smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

| The Washington correspondent of the
Republican of this city, makes the follow
ing statement, which is important if true
/ | give it for what it is woTth


Fernando Wood, of New York. arrived
here on Thursday night and yesterday
held a private interview With the President
Of several hours duration The fact that
he came direct from the great Peace meet
| ing held in New York oil Wednesday, and
that he is considered the representative
man of the party which then and there
showed a strength not to be disregarded,
in conjunction with his Easty visit, creates
most intense excitement, and causes the
widest speculations and rumors. This
morning it is stated that be came on at the
request Of the President, and further that
his closeting with that dighitary is likely to
result in most important political event
-nothing less than an armistice, and a
proposition to the Soutb TO return to the
Union Knowing ones say that the Presi-
dent has become alarmed at the increasing
strength of the Party, that he fears that
unless some attention is paid to its de-
mands, it will gain strength sufficient to Sc
riously embarrass the further prosecution
of the war; that to prevent this, and knock
! the bottom out of their tub, he mas deter
mined to take them at their word-to or
der an armistice, and offer the South terms
of compromise upon the basis of the resto-
ration of the Union; satisfied that the
South will refuse all offers, and henceforth
the peace party of the North must hold
their peace, or become the open advocates
of separation and the recognition Of the
South


Fernando Wood told some OF lis friends
at Willard's last night that he believed if
an armistice of 60 days was brought about
and an offer made to the seeded States to
take them back into the Union again with
all their former rights unimpaied, and an
amnesty guaranteed for all acts of rebel
lion, they would return He admitted the
difficulties in the way of such an adjust
ment; but he appeared to think that 60
days of peace, free interchange Of senti-
ment between the people of both sections,
and the ''intermingling Of the brothers in
the arms along the lines" (his Words
would do much towards overcoming them.
He also expressed belief that in the event
of an armistice, and disposition shown on
the part of the South to come to terms,
the people of the North would let bygones
be bygones, and demand of the Admins
tration that they should be received into
the Union again as equals and brothers.


If Fernando Wood succeeds in his pro
gramme, he will be the next President of
the United States.-COr. Bulletia
Year: 1863

A SPUR IN THE REAR.-An amusing lit
tie incident occurred during the late battle
at Newtonia. The fight being rather hot
ly contested, an officer became very thirsty,
and repaired to a spring near at hand to get
draught of water. Kneeling down he
drank freely, without the aid of a cup As
he rose from this refreshing spring, he sat
himself fair and square upon his own heels
which were armed with a pair of tremen-
dous Mexican spurs The instant he felt
the prick of the sharp rowels, he thought
the enemy were upon him and a bayonet
entering his flesh When some Of his men
arrived, he was bawling, at the top of his
voice, "Oh, l surrender | surrender !"


PUNISHMENT OF THE UNCHAsTE.-At
later period, if female, married or unmar-
ried was guilty of misconduct. she was
required to strangle herself with her own
hands; and if she refused to do so, the wo-
men of the neighborhood assembled, and
cutting off her garments to the waist, at
tackled her with wips and knives, and hunt
ed her from village to village till death
rescued her from further torture. They
then seized her seducer, and hanged him
over her grave.-The Anglo Saron Home,
By John ThrupP.
Year: 1863

DIAMOND CUT DIAMoND.-Once shrewd con-
tractor found himself at the same inn with rival
who always trod close on his heels. He was fol-
lowed about and cross-questioned necessarily, and
gave vague answers Within half an hour of the
last moment he went into the cofee-room and sat
himself down in a corner where his rival could
not overlook him. There and then he filed up
his tender, and as he rose from the table left be-
hind him the paper on which he had blotted it,
As he left the room his rival caught up the blot
ting paper, and, with the exulling glee of con-
sciously successful rival, read off the amount
backwards. "Done this timc!' was his mental
thought, as he filled up his own tender dollar
lower and fastened to deposit it, TO his utter
surprise the next day he found that he had lost
the contract, and complainingly asked his rival
how it was for he had "tendered below him."


"Ho@ did you know you were below me9"


''Because found your blotting-paperp


II thought so. / left it on purpose for you,
and wrote another tender in my bedroom You
had better make your own calculations next
time"
Year: 1863

AN OMNIBUS DIFFICULTY happened to
witness slight difficulty the other day. 1t SO
happened that there were eleven passengers in
the omnibus, one side Of which was occupied by
five ladies, whose ample dresses left no vacant
space. A twelfth passenger appeared, in the
shape of broad-sterned, broad-brimmed old
Quaker, with ore of those unruffled, imperturA-
bic faces so common among his sect. The con-
ductor opened the door, pushed him IN shut it
with a bang and shouted "Rightw We were
off, and the impetus propelled him ike cannon
ball to the other end Of the carriage; at length he
seized one of the brass rods, and began to realize
the difficulties of bis position. There were six
passengers the lawful number, on one side there
was no vacant space there; SO he turned his eyes
to the other. The five ladies were packed as
close as herrings in barrels they gave no sign
they seemed even unconscious Of his presence
He surveyed them slowly one by one, but his ap-
pealing look produced no effect. At length a
sudden change came over him; sleepy dreamy
expression stole over his face; he believed him
self at home, and about to seat himself in his
own easy chair Perhaps he thought Of his usu-
al after dinner maps at all events he quietly drew
his coat tails aside, turned bis back to the ladies'
and dropped himself heavily down. There was
a suppressed scream, litter, and a sudden move
ment which left sufficient space for his ample per-
son. The ladies avenged themselves by talking
of and at HIM the whole way, in language that
was far from complimentary or parliamentary
but he seemed mildly unconscious Of all that was
passing around him, and convinced that my laugh
ter was sign of incipient nsanity.-Fraser's
Magazine
Year: 1863

THE MIssERIEs OF LUGGAGE.-Nothing in
the world would be more delightful than travel


ing, if it were consistent with the proprieties of
life to dispense with garments. But we must
have clothes the clothes must be packed in
trunks and those trunks are the tourists's bane.
Even the bachelor wanderer will feel the wisdom
of the old Romans in styling baggage "impedi-
ments." His portmanteau and carpet-bag lie
heavy on his soul. He is under incessant appre
tensions that they have been left behind, or will
he deposited at some intermediate staton-per-
haps to be thence despatched by mistake to a re-
mote corner Of the kingdom. When he has
reached his destination, he is compelled TO
plunge into fierce fray to secure possession of
his chattels, in the course of which he probably
comes into hostile collision with sundry fierce
passengers through his persistence in claiming
boxes which look precisely like his own. But if
the bachelor groans under these sorrows, who
shall picture the woes of the family man, who
sets out on continental trip, bearing in his train
that awful panoply of trunks, of all forms and
sizes, and bandboXes which will insist on getting
crushed, to the fearful detriment of the new bon
nets within, and curiopsly-shaped paper parcels
so fenrlully and wonderfully made that they won't
fit in anywhere, but must Of necessity be carried
on somebody's lap, and will a lways come united
corners of things thet ought not to be seen on
any account whatever, without which no lady Of
proper feeling considers herself capable of setting
out upon the shortest tour. Who has not now
and then, while groaaing under these miseries,
envied the Spartan simplicity of that American
Senator who started from the far west to spend
six months session at Washington with no 9th
er luggage than two shirt fronts and revolver.
-Di0L
Year: 1863

SUPERsTIToUs PEASANTS. The belief is still
prevalent among the Irish peasantry that sneez-
ing is caused by some one Of these eral spirits at
tempting to affect an entrance into the body,
which can only be prevented by pronouncing a
blessing on the person thus affected. This super
stilion is not Indigenous to In land the Mesa
lians in the fourth century believed themselves TO
be full Of demons, which they strove to expecto-
rate by constantly splitting and blowing their no
ses. Something of the same belief is to be found
among the lower classes in Scotland, who mag
inc that these spirits take an ungerous advantage
OF them, and cause them to awaken in a state o f
terror We must always remember the fearful
dreams to which childhood is subject we have
woke up at night in state Of unspeakable and
undefnable terror, and have been told to ''sain
ourselves,"i E., to make the sign of the Cross,
which is supposed to put these midnight visitors
to fight.
Year: 1863

A gentleman once fell from his horse and
injured his thumb The pain increasing,
he was obliged to send for surgeon One
day the doctor was unable to visit him, and
sent his son instead 'Have you seen the
old gentleman y said the father in the eve
ming


YES" replied the young man, 'and
drew out a thorn which / ascertained was
the cause of his agony"


Fool !" cried his father; 81 trusted
you had more sense. Now there is an end
to that job !"
Year: 1863

In one Of our beautiful suburban ceme-
teries was employed as grave-digger, up to
a week ago, a venerable man. Though
poOi he raised four gallant boys, giving to
each of them a moderate education and
good trade.


The two elder went five years ago to
New Orleans, where prosperity attended
their industry


The two younger brothers remained with
their father. George and Frederick were
their names. The latter is but II years of
age. When the war broke out, both left
their employments and enlisted. At the
battle Of Fredericksburg, in the very front
Of the line, were the boys Frederick End
George. A sortio was made by the rifle
men upon the retreating Federals, and
among those who dropped were the two
Toys, the youngest sons of the old grave
digger.


The rebel soldiers, whose weapons had
done the deed, were clad in the rags of
linsey. They ran with alacrity to secure
the clothing, the canteens, and money, per-
haps, Of the men they had laid low. The
foremost one reached the body of his dead
enemy, turned it over, and to his horror be-
held the corpse Of his younger brother, his
wooden shirt stained with a stream of blood
that ozzed from a bullet-hole above the
heart. Our informant, a chaplain in the
army, could tell us nothing Of the other
rebel brother. But this one made his way
into the Union lines, and is now in the hos
pital at Alexandria, hopeless maniac. We
learn that in their childhood the youngling
Of the flock had been the especial charge of
the elder brother. When he left for New
Orleans it was in the expectation Of enter
ing business TO which he could bring up
the boy. The boy he lived to shoot down
with his own hands Unless the remaining
rebel brother survive, the family is now
extinct. The father died of a broken
heart, and was buried last Sunday. This
is a simple statement of facts 1t is doubt
less one of ten thousand never to be writ
ten Philadelphia North american.
Year: 1863

1t is stated upon reliable authority, that there are
planters i'll Kershaw-many Of them-havng enough
OF Corn to meet three years 'nsumpton who declare
their purpose to sell none of it. and spread" them
selves upon Cottoni Are they mad men or very
wicked men who talks thus9 If right IN them, is it
not right in allY If all pursue the course, will


there not be absolute tam'ine in the midst of abun
dance2 Will not the poor starve and the Govern
ment be bankrupted, and the Yankees become our
masters Such planters must be regulated by asO or
by force; the government and the famishiug people
will take If they cant 6uy Let those concerned take
this rs CAIJTIo
Year: 1863

EXTRAORDINARY APPROPRIATIONS The
amount Of the appropriations made by
the last Congress were over twenty two
hundred millions of dollars What may
not vain, weak President do with such
an immense sum at li's disposal, backed
BY an army of ambitious generals, an OBJ
sequious Congress, venal press and a
band Of sycophants and spiesH If we
may judge the future from the past, the
liberties Of the American people are tot
tering to their fall. A sectional party ad-
ministers the Government and admins
ters it solely for sectional purposes. All
who dare differ from that party and sec
tiOn are ruthlessly deprived of their
acknowledgements by the Consti-
tuition.
Year: 1863

New GooDs.-Persons who are In search
Of something new and nice in the way Of
dry goods would do well, before making
their purchases, to call upon Mr.. 8. BAN.
berger, who is now in receipt Of large
new stock Of seasOnable goods. he does
not pretend TO give them away but will
sell them 90 low. that purchasers cannot
but be satisGed, not only with the goods,
but the prices See his advertisement in
another place, in tO-day's paper, and re-
member to call upon him when you want
to get the worth Of your money.
Year: 1863

An ABsURDIrY.-The arbitrary and un.
constitutional acts of the Administration
Abolition traitors justify under the sense
less plea of estate necessity" If State
necessity called for the destruction of the
Constitution they would destroy it-thus
making the creature greater than the cre-
atOr. Somebody forcibly asks, did it
never strike the friends of the Admins
tration how inconsistent it was to sup
port the Constitution by unconstitutional
means 2-how absurd the idea Of its be-
ing necessary to destroy the Constitution
in order to preserve it?
Year: 1863

STABBING AFFAIR-We learn from the
Aurora Times that on Thursday night of
last week a difficulty occurred in that
town, between Mart Carol and r. Deer
doff, in which the former was stabbed
with dirk knife in four several places in
the shoulder and side. The wound in
the side is dangerous and may prove fatal
Year: 1863

"SUPPoRTING THE GovERNxENT."-A
late examination reveals the diisgraceful
fact that on an average, for every Repub-
lieaR member of the late Congress, ten Of
his relatives are holding fat Offices under
the Administration This is their wsy
Of supporting the Government They
can afford to eulOgize the Administration
and slander and persecute and call on the
army to mob its opponents. SwiOdlers
and sycophants and traitors, well may
they dread the triumph Of the Democratic
party.
Year: 1863

How THE MONEY GoEs.-A fine new
ship, from port in Maine, has been lying
idle in Boston harbor for long time, un-
der charter by the Government at the
rate of $4,000 per month. The ship, it
is almost needless to remark, is the prop
erty OF a loud-mouthed Abolition traitor,
a warm supporter of the Administration
and slanderer of the Democratic party.
1t is his interest to go for vigorous
prosecution of the war;"
Year: 1863

A DELIGHTFUL LEGEND. There is
a charming tradition connected with
the site on which the temple Of Solo
mon was erected. 1t is said to have
been occupied in common by two bro
theirs, one of whom had family; the
other had none. On this spot was
sowen a field of wheat. On the evening
succeeding harvest, the wheat having
been gathered in separate shocks, the
older brother said to his wife: My
younger brother is unable to bear the
burden and heat Of the day. will
arise, and take my shocks, and place
them with his, without his knowledge" "
the younger, brother being actuated by
tho same benevolent motives, said with
in himself: My elder brother has a
family, and have none; 1 will arise,
take of my shocks, and place with his
without his knowledge" Judge their
astonishment, when on the following
morning they found their respective
shocks undiminished. This course of
events transpired several nights, wher
each other resolved to stand guard nnG
solve the mystery. They did so; whor
on tho following night they met each
Other:half way between their respective
shocks with arms full AlasI in these
days how many would sooner steal their


brothers whole shock than add to it Q
single sheafl
Year: 1863

AS approve of the youth who
has something Of the old man in
him, so | am no less pleased with
an old man who has something of
the youth. He that follows this
rule may be old in body, but new
er can be so in mind.-CGcerO.
Year: 1863

JOURNEY OF LIFE.-Life is a
journey over a hill. From youth
to middling age we are Chamber
ing to the top; from middle age
to seventy we gradually descend,
and we find our grave-bed ready
which mother nature considering
our frailty, has made for us-in
fine, she has taken our dust from
one side of the hill to carry it
and rest forever on the other
side.
Year: 1863

moved, by this nomination. We tliall il alto
gether probable that to save the Union he
would cooperate with the conservative op-
position party against the radicals and their
candidate.


In adopting this course, all that would be
required to defeat the radical revolutionary
abolition ticket and programme would be the
readmission of the seeded States to the bene
fits of the Union, according to the method sug-
gested by Mr.. Seward in his correspondence on
the subject with the French government Thus
the conservative Northern States and border
slave States, with the restored cotton States,
would unquestionably prove too strong for the
abolition States. and the conservative opposi-
ton candidate would be elected. To secure
the support of the President against the radi-
calls, should the contingency indicated be
brought about, we conclude that the conserva-
tive elements of the country will substantially
adopt the original Union policy of Mr. Lincoln;
and they may proceed even farther The stone
which the radical builders will have rejected
the conservative Union party may make the
head of the corner.


Why may not such an event occurs Who
would have believed, when Martin Van Buren,
stood before the country as the anointed
favorite of the Southern proslavery demo-
cracy that be would live to be the abolition
candidate for the Presidency At all events,
President Lincoln holds the inside track for
the Presidential succession, and, instead Of fol-
lowing the radicals any longer, it is clearly his
intention that they shall follow him.
Year: 1863

The ExAMINArIoN or DRAFTED MEN.-It is GER
tainly the duty Of our officials to see that all
persons presenting their claims for exemption
be treated with due courtesy and attention, and
that all facilities be afforded them whereby
they may get through their business soon as
possible We have heard of several instances
where aliens have been subjected to unneces-
sary expense and loss Of time because there
were NO blanks for them to MI and swear
to. They were sent to distant parts
Of the city to procure the necessary
papers from agents who were prosecuting
purely personal speculation, and levying fees
which in no manner benefited the government.
This is wrong, and should be at once obviated
blythe appointment Of a regular agent, who,
upon the receipt Of the Consular certificate,
would furnish blank to the applicant, and,
when he filed it, receive his oath. A small fee
might be exacted, and as the whole affair would
then pass of quickly, no complaint would be
made. As it is at present, time and money are
wasted in the endeayor to procure alien ex-
emptOnS
Year: 1863




THE McRiNsE or Our IRoN-CLAD NAVY
Another iron-0Nad was launched on Saturday.
and in the course f few weeks half dozen
more will be put aaoat.


II is not three years since iron-clad ships
were introduced into this country, and already
our iron clad navy is numbered by scores; and,
although crude in their early stages of con-
struction, we have advanced so far with the
necessary improvements that our new ships are
destined ere long to rank the first in the world.
Europe has hung back amazed, feeling that we
were rushing headlong into vortex which
would in time eDgulph us. While she has been
looking on we have been at work. and, now
that there are signs OF trouble between us and
other naval Powers, she wakes up to find that
we have already completed large number of
invulnerable vessels, and that we have still
larger number in process of construction which,
in the event Of foreign war, could soon be
made available


To Captain Ericsson are we indebted for
much of our success in naval operations. The
Hampton Roads affair is not forgotten, nor is
the capture of the Atlanta unremembered;
and, furthermore, had it not been for the
presence Of our iron-clads our blockading
squadrons would have been annoyed, from
time to time, with but little hopes Of our pre-
venting it. In many instances the public have
not given the ron-clads their just dues, nor do
they at all times appreciate them. The truth
is, We owe much of our safety to the knowl-
od0 tbnr ha- nr Otr
in this particular branch Of our naval service.


The small amount Of wisdom possessed by the
Navy Department is pardonable in some respects
by their ordering so many of these useful vessels.
We need more, and the probability is that before
two years roll away we will have over one
hundred Of them; and then we shall be doubly
prepared to meet any demonstration the CON-
binej Powers of Europe may attempt to make
against US. We do not pretend to say that
even now they are perfect but the Monitors of
today are City per cent better than those of
twelve months ago. We have better material,
the facilities for better workmanship and for
constructing them with more rapidity. and our
points has been obtained by the best of expert
ments, which have been conducted under the
terrible fire Of an enemy


England and France. with double purpose
Of conducting these experiments at small cost
to themselves, and at the same time 10 aid the
rebels, have furnished their best guns and pro-
jectiles TO enable their friends to destroy our
invulnerable vessels. II has been folly; for,
although subjected to the most terrific tests,
they are all of them afloat as monuments Of
American skill and endurance. We have many
things to be proud Of but none more 50 than
the success Of our iron-clad feet.


In few weeks we will have afloat some Of
our ocean iron -clads, and then we can stand
out boldly TO sea and bid defiance to the world
Even now we are feared, or else long ago the
rebel sympathizers would have been on our
shores, endeavoHing 70 break up the finest
government on the face of the globe.
Year: 1863

! UNION MANIFESTATIONS IN NoRrH CxR0sLNA-
A very refreshing piece of intelligence from
the rebel capital of North Carolina is published


by sie Richmond Enquirer of the llth inst. 1t
seems Shat the Office Of the Raleigh Standartl-
journa. which has taken bold and fearless
stand in favor Of reconstruction of the
Union-was v.sited recently by party Of rebel
soldiers of Georgia, who set to work and de-
stroyed the establishment, type and presses
Thereupon. a. if to prove that the Standard
had only expressed the popular sentiment, ''tbe
citizens"-as we are inforlr" by the Richmond
Enquirer-a and destroyed the Office
OF the State journal, paper which bad done
Its best to uphold the rebellion. No more
significant manifestation of loyalty to the
republic could have been made than this
popular uprising of the citizens Of Raleigh to
exact retribution in kind for the destruction OF
a newspaper which advocated the cause Of tho
Union by the demolition of one which took
opposite grounds The confederacy will wake
up some fine morning, before long, to end that
the Old North State has repented of its here
sizes and reseceded back to the Union.