davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19
Scene in an Opium ShOn.

One who has never visited an opium
 shop can have no conception of the fatal
 fascination that holds It's victims fast
 bound-mind, heart, C0ul, and con-
 science, all absolutely dead to every
 impulse but the unsuitable, ever-increas-
 ing thirst for the damning poison. I
 entered one of these dens but once, but
 l can never forget the terrible sights
 and sounds of that "place of torment. 7"
 The apartment was spacious, and might
 have been pleasant, but for it's foul
 odors and still fouler scenes of unutter-
 able woe-the footprints of sin trodden
 deep in the furrows of those haggard
 faces and emaciated forms. On all four sides of the room were couches
 placed thickly against the walls, and
 others were scattered over the apart
 ment wherever there was room for
 them. On each of these lay extended
 the wreck of what was once a man.
 Some few were old-all were hollow
 eyed, with sunken cheeks and cadaverous
 countenances :; many were clothed in rags, having probably smoked away their last dollar while others were of-
 fering to pawn their only decent gar
 ment for an additional dose of the deadly drug. A decrepit old man raised himself as we entered, drew long sigh, and then, with half-uttered impreca- tion on his own folly, proceeded to re-
 fill his pipe. This he did by scraping off, with five inch steel needle, some opium from the lid of tiny she'll box,. rolling the paste into pill, and, then, after heating it in the blaze of a lamp, deposit it within the small aperture of his pipe. Several short whiffs followed; then the smoker would remove the pipe from his mouth and lie back motionless then replace the pipe, and with fast glazing eyes blow the smoke slowly through his pallid nostrils. As the mar cotic effects of the opium began to work he fell back on the couch in state of silly stupefaction that was alike pitiable and disgusting. Another smoker, a mere youth, lay with his face buried in his hands, and as he lifted his head there was look of despair such as have seldom seen. Though so young, he was complete wreck, with hollow eyes, sunken chest, and 8 nervous twitching in every muscle. I spoke to him, and learned that six months be- fore he had lost his whole patrimony by gambling, and came hither to quaff for getfulness from these Lethean cups hoping, he said, to find death as we'll as oblivion. By far the larger proportion of the smokers were so entirely under the influence of the stupefying poison as to preclude any attempt at conversa- tion, and we passed out from this moral pest-house sick at heart as we thought of these infatuated victims of self-in- diligence and their starving families at home. This baneful habit once formed, is seldom given up, and from three to five years indulgence will utterly wreck the tirmest constitution, the frame be- coming daily more emaciated, the eyes more sunken, and the countenance more cadaverous, till the brain ceases to per form its functions, and death places its seal on the wasted life.-Lippi1acott's
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19
Plaln Talk to Girls.

Your every day toilet is 8 part of your character. A girl who looks like a fury" or sloven in the morning, is not to be trusted, however finely she may look in the evening. No matter how humble your room may be, there are eight thingsit should contain, viz.: a mirror, washstand. soap, towel, comb, hair, nail and tooth brushes. Those are just as essential as your breakfast, be- fore which you should make good and free use of them. Parents who fail to provide their children with such appli- ances, not only make great mistake, but commit sin of omission. Look tidy in the morning, and after the din ner work is over, improve your toilet.
 Make it rule of your daily life to '' dress up' for the afternoon. Your dress may, or need not be, anything better than calico but with ribbon, or flower, or some bit of ornament, you can have an air of self respect and satis- faction, that invariably comes with be- ing we'll dressed.
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19
DeviatiOns of the Compass.

A deviation of the compass has fre- quently been observed on vessels carry ing petroleum, and this irregularity is attributed to the sheet-iron tanks con- taining the oil. The greatest deviation is shown when the vessel leads east or west: but there is none when the head ing is north or south. A Boston sea captain, who had been troubled with this deviation, in comparing his posi- tion as obtained from observation with that derived from his ''dead reckon ing" gives the following ingenious method for regulating his course |: Having tried the four compasses in diff ferent parts of the vessel, he found that there was deviation of 15 degrees east, or say 14 points. He then placed one compass near the mizzen-mast, and one on plank laid across the stern boat davits. These two agreed, and by them he corrected the pinnacle compass. He kept the compass on the plank at the stern, and every time the vessels course was changed, day or night, he noted the difference between it and the bin nacle compass-making corrections ac- cordingly.
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19
Life in the Country.
An Experience as told by the Dunbur
 News.

NoWSs
 The city man who goes into the coun-
 try to spend the summer must make up
 his mind to learn something of the rou-
 tine of rural life. A New York man
 who is spending the hot weather season
 with family on Pine street, was asked
 by the lady of the house if he would
 take hen off the nest, as it wanted to set, and she didn't want it to. Ger
 tainly," said he, and immediately start
 ed out to the barn where the hens were kept, to crush out the maternal pros- poets of this particular one. He went
 straight to the nest to lift her off, and reached out his hand for that purpose,
 but immediately drew it back aga1n, and tucked it up under the other arm, and squeezed it little, while he drew up his lips as if about to whistle some thing. Then he stood there and stared at the hen, and she lifted up her head, and stared back at him, winking her eyes with singular velocity. "Get off, won't you?" said he, after pause. She made no response. He drew out his hand and looked at red spot on one of the knuckles, and then put the knuckle in his mouth to cool it, looking all the while at the hen, and wondering how on earth she moved so quickly. The longer he eyed her, the less inclined he felt to touch her, and finally he climbed up post to beam which ran over the nest, and working his way out on it till he got just above the hen, took off his hat and shook it at her, and ad- vised her to get. But she only looked up at him, one eye at time, and cluck- ed omniously. He told her if she didn't leave he would come down there and kick her through the barn, but inn mediately gave up the blood-thirsty design when he reflected that it was a dumb animal, and couldn't reason like a human being. Then he happened to think of his pants, which were white linen, and rubbed his fingers on the beam to find them full of black dust, which led him to work his body around to look at the pants, and while making this very natural move, he suddenly slipped, made plunge to renew his hold, shrieked for help, slipped again, and then came down on top of the hen and the nest, smashing them both to the floor, upsetting barrel, and filling the air with dust, feathers, hen noises, and shrieks. When the family reached the barn, the unfortunate man, looking something like circus poster on legs, had got on his feet, and was turning around, and rubbing his head in an ab- stracted manner, and every time he turned, an omelette on white linen base came to view, while the hen stood up in the further est corner on one leg, with a look of mingled astonishment and reproach on her countenance. After five minutes of industrious application with chip, the gentleman was escort ed into the. house, where his head was bathed with spirits, and his comfort generally attended to.
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19
Brutish Treatment of Prisoners.

My presence at an English prison, says correspondent, gave me an ample opportunity of becoming familiar with prison punishment It was simply brutish treatment The prison CTS were treated exactly like so many dumb brutes. They were never per mitted to speak until first addressed by keeper. If they opened their mouths to say casual word it was violation of the rules of the prison, and they would be punished. Each one of the keepers had complete power to castigate any of the prisoners who mighthappen to offend against this system. The punish ment in those days was something bar barous. Each of the keepers, besides being armed, carried whip of fine hemp cord, consisting of nine lashes, each one of which was knotted at the end. With this instrument the keeper would retaliate upon prisoner when. ever detected talking. I have seen six-foot keeper put the whip in his hand, and, carefully spreading out the lashes so that every one of them would strike, bring the lash down On little puny stripling who would not have the strength to stand, simply for the crime of speaking. This was done before all the prison. After the first few times I would never see it done. would turn away. It was too brutal. Frequently they would give a prisoner thousand lashes for certain offences. They would not be given all at the same time, but were continued along for several days. The prisoners backs, which soon be- came sore and lacerated, would then be washed off in stiff brine.
 Another punishment under the silent system was carrying rough yoke weighing from forty to sixty pounds, d. though that most frequently resorted to was the lash. It was an everyday occurrence to see keeper call prisoner up, make him take off his shirt, and bring the lash down upon him, leaving marks which he carried with him to his grave. l can tell you little instance of this. -.,a
 There was man here who had served his time out. He had conducted him. self we'll, and by industry soon became comfortably situated. He married and lived very happily. Soon afterward his wife happened to discover the lash marks upon his body, and she then learned for the first time that her hus- band had been in prison. She became insane, and he became 8 breken-hearted man, when but for these marks all would have been we'll.
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19
Ducks and Turkeys.

We had one day for dinner brandt duck, as it is called; but why so called, I never knew till from Daniel Webster. Brandt or brant," he said, "was but a description of color; just as brinded or brent, which is the old equivalent word for brown. Shakespeare says:
 Thrice the brinded cat has mewed;' that is, the brown cat"
 "The brandt duck," he said, "was really @ goose. Ducks the Yankees, geese the connoisseurs, call them"
 "The turkey" he said, "was @ native of Peru, but got it's name from the fact that James I. chartered company of merchants, and gave them exclusive privileges of trade with Turkey, who, however, afterward diverted their eapi- tai to the Pacific coast of South Ameri- ca, and established posts in Peru, where they found this noble bird, and whence they imported it into Europe. It was called Turkey from the name of the company"
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19

spoke of peace. With tenderest sympa- thy they gazed into that young, gentle face, that bore traces of heavy conflicts, and of wild, passionate longings.
 One day messenger from England demanded secret audience of Edward Courtenay, and when it was granted, the stranger handed him little casket with q golden key. The casket con- tained nothing but the secret poems of Elizabeth and withered white rose which turned to dust at the touch of her lovers trembling hand. There was no other message-not 8 word. The messenger knew not who had sent the casket, and he returned literally re- warded.
 In deepest emotion, Edward Courte- nay pressed the written leaves to his hps-a strange, intoxicating perfume stole from them. His senses wavered, but as soon as he came to himself, with glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes, he rushed to his serious friend. CT must return home at once," he said, hastily 1; 'my bride calls me. Rejoice with me, for I shall be happy p ..4
 Scarce had he spoken these words when he fell into swosn. Wild fever phantasies followed; and the next morning the pious monks wept and prayed by the corpse of him they had loved so we'll. For three days the beautiful dead lay in state, covered with white roses; and, as they bore him to his grave in the Church of San An tonius, women and children strewed white roses all the way, so that it almost seemed as if snow had fallen. Roses followed him into the dark vault. and the mysterious casket was laid in his coffin.
 A report that Edward Courtenay had been poisoned, spread throughout Italy and reached England. The messenger was never seen or heard of again. And so ended the life of the most unfortu- nate cousin of two mighty queens.
 Elizabeth, when she became Queen of England, no very long time after wards, was the bountiful patroness of poets but that poem in the Tower was her last. She never wrote stanza afterwards. In her heart she bore lifelong sorrow for him who had been taken from her ip so terrible and mys- terious a way, and persons who had been in the secret of her love were wont to say that there lay the reason why she never married.
 One morning, to her horror, she had missed the precious casket, and alf search for it proved unavailing. Whe- ther she afterwards had her suspicious that it's disappearance had anything to do with the death of her lover, was not known. It is certain, however, that her only verses and her only love sleep in that coffin at Padua which encloses the dust of him who was once called "The White Rose of York"
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19
Too Good.

A respectable woman recently pre- sented herself at station-house in Brooklyn and stated that she desired to consult the sergeant about her hus- band, who had been acting very strange ly. She represented him to be natural ly kind, good man, but that lately he had fallen into dissipated courses. That morning he went to his wife with knife in his hand, and said:
 :" My dear, think will kill you."
 " :" What for ?" inquired the startled wife.
 We'll, you have been so good and kind to me that I want you with me after I die." ... s-..-
 The terrified woman managed to per- suade the maniac to postpone the execu- tion of h1s intentions, but concluded something must be done about it.
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19

MINING IN AUsTRA11A.-From the sta tistics of the Government Department of Mines in Victoria, Australia, we learn that in that colony there were, in 1872, 52,965 miners, of whom 36, Al were engaged in alluvial mining, and 16,S24 in quartz mining. The quantity of gold raised in 1872 was estimated at 1881 ,377 ounces. The earnings of the alluvial miners during the year were computed at 995 Os. 6ad.; of quartz miners, at e159 ca. 64d., reckoning ac- cording to the amount of gold obtained; and the average earnings of each man when the gold was divided among the 52, 965 was 993 6s.
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19

FOND OF CArs.-At Grand Rapids. Mich, woman keeps seventy-six cats on her premises. When one dies she has a funeral procession half mile long, composed entirely of cats. As soon as the grave is covered she gives a signal and the whole company howl in concert. Deacon Swift, of Grand Rapids, was present on one of these occasions, and was heard to remark afterward while his wife was trying to cure his headache with cold water, that when he expe- rienced the effects of that combined, he lost all interest in life and inwardlv prayed for sudden death,
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19

BROOK TRoUT.-This delicious fish is permitted to be caught on and after September 15. Brook trout are abun- dant in the State of New York and in other places. They are at least as good as the much-extolled trout of Switzer- land, and certainly deserve odes as well as their European kin.
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19
Transition.

 The shadows of beautiful summers Have woven their memories to-day.
 Whispering slyly welcome to bashful corners t That troop OCT life's way, Yet loiter and blush-ah, so shyly! Mischieful eyes of gladness Beam in tenderness fond,
 Dreamily sparkling, As if, with never sadness
 The kingly Beyond Were knighting the day tha. is 'darkling. . summer! we clasp thee with sorrow! Thou hast blessed us-only to die,
 Lavishing splendor, Whose fading shall shroud thee to-mor.
 row:
 But only sigh Will the autumn breathe, ,mockingly tender
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19

Chemists say no matter is ever lost. Printers deny it.
Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19
ADVERTISING RATES :

Schedule of prices for Advertising furnished on pplication at this office.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-03-08
Pilot Town Items.

Reltgeon.-A protracted meeting is in
progress at Bethesd.. Church, under the
charge eff DR.. A. NJ. Jordon, Uocal Preach
err assisted by the Rev. Mr.. jackson. The
attendance large, Notwithstanding the in
clemency of the weather.
Removals.. folks are beginning to
move. Robert Stewart has moved into
the village and Mr.. John Richey has moved
into new house he has Just had finished
tSales.-The number of sales this Spring
is very large. l sec by the advertisements
that the hotel keepers &C Fulton are selling
out in consequence of Local Option, which
they are certain will have majority. l
understand one of them is going to open
out in Conowingo. We have already five
hotels in the District. We will be able,
think to appease the thirs. of the Fultoni-
ans. A little exercise will give them zest
for their bAters after a walk of n mile or so.
Ri1er.-The river still continues very
low and frozen to the bottom, except on the
Hartford side, where the water is very deep.
Telegraph.-The men are at work con-
structng the line from Port to Churchville
They come up the Lancaster road to Oak
wood, then to Conowingo-where the wires
will be carried across the river on the
Bridge, thence by Darlington to Church
WILL believe there are eight wires.
Prosessional.-I see by the Baltimore
papers that our friend Ransom Crothers
has got his degree, from the Medical Col
lege. We wish him all success as an NJ. D.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-03-08
February 25th, 1878.

February a5th, 1878.
Chancellor Commander:
Your committee, in pursuance of instruc-
tions. submit the following preamble and
resolutions:
WHEREAS, 1t has pleased Almighty God
to remove from among us our beloved
Brother JOHN f. KNIGHT; and
WHEREAS, While living he had endeared
himself to us by his aniability and his
many virtues, it becomes fitting that we as
a Lodge testify in proper manner our
appreciation of his noble character and our
sorrow at his death; therefore
Reso1yed, That while we bow in humble
submission to the will of the Great Com
mander, which has transferred our late
Brother from our "Castle Hall " to the
Celestial Lodge above. we vet deeply i'm
plore his loss, and offer our heartfelt SYM
pathy TO the family and friends he has left.
Resolced, That in him we have lost one
of the brightest ornaments of our Order,
whose daily life was constant exemPliti-
cation of the beauties of friendship and
virtue. and whose shield of honor was al,
ways bright.
Resolysd, That as mark of our sorrow
at his death, and respect for his memory,
our "Castle Hall . be draped in mourning
for thirty days.
Resoloed, That copy of these resolu
tons be sent to the family of our late
Brot her, and a copy to each of our county
papers for publication.
/ JosHuA GREEN,
s. X. MILLER,
JOHN w. MILLER
! Committee.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-03-08
MARRIED..

WHITELOCK SNARE.-In Philadel-
phia, on the Goth of February, 1873, by
Rev. VIM. Major, W. LAWSON WHITE
LOCK, of Port Deposit, and ZIRzAH NJ.
SNARE. of West Chester. Pa.
AS-BULLOCK.-Feb. Goth, by the
Rev. j. II. Johns, Mr.. SAMUEL THOMAS
to Mrs. HANNAH BULLOCK; both of this
county,
ER-DIETER-Feb 9th, by the
same, JAMES HOWARD REEpER to ADDIE
E. DIETER; both of this county.
EVANS-EWING.-O March 9Th in
Philadelphia, by Rev. J. L Withrow, pas
tor of the Arch St. Presbyterian Church,
JAMES II. EVANS and MARGARETTA l.
Ewing, both.of this county.
REEDER-LYNCH.- the NJ. P. Par
senage, Bay View. Md, arch'6th, 1873,
by Rev. VIM. #. DUNN, GEORGE H.
REEDER to RACHEL f. LYNCH; both of
this county.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-03-08
RAILROAD MEETING.
ELKToN, March 4th,

ELKToN, March 4th, 1873.
The adjourned meeting of the Directors
ofthe Elkton & Masseys Railroad Company,
was called to order by the President.
VIM. +. Weldon was elected Secretary
and Treasurer. James b. Groome, Esq,
was appointed Counsel for the Board. A
Committee of three was appointed to en-
ploy an Engineer to make survey of the
route with calculations and profile. The
President, DR.. r. c. Mackall and James
B. Groome, were appointed on that Com
mittee. 1t was ordered, that notice be
given that two dollars on each share of
stock subscribed, will be called for in thirty
days. 1t was decided to give notice that
books would be opened on the sth of April,
for 1000 shares more of stock.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-03-08
NOTICE.

pETsEY DINON, MARY DIXON, and EVAN P. DIXON
GEORGE s GATHERS and SUSAN D. GATHERS, his
WIFE,
In the Circuit Court for Cecil county. In Chancery.
ORDERED, This 2Sth day of February. 1873 that the
sale made and reported hy Reuben Haines Attorney for
the lie Of the Real Estate of George s. Gathers, be
iatrr,L snd confirmed unless cause to the contrary
Il Ycof shown on or before the 5th day Of May
provided copy of this Order be inserted in
paper published in Elkton. week FOL month
before the Ord day of April. next.
The Report states the Of sales to be s. 900 90.
DAVID SCOTT. Clerk.
True copy: test, DAVID SCOTT,
Mar |, lS13-lm Clerk.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-03-08
NOTICE..
THOMAS j. CLEAVER

THOMAS b. LEWIS AND WIFE, AND OTHERS.
In the Circuit Court for Cecil county. In Chancery.
No. $685. Docket No. ..
The object of this suit is to procure decree for sale
of certain mortgaged premises in Cecil county which
WERE the 26th day of August 1867 mortgaged by the
Defendants Thomas b. Lewis and wife to Jacob Metz.
The Bills states that the day aforesaid the said
Lewis and wife conveyed certain Real Estate parcu-
larly described in the Bill anil accompanying Exhibit,
said Jacob Metz. by way of mortgage to the
of $780, with interest from date of mortgage
in certain the last of which due August
&c 1869 That the said Metz assigned the said mortgage
Alexander p. Barwick who assigned the same to the
complainant that there still due upon said mortgage
the of 800, with interest thereon from March 20.
1872 and that the said Thomas b. Lewis and Margaret
A. Lewis. his wife, reside out Of the State of Maryland
1t is therenpon this 10th day of February, 1873 ad-
judged and ordered that the complainant by causing
copy of this order to be inserted in some newspaper
published ut Ekton, in Cecil county, Maryland once
week for month before the twenty second day Of
March, next give notice to the said absent defendants
of the object and substance of this Bill and warn them
appear in this Court person by solicitor,
before the twenty day of June to
the PROMISES and show If they have why u
decree ought not to pass prayed.
DAVID SCOTT, Clerk.
True copy: test, DAVID SCOTT,
Feb -. lS73-Im Clork.