smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1868

FEMALES, OWING TO THE
peculiar and important relations which
they sustain, their peculiar organization
and the Offices they perform, are subject
to many suherings. Freedom from these
contribute in no small degree to their
happiness and welfare, for none can be
happy who are i'll. Not only SO, but no
one of these various female complaints
can long be suffered to run OH without
involving the general health of the in
dividual, and ere long producing perma-
nent sickness and premature decline. Nor
is itpleasant to consulta physician for the
relief of these various delicate affections,
and only upon the most urgent necessity
will true woman so far sacrifice her
greatest charm as to do this. The sex
will then thank us for placing in their
hands simple specifics which will be
found eficacious in relieving and curing
almost every one of those troublesome
complaints peculiar to the sex.
Year: 1868

COLOR OF THE CLoUDs.-The varied colors
which the clouds assume at vnrious times.
especially at sunrise and sunset, are explain,
ed by Mr.. Sorley on the principle that the
clear, transparent vapor of water absorbs
more of the red rays OF light than Of any
other, while the lower strata of the atmos-
phere offer more resistance to the passage of
the blue rays. At sunrise and sunset the
light of the sun has to pass through about
200 miles Of atmosphere within mile of the
surface Of the earth in order to illuminate
a cloud mile from the ground. In passing
through this great thickness, the blue rays
are absorbed to far greater extent than the
red, and much of the yellow Is also removed.
Hence clouds thus Illuminated are red.
When the sun Is higher above the horizon.
the yellow light passes more readily and the
clouds becomes orange, then yellow, and
finally white. Clouds in different parts of
the sky, or at different elevations, often
show these various coion at the same time.
Year: 1868

Four men have been arrested in New York
and held to bail for carrying on a distillery
on board a vessel They would take in a
cargo of material, make short cruise during
which the still was operated, and then return
with spirit.
Year: 1868

Among the many utterly worthless
books which are continually swarming
from the press, those which profess to
teach the art Of composition-the
textbooks of Rhetoric-arc the most
hopo!cssly useless. Their rules are
for the most part, arbitrary their So
called principles exist but in the minds
of their authors, and all that is really
useful in them might be summed up in
the simple rule, "Fir5t have an idea,
and then express it as clearly as posi-
! ble."


Style can never be taught,-it must
be self-acquired. An amusing cvi-
dence of the futility of the attempt to
reduce correctness ofstyle to an exact
science, is seen in the replies with
which a writer, wLo attacks the purity
of another's style, is sure to be met.
Dean Afford writes a volume to show
how inplcgant and incorrect various
authors are in their use of language ;
wheveupon Mr.. Moon Immediately re-
torts by pointing out theliterary errors
Of the Dean, while still another critic
charges Mr.. Moon with similar often
ces, and triumphantly proves him
guilty.


1t is not too much to say, that there
is no such science as Rhetoric, and
that he who pins his faith to the text
books wastes the time spent in their
study quite as much as those who
write them. In writing one is sup
posed to be possessed of some idea
which he wishes to express in words.
His aim should be to express this idea
in the fewest words which will serve
the purpose. If the idea is true, or
beautiful, it will appear to best advan-
tage when it is easiest seen.


Whenever the reader is forced to ask
what meaning is concealed under a
thick shower of sparkling words, or
is required to follow the scent of an
idea through a long paragraph, among
tangled vines ofuseless ropes orthrough
thick growths of impertinent verbiage
before he can reach the authors mean
ing, he needs no rule of Rhetoric to
tell him that the writer's style is Who'll
ly bad. Clcarness is the first, last,
and only element of a good style.
1t includes all other desirable quail
ties.


The more appropriately and exactly
the words convey the authors mean
ing, the more nearly is excellence and
beauty ofstylc attained. If the idea
is beautiful, the clearest, or-what is
the same thing-the most appropriate
language will show it in all its beau
ty; while on the other hand, poor
or false idea can never be made attrac-
tive by any of the rules of which
Rhetoric can boast. No trickery of
trinkets can make an ugly woman
beautiful, and no witchery of words can
transform dullncss or insipidity into
grace and brilliancv.-Ctisen.
Year: 1868

1t is not a custom Of our people TO
symbolic their feelings by change
Of fdress, with this solitary exception.
If man become bankrupt, or has his
house burned down, or loses heavily
in commercial operations or has son
in disgrace Or a child misled by evil
company, Or any other greivous ex-
perience, he does not change his garb.
The one solitary and exceptional case
is bereavement But there is in do
me5tic sorrow delicacy, or ought to
be, which should shrink from an os-
tentatiousness such as mourning APP
parel cannot fail to have. No one has
a right so to express his sorrows as to
introduce them upon every eve wher-
ever he goes.


Custom has long justified it, other
wise it would be esteemed an indeli-
cacy for one to be walking adver-
tisement Of ones own private griefs.
But, even if one were permi tied to an
nounce this one side ofdomestic afllic-
ton by change of garb, the question
still remains, whether expression
should be given to the weakness OF
neutral feeling, or the triumphs of
Christian faith, Whether we should
symbolic the darkness Of the grave as
unenlightened nature shows it or the
grave made luminous by the triumph
of our Saviour and the glorics Of
immortality beyond it? We may be
sure that there is something wrong in
a Christian community where death is
surrounded by associations of terror,
where the young are reared to horror
of the sepulchre, where present griet
rises up like dark cloud, and shuts
out the heaven, wherein sermon,
services, conversation and dress
everything conspires to shroud death
and the grave in darkness. Has sor-
row a right to be selfish? May it
bear false witness against immortality
Has christian under bereavement a
right to declare by his conduct: There
is no light in the grave, none beyond
it, and no comfort for the bercaved
but only black, black, black sorrow :?
| never meet one mutiled in black
without certain horror The smell of
Grape to me is like the smell of a char
mel housel


Did it ever occur to mourners to
ask, what, if those for whom | grieve
were to speak to me out of their bis
ful rest in heaven, would be their
choice-that | should he shrouded
like one who mourns but with Chris
tian hopc?-H w. Beccher,
Year: 1868

A FAsHIoSABLEyoungladyin in Con
necticut, had heard that the French
ladies deem it better for the complex
ion to wipe the face with woolen
cloth than to wash it in water. Start
ing late for an evening meeting, in her
hurry, she brisllly rubbed her fair
visage with the flaps of coat hang
ing in the hall. It's owner, untortu-
nately, had worn it that day while
cleaning out a stove, and she swept
bewitchingly into church, her face as
black as ebony.
Year: 1868

THE GAs.-About the worst affliction that
Smyrna has to endure is caused by the gas
management or rather its want of manage
sDent. We have gas one night and are with
outlt two or three; it comes in intermittent
flashes. and leaves US in long darkness again.
We haze the light just enough to keep us in re-
tnembranee that we have gas works in the
town, and hats all The way they are now
managed reRdeTs them simply an intolerable
iaaisanee rather than a public improvement
as was the original design. Those who have
the fixtures in their houses and places of bus
iness are paitbar provided with gas or kero
sinej at least they have no satisfaction witt
either, and the churches aad other public
places are suffering an almost iRsIlrmountablt
Inconvenience by the lose manner ia which th'
works are conducted.


There y talk among the business zen O
calling meeting to decide whether they shall
continue the use of the gas or 20 back TO thei
lamps again. No one desires to retrograde Il
.the lamps, and all are willing to suffer Will
evils are suferable" rather than give up tn
gas while there is any prospect of keeping
,agoing with even tolerable Inconvenience, bu
if it Is given up il will be hard to start il agai
after they have gone to the expense of maxim
the necessary alterations.


Tile public suffer quite as much as indiyit
nails from the darkness. There is no town
which street lamps are more useful than
Year: 1868

A GHOST SToRY.-A number of our citizens
are greatly excited about ghost that reveals
itself to human vision nightly at the Duck
Greek grave yard. 1t comes from the grave
yard about s o'clock and walks (or propels
some how to the stream, after which it is seen
no more till II o'clock or later, when it wends
It's way back to the dismal abode ofthe depart
ed spirits again. A number have seen it, and
the crowd who want to see it increases nightly.
1t bears the semblance of black dog, some
say; others say it looks like big coon. Sat
urday night some boys and young men shot at
it, Dut it's proof against hot lead. One fellow
went through it" with his foot one night pre-
vious, but says he might as well have kicked
through cloud Of smoke. When any one
runs toward it it evaporates or vaniShes some
how, and has never been approached very neal
to except in the instance referred to above


when the man and the ghost met by chance
the man thought it was a "dorg" The con


clusion arrived by all who have seen it is, tina


there's something strange about it !; that i
it's an animal it hes supernatural powers, anC
if 1t aint an animal what else can it he." Not
many of those who have seen it believe il
ghosts of course. but the question still remains
what is it? We understand that prepare
tions are being made to capture it by some
parties who don t like the idea of ghosts run


ming around lose in this enlightened age


Several responsible persons have seen it, ant


let it be what il may it's the sensation of tn,
hour, and attracts dozens of persons q mil


out of town as late as midnight to see it.
Year: 1868

Smyrna; not because it is filed with that class
whose deeds being evil prefer darkness rather
than light and have to be watched, but to pre-
vent pedestrians from breaking their necks on
our sidewalks. Our pavements are construct
ed like stair steps, and every one who puts
down new one erects it about foot higher
than his neighbor's, so that it is almost i'm
possible to go up Commerce street at night
without stubbing your toe or measuring your
length on the bricks-especially since so many
new pavements have been laid. Formerly
every resident knew where the steps were and
could prepare for them; but so many are now


meet with that it is dangerous to walk wher


it's dark. But no town should be without


street-lamps, more especially one the size o


Smyrna.


The trouble is that no one can be procured


to superintend the works, which are under tn,


control of MIR. Enoch Spruance. The recen
Superintendent rendered satisfaction, but h
received no remuneration and resigned n
one will have the place under the circumstances
r and there is no prospect of a change of man
agement. If the consumers are willing to b
O dily dallied with in this manner 1t is their ow


fault. Let the gas be turned off entirely
e Mr. S. will not furnish it regularly. The built
q ing, the mains and the fixtures are here an
g will remain, whether in use or not. They ma
st be idle for time, but either private or publ
d interests will revive them, as was the case
J. Dover. If it will pay the company to let tt


works go down it will pay the citizens to u


oil lamps.


J. The town ought to own the works, and v
}. have several times advocated the measur
T. Then there would be some prospect of havir
,e the works conducted as they should be-
Year: 1868

THE MAILs-Much dissatisfaction exists
among the people mere and elsewhere about the
mails. Much Of the mail matter intended for
our postof6ce does not reach Us on time. Mat
ter by the uorthern mail is taken by in the
train and sent back through the southern mail,
sometimes day or two behind time and some
never reaches us. The trouble is with the
mail agents on the cars, we arc informed, one
of whom, on the up train one afternoon las
week, was fast asleep when the train passed
Clayton, it is said. It's great source of an
nOy auce.
Year: 1868

HISTORY OF THE WAR BETWEEN THE
STATEs-By Hon. A. H. Stephens This
book is now ready for sale. The acknowledged
ability and fairness of its author-together
with the important and interesting subject on
which he writes, makes this book one that
should be read by every student Of the Coun-
try's history. Mr.. Thomas Story, of this place
is authorized to receive subscriptions for it
and as it will be sold only by subscription, those
wishing to procure it should apply at once.
Year: 1868

A New STEAMBOAT LINE-Several of the
business firms of Wilmington are having a
steamboat built which they intend to run to
different points down the Bay-perhaps as far
as Mispillion creek. We have not been in
formed whether it will stop at Smyrna creek
or not.
Year: 1868

viii fpd on examination Of the
new law regulating the publication
Of legal notices, that the printers
foe is due and collectable whenever
the publication is made. The printer
however, is not required to file his
proof in any case until the fee is paid,
and according to the provisions Of
the law no action can be taken in a snit
until the proof OF publication is tiIed il
being the evidence ofsuch publication
having been made. Therefore Clerks
will see the importance Of forwarding
the printers fee, either in advance or
at the expiration Of the time (Which
is usually four wOeks) forwbich pub
lioation is to be made.-Shelbypille
RtpublicdR.
Year: 1868

AN gNYocEET MAN HANGED By JUDGE LYNCH
1t will be remembered that the night
OF the 3lst OF October two men, accused Of
taken by mob out OF the jail at Franklin,
carried TO the edge of the town and there hanged.
This SUMMARY execution OF Lynch law was rendered
et more horrible by the brutality OF the mob, who
refused to allow the men time for short prayer.
Severar prominent citizens OF Franklin demonstrated
with the infurated crowd, but vainly, and the two
men were murdered with no more reason than so
many dogs would have been. II has now transpired
that one OF fhe victims entirely innocent, and
number of the Inen composing the mob are to be
indicted and tried for murder.
Year: 1868

BY JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.


There is something inexpressibly
dear to nae in the old frien dships of a
lifetime. My walk under the pines
would lose half its charm were to miss
that shy anehorite, the Wilson'S thrush,
nor hear in haying-time the metallic
ring of his song, that justifeS his rus
tic name of scythe-,ohst. / protect my
game as jealousy as an English squire,
If anybody had oologized certain
cuckoo's nest | know of Il have pair
in my garden every year,, it would
have left a sore place in my mind
for weeks. love to bring these abor-
igines back to the mansuetude they
showed to the early voyagers, and be-
fore forgive the involuntary pun) they
had grown accustomed to man and
knew his savage ways. And they repay
your Kindness with sweet familiarity
too delicate ever to breed contempt.
| have made a Penn-treaty with them,
preferring that to the Puritan way with
the natives, which converted them into
a little Hebraism, and a great deal of
Medford rum. II they will not some
near enough to me (as most of them
willy, l bring them close with All opera
glass,-a much better weapon than a
gun. | would not, if l could, con-
vert them from their pretty pagan
ways. The only one | sometimes have
savage doubts about is the red squirrel
/ think he oologizes. hnow he eats
cherries (we counted FIVE of them at
one time, in single tree, the stones
pattering down like the sparse hail that
preludes a storm, and that he gnaws
off the small ends of the pears to get at
the seeds. He steals the corn from un-
der the nose of my poultry, But what
would youhave3 He will come down up
on the limb of the tree am lying under
till he is within yard of me. He and
his mate will scurry up and down the
great blaok-walnut for my diversion,
chattering like monkeys. Can sign
bis death warrant who has tolerated me
about his grounds SO long? Not l..
Let them steal and welcome. lam sure
| should, had had the Same bringing
up aud the same temptation, As for
the birds, do not believe there is one
of them. but does more good than harm,
Ard Of how many featherless bipedt
can this be said7
Year: 1868

Who, forced war Of magnificent pTopor-
tions upon this nation, deluging the land in
blOod, ,5npheaving the very foundations Of So
ciety, arraying brother against brother, and
causing loss Of life and an expenditure Of
money unequalled in the history Of nations .


The Democratic party.


Who is responsible for the loss Of the lives
of the thousands slaln in battle on both sides
during the late rebellion


The Democratic party.


Who is responsible for the orphans cries
and the widows tears, which come up and
are to be met with in all parts of the country,
both North and South, whose fathers and
husbands have lost their lives in the late
war;


The Democratic party.


Who was it that raised their voices against
coercion AMI in favor Of secession, and who
fought bitterly and persistently tor the dis
olutiOn Of the Union


The Democratic party.


Who Surrendered to Grant at Appomattoz
and Sherman in North Oarolinaf 4s


The Democratic party. a5 9Ii


Who prompted the wicked heart that nvrv-
ed the arm that sped the bullet that took the
life Of our martyr President 'A


The Democratic party. 81


Who win history record as the men who
tried 10 break up government under which
We had prospered for more than half CEN
tury as a nation never before Prosperedf


The Democratic party.


Who nominated for the Presidency Sey-
mour and Blair, and who are supporting them
to day.


The same sl-DemOcratic party WhS.
Year: 1868

Rich cheese feels soft under the pressure
OF the finger. That which is very strong is
neither good nor healthy. To keep ono that
IS cut, tie it up ID cloth, pat It In q cool,
dry place. II mold appears on it, wipe It of
With dry cloth. sLTan


Flour and meal Of all kinds should be kept
il a cool, dry place. ~


To select nutmega, prick them with pin.
If they are good, the oil will instantly spread
around the puncture. .eifft


Keep coffee by ITSELF as its odor Affects
other articles. Keep .ea in close chest or
canister. ~-r


Oranges and lemons keep best wrapped
close in soft paper, and laid in drawer Of
linen. n Nfii


Bread aud cake should be kept in Tin box
or stone jar. I


soft soap should be kept in dry place in
the cellar, and should not be used tin three
months old. ---f-


Bar soap should be cut into pieces Of
convenient size, and laid where it will be-
come dry. Il is well to keep it several weeks
before using, as It spends fast when 1t Is new.
Year: 1868

10. Heretofore every new telegraphic en-
terprise has sooner.or later been absorbed
by the dominant monopoly; but the third sec
ton of the act of Congress which confers
upon this company its valuable franchises
absolutely requires it to maintain separ-
ate and Independent existence. See the
Act below.
Year: 1868

s@The revenue from whisky, accor- ding to & statement just furnished by the Treasury Department, averages no more than about a million dollars a month, Commissioner Wells estimated the product of the tax at fifty millions even that being far below what it should be, if fully collected. By that estimate, small as it is, dishonest dis tillers and conniving revenue officers are swIndling the Government out of three millions a month.

 BsSMiss Ewell, who. was shot through the window of her fathers house, near Marshal, Texas, is recover ing. Circumstances indicate that there was no intention to assassinate her, but that a negro who was stealing corn at the crib, fired gun to frighten the negroes on the place, and in the dark ness pointed his gun toward the house without knowing it.
Year: 1868

rtA- Dr. Hunters many friends will be elad to know that he is with us again, and in his usual good health. We always feel better after quarterly glimpse of this truly christian gentleman.
Year: 1868

CHICAGO, Dec. l5.-The Michigan Central
Railway and the Great Western Railway of
Canada, announce that they will return fare
as far as the Suspension Bridge to all soldiers
and other persons attending the reunion of the
Armies Of the West. who paid full fare going
westward over SAID roads.
Year: 1868

FEMALE SUFFRAGE IN THE DIsrEICT-Mr
Ashley's bill for the relief of women in The
District of Columbia, introduced In the House
yesterday, provides that no person shall be de
barred from voting or holding office in the Dis
trict of Columbia by reason of SEX
Year: 1868

BILLS HAVE NOW been introduced in both
Houses of Congress to repeal the law for 3
meeting of Congress on the 4th of March We
apprehend, however, that the proposition will
meet with no little opposition, for rs,>ous we
have heretofore stated
Year: 1868

THE HOLDING OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Mr.. Edmunds introduced into the Senate to-
day bill, which provides that whenever any
person in ihe military service of the United
States shall accept any civil office his military
office snail thereupon cease, and whenever ary
person in the civil service OF the United States
shall accept any military Office, either general
or special. his civil Office shall cease. No per
son shall hold or exercise more than one place
OF trust or profit under the United States at the
same time. Referred to the Judiciary Com.
mi
Year: 1868

The TARIFF BILL-The House this after


noon took up the tariff bill which was pend.
ing in the Committee of the Whole at the ad.
iournment of the last session, and debated the
same al length Mr.. Dawes Mass in the chair
Year: 1868

psy- The sooner we commence the work of organizing the Democracy in Prairie county the sooner that work will be done, and every day of com plete organization and readiness for the contest gives us that much more strength when it comes. It is neces- sary that every township in the county form Democratic club and have reg ular and stated meetings. Let these clubs be formed at once, and ways and means provided for obtaining papers and documents that will furnish in formation and keep all posted as to their duty. There seems to be no plar settled upon as yet for the action ol our people in the coming election, but we hope to be able in our next issue to give our readers information in re-

 gard to what will be the course to bt pursued. In the meantime let us bt up and doing, preparing for any emer

 gency.
Year: 1868

The largest and best stock Of Parlor Furniture,
Chamber Suits Marble Tables, &c, ever offered
in this city, is to be found at Hall S Murphy's.
Purchasers will find it to their advantage to buy
Of them. They will sell good article of any
kind in their line as low as can be bought in Chi
cago, and thereby save freight, and the annoy
ance of having them marred and broken in ship.
ping. They are receiving every week from the
east, Parlor and Chamber furniture, and can sup
ply the wants Of their customers in any article
and quality they want, all of the best and latest
styles Give them a call and satisfy yourselves.
Year: 1868

Misunderstanding indulged in several
scelds heretofore about the weather, it would be
ungrateful to the mythical clerk of the meteoro-
logical department not to say something compli.
mentary about tho weather he has favored us
with for the past week. Only think of ia
whole week Of sunshine! The weather vane,
hswever, continues to poirt threatningly to the
northeast with doyged persistence as if frozen
there, and unless it can be made to point in some
other direction soon, We shall certainly have
more storms. Won't somebody climb up to the
top Of the court house steeple and give the vans
turn?