smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

The most curious phenomena which
we have ever heard of occurred out
in Cheatham county on Wednesday
last. The day, it will be remember
ed, was remarkably hot, so that most
people In that county had to seek the
shade about noon. At this hour, on
the farm of Ed. Sharp. five miles from
Ashland, a sort of WhirlWind came
along over the neighboring woods,
taking up small branches and leaves
Of trees and burning them in a sort
Of flaming cylinder, that travelled at
the rate Of about Eve miles an hour
and developing IN size as il travelled.
Itpassed directly over the spot where
a team of horses were feeding, and
singed their names and tails up to
the roots. It then swept toward the
house, taking a stack of hay IN It's
course, which it set on FIRE. 1tseem-
ed to increase in heat as it went, and
BY the time 1t reached the house 1t
Immediately fred the shingles from
end TO end Of the building, so that in
ten minutes the whole dwelling,
was wrapped In flames. The tai
column Of travelling calorie then con-
tinued its course over a wheat field
that had been recently Graded, set
ting fire to all the stacks which hap
pened 70 be In its course. Passing
from the field, its path lay over a
stretch of woods which reached to
the river. The green leaves on the
trees were crisped to cinder for a
breadth of twenty yards, In a straight
line to the Cumberland. When the
pillar Of fire" reached the water it
suddenly changed its route down the
river, raising a column of steam
which went up to the clouds for about
half mile, when it finally died out.


Not less than two hundred people
witnessed this strangest of strange
phenomena, and all of them tell sub
stantially the same story about it.


The farmer, Sharp, was left houseless
by the devouring 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 pass
ed where set on fire, and continue
burning still.
Year: 1869

a few days ago a little boy, ten years
of age, was crushed to death by
hogshead Of tobacco that rolled over
his body and lower extremities, an ac
count Of which we gave at the time Of
the occurrence. Since then, we have
learned that while the little fellow
lay in the agony of death, he clasped
his hands and uttered an audible and
beautiful prayer to God to help him
IN his calamity This boy. years ago,
came to the Cincinnati Bethel, and
since then had been a member of
that excellent school, to which he
owed all his religious impressions.


To the teachers and officers of this
institution sucha reward for patient,
faithful labor, should bring with it
more substantial pleasure than all tie
empty honors of the earth.-C Cincin-
natl Gazette.
Year: 1869

The Cincinnati Enquirer explains the
reason why newspapers indulge iu so


mlch Of the horrible, as follows: Moral


izs as some will, the fact remains that
people like TO read of hangings, and they


take delight in the perusal of deeds Of


horror and crime. There is a strange
fascination about them that cannot be
described, but exists in full force. Itmay
not be considered very complimentary
to the public intelligence, but the fact Is
not to be disputed. Wny," says
the moralist, "do you newspaper
men furnish your readers with so
much of this kind of reading
matter, that is regarded as so
pernicious in its effects upon the public
mOrals?n We answer, upon the great
principle of the law OF demand and sup
ply. 1t might as well be asked why the
hotel keeper furnishes his tables to suit
his guests. The newspaper is more the
mirror Of public thought, more OF the re-
Election of the public wishes, than any
thing else. It's duty is, says one, to take
higher ground and briag the people upon
il. That would be like the mountains
going 20 Mahom med, y and it would be
almost as difficult Of success.


Mr.. OojectOr and Criticiser of the
D0HcpaptE-; lSW lIU5Su WOulu I0liUH YOU
upon the elevated plane of thought you
would erect. ItwOu,d be SO elevated and
cold that none of the nHtriment that sus-
tains paper wonld grow upon its keen
and piercing morality. Before the
newspapers mad half educated the peO-
pie it would die from want of support.
The making of the paper better is
a very desirable thing, but the
misfortune Is that it is a costly
to those who undertake
it. Tnere are few who want to be mar
tyrs for the public good and they are
generally Those who are in the enthsl-
asm Of youth and inexperience. The
popular taste prefers coarse and strong
nuJriment rather than that which Is Of
q finer and more ornamental character.
The practical newspaper man under
stands this and acts accordingly. and
those who censUre the press for not being
better might as we'll find fault with a
stream because it flows from and is sup
piled by fountain above.
Year: 1869

mitted 10 the Treasury Department where it
u separated, after the red seal is puto ltis
not known how many Of these sheets have
been distracted from the New York Bank
Note Company, as this 10 the first note OF the
kind presented here.
Year: 1869

ANOTHER ARGUMENT FOR PRINTING THE
CURRENCY HRRR-Treasurer Spinner this
morning received for redemption from a New
York railroad company twenty-five cent
note Of the new issue which has the appear


ence Of having been In circulation for some
time. but does not bear the red seal OF the Trea.
sury upon its face, stamped upon all the ma


tional currency at the Department. This note
is upon the Government paper, and undoub'.
edly printed from the genuine plates; but not
having the seal shows that it was put
In circulation after being printed by the
New Yerk bank note companies and
before reaching the Treasury Department


1t will be remembered that the backs of the
new notes are printed by the National Bank
Note Company, OF New York, and the face by
the American Company, Of that city; hence
the note above referred to must have been
stolen from the company which was engaged
last in printing. The Government will not,
however, be the loser, as the Bank
Note Companies are charged with every
sheet Of paper issued to them. and must
return either the money printed on the
paper, or the mutilated sheets. The fractional
currency 10 printed in large sheets and trans.
Year: 1869

CAPTAIN WALKER, the well.known battle.
scene painter, who painted the picture in the
west stairway Of the Senate gallery, is now
engaged upon reduced copy Of the painting
OF the "Charge Of General Longstreet at the
Battle Of Gettysburg" II is one. fourth the
size Of the large picture.
Year: 1869

SOMETHING ABOUT LBTTIRs.-During the
past fiscal year seven hundred and sixty mil.
liens Of letters passed through the mails OF
the United STATES, being an increase OF forty
millions over any previous year. This is
about twenty letters per head for every man.
woman and child in the United States.
Year: 1869

ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 26.-The
old law limiting the residence of Jews
has been enforced in some parts of
the Empire recently. Two thousand
of these people have been removed
from the Bessovailian frontier to the
interior of Russia within a few days.
The impression prevails that the
Emperor will disapprove Of these
rnrnnnedinrs
Year: 1869

Governor elect Senter had an interview
with the President lately touching the mat,
ter of calling the old Legislature to ratify the
fifteenth Amendmen Senter was Of opin.
ion that the new Legislature would eventually
ratify it, and he further assured the Presi:
dent that he had favored it on the stump in
all parts of the state. The understanding
was, at the close of the interview, that it
would not be advisable to assemble the old
legislature on account Of the legal questions
which would arise regarding its right to sit
Year: 1869

If Spain has acted mainly on the advice
Of France, in the reported rejection OF the
offer of the United States to become sponsor
for the purchase money which was to re-
mand Cuba to the Cubans she must have
lost sight, for the moment, Of the poor luck
the Emperor had with his Mexican under.
taking, and jumped at q conclusion which
would better have been reached through a
cooler consideration. The former rumor
respecting the part we were to take in the
transaction is considerably modified in its
chief features, although the effect of our &C
ton in either case would be practically The
same. We were, it seems, only to hold the
customs revenue of Cuba, to certain ex
tent, as security for the payment; thus act
ing as trustee in the transfer. The origins
story went further and made rs the actua
: guaraator Of the bargain.
Year: 1869

The Prose Of the One, and the Poetry of the Other.


Pc A CE! -...


''Let us have it-if we can; over
all the world. But not without ques-
tioning the circumstances, and tax
ing opinions upon it. A few are
herewith appended.


at is peace, that I, an English
man, should work. three hundred
days in the year, God, not man, al
lowing me sixty-fve holidays; fifty
two of them set apart for his own
special worship, the other thirteen
of secondary consideration? Three
hundred days of toll, for which l
receive suit of fustian OF corduroy :;
a smock-frock to screen them when
they become ragged; a pair of clog
soled shoes that cause corns on my
feet and make me lame before I am
forty; a dietary scale, that includes
not fresh beef-only salt bacon, not
of the best, and it only on weeks
when am lucky enough to have
work! When not, it is skim milk
cheese to accompany the bare bread !;
both to be choked down, not with
beer as you may have heard, but
what, for all know, may be better
still-cold water! I don't quarrel
with the cold water, if the bread
and cheese could always be assured
to me. But they are not. A week. S
sickness, and the cheese disappears
from my table. A fortnight, and
the bread must be begged for, or
eaten within the walls of a work
house! 65.E .Hsl -


"And yet l am told that my three
hundred days of toll are worth much
more-that ten of them in a trop-
ical cline would give re all I want
to wear and eat and that thirty in
any part of the temperate zone
should ensure me the same; or at
all events be a sufficient set off
against my corduroys and skim
| milk cheese! us


''If it be so, and I have reason to
think it is, then must I be cheated
out of 270 daysin the year!
is this peace? If it so be, dang
me if I like it I"


.s ~
'Is it peace, that I, a Frenchman,
toll just the same as an Englishman,
only with little more skill, because
my brain is more acutely concentra-
ted? But I toll with no better re-
ward.
Year: 1869

WE arc informed by some of our
farmer friends, that the wheat
throughout our county has never
made better appearance than at
the present time, and that unless
some undue influence yet prevails,
we will have a large yield the COM
ing season. The heavy fall of snow
which protected the wheat during
the recent excessive cold spell, has
saved the crop. In some localities
where wheat was sown on oats stub
BILE, there is a fear that the latter
may choke the former, the cold not
having been sufficient to kill the
oats, but these are exceptional cases.
With good crops this, year, and a
new administration at Washington,
we may look hopefully forward to
lively and prosperous times the COM
ing summer-Monsfeld Herald.
Year: 1869

q


long after, accepted patent in the customary


form, barterng principle for the four pearls


of his new order. ll


OF late years, whenever an exceptionally bold
stand has been made by the House of Lords,
reaction has been inevitable. 1t was 80 IN this
instance. Their point having been gained, the
peers had leisure to reflect upon the storm OF
Indignation they bad aroused, and one result
Of this reflection was the sudden admission Dy
that questionably nick named Rupert OF debate,
Lord Derby, that some sort OF reform certainty
was needed, and that in case OF any future
question arising between the proper means Oh
administering justice on one side, and the PRIV
ileges of the House ON the other, ne was 1or
waving the privileges. We do not find that
this tardy concession was received with the
derlsion it deserved. No advantage, however,
was taken of it. and for thirteen years the
whole question has slumbered. 1t is true that
suggestions have from time to time been made,
to the effect that the peers should transfer
their judicial powers to some more competent
and ready tribunal; but, like so many noble
dogs in an aristocratic manger, unwilling 10
fulfill their own duty or to allow others 10
perform it for them, they have rejected all such
ideas and nothing has come OF them. we are
pleased to see that Earl Russell has the pluck
to return to the charge once more. we shoulu
be better pleased if he had proposed to totally
deprive the lords of this particular function; but
although the political world does move in Eng
land, it moves slowly, and too much progress
cannot be expected at one step. But we may
hope that, this time the ancient precedents
will not be too strongly relied upon. 1t Is not
now a question of dead monarchs right in other
days to confer q dignity but of the living
peoples right at the present hour, to have
useful servant placed in the position where
they need him. Whether the House of Lords
will Just now accept this view is, as we have
said, extremely doubtful. There is a chance
that they may; and in that case, II Lord Der
by's gloomy propbesy should be fulfilled
though nobody probably expects such thing
less than he--tbere are at least few among
the great minds of England who could calmly
contemplate even that catastrophe.
Year: 1869

What curious book might be written on
the history of suIcdes The ingenuity of dis
torted minds in discovering strange modes of
death seems inexhaustible. An English car
penter few years ago turned his mechanical
skill to account in constructing guillotine for
his own decapitation. A New-York merchant
very recently hanged himself, and after put
ting on the moose adopted most ingenious
way of tying his hands between his legs so
that he could not release himself should his
heart fail him at the last moment Religious
mania has been known to drive men to self
crucifxion. The most horrible case of suicide,
however, that we remember, occurred few
days ago in London, where man emptied a
can of parafine oil over his person and then
set himself on fire. This, we believe, is as far
as anybody has yet gone.
Year: 1869

The final severance of Egypt's dependence
upon the Sublime Porte seems to be ques.
ton of but very little time. Practically the
autonomy of the country is already nearly
complete, and the purpose of the Egyptians to
assert their independence is so general that
there is little discussion except upon the best
method of doing it. There are some who favor
an immediate appeal to the European Powen
while others would quietly ignore the Sultans
authority and proceed upon the assumption
that their independence is already aeknovl'
edged. This would certainly be a pleasant war
of effecting great political revolution, yet who
knows that it might not succeedf The French
newspapers of Egypt, which are generally sup
posed to be subsidized by the VicerOy, con-
gratulate the country upon the increase OF the
Egyptian army, which will enable the Govern
ment "to wait upon events and perchanoe TO
"profit by them at an early period The con-
pletion of the Suez Canal, now close at hand
will bring to Egypt great increase OF CON-
mercial prosperity, and the Western Power
cannot remain Indifferent TO its political Goa
ditiOn,
Year: 1869

for it Is more glorious to be the first than the
last of family. Thus in whatever light we
consider the subject, it will be seen that the
only method by which the laborer can be re-
leved from what he calls the pressure of capi-
tai, but which really is the weight Of his in
active self, is to acquire the habit of saving.
whether in cooperative or in an individual
capacity, that he may place himself upon the
side of capital and secure the advantages which
it brings more or less; and thus he will corre-
spond to society, which, as a unit, insists upon
the accumulation of reserve to be drawn upon
IN times of necessity.
Year: 1869

There is still much discussion as to the
amount of truth in the confession of the un.
fortunate wretch Twitchell, whose death is the
sensation of the hour. Mrs. Twitchell was ac.
quilted and her husband convicted. For one
purpose, however, the course pursued by the
condemned is valuable, however small the con.
fidence placed in his narrative. 1t shows how
ready man may be to add crime to crime,
merely to preserve miserable life, and how
little prepared, morally and religiously, those
who are executed must be for death, If there
be any such thing as judgment and expiaton
hereafter, as many of those who advocate
Capital Punishment sincerely believe. The
first thing which strikes the reader OF
Twitchelrs statement, even before its improb-
ability, is the dreadful degradation of hus.
band who can seek to save his own life by
destroying that of the wife of his bosom, or,
rather, by rendering her an object of such
public adherence that her life will not be
worth having. Upon the brow which he had
so often affectionately kissed he sought 10
stamp the indelible brand of parricide One
loving q wife as she should be loved would,
even if she were guilty, have gone down to
the grave with his lips sealed for her sake, and
the secret of her sin would have been buried
with him. We contemplate confession like
this with something like antique horror. We
regard as the Grecians or the Romans would have
regarded it, this deplorable lack of manliness.
We stand aghast at the pusillanimty which
could seek to shift this heavy burden to the
dropping shoulders of a weeping woman, and
that woman the wife of the confessor!


We haye asked attention to this case, be.
cause it proves the morbid intellectual condi-
ton into which a sentence of death must
plunge the convicted All moral responsibility
is at once discarded, and all moral strength
at once broken down. In view OF impending
doom state of mind analogous to insanity
ensues, and the wretched being finds it i'm
possible to contemplate his condition with
equanimity. He preserves but one animal in.
stipct--the desire of escape. He will say his
prayers and tell falsehoods in single breath.
and when he seems to be the most pious and
penitent, he would save his life If he could by
cursing God or by repeating his crime.
Year: 1869

Cannot the car-drivers on the Second-ave.
Railroad, who are striking for higher wages,
or fewer hours of labor, remember how un-
wise and disastrous any attempt heretofore by
discontented laborers to employ force to
prevent other men, who are willing to
work, from taking their vacant places has
always provedi Carry on your strike, if you
will, but don't put yourselves in the attitude
of law breakers. It's bad position from which
to operate for a redress of grievances.
Year: 1869

The aqueous augmentation Of milk is nui-
sance and swindle which the good people OF
Massachusetts are by no means inclined to put
up with. If there is to be any watering of the
original fluid they prefer to have the extension
take place after the purchase. Some dealers
have highly innocent way of pleading their
own honesty, and of attributing the watering
to some person or persons in previous posses
sion. A new law has just been passed to meet
the case of these gentlemen. If they sell
watered milk they are to be fined, whether
they knew that the water was in il or not.
This seems rather hard upon injured innocence,
but injured innocence must be careful whom it
deals with, and have no transactions with
those who cannot tell pump from COW.
Year: 1869

The return of tue Internal Revenue nomina-
tions for this city to the Senate to-day, will at
least serve to show the value of the reports
lndustriously circulated by the Whisky Ring,
concerning the certain failure of some OF
them. 1t is announced that they are to go
back entirely unchanged; and as they have
already received the approval of the proper
Committee, we presume their confirmation is
Year: 1869

We heartily second the suggestion that the
debates in the Senate on the treaty for the
Alabama claims should be public. We
believe one chief difficulty in the way
Of a proper settlement of the ques-
ton is to be found in the surprising ig-
norance of Great Britain concerning tho real
feelings of this country. The spectacle OF q
Year: 1869

Senate containing scarcely q solitary meniooi
ready to uphold the treaty on which 'hey
have been lavishing their enthusiasm VIII
prove a valuable. popular educator Tor our
friends across the water.
Year: 1869

NAPOLEoN'S Coat or MAu~-Just before
Napoleon set out for Belgium (betore the bat.
tie of Watcrluo), be sent for the cleverest ar
tisan of his class in Paris, and demanded OF
him whether he would engage TO make coat
of mail to be worn under the ordinary dress,
which should be absolutely bullet proof; and
that if So he might name his own price for
such work. The man engaged to make the
desired object, if allowed proper time, and he
named -U00f as the price of It, The bar
gain was concluded. and in due time the work
was produced, and the artisan was honored
with second audience of the Emperor.
Now" said his Imperial Majesty, put it on. y
The man did So "As am to stake my life on
It's efficacy. you will. | suppose, have no ohjec-
tion to do the samel aud he took brace oi
pistols. and prepared tn discharge one at the
aStonished artists breast. There was no re
treating. however, and, half dead with fear, he
stood the fire; and to the infinite credit
of his work, with perfect impunity. But the
Emperor was not couttnt with one trial. He
fired the second pistol at the back of the ar
tist, and afterward discharged following
piece at another part OF him with similar eft.
feet. well" said the Emperor, You have
produced a capital work, undoubtedly. What
is to be the price of it ?" Eighteen thousand
francs were name as the agreed sum-" There
is an order for them," said the Emperor; land
there is another for an equal SUN, for the
fright have given you"
Year: 1869

A PECULIAR PARsoN-A preacher in Chi
cago recently refused to say grace at the table
when asked, saying it was mere formality
and "the best grace was to eat moderately
well digest your meal, and then 60 to work ant
earn another" For the same reason he re
fused to pronounce the benediction. He wal
too hungry to use the time before ready mea
and too full for utterance after it, we guess.
Year: 1869

Good The following version of an ancient
dtty is circulating as means of fixing Van
derbilt in the juvenile mind:


ssThis is the man the bears have torn,


That married the maiden all forlorn,


That took the Wall street bull by the horn,
That tossed Jim Fisk That worried Dan Drew,
That loosed the rate that stole the stock


That lay in the house that Wander Jilt."