smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

As is generally known, the law for the
levy of a tax on incomes expires By limita
tinn next year, and this fact has given rise
to some discussion as to the propriety of re-
e1acting it, The chief argement against
the law is that it encourages perjury, by re-
quiring men to swear as to the amount Of
their income, when by swearing to a less
amount than they, in honesty. should, they
can cut down the amount of their tax
The same objection lies against all tax laws
which require a sworn statement of the
amount of property subject to taxation, and
the argument. if good in one case, is good
in ALL There is no doupt that May per-
sons have perjured themselves in making
their income returns-persons who pass in
the community for honest men With many
individuals an idea prevails that to cheat
the government is no crime, even if they
have to commit perjury to do it, or in other
words, they hold that an oath taken under
such circumstances is not binding. Such
an idea of moral obligation betrays a
moral obliquity that is startling. So long,
therefore, as this idea prevails it would
seem best to adopt that plan of tax>gather-
ing which offers no opportunity foi the
practice of these crimes. If every one were
strictly honest the income tax would per>
haps be as just levy as the government
could make, for if one made nothing be
would not have to pay any thing, while it
would fall the heaviest on those best able
to pay it. Without an income tax many
of the men with largest fortunes would pay
comparatively little. A business man may
make a vast amount of money without hav-
ing much taxable property in hand at the
time of assessment. The matter might be
met if the money in hand or the evidences
of it could be got at by the assessor, but
these things are in many cases as impalp-
able as the actual income. So that wheth-
er sworn statement is required or not, and
whether the tax be on income or on some>
thing else many persons will escape paying
what they ought. In case no sworn state
ment is required, there is the advantage
that no temptation is offered to the commits
sion of perjury, which is gain in moral
Iont of view


There is another strong objection to the
income tax as it now stands, aud that it is
hardest upon honest men and those who
work on salaries. If the law is re e-enacted
it should be amended in some important
points. The prospect now is, however,
that it will not be revived. Aside from the
objections to it already mentioned, it is dis
liked by business men as given an undue
publicity to their affairs. Men have a
right to keep their gains and losses to
them selves, and this right should not be
invaded without the ne esSities of the Gov
ernment are such that it cannot be avoided.
Nil. Nelos
Year: 1869

In another column we publish the pro
ceedlngs of the initiatory meeting of our
citizens last Monday night, for the pur
pose of organizing County Agricultural
Society.


We hope. that rs many farmers, from
the different towns In the county as possible,
will be in attendance at the. .adjourLs meet
ing next Saturday.


At that time the necessary article. OF
association will be ready for the acce ptance
and signatures of those wishing to become
members of the society; after which, O
meeting will be held for the purpose OF
clecting the pro per officers for the society
Then the time for the holding of our first
County Fair can be fixed and we pred ict
that the enterprise when again in this
county revived, will live long aud useful
l.fe.


Our county is, or may become, one of the
best agricultural counties in the State The
general quality and richness Of the soil is
above that of any adjoining county; and
ni VIC nave " ~ W MAKE our county the
best county in the State, is to first learn to
improve it; and having learned, then go to
work aud raise the standard and quantity
of the agricultural productions a hundred
per cont.


1t seems strange that our county has 90
long neglected ere,ything in the nature Of
public enterprises Nothing has seemed
TO interest our people outside their pri
vate business, their farming, their mer-
cbandizing, or their manufacturing.


The farmer has quietly raised his crops,
his horses and cattle, and quietly disposed
of them. The manufacturer has quietly
done his work, and as quietly received his
reward. No one, except perhaps his near
est neirhbofs or fiends, has ever known OF
tie skill or success Of our best workmen-
every man has lived within himself and for
himself.


Now, this is all wrong-our people
should be enabled to learn Of each other
and to profit by the experience Of each
other and in no other way can this be
done SO well as through the instrumentality
OF an annual County Fair.


BY all means let Us have one, and let it
be well sustained.
Year: 1869

sn- The late eclipse performed won
derful thing in this locality. A certain
well known NJ. D., whose hair and long
whiskers were 'silvered DER with gray 50
that he was not favorite with the fair sex
anymore, looked at the eclipse through the
medium of large piece of we'll smoked
glass so ardently and intently that both
his hair and ohiskers (he was barchealed
mind you turned as black as the raven $
wing. and now ho is general favorite with
the ladies' once more, and his creditors don I
know him-what more could be desired BY
any reasonable man?
Year: 1869

FRUITS. to the exposure Of ou,
county to the cold northcrly winds, the
goddess of fruit does not testow many ia
vors on us in the way of making truit>rais
ing a profitable business in this vicinity
We notice but one orchard In our village
a, all favored this year, and that one con
tains solitary fruit bearing pear tree-wc
think of the iron gray variety. After years
of toll and trouble, K S. Weenan, Esq
has succeeded at last in raising about a
peck of pears. His place, on the South
Side of the river, is a beautiful one aad
as if to make amends, his shrubbery and
shade trees make up in luxury to the eye,
what his fruit trees lack in luxury to the
palate.
Year: 1869

eBr The artesian we'll that is being made
in the south side park. is down two hue
dred feet and five inches, but as yet there
Is no fowage. At meeting Of the village
board, on Monday last, it was decided that
the contractor should sink the we'll fifteen
feet deeper if necessary, although there is
no telling yet how matters are going to
turn ont as to success.
Year: 1869

WHAT HATH GoD WROUGHT ?"-Al
though it may be that we IRE somewha !.
behind the times and my not he describing
anything new to some, yet We must men
ton a curiosity in the shape of a lump
of copper quartz, now in the possession of
our fellow townsman GEO. n WooDIN,
Esq, and which was brought from the
great copper region of Lake Superior Ex.
smined with the aid fSa common micro
scope. new and beauteous wonders unfold
themselves TO the eye, successively as the
position of the glass is changed noun
fs;n., bilis, valleys, deep canon gorges
and rent riven rocks, are seen by the eye,
in blue, gold and marble colors, more gor-
eeous more beautiful, and more varied
shan would be the sheen from hundred
rainhows and all this from what looks to
the naked eye like common lump of dir,
and white stone, of about pound weigh:
aided BY a magnifyinV glass to reveal the
spIendors aud secrets that are hid from the
open glance.


With all due Difference to the wonder.
of art that Mr.. Robinson, of the Green
Bay Advocate, saw in bis late tour to Eu
rope, we venture to say that he observed nc
handiwork Of man, either in stately
cathedral or princely palace, that could vie
with even one view out of hundred that
can be seen in this little lump of quartz
rock.
Year: 1869

r9- A new Roman Catholic diocese ia
to be formed in Massachusetts, to embrace
Worcester county and all the state west of
that. 1t is not yet known who is to be the
first bishop of Springfield.
Year: 1869

tinctions may be made in after life.
Afttr leaving tho common schools the
German youth can enter upon tho du-
tics OF active life or they may enter
the trade school, whero they remain
three years, and prepare for tho va
rious trades they may choose to fol-
low. Then he can follow his trade, or
he can enter tho industrial school, and
in two years graduate an architect,
an engineer, aechcmist, &C.; or if he
wishes, he can pass from the indus
trial school to the polytechnic school,
and prepare to take a high position in
the mechanic arts. The student may
leave the common school also and en-
ter the gymnasium, whero Latin,
Greek, mathematics, rhetoric, history
and chemistry are taught. From the
gymnasium the student can take up
the study of profession, or he can
60 thence to the university, where he
can fit himself to take upon himself
the highest position in the profession
he chooses, and where he can know
all the subjects of his study as
sciences.


In the gymnasia the students are
required to study and rccite thirty
two hours pcr week, and before
graduating to pass over o course of
study which requires nine years to
complete. The German teachers, ne a
class, arc better prepared for their
work than the teachers of any other
country. They arc encouraged to fit
themselves for q high excellence in
their procession by tho preference
which is always given to teachers
who have professional training, and
by the honor which is everywhere
accorded to teaching as a profession.
In Germany the boys arc always edu-
Gated apart from the girls, and male
teacher is always placed over class
of boys, and usually female teacher
over q class of girls. In tho graded
schools Of the cities the teacher con-
tinues over the same class from the
time it enters the school until it's
graduation. This plan requires every
teacher to bo qualified to teach oil
tho topics found in tho whole course
Of study. Teachers of one State are
encouraged by the government to
visit the schools of other States, SO
that any improvement made in the
SCHOOLS in one section may be rapidly
introduced into the other soctions


Teachers are also encouraged to hold
conventions for mutual Improvement
Year: 1869

THE HUMAN VoIcE.-The mos
beautiful and touching instrumen
which has received from the hands
his benevolent Maker, is the voice.
Through worda he can impart life and
Specification to his melodies; he can
call forth the most secret feelings of
the heart, awaken every passion into
living reality, and powerfully yibrate
all the chords of the soul. What ioy.
full sensations cannot the simple song
OF the sheperdess of the Alps inspire
If such bs The case, how much greater
must be the effect produced by cult
waited singer, if his song be enlivened
by art and regulated fancy; we say
regulated fancy, for how often do
even experienced singers, betrayed
by vanity or affectation, overstep the
limits marked out by nature. And
yet how much more frequently are
the most excellent gifts, instead of be-
ing consecrated to the service OF tho
art, perverted to a mere mechanical
and unintellectual means of making a
livelihood.
Year: 1869

Itis iaceaeeivable how polite society
can tolerate the worry inferior peronss
who have to their otherwise harmless
ehortcoming the insufferable impu-
dence of introducing themselves with
much noise within educated and or
dcrly circles, as reputed men who
know the world. Society has to en-
counter no greater bores. They are
living illustrations of the emptiness of
the profession as practised by them !;
for knowledge of the world, in it's re-
fined sense at least, recommends a
man to the sympathy of his intelli-
gent fellows, while tho assumed ac-
complishment simply makes him a
nuisance. While the former clothes
him with a becoming and dignifcd
reticence, the latter invests him with
an odious bombast and contemplate
vulgarity that are repugnant to all
beholdcrs. The truth is, if man
would rightly understand the living
world, which is composed of beings
like himself, he must first understand
himself Understand himself for the
purpose of cultivating what is cred
liable in his particular constitution.
If he has not solved the problem of
his own mental composition, so as to
reflect in his habitual dem eanor hon.
or rather than dishonor on mankind,
it is quite certain he is incapable of
determining as to the eccentric irreo-
ularitics on the minds Of others. He
may see all stages of humanity. The


whole comprehensive theater of life


may move vividly before him. But
if he cannot sufficiently master his
own parts to be able to estimate the
parts of others at their intrinsic


worth, he will remain as ignorant Of
Of the world on retiring from its
scenes as he was when he trusted
hi nself to witness them,
Year: 1869

To CLEAN PA1NT-There is q very
simple method to clean most any kind
Of paint that has become dirty, and if
our housewives should adopt it, it
would save them great deal Of trou-
ble. Provide plate, with somo of
the best whiting to be had, and have
ready some clean warm water, and q
piece Of flannel which dip into the
water, and squeeze nearly dry; then
take as much whiting as will adhere
to it; apply it to the painted surface,
when a little rubbing will instantly
remove any dirt or grease. After
which, wash the part we'll with clean
water, rubbing it dry with soft
chamois. Paint thus cleaned looks as
well as when first laid on, without any
injury to the most delicate coIors. It
is far better than using soap, and
does not require more than half the
time and labor.-Coaeh.nakers' Jour-
nal.
Year: 1869

1t is estimated, that, on our Pacific
slope, there are upwards of one hun
dred thousand Chinese; some say two
hundred thousand. On Thursday of
last week some thousands arrived ut
San Francisco in sailing vessels, and
they gave notice that multitudcs were
ut once to follow. Silver is found in
worry large quantities in the Whito
Pine district, and new gold mines are
constantly discovered hence Chinese
labor must soon bo, nay is now, in
greater demand in our extreme West
ern States than it has ever been
hitherto. Shrewd men say, that, in
ten years, we shall have millions of
of Chinese in our Pacific States and it
seems decree of destiny that they
shall supply all the immense amount
of labor required in our Southern
States. They are far harder, more
industrious, and moro thriving and
economical people than tho negroes
ever were or ever can become in a
condition of either slavery or free
dom. Still we don't know and cannot
know what traits of character they
will exhibit in the future, or whether
they will be blessing or a curse to
our hemisphere.


One thing is certain-the vast i'm
migration of Chinese into this country,
accompanied, as it already is to some
extent, and soon will be to an i'm
mense extent, by immigration from
Japan, is certain to exert mighty
influence upon our dcstinies, either
for good or for evil, long before the
close of this nineteenth century.
Men may speculate upon the probable
or possible results, they may indulge
in hopes and may cherish fears, they
may propose thousand policies to be
adopted for the protection of the
national interests or tho national life,
but we can sec little if anything more
1or our Government and people to do
than to await the inevitable progress
of events. We cannot erect a wall
around the United States like that
which for thousands of years has par
TALLY encirclcd tho ancient empire
from which the multitudinous pillows
Of immigration are now breaking and
laundering upon our coasts. Wemay
not have tho powor to solve for our
selves the now and vast political,
social, and industrial problem that is
to be forced upon us, but be compelled
to leave it in a great measure to solve
itself, yielding in the meanwhile to
the combined power of thousand
agencies which we shall not havo the
means of resisting. Our great conso-
lation and hopo must be in knowing
that God rules the earth.


We have established facilities of in
tercourse with China, Japan, India,
and other Mongolian countries, and
we must accept the consequences. The
world changes.
Year: 1869

WHAT THE FEATURES INpIcATE.-We
are told that the extremes Of both large
ness and smallness of stature are not
favorable to strength of intellect. Gian.s
and dwarts are generally deficient in this
respect, and excessive corpulency or mea-
greness is seldom associated with mental
activity. Aristotle and Napoleon Bona
parte. however, were very short, Charles
James Fox was exceeding fat, Daniel Web.
ster both broad and tall and Lord Nelson
living skeleton.


A large head is generally the accompa-
niment Of great intellect but small
one with comparatively extensive fore
head is quite consistent with mental
capacity. Raphael, Charles XII, Frederick
the Great, and Lord Brougham were illus
tsations of the lat ter fact.


1t is said that any nose which il less
than the height Of the forehead is an indi-
cation of defective intellectual power. The
eyes indicate character rather by their
color than form. The dark blue are found
most commonly in persons Of gentle and
refiued character; light blue and gray in
the rude and energetic. Lavater says
"Hazel eyes are the more usual indica,
tions Of mind masculine, vigorous aud
profound; just as genius, properly so
called, is almost always associated with
eyes Of yellowish cast, bordering on
hazel" The higher the brows rise the
more their possessor is supposed to be
under the Influence of feeling, and the
lower the better controlled by his reason.
A very small eyebrow is an indication of
want Of force Of character. A tolerably
large mouth is essential to vigor and
energy, and Il very small one is indicative
of weakness and udoIence. In .panIy
face the upper lip should extend hey yond
and d"minale the lower. Fleshy lips are
oftener found associated with voluptuous
and meagre ones with psssionless nature.
The rstreating chin indicates weakness
the perpendicular strength and the sharp
acutencss Of mind.
Year: 1869

forward to, no leading aim to draw


the people towards. any particularend.
He sits there with his Cabinet. One
member has bought him house in


Philadelphia, another has given him
$4,000, another has given him car
riage, and SO on. It is degrading to
the Office of President of the United
States to have such man there.
They talk about his generalship.
Well, he was q mere incident of the
war. Men and arms were supplied in
abundance, and his forces were 80
massive that they simply crushed out
the rebellion. 1t would have been
done had Grant never been born.
Therefore he was a mere incident.
But the little fellow has como to think
he is somebody really. I can't help
plying him when think how we'll l
know him and what an infnitessimal
creature he really is. I often think
that about the fittest place for Grant
is at some place in the country where
there arc crossroads. l have been at
those places, and have often noticed
the scenes. At the corner perhaps
there is blacksmith's shop. At
another corner of the crossroads
there is grocery store, and at
another house where the squire
meets to settle cases. Well, I have
often noticed at such a junction of
several roads that when the squire's
business is over, some fellow will pro-
pose horse race, and to give interest
to the thing barrel Of cider and per-
haps half gallon of whiskey will be
staked on the result. Now Grant is
just suited to such situation. His
ideas are Of the crossroads order, and
he has not thought above that.


Mr.. johnson pays General Butler
the compliment of having wonder
fully correct idea of Grant. CHE
used to como to see me much at one
time; and expressed the profoundest
contempt for Grant. IIja estimate of
Grant was about the same as my own.
He thought Grant could be made to
do anything, that he could be made
complete tool, and that if he desired
he could have himself invited to
Grants house. It happened precisely
so, afterward, just as Butler boastcd."
Year: 1869

Several years ago, there were great
tracts of land in one OF the North
western States, covered with black
berry bushes. There had been on
that land an immense forest of pine
trees, which had been cut down for
tho sake of the timber, and in place
Of it many small trees and blackberry
bushes grew up in great abundance.
In the blackberry season hundreds of
persons flockcd to the open fields to
gather the delicious fruit.


One pleasant morning, party COM
posed OF two gentlemen, an elderly
lady, two young ladies', and two or
three children, might have been seen
driving slowly towards great black
berry field. Having reached a good
place, they stopped and all began to
pick the berries, taking different di-
rections through the bnshcs.


The smallest boy, lad of three or
four years, having escaped the notice
of his mother and grandfather, wan
dered off into the neighboring forest.
Not missing him, they continued
picking an hour or two, y hen sud.
denly an alarm was heard from one
of tho party-little Harry could not
be found The company soon assem-
bled and began to search for the lost
boy. After searching for an hour in
vain, g burst of anguish came from
the whole party, but especially from
the agonized mother, who, overpow-
cred with grief, was wringing her
hands in despair, crying "My boy is
lost lost lost!"


One of the gentlemen, after a mo-
mcnt Of silent prayer, started toward
the forest at some distance from tho
patch, calling at the top of his voice
the name of the lost boy. Presently
he heard the voice Of Harry in an
swer, and Fastening to the spot he
found the little boy sitting upon log
where he had set down to rest. With
unspeakable JOY tho man sprang for
ward, and taking him in his arms,
bore him triumphantIy to his mother
When she saw her lost child restored
to her, she claspcd him in her arms,
and almost overwhelmed with Joy,
could only exclaim, "My boyl my
boy! He waslost and is fouaa-pa


Dear children, God is calling to you
every day. through his word, through
kind teachers and ministers of the
gospel, to come to him. Every sin
you commit takes you farther and
furthes from God and heaven; and if
you continue on in your sins you will
never reach that happy home, which
he has prepared for those who love
him. When you hear the Saviour
saying to you in the tenderest accents
of his love, my son, my daughter,
give ME thy heart" will you not lis
ten to his voice? If Harry had not
answered the kind gentleman when
he called to him, he might have died
in the wild forest.


If you will come to Jesus now, he
will take yoa in his arms and bless
you, and make you happy while you
live and when you die will take you
to dwell with him forever.-,S. S.
Visitor.
Year: 1869

Sixty iron steamships are now building
on the Clyde, Scotland.


And no iron or wooden steamships are
building in the United States. Ship bull
ders meet and deliberate, but with their
own Congress and government discriminat-
ing against them. they see no prospect of
lettering their condition. There is a loud
demand now, not for subsidies, but for the
removal of prohibitory duties and anti
commercial restrictions,
Year: 1869

A secret investigation is now going on
in the New York Custom House, for the
purpose Of tracing out long series Of
frauds which, il is alleged, were commit
ted under tho last Administration. and in
which large number of New York mer-
chants are said to be implicated.