davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

Virginia city Letter in Ne,o York Graphic

| ltTUtilH Jity LletLeF IN NetO lOTh bfQphlc.
An illustration of the hold which gamb-
| ling has upon men who have once been en-
gagged in mining is afforded by the life Of
O'Brien, late a member of the Bonanza
firm. In the days of his struggles and
poverty this man had been accustomed to
play ''old sledge" for five cents a corner in
his old bar>room in San Francisco. He
was fortunate in having Flood and Mackay
and Fair for partners, and he became worth
millions before he knew it. But to the day
of his death he never fOrsook his old
sledge. He took interest in the business of
the firm simply leaving his money for the
others to work upon. He passed his time
in the little old bar-room playing his favor
ite gamble with his old friends and gener-
ally winning the five-cent stakes of the
poor devils with whom he played There
was nothing mean about OBrien. He was
simply gambler by instinct and custom,
as most miners are, and he continued the
fascinating play until death claimed him as
his own winning.
There is nothing disgraceful in gambling
in this community, and the men who run
the games and steal, so to speak, the hard.
earned wages of the miner, are looked up
on as The leading gentlemen Of the towns.
The reputed owner of the heaviest game III
Gold Hill is a member of the Methodist |
Church, sings revival hymns with deep unc-
fion, and at the late election was chosen |
State Senator over very worthy gentle |
man and merchant This will serve to
show the estimation in which gamblers are
leld here, They are, SO to speak, the
cream of the land.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
Not Encumbered Much.

The Meridian Mercury says:
"Not long ago, it would have taken a
dozen good silver dollars to buy barrel of
family flour in the South. Now half, or
less, will buy the 81 me. So, when it is OBJ
jected to silver currency that it IS too cum
bersome, it may be replied, it is not half
SO cumbersome as it used to be before the
passage of the silver bill, to use the term
relatively. So long as poor man can carry
the representative weight of a barrel of
flour in his pocket in five silver dollars, he
is not encumbered much.
And then it is so safe. 1t don't depend,
for its value, on precarlous banks and
bankers-fre can't destroy it-nor can
water. 1t is the Oldest metal coin known to
the world; and in all ages; countries and
generations, principalities and powers, it is
a part of history. The talk that it is Gums
bersome is modern and ridiculous. 1t was
never deemed cumbersome in the good old
times, and, as the Mercury suggests, so
long as five dollars in the pocket reflect the
weight of a barrel of -four, there is no in
cum branoe. Port Gibson Reveille.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25


A few mornings since a lady living
on Clifford street answered the bell to
find bulky boy with an innocent red
face and peach-colored ears standing
on the steps, He explained that he
wanted to see her husband, and she
answered that her husband had left for
his office
I'm the boy who sweeps ont all the
offices where he is, said the boy as he
backed down the steps, 'and this morn
ing l found letter in the big scrap
sack
"Well you can leave it, she replied.
IL guess l hadn't better he half
whispered, as he showed the small pink
envelope.
"Boy--that is-boy, let me see that
letter p she said as she advanced and
extended her hand.
ooh, twouldn't be 'zactly right,
ma'am, cause know he'd gin me fifty
cents.
"See here boz, shesaid rs she felt for
the dollar bill left her to buy coffee and
tea, you take this, give me the letter,
and don't say a word to Mr.. - about
finding it.
Il don't believe its much of n letter, y
he remarked.
"Never mind-hand it over-here'S
your money !"
"A1ebbe there hain't word of writ
ing in it, ma am.
Here, give me the letter-now go I"
She took it and entered the house,
and the boy with peaeh.colored ears
flew down the street like cannibal
going to dinner.
In about forty seconds the woman
came out, looked mp and down the
street, and the expression around her
mouth was not happy and peaceful
The boy had seemed to doubt that
there was any writing inside the en-
vclope, but she was not quite prepared
to tear it open and find printed docu
ment commencing ''Whereas, default
having been made in the conditions of
a certain mortgage" etc. She wants
to hold another interview with the lad.
II this meets his eve, he will please call
between the hours Of s and 10 A. NJ,
when she feels the strongest,
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
GENEVA AWARD.

The Memphis Avalanche has good word
for Hon. Van H. Manning's speech recent
ly delivered in Congress on the Geneva
Award. 1t says:
The speech is an excellent one in tem.er and
argument, and concludes yith this patriotic and
statesmanlike sentiment Mr.. Manning ends his
speech by saying: 1t is high time that this gov
ernment should discharge its duty iu regard to this
monessr by aseertaining whether its citizens have
just claim thereon; whether it shall be covered
into our treasury, or returned to Great Britain.
Justice to the government and to claimants alike
demand an early disposition Of this matter, and
hope that If the fund in question cannot be dis
tributed "under the treaty and award, according
to the principles Of justice, equity and the laws Of
nations" that it will be promptly returned to
Great Britain"
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
Richness Both Ways.

He had been sitting still so long that
the mother expected to find him asleep
when she looked around and asked:
"Well, Harry, what are you think
ing off"
INA, are we very rich?" he solemn
ly inquired, by way of reply.
''In one way we are" she said;
"your father says he values me at three
million dollars, you at two millions,
and the baby at one"
That closed the conversation on that
subject, but next morning as Harry
was getting on his overcoat, he ex-
nmined the new patch which had been
added, and coolly observed :
"Well, think father had better sell
off about half of you or the whole of
The baby and got the rest of us some
decent duds to put on"
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

George G. Vest, the next United States
Senator from Missouri, is native of Ken
lucky, and lawyer by profession. He is
about forty-fve years old, and first became
prominent in Missouri as leader of the
secossionist in 1861. His active exertions
and fervid orrtory-he is a sky-scrapel-
did much to stimulate the movement which
sent 50 many thousand Missourians into
the service of the Southern Confederacy.
In 1861 Col. Vest was elected to the Con
federate House, but in 1864 he vas trans>
ferred to the Senate. His battles were
mostly fought, not on the field of blood,
but on the floor of the House, in words.
He was conspicuous in both bodies, and
since the war has been the acknowledged
leader of what is still known in that State
as the Confederate element 1t is to the
loyalty of this element that he is indebted
for his election. Personally Col. Vest is a
man of the highest character; but in point
of abilities he is regarded as brilliant rath-
er than solid. His oratory is ornate and
but does not reach far below the
surface. The charm is lost when the echo
Of his words dies away.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

HFHtttj LfOJ tHtFs'
The "Mistakes of Moses, have been so
frequently discussed that one is surprised
a brilliant lecturer should accept SO stale a
theme. Many of our readers will remen>
ber the attack made by Colenso, who issued
a volume un the subject. He certainly ditl
the best in his power to damage Moses, and
yet the latter still lives. Perhaps he will
continue to live Notwithstanding Ingersoll's s
wonderful exposure of these mistakes. p"
If Iugersoll were an honest man he would
give Moses credit fot some points which
certainly command general approval.
When we see his alleged blunderer making
laws which protect the poor by enjoining
payment of wages; which guard human
life; which protect the stranger; which
forbds bribery, even in the matter of
gift; which command kindness to the
cleaner, and sympathy for the widow and
orphan, then ask, should he not be credi-
ted with them? That Ingersoll omits these
points, while trying to make out case
against the old law-giver, is, perhaps, the
best proof of his weakness. He merely
presents what he may consider to be the
unfavOrable side of the question, and he
dare not admit that even this so-called
"unfavorable side has been explained and
justified by some of the ablest ancient and
modern scientists.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
Coast Orange Tree. Not KIIIed,

Although the recent cold weather has had
a very depressing effect upon the orange
treea in this vicinity, yet after an examina-
tion of many old trees We do not think
they are materially injured. The leaves
are scorched and withered, but the trunks
do not seem to be affected to any great ex-
tent. and we believe this years crop will
not be diminished much, if any. The
Young trees have suffered somewhat, and
some of them are killed. yet we do not
think very many will die out If the trees
survive this cold shock there is not apt to
be weather cold enough to kill them for
many years to come.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
KILLED HIS WIFE.

A negro man living ON DR.. Hamp COx's place in
this county was reckless enough to choke his wife
to death few nights ago-as the jury which was
summoned to investigate the affair declared in their
verdict. He was brought to town on last Saturday
and lodged in Jail. His trial will take place
at an early day. The name of the perpetrator of
this most murderous deed is Louis johnson. The
evidence is very much against him. 1t seems tina
he was moved to the commission of this act by the
desire to marry anothur woman who lived in his
City Herald
Hardly a sufficient excuse.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

IT was Judge Longstreet who said that
no man could take up any newspaper,
however unpretentious, and not find enough
in it to pay for years subscription.
But let it be borne in mind that this
opinion was given before the invention of
s'patent outsides.'
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
Hardly a sufficient excuse.

The Cherokee Advocate, printed at Tab
lequa, Cherokee Nation, |. t., has found
its way to our sanctum. Part of it is
printed in the Cherokee language, which,
it happens, we are not thoroughly versed
in. But the most of it is presented in
honest English, and therefore we consider
it a valuable exchange. The Cherokee and
Choctaw nations of the Indian Territory
are becoming rapidly imbued and inter
mixed with Anglo-Saxon blood and civili-
Zation.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
The Courage OF the Prince of wales.


The Prince of Wales and DR.. Lyon
Playfair we're standing near a cauldron
which was boiling at white heat HAS
your Royal highness anv faith in science?"
said the doctor. Certainly" replied the
Prince. 'Will you then, place your hand
in the boiling metal and ladle out por-
ton of it2" ''Do you tell me to do this:'
asked the Prince. Il do, replied the doc
tor. The Prince then ladled out some Of
the boiling lead with his hand without suf-
fering any injury. 1t is well known sci
entific fact that the human hand may be
placed uninjured in lead boiling at white
beat, being protected from any harm by
the moisture OF the skin. Should the lead
be at perceptibly lower temperature, the
effect need not be described. Let no one
underate the courage of the Prince of
Wales.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

SENATOR INGALLS,, of Kansas, is charged
with blackmailing. They say he under
stands, addition, division ETC., and makes
everybody who gets the benefit of his in
fuence "divide." But they can't charge
Senator ingalls, with bulldozery.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

CASTILLO, the defeated negro for Congress in the
"shoe string district, has served notice on Gen
eral Chalmers that he will contest his seat-East
Mississippi Times.
Now, what is the use for white man to
be able to spell, and TO be q wheelhorse too,
only to be sent down to fame by remote
newspaper as "defeated negro?'
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

NEVER go to bed with damp feet; always toast
them by fire ten or fifteen min ties before going
to bed.-Hawkeye.
But, suppose they should get done in
less than ten or fifteen minuets, what's the
use of toasting them any longer?
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

Senator West of Marshall county favors called
session of the Legislature. Mr. West wants to pre-
pare for sickness and famine. We are afraid the
Legislature would be unequal to the task should
they be called together.-Vicksburg Herald.
There's where the trouble is
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
VOL. III.
The Memphis Avalanche calls the Rev
James Dixon a clerical fraud.

SOME of our exchanges are still announc-
ing Col. W. H. McCardle as candidate
for Secretary of State.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

JUDGE T. II. GowAN has resumed the
editorial charge of the Westville News, Mr.
L. L. Charles having retired.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

RRv. J. 7. HEARD and family have arrived and
are now domiciled at the parsonage. Our commu-
nifty is fortunate in having such an able minister,
ar d worthy citizen in our midst. Rev. Mr.. Heard
was once citizen of this county, residing on his
farm Shubuta, and his host of friends in Clarke
will welcome his return.-Enterprise Courier.
Any community is greatly improved by
having Mr.. Heard and his cultured family
among them.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

AFTER the Inauguration of General Hoyt
as Governor of Pennsylvania, there will be
three Hoyts occupying executive positions
two being governors Of territories. To be
governor Is the Hoyth of ambition in that
family.-Hawkeye
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

WHEN the gold fever broke out some
years ago, driving the fortune-huuters to
Pixies Peak under whip and spur. there
was one man undeterred by the wreck Of
broken wagons and returning paupers
who made up his mind to get there. A
thousand miles of driving two-hnrse
team through the the wilderness filed with
Indians was not cheerful But he had
printed on the covering of his wagon,
Bound for Pixies Peak or Bust In
about two months the same wagon returned
with these words; Busted, by George
Probably Col. CAN'T may understand how
this may affect ''Our new Government. -
Memphis Avalanche
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

WE are indebted to our young friend
Allen j. Hooker, Esq, for files of papers
from Keokuk, Iowa.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

CooPER's COMET has been received 1t
is the handsomest newspaper in the State.
We have yet to find the man, woman, or
boy who does not like to read the COMET. =
Columbus Democrat
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

NoBoDY will regret paying $500 per
annum for The COMET, we'll guarantee
Fayette Chronicle.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
senator shields.

| NetO IOTh uFUpttCs
The Democratic caucus of the Mis-
souri, Legislature has just nominated
General James Shields to fill the short
term in the United States Senate.
Thi. short term, be it understood.
covers period between the time of
election by the Legislature and noon on
the 4th of March mex t, at the most not
more than seven weeks. Senator Bogy,
whose unexpired term General Shields
will serve out, died. it will be remem-
bered, September 20, 1877. The Mis-
souri, Legislature holds biennial sessions
The Governor appointed D. Fl. Arm
strong to fill the vacancy, pending an
election by the Legislature Armstrong
was General Shields opponent in the
caucus. but only received 81 votes to
his successful competitors SS. Missouri
will be the third State that General
Shields will have represented in the
Senate of the United States
He served full term as Senator from
the State of Illinois (1S49-1S53)' He
subsequently removed to the territory
of Minnesota and when that State was
admitted into the Union in 1858, he was
Senator for the short term of more than
two years. Has any other person been
Senator of the United States from three
States Probably there is no man in
the country who has "boxed the COM
pass" so completely on everything but
politics. He has been soldier one can
not recall how many times, and served |
with distinction in the Florida and |
Mexican wars and war OF the rebellion;
he has been judge, State auditor, legis-
lator, commissioner OF the land office, |
lawyer, farmer, lecturer. But in all |
this change of occupations he has never
ceased to be Democrat. And as such |
he we will take his seat IN the Senate in
a few days. Republics and parties can
hardly be considered ungrateful in
General Shields case. ...
-sA~%s--
THE correspondent of London pa
per describes an Afghan beauty as hav-
ing blue-black hair, plastered stiff with
gums, and either worn in various forms
on the head or plated in long braids
down the back. The margins of the
ears are pierced and decorated with
rows of small silver rings, while large
rings hang from the lobes. The neck
and breast are tattooed with little fig Z
lres of stars and flowers, and the spar !
Sle of the mstrous black eyes is enhanc-
d by coating the lids with black anti
nony. The checks are rouged and !
iotted with little round moles of gold
md silver tinsel fastened on with gum !
loose muslin or silk jacket of yellow, ,
,lue, or red, hangs below the waist, |
md wide trousers Of silk or other I
,olored material, complete the indoor /
"
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
Courier.

THE COMET is full to overfowing with
rich thoughts and racy ideas. Enterprise
Courier.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

TIE whipping post is to be introduced
into Missouri.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

Col. JONES 5. HAMILTON. one of Missis-
sippi's most prominent citizens paid GIe-
NADIA flying visit Thursday. Long life and
success to you Colonel, is the wish of the
Sentinel. = Grenada Sentinel.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

The Rev. Hiram r. Revels, one Of the
first of his race that ever Represented the
State of Mississippi in either House Of
Congress, is in town as a delegate 10 the
Conference now being held here. He is
man of fair, liberal views; and his advice
to the colored people has always been given
with an intelligent tongue and clear I'M
derstanding. .-Yazoo City Herald.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

LECTURES to the deaf and dumb are now
being given freely at the asylums North.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

THE COMET. bright pages, pungent
paragraphs and solid thoughts, remind us of
other duys.-Canton Mail.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25

| IT turns ont now that fellow in
Michigan foretOld all the very severe
cold weather now enjoyed in the South
and endured in the North. He is the
editor of the Kalamazoo Telegraph,
and being engaged to write the weather
proportion of an almanac, he made the
following wonderful predictions
"If signs can be relied upon, the oom-
ing winter will be the coolest since the
last glacial period when Kalamazoo was
buried under five thousand feet of ice
accumulation, and Michigan was part
of the solid North. We notice numer-
Gus signs of coal in large quantities,
and more coming the size of the regu
lation cord of fuel is smaller; the bark
on the dog is deeper, longer and more
defined the tramp has hair on his
teeth, and we see in our exchanges
numerous receipts for making flannel
cakes. An authority also remarks that
the squirrels are getting in their winter
anthracite, and beavers are putting
heaters into the basement of their
lodges, the bees have killed all off the |
drones and lined their hives with sheet |
iron, snakes are getting down into |
mems boots, the muskrats are flying
South, wild ducks are committing sui /
eide, the goose bone is black sixteen
inches deep, Western editors are solicit |
ing wood in exchange for subscriptions, /
and poor families are buying an extra /
dog. Surely these are fOrerunners that /
prudent man will not despise.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
Two LIttIe travellers.

The Charleston. 5. G. News, says that
one day last week two little boys, one ten
years old and the other FIVE, reached Che
raw, after weeks travel by themselves,
from town in Texas. They were gwen
money to pay their way on the trains.
They had bag of cooked provisions. To
each boys coat was attached a card giving
his name, destination and point Of depar-
ture, and the eldest had a letter appealing
to conductors for assistance and guidance.
They we're orphans, their father and mother
having died recently, and had been sent for
bv a relative residing in Chesterfield county.
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-12-04

perceptions, had quito another philosophy.
He loved lifo aud delighted ia beauty.
He drove away tho embalmers, he built1nO
more Of those dolcful, mountainous tombs
He adorned death, bought wreaths Of pars-
leyapd laurel, made it bright with games
Of strength aud skill aud ohario. races.
Nothing can excel the beauty of the
sarcophugus, The poet Shelley says Of
them: "They seem not SO much tombs os
voluptuous ohambers for immortal spirits"
Christianity brought new wisdom.
But learning depends on the earucr. No
moro truth can bo conveyed than the popu-
lar MUD can bear. Doath is seen as
natural event aud is met with firmncss. A
wise man in our timo caused to be written
on his tomb: "Think on living"
"The name Of death wos never terrible
10 him that know to live"
The saying of Marcus Antonius it were
hard to mend: cit were well to dio if there
be gods, and sad to 1.-Two if thero be none."
think all sound minds rest on certain
preliminary conviction, namely, that if it
be best that conscious, personal life shall
continue, it will continue; if not best, then
it will not; and we, If we saw tho whole,
should of course SEQ that it was better so.
Schiller said, "What is SO universal as
death must be benefit
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-12-04
Immortality.

In tho year 626 of our ora, when Edwin.
tho Anglo Saxon King, was deliberatiue
on receiving the Christian missionaries, one
of his mobiles said to him, "The present
life Of man, o King, compared with that
space Of time beyond, CT which we have no
certainty, rominds mo of ono of your winter
teasts where you sit with your generals and
ministers. The hearth blazes 10 the middle
and grateful hoat is spread around, while
storms of rain and snow are raging without
Driven by the tempest, lttlo sparrow
enters at one door and flies delighted
around US till it departs through tho other.
Whilst it stays in our mansion it feels not
the winter storm; but when tho short
moment of happiness has been onioyed, Il
IS forced again into tho dreary tempest
from which it had escaped, and We behold
it no more. Such is tho lifo of man, and
woare as ignorant Of the state which preceded
our present existence as Of that which will
follow it," "'''
In the first records Of q nation in anv
degree thoughtful aud cultivated, soma
belief in the life beyond lifo would of conrso
DO suggested Tho Egyptian people fur
nlsh US the earliest details Of an established
civilization, and l read in the Book of
Herodotus this remarkable sentence: "Tho
Egyptians arc the first of mankind WHO
have affirmed tho immortality of tho SOUL"
There never was time when the doctrine
OF future life was not held The whole
life OF man 10 the first ages was ponderously
determined on death. 1t mado eyerv man
an undertaken and the priesthood o senate
of sections. The chief end of man being to
bo buried well, tho arts most in request
were masonry aud ombalming, to give
imperishability to the corpse.
The Greek, with his perfect aeuses and