smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

The Rev. DR.. W. A. z. Martin, in
recent lecture in New York OH "China
and its Claims on Christians" set forth
the following interesting facts:


We acknowledge our debt to the peo-
pie of Great Britain for our national
blood and our peculiar institutions: to
the Romans and the Greeks for our
mental culture and our literature. and
our paramount obligation TO Judea for
the Bible. the book of books, the source
of our spiritual illumination and moral
training. We can trace portions of our
language back to India, the cradle of
the Arian race: and we may trace it
even to China, for people SO ancient
cannot have existed SO long without
exerting some influence on the rising
civilization of the West. AS seeds of
plants are carried by the waves, the
winds, the birds to distant lands
and no human eye can discover the
path by which they came, so the migra-
tory people through Central Asia car
ried the germs of future civilization
with them and no distinct trace of it's
path is left. But some of the more re-
cent discoveries and arts of the West
can be traced to their origin and in all
honestly we must award to China what
is due. The art of printing and the
manufacture of paper was first known
in China, where existed libraries con-
tanning one hundred thousand printed
volumes 500 years before Faust and
Guttenburg. 1t cannot be believed
that travellers from that far off land
may not have brought the knowledge
Of this art to the West, just as by the
same means the silkworm, the art of
manufacturing silk and the seed of the
mulberry tree. OH which the worm lives,
were brought to Europe. That splen-
did ware, the very name of which
stamps its origin from China" owe
TO the Chinese. Gunpowder they knew
long before Europe. Roger Bacon had
known the art to make it. ard it is said
that a Byzantine. Marcus Groecus. had
introduced it: some ascribe its origin
to the Arabs. but it is probable that it
came from China. where it was known
and used in torpedoes in war even be-
fore the Christian era. twelve centuries
before il came into use in Europe
Chemistry owes its origin to China,
where. in form of alchemy. it existed
six centuries before Christ; so it is also
with astronomy, which sprang from
the astrology of the Chinese. And
most of all are we indebted to the Chi
nese for the discovery of America,
for it gave to Columbus a motive as
well as the guide for his voyage of dis
covery. The wealth of the ancient EN-
pire of Cathay, as described by Marco
Polo, led him on. and the magnetic
needle guided him in his course; and
although the books ascribe the diScove-
ry of the magnetic needle to Neapoli-
tan in the eleventh century of our era,
the Chinese had it eleven centuries be-
fore Christ, though with them. as their
books show, il pointed south, and they
employed it on land and sea twenty
two hundred years before it was known
in the West.
Year: 1869

An Act to protect County Revenue, and for


other purposes.


Section 4. BE it tcnacted by the Gene
ra! Assembly of the State of Tennessee,
That it shall be the duty of the County
Courts or Board of County Commits
sioners in this State, to examine into
the solvency of the County Trustree's
bond, and if found to be insufficient as
provided by law. it shall be the duty of
the Court to notify him of the fact, and
require him to give new additional Sc
curity in such sum as may be fixed upon
by the Court sufficient in their judg-
ment to cover the revenue of the coun-
ty; and if the required bond or security
be not given on or before the ensuing
term of the Court, then it shall be the
duty of the Court, and it shall have
power to declare the Office vacant, and
to elect or appoint his successor, who
shall be required to enter into bond
with good and sufficient securities, for
the remainder of the term for which
said Trustees were elected.
Year: 1869

We find the following in the Senate
proceedings of the 1Sth-the repeal of
the Tenure-of- Office Act being under
consideration


Mr.. Brownlow obtained the floor
He was too feeble to read his remarks,
so they were read by the Secretary
The passage of the Tenurc-of- Office act,
he said, marked an important era in the
history Of our Government. 1t had
imposed long needed check upon the
usurpation of powers by the executive,
and the advantage thus gained should
not on any account be yielded up. He
was therefore, opposed to the repeal of
the law, although willing it should be
modified SO far as Congress might think
expedient. The chief reason given for
repeal seemed to be the confidence OF
Congress and the people in President
Grant, but that secured to him no rea-
son at all. No one within or outside
of the Chamber had a higher estimate
than he of Grants character. but in con-
sidering such proposition as that now
pending, he could not, nor should the
Senate be governed by any thing so un-
reliable as individual characters, or so
evanescent as individualities.


Mr.. Scott next took the floor but i'm
mediately yielded for a motion to ad-
journ.


Mr.. Trumbull announced he would
press a vote before adjourning to-mor.
row. The Senate then adjourned.
Year: 1869

1t seems to us that the Univcrsalist
preacher who, in New York a Sunday
or two ago, closed his discourse with
the appended remark, would have fur
nished his hearers pretty good SER
mon had he offered nothing else on the
OCCASION:


How important that werepent today
and give our hearts to God! The longer
we sin against God the longer we shall
insult our own nature and suffer; the
sooner we repent and live in godlincss,
loving it for its own sake, the sooner our
heaven will begin. Shall we not rise
and live to God? Who would grovel
like n dog when made to soar like a
dove? Who would sleep like a slug
gard when he should rise with the lark,
and climb the hills of victory?
Year: 1869

A Washington date says: In view of
the disturbed condition of affairs in Gu
ba and imminent danger to the lives
and property of American citizens res
ident there, Admiral Porter has order
ed several vessels Of war belonging to
the Pacific Squadron to proceed to the
West Indies and re-enfOrce the West
India Squadron.


In addition to this, Admiral Porter
has also ordered two of the first class
iron-clads to proceed at once to Key
West, and hold themselves in readiness
for any orders that may come from the
officer commanding the West India
Squadron.
Year: 1869

The Bishop of New Jersey, it is said,


has given notice that he will refuse at
confirmation to lay his hands upon the
piles of false hair and chignons which
disfigure the heads of so many young
ladies seeking admission to the church
and communion. The laying on of sa-
cred hands at the altar upon so much
rubbish gathered from the four corners
of the earth, instead of the genuine
natural hair or head, is deemed an Of
Tense to the law and gospel Of the church.
Year: 1869

Henry Ward Beecher is reported to
have said in recent sermon:


am informed that, before the COM
mutation system was abandoned by the
ferry company, men of good standing in
society would boldly declare that they
had commutation ticket in their pock-
ct when they had none, for the sake of
going through without paving. They
did this when the ierriage was only one
cent. pity the devil. do not know
what he does with such men. 1t is aw-
ful to be Chief Magistrate for parcel
of men like them. can not understand
how these eXiguOus. thrice-squeezed
men can be managed"
Year: 1869

The following plan has been success
fully adopted by planter in Caddo
Parish:


After the vine is about two feet long
cover the same at point intermediate
between the root and the end. After it
has taken root where it is covered, di-
vide the vine between the old and new
root, and the result will be that rhe mel
ons will be seedless, without impairing
their quality"
Year: 1869

Some years ago wild goose was shot
in Washington Territory, and few
grains of wheat were taken from his
craw. Being very large and full, they
were preserved and planted. The yield
was found to be SO great as to lead to
its propagation, until this variety, which
is known in the Territory as the "Goose
Wheat" has become a standard one in
that section of the country. The same
kind of wheat is grown in Spain.
Year: 1869

A German wrote an obituary on the
death of his wife, of which the follow
ing is a copy: If mine wife had lived
until next Friday she would have been
dead shust two weeks. Nothing is pos
sibe with the Almighty. AS de tree
falls so must il stand"
Year: 1869

It. Where is the soldier or officer,
where is the man who sold his horses
or wagons to the Government during
the war that received gold and silver
in payment? He received depreeiat-
ed currency. Now, the interest must
be paid in gold and silver, extorted
from the sweat and toll of the people.


RADICAL PHILANTHROPY.


A while ago l asked You what these
people can do for you. " That is
what we want to know.l Why there
was a colored man came to me in
Washington that wanted a subscrip-
ton to sustain his newspaper; was
pretty hard pressed for money, but
gave him twenty-five dollars. He
went then to -Slr. Summer, told his tale,
and Sumner said that was a question
he hadn't much to do with; that, what
he did was upon general principles
tDerisiye .eheers.] Another coIored
man came to me and asked me to sub
scribe TO sustain college for colored
men, L told him could not subscribe
to every thing, but gave $3.50. He
went among some of the Simon Pures
of the North, and don't think he got
money enough to pay his expenses
Laughter. In Charlestown, the most
ultra city in the Union, they wanted
to buy the Marine Hospital, large, and
eapacious, well adapted for school.
an Eplscopailan preacher, very clev-
er gentleman, came to me in Wash
ington to ask me to help him in pur-
chasing the building. 1 told him that
didn't know; that it was not in my
Year: 1869

A fellow who has been shaved in
China says that the barber first stropped
the razor on his leg, and then did the
shaving without any latller. The Gus


toner reconstructed, but was told the
latter was entirely useless and had a
tendency to make the hair stiff and
tough, and was therefore never used by
persons who had any knowledge of the
face and its appendages. After the


beard had been taken of-and it was
done in very short time-the barber
took long, sharp, needle shaped spoon,
and began to explore his customers
ears. He brought up from numerous lit
tie creviccs bits of wax and dirt that had
been accommodating since his childhood.
The barber suddenly twisted his subjects
neck to one side in such manner chat
it cracked as if the vertebrea had been
dislocated "Hold onn' shouted the
party, alarmed for the safety ofhis neck.


"All right" replied the tonsor, me no
hurt YOU and he continued to jerk and
twist the neck until it was as timber as
an old woman's dish rag. He then fell
to beating the back, breast, arms, and
sides with his fists, and pummelled the
muscles until they fairly glowed with the
beating they had received. He than
dashed bucket of cold water over the
man, dried the skin with towels, and de-
clared that his work was done. Price
two cents. .a5a5 #a
Year: 1869

dreamt that I heard siren bell,


With silvery echo clear,
And musical cadence, sad and low,
And chime of tunes l did not know,


And held my breath to hcar
Marvellous sweet was this siren bell:


And my dreaming soul lay still,
As the sound of the bell came over the loa,
Ginning very joyously-


Came Ginning over the lea. -t..
1t puts me in mind of my distant homo.


With the willows hanging low, 50 3 -
And the tinkling brook that ran in tho shade,
And the trout that fled from tho shadow mad


To the darker gulfs below.
And itsesllsd to my mind fair littlo maid,


With sweet little merry blue eye,
And a food of streaming yellow hair
Falling down her shoulder, bare,


As she looked up into the sky.
a sudden fall il: the siren bell,


And the wind lay still on the loa, y
And saw again the little maid
Gently in her coffin laid,


Ina graveyard by the sea.
Year: 1869

ga very modest and charming lady"
recently confessed to the editor of the
Richmond Enquirer that when visiting
New York she had seen the notorious
'Black Crook" He asked her whether
she thought the exhibition Objectionable
to which she replied that she "saw no
objection to ladies going"
Year: 1869

for more prey. The floor Of the chapel
had fallen beneath mass of dying vic
tins, and pit of fire yawned before the
threshold.


On that threshold Ugarte paused one
instant, as he waved back the horror.
stricken lover, then folding his pale idol
closely in his arms, he leaped into the
fiery gulf below, giving life for love
with devotion which still outlives in
song and legend the tragedy of Santa
Year: 1869

EE Gratitude is the fairest blossom
which springs from the soul; and the
heart of man knoweth none more fra
grant. While its opponent, ingratitude
is deadly weed; not only poisonous
in itself, but impregnating the very at
mosphere in which it grows with fetid
YanO Is
Year: 1869

GY-In Arkansas, Elder Knapp, while
baptizing converts at revival meeting,
advanced with wiry, sharp-eyed old
chap into the water He asked the usual
question, whether there was any reason
why the ordinance of baptism should not
be administered. After pause tall,
powerful looking chap, with an eye like
a blaze, who was leaning on long rife
and quietly looking on, remarked: "El-
der, don't want to interfere in this yer
business any, but I want to say that is
an old sinner you have got hold of, and
if you want to get the sin out of him
you'll have to anchor him out in deep
water over night"
Year: 1869

Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be;
Lead me by thine own hand.
Choose out the path for me.
Smooth let it be or rough,


1t will be still the best;
Winding or straight, it leads
Right onward to thy rest
I dare not choose my lot,


I would not if l might;
Choose thou, for me, my God;
So shall I walk Alright.
Year: 1869

A CAPITAL SwINDLE.-The Mon.
tana papers just now are in a fever
of excitement over the question of
the location of the Territorial capital
At the late election the question of
location vas submitted to a vote of
the people, and it was believed that
the'expression was in favor of Hele-
ma by about 500 majority. In can
vassing the vote, however, certain
districts were thrown out on the
ground of inlormality, and the result
is to leave the Capital at Virginia
City. The throwing out Of this vote,
and the qciiOn Of the canvassers is
charged to be fraudulent, and the
whole procedure is denounced as a
swiudle. Early settlers in Oregon
will recollect just such muss grow
ing out of the strife between Salem
and Corvallis for the Capital, aud
they will recollect how severely the
then Secretary Harding was denoun
ced for making way with the Jack
son county returns. In that case
public opinion settled down to the
conviction that a swiudle had been
practiced in favor Of Salem, and so
too, judging from the newspaper
statements, Virginia City wins by
cheating her rival
Year: 1869

A FIERCE FIGHT just HoW a
fierce fight is going on between Gov
ernor Ballard and Judge Kelly, of
Idaho. The quarrel originated iu
cattle speculation, in which the Gov
ernor is supposed to have made
something handsome. and which the
Judge denounced as too bafefaeed
to pass muster" For failing to shut
both eyes and say that old broken
down oxen were good cattle, Gov.
Ballard swOre vengeance against
Judge Kelly, and for months has
been on the war path, vowing that
nothing short of the judges scalp
will satisfy him In return, the
Judge has gone for the Governor,
and is industriously engaged iu hunt
ing up evidence in relation to the
cattle trade and other transactions in
which the Governor is supposed 10
have turned an honest penny. So
far it is hip and tuck, and at this
writing it is difficult to say which of
the gentlemen will come out ahead
The most that we know, is that the
Government was exceedingly untor-
tuDate 10 its cattle arrangements, and
that old worn-out oxen were passed
off instead of young cattle. The
whole transaction, however, was
strictly in accordance with radical
rule, and only goes to show that the
Governor practices upon the princi.
pie of making hay while the sun
Shines"
Year: 1869

Commissioner Delano has prepared an
opinion regarding new phase in the bank
ers' and brokers question, in which he de-
cides that not only brokers who receive
stocks for sale for the benefit of other per,
sons, but those who advance money on
stocks, are liable to tax as bankers.
Year: 1869

The Southern Illinois Insane Asylum has
been located at Auna. The title to the land
on which the buildings are to be placed will
be investigated by the Attorney General be,
fore the location is approved by the Cover
Year: 1869

The buffaloes found in the telegraph
poles of the overland line a new
source of delight on the treeless prairie


the novelty of having something to
scratch against. But it was expen-
sive scratching for the telegraph COM
pany; and there, indeed, was the rub,
for the bisons shook down miles of
wire daily. A bright idea struck some
body to send tC st. Louis and Chicago
for all the brad-avls that could be
purchased, and these were driven in
to the poles with a view to wound the
animals and check their rubbing pro-
pensity. Never was a greater mis-
take. The buffaloes were delighted.
For the first time they came to the
stTateh they were sure of a sensation
in their thick black hides that thrill
ed them from horn to tail. They
would go fifteen miles to find brad
awl. They fought huge battles
around the poles containing them,
and the victor would would proudly
climb the mountainous heap of rump
and hump of the fallen, and scratch
himself into bliss until the brad-awl
broke or pole came down. There has
been no demand for brad-awls from
the Kansas region since the first in
voice
Year: 1869

Reports Of Lunatic Asylums are
some instructive reading. For in
stance, the popular notion that the
life of the farmer is most conducive
to the mental stability is dispelled by
the statistics of lunatic esylums in
general. In the Michigan asylum
the farming class predominates over
all classes, and taking the asylums Of
the country together, it appears that
more than one-fourth of ali the luna
tics of the country are farmers and
merchants. With the farmer the
cause unquestionably is too much
work, too little recreation, and habit
ual violation of the laws OF health
frequently the laws OF cleanliness.
Speaking of the farmers wife, says q
writer: Her seant ablutions are per-
formed in haste; she has little time
to spend on her person, and none in
which to read. Night finds her
weary with much doing. She goes to
her bed tired out, to be kept awake
half the night, perhaps by fretful
babe. From January to December
her only recreation is going to
ehureh-it may be every Sunday, it
may be twice q month. Is there any
wonder she becomes an inmate Of a
lunatie asylum? This is not only the
case with the wives of small farmers,
but those who have added acre to acre,
grudge money spent for household
labor.
Year: 1869

The California papers are full of
notes of travel to White Pine, the
new silver discovery. Here is an
extract: "At one station, the party
halted fcT a square meal. There was
tent, and in it a huge kettle Of
coffee and a camp Oveu. After wait
ing a few minutes, the landlord came
to the door and snapped out, Room
for FOUR Our informant went in
with three other men, and they kEelt
around a fiat box, which the hotel
keeper had turned down on the
ground. On the top were four basins
of strong coffee, and by each dirty
tin was a dirty black biscuit, and an
egg. The coffee and eggs were good,
and the biscuits were good on the
outside, that is, the eater had to
choose between two evils-dirt over
the top crust, dough under it. Each
loaf was like cream cake, perfectly
soft inside. The hungry men tore off
the top crust, and. after blowing,
scraping and rubbing it to remove the
alluvial deposits, put it down with
gUstO and torrents of strong coffee.
The inside masses Of dough were left
by each mans basin. When the men
bad finished their meal, and while
they were yet kneeling, their host
put his SCOT bGgrimed and greasy
hand over the box, and spoke again.
-Four dollars He was paid. Plump
went the silver into his pouchy
pocket, and pop went the four masses
of dough back into the oven. As
soon as q new crust was baked over
them, eggs cooked, and the basins
were refilled with coffee, four more
hungry men knelt down, ate off the
crust, rejected the rest Of the dough
ni, for another T baking, ak and paid /. their heir
calculated that one more stage load Of
customers would finish the biscuit,
and put the landlord TO the trouble Of
kneeding a new batch"
Year: 1869

~ nv. l. n. IAEbOA.
As lay awaken the night,


ana neard the pattering rain,
Family caught the rumbling sound


OF the coming midnight train.
The world was murky and still.


The air was loaded with damp.
And on the folds Of the mist it came,


The noise Of this iron tramp.
Plunging through darkness and fog,


Screaming its signals before,
Searching the night with its eve of fame,
And filling the earth with its roar.
knew all the track, and could tell,


By the sinking and swell of the sound,
When II darted through wood, or tOiled up
Or leaped Ger bridge at bound.
Now the sound fioated free on the air,
Now died round the curve of q hill,
Now lost TO the eafin a deep rocky pass,
But the mad thing was rushing on still.
Plunging through blaclrness and fog,
Sending wild larums before,
H1wling like demons OF darkness let loose,
From Acheron's fiery shore.
And now all the windings are passed,
And out il comes on to the plain,
Shaking the earth as it tears along
Through the midnight blaeknsss and rain.
Oh that some forest chief.


From his ancient woodland nest
Might peer through the night, and catch


the wild sight


or this monster, troubling his rest.
Nearer and nearer Il comes,


Louder the crash and the roar.
Bearing its precious burden OF life,
Two hundred souls or more.
Many their erTands be-


Some journey for traffic and gain.
some go 20 the gloomy chambers Of death,
And some TO the bridal train.
Here are eyes heavy with sleep,
Here bright with the light Of iove-
In Joy and in tears, with hopes and with


fears
On through the darkness they move.
Now IL goes by at leap,


Wild the weird flashes it throws,
Out Of the thick darkness 1t comes in its


flight,


And into thick darkness It goes.
Plunging through blackness and fog,
Sending loud signals before
Searching the night with its ere offiame,
And filling the earth with It's roar.
Year: 1869




Henry Gardner, of Franklin, has a
fountain upon his land which is sup
piled by so powerful spring that its
stream has not frozen. during the
winter. 1t is located on the brow of
a hill. The fountain has become, by
constant congelation, an immense
mass of ice twenty-three feet high
and fifty feet in circumference. 1t
still continues in the form of a foun-
tain, having two basins. 1t is thirty
feet in circumference twelve feet
from the ground, twenty at the
height of eighteen feet, eight at
twenty, and two and a half at the
hight of twenty-five and a half feet.
At the hight Of ten feet it is twelve
and and half feet in diameter. In
one side is a cave sufficiently large
for child to hide in. Our informant
saw it by moonlight, and describes
the sight as beautiful in the highest
degree.
Year: 1869

Napoleon wittily said: "You do not
know how difficult it is to gauge the
exact capacity Of the French for liber-
ty. If you want to prove it, look st
the public meetings, from which moth
ing of public utility has arisen.n
Year: 1869

CURE FOR SPRAINs.-In the Par
is hospitals, a treatment is prac-
ticed that is found most successful
for q frequent accident, and which
can be applied by the most mex
perienced. If the ankle is sprained
for instance, let the operator hold
the foot in his hands, with his
thumbs meeting on the swollen
part. These having been previ-
ously creased, are pressed success
sively with increasing force on the
injured and painful spot for about
a quarter of an hour. This ap-
plication being repeated several
times will, in the course of the
day, enable a patient to walk,
when other means would have
failed to relieve him.