smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

The mississippi and Lake Providence.


The following facts from a st.
Louis paper in reference to Lake
Providence and certain operations
which are in progress against the
rebels will prove interesting at
this time


The bed of the Mississippi is
certainly changing, the action of
the current wearing new chan
nels and finding new courses. At
times it's waters have flowed over
various parts of the country on
either side of its present banks.
The State of Louisiana is full of
branches or bayOus of the Missis-
sippi, by which the water of that
river winds its devious way
through swamps and lakes to the
Gulf, in lines nearly parallel with
the present stream. showing that
at some period hitherto the vol
ume of the Mississippi has not al
ways run in its present channel.
Lake Providence there is little
doubt was once the bed of that
river. There is still a deep hol-
low between the river and that
lake; a distance of about four
hundred yards. The surface of
Lake Providence is ten or twelve
feet lower than that of the river,
there being strong levee be-
tween them, built expressly to
keep out the water of the Missis-
sippi. To remove this levee and
dig canal from the river bank
to the lake is now the plan being
carried into operation.


The point where the Lake
Providence cutoff will strike the
Mississippi is sixty miles above
Vicksburg. This lake has two
outlets, one of which is bayou
Tensas and the other bayou Ma
con, these bayOus joining a short
distance below the Vicksburg and
Shreveport railroad, and forming
Tensas river, a deep stream,
which can only be compared to a
beautiful ship canal, navigable for
more than $50 miles, and which
empties into Black river, Black
river emptying into Red river, 40
miles above the mouth of the
latter.


The work of opening the Lake
Providence cutoff was commen-
ced by Gen. Deitzler's brigade,
on the I'd and Sd of February, af-
ter a reconnaissance of and exam
ination, which showed it to be
feasible and promising. The en-
tire 18th army corps was ordered
to the place and has no doubt ar
rived, so that there are three or
four brigades at work in the en-
terprise. Our correspondents in
form us that great confidence is
felt in its entire success.


The reader will inquire what
effect the construction of this lake
Providence canal will have upon
the reduction of the rebel strong
hold at Vicksburg. Vessels will
pass through it at least thirty
miles west of Vicksburg, coming
out l80 miles below that town.
This will destroy ell the Red riv-
er and Louisiana connections Of
the rebels. The Red river region
is of the greatest Importance to
the enemy. BY means of it they
have hitherto had access to vast
amounts of supplies, including
those indispensable articles, salt,
sugar and molasses. Some idea
of the reliance placed upon the
Red river country by the confcd-
crates may be formed from
statement of a correspondent of
Of the Mobile Advertiser. who
says that the feat ofthe ram Queen
of the West, in running by the
Vicksburg batteries was followed
by a rise in the price of salt to
sixty dollars a barrel.


A PROvERB IN SEAsoN.-An in
Year: 1863

Hit EN- AGAIN.-Eyery publisher of a
country newspaper will appreciate the force
Of the following bilious article which ap-
pears in the Oregon Times


Men will come to the Office and solicit a
place in the columns for advertisements, and
desire the editor to furnish the brains to
write out the "ad," and stand over the
printer, and constantly annoy him with di-
rections about the style of type he must
use, and tho amount of display; and when
the advertisement appears in print, they
will have some fault to find about aome
fount of letter, or some other very unim-
portant particular, which they imagine is
not Just to their taste. But when payday
comes, they will! tell you that they can't pay
money for advertising; they can't pay you
such rates; they can get the same amount
in Boston, New York or San Francisco for
half the money; printers bills are always a
bore advertising does them no good, and
they threaten to stop the paper and adver-
tsment, and give their patronage to another
if the amount of the bill is insisted upon, &c,
until the publisher is weary and disgusted
with bis patron, and concludes to take half
the value of his labor and thus be done
hearing his heartless excuses.
Year: 1863




TO \ BRIDE. Tho Following letter was
written by an old friend to young lady
on the eve of her wedding day:


have sent you fow flowers to alorn
the dying moments OF your single life =.
They are the Gontlest types of II delicate
and durable friendship. They spring up
by our sides when others have deserted it:
and they will be found watching over our
graves when those who should cherish have
forgotten us. 1t seems that the past SO
calm and pure as yours should expire with
n kindred sweetness about it; that flowers
and music, kind friends and earnest words,
should consecratc the hour when scnti-
ment is passing into sarcasm.


The three great stages of our being are
the birth, bridal and burial. To the first
we bring only weakncss-for the last we
have nothing but DUST But here at the
altar, where life joins life, the pair come
throbbing up to the holy man, whispering
the deep promise that arms each others
heart, to help on in the life struggle of care
and duty. The beautiful will be there. Dor.
rowing new beauty from the scene. The
gay and frivolous, they and their ilounces
willlook solemn for once. And youth will
come TO gaze on all its sacred thoughts pant





words repeated, that to their own lives
have given the charm. Some will weep
over it as if it were tomb, and some will
laugh over it as if it were a joke; but two
must stand by it, for il is fate not fun, this
everlasting locking of their lives!


And now can you, who have queened it
over so many bending forms. can you come
down at last to the frugal diet OF single
heart Hitherto you have been a clock, Civ
ing your time to all the world. Now you
are watch, buried in one particular bosom,
warming only his breast, marking only his
hours, ticking only to the beat of his heart
where time and feeling shall be in unison,
until these lower ties are lost in that we'd
lock where all hearts are united around the
Central Heart of all.


Hoping the calm and sunshine may hal
low your clasped hands, sink silently into
IA signature.
Year: 1863

This machine is the cheapest and best that
can be got up for the manufacture of these two as
ticles This machine can be made any size to suit
the purchaser. 1t will make nice white sugar,
flavor similar to that of Island sugar. The molas-
made by this machine is of a clear golden color,
and has delightful flavor, taking off the rank fla
vor that generally accompanies that made in COM
mon kettles.


Farmers, fill your farms with the Sugar Cane
and establish an independence these two articles
that you have so long been dependant on the South
eIn states and Islands for. To traders we will
sell State or County Rights for this machine on
reasonable terms.


Persons wishing to get in a good business should
purchase State or county right. This machine is
bound to sell, and will never get out of style, and
is within the reach of every Farmer.


Persons wishing for information can apply to L.
L. Loomis, of Webster township, who is propre
tor of the right for this and adjoining counties.


Particulars can be obtained from n. II. Callard,
at the Journal Office. Sy*
Year: 1863

smile upon, love, nor marry the man who
will not fly to tho rescue No woman can
safely trust herself with the man who will
not fight for his country. He has no real
love for woman who is destitute of the high.
est, next TO God, viz love Of country.
Year: 1863

rendering his services as counsel for mer,
confined In the Old Capitol Prison for Of
fences against the Government, is likely,
by Its discussion, to put partial stoppage
at least upon the too common sale of Con
gresslonal influence at Washington. Sem
ator Hale, under the circumstances, will
hardly receive much blame in the matter.
The practice is one in which men of all
parties have been in the habit of engaging
But Senators and Representatives are paid
and expected to devote their energies to
the public good, and it is well that the
practice IN question is being ventilated.
Year: 1863

A few days since we announced rumo
that the Hon. Caleb Baldwin had declined be
ing candidate for reelection to the Supreme
Bench. Since then We have read Judge B.
letter to Col. Wiltse positively declining a re
nomination. There can no longer be any
doubt as to the necessity of selecting another
person for the position. We have also pub
lished the encomiums Of the Davenport Co.
setts upon Judge Dillon, with the expressed
belief that he could not bo spared from this
Judicial District Elected to his present po
sition by the almost unanimous vote Of the
people, he should regard that vote as an ex'
preston Of their will to retain his seat, which
he has so much graced and honored. The
people Of this county are not prepared to
spare SO good man to assume a position
more remote from them.


Since our former article upon the subject
of Judge of the Supreme Court VIC have been
permitted to see many expressions of earnest
desire that our esteemed fellow citizen, w. G
WOODWARD, should permit his name to be
used in connection with that Office. Judge
W. has hesitated as to his duty in the prem
ises, and has at last responded to the wishes
of many prominent citizens of the State out.
side Of this county, as well as his own towns
men, by consenting to the use Of his name


1t is unnecessary for us to tell our readers
who Judge Woodward is. That he gave uni.
versal satisfaction while occupying the seat
now occupied by Judge Baldwin IS too well
known. That he failed denomination owing
to an unfortunate division in our county is also
well known. He stands pre-eminent as a
jurist, scholar and gentleman. Judge
Woodward having given up his seat to Judge
Baldwin, it is appropriate that the former
should return to theseat, soon to be vaca-
ted by the latter. To those many friends
who adhered to Mr.. Woodward during the
last session Of our State Legislature, the an
nouncement of his name in connection with
the Judgeship will be sufficient. Occupying
q seat in the State Senate, his eminent abili-
ties secured to him the merited position of
chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
and well did he discharge his duties.


We have another reason for urging the
nomination Of Judge Woodward, and that is
the unqualified patriotism of Muscatine coun.
ty, emitting her to a proper recognition in
the great Union party of Iowa. This county
has sent more men and contributed more san.
itary supplies than any other county in the
State. Indeed it is everywhere recognized as
the banner war county of Iowa. tits reli.
able Union county without the soldiers vote,
and on the ground Of patriotic exertions, we
ask the nomination of Hon. w. G. Wood
ward. -i
Year: 1863




HOMESTEAD LAw-IMPoRrANT DECISION
We learn from the Gazette that the Supreme
Court Of Iowa, on the last day of its recent
session at Davenport, announced an important
decision under the Homestead Law. They
decided that a Judgment against the owner Of
a homestead was no lien against the home
stead, and that consequently the owner could
sell or mortgage the homestead unaffected by
judgments against him. fse zaa7 astl
This is an important decision on much
vexed question. Under the other view, that
judgments were liens, the value Of the home
stead exemptions was much impaired, and
the homestead was in some sort made . pris-
on, because the party could not sell it if he
had Judgments against him. But under the
liberal view just taken by the Supreme Court,
the party can sell and the purchaser will get
good title, and one which is free from judg-
ment. And the owner, If he finds it to his
interest to change his Homestead; can do so.
Year: 1863

E The President has made proclamation
that at the expiration of sixty days the State
of West Virginia will be regularly admitted
as member of the Union. The old flag will,
therefore, add another star-the thirty fifth
on the Fourth of July next.
Year: 1863

The SERMON OF SQURREL.-
Nearly the best sermon that ever heard
was preached to me on Sabbath morn
ing by a squirrel--one of the clippers as
we used to call them,-from the text "If
thine enemy hunger, feed him." 1t was
in the spring of 19i3, and the SHOWS,
which had been very deep that winter,
were lying upon the ground. 1t mast
have been a hard time in all the squir-
re! families. l had gone out into grove
of beeches that stands at little distance
from my fathers house and saw one Of
the little fellows running into hole be-
tween the roots of tree. do not be-
lieve had any wish to kill him at all,
but l thought perhaps might stand be-
hind the trunk and put my hand on him
as he came out. So | went carefully up
to the tree, and leaning around it began
to chip myself as well as could, to call
him. In minute or two be came, bring
ing beech-nut, which be pushed with
bis tiny paw over the edge of a root to-
wards me and then be went back for
another, and a third. And soon, seeing
they were not taken, be crept timidly over
the root himself and laid the three nuts
one by one beyond another root still
nearer me. No squirrel was captured
by me that day. ! do not know what he
thought. Perhaps the noise that made
bad happened to strike upon the sorrow
ful or beseeching tones of squirrel speech,
and he may have taken it for the voice
Of poorer neighbor, whose last years
Year: 1863

SHUTTING UP SHoP."-There was
once young counterjumper who for
sook his calling, and made up his mind
to become printer. He s cod up
studying OUT the boxes, under the di-
rection of the foreman, pretty well all
day; but when his tedious ten hours
had rolled round, the foreman politely
Informed him that our excellent State
laws permitted person TO quit work at
six o'clock.


"Well them" said our young hopeful,
al guess I'll shut up shop" and, suit
ing action to dictlon, he deliberately pull
ed his upper case over the lower, effect
ually pricing each. The foreman came
TO the conclusion that the youth was
'out Of his time" the next morning, and
told him be had made bad selection of
trades in choosing the "art preservative."
Year: 1863

MERoY.-Thefe is no way in which
man can so efectually assiInilate to the
character Of the model Of all excellency,
as by showing mercy. Ii is this attrib-
ute in the Deity which the benevolent
mind delights TO dwell upon; it is the
abundant mercy Of God in sending the
Son Of his bosom to seek and save that
which was lost that melts the obdurate
heart Of man, and causes tears of repen--
tance and gratitude copiously to how.-
Its the mercy of God that moves US on
to acts of kindness TO suffering humanity,
and causes Us to feel for the woes of 9TH
ers. Who that has heart to pity, can
contemplate the tolls, sufferings, and ig-
nominious death of the blessed Redeem
er, and not adore the mercy and benign
acts which characterized his eventful
life 4?


GOD delights IN mercy, for it is the
habitation Of his throne. The Lord Je-
sus displayed mercy in all his inter-
course with men. The angels in heav-
en- are actuated by this divine principle,
for they rejoice at the return of the prod
igal to his Fathers house, where there
is bread enough and to spare. The
spirits of the Just made perfect delight
in mercy, and join in chanting the song
of 'redeeming love- And shall not man
delight in mercy, in initiating his Father
in heaven, the Savior of sinners, the an
gels of God, and the spirits of the just
made perfect?' Let no one who has
felt the blessed effects of the mercy of
God, forget to exhibit in all his inter
course with the world, spirit of kind
ness.
Year: 1863

THE SHOWS AND SEAS OF Mans
Mars has lately presented a favorable
opportunity for the examination Of its
surface. The constitution Of this planet
more nearly approaches that Of the
earth than any other in the system
Snow can be detected at both poles, the
white circle increasing in winter and de-
creasing in summer. 1t has been found
that the centre of this region of snow
does coincide exactly with the poles Of
the planet. And in this respect it is lire
the earth whose greatest cold is not ex-
acty at the pole. A greenish belt with
deep bays and inlets near tie equator,
which is suspected to be q sea, has re
Gently been detected. The termination
of the snowy region is very sharp and
abrubt, giving the idea of a lofty cliff
A reddish island in the above sea, has
also been detected. The probability Of
Mars being inhabited is greater than that
of any other planet. Its density is very
nearly that of the earth. The heat and
light of the sun would only be half of
that enjoyed on our globe but then this
may be compensated by an atmosphere
which may form warmer wrapping
lhan ours and by more sensitive eye
A great part of the surface of the globe
is covered with snow for half Of the year
the people in Mars would not be worse
off than we are in Canada, and life is
tolerable here. People emigrating from
this planet 10 Mars would find that they
are only half as heavy as they are here,
which some would not regard as a disad-
rnrarrn T..l.L
Year: 1863

The FUTURE STATE.-If we look
upon the future state merely for its out
side garments OF white, and its crowns of
gold-its privilege of running from star
TO star, and being here and there,-we
degrade our conception of it. If we think
of it as a nobler state of soul,--a rising
spirit, and inlet of moral light, of moral
power,-then we get the grandeur of the
future state; for that is its essential ele--
ment. Come crowns of glory, if God
gives them-raiments of white and grand
palm branches. / know not what the
scenery of that state may be; but know
that the most blessed element of that
state is spirit like that of Jesus Christ,
who lived and died that we might live
Chaplin.
Year: 1863

PRIDE.-There may be pride in any
thing. The monarchs of Egypt build
pyramids to perpetuate their name; and
Sardanapalus claimed the honor Of pos
terity in an inscription which told how


we'll he eat and drank. In modern times
we have some even who are proud Of
making good bargains, ana oyer-reaching
their neighbors in buying and selling.
We have creatures in the shape Of men,
whose highest ambition is to appear in
clothes of particular cut; whose ideas
Of perfection are confined to the tying Of
cravat, or the plating of rufle. But
among all the different kinds of pride,
there is none more absurd than that of
the bully his ambition is of the lowest
kind. The man who resorts to personal
violence TO sustain his character or his
course, descends from the dignity of an
intellectual and moral being, to the level
OF the lowest animal. He enters on
field where he has rivals and superiors,
in the four-footed tribes. The Bear can
strike a harder blow, and the Jackass
can beat him in kicking. Let such
man bow to his superOrs of the stall.
Year: 1863

From the exchanges of single mail


few days since, we clipped the record


of no less than thirty suicides, all oil


which occurred within the space Of forty


eight hours. OF the thirty, eight were


females. Fourteen were believed to


have been caused from disappointment


in love, six from seduction, four from a


monomania in religion. two--both lads


of twelve years-from cruel treatment


of parents, one from Jealousy, and the re-


manning three from misanthropy, sickness


or sorrow. How sad commentary up.


on American life and its attributes this


picture presents, we leave those who have
the welfare of their species at heart to
conjecture. But it bebooves every think


ing man to carefully weigh the combi-


nation Of causes whereby SO many NOR
tails are hurried to self-destruction.


We fear it is getting to be character
istic of our social organization, induced
either through labor, wasted nerves, or
the drowning of imaginary sorrow in


fruitless dissipation, or an inevitable
drifting toward misanthropy, either to in
dulge in hopeless retrospection of"what
might have gladened life, or dismal re-
view of opportunities lost and years sac
rifced at the shrine of some foolish pas
sion. AS individuals, We are sadly given
to these gloomy retrospections. The
worry and over work of the mechanic,
the busting activity of the merchant,
the perplexing brain-work of the pro-
fessional man, cover a crowd of lurking
memories that sadden and torture the in
tervals of repose. As people, we let
very little sunshine into our lives. Our
peculiar organic temperaments absorb
too much of the dismal aad too little Of
the bright and joyous. We are prone
10 magnify emotions that require but lit
tie determination TO overcome perma-
nently. Suicide and insanity seldom
occur among the Gemans, although they
are essentially dreamy, metaphysical
and thoughtful people. They devote
half their lives to amusement and pas
time; when labor is ended, they invari-
ably seek recreation and relaxation.


When that mind dawns upon the age,
that shall teach us not TO fritter away
our lives in ephemeral pleasure and
wasteful idleness,-and we heed the les
son,-then will these suicidal tenden-
cies be absorbed by better and nobler de-
sires. We cannot afford to sacrifice
promising future for mere personal graft
fcation. Activity, energy, industry and
perseverance, are the necessary combat
ants to most Of the elements in this mo-
The cultivation of tn I'M
brings US into sympathy with the world
and the objects of civilization. We are
all dying for the want of clear sky and
warm sunshine. Our lives grow dark
Br and sadder every year, only because
we will not listen to the sweet bells of
hope tingling in our hearts, the glad mu
sic of heaven, and the grand diapason Of
the eternal spheres. Those who are
drifting into misanthropy must check the
tendency so inevitably hurrying them
on. Their selfish cravings must be over
come with the determination to live
broader, nobler lives, and participate in
The great religion of humanity.-SPring-
field Republican.
Year: 1863

CONDENSED ARGUMENT.-A very
celebrated Scotch divine says: "The
world we inhabit must have had an orr
gin; that origin must have consisted in a
cause that cause must have been intelli-
gent; that intelligence must have been
efficient; that efficiency must have been
ultimate; that ultimate power must have
been supreme, and that which always was
and is supreme, we know by the name of
God.r