much matter to him if his gloves
are not buttoned, or if the parting of his
back hair is not that of a man who owns
himself; who has no one to think of
when he does anything or says anything
He consorts with gay fellows, who
smoke great deal, and he smokes a
great deal himself He doesn't mind
owning to have been out very late last
night, and being unable to find a place
forh his latch-key when he reached home.
He changes his boarding place frequent
ly, and is generally ahead Of his salary.
He laughs at engaged fellows and
pities married ones. He is .of.hand in
his manner, and pays great attention
in a jolly sort Of way to the last new
pretty girl. He patronizes the bur-
lesque opera, and goes alone With bou-
quets to fling to the most fascinating
performer. Even then he is tickle, and
the sylph with black hair, who is his
idol one night, is quite forgotten the
next for the blonde in blue and silver.
On the whole he is extremely happy
has brighter eyes, fresher lips, and
nicer hair than any other kind of man
you meet, and seems to have "disen-
gagged" and "not in love" written in
every dimple.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

1t is seen by this table that the fra.
ding centres and the specie-producing
States bear a tax out of all proportion
to and very much greater than the agri
cultural sections of the contry. The
State of New York is So OF per head
Of the population, while in this city it
would reach many times over that per
centage; in Massachusetts it is 81 ~
per head, in California S. 81, and in
Nevada ST II. The tax per head in
the agricultural States and sections is
Insignificant compared with the above.
For example, in Indiana it is only forty
three cents in Ohio, ninety:two cents !;
Wisconsin, forty-eight cents; Iowa,
forty-one cents, and so on throughout.
Yet there is no class of the community
better off or more independent than the
planters, farmers and agriculturists gen.
orally. The truth is they have many
ways of evading the tax, while clerks
and all others with a fixed salary, as
we'll as professional and small business
men, have to pay the last cent. The
tax bears very heavy ON these classes,
and makes an inviduous and oppressive
distinction against them and in favor of
the agriculturists and capitalists. In
any reform of the revenue system this
income tax should be one of the first to
be abolished, and we hope Congress
will turn its attention to the matter du-
ring its next session. n. Y. Herald.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
TINE FOR MISUNDERSTANDING I

TINE FOR MISUNDERSTANDING the
ancient Germans, than whom finer race
never existed, it was death to any woman
to marry before she was twenty years
old. BY the laws of Lycurgus the most
special attention was paid to the physi-
cal education, and no delicate or sickly
women were, on any account, allowed to
marry. DR.. Johnston, in his work of
Economy of HEALTH" says that matri-
mony should not be contracted until the
first year of the fourth septennial on the
part of the lady, nor before the last year
Of the same in the case of the gentle.
man. In other words, the female should
be at least twenty.one years of age, and
the male twenty-eight years. The Dec
tor says there should be difference of
seven years between the sexes, at what
ever period of life the connection is con-
tracted. There is difference of seven
years, not in the actual duration Of life
in the two sexes, but in the stamina of
the constitution, the symmetry of the
form and linaments of the face. In re-
spect to early marriage, SO far as it con-
Germs the softer sex, for every year at
which marriage is entered upon before
the age Of twenty-one, there will be, on
an average, three years of premature
decay, more or less apparent, of the cor
poral fabric.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
Roses and Sub Rosa.

The Romans were very fond of roses.
Cleopatra received Anthony, at one of
her banquets, in an apartment covered
with rose leaves to a considerable depth !;
and Anthony, when dying, requested
roses to be strewn ON his grave. Roman
generals, who achieved remarkable VIC
tories, had roses sculptured on their
shields. Rose water was the favorite
perfume OF the Roman ladies, and the
most luxurious even used it in their
baths. In the East, as indeed all over
the world, the rose has been a favorite
with the poets. The Turks believe that
roses sprang from thu perspiration of
Mahomet for which reason they never
tread on a rose leaf, nor suffer one to
lie on the ground; they also sculpture
the rose on the tombs Of unmarried fe-
males. The red and white rose gave
their name to the War of the Roses"
between the contending houses of York
and Lancaster, in English history. The
same uses of roses have everywhere de.
scended to our own times. The term
sub, rosa, =" under the rose," is universal.
ly proyerbial, and, it is said, arose from
one of the popes having ordered conse'
Grated roses to be placed over the con-
fessionals of Rome to denote secrecy.
Roses were first planted in England in
1922.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
Creole wi MsaSic.

The Acadians in the Opelousas and
Attakapas country of Louisiana are the
most peasant-like of all our rural people.
Simple and frugal in their tastes, their
only cares are their herds, their fields
and their boats. They have the super
sttions and reverence of the French
peasant combined with docility and a
certain latent fire not unlike the Italians.
Strong in feeling, with hot blood easily
excited, they have vein of passion and
sentiment running through their fibres
which makes them peculiarly susceptible
to the influence of music. They have
among them many quaint and wild
soncs. full Of pathos and tenderness,
which are not unlike Moorish songs
when heard at night on the lake or
amidst the tropical luxuriance of a for
est. Their music is all more OF less sad
and plaintive, and generally sung in a
minor key. The airs of their songs are
always simple and totally devoid of
ornamentation, and are not to be con.
founded with the nervous, irregular
dance-music of the negro population,
whom they detest. One could we'll i'm
agne himself in the Bay OF Naples
when listening to one of the boatsmen
of Barrataria singing as he floats home
ward.- St. Louis Home Journal.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
The Newspaper Reader.

The American is the newspaper read
er Of the world. He has an Unsuitable
greed for news. lie can never get
enough of it. He would rather content
himself, any time, with a poo: break
fast, and a bloadside of interesting
news, than the best breakfast, dinner
and supper in the world, with no news
at ALL He Graves it as topper does his
toddy, Or smoker does his pipe. He
could hardly exist without it: for to be
without the news is like being out of the
world. He will pay any price, but he
will have it. A Londoner, who was in
the daily habit of reading the Times,
and the Times only, on being told that
it was the custom of American business
men to take several papers, had some
difficulty in crediting such wanton
extravaganza. "What do they want to
read the news so many times for? Isn't
one paper enough?'
The truth is, we are not content with
the naked news; we want the news
with the variations. One paper may
have some trifing details of a transac-
tion or occurrence not possessed by
another; there may be two sides to the
affair, and party spirit may color each
journals report of it; and then, there is
the equitable American desire to hear
different reports of the same event; so
that the genuine newspaper reader is
never satisfied that he is in possession
of the whole matter from beginning to
end till he has read it in two or three
journals. He is then "posted' for any
emergencies of conversation, dispute, or
action that may await him.
In the main, we read daily papers for
news, and the more news it gives, the
better We like it, No amount of able
editorials and essays, no amount of
wholesome reading that is not news, and
no accurate conformity Of journal to
our own political views, will atone for
lack of the specific commodity we are
in search of. Able editorials and essays,
wit, humor and sound political doctrines
are all secondary to it. These it may
have with advantage; the other it must
have, Or perish from want of support.
St. Louis Home Journal.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

PATENT TREATMENT FOR LoAFERs.-
The Cincinnati Enquirer makes note:
An admirable idea lately inspired a
Milwaukee photographer, and he has
put it in practice. Annoyed by the
congregation of swarm Of well-dressed
loafers, obstructing the approaches to his
gallery, he quietly brought his lenses to
bear upon them, and after day or two
was able to exhibit a variety Of capital
portraits in groups. These be placed on
exhibition. to the CONSERVATION and in
tense disgust Of the loafers; and now
not a biped of that description can be
induced to pause long enough to firt"
a handkerchief within q square of the
artists den. There is practical sug-
gestion in this that is worth the atten-
ton of the authorities. Let photo
grapher be employed one hour day,
for week, at the principal street-eorner
loating resorts. An exhibition of his
works would be more effectual in dis
persing the nuisances than a whole
platoon of police.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
DOsa't Lean Upon Others.

Half, al least, of the disappointed
men one meets with are the victims of
ill-grounded hopes and expectations
persons who have tried to lean upon
others, instead of relying upon them
selves. This leaning is poor business.
It seldom pays. Energetic men land
they are the classes generally looked to
for aid) do not like to be leaned upon.
If you are travelling i'm a railroad Car,
and great hulking fellow lays his head
against your shoulder and goes to sleep
you Indignantly shake him off. It is
the same in business. The man who
does not attempt to shoe his own row."
need not expect any one to hoe for him.
1t is nonsence for any man to pretend
to the dignity Of being unfortunate who
has depended upon others when he might
have cloven way to fortune for himself:
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
The Waist of the Period.

The London Lancet says: Our old
friend tight-lacing has again made his
appearance. Beaten back for a time,
probably more by fashion than by the
spread of knowledge, he has not been
killed, but has only recoiled apparently
for better spring, for his victims are
as numerous and pitiable as ever. The
folly is one which was formerly to be
found mainly in the drawing=room, but
now it also fillso streets. 1t is lament
able to observe at every turn woman,
young or old, who moves forward in a
STOPPING position, unable even to hold
herself upright In consequence of the
constraint upon the muscles of the
back If the evils of tight-lacing were
confined to the distorted appearance
which it never fails to produce, we
might regret, indeed, to see the female
form divine so defaced, but it would
scarcely be in our province to comment
upon it. But, as medical practitioners,
I'VE see its effects every day in the train
Of nervous and dyspeptic symptoms by
which it is constantly indicated, and in
the still more gave and internal mis-
chief of permanent character which is
often caused by it. Until some little
physiological knowledge is made part
of female education, and is considered
an accomplishment" we suppose it is
OF little use to protest against the cruel
injury to health which women thus
inhict upon themselves. The matter is
one that is "worse than crime-it is
folly" for beauty is destroyed by the
process which is intended to increase
L.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

Nj. Green, the famous diver, tells
singular stories of his adventures, when
making search in the deep waters of
the ocean. He gives some new sketches
of what be saw at the "Silver Banks ~
near Hayti:
"Ihe banks of the coral on which
my divings were made are about forty
miles in lehgth, and about ten to twenty
in breadth. On this bank Of coral is
presented to the diver one Of the most
beautiful and sublime scenes the eye
ever beheld. The water varies from
ten to one hundred feet in depth. and
is SO clear that the diver can see from
two to three hundred feet, when he is
submerged, with but little obstruction
to the sight.
1.-The bottom of the ocean, in many
places, is as smooth as marble floor !;
in others it is studded with coral COL
ums, from ten to one hundred feet in
hight, and from one to eighty feet in
diameter. The tops of those more lofty,
support myriad Of pyramidal pendents,
each forming a myriad more; giving
reality to the imaginary abode of some
water-nymph, In other places the PEN
dants form arch after arch and as the
diver stands on the bottom of the ocean,
and gazes through these in the deep
winding avenue, he finds that they will
fill him with as sacred an awe as if be
were in some old cathedral which had
long been buried beneath 'old oceans s
wave Here and there the coral ex-
tends even to the surfrce of the water,
as if those loftier columns were towers
belonging to those stately temples that
are now in ruins.
"There were countless varieties of
diminutive trees. shrubs. and plants, in
every crevice of corals where the water
had deposited the least earth. They
were ali of faint hue, owing to the
pale light they received, although Of
every shade, and entirely different from
plants am familiar with that vegetate
upon dry land. One in particular at
tracted my attention, It resembled a
sea-fan of immense size. of variegated
eolors, and the most brilliant hue. The
fish which inhabited those 'Silver
Banks I found as different in kind as
the scenery was varied They were of
all forms, colors, and sizes-from the
symetrical goby to the globe. like sun
fish E; from those of the dullest hue to
the changeable dolphin from the spots
of the leopard to the hues of the
sunbeam from the harmless minnow to
the yoracious shark"
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
The Iacome Tax--What each
State Pays Per Head.

Probably no revenue law more une-
quail in its operation or generalization
than that imposing their income tax was
ever passed by Congress. 1t bears
unequally upon the States, cities and
communities; taxes one class least able
to pay, and leaves the way open for
escape to great many we'll able to pay,
and directly or indirectly leads to per-
jury and all sorts of dishonest tricks to
evade the burden. To give an idea of
its operation the following table, based
upon the official returns from the income
tax Of 1868, is published. The sum
placed against each State is so much
head of the whole population:
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

Awful Clerk" said a
tall Kentuekian to n hotel official" this
young woman and me have eloped:
Have re any marryin' facilities around
here p :~.
The clerk replied in the Affirmative
and the two were "spliced" in less than
an hour. The bridegroom was evident.
ly not yet satisfied, and fingered around
the Notebook
"Clerk," said he, confdentially, at
length, "hadn't ye better change the
register, and give us one room, now
we're married."
"It's already done" replied the clerk"
you're marked for the same ROOM
"Well, clerk" replied the kentuckian'
quickly, "won't you just show me up'
then, for I'm autul sleepy
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
The History of u Successful
1hAslHh.

Mr.. a. I. Stewards peculiar success
in the manipulation of almost every
enterprise he undertakes, has awakened
the admiration Of thousands; and it is,
therefore, not strange that one mind
should desire to be enlightened as to
how he came by his multitarious faculty.
A correspondent proposes that Mr..
Stewart should write and publish the
history of his business career, so that
he, "a beginner in the game of life.
may see and know what goes to the
development ola good player. Will he
do it? We will hint to him that such
history would be all the more useful if
put into the compass of lecture and
delivered by the subject himself. BY
the way, would not Stewards life be
good card for Bonner! He is the man
who has other mems lives done with the
greatest success.
At one time there was little story
current, that if true, would serve as the
first fact in this history, and we furnish
it. 1t was, that after Stewart, then
young, had been certain time in this
country in the dry goods line, and not
over successful, he was called homc-to
lreland-to receive his share in the
distribution of some small Inheritance.
Having his money, and being on the
point Of returning to America he stopped
at some dealers Of his acquaintance, in
Belfast, and priced a small article in the
way of linen trimming. 1t was cheap,
and he invested in it his whole inheri
tance. This purchase he brought to
New York, paying the duty, of course
and here sold it for as much per yard as
he paid per piece. This has been spo-
ken of as Stewards first venture as an
importer of dry goods'-Neu York Her.
aid.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

DoMEsT1c1TlEs.-A fond husband
once said to his wife, who in her dying
moments, had a good deal to say to
him, Don't trouble yourself to talk,
dear, but go on with your DYING
Another one said to his wife, when she
complained that breathing hurt her very
much,-"I wouldn't try to breath at ali,
dear."-"Good morning, Mr. Pecksniff!'
said printer in search Of female COM
positors; Have you any daughters who
would make good type-setters ?" "No,
but I have wife who would make a
very fine devil"
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

An Irisbman, being asked by his
angry master what he did to the dog
every day to make him cry out, as If
cruelty treated. "Cruelly trait him, yer
honor? not I! never could hurt poor
dumb cratur in my life: but yer honor
bade me cut his tail, and so / cut only
little bit off every day, to make it more
aisy for him"
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

A leader of music in church where
congregational singing was practiced,
selected a tune with wrong meter, to be
sung to words: ''With hossop purge
my soul, 0 Lord |" He tried it twice,
when some old lady cried out: mister,
you had better try some other yarb."
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

A Virginia couple wanted to get mar
ried, but had only twenty-seven cents
between them; and the parson wouldn't
marry anything for that. The bride
wept in silence for a time, when a
bright idea struck her, and she cried,
through her tears: "Please, sir, If you
if you can't marry us fill up, won't
you marry ustwenty seven cents worth
we can come for the rest some other
time" 7n = ~ -. ~-- 4 3
This was too much for the parson.
He married them "fuH up" and they
went on their way rejoicing:
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
Fashions am d Mar. iage Markets.

A fellow of infinite jest gets off the
following report of the Fashion and
Matrimonial Markets Since our last
report switches" have had downward
tendency and are now ON the decline.
Only three tons arrived last week, and
shippers and holders look blank. "Rolls'
are higher, with a prospect of steady
advance. The market will not be gIut-
ted for some time to come. Waterfalls
are scarce, though the deman is limited.
The great fall'' they experienced ear
ly in the season had depressing effect
on the shippers. The Grecian Bend is
limited to few frst-class spines, the
general public, especially the business
men, look upon it with distrust, and it
is feared that holders will have to re-
ship. Paint and Enamel are brisk. and
prices firm. Barber & Druggist report
large sales, and predict large number
of antiquated, saffron-colored women.
Trails still continue to advance-after
the wearer get FIVE or ten feet ahead.
They will hold out as long as the wal
let of Pater Familias. Corsets continue
to regularly supply physicians and
patent medicine men with patients. The
market is tight" Brides are now in
good demand. Hymen Il Love report
three sales at five thousand dollars each,
but as these were where "papa" was
worth hundred thousand, they cannot
be taken as a fair index of the market.
Holders are re-looking for better prices.
Bridegrooms are glut in the market,
being displayed on every corner in the
city, and densely packed in front of
seeond-class hotels. We quote one pair
Of tight pants, plug hat, yellow eyes, and
hair parted in the middle, at thirty cents.
He was sold in bulk Or the price would
not have been SO high.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

the same, after traversing some pine
forest, on the heads of Bayou Choupique,
we g'nd the prairies and marshy fats.
with here and there a timbered island
On one of these islands are the petro-
leu1n springs which caused the sinking
OF the deep bore that has revealed so
unexpected a mineral treasure.-( (Geo.
logical Reconnaissance Of Louisiana, by
Professar Hilg gard.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

A couple Of fellows, who were pretty
thoroughly soaked with bad whiskey,
got into the gutter After foundering
about for few minutes, one tof them
said, Jim, let's go to another house;
this hotel leaks from below
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

A lady asked pupil at public ex-
animation of the Sunday School, "What
was the sin of the Pharisees! "Strain-
ing gnats, and swallowing eamels, man,"
replied the pupil, cheerfully.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

Brighman Young conducts his COMMIT
bial affairs on the principle of Large
business and small prophets"
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

"Guilty, or not guilty9" said sharp
New York Judge, the other day, to an
inattentive female prisoner in the dock.
"Just as your honor pleases. It's not
for the likes O. me to dictate to your
honor's worship" was the reply.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

A Quaker, once hearing person tell
how much he felt for another who was
in distress and needed assistance, drily
asked him, Friend, hast thoa felt in
thy pocket for him.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

An incorrigible wag, who lent a min
lister horse which ran away and threw
bis clerical rider, thought he should have
some credit for his aid in "spreading'
the Gospel
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02
HlucKlEY & STACG,
RECEIVING & FORWARDING MERCHANTS,
WASHINGTON L.

r. WASHINGTON, LA,
Gar TIE Old STAND or HINCKLEY d SON.
A RE ready 10 receive and forward all freight
N tina. may be consigned to them, and will
pay the Highest market prices for cotton. or
will advance provisions and money on the
same, if Aipped through them.
r louis Stagg has also opened a separate
GROCERY STORE at the same place, where
he is ready TO furnish Groceries, Plantation
Supplies, Bagging, Ties, Wagons, &C., at
New Orleans prices.
Washington, La. October 10th. 1863.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

A man whose wife hung herself in his
presence, on being asked why he did
not prevent the tragedy, replied, Il cut
her down three times last week: but I
can't be always cutting her down"
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

They have stringent law against
swearing, in Ohio. An honest Hollan-
der, in order to keep clear from legal
swearing, always directs his letters to
his brother at Amsterd-m.'
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-10-02

Loving wife at Long Branch The
horrid surf makes me keep, my mouth
shut Sarcastic husband :-"Is wish
you would LAKE some Vt it home will
you"