smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

CAN THE DEAD WIN AT CARDs?-A very
curious law case came recently before Ger
man court, arising from the following circum-
stance:


A gentleman sat at faro table in the town
of Koethen, Saxony, playing with the usual
attention and silence. Several plays were
made, and the cards which the gentleman
continued unchangedly to put forward won
repeatedly. The gold pushed toward the
winner by the croupier, was not drawn by
him, and after several more accumulations
had made the pile inconveniently large, the
keeper of the bank rather angrily requested
the fortunate man to take in his money.
With his eye fixed on his card, the player
took no notice of the request.


'Draw in your money! was again ut
tered by several around the table No
answer.


"Monsieur you incommode the other
players p said the croupier.


The same motionless silence. A person
sitting next the offender took hold of his
hand. The winner was dead. AS the body
was being removed, the croupier drew back
the money lie had showed towards the dead
player, alleging that the game based upon
reciprocal engagements could not exist be-
tween the dead and the living. The heirs Of
the defunct prosecuted the day after, declar-
ing that the winner had regularly commen-
ced and continued the game. The question
was carried before the tribunal Of Koethan,
and will probably depend upon the evidence
as to the point of time when the player
ceased to live.
Year: 1861

Df5UN4oN.-William Smith O'Brien, at the


conclusion of his pamphlet against French


invasion of Ireland, says: "Whilst the
foregoing pages were in the hands OF the


printers, we learned that, by the secession
of South Carolina the noblest and most
prosperous confedracy of free men that the


world has yet seen, is about to be dissolved


For what cause? Because the members of
the different sections of this confedracy have
not exhibited towards each other that for
bearance and that respect which were re-


qured to keep in cohesion the elements of
which the United States were composed
shall not inquire whether the North or the
South is most to blame for those discords.
But would entreat my fellow-countrymen
to regard this spectacle as solemn warning.
The last accounts from America lead us to
believe that a civil war of the most fearful
kind is impending-a- civil war which will


affect the happiness and prosperity of at least
thirty millions of the human race. In the
case of an armed conflict between the slave
holding and non slaye-holding States, it
may result in the emancipation of the colored


race-an emancipation which may, perhaps,


be voluntarily conceded by the slavehoding
States. But if civil war should arise
between the Protestants and Catholics of
Ireland, in consequence of the introduction


of a French army into this country by


section of the Catholics, human foresight is
justified in expecting from the conflict on


result except the consignment of one or


other of the contending parties to political
servitude during an indefnate period May


Heaven in its mercy protect both America


and Ireland firm such calamities!'
Year: 1861

A VERY Cool AMERICAN.-A Frenchman
recently eoped from Paris with the pretty
wife of an American, and as soon as the
latter learned what had taken place, he in
stalled himself in the chateau of his rival and
wrote to the latter misSive, as follows
"You have appropriated my wife, and have
taken possession of your estate. By the
time your love is squandered, l will try to
have spent your fortune. | hope you will
have an agreeable time in Switzerland
though December is a chilly month, am
told, in that country. I would recommend
her to continue her singing lessons. | have
had your orangery removed, as it intercepted
my view of the pond. | dare say you will
approve Of my course
Year: 1861

CRIMISAL WAsrE.-The annexed paragraph
is from the Grafton Western Virginian:


About seventy Government horses were
sold at Webster, on Wednesday, at loss of
not less than hfty dollars each from the cost
chiefly all being the result of bad usage in
sixty days; thus costing the Government fifty
dollars per month for each two horse team for
wear and tear Of horse-fesh. And we noticed
that many horses now in use look not much
better Of than those that were sold II IL thus
rendered plain enough that the managers of
the wagon department are shamefuIly inoom-
Petent for their duties. Anybody knows that
there Is no need Of wearing out horse In SIX
ty days. =
Year: 1861

A writer in the Elmra Go@ettc makes the
following extract from the New York Tri
bane, June 9th, 1916, from the proceedings
of a convention held the day previous in
Fanieul Hall:


Resolped, That if the Governor or the
Legislature of this Commonwealth shall do
any act to aid the Government of the United
States, in prosecuting the infamous invasion
of Mexican territory and rights, obey its
requlstlon tor troops, or co operate in any
way to assist in this war or give it coune
nance, they will deserve the contempt of all
honest men, and be recreant to duty, to
liberty, and to the Constitution.


ReSol0ed, That we, the people of Massa-
chusetts, do here now de deiberately assert that
there is no longer Union of the States, a
National Constitution, National Executive,
that no citizen of these States is under any
kind of Obligations, of patriotism or honor
to aid the act Of unparalled outrage upon Il
sister republic; that participation in this
war is an act OF conspiracy with maurauders
and murderers against the nation and that
we announce for ourselves, and recommend
to our fellow citizens the adoption of these
three measures as alone suitable in the pres
ent crisis:


/. Individually and collectively to pledge
ourselves in no way to countenance, encour
age, or aid this inhuman or imHious robbery
of Mexico


2. individually and collectively to pledge
our contributions to support the families OF
those who, being drafted for this war, refuse
to serve and take the penalty.


3. To meet in primary assemblies of the
people, and in county, State and general con
vention. for the end of re!establishing the
PROSTATE Republic; of forming a new bond
of Union Of tieemen only of adopting new
Constitution which shall be founded upon
principles of universal justice, and fitted in
all its articles to secure equal rights Of every
citizen to "life, liberty and pursuit of happi
ness" and Of organizing the people into a
nation which God in his providence design
ed us to be, a nation Of united freemen.
Year: 1861

The Boston He,aM GndependenD in re-
fering to the extraordinary zeal of diIapdal
ted, rejected, crippled and seedy politicians
for the war, and the rejection of all partysm
for the sake of the Union, makes The follow
ing remarks:


"You will find the trading politician at all
public gatherings, read Y to preside or to
make q speech. He is intensely patriotic
about the war, or whatever happens to be
popular at the time. His zeal is unbound
ed. lie is ready to sacrifice himself for his
country He is done with party. lie can
not stoop to any thing which would appear
Ike partizanship- he. He wants the
people to come together, and throw over
board The men who entertain honest opinions,
and vote accordingly, and all unite upon the
political trader. lie is the chap for the
crisis There is no party smell about him.
lie is willing to unite with anybody and
everybody to accomplish The great purposes
had in view by the people. He is ready to
make himself generally useful in arranging
the plans and details of the no party affair,
and, when it is all fixed, you will see the no.
party trading politician uas got the Office
which pays the best assigned to himself. But
his patriotism knows no bounds He is
sound on the goose, which is made more ap,
parent by the violence he uses in denouncing
theman and men who have been so foolish
as to have fixed opinions, and so ,erdant as
to believe him honest in the advocacy of
doctrine"
Year: 1861

The PRoGREss OF THE WAR-SIowly but
surely is the march of the war toward abo


itionsm When the New York Times,
more bold than the rest of the republican
papers, declared months ago in favor of con-
fscation, and abolition, as a means of con
quering peace, the Republican press declarl
ed that the Times did not represent their
party; they secuted the idea and Indignantly
hurled back the charge when it was made
against them. Now, they have discovered
that as the Union is worth more than slave
rv, therefore, general, sweeping emancipa
ton act by the Federal Government would
be right and proper. Republican Congress-
men are ready for the measure. They are
ripe for it now, and but for the eau ion of
the more conservative among them, they
would hail it with joy. No one, who has
watched the progress Of the war, doubts that
the Republicans would gladly at any time
have converted it into a crusade against sla-
very, if they had dared, and that they were
only waiting for such time as they thought
the people would submit to it.-Erpress.


General Jim Lane says his Brigade will
"foow him to hell" if he but says the word.
That would depend upon whether there was
ANYTHING to steal in that locality.
Year: 1861

The EFFEcr ON Mr.. LINCOLN "A cor
respondent Of the ST. Louis Republican wri
ting from Washington, thus describes the
effect of care on Mr.. Lincoln:


You must see the President to have any
adequate conception Of how dreadfuIly the
heavy complication of affairs which have
thckened around him have exhausted even
his immense physical powers. See him and
then you will have very vivid conception
of tired giant. See him, and then you
will have some idea how Atlas looked ust
after he had lifted the world upon his shouh
ders One never thinks Of the immense
mental labor and haunting care that has ac-
cumulated so heavily since his Inauguration.
II you saw him then, you should see him
now; and if you ever thought it pleasant
thing to be President, you will Immediately
abandon that extravagant idea.
Year: 1861

political opponent and il is thought that the patr
oic of this gentleman in the last Congress in
b.clktg off his lang cherished political relations with
tlo South deserved a marked compliment General
sckes has his orders TO bis brigade at once into
encampment New York, and to hold himself in
readiness at very early day for an Important service TO
be oonded to him. If 1t should turn out that he is in
competent for delicate dangerous task his military
career will close at the very outset But his Judgment
and pluck well thought Of here by al parties The
General Ia eager for work, and desires the hardest
job the gift of the War Department. lie is likely
get II, we hear, and very soon.


II is settled troops will be accepted by the
government the last requesion either from New
York elsewhere Already some two hundred and twcnty
tbousard enlisted, and it wiz take time TO mus
ter them in snd organize ,hem Tor service.


Cabinet o1cor yesterday refused by The 5e,re-
suy OF tina acceptance OF single regiment, which
he was M ST soiicitous 10 have mustered In
Year: 1861

The western part Of Virginia, embracing twenty two
counties, with population Of two hundred thou
sand (of which twenty thousand liable TO military
duty) opposes the ordinance OF state and
claims its loyalty to the Stars and Stripes The repre-
sentatives Of Western Virginia. with patriotic determ
nation, avow, In the event Of the secession ordinance
being adopted the 23d, they will declare themselves
independent State, and claim the protection If ncces.
sary Of the United States military forces In this deter
minaton they have received the Of the Cover
OF Pennsylvania that they shall have all necessary
guccor from his State
Year: 1861

The above map gives birds eye view Of the tntei
States prepared lch form to show 70 the pablo
at glance present Its Of each State in the Union
Tie seeded States given black and the doubtful
States including the northwestern corner of Virginia,
are given IN shaded lines The loyal members Of the
Union are in white We add sse,ca OF each disloy al
state.


In regard TO the nominal fighting condjo Of the
country The for $780, just completed shows the
following number of males between the ages OF eighteen
and FORTY
Year: 1861

leads to Georgetown and for the last few days this rebel
picket has been annoying persons who have passed from
Virginia TO the District of Columbia.


Why don't the government dispense them and drive
them from the Virgins sie of the Long Bridge and from
that point to Alexandria, and beyond those who are day
annoying good ctzens II Is time that this done and
that the flag that has been flying for weeks
within sight OF the White House taken down. Cali
for the boys to do the duty and thousands viii volunteer


The number Of regular and volunteer troops accepted
and to be mustered into the service Of the United
States together with the old force is two hundred
and thirty thousand. This Is official As many more
could be called into the field in thirty days.
Year: 1861

IL An Intelligent workman on army shoes in
forms the editor Of the Newburyport Herald that
the specifications are faulty in several parricu-
lars as TO preclude the possibility Of their having
been drawn up by practical men. Twelve
sntehes TO the zach are required in the upper and
they frequently cut out the leather In drawing in,
thus making an inferior shoe at an increased ex.
Pen'e Again, while oak tan is required. nothing
Is SAID In regard to Its thickness quality, and
consequently an article, which might be termed
leather shoddV, is frequently used, stffened up
with shingles or paste board for soles, while the
Important article of a counter for the support of
the ankle Is entirely overlooked
Year: 1861

SUICIDE OF A ST. Louis MLLoNAIRE.-P. Dexter
Tiffany, an old and very wealty lawyer of St. Lou
is, committed suicide on Thursday evening last, at
the Planters House in that city. Mr.. Tiffany fail
ing to appear the day of the occurrence, and nc
response being made to repeated knocks at the door
of his chamber, one of the employees of the hotel
looked through the ventilator over the door and
the bedclothes moved as if the man was breathing
distressiully. table was brought, and stepping
upon it, a sight was obtained of Mr. Tiffany lying
in bed, and bleeding profusely from the throat the
sheets being saturated with blood. The door was
Immediately forced open, and the unhappy man wa:
found apparently quite dead; closer examination
however, showed that be was yet breathing. Upor
the proprietor of the house taking his hand he un
closed his eyes but evidently film them
and they exhibited no token of recognition or con
sciousness Almost instantly he closed them AGAR
Year: 1861

MARRIED IN SPITE OF THEMsELvEs.-We were
yesterday informed that young couple residing in
the western part of the city, day two since, to
crafty few indiscreet friends, agreed to get mar
ried, supposing as the marital ceremony was being
performed, that the minister in the secret and
knew it to be only bit of pleasantly. Judge OF
their surprise when the fact was made known to
them that instead of being all fun twas all earnest
and they are by every obligation of law, man and
wife. We are further informed that immediate
steps will be taken to obtain divorce, but the
law does not recognize such acts of indiscretion in
the marriage VOW, but supposes all unions of this
considered forethought, we can't see how separa.
tion is to be Effected Cincindtti Enquirer,


Colt, the revolver man, has gone to Havana fol
the benefit Of his health, which is much impaired,
Year: 1861

The CONCERT THrs EvESING.--The grand concert
to be given this evening at the Maryland Institute,
for the benefit Of the unemployed working men of
our city, should receive a liberal patronage.
Aside from its audable object, the concert, are
assured, will be a treat to all who have n ear for
the concord of sweet sounds.
Year: 1861

ALBANY, Feb 8.-Jay Gibbons, member of the
Assembly from the First district of this (Albany)
county, was arrested this morning on a warrant
by Police Justice Parsons. complaint of District
Attorney Shafer, charging the said Jay Gibbons
with bribery and corruption in demanding money
for his vote bill to increase the salary of the
Deputy District Attorney of Albany county. Glib
bons offered to cast his vote in its favor for S100,
and intimated that he could defeat the bill, and
would do so if he was not paid the said amount.


The evidence Of his crime is indisputable. He
waived an examination before the magistrate and
was committed, but subsequently was taken before
the county Judge, where an application to admit
him to bail is now beiHg heard
Year: 1861

The Legislature of New Mexico has passed an
act for the election of delegates to form a State
Constitution, which is to be held in Nav next The
delegates are to meet in June to discharge the du-
ties which will thus be imposed upon them and the
Constitution they form is afterward to be submit
ted to the people, for ratification or rejection at
general election to he held in September
Year: 1861

The Supreme Court of the United States recent
ly, in California land case established an impor-
tant principle to that States in effect that where
a claimant has obtained confirmation of title and
patent, the adverse party in possession cannot in
an action resist the title of the patentee.
Year: 1861

As Mr NcConnell is announced to speak
here this evening. it may not be amiss 10 re-
publ h the plattorru lie laid down for him
self when in this city few weeks ago, in "
street conversation with a promieeu"us group
He may take occasion to explain what he
meant We give our original statement, the
truth Of which be never has denied:


lIlevntlng the foreIingtr Of bis rig han
to a perpendicular he gently swayed it, first
to the right and then to the left. and accom-
panied the gesture with nearly the following
words: Il STAND JUST THAT WAY. GO WITH
MY STATE As GOES KENTUCKY so WILL GO
AND As SURE As WE STAND HERE, h ENTucKi
WILL BE OUT OF THE UNION IN TWO WEEKS.
Year: 1861

which subjects people to ney enoine expense ana
trouble. The hundred days" osvs Oh terror and
perYle1iiy. Ill dwell in state OF perietua ALARMS
irsiigsed by the collective wisdom" and the Press
or though nobody else could be happy until We were
reduced to misery. Tho State has persuaded us to put
all our spare cash and much into the Salt Works,
under eolemn deciion, rendered some years since,
that the Policy Of as1g revenue out o. sns the ha, sS


ee Only sufficient to defray the expenses OF the public
supervision and to furnish brine thcud be collected;
ard now, nfer investments have been made, aud
tie manufacturing syttem has been graduated upon
that scale in comes proposition to double the duties,
and to make the consumption of this article OF prime
neceeety to all ranks and conditions means OF replen-
shpg the State Treasury Why, II could not he much
woTee to levy special tax upon milk and potatoes


New before closing theee fec brief 'cords, and at
the rik Of being thought profuse, let just call your
attention moment to still another views. VIII you
peo to inform your readers, and especially the good
Isople Of this State what empire country In the civil
lied world, producing article for expectation, OF
which deres 10 cell the largest amount, undertakes to
charge that article Of export with Governmental I'M
poet with view to revenue2 What would you think
OF the wisdom Of 40 doing What would you think
Of Pennsylvania, If she exacted twenty-five cents per
tun upon the coal, dollar two upon the iron,
which he sses out Of her mnes TO sei to people or
other Staes7 Would that be the best way to sell the
most coal and ron TO employ the greatest amount OF
home labor and TO augment the business Of her canals
and railrcadsl Docs Great Britain suly herself by
charging an export duty upon the salt when enc iar
naes 10 this country, much OF which comes In comPe
tiiion with Onondags SALT Or, if 1t were right to
raise revenue from salt why not lay specific taxes
uron gypsum lime, and iron ore, which we furnish
largely to the people of other Statcs' Perhaps, in
your simplicity, you will answer that we cannot tax


an article of export without injury to ourselves, nor
without afording 20 our customers strong motive for
looking TO cheaper market for what they want to
buy. Ifyou do, you will solve the whole diihculty
about the salt duty; and if yon do not you will sub
je yourselves to tho suspicion of not being thorough
in your political economy (which is not supposabe
case of intention to suppress the trntb, which
stl less supposable.


Perhaps the EXPORT of salt in large quantities from
this State is an evil to be repressed. IL 30, there Is
no more efectual mode of comprising tha, object
than by increasing the duty. And it can be graduated
upon scale that will finally prevent the sale of sin.
gle bushel of NewYork salt out Of the State land In
IT, too as for that mate without the necessity Of de-
caring to be crime to manufacture salt. But from
the deliberate conviction that this, any thing ap.
preaching or fashioned after IT, would be sound
Jolicy worthy Of or creditable to the State Of New
York, We pray 70 be delivered. SYRACUSE.
Year: 1861

The notion that minister Of belligerent, with lis
letters of credence and instruction, his passage to
foreign court contraband Of wsr Is double error.
The articles are not, singly or collectively, within
the class and the transportation Of nothing, colum
bad cannon, to the port of neutral power, is no IL
fraction Of the l.w of conrAband or any other law o.
war or peace.
Year: 1861

WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1861.
am assured from high authority that action will
be taken by this administration relative to the seizure Of
the vessels at Savannah but that the whole subject will
be left for the new administration of Mr. Lincoln deal
with The republicans do not object TO this policy of the
present administration
Year: 1861

A late Londonderry Ireland Stanard con- tains the folling description of Mirage seen near that place:

 This singular phenomenon Mirage was witnessed on Sunday evening week in this neighborhood. A gentleman was returning from Carndonegh with his family, and the party had just dismounted off the ear to walk the hill near Quigey's Point when their at- tention was attracted by a wonderful appear ance in the heavens. Away to the north they saw several ships in the air, sailing across the face of the sky from east to west The line of vessels seemed to be fully five miles in length, and they appeared to be sailing down a river whose high banks could be made out behind the ships. Some of the vessels seemed to be moored close to a fortress, built on a rock. To all the party was the phenomenon distinctly visible So clear was the air, and so close did the ships appear to their eyes, that the sailors fuIling at the ropes were made out at ease, even by the children who saw the strange spectacle The phenomenon was nearly half an hour before it disappeared.

 Although the appearance of such things in the heavens may be very startling the phe- nOmena are not unknown about this part of the Irish coast The mirage" as it is termed, often displays itself in fantastic shapes on the shores of the northern counties. It most ire quently is to been on the coast of Antra es- peclally in the vicinity of the Causeway About twelve years ago very curious in stance of mirage was seen in Lough Fovle. Some fishermen had been out at night with their nets. The face of the heavens was over cast and black, when the clouds suddenly parted, leaving bright gap of clear sky in the zenith Across this place the astonished fishermen saw some thousands of soldiers pass, rank after rank, and regiment after regiment, and so near did the phenomenon appear that the dress of the officers could be easily dis tinguished from that of the men, It was two hours before the marching ceased, or rather before the clouds closed in and shut out the scene from view. An account of this extra ordinary occurrence was published at the same time