smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1868

FAITHFUL PUBLIC SERvANT.-It is pleasing
to chronicle from time to time the favorable re-
ports that reach US from those of our citizens
who have occasion to transact business with the
Hon. o. II, Browning, Secretary of the Interior.
The kind manner in which they are received in
his Department and the facilities extended them
in arranging their business, all 60 to show that
the Secretary has cast aside red tape and is the
right man in the right place"
Year: 1868

New Stock. - Richardson's new stock of
of goods consisting of general assortment of
merchandise, will be ready for inspection next
week The stock is very select and will be sold
cbeap for cash.
Year: 1868

The following letter from DIR. White,
State Geologist, to the Iowa Homestead


will be particularly interesting to al
western farmers


Sioux CRY, Iowa, Aug. %, 1868.
FRIEND MILLER In conversation
with several prominent scientific men
during the late meeting of the Amer


lean Association for the Advancement
Of Science, at Chicago, | was surprised
and disappointed to learn that some OF
them still adhere to the opinions they
long ago expressed, that the pralries
are such IN consequence OF an assumed
untitness OF the soil for the growth of
forest trees. 1t a mere difference of
opinion among scientific men were all
that is involved in the promul CATION of
such IDEAS, | should never trouble YOU
or your readers about them But if
such opinions prevail, the necessary in


ference is that timber cannot be grown
upon our prairies even by careful cul-
| tivation. | know it will seem almost
puarile to the older residents OF Iowa
to discuss such a question az this, for
they have had constantly before their
eyes proofs OF the tallacy of the opin-
ions referred to; but the evil effects of
such opinions, and the wrong they viii
DO IS to those who have never visited
the west, but who contemplate making
it the future home for themselves and
their children, and with whom the
opinions of men who have made name
in science very naturally have weight.


For this reason | earnestly entreat
you, both in season and out of season,
to keep the fact before your readers
that all kinds of our Indigenous trees
will flourish upon all varieties of our
prairie soil wherever the annual fires
are kept out, even those whose chosen
habitat is upon the alluvial soil OF the
river valleys. That it is not even nec-
essary to success that the soil should
have any preparation, for it will re-
qulre positive effort to prevent our
prairies from becoming timbeted lands
if the annual fires S ould cease.


The opening OF farms and the conse-
quent protection OF the adjac9St lends
trcm the fires, without any Intention
OF such result on the part Of the set
tiers has caused the springng up OF
groves and email forests to suca an ex-
tent that | have no doubt whatever,
that Iowa now contains more wood
than when it first began to be settled


Don't fail to let the people know
that our prairies will grow crop of
timber just as certainly and just as
bountifnlly as they will crop OF cora.


Z. A. WHITE, State Geologis..
Year: 1868


We drift from off the shy.es Of youth and


beauty,
Far out IN the calm, sweet, summer sea
OF middle age, where joy is found in duty
And ardent longings for the life 10 be.
In the deep past lies buried'many a treasure,
That COS u. days and ghts Of weeping sore;
While over their green graves the roun de Of


pleasure,
Go on and will 90 Oh forever more
From that realm which seemed to us an Alden,
We come, with long ings for q better rest;
Our souls, with fruitage or experience laden.
Drift ever toward the islands of the blest.
We hear, behind, the merry shout and laugh.


ter,
of those who come, with JOY to take our place;
But still our souls reach out for that here 4.
fter
Where we shall see our Father face to face.
Now half way o err the sea of earthly being
Soon will eur vessel touch the farther strand
Though sweet these summer hours, and swift


ly fleeing,
We long to reach and roam tha. better land
Year: 1868

life, is on a declivity which decends to
decadence and decrepitude.


The Democratic party is in the full
vigor of youthful and aspiring elements
Similar elements in the other party are
yearning TO join it, If we have but the
boldness to build a bridge on which
they can cross. The article is the talk
in all political circles, and is considered
advice to- the Democrats to withdraw
Seymour and Blair. New York papers
comment on il, but think the advice
comes too late.
Year: 1868

Some months ago Colfax's friends gave,
among other reasons why Grant should
not be the Radical candidate for the Pres.
idency, that he could not deliver an In
augural Address We dod't see that is
any argument against his being candi-
date The necessity for delivering one is
not in the least among even the remote


much less tic immediate possibilities.
The fact is, the Radicals knew exactly
what they were about when they nomi
mated Grant. They wanted some thing
to make q platform Of, and as no Pres
dental candidate of mo lcrn times has
been as largely composed Of bass wood
as Mr. Grant, we think they did emf
nently well in his selection. And, more
over, as it has long been well known
fact that the Radical candidate for the
Presidency will be beaten, the &" Great
Unspeaking" was selected mainly because
he was not likely to make so much noise
as some Of the more noisy ones among
them ?-CMcianaf Enquirer.
Year: 1868

In thesIowa House of Representatives yesterday
the judiciary Committee reported in favor Of instruct
ing the Attorney General to take the legal steps me-
cessary to insure the construction Of the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific Railroad which report was
concurred in.
Year: 1868

rs NOT PAIN NATURES VOICES


What 10 good and what Is bad


Time tells
And this true especially Of medicines good they live,
bad they die When pain shall apply smother.
ers or remedies which remove Its causef
Year: 1868

A London writer protests against the
desire commonly prevailing among pa.
rents aud teachers to push their children
forward in their studies without any re-.
gard to their health. Five or six years
he asserts are not too long to teach .
child to read, spell and write we'll. lie
adds: There is indeed, among oil dis.
position to cram, and any one attending
the examination Of village school cannot
but feel the absurdity OF the questions
put. Subjects ore learned by rote, to be
forgotten as soon us the examination is
over and the manner in which the chill.
drcn read shows how utterly inefficient
the teacher has been. According to the
system at present followed, it is inpossi.
ble for on ordinary child 70 read decently ;
they have no time to learn. There is .
class and each child. has to read sen.
tcnce this is repeated in nasal sing song
tone, without any infection Of voice or
proper emphasis when the book is passed
to the last it comes back to the fist until
the lesson is over. How can there be
any interest or emulation? Even the
scISo uIuSt W. AUst. SutIuTcu 0t'0uu
school from nine in the morning till
twelve, and then return again al two till
four. These are two many hours for o
child to be sitting still, pouring over los
sons; three hours day is as much as a
child can apply, allowing for intervals ;
tor it cannot be supposed that three
hours continuous study can be good for
any child under ten years old. lfa diff
terent system were established, there can.
not be doubt t'at more real learning
might be impaired, and great deal Of
practical information acquired besides.
Suppose reading, writing and arithmetic
were only taught to children up to ten
years, all the day need not be spent in
these and if arrangements were made to
occupy the children in succession in some
active employment, by which their intel
lccts might be sharpenel and kept alive,
there can be no doubt that vast improve.
mcnt would DO apparent. Saturday Re
view.
Year: 1868

We have known . country society
which withered away to nothing uRdcr
the dry. Of gossip only. Friendship,
once as firm as granite, dissolved to jelly,
and then ran away to wster, only because
Of this; love that promised future as
enduring as heaven and a. staple as truth,
evaporating into q morning mist, that
turned to q days long tears because Of
this; q father and son were set foot to
foot with the 6sry breath of AMER that
would never cool between them, only
because Of this ; and husband and his
young wife, each straining at the heated
leash which, in tho beginning, had been
the golden bondage Of God. blessed love,
sat mourufully by the side Of the grave
where all their joy lay buried, and only
because Of this. Gcat crimes work great
wrong, but woeful and most sorrowlul
are the uncatalogued tragedies that issue
from gossip and detractiou most mourn.
full the shipwreck often made Of noble
natures and lovely lives by the bitter
winds and dead salt water Of slaDdcr. 30
easy to sly, yet SO hard to disprove-
throwing on the innocent all the burden
and the stain Of demonstrating their in.
uocence, and furnishing them as guilty If
unable to pluck out the stings they never
see, and to silence words they never hear.
Gossip and slander are the desdliest aud
cruelest weapons man ever forged for bis
borther's hurt.-Ex.
Year: 1868

"welcoms sweet day Of rest |" No
book: to post, no orders to gil, no projects
to think over, no politics to Discuss
none of the thousand wearying, temper.
trying, heart worrying cares Of tho every.
day world to-day. One day Of quiet and
tranquility-"smblsm Of eternal rest"


How sweetly comes the peace Of the
Sabbath morning after the tolls aud agi-
tations Of the week! Balmy Is ordors
Of orient spicy groves; gentle as the breath
Of sleeping infants, or the dying winds Of
evening; pure as the incense that rises
before the throne Of God comes the calm
of this holy morning-"dsy Of oil the
week the best" It is the day Of home
homo hushed and quiet, homo beautiful
and full Of comfort. To-day the father is
at home, and the mother with brow free
from the weekdays cares, sits beside him
and the memories Of Sabbaths in the by.
gone time, when love made the day Of re
pose time Of joy, come back in oil their
pleasantness. Father is at home and the
little ones hang at his knee, telling their
joys and troubles Of the past week, and
rejoicing that for whole day he would
be their company and lavish upon them
uninterrupted, hisloving words and smiles


Aye, pure, sweet and holy is the day oi
rest in tho family but it is all too briei
transient as the outline Of the silvexy
vapor that floats on the summer sky
for the rush and turmoil Of the troubling
world come back Tomorrow. Let no,
that thought mar the gentle joy Of this
sweet day; remember, father, there IS .
"home" whose peace is never interrupted
whose joy is never broken, whose repose
treads on to tomorrow, and that par,
Of the privileges and happiness Of to-day
is TO secure place in that family whose
circle is united forever more, in ou,
Fathers homo on high.
Year: 1868

4 lady was anxious to make her hus'
band present on the occasion of his
birthday, aud it happening to fall in win.
ter, she thought dressing gown would
be most useful acquisition to his do
mes,ic comforts. So she went and pur.
chased q 6ne Persian pattern one, we'll
waddcd. Not remembering the exac,
height Of her husband. she thought i,
best to purchase one rather too long than
too short, to make sure of its usefulness
The day was wet, her husband returned
in the afternoon and she presented him
with new article Of comfort; and he
fSncied it indeed great comfort after he
had put off his wet garments. But i,
was about ten inches too long.


"Oh never mind" said tho affection.
ate wife, II can easily shorten it to sui,
you"


They had party in tho evening, and
were very merry; and every one admired
the beautiful dressing gown. After they
had gone to bed the wind md rain made
such noise that tho wife could not sleep
her hus usband, however, snored musically
She arose without disturbing him, took
the dressing gown and commenced her
work. cutting of about the length of ten
inches to make it suit her husbands stat
ure, and then went to bed again. In the
morning she was up early to make ar
rangements with her housekesper, as
several friends were expected to dinner
that day. Scarcely had the lady left the
room, when her sister-a good natured
old lady who lived with tham-stepped
in on tip.toe, in order not to disturb the
sleeper, took tho dressing gown, and has.
tcning to her own room cut of about ten
inches, as che knew it was too long the
night before. An hour after, the gentle
man awoke, and was now anxious to sur
prise his affectionate wife. Ringing 70.
the servant he was told to take the dress
ing gown to tailor and have it made
shorter by ten inches. The good wife
was detained longer than she expected
and scarcely had tho dressing gown re
turned from tho tailor's when she came
in the room. Her husband had just
risen, and proposed now to surprisc hi.
wife and enjoy his comfort. But how
surprised was his better half to sec hcl
husband in fine Persian pattern shoot
ing jacket instead Of q comfortable dress
ing gowa.
Year: 1868

Coleridge was such slave to liquor
that he had to he kept an unwilling pris.
oncr by Christopher North, on an occa
sion when some literary performance had
to be completed by certain time, and on
that day, without taking leave OF any
member Of the family, he run off at full
speed down the avenue to Ellary, and
was soon hidden, not in the groves Of the
valley, but in some obscure den, where,
drinking among low companions, his
magnificent mind was soon brought to the
level Of the vilcst of the vilc. When his
spree was over he would return to the
society Of decent men.


DeQuincy was such slave to tho use
Of opium that his daily allowance was Of
more importance than eating. An ounce
Of laudanum q day prostruted animal lifo
during the forenoon. 1t was no unir-.
qucnt sight to find him asleep on a rug
before the fire IN his own room, his head
on book. and his arms crossed on his
breast. When this torror from the OPT.
UNI had passed away, he was ready for
company until about daylight. In order
to show him off, his friends had to ar.
range their supper parties SO that sitting
until three or four in the afternoon he
might DO brought to that point at which
in charm Of power and conversation he
was SO truly wonderful.


Burns was not less drunkard than
Co!eridge. 1t was the weakness of Charles
Lamb. And who can remember the last
days Of Poe without an irrepressible re-
grct? lie was on his way to marry a
coufiding Woman, stopped in Baltimore
and was found by a man whs knew him,
in state Of beastly intoxication, uncon.
scious as log, and died thst night in the
rawlings Of dslirium tremens.


Douglas Jerrold was dcvotec Of gin !;
SO, also, was Byron. Steele, the brilliant
author Of the "Christian Hero" was q
beastly drunkard. Men wrote of him,
that he would dress himself, kiss his wife
and children, tell them lie about his
pressing engagements, heel it over to q
groggery called the "Store," and have q
revel with his bottle companions.


Rollin says Of Alexander the Great,
that the true poison which brought him
to his end was wine.


The Empress Elizabeth, Of Russia, was
completely brutified by strong liquor.
She was often in such q state Of bacchic
ecstacy during the night that she could
not be dressed in the morning, and her
attendants would loosely attach her robes
which few clips Of the scissors would
disengago in the evening.


Let every man, especially those in
public, who desires to avoid drunkard's 8
death, remember that he is on the crumb.
ling verge of such an iniamy, when he
begins to feel that in order to prepare
himself-the doctor for consultation, the
lawyer for cause, the clergyman for a
sermon, tho politician for q speech, he
must take pint of coffee, or plug Of
opium; and the selfsame moment of that
discovery let him put his foot down, raise
bis hand, and swear that, by the help Of
God, he will never taste another grain or
drop as long as life remains. This is the
emily safety.
Year: 1868


" mate by the aid Of untried or pardoned Grim
+" inals.


Second: So to excite the masses of people
" in this City who are opposed to them as 20
lead them into acts of disorder and violent
" resistance"


To such charges officially and distinctly made,
and with the averment that the proofs were ac-
cumulatlng, neither the National Government
nor the American people could be indifferent.
They involve the honor of the peoples own
officials; they are calculated to re-arouse and
intensity that hatred and distrust of the Ma
tlonal Government which it was the constant
aim of the Rebels and their abettors to create;
and we trust that while Mr.. Hoffman is enjoy
ing the leisure of private citizen, and
before he enters upon the Executive duties to
which the State Inspectors have declared him
to be appointed. the Congressional Committee
will afford him the fullest opportunity of prov
ing his charges, and submitting all the accumu-
lation of evidence on which he has thus boldly
arraigned the National Government and his fell
wcitizens.


We have reached point in our history where
the success of one party or the other however
grave the issues, is thing Of no moment COM
pared WIN the ISSUES LlllJ COHIIOHI uo Ah'oif-
ing the freedom of the franchise, the purity OF
the Judiciary and the liberties of the people.


The Union League Club in April, 1867, took
tho true ground when they plainly denounced
the legislative cOrruptiOns at Albany, and In
yoked for all legislators of whatever party then
offending against morality, the execration of the
people


They will have no word Of apology or de-
tense for any Republican who may have COM
mitted the crimes charged by Mr. Hoffman
and good citizens whatever their political or
religious creed. will unite in demanding that
this investigation be thorough, searching, and
absolutely impartial


If we have men in Office, national, State, or
municipal, who, instead of protecting our rights,
have betrayed them; il we have great corpora
tons chartered for the public good which have
engaged in fraudulent schemes to carry the
election if we have citizens of wealth and in
Auenee who have been priyy to the crime, and
convenient Judges upon the bench, who de-
serve to occupy fclon's cell, let tho truth be
known without compromise or concealment
and when the worst ia known, it will be for
the wisdom of the nation to devise remedy
aud save it's commercial capital from politl-
cal decentralization which if unchecked, VIII
presently extend its putreissng influence
throughout the body polite.
Year: 1868

Tho extension of the Virginia stsylaw by
Cen Stoneman is not measure TO be hastily
condemned And yet, if debtors were to be
believed, the convenient time for paying debts
would never come The debtor class of the
whole North had an immense advantage when
we suspended specie payments, being enabled
to discharge debts for half their actual value.
Now this same debtor class is clamoring against
the resumption of specie payments, because
this time the advantage would fall to the other
side How to bring heavy debts to a settle
ment without hurting anybody is the problem
now vexing largo class of our fnaneiers. By
and by they will learn that it can't be done.
Year: 1868

There is M infection OF good humor about
the streets at this time OF year that is wonder
fully pleasant and wholesome. Gay windows


glittcring with everything pretty; crowds Of
purchasers, radiant with the benign expression
which belongs to the giving of presents; shop
keepers happy in the prospect of plethoric tills;
wistful little vagabonds peeping through the
crowded doOrways at the unattanable glories
of toys and candy which ii is bliss even to see
from afar; charity dropping relief into the out
stretched hand youth rollicking in the pros
pect of tomorrow, old age softened by tho
memories of the past; signs Of generosity and
cheerfulness abundant at every turn; and,
pervading and favoring all, the pleasant pres
ence Of tho mystic evergreens, loaded with
sweet fancies and recOllections-these are the
features of q picture which it will do any man
good to look upon. There is something IN
these Christmas preparations which touches
the better part of our nature, m0ltes the
hardness of our daily life, and, carrying
us back for few hours to the SIM


pier happiness Of our earlier days, gives
us n good fresh start for the work of the
coming year. IL there were not some such hu


manizing season in our calendar, it is not agree.
able to think what stern, busy, money getting,
and money .vexed people we Americans would
soon become The perpetual grinding of tho
merchant and the clerk at the money-mill, the
weary round of professional duty, the fever of
Wall-st. gambling are terrible strains upon tho
popular character aud the richest natural vir-
tues would give way under 1t were not the ten
sion now and then relaxed Let us go out then
to-day into tho merry throng. allow our best
feelings full play for a season, catch the lnyis-
Year: 1868

The National Poet, John G.. Whittier, only
obeys the teachings of his own noble verse
and the lofty spirit of generous Humanity that
has always inspired him in now urging-as he
does in his letter read yesterday to the Wash
ington New England Socety-the settlement
of the South by those twin measures of wise
benefcence. Impartial Suffrage and Universal
Year: 1868

The proposition TO stop small leak in the
diplomatic service by suppresslng two or three
useless South American missions and CONSOLE
dating two or three European ones, finds friends
at Washington. Probably it is about as good
place as could be found for making beginning.
Year: 1868

Life Insurance Companies cannot hold to a
contract if an insured person hives. and yet re-
fuse to be bound by similar one when the
person dies, is the substance of righteous
and much needed decision just given, Of all
places in the world. in Memphis court.
Year: 1868

Grating spirit of the festival, and make the
problem of the week how to give to our fsmi-
lies. and our friends, and the poor wlD are the
wards of all good men, the greatest POSSIBLE
qualification. Believe US, it will be good in
Year: 1868

and are such as he cannot
comfortably get along with, and to remove
them upon the instant, at the moment. il it
is necessary. 10 my judgment, in order
to the good and proper administration of u
department. it is necessary that the power
should exist in the head Of it. and quite as
necessary that the power should exist in
the president with reference TO the few
men who are placed about him to share his
counsels, be his friends, and ageats"


These senators, if they go counter to
their views--their declarations TO the pres.
ident-in order to punish him for enter
tanning them, will win immortal infamy
Year: 1868

Old Father Time takes many a year
To turn to white dark colorsd hair;
But instantly the EXCELSIOR DYE
Brings back the tint that charms the eve:
And Nature owns that cunning Art
Can her own living hues impArt.
Year: 1868

A WELL KNOWN wit once said Clothes do
"a not make the man, but they do-rery much
to make him look respectable after he IS made.
Men are always apt to judge others by their ex.
ternal appearance, and justly so, for neatness Of
person is Just as much the characteristic Of gen
tleman as Il high sense of honor or unquestonable
veracity in this view therefore, it behooyes every
man not only to procure good clothing but to
have it made in the most elegant and fashionable
shape, and We know of no establishment in town
which better insures these desirable qualities than
WILDES' STAR CLOTHING HALL,


Main Street, Middlctown, Del.


B.-Cloths, Cassimeres and Vesungs kept
constantly on hand and made to order.


January 25-m