smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1860

Towards the latter part of the summer of
ls40, lad Of prepossessing appearance
entered the beautiful town of C., stu.
ated at the foot of Seneca Lake, n. Y,
near the centre of that State. lie had
travelled from the Western part of Ohio !;
where his father, widower, had died from
one of those malignant fcycrs SO common
in newly settled countries, while overseeing
the cultivation of a large tract of land, in
order to regain fortune lost during the
disastrous speculatons Of 1886.


Being an only son, and left among strang-
ers, after the death of his father, George
Wentworth, resolved to leave Ohio and
remove to the State of New ork, for the
purpose of trying his fortanc in any man
ner that chance might offer. lie had
passed through several towns and villages
ON his route, without meeting anything to
attract his attention, till reaching C..
This fine town, with its lovely lake and
pleasant scenery, struck his fancy, so lie
determined to obtain employment if pos
sible, and make it his future home.


While walking along the principal street
of the shady avenue overlooking the lake
and other public buildings-he saw large
crowd of people assembled around newly
erected liberty pole, in front Of one of the
principal hotels. On approaching the spot
he found that it was a political meeting
held for the purpose OF raising the pole and
making party speeches.


Our heroc forced his way into the crowd
just as they were raising the "Stars and
Stripes" with the names of their candi-
dates, to the top of the flag staff. The
flag had scarcely reached half way, the
enthusiasm being at its height, when the
cord twisted and caught in the little wheel
at the top. They pulled and tried every
way, but where unable to raise or lower
the flag single inch. The excitement
and cheering ceased, and all eyes were
raised to the half.masted flag, A portion
of the opposition party, who were grouped
a little in the rear of the main body began
to jeer and joke about the apparently bad
omen, to the evident discontinue of thei,
opponents.


At length Judge S., editor and pub
Usher Of the C. journal, then q can
didats for Congress, offered fifty dollars te
any person who would climb the staff and
draw the cord through the wheel. The
utmost silence roignod for several minutes
but no one advanced to make tho daring
trial.


Will no one volunteer :" shouted til,
Judge, strongly excited as peal of laugh
ter went up from the ranks of the OppO
si.ion.


The chucklo had scarcely died away
however, before George with his cap an
Year: 1860

So It was in this case The unbelicver
was rebukcd by heather, and the man of
science who had gone there in quest of
natural curiosities, returned, having found
the 'pearl of great prickp His next vis-
it is to be as a missionary to preach Christ.
Year: 1860

Among other laws regarding the princes OF
this rank, it was enacted that the heir-ap-
parent should be held in the greatest honor,
after the King and Queen; that Mt table he
should have the chief guest of the day on one
side of him, TO awaken his interest by stories
of travel, and the chief falconer on the other,
to amuse him with incidents of sport. AT
the fire, he had right to one corner, oppo-
site to that occupied by the sovereign; and if
a solemn Judge was placed next to him to fill
him with judicial wisdom, he had behind him
the Chief of the Bards, whom he could call
upon for song, when weary of the process
Of being filled with wisdom. There were
even higher privileges than these enjoyed by
the Prince of Wales before the Saxon era. 1t
was the duty of the royal father (as have
before recorded) to pay all their expenses UNI
| grudgingly; and never to grumble at any eX-
| travagance of banquet or amount of good
liquor called for by the Prince and his COM
panions who officially attended him. The
servants of his very household were not paid
for out of the Princes privy purse, but out Of
| that of his understanding and dutiful sire
| The horses of his stud, his cdrfdch or war
| charger not excepted, were provided after
the same agreeable fashion; and the only
curb or seeming curb, placed upon the Prince
himself was to be found in the regulation
| laid down, to the effect that the Prince was
never to make night of it out of the palace
| unless he chose to do sol While he was
away his gentleman woodman looked to the


maintaining of good fire in his bedroom


and when his Royal Highness returned, the


same official put on another fagot or two
and carefully closed the door, in order L


keep out the thieves, the wind, and th
Year: 1860

A WEALTHY MERCHANTS WIFE COMMITS
RoBBERY-HER CONFESSION OF A PURLoINGNG
MANIA.-In a store in Philadelphia, recently,
porte-monnaie containing eighty-fve dol
lars was stolen from a muff which lady
from Wilmington, Delaware had for a
moment left upon one of the stools. The
husband of the lady being apprised of the
matter went on and traced the matter up.
He found one of the missing notes, and ascer-
tanning that the wife of a wealthy merchant
had passed it, went to her house and charged
her with the theft. Strange to relate, she
burst into tears freely acknowledged her guilt


but declared in the most emphatic terms that
it was the first time in her life that she had
been guilty of anything of the kind, saying
that her husband was respectable man and
would make the matter all right. She re-
marked that she could not imagine how she
came to take the money, but that vague and
indescribable feeling came over her when she
saw the porte-monnaie in the muff, and the
next moment she found it in her hand. She
SPENT she said, but little more than half the
money, and through fear of fdiscovery burned
the balance up. She concluded the interview
by bringing from an upper room the identical
pOrte-mOnnaie, .. ..r. .... A.. .r.H.
Year: 1860

A DESIRABLE RAILWAY LIGHT.-It is stated
that the convenience of good steady light has
been obtained in some of the frst-class car
riages on the East Lancashire Railway, En-
land, by the use of gas The meter from
which the. gas is supplied is contained in the
guards van. 1t is conveyed to the roots OF
the carriages and through the usual lamp
holes There is one light in each carriage,
which is sufficient to illuminate the compart-
ment thoroughly, SO that the smallest print
can be read. The taps are on the roof and
cannot, therefore, be tampered with by the
passengers. An iron gas pipe passes along
the roof of each carriage SO lighted and the
junction between the carriages is by means
of flexible tube, with little slack to allow
of vibration in the coupling and vibration
from propulsion, The contrivance is very
simple, and could easily be extended to {
whole train.
Year: 1860

This amount is already credited to the State as an
offset to the claim of the United States under the Rock
River Canal Grant, act June Is, 1888, there being bal
ance still due the United States under said grant Jan
1860, Of sec, ,077.76.


Withheld, to meet the claim agaenst the State for
lands enormously selected under Improvement grant
Sept A, 1S41.'


The Philadelphia Ledger of today says


Land Warrants scarce and orders cannot be filled
Rates have been advanced three per acre The
preaching land sales in Minnesota causing great
ctement among the settlers and very earnest
are made for poStponement It is unlikely that
delay will he obtained but in what shape it will come
next week will show.


week in the case of Moran and others wayne
and Chicago Railroad Company, the sanction Court
was granted to the purchaserby the Receiver at Chicago


blocks of land in that city for depot grounds
Tor the sum of 00 and to pay interest on and
for new tracks to the same, the sum of $50 600
Year: 1860

MOBILE, Oct. 13.-The rumors and conjectures
with reference to the amount of damage to the
cotton crop by the late storms, are still the subject
of much discussion.


Estimates of damage to the amount of 200, 900
bales have been put FORTH but they find few be-
levers. In well-informed quarters it is believed
that the only loss the crop will sustain will be con-
fined mainly to the quality of the cotton which, in
many localities, will be found considerably i'm
pregnated with sand-a mishap that will render
good cotton scarce. The actual yield of the crop
is put down in close calculating quarters at far
from four and quarter millions bales.
Year: 1860

THE STEAMBOAT INsPECroRs.-'rhe Board of Uni
ted States Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats,
met in New York on Monday. The frequent oc-
currence lately of steamboat disasters has induced
them to turn their attention to the navigation laws
The Board, we learn, is fully represented and the
operation of the steamboat law throughout the
country will be fully reported and discussed with
view to such action on the part of the Board as
may be necessary to secure its thorough admins
tration. The Board will continue in session for
several dayS
Year: 1860

The aspect of the political horizon is dark, and
no doubt the prospect of sectional instead of ma
tional Federal Government to rule over us is doing
much to augment the general uncertainty and
alarm. This may be well founded or not, and in
any event the South beyond the justice and moral
suit. We have only to do our duty, as our best
judgments and sense of patriotism may prompt,
and then leave the consequences to the ma ority of
the American people, and in the hands of that wise
Providence that has ever watched over our nation
and protected it from harm.
Year: 1860

Hon. Bale Peyton, Bell Elector in Tennessee,
at public meeting at Nashville the 30th Au-
gust, said he did not believe, if Lincoln elect
accept any important office under him. If such a
man could be found he was a traitor, and deserved
to be tortured to a terrible death.
Year: 1860

From the NdshriHe Tenn Union


The Northern States now unit in the strup-
gle which threatens the existence of our Govern
ment. Why may not the South be so? Are our
lives, our liberty, our happiness less dear to us
than the ephemeral triumphs of party? Let the
South lock shields and stand in solid phaanx, and
the rushing onset of Black Republicanism will be
stayed. Never more in the history of nations has
the adage been applicable than at the present
''United we stand, divided we fa'' All is not vet
lost. There is but one flag raised which has writ
ten upon it principles that are regarded by our
enemies as boldly antagonistic to theirs. Let the
whole South rally under that flag, and all will vet
be well. The widest maniac can be quieted by the
determined eye of his master. Let the South cease
her pickering, and show her sectional enemies that
she will be equal iu rights, and fanatcism will vet
cover and shrink from the contest.
Year: 1860

The New York Post of Tuesday evening says =
John C. Heenan left the city lastevening to respond
to a very pressing invitation from Buffalo, where
he is to be required to to the Court for the
! part he took in the Price and Kelly fight in Canada
year since. 1t is understood that "the Boy" will
test the question of the legality of his arrest
! should the suit be pressed.
Year: 1860

g NEW York ON THE SLAVERY QUESTION. Coy.
Morgan, in his message to the New York Legisla-
ture says that the State of New York still MAIN
tains her previous opinions in regard to slavery.
She yields to none of her sister States in devotion
to the Union. She emphaticaliy disavows any
sympathy or cooperation with those who sought to


interfere with the institutions Of sister States Re-
ferrng to slavery in the States and Territories he
says that she yields eheerfuly obedience to the
doctrine of State sovereignty, and having no dis.
position to interfere with the local institutions of
other Ststes is prepared at all times to aid those
States in the protection of their sovereign power.
Year: 1860

SHOOTING SCRArE.-On Christmas day, n
the Senate House, as We are informed, quar-
rel tool, place between Mr. Pinkham and Mr..
Smith, both very well known in town.
Smith fired one shot at Pinkham, and Pink
ham two at Smith. and the affair ended. No
body hurt. We Gid not learn the cause Of
the difficulty. Some say it was about
gambling matter. While the shooting was
going on, there was considerable consterna-
tion in the bar-room. One individual ran
behind the counter of the oyster-stand and
took shelter on Il shelf underneath. Itbegun
to be a little too hot there, and he precipita-
ted himself outside Three or four Others
opened trap door and launched themselves
into cellar, where they literally took
water" the same being several inches deep.
Our venerable friend, Uncle jimmy" stood
his ground and was for fair fight. While
he stood, urging one Of the parties not to
leave the ground, well known medical gen.
tleman stepped up to him and asked him if
lie could help him in any way. mo, Doc
tor" replied Uncle Jimmy, "if you are a
friend of mine, you'll not speak to me. Tn
ercitcL" We are told that another indi-
vidual, who was reading a newspaper, held
the paper up before his face and took shelter
behind it, as the balls whizzed. Not bad
idea, to seek protection from the press


AS no one was hurt, the thing passed off as
more of a Joke than anvthino else and ue
are glad it was no worse.
Year: 1860

A certain class of Abolitionists are actual
ly aching at this moment for agitation, and
they are afraid it will not commence soon
enough. Two forms of petitions to Congress
one praying for the repeal Of the Fugitive
Slave Act, and the other asking for the ez-
tinction of slavery where Congress has e1-
elusive jurisdction-are being circulated in
Ashtabula county, Ohio.
Year: 1860

The editors of the San Francisco Evening
Mirror have been arrested on charge of
libel preferred by J. S. Maxwell, says dis
patch to the Union. 1t arose out of the ex-
position made by that paper of the Pacific
Life Guard and Intelligence office affair
Year: 1860

At a regular meeting of Mississippi Rifles
held at their Armory, the following resolutions
were unanimously adopted


Resotued, That hereafter, any member Of
this Company who, wearing his uniform or
any portion thereof or carrying his arms or
accoutrenents, shall enter a public drinking
saloon in this city, shall be deemed guilty Of
improper conduct and shall be reported to the
commander and tried in the manner provided
in the second paragraph of article eleven of the
Constitution.


Resolved, That any officer of this Company
who shall, when in command of the same, OF
any portion thereof, march it into any public
drinking Saloon in this city, shall be liable to
arrest and trial before court-martial in the
manner and form prescribed by the Militia
Laws of the State.


ResoEvsd, That when it is proved that any
member has been cognisant of any infraction
Of these rules and has not reported the same
to the commander, he shall receive the same
penalty as the delinquent


ResoEUed, That the Secretary post copy
of these resolutions on the wall ofthe Armory
and have them published in the city papers.


A true copy.
Year: 1860

Or Stephen A. Douglas did net vote for
the Fugitive Slave law. VIII some friend OF
of his tell US whore he was and what he was
doing when that bill was voted on IN the Sen
ate g-LoaisoiRe Courier.
Year: 1860

BALTIMORE AGAIN ON THE H1G11-WAY OF
Prosperity Since it is definitely settled
that Mayor Swami and his minions, who
made Baltimore stink in the nost:ils OF the
nation by their corruptions and outragcs,
are to be stripped Of their authority, public
confidence in the impartial execution OF the
laws are Frightening and security for life and
property in that city in the future is again
manifesting itself, and ere long we hope to
see it again ON the highway Of prosperity
The Repub!ican Of that city mentions the
following as one Of the good results Of the
recent d 'cisions of the Court Of Appeals


One Of our most intelligent merchants
said to us this morning, The dscisioa Of the
Court Of Appeals Is Worth millions Of dollars
t. tho city OF Baltimore. People will now
have confidence in the administration of law
and will not fear to make investments in
property amongst US. New life and new
energy will be infused into society, and We
shall feel its happy influence in all branches
Of business This, we think, is the general
fecling.''
Year: 1860

A DRUNKARD's BRAINs.-The startling
doctrines taught in Youman's Basis of
Prohibition" are fully corroborated by
the following passage from the Boston
Medical journal:


Hyrti, by far the greatest anatomist
OF the age, used to say that he could dis
fingush in the darkest room by one
stroke of the scalpel, the brain of tue in
ebriate from that of the person who had
lived soberly. Now and then he would
congratulate his class upon the possession
of drunkard's brain, admirably fitted,
from its hardness and more complete pre-
servation, for the purposes of demonstra-
ton. When the anatomist wished to pre-
serve human brain for any length of
time, he effects his object by keeping that
organ in vessel OF alchohol. From
soft, pulpy substance, it then becomes
comparatively hard; but the inebriate,
anticipating the anatomist, begins the in
durating process before death--begins it
while the brain remains the consecrated
temple of the soul--while its delicate and
gossamer tissues still throb with the pulses
OF heaven-born life. Strange iniatuation,
thus to desecrate the god-like! Terrible
enchantment, that dries up all the foun-
tains of generous feeling, petrifies all the
tender hunanities and sweet charities of
life, leaving only brain Of lead and heart
of stone,
Year: 1860

The MorHER.-The world may perse
cute you while living and when dead
plant the ivy and the nightshade of SLAM
der upon your grassless grave, but thy
mother will love and cherish you, while
living, and if she survives you will weep
for you when dead such tears as none
but mother knows how to weep. Love
thy mother!
Year: 1860

The Raleigh Register, referring to the
late Union" demonstrations in the
Northern cities, accepts them as being
prompted by patriotic motives, but, in ad-
dition, pertinently and forcibly declares
as follows, touching subject now COM
manding the universal attention of the
South: ..


No matter, however, what these meet
ings may say and resolve, we hope their
action will not have the effect of indu-
cling the South to abandon its purpose of
rendering itself as far as possible COM
mercially independent of the North
The pocket nerve of the North has heen
touched by recent Southern action, and
it is not uncharitable in us to suppose
that the pain has caused this latter day
manifestation of good will towards the
South. Should the South now relax its
efforts to free itself, and revert to its for
mer tame acquiescence in dependent
condition ON the North for SO many of
the necessary articles of life, it will be-
come weaker and weaker every day,
while the North will grow stronger and
stronger, and in case of another such
difficulty as has recently occurred, and
while looking to the incendiary element
at the North, is by no means implorable,
we should be even more at their mercy
than we are now. Let us 90 on, then,
and import Cor ourselves, from any quar-
ter but the North, every needful article
which we cannot manufacture, and by no
means let any Southern man who loves
his native soil spend his money in pleas
ure travel and luxurious living at the
North
Year: 1860

Some British writer asserts that there never
was greater dearth of intellectual converse
tion than at the present time. and that our wo-
men do not converse. He attributes this de-
feet to excessive attention to study, which con-
fines young women at their books in the eve
ming, until they are old enough to enter socie-
ty, when they are furnished with a very ele
giant set of intellectual furniture, but do not
know how to use it, and are dumb fippant
In the company of others. There may be some
thing in this. Power to talk well is a great
acquisition, and very few people have it. Some
men can write well and make excellent speech
g who are great bores in society. Some wo-
men will write the most charming letters who
break down and fail entirely when they at
tempt to talk. They have the raw material in
them, but they have not acquired the habit Of
using it in this way.


Conversation is really one of the fine arts
and does not come spontaneously, but must be
cultivated like any other art. Some people
can talk more readily than others some can
talk great deal without saying much. but to
talk reasonably and sensibly, so as to interest
others, is one of the most desirable of social
sndowmcnts. 1t is told of some men who have





themselves for il that before going into socie-
ty they arranged certain subjects to be intro
duced and courses of remarks to be stated, as
opportunity might offer. With most people
this process would render the conversation stiff
and formal, for very few can be natural and
easy in what they have just studied up for the
occasion. But in reading and thinking COM
munity, all men and women have sufficient
material for interesting conversation, and it
needs only the habit of free and graceful talk
to make all these private stories of fact and
Imagination available to society.


Our social intercourse would be more free and
genial if there were more of it. We do
not meet often enough to wear off the husks of
formality. We have besides Il set of routine
Subjects outside of which everything il taboo
ed in good society. If we free to talk on
all subjects of personal interest. all matters cf
art, literature, education, religion and life, and
could muster our senstiveness to differences q
opinion and feeling, conversation might become
something more and better than an interchange
of courtesies, comparing of notes ON the
weather the crops and the health of the com
pany. There is more freedom of conversation
with than in England, because the cXactions
of established etiquette are not burden
some, and we arc not SO much hamrcrcd hy
distinctions of class and caste. But too much
Of cur social intercourse Is trivial and y.1nelcss
s. We need a higher tone to our soci:il life. WE
need more varied and instructive themes q
conversation, and need to devote NOR,
Thought to this matter, if we make our inter
-, course with society useful to ourselves ant
others.
Year: 1860

How EVERY ONE MAY PREAcH.-All can
not preach from the pulpit but there is
kind Of preaching that is permitted to
all men, and oftcntimes this kind is most
ctfectual. Offices of kindness to the bodies
and souls Of those around US; words Of
encouragement to the weak, instruction
to the ignorant, Of brotherIy kindness to
all hearty devotion to the services of re-
ligiOn, in our families and our closets, as
we'll as in the sanctuary; in word, earn
est, active, selfdenying love to our fellow
beings, springing from our love to God,
this will form most impressive sermon,
most convincing proof to the world
around US, that we have been with Jesus.
All christians are called on in this way to
preach the gospel and woe to them il
they neglect the call
Year: 1860

INGENIOUS MODE or TYING IlORsEs s-The
Icelanders have q most curious custom,
and most affectionate one, Of preventing
horses from straying, which, ! believe, is
entirely peculiar to this island. Twogen-
tlemen, for instance, are riding together
without attendants, and wishing to alight
for the purpose OF visiting some object
at distance from the road, they tie the
head Of each horse 10 the tail Of the other.
In this situation it is utterly impossible
that they can move on, either backward
or forward, one pulling the one way and
the other the other way; and, therefore,
If disposed to move at all, it will be only
in circle, and even then, there must be
nm agreement to turn their heads the same
way.-Bayard Taylor.
Year: 1860

THE newspaper is law book for the
indolent, q sermon for the thoughtless,
and library for the poor-it may stimu-
late the most indifferent. it may instruct
the most profound. And with truth it
might be added, may become the merest
lickspittle crawler to q vile demagogue
party, as well as the proud guardian Of a
nations liberties.