davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
An Infamous Enactment.

How infamous in Republic should
the party be held that confers upon its
candidate for President the power in
time of peace to suspend the writ of ha-
beas corpus, and declare martial law over
the whole or any part of the country at
his own will and pleasure, he to be the
sole Judge of the time, occasion and ne
cessity. Grant has been put in posses
sion Of despotic powers with the army
and navy placed at his control to enforce
his DEGREES; and all for tue purpose of
enabling him to re elect himself. 1t is o
crime against the principles Of Ameri-
can liberty that should receive universal
execration. A grosser insult could not
have been offered to the people of the
United States. A stronger proof that
the spirit of 1776 no longer animates
American citizens it would be impossible
to present than the passage of the Force
bill comforting upon the President the
powers Of a despot, and the people rest
ing in sapineness, and not calling the
perpetrators of the outrage to summary
punishment.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09


EE Chancellor Ponsonby's knowledge
of law, and power of humorous expires.
sion must have been limited, if we are to
believe the following lines, by some
wicked wag:
"No plan can succeed, and no party can thrive.
With leader who can. neither lead us nor
drive.
For six mortal years, as rhetorical graces,
We tr,isrs cheered, and extolled common-pla-
oes;
Wash'd over with praise every folly and flaw,
And smird at his jokes, and look'd grave at his
law,
Gould friendship do more0 while Indifferent
All smird at his law and lookd grave at his
Jokes"
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

EFA Russian subject is born. so to
speak, under the eyes of the Govern
ment, lives under them,d under them,
and is finally buried with them looking
on. At every turn of his life he knows
and is made to feel that the fatherly
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in the persons
of its police agents-never ceases to
take note of him. This perquisition ex-
tends even into the most private and sa-
cred domestic relations. Especially as
regards attendance at church and beha-
yior therein are the police regulations
strict and binding. A. M, Aksalice has
been pressing for repeal of these strin-
gent Church laws, but there is no likeli.
hood that he can bring about change
in this respect.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
1nusements, IT,.
NUMBER IL
Hold Fast .BeIow.

A party of Irishmen, once upon. d
time, contracted TO Gear deep we'll
Having none of the conveniences en-
ployed for such purposes, they we're at
a loss to get one of the party on little
ledge near the bottom to assist in the
process Ct getting ont water, mud, etc.
At last Jimmy Phelan, lcrcnleHn fel.
low, proposed plan which was coasld-
cred just the thing
II was this: Jimmy was to clasp his
big fists around the windlass; then an.
other of the party was to Chamber down
and hold on by his legs, ard SO on until
the last man should be able to leap up
on the ledge.
Being slightly corned with liquor, the
|party prepared for the descent without
stopping to contemplate the difficulties
involved in the adventure.
| With barred breast, and sleeves tucked
mp, big Jimmy seized the round portion
of the windlass directly over the well
and swung himself over Another OF
the party crept down Jimmy's body aud
grasped him by the boots. After sever:
al more had followed suit, aud the hus
man chain began to stretch far into the
well, Jimmy became alive to one great
| difficulty; the windlass did not afford
him good hold in the first place, and
the weight was getting intolerable. 3
| At last, human siaew could stand it
no longer, and Jimmy hailed the lower
link in the chain with:
"He .jabers, Pat. hold fast below till J
split on me hans"
Suiting the action to the words, he
released his hold, when, of course, the
whole part, was precipitated to the bot
tom of the we'll As luck would havo
it,there was more mud than water where
the Hibernians lit, and they wisely con.
sidered themselves particularly fortunate
in escaping without actual loss of either
| life or limb.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
[From Che New York Exprcss.]
SPECIAL SESSIONS AT THE
MINES.o
LATTER THE MANNER OF BRET HARTE.l

AFTER THE MANNER OF BRET HARTE.
Do know? Well, stranger, reckon
1 can show you the place where twas done;
You see hat big oak over yonder,
That's standing 'twixt us and the sun,
Tha's on the divide; aud the stage road
Runs close to the edge of the hill;
And the chapparels thick as the devi!9
That's the place where they finished poor
Bill.
WHAT'S that? OH you mean that thing swing
ing
from that limb. Yes, it looks like mani
That's Jack Doyle-what's LETT; he's the fellow
That murdered poor Bill; then he ral,
But we tracked him up to the summit"
And round by "Snow Tent" Ned and me;
And we ran him to the ground. Did we catch
him?
Well, that's Doyle on the limb of that tree.
Yes, he left one, gal about twelve,
Yellow-haired, pretty and bright;
But she's wearin' away; and we've took her,
and Nancy. missed her last night,
And went up the road to find her,
And when come up to those trees,
There was the little gal Maggie,
Down in the grass on ner knees
A cryin' and sobb.n', and, stranger,
She was prayin', and here's what she said:
"oh! papa and mamma, Tn coming;
I can't stay, since papa is dead;
And, papa, Pm going 10 ask Nancy
To lay me right here by your side;
And I'll come to you soon." Then took her
Up so carefully, and, stranger, I cried
Like the child. Yes, she's wearing away,
And The next time you come by that hill,
You'll see two little boards, and they'll say,
"Here lies little Maggie and Bill"
HANK READ.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
Undue Familiarjty.

One of the great faults in modern
manners is the habit of undue and i'm
proper familiarity. Some Of the clever
est of men fall into the way of squeez-
ing hands in the most violent manner, of
shaping even their seniors On the back
and in other rude modes emphasizing
their familiarity and assuming a close
proximity of person quite uncomforta
BILE to persons Of good breeding and
taste. Others again have an offensive
and familiar habit of using personalities.
displaying knowledge Of intimate and
strictly private matters which one would
scarcely care to have known to ones
particular friends, much less the subject
of rude and unmannerly conversation
by comparative strangers.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
Not Ram.

Not long since, our friend Brown was
on visit to Lookout Mountain, 6 eor-
gia, and was much struck with fine jet
of water which was thrown above the
top of the eminence on which the hotel
stands. Walking round the jet admir-
ingly, he accosted plain countryman
with: ,s
"My friend, is this water forced up by
a ram ?" meaning, of course, hydraulic
continuance so named.
"a ram ?" exclaimed the countryman.
"Yes, ram," l said.
"What on earth-no sir. It's big
mule and it's tremendous hard work
for him. Come here, and I will show
him to you"
Brown saw the mule and left.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
The Position Appreciates.

In a debate in the Pennsylvania Leg
islature on bill to require that the re-
turns Of election should he made in the
presence of the Judges of the Cortland
not. as now, secretly to the Clerk, Mr..
Smith Republican, supported the meas
ure, saying: IF any man could stand
here and say this is not fair PROPOSE,
ton, he could not do so in truth He
would vote how he pleased, so he did
right" Thercupon Mr. Dumbell (Rep.l
said: THAT would sound we'll, coming
from the other side of the House. -
Dumbell is right. That scoutd sound
we'll, coming fion Democrats, but
not from Republicans. To do right is
in the line of the principles of Demo-
Gratis 1t is different with the sham Re.
publicans.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
A scien,iflc Old Lady.

When was teaching the station mas
ters the telegraph on the branch lines of
a certain company, Mr.. K-, master
at one of the stations, told me a laugha.
BILE incident. In the village was an ell
derly lady, who always professed to nn-
derstand everything, particularly if at all
scientific. She was soon at the station,
and congratulated my friend on the
great acquisition the telegraph would be.
"How nice! No fear of fire now; we
could have the engines here in no time.
At another time she remarked !: s'Mr.
K, quite understand the secret of
sending the messaees-I am perfectly
aware of what electricity is composed;
but there is one little point am igno-
rant Of" Mr.. K, of course, pro-
fessed himself willing to explain to her
all he was able s'Well," said she, II
know all but this-how do the messages
pass the poles P' elisN - ~ 3aiis
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
Electricity as a Motive Power.

General Leggett, the new Commiss-
ioner of Patents, has placed in charge
of special examiner the Improvement
in machinery for using electricity as a
motive power. for which caveats are now
being filed. A New Jersey inventor
claims that the power can be by his in,
vention Indefinitely multiplied without
increasing the size of the battery or
the strength Of the current He has
here a two horse power engine, run by
a single cup battery, the expense being
no greater than the cost of battery in
country telegraph Office.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
COnuNdrunls.

What is that which ties two persons,
but only touches one? A wedding
ring.
AGRICULTURAL CoNs-Why is crow
the worst of thieves? !? He's a rogue in
grain.
What makes the carrot 50 envious
Because it can't be beet.
Why was celery so named9 Because
it grows in cellar-y place.
Why can't BOYS whistle in rye-feld :?
They can't raise an oat there.
Why is the bleat of lamb like re-
tail liquor dealer? It's baa tender.
Why is the cabbage the most prosper
Gus of vegetables? 1t always gets a
head in the world.
Why are dentists like harrows? They
Fhave full sets of teeth and worry the
achers of others.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

EgMr. Beecher at one time made a
persistent effort to induce the women OF
his church to take part in the social
meetings. AS the result, says the In
dependent, lank female gospeler arose
one evening, and recited learned, but
by no means cdifying homily, which she
repeated at two successive meetings.
The case was becoming both ludicrous
and serious. Finally, at the close OF
the harangue on the third evening, Mr..
Beecher lifted up his head, which had
been buried in his hands, and said, qui-
ETY.: "Nevertheless, brethren, 1 am in
favor of having women speak in the
PRAYER meeting"
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

A lady writing from Salt Lake at
tempts to describe the horrible position
of man who makes twenty wives jeal-
Gus by paying attention to feminine
outsider.
A Lockport dog got needle fast in
his tongue, and the animal was chloro-
formed in order that the needle might be
extracted. The surgical operation was
a success, but the chloroform killed the
dog. rs
If you ever should have the misfor
tune to .'let the cat out of the bag
never, nerer try and stuff her back again;
it's such a mistake; yoa only make, inev-
itably make, matters forty times worse
A Frenchman cannot pronounce ship
The word is 'ssheep" in his mouth. See
ing an iron clad, he said to boy, Ssh
dish war sheep?" 'No," answered the
boy, "it's lam."
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
Meant Well.

1t is charming quality of that sex
which gives to the artists their models
for angels, that their warmest sympa-
thies always go out to the beaten side.
A worthy old lady in Illinois, after hear
ing the devil very roughly handled by a
hard-shell exhorter, observed, with the
true spirit of Chris an charity: Poor
thing! perhaps he ssant well, after all J"
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
ElNShing.

The blushing face is an index of an
aesthetic feeling which none but the
thoughtful and sensitive possess. The
very climax Of iniquity is the power to
violate the decent courtesies and pro-
prieties of life, without revealing sense
of shame in the suffusion of the coun-
tenance. No brute, natural or moral, is
capable of blushing. 1t is one of the
inalienable characteristics of rational,
and sentimental, and minded being.
Inordinate, blushing is a most uncom-
Portable ailment, and the evidence of ex-
treme senstiveness.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

EE-M Mr.. Greeley's abandonment Of the
attempt to reconstruct the Republican
party in New York is circumstance OF
considerable significance. He says in
his letter giving it up, that: '.Had lit.
tie forbearance and Cancellation been
evinced by the appointing power al
Washington, l think this might have
been different" This is hint to the
President that he would do well to take
into careful consideration. The Repuh.
lican party in New York is in q condi.
ton as hopeless as it is in Missouri
Gin. Com.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

EElf Congress has the right to sus-
pend the writ of habeas corpus, tbs q
right that they cannot constitutionally
delegate to any other authority. Hence
If the Constitution was in existence, and
was at all regarded, the attempted COM
ferring of that power upon the Presi-
dent at his discretion would he held hv
the Courts to be null and void, This goes
to the core of tha ku Klux bill
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

RT The manufacture Of sugar from
beets is developing into new industry
in England. Great Britain is relatively
and absolutely the largest purchaser of
sugar in the world, and the demand for
it is steadily on the increase During
the last year imports rose from 100000
tons to over 100000 tons, and coEsump
ton advanced from Al pounds to At
pounds per head of the population
France, Germany, Austria, Rsssia, Bel
GUM, Sweden, Holland, and Italy pro-
duced 925, 900 tons Object sugar in 1870,
of which quantity about one-twelfth
went to the English market The Brit
ish Society of Arts had discussion the
other day on the subject of Introducing
the culture of beetroot and the manu-
facture. of beet sugar in England and
Ireland. l.e...- a.sls
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

~The following stanza is said tc
have been copied from the tombstone o.
a husband and wife:
"Within this grave do lie,
Back to back, my wife and I;
When the last trump the air shall fill,
If she gets up I'll Just lie still"
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

"COULD We NOT WATCH WITH
ME ONE HOUR!,'

"COULD NE NUT WATCH WITH
ME ONE HOURy'
The night is dark; behold the shade was deeper
In the old garden of Gethsemane,
When that calm voice awoke the weary sleeper
"Couldst thou not watch one hour alone with
meF"
o thou so weary of thy self-dsnials!
And SO impatient of thy little cross,
Is it so hard to bear thy daily trials,
To count all earthly things gainful loss?
What if thou alacrys suffer tribulation,
And if thy Christian warfare neoer cease;
The gaining of the greater habitation
Shall gather thee to everlasting peace.
But here we all must suffer, walking lonely
The path that Jesus once Himself hath gone;
Watch thou in patience through this hour only,
This one dark hour before tn eternal dawn.
The captive's oar may pause upon the galley,
The soldier sleep beneath his plumed crest,
And Peace may fold her wing Ger hill and val
ley,
But thou, o Christianl must not take thy
rest.
Thou must walk on, however man upbraid thee,
With Him who trod the wine-press all alonel
Thou wilt not find one human hand to aid thee,
One human soul u comprehend thine own.
Heed not the images forever thronging
From out the foregone life thou iv'st no
more;
Faint-hearted mariner, still art thou longing
For the dim line of the receding shorep
Wilt thou And rest of soul in thy returning
To the old path thou hast so vainly trod?
Hast thou forgotten all thy weary yearning
To walk among the children of thy God?
Faithful and steadfast in their conservation,
Living by that high faith to thee SO dim,
Declaring before God their dedication,
So far from thee, because SO near to Him.
Hast thou forgot thy Christian superscription-
"Behol@, zoe count item happy soltiith endures'
What treasure wouldst thou in the land Egyp.
,ian 81
Repass the stormy water to secureP
And wilt thouyield thy sure and glorious prom
.s Use sggssHF fgsz stg&gs sE8 5Esqa
For the poor ieeting joys earth can afford?
No hand can take away the treasure from us
That rests within the keeping of the Lord.
Poor wandering soul! know that thou art
seeking ra
Some easier way, as all have sought before,
To silence the reproachful inward speaking,
Some landward path unto an island shore!
The cross is heavy in thy human measure,
The way is narrow for thy inward pride,
Thou canst not lay thy Intellectual treasure
At the low footstool Of the Crucihed.
Oh! that thy faithless soul one hour only
Would comprehend the Christians perfect
life,
Despised with Jesus sorrowful and lonely,
Sit calmly looking upward in its strife.
For poverty and self-renunciation.
Their Father yieldeth back thousandfold;
In the calm stiffness of regeneration
Cometh Joy they ne1er knew of old.
In meek obedience to the heavenly Teacher
Thy weary soul can only find its peace.
Seeking no aid from any human creature,
Looking to God alone for its release. a
And He will come in His own time and power
70 set his earnest-hearted children free;
Watch only through this dark and painful
ffig, hour, sl7
And the bright morning will yet break fol
thee 3
-7Nsushts for Weary Hou,s.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

gThe idea OF making the Demo
cratic party in the Assembly responsible
for the blunders and stupidities, the sins
of omission and sins of commission of
the Legislature, owes its origin to the
same brilliant geniuses who insisted that
The Democracy were responsible for the
land grabbing at the last Congress, when
the Radicals had a two-thirds majority
in both Houses of Congress-, had the
President, and made up nineteen-tweu-
tieths of the grabbing monopoIists.
The people will recognize in a very
prompt and decided manner which par
ty is responsible for this precious Gen
eral Assembly.-Oaio Statesmaa, t.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

In Brittany a very curious matrimo-
nial custom prevails. On certain fete
days the young ladies appear in red pet.
ticoats, with white or yellow borders
around them. The number denotes the
portion the father is willing to give the
daughter. Each white band, represent
ing silver, betokens 100f. OF rent; and
each yellow band means gold ,and stands
for 1,000f. year. Thus, young far
mcr, who sees face that pleases him.
has only to glance at the trimmings Of
the petticoats to learn. in an instant,
what amount accompanies the wearer.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
Marvellous Copy Of the Bible.

A few weeks since, there was exhib-
tied in New York, most marvellous
specimen of handwriting, it being no
less than complete copy of the Holy
Bible on surface about the size of an
ordinary mantle or pier glass, the words
of the same being so ingeniously arran-
ged and grouped as to form the repre-
sentation of a beautiful temple, while at
the same time not one word is omitted,
no sentences transposed, and the sever
al chapters follow each other in proper
order
At first view the spectator perceives
only well arraigned architectural draw
ing, delicately compact, but on a close
examination (some parts requiring the
use Of magniiying glass; every part
of the elevation, each window and door
way, each apparent line and curve of
column, nornine, ard entablature, every
thing, in short, about the picture, ex-
cept, perhaps, slight shaving, is resol-
we'd into distinct and regular hand wri-
ting. This wonderful production was
executed by Polish gentleman by the
name of David Donaldson, who finish
ed his task after two years and seven
months of constant labor and applica-
ton.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09
Keep Your Own Counsel.

1t is most excellent rule in life, for
those who would keep out of trouble,
and keep themselves too out of the
reach of injurious busybodies, to have
their eyes and ears wide open, and their
mouths shut. They may see all that is
to be seen, and hear all that is to be
heard, but they need not tell to others
all that they may wish to hear. These
are seheming times. People are not
what they were twenty years ago. The
old fashioned notions of honor and fair
dealing, the sturdy old friendship and
neighborsbip, the kindliness of personal
feeling, and the reluctance to take ad-
vantages Of ones misfortunes that pre-
vailed when middle aged men of this
generation were youths, have disappear
ed, and given place to harsher feelings
between men and men. The struggle
for life and wealth has become 50 fierce
and intense, as to have broken down
many of the scruples that once govern
ed it. Matters spoken of in confidence,
or words dropped incautiously in chance
conversation, are not accorded the pri-
vacy they are entitled to. They are used
without remorse, wherever they can be
used to the advantage of one, or to the
detriment of another; and in this way
many a man who has honest schemes of
business in hand, or who may have the
misfortune to have unhappy secrets in
his household, or in his personal circle,
frequently finds the world cognizant of
them all, without scarcely knowing how
it obtained the information. An upright
just, and honorable person, who chances
to come into possession of knowledge
of his neighbours private affairs, will
lock his lips upon it, and suffer no one
else to obtain it from him. But all men
do not possess this high regard for 9TH
ers. There is class Of persons who
look upon the discovery of another's
secret as they would on the discovery
of treasure. They will spread the in
formation of it far and wide, with ma.
licious JOY at the mischief and pain they
are creating Even if the knowledge is
of no substantial value to them, the fact
that it is another's secret will invest it
with fascination, and cause it to be re-
garded with unusual favor. The only
safe rule in dealing with such persons,
and indeed with all persons, is to keep
your own eounsel-converse freely and
genially on ordinary subjects, but on
grave personal matters cultivate care
full reticence. If you have important
business projects in hand. keep them to
yourself, or,at most. limit the knowledge
of them to the few trusty friends on
whose discretion you can rely, and
whose advice and assistance you may
need. There are few successful business
men who do not make this an inaexible
rule in their operations. 1t saves them
infinite trouble, and is one of the secrets
of their success.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

Servant girls in Wyoming get 81 per
week and can yete.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

cHINEE EPIGRAM-(by Quilp.)
"At once my ravished eyes set,
Where Julia's neck and boddice met,
She asked what was seeking.
There, that-said /, is that Nankin?
(The lining of her dress, I mean.)
No, sir, said she, that's Pekin.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-09

R"About twenty odd years ago /
read in the Post very good thing, and
have been looking in vain for it to reap
pear in your paper. In these days of
the Heather Chinee,' ] think it would
fiji space, and be new to your young
readers -