smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869




The argument In the trial OF James Grant for the
murder OF II. Rives Pollard closed to-day, and the
case was given to the jury at fifteen minutes to two
p. M. Counsel for the prosecution took the ground
that, however much injury may have been done the
sister Of the accused by the publication OF the article
in Pollard's paper, greater wrong would be In
nicted on the honor OF Virginia II the jury
brought In q verdict OF not guilty The crime
was branded a. foul assassination committed IN
cold blood. At the close the Judge was
asked to instruct the Jury to md against the ac-
cused, which he did, and these instructions are re.
rarded as the most unfavorabe that could have been
given under the circumstances "
After an absence or over an hour the Jury came
into court il was supposed TO 20 to dinner, but
when questioned by the court they returned ver-
VII the a. announcement took the crowded assemblage
IN court drst BY surprise, following which was q
burst OF applause that at once suppressed BY the
Officers OF the court


friends who warmly congratulated him on his ac-
auftaL few shed tears Of joy, and almost every
boiy seemed pleased at the result II was the gen.
sraIi Impression that there would be division
among the Jurors, all OF whom except two were
from the cities OF Norfolk and Alex andr and among
the most respectable citizens OF either city.
Year: 1869

NEW ORLEANS, March O. 1860.
The steamship Pantheon, hence for Liverpool,
with 10000 bushels bulk wheat and 600 bales cotton,
sunk last night Just outside the bar at Southwest
Pass In consequence OF collision with the towboat
Heroine The Pantheon had been stuck on the bar
FOR theast three days and mad just got clear when
the accident occurred.
Year: 1869

The great rowing-match between the
Harvard and Oxford students has been de-
6nitely fixed for the 25th of August. 1t
will come off on the Thames, in the pres
ence of large concourse of spectators, and
will excite as much interest as any event
of the kind that ever happened. The
American crew are spoken of by the Brit
ish press as a finely developed muscular
set of young men, with rather more Drawn
than their British competitors, and it is
naively added that their physique presents
no evidence of American deterioration :"
They are practicing daily on the Thames,
and evidently improving, making faster
and faster time. A correspondent gays
of their practice:


A popularity of the Harvard rowing,
which distinguishes it from the English
practice, is that the body is thrown back
ward, at each stroke, very little if any be-
yond the perpendicular. This is upon the
principle of avoiding the expenditure of
strength required to rise from the reclin-
ing position to the erect, in reaching for
ward for another dip of the oar, and the
result is that it makes an increase in the
number of strokes per minute. The En-
glish papers describing their first appear
ance on the Thames have just been re-
ceived. The Morning Postsays that ''their
style of rowing, coupled with their extra
ordinary muscular development, has Gre
ated the impression that they are good
crew, although rough and out of form; but
it is month to the time of the race, and
ere that no doubt wonderful change will
take place. One essential, however, they
possess-the use of the legs-and keeI
their bodies in fine precision, both with
swing and time; they feather also too low
but this will soon be got over, and ne
doubt they will shortly change their very
heavy oars for lighter ones which will b,
a great improvement. Great interest ii
felt in the approaching race.
Year: 1869

EXTRAORDINARY SPECTACLE IN TENNEs-
sEE.-The most curious phenomenon of
which We have ever heard occurred in


Uheathom county on Wednesday last. The
day was remarkably hot, so that most peo-
Pile in the county had to seek the shade
about noon. At this hour, on the farm of
Ed. Sharp. five miles from Ashland, sort
of wirlwind came along over neighboring
woods, taking up small branches and leaves
of trees and burning them in a sort of FAM
ing cylinder that travelled at the rate of
about five miles an hour, and developing
in size as it travelled. 1t passed directly
over the spot where team of horses were
feeding, and singed their names and tails
up to the roots; it then swept towards the
house, taking stack of hay in its course,
which it set on fire. Itseemed to increase
in heat as it went, and by the time it reach
ed the house it Immediately fired the shin
giles from end to end of the building, so that
in ten minutes the whole building was
wrapped in flames. The tall column of
travelling caloric then continued its course
over a wheat field that had been recently
cradlcd, setting fire to all the stacks that
happened to be in its course. Passing
from thelfeld, its course lay over stretch
of woods which reached TO tho river The
green leaves on the trees were crisped to a
cinder for breadth of twenty yards in a
straight line to the Cumberland. When the
''pillar of fire" reached the water, it sud-
denly changed its course down the river,
raising a column of steam which went up
to the clouds for about half a mile, when it
finally died out. Not less than two hun
dred people witnessed this strangest of
strange phenomena, and all of them tell
substantially the same story about it. The
farmer Sharp was left houseless by the de-
vouring element, and his two horses were
so affected that no good is expected to be
got out of them in the future. Several
withered trees in the woods through which
it passed were set on fire, ard continue
burning still.-Nashuile Press, both adt.
Year: 1869

The sad death of young girl, Nellie E.
Dorsett by suicde in Chicago Saturday has created
intense excitement in that city, and is the universal
theme OF conversation A more heartrendlng case has
come to the notice Of the press and no earthly
punishment adequate to pensae for the crime
that lies at the door Of the seducer OF the poor girl The
suicide Is the daughter OF NJ M Dorsett DONG business
Burr with whom she eloped TO Chicago aud who cruelty
deserted her after he had wrought her RUN,
drug house. The elopement took place about
two weeks ago, and, about week since,
Police Kennedy received letter from
the father Of the young girl informing him Of the flight
and he had reason TO believe they had come TO Chi
cago requesting him to look the young couple Ac
companyng the letter Of the father to superintendent
Kennedy was O photograph OF his daughter 1t repre-
sents beautiful young GIRL s or 10 years Of age dressed
In the hight OF fashion II s sad to tho last degree TO
contemplate the representation OF this blooming girl


full of yvaoty and happiness and then think OF her
lying cold In death at the bottom OF dark aud murky
river, the victim OF miserable wretch who, under fer
vent Of love- seduced her from opulent
home to seek the death of suicide. Chicago Tribune.
Year: 1869

The election yesterday in Newark to decide
whether street shall be allowed to run on Sundays
resulted IN majority OF 1900 in favor OF the measure
with Ward to hear from, which will increase the ma
iorty to nearly 3,0OO
Year: 1869

q Iris thought that if women i, " were v


to get ON juries, bachelors and ugly


looking men would stand poor
chance for getting Justice. But then
that is the very thing they might get,
and what some of them most deserve.
Year: 1869

charging : extravaganza" upon the
party which possessed control of but
one branch of the State Government.


while his party reYelled in complete
control of all other branches ?-Crfsis.
Year: 1869

enforce the forts in Charleston harbor Whiie
ON this point the letter sheds no new light, 1t
does reveal general approval OF Mr'
Buchanan's Message, which that gentleman
was prompt to construe as an approval OF ms
anti-coercion theory. What Gen. Cass should
want more troops at Charleston for, if he were
prepared to go to the full length Of nOn-cOer-
cion which Mr.. Buchanan advocated, is not ap-
parent and it is scarcely probable that bis
courteous expressions concerning the Message
were meant to convey so complete concur
renee of views as his chief adroitly assumed
The whole correspondence has curious flavor
of antiquity, and seems to carry us
back to the discussion of a dead
and buried generation. Yet it is less
than nine years since President of the United
States was holding such language, and since
Secretary of State, forced by his patriotic I'M
pulses to rescue himself from position he
felt to be false, was yet so cautious in chcos-
ing his terms of dissent
Year: 1869

The President of the United States may owe
something to the leading politicians who sup
ported his election; but he owes far more to
the People, who wOuld hare him for their
President and would MT hear Of any one else
as a substitute. And that People, with great
unanimity, insist that he shall save his health
and strength for the four years work devolved
on him by their votes, and shall neither sacri
flee nor hazard them at the outset in his
anxiety to satisfy ofice-seekers, however
greedy or clamOrOus.


Before bis Inauguration, Gen. Grant advised
many friends that he had resolved to have
Cabinet officers of his own choice, and TO de-
volve on them respectively the labor and re-
sponsibility of scrutlnizng and passing upon
the claims or merits of rival candidates for
Office. This was a just and wise resolve, and
we regret that it has since been overruled, to
the detriment of the Presidents health. In be-
half Of the great body Of the People, who expect
no Office and seek none, we entreat the Presi-
dent to recur to his original, wise, and just re-
solve, renew it, and henceforth abide by it.
Year: 1869

Gems. Wright and Newton, and Major King
of the Engineer Corps, constitute the commits
sion detailed by the Secretary of War to inves-
tigate and report upon the subject of bridge
across the East River. The investigation is
well but is not the timt nearly at hand when
this great work ought to pass from that stage
into something more tangible? There is such
thing as-investigating an enterprise to death.
The present Board is appointed under an act
of Congress. May we not hope that when its
labors shall have been concluded. we may have
an end of delays, and a brigade of laborers
at work on the foundations?
Year: 1869

While we cannot agree with much that Gov.
Sprague said yesterday in the Senate debate,
we must admit that some of his forebodings are
only too well founded. We fear that the tendency
to corruption about Congress is on the increase,
and that improper influences affect
votes more often than is generally und r.
stood But if Gov. Sprague knows OF
an effort by any capitalist or moneyed
corporation to buy certain report from cer-
tain Senator for a hundred thousand
dollars, he owes it to himself, the Senate, and
the Country, to name the parties and call for
an investigation. Who is the Senator, and
who are the persons that tempted him With
this bribe7
Year: 1869

The only step in the slowmOving Tenure
Of Office complication taken yesterday was the
decided refusal of the House to agree with the
Senate. and the appointment of its members
of the Conference Committee. Tomorrow we
shall doubtless have what will be no news,
the announcement of their failure to agree.
Then will come another struggle of the
minority in each House, and next, for all that
can now be seen to the contrary, another Commit
tee of Conference. IL members are in earnest
about their effort to adjourn on the 9th of
April, they must make more rapid progress
with this tedious business. In the mean time
we have an incidental result of their long delay
perhaps not wholly to be regretted. They are
starving the oflice-hunters out of the Capital.
Year: 1869

The Cunard and Inman steamship lines
whose bargain with the British Post Office for
the conveyance of the transatlantic mails
has been repudiated by Parliament, find a
champion in The London Times, which de-
clares that the cost of the mail service can
not be reduced without corresponding reduc-
ton in its efficiency. The Cunard Company
now receives from the British Government, for
two mails week, a subsidy of E79,00O year.
The Inman line, for one mail week, receives
f35,0O0 year. Here is q total subsidy Of
f105,O00 which The Times declares to be the
lowest price at which fast and regular mail
service can be secured. How unfounded is this
assumption appears from the fact that the
United States secures four mails week at an
annual expense Of $3.50, ,0O0-just about half
what the British Government pays for three.
Great Britain also has contract with Ger
man line for one mail week, paying them
by weight instead of a subsidy. The
subsidy system is the great obstacle in the
way of cheap ocean postage, and if it could be
abolished on the other side of the water, as il
has been on this, we believe that uniform
rate of three cents per half ounce cOuld be
established for foreign and domestic letters
alike, without entailing any additional charge
upon the Post-O Office Departments. The Nation
al Steamship Company has offered to take the
mails at q penny an ounce. True, the ships
of this line are slow; but if they can afford to
perform the service so cheaply, other and
faster vessels can afford to do it at the same
or nearly the same rates. If an international
convention were to fix the single letter rate
between Great Britain and the United States
at say three cents, we are confident that the
best steamship lines would be glad to carry
the mails for the sea-postages
Year: 1869

There is sweet appreciation of the fitness
of things in an appropriation just made
at Washington. Nothing could be more
suitable than that such management as
the Inauguration Ball was blessed with
should devote the surplus funds left from
its economical supper-room and its much
enduring coat and hat racks, to the purchase
of Just such statue as Mr.. Clark Mills can
be expected to furnish The genius displayed
in the one achievement is precisely adapted to
the task of admiring (and paying for the
genius likely to be displayed in the other. By
all means let them buy MIR. Millss statue. and
then let Congress require them to emlgrate
from the Capital with it.
Year: 1869

The change of sentiment in the House, on the
subject of extending the time for taking whisky
out of bond, promises to inure to the benefit OF
the Treasury. The clause making this extern
sion was yesterday stricken out, and the special
Whisky and Tobacco tax bill was then passed.
The substance of the amendments it makes in
the existing statute is compactly stated in the
dispatches. They are mostly in matters of de-
tail, and are believed by the Ways and Means
Committee calculated to promote the efficiency
of the law
Year: 1869

The Irish Church question has been so often
and so fully discussed by the leading men of
all political parties in England, that we cannot
expect to find much that is new in the
speeches which are called forth by the progress
of the bill in Parliament. But after all that
has been said on the subject, the speeches of
Disraeli and Bright from which ex
tracts given on another page. will
find many Interested readers. Disraeli startled
large portion of lilo own party. by
the singular plea that an establishment is
a national breakwater by which a religious
organization is prevented from being too
strong for Government. If the Tories
generally should adopt this theory, it will
alienate from them large numbers of the High
Church party, who denounce the rule of the
State over the Church, and demand full self
government of the Church in all matters purely
rcliOiOus,
Year: 1869

Whether it is because Of the new Secretary,
or of the Admiral Assistant, or for some
occult reason, is not apparent, but the House
Naval Committee certainly seems in no haste
to further the wishes of the Navy Department.
1t has not yet reported on the request for the
abolition of the Eight Hour law it has decided
against the effort to place the Line above the


staff and now it is reported to be opposed to
the plan for selling useless vessels and placing
the proceeds at the disposal of the Secretary.
Year: 1869

The brokers are making up their minds
that the new Commissioner of Internal Rev
enue is man wholly unfit for his place.
He has fully sustained Assessor Webster in
his views concerning the taxability of their
capital; and the Assessor is back among them,
with orders to "push things" AT first, the
brokers thought this matter joke. They now
begin to consider it business of very respect
able and eminently serious proportions.
Year: 1869

And now comes the Central Pacific, making
answer that it has received no extra bonds


but that the Union Pacific has that it has
built its road well as it went, and the Union
Pacific has not that it will arrive at Ogden
with its completed track by the Both of April,
and that, to say the least, the Union Pacific
can't do its work, and get there any sooner.
The Union Pacifc's turn comes next; but in
Year: 1869

The long withheld correspondence between
President Buchanan and Secretary Cass, on
the occasion Of the resignation of the latter
at the beginning of the Secession movement,
adds little to the fame of the Secretary, and as
little to the odium that has long attached
to the name of the President. 1t has been
known that Gen. Cass resigned because he
utterly disapproved Of the refusal to re-
Year: 1869

The text of the act to amend the National
Ranking bill, which is printed elsewhere as 1t
nossed the Senate yesterday, will command
wide attention. 1t is sure TO DC moul-
fed in the House. The most Striking
proposition yet made is that requiring change
Of the six per cent bonds now deposited by
the Banks as security for their circulation into
q new four per cent bond.
Year: 1869

formity OF caber IL brings nearer to uniformity OF
ammunition than we before, because the oarbiDe
charge ia not sufficient for the musket and when this
Improvement adopted shall have another slight
diversity as in the Of the Enfield OF 81 and tho
Springfield 6s for chamber OF the earbne not
long enough for the musket cartridge and the carbne
charge is not heavy enough for the breechloadng mus
bat
Year: 1869

The defeat of the New-York Cab bill at Al
bany was to have been expected. There is
another pending in the Senate. We shall soon
know whether the swiDdling city hackmen are
equally potent with our Senators.
Year: 1869

The New Albany Ledger says:
"Years ago a worthy young man
of foreign birth arrived in the city
of Louisville in search of employ
ment. He at length obtained a
situation as barkeeper in fash
ionable saloon. To this establish
ment came bright and early every
morning little girl with mint for
sale. She was always dressed IL
dily and carried a smiling face.--
The young barkeeper took an in
terest in the child, and upon in
quiry learned that she did not car
ry her sunny face with her min t
only, but also in her own home,
and in the humblest employments.
Setting apart portion of his own
earnings, he sent her to school,
and she soon surpassed most of
her mates. He then employed
music teachers for her, and she
soon became a proficient.


Years rolled on, and fortune IA
vorea theyOung barkeeper. He be-
came the owner of an establish
ment of his own. The wealthiest
men in Louisville were his friends.
The poor little mint seller had now
grown to woman's estate, and was
as accomplished and virtuous as she
was beautiful. She in time be-
came the wife of the man who had
early befriended her. The man
is now reckoned one Of the veal
thy men of Louisyille-a large
owner of real estate-respeeted by
all who know him for his noble
qualities, of which kindness of
heart is the chief. We read of
such events as these in the story
books, but they seldom occur in
real life. This, however, is true to
the letter"
Year: 1869

Heart.
How softly on the bruised heart.
A word of kindness falls,
And to the dry and parched soul
The moistning tear-drop calls;
Oh, if they knew who walk the earth
Mid sorrow, grief, and pain.
The power word of kindness hath,
Twere paradise again.
The weakest and the poorest may
The simple pittance give,
And bid delight to withered hearts,
Return again and live:
Oh, what is life if love be lost?
If mans unkind to man
Or, what the heaven that waits beyond
This brief and mortal span?
AS stars upon the tranquil sea
In mimic glory shine,
So words of kindness in the heart
Reflect the source divine
Oh, then be kind, whoe'er thou art,
That breathest mortal breath,
And it shall brighten all thy life,
And sweeten even death.
Year: 1869

A young man has been travelling
about lately and jumping off the
train to kiss his sister, apologising
on discovering his mistake! He
tried the thing on in New Haven,
the other day, and has become con.
verted. When the damsel raised
her vail, ne found she was so black
that charcoal left a white mark on
her.
Year: 1869




We think the following story
''tOo good TO keep" and, as we
promised not TO betray the hero's
name and place of residence, we
hope he will forgive us for telling
how he got lost in a storm.


1t was pleasant place--the
home of the Doctor-just in the
edge of the woods. The house
was one of those neat little Gotta
ges where one always expects to
find comfort, peace and happiness.


It was almost hidden among
the trees, with which the grounds
had been so lavishly edorned.-
Some were so large that you would
think they must be centuries old.


The Doctor and bis wife lived
here alone, with the exception of
q boy whom the Doctor had ta-
ken to do chores for him, and to
be company for his wife when he
was attending to his patients; for
although, as / said he is getting
old, the people of the little village
near could not have been persua-
ded to give up their faithful ply
sician.


One day it had been snowing-
such snow storm as you West
ern people seldom see. The beau
tiful white flakes seemed to vie
with each other to see which
should reach its destination soon
est, and the sky above seemed one
endless sheet of snow.


"Well," said the Doctor to his
wife, as he returned from his round
of calls, 81 am glad there are not
many sick just now, for | think
home is the best place for an old
man like me-" and he shook the
snow from his great coat and hand
ed it to Bruce to hang up, saying
that he would not need it any more
that night.


Just as he had seated himself
at the tea-table and his wife was
pouring out his tea, loud call was
heard at the door.


''It is some belated traveller, !"
decided the Doctor as he arose
to open the door.


81 want you to go and see my
wife, Doctor" said the visitor as
he seated himself by the fire.


"What! go ten miles such a
night as this? 1t is impossible"
retorted the Doctor.


81 fear she will die," said the
man, sunless you do. | have
man here with me, and we will
see you safe through, if you will
CO."


The amount Of it was, the Doc
tor went.


1t is not my purpose to dwell on
his ride there for it was made
comparatively easy by the aid of
strong arms and shovels; nor of
the sick woman, but of his journey
home. The snow was still whirl-
ing thick and fast as the Doctor
tucked himself snugly in his light
cutter for the homeward trip, and
started off briskly; for Nellie was
anxious to get home to her warm
stable.


The Doctor not very well ac-
quainted with the roundabout way
he came and with the darkness
and binding snow, he soon became
bewildered. So after a while,
thinking he had ridden farther than
the distance ofhis home, hethcught
he would trust his horse to get
him out of the difficulty, and
gave Nellie full liberty to choose
her own road !; SO, after he had
gone on for some time longer, Mel
lie stopped and whinnied. The
Doctor unmuffled a little, and
peered around in the darkness and
snow.


@Why, Nellie, where are we?"
he said. "This look very much



like Chestnut Ridge; yes, there's
the opening in the trees, at the
turn Of the road on the brow of
the hill-this must be Chestnut
Ridge--eight miles fiom home.