smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

Brazilian FoREsTs-W When we look Of the
beautiful rosewoods, | think we have hardly
begun to see the best specimens of the
Brazilian forest. Ere long The railroads 10
the interior, which have been chartered, will
bring to the seacoast those giants of the forest.
have been surprised, again and again, in look


ing at these beautiful trees, which are of the
" sensitive plant" character. When the sun
goes down, they fold their leaves and go TO
slumber, and are not aroused until by the morn
ing sun and singing birds. l observed in some
portions of the interior that rosewood was used
for very common purposes. In Christian OK
carts the spokes were made Of rosewood. And


use the term Christian OK carts in distinction
from Roman OK carts. where the wheel and axle
turn together. Rosewood is used in carts made
like our own. The teeth Of cog wheels are
often made of it. A gentleman showed me 10
his sugar house, beam nearly forty feet in
length, and three or four in diameter, which be
told me was a violet colored rosewood. He
took me TO bis pig pen, and-would you believe
it, ladies?-his pig pen was made out of rose
wood I would not have you understand that
it looked like the legs of a piauaforte.-
Nothing of the kind; for when left rough and
exposed to the weather it becomes as plebian
in its appearance as our Own aristocrat, the
black walnut of the Mississippi. When l re-
turned, I brought with me box Of mosaic,
made up of perhaps hundred peices Of Brazil
ian wood, from the purest white to ebony black.
Year: 1863

An iliterate person visiting France for the
first time, said it was very clever of the children
to talk French so well, but then it was COM
fort to hear all the babies cry in good hearty
English
Year: 1863

A PoET's IDEA OF THE WAR-At the
great unconditional Union meeting lately
held at indianapolis, j. Buchanan Read,
the poet, prefaced his reading Of two orig
inal patriotic poems, with the following ell
oquent as well as poetical remarks:


When this unnatural rebellion brok out,
I was five thousand miles from here
was standing among the ruins Of the old
republic of Rome, my feet white with the
dust of the palace of the Caesars all Italy
at that moment was clamoring for the
Union: from Alps to Htna passed me
rolled the cry-that one word Union woke
that antique land, and led her sons to tri-
umph at the grave. At that same moment
I fancied the setting sun blushed as it went
sinking into the West over a nation nearly
one-half of which was clamoring for disun-
ion Could l remain there under such cir
cumstances No my heart would have
ceased to beat. l gave up everything to
return to do the little could for my coun-
try. What is painting worth among the
ruined chambers of a nation? What
would poetry be worth among the broken
temples of human liberty :"
Year: 1863

Dust we were, and dust to be,


Dust upon US, dust about US,
Dust on everything we see.


Dust within us, dust without us;
Saith the preacher, "dust to dust -
Let them mingle, for they must.
Dust we raise upon the road,


Dust we breathe in dancing hall l.
Dust infest our home abode,


Dust, pail, is over all;
'Tis the housewives daily bread,
Dust the emblem of the dead
When the sky above is fair,


And the sun upon us streams,
Floats the dust throughout the air,
Cleaning in its fallen beams;
Every mote is like man;
Dancing gaily while we can.
Ere the tempest gather strong,


Blows at times the warning gust,
Der the plain it sweeps along,


Tempest's thrall, a cloud of dust.
Every mote is like a man,
Flying from expressions van.
Now the swollen clouds grow dark,
Comes the long-expected flood,
Failing deluge-like and dark;


Dust is beaten down to mud
So are times when men must grOvel
In the palace as the hovel.
Thus we are but notes of dust,


On the ground and in the air,
Blown by pleasure, fear and lust,


Beaten down to low despair;
Born Of dust, to come to dust,
Let us mingle, for we must.
Year: 1863

Journal. in reference to the late Indian
massacre on John Day river:


SoUTH FORK, JooHN DAY RIVER.


April 28th, 1868.


RAsEY BIvEN, Esq: Dear Sir-Since
l last saw you l have met with some troub-
lie which I thought best to apprise you of.
As you are aware, l left the Dalles for
Canyon City and had reached this point
upon the trail, when l, in company with
four friends, were induced to 60 up the
South Fork prospecting We trav-
eed one day when we camped for the night
on the bank of the creek. Towards morn
ing we were attacked by party of Indians,
while we were asleep, and pretty roughly
handled. l have eight wounds upon my
body, some caused by arrows and the bal
ance by shot and bullets. was wounded
Monday morning and wandered among the
mountains with no clothing save shirt and
pants, until Tuesday morning, when ]
hailed pack train and was brought to this
cabin, where I am now lying perfectly help
less, having been compelled to employ the
hand of another in writing to you. l have
not had any doctor as yet, but am expect
ing one every minute. Pieces of arrows
have been extracted and my wounds
dressed, and am little more comfortable
than before. One of my companions reach
es this cabin last night about o'clock,
wounded in four places but not so severe
ly as myself Another has reached Can
yon City with four wounds, though not
considered very severe. The remaining
two have not been heard from, and /
greatly fear that they are dead. A party
was out last evening in search of them, but
failed to discover any trace of their where
abouts. Another party will go out to-
day. We lost everything except the
clothes we slept in. 1 managed to save
what valuables had about my person by
keeping my belt around me. l am in
great deal of pain, and will probably be
laid up some time. l would like very
much to see you, but suppose | will be un
able to do so for some time.


am truly yours,


HENRY MARCELLUs.
Year: 1863

Nor "UP TO SNUFF."-In new melo-drama,
recently gotten up at the Bowery Theatre, in
New York, famous robber is taken and his head
exhibited to the audience, by being placed on a
table in the centre of the stage. To accomplish
this to the life, the robbers body is fixed under
the table, and his neck is fitted into hole, so
that to the audience it looks precisely as though
the mans head had been cut off and stood up in
pond of his own blood upon the table. On the
fifth night of the exhibition, a wag got into the
third tier of the stage boxes, and by some unez-
planned maneuvre, managed to blow lot of
Scotch snuff over the stage, just at the time the
head was upon the table. As soon as the snuff
had begun to settle down, the head commenced
sneezing, to the no small amusement Of the audi
ence and, as the sneezng could not be stopped,
the curtain fell amid roars of laughter. The
Bowery boys were never so pleased at any spec
tacle.
Year: 1863




MASKS s.-Shakespeare afirms that "the
world is all deceived by ornament" but
the truth is as old as humanity. To seek
for worth or grandeur by something on
and not ii the object has been the delusion
of every people. The world has been we'll
compared to a masquerade and the wild re-


vel has produced some grotesque shapes


By long usage we become familiarized with
these shows. The common idea of kings
and queens is always associated with crowns
and coronation robes, and the picture is
very unsatisfactory that gives the dress of
of an ordinary individual. The judicial
character, too, is almost inseparable, in our
minds from wig and gown and the most
solemn gravity. A joke from the Bench
strikes most people as an amazing conde


scension while to some it appears as a thing
shockingly unnatural. The man is entire
ly kept from view with all his affections
and humors; and our sense grasps only an
antiquated red garment and some curled
white hairs. The common saying, =, No
man is a hero to his valet, is founded on
truth and experience. The great man
appears only to the world attired in the
fine costume of his office; his attitudes in
public are graceful and dignified; he speaks
only in accordance with the popular place
assigned him. But the valet has seen him
unmasked. He has been witness of his
shortcomings, his petulent moods, his
querulous moments, and beheld his petty
rage over a refractory string or button.
The restrictions of place keep the valet
quiet; but he can philosophize over the
matter in secret, and in proper time Thomas
and Jane will discuss the subject; for they
know what a stuck on pantaloon's beard all
this wisdom really is.-TRe Attic Study.
Year: 1863

UNINFLAMABLE PREPARATIoN.-Nu
merous substances have been tried to rem
der muslin dresses incombustible, the best
being the tungstate of soda and the sui
phate of ammonia. Tungstate of soda,
prepared expressly for rendering fabrics
-infamable, can be obtained, by order,
of any chemist. Directions for use To
three pints of good (dry) starch add one
part of tungstate of soda, and use the
starch in the ordinary way. If the mate
rial does not require starching, mix in the
proportion of one pound of tungstate Of So
da to two gallons of water saturate the
fabric with this solution, and dry it. The
heat of the iron in no way affects the non
infamability Of the fabric.
Year: 1863

KEEL-HAULING-Ducking at the main
yard-arm was one of the punishments in
ficted upon seamen in the reign of Charles
II, and was thus performed: A rope was
fastened under the arms, about the middle,
and under the neck Of the offender, who
was thus hoisted up to the arm, and was
let fall with great violence from thence into
the sea several times. If the ofense was
very great, he was drawn under the keel of
the ship, and, while there, a gun was fired
over his head-hence the phrase 'keel-haul-
ing"
Year: 1863

THE AMERICAN AND ENGLIsHMAN.-Th
American, though he dresses like an Englishman
and eats roast beef with silver fork or some
times with a steel knife, as does an Englishman,
is not like an Englishman in his mind, in his as
pirations, in his tastes or his politics. In his
mind he is quicker, more universally intelligent,
more ambitious Of general knowledge, less indul-
gent of stupidity and ignorance in Others harder,
sharper, brighter with the surface brightness Of
steel, than is the Englshman; but he is more
brittle, less enduring less maleable, and I think
less capable of impressions The mind of the
Englishmaa has more imagination, but that of
the American more incision The American is a
great observer, but he observes things material
rather than things social or picturesque. He is
a constant and ready spectators but all specua-
tions-even those which come of philosophy
are with him more or less material. In his as
pirations the American is more constant than an
Englishman, or should rather say, he is more
constant in aspiring Every citizen Of the Uni
ted States intends to do something; every one
thinks himself capable of some effort but in his
aspirations he is more limited than an English
man. The ambitious American never scars so
high as the ambitious Englishman; he does not
even see up to so great hight, and when be has
raised himself somewhat above the crowd, be-
comes sooner dizzy with his own altitude. An
American of mark, though always anxious to
show his mark, is always fearful of fall
Year: 1863

be q fair compensation for his time and
the capital invested, and then confscate
the remainder for the benefit Of the treas
u1y. It is believed that If this wero done,
it would restore TO the treasury two or
three hundred millions Of dollars OF which
it has been robbed by hearless aud THEY
ish men, We know Of some old whisky
sucking copperheads in this State who
would have TO disgorge large SUMS under
The operations Of such rule. They swim
died the Government from a double mo-
tive-one to crafty their cupidity, and the
other to help the rebels by bleeding the
loyal cause.
Year: 1863

Up till ten o'clock the duel between
the gunboats and the fort had been
wholly barren of results. About this
time a shell was directed, either from
Louisville or Dehalb, through which
Year: 1863

At first the enemy had difficulty in
getting their guns to bear upon our
boats, owing to their elevation and the
close position which the boats had
taken. and for a time their shot all fell
far a stern Of us causing loud peals of
derision from the Jack TaIs who
Year: 1863

A title above the little village or
landing Of BellevilIe, and on the oppo-
site side of the river, a road starts
away from the bank, following the
main course of the stream, though
avoiding its numberles5 bends, and
leading directlyto the cnemy's position
at Arkansas Post. This road in ortti-
nary times is in tine condition; but it
was understood to be much obstructed
now by trees fallen across it by the
Year: 1863

During the night Of Friday and the
morning OF Saturday all was hustle
on the river a detachment of gun
boats were sent up to the fort, only
ten miles above, with instructions to
reconnoitre the river, draw the enemy's
fire and ascertain as fully as possible
the character and strength of their
works, the number Of men composing
their garrison, and generally to divert
their attention from the army move
ments. Transports, too, were steaming
about, seeking the proper positions for
deharking their troops and for five
miles either way from the mouth of
the Red Fork the river presented such
Il scene of activity and life as was
never before visible on the usually
quiet surface Of the meandcring Ar
kansas.
Year: 1863

A TRUE WoMAN.--On the conclusion
of marriage in village church, the
bridegroom signed the register with "x
mark" The pretty bride did the same,
and, turning to lady who had known
her as the best scholar in school, whisper
ed TO her, while tears of honest love stood
in her bright eyes, he is dear fellow,
Miss, but he cant write yet. He's going
10 learn Of me, and | would not shame
him for the world" It is just like wo-
man. Only get her to place her atfec-
lions on one Of the other sex, and it mat
ters not what his accomplishments or ap-
pearance. If n villain, she will under
take to reform him; if ignorant Of the
difference between B and bulls foot, she
will turn school teacher for his especial
benefit.
Year: 1863

"BLAcK LIST "A list of persons un-
der the above heading appeared in our
paper yesterday, without the knowledge
aud to the very great chagrin of the
editor. We would not wantonly stigma
tze any person for falling to contribute q
free-will offering; bat in the present in
stance great injustice was probably done
to the parties concerned, as We doubt not
they had the very best reasons for their
conduct.
Year: 1863

BEEEFrT.-The Benefit of the Ladies'
Aid Society at the Atheneum, last eve.
ming, was decided success. The house
was we'll filled and the receipts were
large.


Tonight the beautiful drama of Jessie
Brown will be repeated. The perform
ance to conclude with the very laughable
farce entitled the '.Jealous Wife
Year: 1863

RIVER NEws-The river during the
past three days has risen over foot, and
yesterday about noon the Ferry Company
was able to bring the "Gate City, from
the opposite shore, where she has been
lying on sand-bar for some time, to this
side, and she will again commence max
ing her regular trips.
Year: 1863

p@- The weather is decidedly unpleas-
ant in this locality. There is an inch or
two of snow on the ground and the wind
blows unusually keen. Surely stern win
ter is 1t hand is the conclusion we have
come to.
Year: 1863

In the bod geyille Chronicle of Nav 2Sth,
Is published an account taken from the
y. \. independent Of a meeting Of the
solid mel" OF the Methodist Episcopal
church of New York City, TO consider the
question of Lay Delegation, OF which the
editor of the Chronicle makes certain mis-
statements and comments which II unoor
rected are of a character to place said
church in a false position, before the pub


lie. This is my plea for Indulgence In
YOUR columns His first statement either
betrays great amount of ignorance on
the subject of lay delegation now being
agitated in the NJ E. Church, or other
wise an intention to misrepresent said
church to the public. He says, we had
thought that the matter Of l,y delegation
had been entirely hushed, at least for the
present generation, in the NJ. +. Church
Now the gentleman, occupying as lie does,
the chair editorial of q sister church, and
who presumes to inform the public of
what is going on in the church" but es-
pecially the NJ f. church, ought to have
known that, instead of the question being
''hushed for a generation, that the laity
of that church by authority, and at the
request Of the General Conference held in
1860 are now considering that question,
and are requested to east their vote for or
against Said vote to be reported to the
next General Conference, which will meet
in Phil delphis. N May 1864; the subject
then will doubtless receive the careful
consideration of that body He next states,
"we are puzzled TO know whether this
lay delegation notion is step in the ret
rograde or in the advance | very much
doubt the sincerity of this remark IL Is
well known that lnIs gentleman has be-n
- ayUwed advocate ef lay delegation, and
that he - now minister in a church
where II is made hobby If sincere in
this statement, | can only account for the
,.nan.r that has come over him. which
has brought him right on tn the fence by
ms observation and experience ot lay del


egatIon us carried oat IN the Primitive
Methodist Church in which he Is min
lister 40 that at the present he cannot pos


itivelv conclude whether 1t Is q step in
the retroerade or the advance If this
language had come from one who had
been a careful reader of the history of
the VI f. Church, it might have been in
place. for that history informs that
without this hobby of lay delegation,
though not yet 8 century old in the Uni
ted States, vet IL has sweiled its member
ship in the Mon % nearly two millions
Its Church property as shown by the last
L :. census, Is of greater value than that
of any other church in the Union, and to-
day Is supporting 3SS Missionaries on for
eign stations, or preaching the gospel TO
Ose of a foreign tongue Such an OBJ
server might truly pause and say Il am
puzzled whether this lay deic- CATION
step IN the rstEograde or advance. The
Year: 1863

The new born zeal of large class of
professed democrats for freedom of speech
and freedom of the press, but lily COM
ports with the course of the same party
and same men lew years, or even few
months since, when they were justifying
and eysR appl2uding the hanging of men
in Kansas and all through the Southern
States, for uttering their views upon the
evils of slavery. They could then look
with complacency upon the acts of mobs
that were lynchins Iuen for the exercise
OF freedom of speech, and rejoice at the
mobbing of newspapers for abusing, as
they termed it, the freedom of the press


When Charles Sumner was struck down
in the Halls of our National Legislature,
for no other act than the exercise of free
dom of speech in public debate, the al


most universal cry of the latter day dem
ocrats was, Served Kim right" When


the press and types of Lovejoy were
thrown into the river at Alton, IL, and
Mr.. Lovejoy himself was murdered by
viz hAOOy ipA AAtS tAtFtlst SI the iEfcUOLn
of he press-and that in time of peace


the howl of the Democracy all over the


land went up in Justification of the out
rage; and why simply because the act
was committed BY their own political
friends upon those who were using the
/ freedom of specch" and of the Press


against the cherished institution of their
party They f 1t that their idol, slavery.


was assailcd, and any outrage upon those
assailIng was justifabla by the party
( But how the scene has changed. Those
mon who justified ali those outrages are
az this time the loudest advocates of free
/ speech and free press in the land Be
cause a few tories in time Of war have
/ been arrested for their reasonable talk,
and a few rebel newspapers in the North


that are doing more injury to the cause
( for which our brave volunteers are ris
/ ing their lives, than thousands Of rebel
troops can do the cry gees up from
these same men who justified mobs and
! lynching but few years since, that our
( liberties are in danger and the govern


ment is fast running to a despotism be-
cause the right of speech and free press
/ Is assailed But such is the consistency


of abe self styled Democrats They los e
/ the power to rule the nation, and the next


move is to accomplish it's ruin for what
I TO them is a free country unless they can
/ hold the Offices? Were the democr attic


party in power at this time, one half that


is said against the administration and


z vernment by these papers coming from


Republican prints would cause general


closing of printing Offices, and arrest of


all who would dare to utter treason


against the government Their party
leaders undoubtedly believe they are pur-


suing course that will again give them
the power, but time will convince them OF
their error, for in this country the people
themselves decide who shall be the rulers
Year: 1863

very slight, l am doing duty again in the
company.


| have not time to write you detailed
account of the battles now We have
been fighting here at Vicksburg about ten
days, and the battle still continues. The
army is in COED Iealth and spirits. The
boys feel confident of great victory
We have plenty of men and the right
kind of officers. Brother Samuel is quite
well. He sends his lsvs 70 you all.
will write to yeu again in a few days when
| can record tho capture of Vicksburg
We are gaining ground on them every
day. Vicksburg is entirely surrounded
Give my compliments so my sisters and
brothsrs-to yourself the assurance OF
my continued regard


Truly Yours,


Sergt r. w. PRISK.
Year: 1863

The deuce you have Give it to me
it is ust what l want


Give you dead latch key pa pret-
ty notion! l wouldn't give it to any
man--not to all the detective squad in
New York


Look here, my friend / am NJ,
pretty well known ih this town. | have
a good many opportunities in the course
ofmy business to do people good turns ;
and not few 10 DO them Ill turns. 1t is
convenient vocation to pay off scores
particularly to persons of your sort. If
you will give me that key, III make it
worth your while the first chance have
If you don't, you'll be sorry-that's all


gave him significant look as I con-
cluded. He looked me in the face
minute, as if to see how much | meant,
or if | suspected anything; then he
turned and ran quickly up stairs. In a
few moments he came down and handed
me the key l took it with satisfaction.


Now said [, you'll have no objec
tions to telling me where your sister,iu-
laws room in the house is p


Third story, back room, second door
to the left from the head Of the stairs


Thank you-good night


We walked rapidly to-sireet, aud
reaching the house, l stopped moment
to examine my pistols, by the street
lamp, and then softly opened the door
Clarke and stepped in, and | shut the
door.


Leaving my comrade in the hall,
crept noiselessly up stairs, and tapped a
the door of the room.


Who is there . called out woman's
voice.


Open the door, l replied. and I'll
tell you what l want


You can't come in-Ive gone to
bed


'Oh, well, I'm a married man-pll
do you no harm but you must let me
in, or | shall force the door,


After moments delay, the door was
opened by young woman in a morning
wrapper, who stood as il waiting for an
explanation Of The intrusion. | passed
by her and walked up TO a yonng man
sitting in low chair by the fire, and,
tapping him on the shoulder, said


You are my prisoner p


He raised his head and looked up.


Why, Bill l exclaimed, is this
You? have been looking for you all
night under a wrong name. II l bad
known it was you, I'd have caught YOU
in an hour


And SO | would
. 1t Is only necessary TO say, further,
that he was the man | was set to catch,
| may add, however, that large amount
of the counterfeit notes. and the plates
on which they were printed, were seeu-
red, and the criminal sent to Sing Sing
in due course Of law.